Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 6

Could anything be more random?

Paul stood dazed while Zester’s words replayed in his mind.

Sex education of all things…

But wait. The more he thought about it, the less absurd that statement seemed. The couple had just had their first night together and judging by the fact that Zester was bringing this up the very next morning, something had clearly gone wrong.

Nobles typically received marital education before marriage. However, Zester had been living as a commoner for over 20 years and had only recently gained a noble title so he might not have been taught any information.

Still, he had been serving in the capital’s mercenary corps for quite a while. From what Paul knew, the atmosphere in mercenary circles was rough and uninhibited. As long as you mixed in with those circles, you couldn’t help but see and hear certain things. So, what exactly did his master not understand that he was making such a request of Paul?

Paul scratched his head awkwardly and carefully asked.

“Is there an issue in particular that you’re experiencing?”

“It’s my wife.”

“The madam?”

“She said she really hated it. And judging by her face, she thought I was terrible.”

The same madam he knew?

Paul swallowed heavily, thinking to himself that he had been surprised so many times already this morning.

He had met the new madam for the first time yesterday and she was very gentle and soft-spoken, which was the opposite of everything he was worried about. Her shy smile and soft tone enchanted all the servants in the castle that saw her. Even his master who had been busy sneaking glances was completely smitten.

Don’t tell me that’s why she came to see Master Zester earlier? To leave a review of her unpleasant first night?

Wait, if it was bad enough that the Madam personally opened her mouth to complain, just how terrible was it?

Paul already knew that his Master was rather naïve for man of his age and mercenary background, but he didn’t know it was this bad.

He swallowed.

“I apologize, Master, but I don’t believe I’m in any position to assist you with that. I lack the knowledge to properly instruct you, and it would be improper for me to hear the private matters of the ones I serve.”

Paul politely declined.

Zester nodded with embarrassment, “Right. I shouldn’t have said that. You may leave.”

“But, Master, the relationship between husband and wife is a very important aspect of a healthy marriage. If you’re having difficulty in that area, it is worth trying to learn. It’s just that I’m not in the right position to help you, nor is there anyone in the castle suited for it…”

Zester’s empty eyes lit up. Paul hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind and offered his suggestion.

“Well, there is a woman in our territory who might be able to help you, Master.”

“…A woman?”

Zester frowned. Why involve a woman in this kind of secret education?

“Since we’re talking about this kind of education, it would be better to learn from a woman. Of course, I don’t mean anything improper. I’m referring to theoretical training, not practical. However, inviting her into the castle might draw the wrong kind of attention so if you agree, I will try to contact her as discreetly as possible.”

“And who is this woman you’re talking about?”

“Lady Fleurette.”

Lady Fleurette.

The name alone was famous. Did he really have to go to the extent of asking that woman for help?

Zester’s frown deepened and he looked lost in thought.

『I just came to hate it after we did it.』

However, the moment Cassia’s voice resurfaced in his head, his short-lived contemplation ended.

It was impossible to maintain marital relationship when one side was only experiencing suffering. He had clearly made mistakes due to inexperience so shouldn’t he strive to learn?

“Hah…Fine. Get in contact with her.”

* * *

Lady Fleurette.

Once a prostitute in the small countryside territory of Greze, she amassed both fame and wealth through her efforts alone. If her flashy skills in bed were the only thing she had, she would have remained just another rural prostitute, but Fleurette was different.

To cater to noble tastes, she refined her manners and poise and acquired intelligence and etiquette that matched the nobility like no other. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before she rose to become the most famous courtesan in the capital.

No one knew exactly how many noblemen had lost their minds over her beauty and bedroom skill. However, one thing was certain: the amount of wealth she had acquired as a courtesan in the Capital was more than any commoner could ever touch in their lifetime.

She rose to a position where she was no longer chosen by her noble clients, rather she was the one choosing them. Countless lords in the capital were more than eager to pour their time and riches on her. There were lines of nobles outside the capital who wanted to dine with her, watch a play with her or even hold her hand. By that point, it was clear that Fleurette’s charm went far beyond just her bedroom skills.

Fleurette’s flamboyant celibate life which still had noblemen throwing themselves at her feet earned her the title of ‘Lady Fleurette’.

The title of ‘Lady’ was usually reserved for daughters of noble families, but it had nothing to do with Fleurette’s background. The title also served as a way to mock the foolish noblemen who threw themselves at her feet.

After living an extravagant life in the capital, Lady Fleurette came back to her hometown Greze for a change of air.

Hence, it was only natural that Paul immediately thought of her as the perfect teacher for his 24-year-old Lord who was hopeless when it came to relationships.

Thinking thus, Paul nodded to himself.

Still, he had some concerns. He was glad she readily agreed to take care of Zester’s sex education, but it would be a big problem if rumors spread among the servants in the castle.

Of course, he wasn’t worried about public image. It was common for nobles to openly have mistresses or call upon courtesans. Even if it was known that Zester called Lady Fleurette to the castle, it wouldn’t really be an issue.

‘The problem is the Madam. They are just newlyweds, so she’ll be shocked if she finds out Master has invited another woman into the castle. First of all, I need to make sure the servants keep their mouths shut, and if there are any misunderstandings, I’ll step in to clarify.’

He couldn’t very well say, ‘Master is not very educated on bedside manner, so he needs to be taught’ hence, he planned to arrange the meeting with Lady Fleurette in private.

After all, this couldn’t be helped as it was for educational purposes, and he had no intention of placing a new woman by his master’s side when the madam was already so lovely and kind. Lady Fleurette’s role was strictly to act as a good teacher in order for Zester and Cassia to become a healthy couple.

But considering all the concerns, he agreed to sit in on the lessons too. So there shouldn’t be a problem.

Still, Paul was worried that his soft-hearted madam would get the wrong idea. He kept worrying even as he made his way to Cassia’s room to assign her a maid.

But the moment he saw Cassia again, Paul realized more than ever that he urgently needed to call Lady Fleurette and educate Zester.

“…Madam?”

He definitely heard the words, ‘Come in’ so he opened the door yet why did he feel like he was seeing things?

Cassia lay sideways across the bed, looking up at Paul as he entered the room, while her head tilted so far back it dangled off the edge. Paul almost jumped with fright at the sight of her exquisite silver hair spilling across the floor.

Seeing an expressionless face hanging upside down and looking up at him, he couldn’t help but feel chills, regardless of how ethereally beautiful the face was. Why in the world was she looking like that?

Maybe he imagined her voice earlier telling him to come in. Thinking that, Paul quickly closed the door. Then he knocked again.

“Madam, it’s Paul. I’m here to discuss something with you. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

He opened the door again and Cassia was still in the exact same position. She lay flat on the bed, her expression blank, while her head was tilted back and she stared straight at Paul.

‘My goodness! Madam must be in so much shock from the first night with Master yesterday!’

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suddenly gone to find Zester this morning, Zester wouldn’t have been so shocked that he started asking about sex education and the madam wouldn’t be greeting her staff in a manner that was a complete 180 degrees from yesterday’s refinedness.

No, no matter what happened, to show such a disheveled state—!

Paul immediately shoved away his worries about inviting Lady Fleurette. It seems Lord Zester urgently needed proper education to ease Lady Cassia’s mind.

“Hello Madam, is something troubling you?”

Paul asked with an awkward smile.

“Hmm? Troubling? Not at all. I’m just enjoying relaxing to the fullest for the first time in my life.”

“…Pardon?”

“I never knew lying around and doing nothing could feel so satisfying. It’s good that you work hard, Paul, but don’t forget to take breaks too. No one will understand even if you overwork your body. You’ve got to take care of your health while you’re young.”

A 17-year-old is making a statement like that?

Paul swallowed hard. Seeing her clinging to the bed like a lazy sloth while uttering words like someone reliving their second life, he realized she had to have lost her senses. This was undoubtedly because of the shock of the first night.

‘Master…just what did you do to our young Madam?!’

Paul looked down at Cassia who was rolling back and forth on the bed, then he clapped his hands together to get her attention.

“Madam, I came to ask you which maid you’d like to have by your side. I plan to have them serve you in rotation but if anyone in particular catches your eye, I’ll make sure to train them properly. Will it be alright if I brought a few of them?”

“Mn, go ahead.”

“Yes, then…”

Knock knock. Knock. Knock knock.

Right at that moment, a playful knock rang out from Cassia’s door. Paul immediately furrowed his brows.

“Paul, are you there? Madam, are you inside? I’m Vita. I didn’t get to greet you properly yesterday, so I came to say hello. Can I come in?”

From the frivolous knock on the Madam’s bedroom door, to the improper manner of speaking. The one person in this castle that he never planned to introduce to the Madam had appeared. Paul immediately called out.

“Miss Vita, this is inappropriate. I’m talking with the Madam so if you can return later…”

“Hold on, Paul.”

Cassia, who had been lying on the bed with a bored expression, suddenly got up with sparkling eyes. Paul tensed up.

“Who is it? It sounds like they came to greet me, so I don’t see how that’s inappropriate.”

“Ah, yes. W-Well, you’re right but this person is…”

“What? Is there a problem?”

Cassia inwardly ground her teeth when she saw Paul hesitating to answer. Now that she thought about it, Paul was excessive. When Cassia first came to the castle, he also tried to hide this woman’s existence.

Vita Berkley.

A childhood friend of Zester’s who grew up with him in the same village. She had been gifted a room in the castle the moment Zester was granted his title and held an obscure position in the house.

Holding the title of Zester’s dearly beloved childhood friend, she was called ‘Miss Vita’ in the castle and treated like a noble lady. It sounded ridiculous to anyone with common sense but from the very beginning, neither Zester nor Vita were the type to be understood with common sense.

Cassia’s jaw clenched slightly.

‘Friend, my ass. He brought her in so blatantly to have an affair right in front of me, huh?’

Cassia narrowed her eyes as she stared towards the door, at the Vita that was yet to appear.

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