“Sophia, I’ve come for you!”
The man that suddenly entered the room goes straight towards Sophia the moment he sees her. Sophia hid as soon as he entered.
I got up to shield Sophia behind my back.
“Who are you?”
“Ha? Who are you?”
“I am Leon Grances.”
“….I see. You’re the one that became the head of the Grances family. I’m Patrick, Patrick Rodwell.”
…..Oh, so this is the lolicon that’s obsessed with Sophia. He has a nice face and appearance. He also seems to be very arrogant.
Rodwell is a viscount family, so they should be of a lower rank than an earl.
Is he becoming arrogant because he believes the Grances family is declining and the head of the family is a child? Or is it because the Rodwell family is now a branch family of the Gramp family?
The former is just a misunderstanding; the latter…..could be troublesome.
Although we are revolutionizing the technology of this world, the Grances family still has little power. It would be bad if we were to enter into a conflict with the Marquis of Gramp at this time.
…..It can’t be helped. I’ll just have to be as polite as possible.
“Well, Patrick-san, what business did you have with me today?”
“I have no business with you. I just came to get Sophia.”
Patrick tried to grab Sophia’s arm as she hid behind me.
Ah, I can’t let him do that.
“…What is the meaning of this?”
“Sophia, has become my adopted sister.”
“Adopted sister? I know you’ve been gathering village girls for suspicious reasons, but you also plan on using Sophia in that way!?”
Aaaaaaahhhhh, this guy is also misunderstanding that!?
“Well, umm, I’d like to correct you on that because you are definitely misunderstanding. I gathered children here to teach them various things about agriculture and other subjects. It’s definitely not for any suspicious reasons.”
“Don’t try to lie. You’ve only gathered girls!”
“No, that’s just by coincidence.”
“—There’s no way that is just a coincidence!”
I have to admit, it does seem suspicious….
“Umm, what Leon-sama said is true.”
Tina quietly raised her voice.
“Who are you people? Are you from a different noble family?”
“I-I’m just a commoner.”
“Commoner!? As if the words of a commoner matter to me!”
“—Huu”
Patrick quickly closed the distance between him and Tina. Before he got to her I quickly jumped in between them.
“Hey! I won’t allow you to threaten my guests. Tina and Lyanna, everything’s fine, just remain calm.”
I exchanged looks with Alice as I tried to defend the two girls. I’m grateful for their feelings, but it’s dangerous for them to speak up against Patrick.
“It seems you really did gather these girls for suspicious reasons.”
“What are you talking about? I told you that you were just misunderstanding.”
“This girl is the daughter of a commoner, right? So, you’re saying you are teaching agriculture to this commoner girl, right?”
“That’s right, and?”
“Ha! Why aren’t they wearing rags!? Why would they need to be dressed so beautifully if they were just farming!? Whatever excuses you come up with, the true reason is that you are training them to be your mistresses!”
“No, these clothes are just their uniforms. It’s something like clothing to farm in.”
“In what world would you wear a dress while farming!?”
I can’t disagree with that! Even if we were in another world, you’d never wear a dress to farm — I’m sorry. Who was it that made the uniform a miniskirt…..Ah, that was me.
*Ahem*
Anyway, I don’t like the way this guy is talking. He’s looking down on these girls just because they are commoners. I don’t like his personality, but I can understand why he’s angry.
If I were in his position, believing some guy was doing strange things to Sophia, I’d probably feel the same way.
So — I looked Patrick straight in his eyes.
“I’m very sorry for causing this misunderstanding, but on the honor of the Grances name, I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Ha, you think I’d believe such nonsense! If that is true, then give me Sophia right now!”
“Hah? Your way of thinking is rather strange.”
“So, that’s how it is, but that doesn’t matter. Even if you have done strange things to Sophia, I will bring her home with me.”
Ah….this guy. He was just looking for a reason to bring Sophia back with him.
“And if I refuse?”
“I will tell the Marquis of Gramp of what you’ve done. Then, you will receive a proper punishment.”
“….I understand. Then, let’s discuss how Sophia will be delivered to you.”
“““Leon-sama!?”””
“Leon onii-chan?”
Tina and Lyanna let out a shocked voice and Sophia anxiously grabbed onto my arm. I need to reassure Sophia.
“— But, the only way I will go along with this, is if the person involved agrees. I will never let someone that Sophia dislikes take her.”
“Good. If that’s the case, we can just ask Sophia. Of course Sophia will want to come with me!”
Where does that confidence come from….I turned to Sophia to ask her opinion.
“What would you like to do Sophia? Do you want to go with him?”
“….Is it troublesome if Sophia stays here?”
“Not to me. You can do whatever you like.”
“If so, then Sophia…Sophia wants to stay with Leon onii-chan. I will absolutely not go with him!”
“….I understand. I’m sorry for making you feel so uneasy.”
I gently stroked Sophia’s head and then looked back at Patrick. His eyes were wide open in shock.
What I did was a little terrible, but with this Patrick should be able to understand.
“—You! You must have brainwashed Sophia!”
“Why would you think that!? No matter how you look at it, she’s trying to avoid you!”
“Do you take me for a fool!? You must have done something to her! Otherwise, there is no way Sophia would avoid me!”
Uwaa, this guy just really doesn’t get it. He reminds me of Blake, and I feel a little homesick….I’m not exactly sure, but Patrick really has a similar personality to Blake.
“Anyway, Sophia does not like you, so you can return home.”
“Ha, you must be joking! Like I could leave her with you people!”
“Joke? Did you not hear what Sophia said herself? Like I said, go home for today.”
“Y-you, are you actually trying to give me orders!? Do you not understand what I can make happen!?”
“I don’t know. What are you going to do?”
“I told you I will report you to the Marquis of Gramp!”
“Hmm. So you’re going to report that you forced your way into my house without permission. Then, you tried to forcibly take Sophia, even after she said she did not want to go with you?”
“Wh–. Y-you…..”
It would be difficult to prove that Patrick is lying. It would be just his word against mine. So, if Patrick were to report that I was doing suspicious things to the girls here, it would be very troublesome.
However, it is clear that Sophia doesn’t want to go with him. If Patrick were to lie, we could quickly prove that Sophia didn’t want to go with Patrick.
“So, what will you do? If you plan on telling the Marquis, then I’m sure you’d be fine with him hearing Sophia’s opinion as well?”
“….Kuu, fine. I will let Sophia stay with you, for now. Instead, I will enroll in this school of yours!”
Just as I thought I’d won, I was hit with an unexpected counter.
