Morning comes.
　I wake up. I look at the clock and it's the usual time.
　My internal clock is functioning correctly.
　I feel a warm feeling on my left arm and I turn to it.

"Oh, no, RAGUE, oh no, RARESU.

A beautiful blonde girl who was about to leave at the age of fourteen while talking in her sleep...............Tart is hugging me.
　Tart was abandoned in the mountains at a very young age when his family told him he was unwanted.
　She is traumatized by that and is unstable at times. So when she couldn't bear the loneliness, this is how she would sleep with them.

A person's body temperature has the power to give peace of mind.
　........Once, Tart and Maha did the worst abomination of all, having a dream sperm when they were sleeping together, but they didn't despise me, and since then, they have been treated regularly and no problems have occurred.
　The important thing for an assassin is the ability to learn. They don't make the same mistakes over and over again.
　However, it's still tough to get this attached to them.

What the hell kind of dreams are you having?

Seeing Tart's happy sleeping face makes us feel happy too.
　Lately, he's been sleeping with us more and more often.
　At first I was worried that his mind was becoming more unstable, but on closer inspection I realized that he was just using it as an excuse to spoil us.
　I should probably admonish him, but I don't feel bad about doing this with the tart, so I keep my mouth shut.
　Besides, this boy is desperately devoted to me.
　I'd like to be able to listen to this much selfishness.

"Tart, wake up.

I shake the tart's shoulder, suppressing the urge to watch him sleep.
　It's time to get up, or I won't be able to get ready for breakfast in time.
　Tart opens his eyes wistfully.

'Lug-sama, rai-shu-crease.'

The tart embraces me in a rambling tone of voice.
　The tart is in a negligee, and perhaps because he's clothed in only thin fabric, I'm uncomfortably aware of his fine, well-grown body.
　And then, in a follow-up move, he starts rubbing his cheek on my chest plate.

''........I know you love it, but will you let me go?
That's good, isn't it? I was just doing that until a few minutes ago. You can't beat him up just because he's in a dream...

He pinched Tart's cheek and got teary-eyed.

'Come on, wake up,'
Oh, no, it's not a dream.
Good morning, tart.
Oh, wow, wow, this is, uh, wrong, wrong, wrong, Mr. Rogues, no!

Turning bright red and panicking away from me, the tart fell on his ass and fell off the bed, backing away.
　I'm showing him all sorts of things I shouldn't be showing him, but he doesn't seem to have a problem with that.

''Um, no. This is that,''
I'm aware of that. I'm not going to lie down. I'll tell you what, why don't you take a look at your watch?
I have to hurry.

Tart's reddened face turns blue as he opens my closet and pulls out my servant clothes.
　I turn my back to Tart and she starts to get dressed.
　This is how I keep some of her clothes in my room since we sleep together so often.
　My room is close to the waterfront. After Tart returns to his room, I finish getting ready much faster by changing here than by going to the watering hole to get dressed.

'So, I'm off then!　Master Rouges, let me apologize again later for the morning!

I turned around and saw a tart in his usual servant's uniform with his head bowed and going out at breakneck speed.
　He would now head to the watering hole to clean himself up and then get ready for breakfast.

'I've never seen a tart in such a sleepy state before.

Tart is one of the lucky ones.
　It's not often that I wake him up.
　I'm sure that yesterday's overwhelm must have taken its toll.
　He covered me as I went over the edge to get to Dia and then waited for us to get home for the rest of the day.
　I feel sorry for him for teasing me or getting angry about today.
　.........but still.

''I knew my body at this age would be a different creature of reason and instinct.

Sigh.
　The softness and smell of the tart hugging me in thin clothing is poisonous to my fourteen-year-old s*xually active body.
　I'm reacting in a visible way, and in fact, I could feel that kind of desire welling up in me.
　........I'm treating him as a mentor and father to that boy.
　If I show her such a tent in the morning, any trust she has in me could be blown away.
　I have to be more careful, or else I'll have to take further measures.

We headed to the living room at the usual time.
　My parents were already in their seats, and Dia was already there.

Good morning, baby. Rougie. Look, I gave Dia my old one. Doesn't it look good on her?
'Very dainty. White looks good on Dear.

Deere was wearing a white, sheer summer dress.
　It wasn't very ornate, but it looked good on Dear, who was elegant and slender.
　The white outfit was perfect for Dia's pure white skin and silver hair.

'Thanks, but I'm a bit embarrassed,'
''Hmph, as I thought, Dia-chan is perfect in my clothes. In Tart-chan's case, aside from her height, her breasts are too big to be a dress-up doll... Gosh, it's a pity I couldn't let her dress up.
'No, my mom sews tart clothes sometimes, too. And that's just her taste in clothes.
'If you make it from scratch, you can't try things out. But if I can make you wear my clothes, you can do whatever you want!

My mother was very fond of the tart, taking care of him and tailoring his clothes with her sewing skills.
　........but she would often ask him, 'Have you got any grandchildren yet? And stop asking questions like s*xual harassment.

'Hey, Roug. Who's Tart?

Deer's expression hardens slightly as he asks.

'You're my personal servant, my apprentice, my assistant. He is excellent, honest, and has done a lot of work for me. He did his best when he went to help Dia. And if you tell the word, it seems he's here in person.

Tart came from the kitchen to distribute the food.
　First, he hands out drinks to everyone. A freshly squeezed apple juice today? It's a great way to wake up.

"The boy is a tart.
Yeah, yeah. Tart, say hello to Dear.
'Ha, yes. Dear, I'm Master Lugue's servant, and my name is Tart. I'm also Master Lugue's assistant.
I'm Dia. It's a pleasure to meet you. And thank you. You've been working hard to help me.
Hey, no. I'm Master Rouges' assistant.
Yeah, from the way you've been acting, you seem to like Lug.
Well, no, I mean, I respect it a lot and I love it, but, you know, it's not like that.

Tart is flustered, but Dia is calm.

''There's nothing to hide, and you don't have to shy away from me. The rogue is a nobleman, you know. It's only natural to have one or two concubines.''

He's a nobleman, so he understands that kind of thing.
　If there is only one wife, there is a risk that no successor will be born and the family will be cut off.
　Even if a child is born, there is no guarantee that he or she will be safe until he or she takes over.
　It is a natural decision for a nobleman to have more than one wife and to create a spare succession.

And if multiple wives are of equal status, it creates a risk of succession disputes.
　That's why it's common for second and third wives to be of a lower status than the main wife.
　In that respect, the tart that comes from a commoner and has magical powers is a good fit.

........But I don't have any plans to get into a relationship with the tart at this point.
　I know that Tart has begun to think of me as a man, but I don't think that I do.
　At least by reason.

'd*mn, that's ridiculous. As long as I can be around Master Rouges, that's all I need.
That's called liking it. Lug is a lucky man. Such a pretty girl adores you.
Yeah, I'll always be grateful for the tart.

Tart turned red in the face.

'Shit, I'll get that food right away.

Tart runs back to the kitchen.
　Then Dia looks at her father with a serious expression on her face.

'I thank you for wielding the power of Touahade for Vicorne at your peril. Master Kian, Master Roug. Due to the fact that I came here with almost no clothes on, this is the only thing I can give you as a gratuity. Please accept it.

Dia gives my father a ring with a large jewel on it.

A normal family would be able to live with it for three generations to come, and it's a valuable thing that money can't buy in the first place.

'I can't take it. It would be a memento left by Dear's mother. Don't bother with the gratuity. I received it many years ago from Count Vicorne. In addition, my son, who actually had a hand in it, claims that he was only keeping his word to you.
Very well. ...So would you mind taking it as tuition?
What is tuition?
'Please teach me the art of assassination. I need Touahade's assassination skills. I can use magic well. I'm reminded that it's not enough. So, please.

Dia lowers her head.
　I'm sure she was reminded of her own helplessness in this matter.
　Dia looks like this, but as a countess, she has received a full range of combat training. That can be seen from the way she walks.
　But in order to go beyond that, she is seeking the skills of Touahade.
　Maybe she wants to become Count Vicone's power eventually.

''Only the direct lineage of Touahade can be entrusted with Touahade's skills. ........With the exception of those who have Rougues teach them on the condition that if they go astray, they are immediately executed by their own hands. No it's okay, Diah will be my daughter, so she's qualified. We'll talk about that after breakfast. The soup that my lovely servant made for me will get cold.

Tart came in with a plate of soup poured over him.
　It was fish soup and smelled good.
　Indeed, it would be a shame to let this soup go cold.

I agree with you. I want to enjoy the food that Tart has prepared for us.
All right. Okay, I'll see you after dinner.

First, we'd have to eat.
　And after that, my father would tell me that Dia would be my sister and what we were going to do.
　A new endeavor that began five years ago in the Kingdom of Arvan.
　A group of young magicians gathered around a nobleman to form friendships and compete with each other.
　The reason I'm making Dia as my sister is also to go with me to that place.
　Going there was a bit of a hassle, but also a pleasure.