It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 15: A Mother’s Teachings

Episode 15: A Mother’s Teachings 

I used the communication spell [Divine Oracle] several times before I finally got a response from my mother. This spell requires both parties to release their magical energy simultaneously. It means the conditions for success are: both must be able to use the spell and both must be in a state where they can converse. 

A slightly high-pitched voice echoed in my mind. It had been a while since I last heard my mother’s voice. There had been times when she used [Divine Oracle] to contact me. But I ignored it because I simply didn’t feel like answering. 

Back then, I was nothing more than a runaway son who left the country without permission. Eventually, my mother stopped trying to reach out. 

“Ernest? You’re alive…? Oh, my dear, I’m so happy…” 

Soft sobbing sounds rang in my head. 

Wait—she thought I was dead?! 

“M-My deepest apologies. I haven’t contacted you in so long. As you can see, I am alive and well, Mother.” 

Even though she was my mother, she was also the First Queen of a great nation. I couldn’t afford to be too casual with her. 

“So, what’s the occasion? Did you get married? If so, then it’s about time for you to return home, yes? I expect you to establish a new noble house as a Duke.” 

She rattled off words at a rapid pace. As impatient as ever. 

I started to regret asking her for advice. 

Was I tricked by Shiro into making this call? 

But then again, there was no one else I could turn to… 

“No, I haven’t married yet. But I have something I’d like to discuss…” 

I briefly summarized the situation to my mother. 

There was no point in lying. 

From what she just said, it seemed she was planning to make me a Duke—likely to further solidify the royal family’s power. That meant I would have to move in that direction as well. 

Goodbye, carefree life… Ugh. 

Even though I had been living freely on a different continent, I still had some love for my homeland. 

In that case, Pamela’s role as my future wife would be extremely important. 

Depending on how things played out, it could even affect relations between nations. 

“Oh, my, my! If you’re a man, just push her down and get it over with!” 

……..…As expected of my impatient mother. 

At that moment, I realized I had chosen the wrong person to ask for advice. 

What kind of mother suggests something like that?! 

If I did that, how would I ever face Pamela’s parents? 

“Mother, I’m being serious about this.” 

“Haaah… Yes, yes, I understand. But really, why must you always be so serious? You need a little humor and a relaxed heart. Let’s see… Then how about this—start by holding hands while sleeping. Slowly close the distance between you two that way.” 

That actually made some sense. 

“But listening to you talk, it almost sounds like Pamela was the one who forced herself onto you…” 

…That’s fair. 

Pamela was straightforward, impulsive, and didn’t always think ahead. 

I could see how it might seem like she was the one taking the lead. 

But in reality, she was just an adorable girl doing her best. Despite feeling embarrassed, she was trying to support me. She was learning everything she could, and always giving it her all. 

And with that, the conversation ended. 

Mother scolded me, saying I should report back more regularly. 

I promised I’d do my best. 

Holding hands while sleeping, huh? 

Maybe I should start with that. 

Looking at Pamela, still in my arms, I cast [Awakening Bell] to wake her up. 

“Mnya…? Huh? Did I fall asleep again?” 

“No, not at all. I think you just felt sleepy because I turned the lights off suddenly.” 

Saying that, I gently laid Pamela down on the bed. 

She tilted her head in confusion but quieted down once she lay back. 

I lay down beside her and switched off the bedside lamp. 

“El-sama, I can’t see anything now.” 

Pamela’s voice trembled slightly. 

She had been trying so hard to seduce me. But in the end, she was forcing herself. 

Now that she was actually in this situation, she was starting to feel scared. 

“Master, are you going to eat Pamela?” 

“H-Hey!” 

Shiro’s voice was clearly playful. But Pamela didn’t seem to realize that. 

She let out a small, adorable squeak. 

I took her right hand in mine. 

She flinched. 

But after realizing I wasn’t making any further moves, she slowly squeezed my hand in return. 

“I’m not Shiro. I would never do such a thing. Goodnight, Pamela. Sweet dreams.”

“Good night. Sweet dreams.” 

Pamela’s voice sounded deeply satisfied. It seemed I had made the right choice. 

Mother’s advice had saved me this time. 

I should continue deepening my bond with Pamela little by little. 

………..…Wait, isn’t this basically moving forward with marriage as a given? 

Was this really okay? 

Well… it must be. 

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone so far as to purchase her in the first place. 

— 

A sweet fragrance tickled my nose. 

But my eyelids were too heavy to open. 

Just a little longer… 

Then, something soft wrapped around my left arm. 

I could hear a voice whispering in my ear. But the bell-like tone of it was too soothing for me to comprehend the words. 

“Mmm…” 

The softness against my arm felt so pleasant that I had the sudden urge to bury my face in it. 

My half-conscious state left me defenseless against the temptation. 

So, I did exactly that. 

…This is even better than I expected. 

I rubbed my face against it, savoring the sensation. 

“Ahhn! W-Wait, El-sama! Please wake up, it’s already morning!” 

“It’s no use, Pamela. Master is terrible at waking up.” 

……………Pamela? 

Wait, hold on. 

Hearing that name snapped my mind fully awake—almost as fast as if I had sensed a killing intent. 

In an instant, I grasped the situation. 

I had buried my face in Pamela’s considerable chest. 

And not only that—I had rubbed my face against it like a cat marking its territory. 

“S-Sorry, Pamela! I must’ve still been half-asleep. I didn’t mean anything by it!” 

I hurriedly apologized. 

Pamela’s face was bright red. No, her entire body was flushed. 

Thanks to my actions, her bathrobe had come undone. It revealed the crimson negligee underneath. 

…This is bad. 

Even without Shiro saying anything, I knew this was bad. 

“…Did it feel good?” 

“…Huh?” 

“Did it feel good?” 

“…Yes.” 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shiro silently smacking a pillow against the bed. 

Just go ahead and laugh already. 

— 

It had been about three years since I became an adventurer. But I almost never camped outdoors. 

That was thanks to my spatial magic, [Heaven’s Gate]. It allowed me to return home instead of sleeping outside. 

So, since I always slept somewhere safe, I had developed a habit of being a heavy sleeper. 

For the first few days after Pamela arrived, I had been on edge. So my bad habits hadn’t shown. 

But it seemed I had finally gotten used to having Pamela next to me. 

And as a result… I had completely let my guard down.