What is this girl asking her for!?
Yuri screamed inwardly, but Elena looked as if she were giving the matter very serious thought.
"Let me see... Work here seems rather difficult as well, so I would be very grateful to be in your care."
At Elena's answer, a faint smile rose to Aina's lips.
It was the sort of smile that seemed to say everything was unfolding exactly as she had envisioned. Her eyes looked almost cunning, their gleam sharpening ever so slightly.
"Please don't worry. My lord husband has been improving the village, and there is a splendid workshop there."
Aina paused between each phrase, then, after a measured beat, continued as if delivering the final blow.
"Of course, it would also be a great help if Lady Elena could attend to my lord husband as well."
What is she seriously asking her to do!?
Yuri shouted with all his might inside his head, but Elena remained entirely earnest.
"Attend to him?"
Tilting her head, Elena paused for a moment before answering.
"I've always looked after the craftsmen, so I'm good at taking care of people. Leave it to me!"
Wait, she's accepting!?
Yuri's eyes flew wide.
There was something almost dangerous about Elena's purity.
"So that means I would be a tailor's apprentice and a maid-in-training... Is that right?"
Elena confirmed it with an innocent smile, and Aina nodded in satisfaction.
"Precisely. Lady Elena, you are very quick to grasp things. If you continue swallowing up all sorts of lessons at that pace, it would be most helpful for us as well."
At the casual remark, Yuri's shoulders gave an involuntary shudder.
Aina, that phrasing is wrong in so many ways!
He screamed desperately inside his heart, but Elena seemed entirely unconcerned and nodded with great determination.
"Yes, I understand. I'll do my best!"
At that forceful reply, Yuri felt something inside him crumble.
She's... going to do her best...
Muttering inwardly, Yuri tried to open his mouth and somehow bring the situation under control.
But before he could, Aina lifted her voice in delight.
"My, how wonderful! My lord husband, I never imagined Lady Elena would be this cooperative."
She deliberately turned her gaze toward Yuri, her eyes shining with a faintly triumphant gleam.
Then Aina deepened her smile and slowly raised her thumb.
"How fortunate, my lord husband. Lady Elena says she will swallow it for you."
The gesture and the words were exquisitely indecent—and strangely dignified.
What do you mean, thumbs-up!?
Yuri hurled the retort with all his might inside his head, but of course no one heard him.
At that moment, Ophelia let her gaze drift toward them and offered an alluring smile.
"Miss Elise, you may pretend not to notice, but... you too will be drinking it every day."
As if to punctuate those words, Ophelia gave a soft sound in her throat.
Like someone savoring sweet nectar, she tilted her head ever so slightly.
"The milk my lord husband makes with such care."
Her movement and words were strangely sensual, and Yuri felt heat rise to his face.
Ugh...! They're absolutely playing with me, aren't they!?
Yuri desperately wanted to deny it, but he could already see himself digging his own grave the moment he opened his mouth. In the end, all he could do was fall silent and blush.
"Excuse me, I haven't agreed to this yet! Also, are you drinking it every day?"
Elise blinked in surprise as she asked, and Ophelia gave her an easy smile.
"Of course. It is wonderfully nutritious."
"Milk made by my lord husband... That means..."
Just as Elise trailed off, looking as though she had realized something, Elena clapped her hands together and spoke in a bright voice.
"Are there cows and goats in the village too?"
"Yes, of course. There are many females who give milk."
Aina answered calmly, and Elena's eyes sparkled.
"I'd love to see them! I'm sure they must be adorable!"
"Yes, very much so. After all, my lord husband raises them with great care every single day."
Stop! I'm just taking care of normal cows! There's no other meaning, right!? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you!?
Yuri could only scream inwardly as he watched Elena and Aina's exchange unfold.
After a breath, Ophelia smiled and tossed a smooth remark Elise's way.
"Chairman Gaston asked us to place you in the harem and reeducate you, so please rest easy and look forward to it."
Elise's eyes widened at those words.
"Father... So you mean for me to do the dirty work and labor for the company... and then give milk..."
After murmuring that, Elise covered her face as if she had reached some terrible understanding.
What does dirty work mean!?
Even as Yuri shouted inside, he felt some strange emotion stir deep in his chest.
No, I mean... I do always feel guilty about it...
Guilt swirled inside him, overlaid by a sweet desire that tried to hide it.
When he imagined the soft sigh that might escape in that moment, an irrepressible joy filled his heart despite all reason.
You idiot! What are you thinking!?
His mind desperately tried to deny it, but his body reacted honestly.
*But still... even so... calling it dirty somehow feels wrong!
Yes. Love. It must be one of love's miracles.*
Caught in that conflict, Yuri no longer had any idea where his thoughts were headed.
"Hm? Why would Elise give milk? We're talking about milking the cows, right?"
Elena tilted her head and continued with a smile of pure innocence.
"Even if your clothes get dirty, I'll make you cute new ones, so leave it to me!"
The air froze for a heartbeat.
Then Aina slowly allowed a smile to rise to her lips.
"My lord husband, how fortunate for you. They both look well worth squeezing."
At those words, Yuri's reason briefly left his body.
His mouth reacted before he could stop himself.
"They do both have rather impressive—"
The instant he said it, Yuri came back to himself. His face flamed crimson, and he swallowed the rest of the sentence in a panic.
"Wait, why are you making me say things like that!? Anyway, can we please get back on topic already!?"
An awkward silence nearly settled over the room, but just then—
"Y-yes, that's right. We can't afford to fail the White Queen Happiness Plan."
Lily, her face bright red, mustered her courage and spoke.
"My lord husband, how will you divide our roles?"
At those words, Yuri felt like praying to Lily on the spot.
Ah, Lily, you're the only one...! You're really saving me!
Lily had splendidly restored the atmosphere, but in the next instant, she quietly moved closer to Yuri.
With her cheeks flushed scarlet, she shyly lowered her gaze and brought her face near his ear.
"Um, my lord husband..."
Lily's voice was as soft as a whisper, and yet it sounded sweet against his ear.
"...Later, I will drink it for you."
At that moment, Yuri's thoughts came to a complete halt.
...Drink what!? She means she'll ask me to make hot milk with sugar, right!?
Alarms blared inside his head.
He tried somehow to answer, but no appropriate reaction came to mind.
"My lord husband...?"
Lily looked up at him bashfully, and yet her eyes were utterly serious.
"R-r-r-right! Maybe I'll ask you later!"
Yuri felt as if his throat were seizing up as he forced out the words.
"Yes. Please leave it to me."
Lily nodded obediently, a gentle smile on her lips.
At her reply, Yuri became all too aware of how loudly his own heart was beating.
No, no! Stop thinking unnecessary things and get back to the conversation!
Scolding himself inwardly, Yuri gave one deliberate cough.
"Um... then, first, Lia."
As he gathered his words, he turned his gaze to Ophelia.
"You know the viscount's daughter, don't you? Apparently she's shut herself in her room right now, so could you persuade her to attend the evening party?"
"L-leave it to me."
Ophelia answered with her gaze faintly lowered.
There was a subtle tremor in her voice, unlike her usual composure.
Then, in the next instant, she too leaned close to him.
Her cheeks colored faintly as she brought her lips to his ear and whispered.
"My beloved... give some to me as well."
At that sweet voice and whispered request, Yuri truly lost the power of speech.
W-what!? Give you what!? What exactly are you asking for!?
His thoughts could not catch up, and all he could feel was his face growing hot.