Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 277: A Date? (Celestine Arc)
After enjoying dates for three days in a row with the beautiful girls Viola, Primula, and Yuri, Rest was understandably exhausted.
Though the dates had been fun, for some reason they all ended in troublesome events that left him tired.
But… it was still too soon to rest.
The string of consecutive dates wasn’t over yet.
“Ah, Rest-san. Good day to you.”
“…Good day to you.”
Day four of the consecutive dates.
Today’s companion was, unexpectedly, the duke’s daughter—Celestine Crocus.
When Rest arrived at the meeting place, the capital’s clock tower, Celestine was already waiting for him.
She wore an orange one-piece dress. While it was plain and unadorned for someone of her noble status, it was clear she had chosen it deliberately to avoid standing out too much.
“Did I keep you waiting?”
“No, you’re right on time. If anything, I apologize for summoning you so suddenly.”
Celestine bowed her head with elegant grace.
The previous night, Rest had received a letter from her asking to meet.
It had been a sudden invitation. Even if he had declined, it wouldn’t have been considered rude… but Rest chose to accept it.
(Lady Celestine… being a duke’s daughter, she’s ridiculously busy. It’d feel wrong to make her adjust her schedule just for me.)
Celestine was indeed a duke’s daughter.
Since there were no princesses in the royal family at the moment, she was treated as a de facto princess.
She assisted the queen at the palace, negotiated land development with merchants and nobles, and more recently, she had even taken charge of managing a remote territory that Rest had newly acquired.
That land, once favored by the former queen dowager—Sanada Shouko—still held many legacies and clever ideas, like distilleries and fish farming.
Celestine had been working to turn those into thriving industries, and in truth, Rest felt like he was the one constantly causing her trouble.
(I can’t get annoyed just because the invitation was sudden. In fact, she’s really done so much for me… yeah, let’s not start thinking about that too deeply.)
He didn’t dwell on it, but they’d even taken a bath together in a hot spring once.
For someone like Celestine, who had opened up to him—in more ways than one—he felt he needed to show appropriate sincerity in return.
(Well, it’s not like we’re going anywhere romantic today anyway. If anything, she’s the one getting dragged along.)
“So… is it true that Sanada Shouko’s mansion has been found?”
“Yes, it’s true.”
Celestine nodded at Rest’s question.
Her reason for calling him today was that they had discovered a mansion in the capital registered under the name “Sanada Shouko”—the former queen dowager’s alias.
There had even been sightings of someone resembling her entering and exiting the property. So the two decided to investigate it together.
“The magicians of House Crocus inspected it in advance, but it seems to be rigged with several magical traps. If someone tries to enter carelessly, they’ll be activated—so no one’s been able to get inside yet.”
“And that’s where I come in, huh?”
“Yes. You solved the mystery of the seaside villa before. You might be able to do the same here.”
“I see… alright, lead the way.”
The mansion, owned under the name “Sanada Shouko,” likely held something important—just like the diary she had left behind in the villa.
It wouldn’t hurt to investigate.
“This way, then.”
“…Is it really necessary to link arms?”
Celestine entwined her arm with Rest’s, just like a lover would, drawing close to him.
“You went on dates with Viola, Primula, and Yuri, didn’t you? Then it’s only fair I get one too, right?”
She looked up at him with a mischievous smile.
“Besides… I’m hiding my identity today. We need camouflage, don’t we?”
“…Well, I guess that’s fine.”
In fact, it was a rather welcome development—a bit of a bonus, even.
The soft sensation pressing against his upper arm was truly delightful.
“Now then, right this way.”
“…Alright.”
With all of his attention drawn to his arm, Rest let himself be led away by Celestine.