Knock-knock.
After that, Melza and I chatted for a while in the freshly cleaned drawing room until Ellen returned and timidly knocked on the door.
“P-pardon me. His Lordship has returned, but I’m afraid, um…” She hesitated.
“…What is it?” I prodded her.
“H-His Lordship has asked to meet with Lady Meltreza over dinner…and has requested your presence in his study, Master Hugo.”
“I see… You can leave now.”
“…Excuse me.”
I watched as Ellen beat a hasty retreat.
“Hugh…” Melza looked at me worriedly.
I did my best to force an awkward smile in return. “Ha-ha… No doubt he means to make sure I’ve successfully infiltrated House Woodstock and curried favor with your grandfather.”
I had sold my father on this plan by convincing him I meant to take control of House Woodstock from the inside, so it was only natural that he wished to personally confirm my chances of success.
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I rose to leave.
“Oh, wait just a moment,” Melza called out, before slipping a small piece of paper into my jacket pocket.
“Huh…? What’s this?”
“It’s inscribed with a protective barrier spell. As long as you have it, any psychic magic he tries to use on you should fail to take effect.”
Of course. My father had already brainwashed me once, so it was always possible he would try to do so again—especially if he had me alone, apart from Melza.
“…Thank you, Melza.”
“Not at all… Take care.”
“I will.”
After Melza saw me off, I left the drawing room and headed back to the main residence. On my way there, however, I ran into a familiar face.
“…Louis?”
“Hey, Brother.” As if lying in wait, my stepbrother popped out of nowhere in front of the entrance to the main house. “So that was Archduke Woodstock’s granddaughter, huh…? She’s a real catch, that’s for sure. Maybe I should have sold myself to the archduke.”
“…She’s my fiancée,” I growled in warning.
Does he even realize what he’s saying? …Even brainwashed, why in the world had I been chasing after this bastard’s approval for so long?
“…Father is expecting me,” I said. “Good day.”
“……”
I didn’t have time to deal with this scumbag anymore. All I wanted was to get this over with as quickly as possible so I could go back to Melza.
I hurried inside the main building.
“Allow me to show you to His Lordship, Master Hugo,” a steward said in greeting before leading me to my father’s office.
Knock-knock.
“I’ve brought Master Hugo, Your Lordship.”
“Enter,” came a voice from inside.
The steward opened the door and ushered me forward.
“So…were you successful?” Sitting behind his desk, my father—no, Marquis Grenville—cut straight to the point.
“Yes. Fortunately, I managed to gain Lady Meltreza’s favor, and it seems I’ve earned Archduke Woodstock’s trust as well.”
“…I see. So that’s why Lady Meltreza decided to drop by,” Marquis Grenville murmured.
I simply nodded wordlessly.
“Hmm… The archduke has indeed suggested making the engagement official as soon as possible. He’s also requesting that you move in with them immediately.”
“……”
“As per the archduke’s request, we’ll hold the engagement ceremony at the local chapel in one week. After that, Ellen will accompany you to the Woodstock residence.”
“Understood.”
Just as I expected, the Marquis has accepted the proposal and wants Ellen to continue monitoring me. No problems there.
“Mm. Then you may leave.”
“…Excuse me.” With a respectful bow, I turned and left. Once outside, I leaned against the door to catch my breath. “Phew…”
“Good work, Master Hugo!” a beaming Ellen called out, ambushing me.
“What is it now?”
“Nothing. I just had some errands to run in the main residence, and I thought we could return to the cottage together.”
Oh… So she’s following me…
“Sure. Let’s go.”
“Of course!” Ellen giddily fell in beside me as we strolled back through the grounds. On the way, she leaned coquettishly against my shoulder and whispered, “Master Hugo…?”
“…What are you doing?”
“Um… It’s really great that you and Lady Meltreza are going to be married,” she continued pensively, “But…I’ll be so lonely…” Now she was stroking my back.
“…Father told me that after we hold the engagement ceremony in a week, he’ll be sending you along with me to the Woodstocks’ residence. I’m sure you’ll hear about it soon enough.”
“…R-really?!” she exclaimed, her face brightening as blood rushed to her cheeks.
“Yes. I’ll be counting on you, Ellen.”
“Of course!” she said cheerfully, a sudden spring in her step.
Ha-ha… If I hadn’t learned from my past lives that Ellen was a spy, her acting might have fooled me. She might very well have succeeded in wrapping me around her little finger.
But now it all made sense…
It was you, wasn’t it, Ellen? …You’re the one who cast that brainwashing spell on me.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me— Huh?!”
We had just reached the cottage’s drawing room when Ellen, rising from a bow, frowned and stared fixedly at the door.
“…Is something the matter?” I asked.
“Oh, um!”
Suspicious, I approached the door to the drawing room.
“…I have nothing to say to you. Please leave.”
“Come now, don’t say that. We’ll all be family soon.”
…There could be no mistaking those two voices. The first belonged to Melza, and she was clearly in a foul temper. The second was that of my impertinent, good-for-nothing clown of a brother, Louis.
Click.
“…Hugh!”
Without a word, I stepped inside. Melza looked up with a bright smile and joyously called out to me.
“…You’ve never once set foot in this building, Louis. What brings you here now?” I demanded in a low voice.
“Come on, Hugo. I wanted to get to know Lady Meltreza,” he said with a shrug. “She’s our family’s newest member, after all.”
“Oh, is that all? I’m certain Father said she was to meet the family at dinner, but I guess you decided to ignore him. Ellen?”
“Um, y-yes…?”
“Go and tell Father that Louis was troubling Melza while I was away. Do it now.”
Louis visibly gulped. “…Are you sure about that, Brother?” he said, trying to threaten me back. “You know he’s just going to chew you out instead.”
“No matter. Naturally, I’ll be telling Archduke Woodstock what happened here, too.”
“…Tch.”
Sensing that he’d lost the upper hand, Louis clicked his tongue and stormed off.
“…What are you waiting for, Ellen?” I asked. “Go and tell Father.”
“B-but—”
“If you don’t, I’ll inform him myself during dinner.”
“…Understood.”
That was enough to bring her around, and Ellen reluctantly set off back toward the main residence.
“…I’m really sorry about that, Melza.”
“Ho-ho. You needn’t worry. He wouldn’t dare lay a hand on the granddaughter of Archduke Woodstock. And even if he was foolish enough to try, he would be no match for a vampire.”
I kept my head lowered apologetically, but Melza sidled up next to me and bent down so she could peer into my face, then offered me a warm smile.
“But that man you call Louis… He kept glancing at me—your fiancée—lewd glances, and his mind is full of impure thoughts. Hugh, I want you to take responsibility and comfort me.” She leaned down to snuggle into my chest.
“Of course… I’ll do everything I can.”
“Oh-ho. Just remember that you said that, not me. In that case…I’d like to rest my head on your lap.”
“On my lap…?”
It was a modest request, but to me, it felt more like a reward.
“Eep!” Melza yelped as I scooped her up and carried her across the room to the sofa.
“You’re so delicate and light, Melza.”
“If you say so…”
I gently lowered her onto the cushions so she was resting her head on my knees.
“Ho-ho… Your thighs are quite warm, Hugh…”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said, as I gently stroked her luscious black hair.
“By the way…how did it go with Marquis Grenville?”
“Oh, yes…”
I recounted everything that had happened while I was away from her, including a detailed account of my exchange with the marquis.
“…I see,” she replied. “So it was that maid…”
“Yes… She reached out to brush my cheek, so it has to be her. And I remember her doing similar things in the past…”
Yes… She was responsible for the residual psychic magic Melza detected on me.
In other words, she could plant the spell on her target with a simple touch.
“…The nerve,” Melza muttered icily. “Not only did she try to bewitch you, she dared to touch you—my Hugh!”
…I think I’ll leave out the part about her snuggling up against me.
“Now that I think about it, when Louis called out to me on my way to see the marquis, he was probably trying to make sure I’d left you alone…”
“My… He’s quite a creep, that one.”
Yes… I found him just as revolting as she did, and I was related to him.
And yet, due to their brainwashing, I had spent my past lives doing everything in my power to please him and the others. It made me sick to my stomach.
“…But as you said, Marquis Grenville agreed to hold the engagement ceremony in a week’s time. I won’t let you suffer anymore, Hugh.” Melza clenched her fists in front of her chest.
“I feel the same, Melza. I’ll protect you and make sure you’re always happy and comfortable.”
Louis could try and bother us all he wanted—I would chase him away every time.
I had an objective—a goal I had to see through.
“Melza, don’t leave my side, okay? We won’t give Louis another chance to come near you.”
“Yes… Ho-ho. That sounds wonderful…”
Fixing me with a joyous smile, she took my hand in her own and raised it to her cheek.