Chapter 81: Christine-san is Absent

I’m working at the Accounting Bureau again this afternoon.

Today, Christine-san is taking the day off due to family matters, so Anise Albina-san will be the one guiding me. She has chestnut-colored hair, a slender and delicate build, yet possesses a very attractive figure with ample breasts. Work and appearance shouldn’t be related, but instead of sitting across from each other, we ended up working side by side. There was no particular reason it had to be face-to-face, and since Anise-san decided it, I had no objections and simply followed along.

While we were at it, I wanted to learn a bit about Anise-san’s background, so I used my "gaze." The result showed: ’Anise Albina, 20 years old, single.’ So young! The only other woman around this age I knew was Stevie! Inside the inner palace, Cass had been keeping all the young maids away from me, so I hadn’t had any contact with them. But if working at the Accounting Bureau creates opportunities like this, I really need to take this job seriously. I must maintain an excellent attitude—diligent, sincere, and perform well enough to earn high marks from my superiors.

Once we started working, Anise-san only glanced at me occasionally. She didn’t try to talk to me or close the distance, just worked in a very normal, professional manner.

During break time, while still seated, Anise-san stretched her back. When she did, her chest thrust forward with a boing! Naturally, my eyes were drawn to it. Anise-san noticed my gaze and her face turned slightly red, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she reached behind her back and rubbed around her shoulder blades. Of course, she was probably just loosening up stiff shoulders, but from my perspective, I could clearly see her breasts jiggling. She wasn’t wearing as revealing a dress as Christine-san, but the neckline still went down to about the middle of her cleavage, so the movement was very noticeable!

"Shoulders get stiff, don’t they?" I asked.

She flinched, then turned toward me and replied in a small voice,

"Yes, they do. The work is so detailed that I have to stay very focused."

I wondered why her voice was so quiet. It seemed my feelings got through to her, because she handed me a small piece of paper. On it was written:

"Everyone around us is paying attention to Robbie-sama. They’re listening to our conversation."

Now that she mentioned it, even though the entire Accounting Bureau was on break and people further away were chatting while drinking tea, the area within about a 5-meter radius around me was dead silent. Maybe they really were eavesdropping? Even though it was supposed to be break time, the strange tension in the air wasn’t just my imagination.

Anise-san didn’t drink anything and just sat quietly. Since I usually have tea with Christine-san, this atmosphere felt very awkward.

Not knowing how to fill the silence (though I didn’t really need to), I took a biscuit out of my magic bag under the desk, broke it in half, and offered one piece to Anise-san. When I poked her lightly, she looked a bit surprised but smiled happily and whispered,

"Thank you very much,"

then took a bite.

"Delicious!"

she whispered, and ate the rest.

"Sorry it’s only a little bit. It’s leftover from yesterday’s snack," I said.

Her eyes widened.

"Please don’t apologize! I’m the one who received something from Robbie-sama without offering anything in return. Thank you so much!"

She had an exaggerated reaction. It seems saying "sorry" was a mistake. I’ll have to be careful. With Stevie, she probably would’ve said something like "Why didn’t you give me one too?" — what’s with this difference in reaction?

"Are you a noble, Anise-san?" I asked in a low voice.

"Robbie-sama, could you please call me just Anise?" she replied.

"Hmmm... but I make it a point to add ’-san’ when addressing older people, regardless of gender. It’s my personal rule, so please bear with me. I won’t use it during official occasions."

Anise-san made a troubled face but then said,

"Understood. Only when it’s just the two of us, okay? Ufufu~"

Unfortunately, break time ended there. After that, we continued working in silence. Anise-san seemed very capable—she was calculating at nearly twice Marin-sensei’s speed. In terms of pure calculation speed, she might even be faster than Christine-san.

While working, she would occasionally check on my progress and look my way. When I looked back, she would smile with one cheek and return to her own work. This happened several times, and before long, today’s work was over.

"Thank you very much for today," I said with a bow. She looked embarrassed and replied,

"Robbie-sama, please raise your head. I was the one who was surprised by how well you work. You’re very fast and accurate. It would be wonderful if you could continue helping us... But if you’re this capable, I suppose Christine-san won’t let you go, will she? What a shame."

"I also really enjoyed working with you, Anise-san. I look forward to working together again when the chance comes."

Anise-san’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Robbie-sama, you really are quite different from the rumors! Christine-san spoke very highly of you, so I was looking forward to meeting you, but you exceeded my expectations. I look forward to working with you again."

I received such warm words from her.

The pure and elegant Anise-san, and the erotic Christine-san. Both of them are wonderful.

---

The next night, Lily appeared for the night shift. Finally, the real one is here! was the feeling.

As soon as she arrived, Lily said,

"I received word that His Highness the Crown Prince’s remains will return to the royal palace tomorrow. The message came in the early afternoon."

"Does that mean Stevie is coming back too? I wonder how she’s doing..."

"Most likely, yes. However, I don’t have any detailed information about Stevie."

"Yeah, I figured. It’s the Crown Prince and a whole bunch of other people."

"Excuse me for asking, but Robbie-sama... His Highness the Crown Prince has passed away, yet you don’t seem to feel anything about it?"

"No, not really. You might think I’m cold, but I barely ever met him."

(The "barely ever met him" part is just my assumption. No Crown Prince would ever want to meet an idiot prince like me.)

"Is that so? I heard a rumor that in the past, even without being summoned, you went to the Crown Prince’s place and ate sweets there?"

Eh? Is that a thing? That idiot really is beyond help.

"Did I? I don’t remember. Anyway, I’m more worried about Stevie. When she gets back, can you tell me how she’s doing? I’m sure she’s really down, and if there’s anything I can do to help, I want to support her."

"Huh!?"

Lily looked shocked.

"Robbie-sama, you feel that strongly about Stevie?"

"Eh? Is that surprising? If a girl you called to your bedchamber suffers misfortune, isn’t it normal to worry about her?"

Lily shook her head.

"No, that is not normal at all. There are no members of the royal family who would worry about a woman they only called to their bedchamber once. Even high-ranking nobles don’t do that. Stevie only served as your guard a few times and was called to your bedchamber only once, correct? There is no need for you to concern yourself with her to that extent. Please be careful not to say such things in front of others. I will keep what I just heard to myself."

"Is that really how it normally works? Is it weird to care about a woman you’ve been intimate with?"

"Yes, it is. If you like her that much, you would need to consider making her a concubine. However, I doubt Lord Gilmore would approve."

"Hmm... I see."

From my perspective, if someone like Stevie is crying, I’d want to comfort her... but apparently that’s not normal here.

"For members of the royal family—especially high-ranking ones with rights to the throne—it is important not to become too attached to any single woman. Otherwise, when you ascend to the throne or a similar position, factions of women could gain power and interfere in politics. Even if your heart is captured by one woman, it is best not to show it on the surface."

Hearing Lily’s explanation, I could understand the logic. Still, I think worrying a little about Stevie should be fine. It’s not like I have any claim to the throne anyway.

"You may think that the matter of royal succession has nothing to do with you, Robbie-sama, and that you are completely out of the picture. However, with the Crown Prince’s death, the power struggles among the Second Prince and those below him are expected to intensify."

"But I’m the Eleventh Prince. Someone at the very end like me shouldn’t have anything to do with the succession, right?"

"Yes, that is correct. However, with the Crown Prince gone, the princes have begun trying to gather majorities. The Third Prince and those below him are desperately trying to pull influential people to their side."

"I’m not an influential person, though?"

"It seems they want to show that they are loved and respected by gathering many younger brothers. In short, they want to demonstrate popular support. Once the Crown Prince’s funeral is over, I’m sure the other princes will approach you as well, Robbie-sama."

"Ugh, that sounds heavy..."

"That is also part of a prince’s duty."

"If that’s the case, I’d rather quit being a prince and just work at the Accounting Bureau."

"That might actually suit you perfectly. The Director of the Accounting Bureau seems to be very fond of you."

"The Director? Margaret-san?"

"Yes. She has publicly stated that she wants to keep you by her side to work with her. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? The Director is also single."

"What’s wonderful about that...? Let’s stop this conversation. Alright, time for my nightly walk!"

"Understood. I shall accompany you."

After changing clothes, we went outside and I stood on the roof. There were still lights on in some rooms of the royal palace. Maybe they were preparing for the return of the Crown Prince’s remains? Once he returns, the funeral will probably be held immediately. The departments in charge must be incredibly busy.

None of that had anything to do with me, so I moved on and first went to check on Michelle and Marin-sensei’s rooms.

"That room belongs to the Marin Brandon couple," Lily informed me even though I hadn’t asked. The curtains were drawn. The curtain in Michelle’s neighboring room was slightly open. It didn’t look like they were doing anything inside.

I thought I could hear faint voices leaking from Marin-sensei’s room next door. It sounded like Marin-sensei’s delicate voice... Could it be that the Michelles were listening to the encouraging voices from next door? Michelle, why are you ruining my fun!? Or maybe Marin-sensei is planning to have another round with him after she’s done? Otherwise, I feel like Lily won’t play along with me.

"Where’s Stevie’s room?" I asked on a whim.

"It’s over there. But since her older brother has passed away, she might move to a single room."

Lily pointed it out. It was in the same row as Marin-sensei’s room but a bit further away.

"Where is the Accounting Bureau Director’s room...?" Lily started to say.

"You don’t have to tell me that."

"Oh? I thought you might be interested."

"No, I’m not particularly into older women. I do have my own preferences, you know."

"Is that so? I thought Robbie-sama would be fine with any woman who approaches him?"

Hey Lily, that’s a prejudiced way of thinking!

But I’m curious how much Lily knows about my private life and relationships with women. If she has a full grasp of everything and still says that, I wouldn’t have any defense. Though just between Lily and Stevie, my range is already quite wide.

"Where is Anise Albina-san from the Accounting Bureau’s room?"

The moment I asked, I immediately regretted it. Right—silence is golden! I thought I saw Lily grin, but she didn’t comment.

"She lives with her parents in a corner of the noble district. If you’re interested, I can look it up and draw you a map."

Lily didn’t ask for a reason. I’m not actually planning to go to Anise-san’s place or anything. Hehe, I was just a little curious, that’s all.