The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 1.40
And then, the long-awaited holiday arrived.
At the Ichijo family home.
I was putting on the new kimono I received from Cotton Yuu.
“With Akino’s makeup, she’s become so beautiful that there’s probably no girl in the Far East more beautiful than Rei-chan!”
“Excuse me, Lord Rokutanzono.”
Ms. Akino Asano did the makeup, and Ms. Yuu Momen took care of the clothing.
The reflection of myself in the full-length mirror… seemed to shine even brighter than when I went on that date in Asakusa.
“Today, I put my hair up and exposed my nape.”
“Nice! With this, Satoru will be head over heels too!”
Yuu-san and the others say with the faces of accomplished craftsmen.
She gathers her long hair and secures it with a hairpin.
With the makeup and the clothes I’m wearing, I feel like a completely different person.
“Ah… so beautiful…” “Beauty…” “The more you polish a lady, the more she shines, doesn’t she?”
The team of women in black suits is having a great time, giggling and laughing.
Such kind words. To say I’m beautiful…
“Tei”
“Eek!”
Yuu Cotton comes up behind me and gives my back a firm push with his hand.
“W-What…?”
“A rounded back is a no-no. You dressed up so beautifully. Be more confident.”
“But, but…”
“Straighten your back!”
“Yes!”
“Alright,” Momen-san nodded with satisfaction.
“Well then, shall we get going?”
“Y-yes!”
The time is almost sunset.
Today, there is a dinner party with the Ichijo family and the Rokutanzono family.
It seems that there will be a cruise on the Sumida River, which is just a short drive from Asakusa.
When I left the mansion, a car was parked at the entrance.
“I’ll drive us to the dock.”
Always, Mr. Shinkuro was the one driving.
Today, I can’t see Satoru-sama, Shinkuro-sama, and Aojiro-kun.
“Satoru is waiting ahead.”
“SĹŤjirĹŤ and the others are out on their night patrol.”
That’s why I don’t see them around.
Momen and I sit in the back seat.
Akino Akino sat in the driver’s seat and started the car.
A car drives through the streets of Asakusa at night.
Beyond the window, the lively streets of Asakusa are spread out.
Even though it was night, everyone was still out and about.
“Since it’s a holiday today, right? We’re going to drink until the night.”
In the bar, there were the smiles of the townspeople with flushed faces.
“I heard that demons roam around at night, but everyone seems to be walking around normally.”
“Yeah. Thanks to Satoru and the Ichijo family, they’re patrolling at night.”
Night patrol.
It’s about the patrol that Satoru and the others conduct every night.
“Especially since Lady Rei has arrived, I’ve heard that the efficiency of the night patrols has improved significantly, and it has been a great help.”
And, Akino Akino-san.
Is the efficiency improving…?
“What do you mean?”
“Miss Rei granted us black-clad individuals the ability to control supernatural powers, didn’t she?”
By bestowing the power of TĹŤtetsu ability to kill otherworldly beings upon the opponent, one can gain the ability to control otherworldly powers.
“Thanks to you, the black-clad guards have significantly increased their combat effectiveness. Previously, Master Satoru had to go out every day, but now there are more cases that can be handled solely by the black-clad guards.”
“Before electricity was invented, the nights were long, and the demons were more active, so Sumi and Satoru seemed to have a hard time too.”
I see.
Every day, fighting demons until late at night… it’s such a really tough job.
For the people of the Eastern Capital, working tirelessly to the bone…
I’m grateful, and I’m sorry.
While Satoru and the others were working hard, I was sleeping peacefully…
“Ah, come on, Rei-chan, you always get so negative so quickly. Be more proud!”
The cotton-clad person sitting next to me pulls my cheek sideways with a squishy motion.
“Thanks to Rei-chan, the efficiency of our night patrols has increased, and now Satoru can take a day off like this! I think you should be more proud of that!”
“Rokutan-son, you are absolutely right. Thanks to you, there are many people who are being helped.”
You two are truly kind people.
You go out of your way to praise someone as useless as me.
“This is quite deeply rooted… Oh, we should be arriving soon.”
A car stops by a large river.
When I went outside, it was a bit… chilly.
“This is the Sumida River!”
“It’s a big river, isn’t it…”
In the pitch-black darkness, a single ship floated.
It’s a small boat.
And… is that a lantern? It looks like something attached to the ship.
“Ray”
“Master Satoru, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”
Hastily, I head towards Satoru-sama.
He is dressed in his usual kimono with a haori.
Satoru-sama looks at me… and freezes.
“What happened to you?”
“Um…?”
Satoru-sama is staring at me intently.
Even when I call out, there’s no response.
Momen-san gives a wry smile and pokes Satoru-sama in the side.
“Huh!”
“Did you wake up?”
“Oh… I thought you were a celestial maiden. It was you, Rei…”
Satoru-sama is also kind, so he praises me.
Somehow, I feel sorry. …But even if it’s flattery, I was happy.
Because… it’s nice to be complimented by someone you like.
“Rei. You look even more beautiful today.”
“Thank you very much. That… makes me happy.”
Since they gave me a compliment, I have to properly thank them.
“Will I… be able to come back alive today? I’m going to be on a boat alone with Rei, a woman so beautiful that no one in this world can compare to her.”
Huh?
Just the two of us…?
“Okay, get on the boat.”
Cotton-san hurriedly pushes my back.
Boarding the houseboat, Satoru-sama and I.
“Next, it’s Momen-san and Sakichi-san, right?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
The ship… started moving on its own.
Momen-san and Akino-san are waving at us with smiles from the dock.
“Have a great day♡”
“Huh!? Uh, um! W-wasn’t this supposed to be a double date?”
Then, Cotton-san says with a smirk.
“Sorry, that was a lie.”
“Lie!?”
“Today, just the two of you, enjoy your evening date!”
“Eh? N-no way…!”
The dock is getting farther and farther away.
Night. On such a luxurious ship… just the two of us…
“Today, I chartered a boat for Rei.”
“Th-that’s…! I-I can’t believe it…!”
“Yarn said that you would feel awkward like this. So we decided to call it a double date. Sorry about that.”
Y-Yeah, that’s true, but…
Cotton-san, you should just say it…
“Well then, shall we have a meal, Rei?”
“Y-yes…”
What should I do? My heart is pounding and won’t stop.
Spending the night alone with him…
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