IWSC CHAPTER 14, EPI 63

“Yes, yes!”
Afraid that my father might change his mind, I quickly answered. My mother, standing beside me, gave me a meaningful smile that sent a cold sweat down my back.
I immediately wrote a letter to Ares.
Our family’s seaside villa is renowned among nobles for its beautiful scenery, so I thought Ares might be quite pleased.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, instead of sending a reply, Ares stormed into our house, demonstrating his bold determination before my father.
“I’ve come to see the Count.”
“……”
The resolve in Ares’ expression was firmer than ever before. My father’s gaze, as he glared at Ares, was equally sharp.
Was it really such a big deal to take a few days off at the villa?
Well, of course, there’s the small—just very small—issue of a man and a woman spending time alone together. But still, I’ve been an adult for over two years now!
After entering my father’s study, Ares and my father were in there for such a long time that I was anxiously waiting outside, almost desperate for them to come out.
At some point, my mother appeared and spoke with great amusement.
“There’s already such an uproar. When you get married, this whole house will be turned upside down.”
“……”
Ah, how embarrassing. Should I just go hide somewhere?
A little later, with a click, the door to the study opened. My father, looking rather flushed, stepped out, followed by Ares, who wore a slightly awkward smile.
My father cleared his throat and then spoke to me.
“Since the young Duke Stanley is well-known as an upright and courteous young man, I’ll trust the two of you. Hmph.”
“Thank you, Father.
It feels like there’s some unnecessary fuss, but in the end, it all worked out, right?
After my parents left the study, I dragged Ares into my room.
“What did my father say?”
“Well…”
Ares trailed off, looking a bit troubled.
“He didn’t scold you or anything, did he?”
“Uh, no… it wasn’t really scolding…”
Ugh, how frustrating! Why is he dragging out his answer like this?
“Most of what he said was about how dearly the Count has cherished you…”
My eyebrows shot up. Did my father really call Ares over just to brag about me?
“He also said I should treat you with the same respect and manners I show to other women.”
Huh, that’s more ordinary than I expected. Phew, what a relief.
But Ares still looked a bit bitter.
“Why do you look like that? It doesn’t seem like my father said anything too harsh.”
“Haha…”
Ares’s laugh seemed forced, but I decided not to dwell on it.
I clapped my hands lightly to shift the mood.
“Well then, all that’s left is to get ready for our trip! How long will it take for you to adjust your business at the trading company?”
“I could leave as early as tomorrow.”
What? Why so fast!
I stared at Ares in disbelief, but he met my gaze with complete confidence.
“Are you serious?”
“I really am. While I was resting at home, I managed to take care of most of the trading company’s work, and I’ve organized things well enough that I can be away for a few days without any issues.”
Typical of someone from the Stanley family—his preparedness is impeccable.
Unfortunately, I’m from the Uranus family, so I’m not as well-prepared as Ares. Leaving for a trip tomorrow was out of the question for me.
“Then, can you wait a bit? I’m not ready at all.”
“…How long will it take?”
Ares suddenly looked deflated. His voice even lost some of its energy.
Sigh, when he shows his disappointment like this, I can’t help but feel guilty.
I was originally going to suggest he wait a week, but I quickly changed my mind.
“Three days…?”
I thought I was being generous, but Ares didn’t seem too pleased. He shook his head slightly and held up two fingers.
“How about two days?”
My jaw dropped in shock.
“Two days?”
“Yes, so let’s leave the day after tomorrow.”
Does that include today as one of those two days?
Wow, he looks completely guilt-free! What’s left for me if he pushes so hard?
“It’s too rushed! The staff at the villa needs time to prepare for our arrival.”
“Are there really that many preparations needed when we’re not even hosting a party at the villa?”
“Do you think welcoming guests is that easy? Even if it’s not a party, there’s still a lot to do.”
Ares sighed deeply and shook his head.
“Alright, let’s go the day after tomorrow. That’s my final offer.”
“…Fine.”
Is this what sealing a deal feels like? He’s definitely a natural at negotiations, just like the businessman he is.
Ares’s face brightened instantly, as if he had never been disappointed at all. He smiled at me with such a radiant, beautiful grin that it was almost blinding, and then he pulled me into a tight embrace.
“It’s going to be really hard to wait until the day of the trip.”
“Hehe, I’m excited too.”
After Ares left, I immediately sprang into action. With so little time to prepare for the trip, I couldn’t afford to dawdle.
The Uranus family’s villa was situated on a secluded beach, nestled between two tall coastal cliffs, with a small, picturesque stretch of white sand in between. The gentle emerald waters lapped against the rocks, and when the waves crashed, it looked as if sparkling jewels were scattering in the sunlight.
Because of its beauty, spending a vacation at our family’s villa was something of a status symbol among the nobles of the capital. Many people wanted to rent our villa, but my parents were very selective about whom they allowed. As a result, those who were granted access were usually individuals of considerable standing in the social circles of the capital.
However, the Stanley family had never shown any particular interest in renting our villa. Perhaps it was because their own villa was already impressive, or maybe it was their pride as a prestigious family, almost on par with the royal family.
In any case, with someone as prominent as Ares Stanley visiting our villa, there was no way the preparations could be taken lightly. In fact, my parents seemed even more eager to make sure everything was perfect than I was.
As soon as I informed them that we’d be leaving in three days, my mother began fervently writing down instructions for the villa staff. I thought all they really needed to do was clean thoroughly since there wasn’t time to replace the tableware or linens, but the list she made was extensive.
“The cleaning is the main issue. The villa is by the beach, and sand tends to get inside. Not a single grain should be visible.”
My mother was almost obsessive when it came to cleanliness.
Well, considering she would scrub the inside of her mouth and ears meticulously before attending any social gathering, it wasn’t surprising.
While my mother was busy ensuring the villa was spotless, I leisurely headed out to the salon to meet Metis.
“Oh my, look who’s graced us with her presence! It’s none other than Lady Bianca Uranus, the one who made Princess Ariel kneel before the Empress!”
Metis greeted me with a beaming smile. I responded with a mock serious expression.
“Don’t say things like that. It’ll just cause unnecessary trouble. Hmph.”
“Hehe, I’d never say such a thing anywhere else. I’m only saying it because it’s you.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. Metis, the queen of the social scene, would never carelessly let such words slip in public, so it was a joke I could appreciate.
With graceful movements, Metis poured the tea. I watched her fluid motions intently before speaking.
“I’m leaving for a vacation at the villa with Ares tomorrow.”
“Oh…?”
A sly smile crept across Metis’s lips.
Ugh, it’s embarrassing to even look at her.
“So, how are you preparing, Bianca?”
“Preparing? It’s just a vacation; is there anything to prepare?”
“Oh, my goodness. You can’t be serious, right?”
Metis widened her eyes in disbelief as she stared at me. I responded with a nonchalant tone.
“What’s there to fuss over? I’m just going as I am.”
“This is truly unfortunate. You’re not seriously planning to go there and just hold hands, are you?”
“Pfft…!”
Oh no, Metis! That was so blunt and out of nowhere. I almost spat out this delicious tea!
“Your face is turning red.”
“O-Of course! But if we’re not just holding hands, what do you expect me to do?”
Wow, I was so flustered that I even stuttered.
But Metis, ever composed, simply took a sip of her tea.
“Don’t forget to start massaging with scented oil from tonight.”
“…”
“And, naturally, make sure to bring contraceptives.”
“M-Metis!”
“And here’s a little tip from my experience…”
Experience? Wait, Metis, does that mean…?
The urge to ask how far she’d gone with Lord Hermes was strong, but I held back. This wasn’t the time to pry into her love life—this was the time to receive some invaluable advice from a seasoned life mentor!
“…And whatever you do, don’t tell your father.”
“…Ah.”
For a moment, both Metis and I were silent. The weight of her advice was so palpable that it needed no further explanation, and I was deeply moved.
“…Is there anything else I should know?”
I hesitated, asking shyly, while Metis rolled her eyes thoughtfully before giving me a bittersweet smile.
“It’s going to hurt a lot more than you imagine, so brace yourself. And don’t worry too much—there won’t be as much blood as you might think.”
“Oh… I see. But why would there be blood…?”
Metis let out an exasperated sigh.
“How is it that you’ve read so many romance novels but still don’t know? People say that there’s blood during your first time.”
“Oh, um. Right. Yeah.”
In front of Metis, who was like a fierce sex-ed teacher, I couldn’t even muster a word of protest—I just nodded earnestly. The passionate Professor Metis unleashed a wealth of knowledge upon me without pause.
“But the truth is, that’s not always the case. Especially for someone like you or me, who knows how to ride horses. So if Ares starts saying something stupid, just kick him right away.”
“Aha…”
Wow, this really was some top-tier advice born from experience. Thanks, Metis.
Encouraged, I decided to ask for more guidance.
“Is there anything I should do?”
“Hmm…”
Metis thought for a moment, her cheeks turning a bit red.
Wait, what on earth is she imagining? Now I’m getting flustered too!
“Well, I don’t think there’s anything specific I can tell you. Just make sure to talk things over with Ares and enjoy yourselves.”
“That’s it? That’s simple.”
“Ha! What, did you expect some grand secret?”
Honestly, I couldn’t deny it. Right now, in my eyes, Metis seemed like the queen of the night.
“Anyway, since this is your first trip together, have a great time. Don’t worry about missing out on any social news—I’ll gather all the latest gossip for you.”
“Thanks, Metis. I’ve learned a lot from you.”
We both looked at each other with flushed faces and giggled.
That night, I really did follow Metis’s advice. With Miranda’s help, I slathered myself in scented oil and gave myself a thorough massage before going to bed.
Oh, goodness… What am I even doing…?
＊ ＊ ＊
As soon as dawn broke, I jumped out of bed to get ready for the trip to the villa.
After enduring my father’s intense gaze and somehow managing to finish breakfast, my mother quietly called me aside.
“Bianca, the reason I’m allowing this trip is because I trust that you and Lord Stanley will share a future together.”
My mother spoke with a serious expression.
Just as the Duke of Stanley’s family had begun treating me as a prospective daughter-in-law, my mother and father were acknowledging Ares as their future son-in-law.