--that night.

"Your allowance is a tax.

　Richter muttered with a glint in his eye, "Your allowance is a tax." Huta had come to the Klingbloom mansion in a prime location in the noble district of the capital.

　The Klingbloom family has a manor a short distance from the capital, which is technically a separate mansion, but Richter basically resides in this separate mansion.

Doesn't it ever make you want to go back to the main residence?

　Huta had been to Richter's residence several times.
　But this was the first time she had been in his private quarters.

　First of all, there is not much stuff.
　The first thing that struck me was the lack of furnishings, as if Beatrix had privatized the merchant's mansion.

　Each piece of furniture, such as tables and sofas, was of high quality, but there were only a small number of high quality items.

　There were no paintings or works of art, but instead, the desk was adorned with a pile of scrolls. They are not decorations.

"There's no resting place for me back at the main residence.
"What?
Hmm?

　Did I say something funny?　Richter tilted his head as if to say, "Did I say something funny?
　What do you mean?
　The main residence is his home. The lord's house. How is it that the head of the Klingbloom family has no place in the main house?

　What is waiting for him at the main residence if he doesn't feel the need to return there compared to the current environment where he is complaining so much.

So you're saying things are better now?
No, I don't know about ....... It's more like quality over here and quantity ...... over there.
"Quantity?

　Futa looks at the pile of scrolls.
　How can this be less quantity?

"Oh, no. The work is the same anyway. Ah.

　Richter puts his hand to his forehead and groans.

I can't do this anymore without booze. I'll get you a meal.

　A woman in a butler's uniform appeared as Richter called out, "Is there anyone here? I thought you said you all wore butler's clothes," Futa said with a faraway look in his eyes.

We'll have a meal and then drinks. Bring me something from my cellar. It'll go best with the food.
Are you expecting guests?
No, the best one.
All right, sir.

　Futa is not quite sure what this conversation is about.
　The guests that come to the Klingblooms' house are basically nobles of equal or lower rank. Inevitably, the food for the guests is of a high quality that indicates "nobility," but in fact, the quality of the food has nothing to do with the taste.

　What is needed is the brand name. That's why Richter doesn't serve what he likes.

　Today is not the day to be uptight.
　What's wrong with drinking what you like, he says.

　After a while, when the hot food was brought to the table, Richter sat down on his desk chair and Futa on the sofa and started to move the cutlery around.

　They ate as if they were at a buffet, with no food distribution. It was a traditional way of enjoying an evening meal that was favored in older times.

　Richter was leaning back in his work chair, sipping his drink in a lazy manner, and Futa was leaning his arm on the armrest of the sofa, because he was told to do as he pleased.

　Two men, eating without any particular concern.

"Oh, you're talking about quality and quantity. That's a human being.
"Humans?
Back home, there are a lot of troublesome humans waiting for you. Back in King's Landing, there's a small elite of troublesome humans. I've got nothing but garbage options.
"Oh, ...... that's the elite few, isn't it ......?

　Richter's mind was filled with barbarians, demons and perverted subordinates.

　In the back of Fouta's mind was a large number of noblemen who were involved with both Fouta and Richter.

But you're handling it well, Richter.
"He's handling it well?　With that?
Yeah, yeah. You know, the other day, when you and I got tangled up.
Entangled. ......

　Richter understood that Huta was talking about barbarians when she described being entangled.

I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.
"...... Hmm?

　Futa was picturing a scene where Richter, holding the weakness of a nobleman, coolly fought off the nobleman.

　He saw himself whispering in Prim's ear.

"...... Oh.
I'm not sure what's wrong with you, Mr. Richter!　You've had too much to drink!　What's the matter, Mr. Richter?
Why would I do that?
Don't you remember?　Don't you remember? - That's when you ran off with your face all red.


"What?

　Fouta thinks of the nobleman running away, his face flushed with rage.

　Richter thinks of Prim walking away with her cheeks stained.

"...... ugh.
"Mr. Richter!　Mr. Richter!
Stop it, stop it. I'll throw up if you say anything else.
Are you really that shy?

　I'm not going to say more, I'll throw up.

"Well, if you insist, I'll stop.
Oh, please do. ...... I'm pretty sure that never happened. ......
Yes, it did. But not since then, right?
"...... what?

　Futa said, as if it had just occurred to him.
　He must have realized that he couldn't win against the Lord Treasurer after all, with the image of that nobleman in his mind.

"He's gone sullen.
What does our relationship look like to you, ？？？？?

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand why. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

　This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your time with your family and friends.

　It's not ....... Richter was calm.

What do I look like?　Hmmm, it's hard to describe. Richter's ...... loyal dog?
"Are you blind?
I don't care how embarrassed you are, you can't talk to me like that!
I'm not embarrassed!　I'd rather ...... poo......
Mr. Richter?

　The collar and dog-eared prim.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

　The next thing you know, you're in the middle of a road trip.
　The next thing he knew, he was running around on the wrong side of the road, and Richter, who was holding the lead, was about to be torn to pieces.

"What kind of play is this ......?
"Play?

　What kind of play is this?　He swallowed his cries and shook his head.

　Finally, he realized. He had been mistaken.

　That should have made him feel bad.

　If he wasn't angry when he turned red, then...

　Perhaps that aristocratic old man is making a pass at you.

...... So that's it.

　This is also connected to the fact that he said he had an arranged marriage.
　It is certainly a topic that can only be talked about with alcohol in your system.

"All right, Mr. Richter. Next time I see you, I'll give you a hard time. I'm going to tell him that you're a nuisance.
What?
Don't worry. I owe Mr. Richter a debt of gratitude. I know it's hard for you to say this because of your position, but I can.
"Oh, no. ...... What are you going to say, by the way?
What ...... are you going to say? Like, "Don't ever speak to me in a friendly way again.
...... You don't have to say that much, do you?
You're very kind, Mr. Richter.
You're tougher than I thought!

　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.

　But look at Huta. What a motivated look on his face.

　Aren't you being too rude, even if you are close to him?

But you've got to say something about that kind of thing once. If Mr. Richter is that annoyed, so much the better.

　He's nauseous, after all. --And Fouta knows it.

No, ...... is annoying, but it is annoying.
...... So let's keep it a little lighter. I'd like to make it a little lighter, so that Mr. Richter's conscience isn't bothered.
"That'd be great. What are you going to say?
"Well, .......

　Futa thought for a moment.
　I have no intention of denying illicit love.
　Just tell him that Richter is annoyed. In other words.



"'I have no romantic interest in you.
Wait a minute.
Hmm?
No, it's just that ...... I'm being a bit presumptuous, aren't I?
What?
It's not that surprising. I mean...

　Richter blushed a little.
　Richter blushed a little and said something he would not normally say.

　It seems too self-conscious for us to suddenly say, 'I have no romantic feelings for you,' when we don't think he likes us.
　And yes.

　I admit it. The creature's form is beautiful.

They're not bad to look at.

　"So it's not bad to look at," he said, his cheeks stained with alcohol, and Futa froze.

"...... What?
I'm not sure what to say.
I'm surprised!　What, you like that, Mr. Richter?
Is that so bad?
Oh, you insist?　I'm the standard!

　Shiny black hair. The two tufts of hair tied up in a knot are definitely bruised, but it's not bad considering her face, which is more beautiful than pretty.
　And what's wrong with saying that she's not bad looking when she's probably the most well-proportioned of our mutual acquaintances?

"I'm sorry to say this, but she's better looking than your highness.
I'll kill you!
How can you be so mad?
How dare you compare me to Master Lilac!　I don't know what kind of play you have in your head, but I'm not even going to put Lilac in the same room as that disgusting picture!
That's what I'm saying!

　I'm not sure what you're talking about.
　Because it was. There was such a gap between Futa and Prim, who seemed to be getting along so well on the surface.

　It may be because they were drunk, but on the other hand, there is a high probability that they really meant it.

　Her feelings for Lilac were probably true.
　However, the "dirty picture" of Prim made me pity her, and at the same time, I was a little afraid of what she might think of other people.

"Futa!
What the hell?
Don't be so mad. By the way, ......, what do you think of me?
Why are you asking me this?

　What do you think of the man who said an old aristocrat was better looking than his highness?

What do you think of the man who told you that an old man of noble birth was good-looking compared to his highness? ...... Why should I answer you?
I'd like to know why you look so frightened!
I don't know why anyone would ask you what you think about yourself in this situation!

　Richter, who has been telling old men that they don't look bad and all that, asked me what I thought of him.
　--You can't blame him for being frightened.

"On the contrary!　On the contrary, Mr. Richter!
What?
What do you think of that ...... guy?
Why is he comparing me to you now?
Just answer the question!

　You're both drunk, that's all.
　Two screams echoing in the night.

"Huh, Huta is a mad dog when it comes to ...... His Highness?
"......
Why do you look at me like I'm looking at something terrible?
You like doggy play so much?
What's your logic?　It's disgusting!
That's what I think, too!

　First of all!　Richter shouted.

"Why should a man do that?
"...... What?

　Futa froze.

No, you're the one who was talking ...... about it earlier.
"Why would you do that?　I'm just saying that Prim's appearance isn't that bad.
Prim?　Why is Prim coming out?
What?
What?

　They look at each other and both say, "Wait, wait, wait, wait.

　Then they moved on to work on the consistency of the conversation for a while.

"...... is a good idea.
"Rather, how did you come up with such a misunderstanding?
"No, Mr. Richter should have first denied the fact that he was blushing.
I denied it, but you were the one who insisted.


I should've said "Prim.
You're the one who should have known!

　That's when they were both thinking.

　There was a sound of a door opening, and an intruder appeared.

"Wow, I knew it smelled good. I heard Prim, so I guess it's safe to say I've been called!　I'll take it. ...... Hey, what's wrong, you two look really bummed.

　Richter said.

Don't ever speak to me in a friendly manner again.
"What?

　Huta said.

"It's all your fault.
"What?

　They both looked at him resentfully.

I'm sorry. ......

　For the first time, the barbarian was there.