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An awkward atmosphere
While holding Grace, I teleported behind one of the pillars to my room at Sagami Co. in the central district of the imperial capital, Lemuria.
Grace had experience in dealing with Sagami Co. members. The fact she was a woman and disguised herself as a man, she most likely didn’t want others to know about that.
I thought I should take it into consideration, and so I teleported to a blind spot.
“



”
Tilting my head and looking at Grace, who was looking downward with her completely red face, I put the clothes for an adult male, which I had stored in my Infinite Storage Box, on the bed.
“I will be on the first floor of the building, so please come downstairs after you change your clothes.”
I exited the room after giving these instructions and headed to the reception room on the first floor, asking the currently present members to leave the place, then sat down on the cowhide sofa.
When Grace came downstairs, she had changed into the man’s clothing and returned to her usual appearance. (T/N – as we already know more or less that Grace is a woman, I will keep using “she.” Otherwise, it will just be confusing.)
It was just that I had one question there.
“Umm, Grace-san?”
“What’s it, Grey-kun?”
She was smiling, but her eyes weren’t smiling at all.
“Congratulations on your knighthood.”
“Thank you.”
Hmm, the conversation stopped. It was really awkward.
“It’s really splendid to be the Former Emperor’s favourite, isn’t it? For the time being, he will not reach out his hands.”
I could be sure of this. That Former Emperor might have a lack of common sense, but he would stick through his deal. Once that guy acknowledged Grace as compensation for me, he probably wouldn’t even lay a finger on her. At least, not until my defeat in the game became clear.
“Y, yes.”
At my words, she pulled her chin back, and her face turned completely red like an apple in an instant.
Why had I from several hours ago thought that she was a man? Surely, the Grace of a few hours ago didn’t have such voluptuous twin hills. I wondered if she’d covered them with sarashi, but except for them, her appearance didn’t change much.
Looking back now, there were so many obvious blind spots. Her voice was too high-pitched for a man. And her figure was a streamlined shape particular to women minus her chest.
Her face was neutral, but by no means would you confuse her with a male. If I were to point out the reason behind the mistake, her back was too tall for a woman, her speech was the same as men, or her behaviour didn’t have any sense of discomfort.
“Don’t mind too much about the Former Emperor’s words. They are just some thoughtless remarks.”
Grace looked at me with a grim face, as if she had just stepped into enemy territory for the first time.
“If Grey-kun wins the match against the Former Emperor, what plan do you have for me?” she asked a stupid question.
“You know. What have I been saying to Grace-san until now? Of course, I won’t do anything.”
Grace shook her head left and right for a moment while staring at me, seemingly fed up. Then, she corrected her posture and asked for confirmation.
“Do you mind if I talk about a boring story?”
“No, please tell me.”
With a smile that seemed somewhat lonely, Grace began to open her mouth.
◇◆◇◆◇◆
The content of the story was Grace’s past. It was a common story in this world. And then, I finally understood why I’d misunderstood Grace as a man until now.
“Because you are the only daughter, Grace-san were raised as a boy from a very young age, to become the successor of the family as the head. But since a boy was finally born, you were discarded

”
From the standpoint of Grace, who was a merchant with great accomplishments, something like knighthood was something insignificant that didn’t bring money. I’d always had a doubt why she was so concerned about it. Finally, although they were vague, I understood her feelings.
No matter how much you were told that you were a boy, once you passed through the growth period, you would inevitably realise that you weren’t a boy. What kind of feelings Grace had for still being treated as a boy by her parents and grandfather, I didn’t need to guess. It was easy to imagine how much she must have been hurt when she was discarded once they had a male successor.
The life she had been treading through desperately until now was denied. It gave her a complex about titles.
“It would be a lie if I say I didn’t have feelings for my father and grandfather. But because I was proficient at disguising as a man, I was able to work as a merchant. More than anything, it’s because I was a merchant that I was able to meet you. That’s why I’m not so disappointed about my life anymore.”
Grace was strong. She might still be torn inside her heart. But still, then, she was trying her best to accept it.
“I’m also glad that I met Grace-san.”
Grace tightly shut her eyelids, smiled brightly, and said, “Thank you.”
After saying her gratitude, she stood up from her seat.
“It’s about time I should return.”
“Let me send you halfway.”
I also stood up from my seat and walked to the exit of the reception room.
“No, this is fine.”
“I see. All right then.”
The Former Emperor would not make a move, but I should have Spy escort her, just in case.
At the exit of the reception room, Grace turned around to look at me.
Looking down at me with her hands behind her back, she asked, “Hey, why do you think I told you the old story?”
“I don’t know, why?”
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
Grace let out a big sigh, then said, “Well then, here is a hint. I’m a woman, not only in body but also in my heart.”
“Yes


.?”
To be honest, I had no idea what Grace was saying.
“You definitely have to win in the match against the Former Emperor.”
“That’s of cours—”
I couldn’t finish my word.
The reason was that it was blocked by Grace’s lips.
As soon as she pulled away from me, I couldn’t move at all under the touch of her small, sweet lips, and she turned on her heel and ran out of the room, her whole body flushed red.
[Master, for you to have such a beautiful woman

..I’m so jealous to no end.]
I couldn’t even say anything to refute useless Mura’s words, which strangely sounded familiar. I just stood there blankly, staring at the gate where Grace had just left.