Unable to understand what Lucretia was saying, my mind froze.
To make Hugh think of her as attractive… what is she planning to do by making him like her even more…?
Hugh’s affection for Lucretia is obvious to anyone watching. So much so that it goes beyond jealousy and makes me feel resigned. At the root of Hugh’s actions is his love for Lucretia, and it’s an undeniable fact that he cherishes Lucretia more than anyone else.
There’s no way Lucretia doesn’t know that, but…
“I’m not as pretty as Lecty, and I don’t have the figure like Lily, and my breasts are small, so I was wondering if Hugh finds girls like you two more attractive. That’s why I was hoping to get some advice from you…”
“I, I see…”
According to my analysis, Hugh likes cute types more than beautiful types, prefers petite women to women with good figures, and prefers smaller breasts. I want to shout that I’m the one who wants advice, but I suppress it seeing Lucretia’s serious expression.
“Did something happen between you and Hugh?”
“Yes…”
Lucretia nods.
…I knew it. There has to be a reason for her suddenly saying something like this. She began to tell the whole story while looking down.
“Well, the other day, Hugh asked me for the first time if we could sleep together.”
“Can I go home now?”
“Eeeh!? Wait, please listen to me!”
I thought it was a serious consultation, but it was just a lovey-dovey story. Lucretia hurriedly stopped me as I started to get up from the Sofa. Lecty also smiled wryly and suggested, “Why don’t we keep her company a little longer?”
…Well, if we become family in the future, I’ll probably hear these kinds of stories every day. As the second wife, it’s important to accept it with an open mind.
“And then?”
I sat back down on the Sofa and asked.
“How was it sleeping with Hugh?”
“Nothing happened.”
“Ah…”
Lecty and I realized it in unison at Lucretia, who was drooping her shoulders.
“I, it’s not like I was expecting anything, but…? But, I was prepared to some extent, or at least, I thought he would hug me, or ki, kiss me… or something…”
“Because he didn’t do anything, you became worried that he doesn’t find you attractive…”
“Y, yes! That’s it!”
Lucretia nods vigorously at my point.
I see… This is quite a serious problem.
If Hugh invited me to sleep with him and did nothing, I would forcefully steal Hugh’s lips and go all the way…
But I can do that because I’m in a position where there are no lingering feelings.
I’ve already introduced Hugh to my father, and I’ve indirectly conveyed in a letter that I’m considering marriage in the future. My father seems to like Hugh too, so even if I were to have a child, I could just marry him.
But that’s not the case for Lucretia. She herself is aware of her position to some extent. Even if Hugh wanted to, Lucretia would have refused.
But, being asked and refusing is different from not being asked in the first place…
I understand Lucretia’s feelings of unease. Hugh probably doesn’t understand the complicated feelings of a maiden who has to refuse if asked, but feels lonely if not asked at all. That’s why Hugh probably hasn’t noticed that Lucretia is feeling uneasy at all.
…However, I can’t blame Hugh. I was the one who warned him not to lay a hand on Lucretia.
On the day of the Royal Academy entrance exam, I told Hugh that if he laid a hand on Lucretia, everyone around them would be unhappy. Hugh is faithfully following that warning, so I can’t help but feel that I am partly responsible for Lucretia’s anxiety.
“I think Hugh-san finds Lucretia-sama attractive enough…”
“That’s right. That’s the problem.”
As Lecty says, Hugh is already head over heels for Lucretia’s charm, so it’s difficult to make him feel even more attracted. Or rather, even if he were to feel more attracted, would he lay a hand on Lucretia…? Hmm.
His self-control is stronger than I imagined, or rather, his willpower is strong. As expected of someone who possesses the 〈Brainwashing〉 Skill, a god-like Skill that can do anything, yet doesn’t get tempted or abuse it.
I can appreciate that, but from another perspective, he’s also timid and hesitant.
“Instead of making him feel more attracted, it might be better to think about breaking his self-control.”
“Breaking his self-control, you say…?”
“Yes. For example, sneaking into bed completely naked.”
“N, no way! That’s just being a pervert!”
I thought it was a pretty good idea, but Lucretia, who turned bright red, rejected it with all her might. I think she should do that much if she wants Hugh to make a move.
“T, that might break Hugh-san’s self-control too much…”
“Well, certainly…”
She might really end up pregnant. It’s difficult to find the right balance…
“N, no perverted stuff! I, I’m thinking about it eventually, but not now!”
“Then, I think it would be good to tell him in words.”
“That’s right… I think Hugh would respond if you did that.”
Hugh is just timid and hesitant, not oblivious. He probably knows about Lucretia’s feelings, and I’m sure he would try to face her in his own way if Lucretia told him how she feels face to face.
“B, but it’s embarrassing to ask him to hug me or ki, kiss me…”
Lucretia shakes her head with a bright red face. She’s also shy in her own way…
Come to think of it, she hasn’t been as clingy to Hugh as she was when she first entered the Royal Academy. I haven’t seen her hugging him in public as much, and she wasn’t like “Look, look!” when she was trying on the dress the other day.
Could it be that she’s become embarrassed to be affectionate because she’s started to see Hugh as a romantic interest…? If Tia’s mother knew that Tia was learning about love and trying to become an adult, she would be delighted and tease her.
“Can you two ask Hugh to kiss you…?”
“I, I don’t think I can. I mean, I can do it myself with a ‘here goes!’ kind of feeling.”
“I can say it, but I’d probably steal his lips before saying it.”
“I see… So I should be more proactive after all.”
“Hugh is passive, so it’s true that it’s better to be a little forceful.”
“Yes! I think that’s good for Hugh-san!”
“I see, I see… Huh, don’t you two sound awfully experienced?”
Lucretia tilts her head, looking suddenly suspicious.
“Hey, you two. You’ve been helped by Hugh before, right? Did something happen then?”
“Ugh…”
S, she’s surprisingly sharp…! Lecty and I unintentionally choked on our words, and Lucretia gives us a sharp, half-lidded glare.
“N, nothing happened, though…?”
“Y, yes. Nothing happened, you know…?”
“I wonder why you’re both averting your eyes? I’m curious as the Seventh Princess of the Kingdom of Reese!”
Isn’t it unfair to bring up her status here!?
…Well, if we’re talking about unfair, I was also unfair to steal Hugh’s lips, but I did that because I felt like Hugh was going to disappear somewhere, and I did it a little forcefully, or rather, it couldn’t be helped.
Judging from her reaction, I think Lecty kissed Hugh in a similar way. I don’t think Hugh would do it himself.
We can continue to deny it. But that would be too insincere.
The two of them aren’t dating or engaged yet, but since we kissed Hugh knowing his and Lucretia’s feelings, the fault lies with us.
More than anything, I don’t want to keep lying to someone who will eventually become family.
I made eye contact with Lecty and we nodded to each other.
“We are very sorry!”
We bowed our heads with sincerity and asked Lucretia for forgiveness.