Chapter 256: Please
Chapter 256: Please
It was better to be direct. Whether a man could get hard or not was an extremely delicate matter. So I needed fewer people in the room!"Lady Scarlett, Lady Mariska... I’m sorry, but could you reduce the number of people a little more? There are still too many. I can’t do it with this many watching. I’m timid by nature. Being stared at by so many people—especially by such extraordinarily beautiful women—makes me shrink. With this many, it’s impossible!"
I let a few tears gather at the corners of my eyes and pleaded earnestly. I carefully avoided saying that many of them were quite a bit older, even if they were still beautiful. Anyone could understand if they thought about it. Could you perform in front of a group of once-beautiful ladies at a nursing home? Even if your partner was attractive, having people crowd around and watch would almost certainly make it impossible. I wasn’t saying this gathering was the same, but the intense, curious stares were painful.
I could feel Lily barely holding back a laugh. Don’t you dare laugh, Lily. Absolutely do not laugh!
The Duchess still didn’t seem to get it, but Lady Scarlett looked a little moved.
"I-is that so? Then... shall we reduce the number a bit?"
The Duchess had apparently explained the need for secrecy, but not what would actually be happening. I heard Lily let out a soft "Haa..."—whether from exasperation or relief, I couldn’t tell.
"Then how many would be acceptable?"
The Duchess asked with a Why are we even discussing this? tone.
"Ideally, just Lady Scarlett, Lady Mariska, and myself—three people."
Lady Scarlett and the Duchess exchanged a look, their chins moving slightly. I knew it was impossible; I had only said it to try.
"That is completely out of the question!"
A woman standing beside Lady Scarlett—about the same age—declared flatly. Her forehead wrinkled and her eyebrows rose as she glared at me. A maid? No, a lady-in-waiting? Come to think of it, Elle was probably a lady-in-waiting as well. I wasn’t sure of the distinction, but either way she was the person closest to Lady Scarlett. She was terrifying.
Her nearly black chestnut hair matched her raised eyebrows. She fixed me with a sharp, upward-slanted glare. Her cheekbones were a little prominent, and she looked every bit the capable worker—though she also looked like the type who made many enemies.
Internally I agreed with her. I only said it to try! I had hoped they would just brush past it.