> Kira PoV <

"I want you and Ellie to kiss right here in front of me."

This was completely unexpected.

"Ah, but, that, I mean"

I'm so shocked I can only make random noises.

"If you truly are in love, then a kiss should be fine, right?"

Don't toy with a maiden's heart like that!

No good I have to-

*Plomp*

With a single movement, Ellie straddles my lap.

She wraps her arms around my neck and confidently steals my first kiss.

"Mmmmmmwwaaaaah."

She separates herself from me slowly with a mischievous smile.

...

My head goes blank as I grab her head and pull her back in.

"Mmmmmmm."

I thoroughly enjoy the taste of those thin lips.

"*Cough* Um, th-thank you. That will be enough."

The third wheel interjects.

You literally asked for this, so don't interrupt!

Damn, Ellie went back to her seat. She looks utterly content. My heart won't stop pounding though.

"Huh? Lady Ellie and Lady Quasse were twins?!"

The baron asks suddenly, wide-eyed.

Oh, right, I forgot.

The baron's reaction is normal since we have the same face. Women marrying might be a gray area, but it's not illegal. Blood relatives like twins, on the other hand, are right out.

Thankfully, me and Nano have formulated a perfect response. However, I dislike using it, so Ellie keeps her mask on in public.

"We are not, Your Lordship.  Only the face is the same."

"?"

"... Yes! Right, of course. Apologies."

The baron caught on and Ellie was looking at me with a puzzled face. Looks like it worked perfectly.

Nano, good job!

Even if it's effective, it's embarrassing to say. I wish people would notice these things on their own.

It's like comparing a valley to a mountain.

{Ellie, put your mask back on. Kira can't focus like this.}

Ah, I was staring at her lips without realizing. She covers them back up.

... but somehow the words 'Nano, good job!' don't feel right.

{But why does this guy care in the first place?}

Good question.

"May I ask how our situation relates to Your Lordship?"

"Well, something unprecedented is going on in my domain. I just needed to confirm the details. It's an event that will make history, so I must be prudent."

I see, he's worried about himself after all. Still, he's more sensible than I expected.

"However, I do have an actual request to make."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He continued with a stern expression.

"We've uncovered a new monster hole.

I'd like [Black Flame] to join the subjugation crew."

Well, this is unexpected.

Since new monster holes don't appear that often, it's a rare chance.

Monster hole subjugations are Rank A comissions, so the pay is good. The harvest of monster materials can be an additional jackpot.

There's no problem since we got promoted to Rank B today, but...

"Why us?"

There should be plenty of more experienced teams to choose from. It smells like an agenda.

"If you ignore ranks, Lady Ellie is easily the best scout in the city. I also expect to see good results from Lady Quasse's magic."

I see, I see. It's true we're both pretty excellent.

Alright, I'll bite.

"Then [Black Flame] will accept Your Lordship's request."

"Very good, here are the details."

He takes out a sealed envelope and hands it to me. I don't get the need for these theatrics.

There’s a hidden agenda after all, isn’t there?

"Understood. Will this be all, Your Lordship?"

The baron cups his chin in thought.

"That is, about the previous matter, I'm not convinced. I would like to confirm again that this is a legitimate marriage."

Aaaand there it is. The pervert side came out in the end.

*Plomp*

Wait, Ellie, STO-!

* * *

"Seriously! This is why I hate nobles!"

I complain to the air while we walk home. 

That guy, how dare he ruin my first kiss!

"Haaah. Nano..."

I let out a sigh in frustration.

{I know. I'll cancel the relevant plans.}

"Thanks."

I spent so many hours with Nano in preparation for Operation: First Kiss! Give me back my wasted sleep you damn Barooooon!

"Kira, what's a monster hole?"

Ellie's question snaps me out of my frustration.

Oh right, I haven't mentioned those before.

"Monster holes appear at random, the cause varies but the effect is the same.  It's a place that lures monsters of a similar type. They gather in large numbers from the surrounding area.

Since their territory shrinks as a result, it makes travel safer for a time. 

However, their population begins to increase rapidly, so it's best to quickly stamp them out."

Well, this should be enough for now. There's a lot more I could say, but I'm tired.

Fufufufu. I'm looking forward to tonight's dessert.