"Lord Ridd, I've brought drinks and snacks."
"Ah, yeah. Co in."
Responding to the voice from the other side of the door, Tink entered and carefully arranged the drinks and snacks she had brought on the table before us.
"I've prepared warm milk to help you sleep well.""Thank you, Tink.""Lady Tink, thank you for your consideration.""As expected of Ridd's maid. Very thoughtful."
After I thanked her, Amon followed up formally, and Johann showed his white fangs.
"Not at all. Everyone, please be careful not to stay up too late."
As Tink bowed and left the room, Johann cleared his throat, his eyes sparkling as he leaned forward.
"Alright, let's continue the pajama party! Ridd, Amon. We're having love talk!""Love talk...? Johann, do you understand what that ans?"
When I asked in exasperation, he puffed out his chest. "Of course!"
"It's talking about love, sharing experiences, right? Ridd is married, and Amon has been engaged for a while now. I wanted to ask my life seniors about various things.""Life seniors? Johann, we're the sa age.""Haha, don't worry about the small details."
Showing his white fangs, Johann turned his sparkling eyes toward Amon.
"Anyway, first up should be the eldest among us, Brother Amon!""M- first?"
Amon blinked, then put a hand to his mouth and groaned, "Hmm..." He's so kind, trying to answer Johann's unreasonable request properly.
"However, even if it's 'love talk,' I had no involvent with won until my engagent to Lady Tis. I don't have much to talk about.""Eh, is that so? Then, what about stories involving Rapha?""...Why is my elder sister coming into this?"
As Johann tilted his head, Amon frowned.
"Well, Mother said it. 'Rapha tends to be rather free-spirited in matters of romance, so maintain an appropriate distance.' That ans she has lots of love stories, right? Haven't you heard sothing, Amon?""That is..."
Johann looked at him with expectant eyes. But Amon wore an expression that was hard to describe, looking sowhat embarrassed.
Still, describing Rapha as 'tends to be rather free-spirited in matters of romance' is quite the assessnt. If she heard it herself, she'd probably be delighted, saying sothing like, 'My, what an apt description. I'm honored the Beast King would say that about .'
"What, you haven't heard anything?""It's not that I haven't heard anything, but..."
As Johann tilted his head quizzically, Amon averted his eyes, his face turning red.
"No, it's just no good. It wouldn't be appropriate for moral education to share my sister's stories directly.""Eh, what's that supposed to an?""So things just can't be shared."
Shaking his head at the pouting Johann, Amon cleared his throat and added, "However...""According to my sister, in love, it's important to take action and properly put your feelings into words.""Ooh, I see. That's what they call courtship behavior, right?"
As Johann nodded thoughtfully, I couldn't help but let out a "Fufu" laugh.
"Johann, I think Amon's words are a bit different from courtship behavior.""Eh, really?""Well, if you boil it down, it might beco courtship behavior. Being kind, inviting them for als, checking if they're troubled, and watching over them. And if you like them, it's important to properly say 'I like you' with words.""I see, that's educational."
Johann's sparkling eyes were adorable. But knowing that Rapha oversees the Foxn's intelligence operations, Amon's words sounded a bit different to . Isn't this about the techniques and knowledge of honeytraps... so-called 'using feminine wiles' or 'seduction sches'?
"Well, that's about all from . My engagent to Lady Tis is still recent, so I don't have much to share yet..."
As Amon said that, Johann narrowed his eyes slyly.
"Oho? Saying 'yet' implies you have plans for the future, doesn't it?""Wha...?!""Haha. Brother Amon, your face is all red again!""I'm just planning to deepen our bond normally as her fiancé. Please don't get the wrong idea."
As Amon raised his voice, Johann turned to .
"See, Ridd, shouldn't you say sothing to Brother Amon too? Tis is your sister-in-law, right?""That's true..."
I cleared my throat, straightened my posture, and smiled sweetly.
"If you do anything to make Tis cry, I won't let it slide. I won't forgive you.""Ridd... When you emit pressure while smiling, it's no joke."
As Amon let out a deep sigh, Johann's eyes widened. "Whoa!"
"I've read about this in books! Ridd, you're a 'siscon,' aren't you?""Ahaha. In my case, I'm married, and it's just normal concern stemming from sibling love. Right, Amon?""Y-yeah. Let's go with that."
When I smiled at him, Amon's mouth was twitching for so reason. Well, to be honest, I have no intention of forgiving anyone who lays a hand on my family—rle, Tis, Citri... my sisters, that is. However, this is absolutely not being a siscon; it's perfectly ordinary familial love.
"...Speaking of which, Johann, what kind of books are you reading? Pajama parties, love talk, siscons...?"
We have various books collected in Baldia too, but I don't rember reading any that cover topics like the ones Johann ntioned. They might be novels or biographies circulating only within the Beastman countries, which I likely wouldn't know about.
At my question, Johann looked slightly surprised and blinked.
"What, you don't know, Ridd, even though you're from the Empire? They're popular books originating from the Empire recently, with pictures and words mixed together.""Recently? Books with pictures and words mixed together...?"
Hmm, were there such books originating from the Empire? As I tilted my head in confusion, Johann leaned forward and changed the subject. "More importantly..."
"Next is Ridd, the only one among us three who's married and has even had a wedding ceremony. Co on, tell us how you and your wife got together!""Eh, well, shouldn't the one who started this, Johann, go first?""Eh? But you both already know how I t Citri. There's nothing to talk about here."
As Johann puffed out his cheeks and pouted, I smiled sweetly.
"Then, how about your parents? Lady Sektos and Lord Tabal?""You an how Mother and Father got together?""Yeah, haven't you heard anything?"
If we get onto the topic of how the Beast King and her husband got together, it's a perfect opportunity to naturally extract information from Johann about the two of them—no, about the Bestia family's dynamics and preferences. Normally, information about figures who rule countries or tribes, like the Beast King or clan chiefs, is highly confidential and hard to obtain through hearsay. But in a children's 'pajama party' with Johann and us, it's possible to subtly draw it out.
"Have I heard anything...?""Any story is fine. If you tell , I'll share mine too."
Johann groaned, racking his brain, trying to rember. I chuckled inwardly. Suddenly, I felt a sticky gaze. What's this...? Turning, I saw Amon frowning suspiciously.
"What's wrong, Amon?""...It's nothing. It's just that Ridd, you're being rather cunning, or maybe immature.""Ahaha, that's not nice. Before being 'immature,' I'm still very much a 'child,' you know.""Well, I'll let it slide."
Just as Amon sighed deeply and shrugged, Johann gasped, "Ah, I rember!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)