The World of Otome Game
is a Second Chance for Broken Swords
Story Starts
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Chapter 2.3 -
Interlude
Knighthood of the Saint and
The Barony of the Second (Step) Son
Leon sat at the bridge of the airship he had bought for his father's estate. He had meant to ask Luxion to build a specialised one for his father, but at present, there was no docking space.
The agricultural development of their lands—and the amenities for adventurers—were given priority due to the recently opened Lunar and Terran dungeons. These dungeons were classified by both the resources within and the guardian spirits one might encounter.
For example, lunar gemstones were sought after as they were highly effective at absorbing solar light, making them valuable for energy-generation arrays. They not only store sunlight during the day but are also highly efficient at absorbing reflected moonlight at night. This energy powers localised atmosphere generators—devices designed to mimic the environments found on the planet's surface.
While 'new humans'—Luxion's favourite derogatory term—had adapted to function in thin atmospheres, most produce and livestock had not. Still, humanity excelled at reshaping its surroundings to fit its needs.
"It's nice being able to come straight from home. Beats taking the regular service and having to transfer along the way," Nicks said as he stepped to Leon's side. He gazed at the view, dropped his travel bag, and yawned.
"At least your last year is off to a good start," Leon offered.
"Tsk. It'll be my last chance to find a wife," Nicks complained. Being the eldest son of a baron's mistress didn't count for much when it came to prospects. Still, since he was in general classes—where many of his classmates were in the same situation—his chances weren't hopeless. "It's thanks to you I can focus on my studies instead of working part-time. At least now my odds of finding a partner are looking better."
Nicks clapped Leon on the shoulder, "I just wanted to say that the family appreciates everything you've done."
"A more glamorous airship would have been better," Jenna huffed from behind them. "My friends all have luxurious passenger ships. I hate that I'm the only one who has to ride in something so cheap."
"Well, at least Mum, Dad, and Colin appreciate everything you've done," Nicks amended. He wisely left out their younger sister, Finley, who had already started acting like another Jenna—and had already demanded an attendant of her own.
"First of all, it's not your ship. Second, if you hate it, then don't fucking ride on it," Olivia from across the room. She lounged with their textbook in hand, not even glancing u as she admonished Leon's sister.
"How dare you, you're just a filthy commo—"
"Jenna!"
The sharpness in his tone made her flinch. Leon had already chewed her out once, back at the estate, when she and her shiny new attendant decided to treat the house like their personal brothel. They hadn't even bothered to be discreet.
He remembered walking into the estate with Olivia, the noise echoing from the upper floor—his parents resigned, his brother baffled, and Finley looking downright jealous. That had been the last straw.
Leon stormed upstairs with Olivia close behind, already regretting what he might find. His dread was rewarded with a nightmare he'd rather erase: his sister mid-thrust, her attendant dutifully sucking her toes with single-minded devotion.
As obscene as it was, such displays were hardly unusual among the lower female nobles of the kingdom. It had become common for them to purchase demi-human attendants, whose differing biology ensured they could not conceive.
By contrast, the reverse, of course, was frowned upon. Men buying female attendants? Scandalous. Which was why Leon had wisely left his two guardian spirits behind—they'd both chosen female forms.
Demi-humans were both physically and magically gifted. Leon often wondered why they had never attempted to invade the kingdoms, choosing instead to interact chiefly through their primary export: attendants.
When he and Olivia barged in, Jenna furiously ordered her naked attendant to attack. Leon repelled him with a single backhand, halting his advance. Before he could recover, Olivia pinned him and bound him tight with her wire constructs.
After giving Jenna the tongue-lashing she deserved, Leon decided on a practical solution: a small cottage near the estate. Not too close—no one wanted to hear her 'activities'—but close enough for her to still eat with the family.
She couldn't protest. After all, it was Leon's efforts that had allowed the family to afford her attendant in the first place. Even if she tried to complain to the authorities, she couldn't twist the story against him—he was the one who had generously provided her with both an attendant and now a cottage.
Leon even sweetened the deal. Behave at the academy, and he'd upgrade her little love shack into something fancier.
Leon raised an eyebrow at Jenna, fixing her with a challenging stare. Remembering their agreement, she let out an angry harumph and stomped off—no doubt to vent her frustrations on her 'beloved' attendant.
"Do us a favour, Jenna—close the damn door if you're gonna start screwing. Nobody here wants that as their background music," Olivia said dryly, as Jenna stomped off.
"How is it that our Mum's fine, but all her daughters are… 'this'?" Nicks asked beside Leon.
"She's been influenced by the higher class, and Jenna rubbed off on Finley—figuratively," Leon said, grimacing at the unintended double.
Reminded of where they were headed, Leon murmured, "Most of the girls in my class are going to behave like that, aren't they?"
Nicks just chuckled as he hefted his travel bag. "We've still got a few hours. I'll probably just nap—see ya!"
At the threshold, he called back with a grin, "Good luck finding a wife, Leon. At least you've already got yourself a lovely mistress," before turning the corner.
For the first time in minutes, Illya looked up with a grin, "Yeah, onii-chan, you're lucky to have a mistress like me."
"You know, when you joke about being my mistress, it kinda gives me the creeps when you call me onii-san or onii-chan at the same time," Leon complained.
"Aww, did Jenna and Finley kill off your sis-con genes?" Olivia teased back. "Back in our old lives, didn't you ever fantasise about me, you—"
"No," Leon deadpanned, interrupting her disturbing rhetoric.
Leon shivered, recalling the night Illya had hypnotised their caregiver into buying her alcohol. Since they had been dying anyway, Shirou had given in and let her enjoy it—going so far as to join her in the revelry.
The night took a disturbing turn when Illya, tipsy and blushing, said she wanted to try sex—her eyes fixed on Shirou as she called him onii-chan. That sobered him up fast. He shut her down in an instant and cut off the drinks.
Of course, Shirou had known that Illya was neither truly his sister nor younger than him—she had been eighteen at the time. But the prepubescent body and her insistence on calling him onii-chan had torpedoed any possibility outright.
"Oooh, were you reminiscing about the night you summarily rejected a maiden's offer of her virginity?"
"Sella," Leon called out.
"Ow," cried Olivia as her guardian spirit clocked her on the head. Olivia pouted as she massaged her scalp, shooting dirty looks at her guardian spirit.
"I believe I know precisely how you shall secure a wife," Olivia announced. Leon sighed heavily as both Luxion and Leysritt floated into the bridge.
"Alright, I'll bite," Leon said at last. "What ridiculous—"
"Clever," Olivia interrupted, sticking her tongue out at Leon with a cheeky wink.
"—ridiculous plan have you come up with this time?"
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Leon pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat at the table. Luxion hovered smugly at his shoulder, while across Olivia grinned between Sella and Leysritt—both dressed in pink magical-girl outfits, complete with white thigh-highs and short, flared skirts. The design, Leon knew, was the unholy collaboration between Luxion and Olivia.
Leon sat with arms and legs crossed, eyes shut as he tried to process Olivia's absurd proposal.
"So let me get this straight," he drawled, brow arched at Olivia, "you propose that I seduce the discarded fiancées of the prince and his retinue, so that you may—"
"Fulfil my yuri-yuri harem fantasies as your mistress," Olivia cut in brightly, ignoring his sarcastic tone.
"Luxion. Sella. Leysritt," Leon said, leaning back in exasperation. He was dangerously close to giving up, thinking he'd indulged Illya too much in the past, just because they'd both been dying.
"Does anyone see the flaw is in Olivia's… what's it called again?"
"Operation Yuri-Yuri Harem as Leon's Mistress."
"Yeah. That. Anyone want to point out the glaring flaw before I lose some more sanity points?"
Olivia and Leon had long been open with Luxion and their contracted guardians about their origins and their unique perspective on this world—even sharing with them the story of the otome game.
Both guardians stoically raised their hands, while Luxion just interjected, "If Olivia's going to be Leon's mistress, then who exactly is supposed to seduce the prince and his entourage so Leon can swoop in afterwards?"
"..."
"..."
Blue eyes blinked twice. Grey eyes blinked back.
"..."
"..."
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A few months later, near the end of the term…
An object sailed through the air and struck Marie Fou Lafan across the face before dropping to the floor.
A white glove.
"Pick it up, harlot," Angelica seethed in anger, challenging Marie. "You filthy witch—seducing the prince and all of his friends!"
"Angelica, I am sorely disappointed." The prince regarded his fiancée with disdain. Anger coloured his face as his patience ran out. "Marie, pick it up. Don't worry, I'm with you. I will act as your proxy in this fight."
"I can't let you get away with taking all of the glory, Your Highness," Jilk cut in.
"Per academy rules, a girl isn't limited to one man as her stand-in. I volunteer as well."
Greg cracked his knuckles, grinning at Angelica with predaatory glee. "Sounds fun. Count me in. I don't care who my opponent is—bring it on!"
Brad sighed. "This is why I avoid meatheads like you. Still, I can't let that 'harlot' insult fly. I'll make you take that back, Angelica. After the match is over, you can apologise to Marie. I'll be participating, too, of course."
Chris folded his arms over his chest. "I'm confident in my sword skills. I'll be Marie's blade in battle."
Marie wiped tears from her eyes. "Thank you, everyone… I'm scared, but having you with me brings me comfort. I'll accept this duel, Miss Angelica. We'll fight against you together."
Seeing his mistress play the heroic protagonist, Kyle sighed in exasperation. Sarcastic though he was, he carried himself with elegance. "You truly are a fool, Mistress. Have you forgotten that I'm here, too? I'll do what I can to support you."
Marie smiled. "Thank you, Kyle."
"This is the reverse harem route," Olivia announced. Leon sighed beside her.
"There she goes again with her weird talk," Daniel muttered on his other side.
"Please, ignore it—I know, I do," Leon whispered to Daniel as he winced as a heel dug into his dress shoe.
"Yeah, I'm getting used to it," Daniel sighed, his eyes closed in ponder as he crossed his arms. "Anyway, what's going to happen to the duke's daughter now? Is there anyone at—"
"Hey! Leon, where are you going?" Raymond said, interrupting Daniel.
Leon regarded the hall. Few among his peers desired combat, and none dared oppose the crown prince. Though the academy preached equality, not even Angelica's loyalists would meet her eyes.
And this wasn't even a mock duel.
Angelica's eyes darted around, desperate. Nobody moved—until he stepped forward.
"Miss Redgrave," Leon's voice cut through the air, silencing the room. "Recognise me as your representative in this fight—or, if you prefer, as one of your party. I shall raise both steel and magic for you."
"Uh, um…"
"You don't have to worry about anything. Just say it."
"I recognise you," she finally stammered, still confused.
"There you have it. I, Leon Fou Bartfort, will act as her representative. You've got five on your side, correct? I'd like to confirm the rules of the match, but before we do, can we clarify the stakes?"
But before anyone could respond, a pink blur darted to Leon's side.
"YES! Count me in as well, Miss Redgrave!" Olivia shouted, to the astonishment of all. "Operation Yuri-Yuri Hare—"
Leon slapped a hand over her mouth mid-slogan, dragging her close as she flailed.
Astonishment swept the hall; none had expected such an intrusion.
While holding Olivia, still covering her mouth, Leon deadpanned, "Again, I'd like to confirm the rules of the match and the stakes at hand."
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END
AN: That's the interlude wrapped. We'll rewind to the start of the term next, but I thought this was a fun teaser of what's coming—plus, it ties nicely into Olivia's "Operation Yuri-Yuri Harem as Leon's Mistress" nonsense.