After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 128
Chapter 128: A Tomboyish Talented Lady…
“Nice to meet you, I’m Adelheid von Eisenberg.”
While bending slightly in greeting, her intense gaze continued to pierce through me. If I hadn’t been accustomed to Gretel’s murderous glares, I might have instinctively fled. She sported short, almost masculine-cut, deep purple hair, a clear-cut facial features, and a sharply defined jawline. Her upright posture, coupled with the white pantsuit, gave off an impression reminiscent of a male actor from ◯tsuka Theater. I couldn’t help but think of her as a certain fictional lord. However, unlike that lord, she was nearly makeup-free. To exude such dignified aura without makeup… she must be quite popular among women as well.
However, her gaze towards me since earlier carried a slightly challenging light, far from being entirely friendly.
“Ludwig, the fourth son of the Freudenshtadt family. It’s an honor to meet the talented Miss Adelheid. Please call me Lutz.”
“Oh, even though you’ve been ennobled as a marquis, you’re still courteous to a mere girl who isn’t even your heir? Then, Lutz, did you hear about me from Princess Beatrice?”
“Not much, actually. Beato is always lacking in words. I was just ordered to accompany Miss Adelheid.”
At my foolish response, she tilted her head slightly and let out an exasperated sigh. Well, I could understand her feelings. Beato’s lack of explanation wasn’t anything new, but this time, it was quite extreme.
“I see, you were just dragged into this, huh? Sorry, but I made a bet with Beatrice.”
“A bet? About what?”
“Even though I’ve been saying that fooling around with men is nonsense, she insists that there are wonderful men out there. Despite me saying from my own experience that interactions with men were not…pleasant, she vigorously argues about the virtues of men, despite having no personal experience.”
“Hmm…”
Somehow, this conversation was giving me a headache. Maybe it was a girls’ school thing, but I really didn’t want to hear about such explicit erotic talk between women, especially as a guy.
“So, according to Beatrice, you’re one of those ‘wonderful men’?”
“That’s right. She says you’re gentle, respectful to women, and skillful in certain nighttime activities. Well, there was a footnote saying ‘according to hearsay’ regarding the nighttime… stuff.”
Well, Beato and I haven’t gotten to that point yet… Wait, that’s not the issue here.
“And then, Beatrice says to me, ‘Give Adelheid-sama a chance to mate with Lutz-sama, and prove that men are good.’ And if I’m convinced of His Majesty’s correctness, she’s asking for my precious thing.”
“Your precious thing?”
“My lifelong loyalty. She wants me to forsake the von Eisenberg family and serve as her aide… It’s crazy, right?”
Certainly, it’s crazy. In this medieval-like world, familial ties are supposed to be nearly absolute. To serve Beatrice, who opposes her own family’s faction, is equivalent to breaking all the relationships built over seventeen years and starting anew with nothing.
“I see. She must know it’s a reckless request. However, she must want you that much.”
At my words, Adelheid gasped. Yes, she must be aware that Beato is simply seeking competent and trustworthy companions, not whether she’s interested in the affairs of men.
“I’m very grateful for your high evaluation of me, but I am still a member of the Eisenberg family. Betraying them… is not an option.”
“That’s understandable. However, does the Eisenberg family truly appreciate the talent of someone hailed as a prodigy? Are they providing you with opportunities to showcase your abilities? If your family doesn’t love you as much as you love them, isn’t that a problem?”
“That might… be true. But leaving my family, it’s not that simple.”
“I suppose so, it’s a painful situation.”
Pressing further won’t lead to anything good. I’ll just acknowledge her feelings and let her do as she pleases. She’s a rational person, and there’s no doubt she’s intrigued by Beatrice’s offer.
I continue to gaze silently into her eyes. After what felt like a considerable amount of time, her diverted gaze finally meets mine directly.
“Alright, I’ll do it with you. And then, I’ll judge whether it’s wonderful or not. If what Beatrice-sama said is true… I’ll leave my family and follow His Highness. After all, losing the bet means just that, doesn’t it?”
With those words, she smiled. As if she had forgotten all about her previous concerns, she smiled with a firm and resolute expression.