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TL: ALT
Chapter 28 – Master
Mariel was worried in a bookstore in a building in Tennoji.
Lately, she had not been able to look Wataru in the face.
When she stood next to him and looked at his face, her heart began to race, and she felt dizzy as if blood was rushing to her head.
This had never happened before, and Mariel herself was confused by the sudden change.
When she had boldly negotiated with Baron Moye, she had felt a certain affection for Wataru.
They had slept together a long time ago, so she wondered why she felt this way now, but she couldn’t control her feelings.
She tried to remain as calm as possible when she was with Wataru, hoping that she could help him in negotiations or other intellectual matters.
But despite her efforts, she lost her composure.
And now, even as she was being taught how to find books in the bookstore, Mariel’s gaze was drawn to Wataru instead of the bookshelves.
Even now, the mere sight of Wataru’s cheerful smile makes her chest tighten.
Her cheeks flush, and her eyes moist.
She stares at Wataru’s face with a dazed expression as if she were in a fever.
No, I must be calmer, she tells herself, but her voice is getting smaller and smaller.
“Well, they’re categorized like that… Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing. There are just so many books; I’m a bit overwhelmed.”
“Ahaha, I see. This is a pretty well-stocked bookstore.”
She managed to hide it.
But it’s not good to keep acting suspicious.
Completely unaware of Mariel’s struggle to regain her composure, Wataru started walking towards a corner of the bookstore.
It’s better to keep moving.
That way, no one will see her red face.
No one will hear her heart beating.
Unable to look him in the face, Mariel kept repeating to herself, “Calm down, calm down,” while staring at her feet.
She could tell that Aire was laughing maliciously next to her.
She enjoyed Mariel’s reaction because she wasn’t interested in books at all.
“But I have the feeling that Mariel is a book lover just like you.”
“Don’t you like them?”
“No. I like books too, so I’m happy.”
“Is that so?”
Good.
The fear that had suddenly risen in her chest disappeared, and she patted her chest.
Intelligent women are not easily liked by men.
They should just take care of the house.
There are many nobles who say this openly without hesitation.
Even though she knew that Wataru was completely different from those men, she felt relieved to hear it from him.
“So, do you really like encyclopedias and history books?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Mariel is very intellectual. I write for a living, so I have to do research, but I never buy books for myself.”
“I’d get a headache if I did.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Hmm, what do you mean?”
“I want to know more about the world you lived in, Master, because it is the world you lived in. I find it very enjoyable to learn about the world and society you lived in and the kind of life you led.”
“I see. I feel a little embarrassed.”
“Master, aren’t you interested in the area I lived in and the way I lived?”
“Yes, I am. Now that you mention it, I am.”
Wataru looked happy and embarrassed, but for Mariel, it was just a sincere statement.
She wasn’t uninterested in hearing about another world, but Wataru was undoubtedly the root of her strong desire to know more about it.
She wanted to know what kind of world the person she loved had grown up in.
She wanted to know just a little bit about it.
To put it more bluntly, Mariel wanted to know more about Wataru.
And she wanted to be of some use to him.
When Mariel opened the book to check the contents, she suddenly felt Wataru’s gaze on her.
“My master is quite a lecher, isn’t he?”
Mariel’s lips curved into a slight smile.
As she watched Wataru, she could see that his eyes were immediately drawn to Mariel and Aire’s breasts and buttocks.
But, perhaps ashamed of himself, he couldn’t keep staring and quickly looked away, only to look again and repeat the cycle.
Even though he knew he was being noticed, and even though he was free to stare at her to his heart’s content, he couldn’t bring himself to be bold.
But Mariel found that endearing.
She was aware that her judgment was clouded by love, but even these small actions were precious to her.
Today, Mariel chose an outfit that showed off her figure with the intention of attracting Wataru’s attention.
She wants him to look at her more.
She wants him to be more fascinated by her.
She wants to know which outfit attracts Wataru’s attention the most.
To find out, she constantly checks which women Wataru looks at when he walks down the street.
Lately, she has been borrowing Wataru’s computer to look at fashion websites.
She studies the designs and colors of clothes that can only be found in this world.
She’s not only smart but also beautiful and cute.
That is what she wanted Wataru to think.
Aire doesn’t seem to be interested in books at all and talks to Wataru all the time.
Even when Mariel takes a book from the shelf, her mind wanders to Wataru.
It was she who wanted to read, and Wataru and Aire just went along with her.
Still, when Wataru’s eyes keep going to Aire, she can’t help but want him to look at her more.
But that’s too selfish a wish, so she has to keep it to herself.
(Master, if you don’t look at me more, not just at Aire, I’ll get sulky.)
“What? No, I won’t do that!”
She realized what she had said before it came out of her mouth.
How embarrassing!
Despite her thoughts, Mariel couldn’t stop talking.
“No, you were looking at Aire the whole time. Do you think my clothes look good on me?”
“Yes, they’re very cute. They fit your great figure. You look like a model when I look at you like this. Let’s take a picture later.”
“R-really? I’m glad, but this is embarrassing. Don’t stare at me too much.”
Mariel’s face turned red.
Her eyes danced, and she couldn’t look directly at Wataru’s face.
Aire looked out and smiled maliciously into Mariel’s face.
“Nishishi, Mariel is in trouble whether she’s being watched or not. It is hard to be a girl in love.”
“Aire! Don’t say that. Please.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
She had intended to be angry, but she was caught off guard, and her words became weak.
She was aware that she was saying something unpleasant.
If this continued, she didn’t know what kind of trouble she would cause.
Mariel’s mistake was Wataru’s. Causing unnecessary trouble for his master would be a big problem.
“Wataru-sama… Ah, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. In another world, it might be a problem for slaves to be so familiar, so I didn’t say much, but it was refreshing to be called by my first name by Mariel. If you want, you can call me ‘san’ instead of ‘sama.'”
“But calling you like that… it’s like calling a lover. I can’t…”
For Mariel, who had been raised as a member of the nobility, calling someone of the opposite sex by their first name was something she only did with those she was very close to.
If this were not Earth but another world, some might think that the way they addressed each other meant that they were lovers.
Wataru smiled amusedly at Mariel, who was fidgeting.
In the past, Wataru had been the one who was nervous, but somehow, their positions had reversed.
“If you don’t like it, just call me that today. Calling me ‘Master’ in public will attract attention.”
“I-I understand. But just for today.”
“Yes. Try it.”
When he urges her to say it, she tries her best, but her chest feels so full that she can’t get the words out.
She feels both embarrassed and annoyed by Wataru’s and Aire’s smiling looks.
Nevertheless, she gathers her courage and calls his name.
“Wa-Wataru-san…”
“Eh, what was that?”
“Nishishishi… Your voice is so low.”
“Ah, uh…”
“I couldn’t hear you clearly. Could you call me again?”
“Wa-Wataru-san!”
“What is it, Mariel?”
“Geez… Stop teasing me. I don’t like you when you’re like this.”
Puffing out her cheeks, Mariel took Wataru’s arm.
She liked his kindness in casually picking up a book for her.
She liked how he pulled her close when she was about to bump into someone else.
She liked the strength she felt when they touched.
She stood next to Wataru at the counter and bought a book.
The clerk wrapped it carefully and gave it to Wataru.
Then Wataru gave the book to Mariel.
She decided to read Wataru’s gift carefully.
When she realized that she would live as a slave, she never imagined that such a day would come.
She hopes that they can spend more and more time together like this.
To protect this precious time, Mariel continues to work hard today.
“Ara, Aire isn’t here.”
“Where did she go? Maybe she went to the bathroom?”
“She’s not the kind of girl who would leave without saying anything…”
Wataru immediately calls the number she registered, but all he hears is the ringing tone.
Did something happen? Did she get into trouble?
There’s no need to worry about Aire, but anything could have happened to the person she was with.
Just as a feeling of fear began to rise, they spotted Aire emerging from the crowd.
“Aire, where did you go?”
“I’m sorry. I was being scouted by a talent agency and asked if I wanted to be a model.”
“A-a talent agency!? W-what happened?”
“Well, they said I could wear lots of pretty clothes, so I thought you might like it.”
“Y-you didn’t actually accept, did you?”
“No. I told them I couldn’t decide on my own, so I’d ask you first, but they seemed surprised and suddenly left.”
“…Mariel.”
“Yes, Aire, I need to talk to you later.”
“What? Did I do something wrong?”
He thought he had told Aire about how slaves were treated in this world.
Mariel decided that Aire needed to be educated properly.
Aire must have looked very stern because she was trembling with fear.
But it was Aire’s fault.
She didn’t want to look like that in front of Wataru!
Wataru patted Aire gently on the back to calm Mariel’s anger.
“Well, you’re safe, aren’t you? Besides, you’ll be on your own sometimes from now on, so don’t worry too much. But answer the phone.”
“Hehe, you’re so kind, Master! Oh, really? I didn’t notice.”
“Well, you’re not used to the sound yet, so it’s understandable.”
“Wa-Wataru-san, you’re too lenient with Air.”
“Eh, I think Master is being lenient with Mariel. Right now, he brought you to the bookstore first.”
“T-That’s just because the bookstore was nearby… That’s all…”
“Then let’s go to the game center where Aire said she wanted to go next.”
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
“Come on, Mariel.”
“Y-yes. …Wataru-san.”
It seemed like it would be a while before Mariel could properly call Wataru by his name.
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