I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World

The day after I built a real bond of trust with Laplace.

Thud-thud—

I was walking down the royal corridor, adorned with white marble and various art pieces.

“…Sir Ian, this way.”

Of course, I wasn’t walking alone.

Since I didn’t know the layout of the royal palace, I was following a maid who was guiding me.

Our destination was the reception room where Valentine Mapleflower was waiting.

Though it was called a reception room, it wasn’t the typical ‘formal reception room’ where high-ranking nobles would meet royalty.

It was the ‘secret reception room’ used when people from the underworld, who couldn’t officially be accepted as guests, visited. Laplace called it the ‘backdoor.’

It was a term that, having lived honestly and diligently my whole life, I had no connection with. But right now, I was walking through the ‘backdoor’ as the ‘representative playboy of the Sacred Academy.’ Life really was unpredictable.

“We’ve arrived. Please wait here while I get permission, Sir Ian.”

When I nodded at the polite request, the maid knocked on the door and spoke.

Knock, knock—

“I’ve brought the guest.”

“You’ve done well. Let him in.”

“Yes, understood.”

Upon hearing the voice of permission from inside the room, the maid with a face full of freckles looked at me.

“Sir Terrace has given permission. There’s no need to knock, so you can just open the door and enter.”

“…Thank you.”

Though I had mentally prepared myself thoroughly after building a real bond of trust with Laplace yesterday, I still felt a wave of tension as I grasped the doorknob.

‘Phew… Let’s go in.’

Clink-!

After exhaling to calm myself down, I opened the door to the secret reception room, and inside, I saw a man and a woman sitting on luxurious sofas.

“….”

The first person that caught my eye was Valentine Mapleflower, who looked so much like Laplace that anyone could tell they were sisters at a glance.

The difference from Laplace was her chic bob cut that slightly covered one of her eyes and the mature charm that came from her years of experience.

“….”

Sitting beside her was a handsome man with blue hair, who, for some reason, felt strangely familiar—Terrace Bluetulip.

Slide—

Following the etiquette I learned from Laplace, I immediately knelt on one knee and bowed my head, waiting for them to speak first.

“You’re Ian, right? You can lift your head.”

It was Terrace who spoke first.

“Thank you, Sir Terrace.”

“Hoho! They said you’re quite a famous playboy… Now that I see you with my own eyes, you truly have the qualities of an outstanding playboy, much more than any picture could capture! You look like you could spread your seed to any woman, like a dog in heat!”

“….”

As I was contemplating how to respond to such an ambiguous comment, Terrace continued.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. It’s a compliment, not an insult.”

“…Yes, Sir Terrace, thank you.”

“Hahaha, thanks for understanding. This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this, so I was nervous and misspoke. But I want you to know that you truly are fit to be a playboy. Honestly, I’m amazed. I can’t understand why someone like you hasn’t become famous as a playboy until now…”

“Terrace.”

“Oh, sorry, Valentine. I got too excited, didn’t I? We should get to what we need to do first.”

When Valentine interrupted, Terrace immediately stepped back.

“From here on, I will take the lead.”

Glance—

Valentine crossed her legs and spoke as she scrutinized me.

“You, you already know the reason you’re here, right?”

“Yes, Princess Valentine. Lady Laplace explained it to me last night.”

“What? She explained it herself?”

Valentine’s eyes narrowed, as if she couldn’t believe Laplace would explain it herself.

“…Well, I guess it makes sense. The fewer people who know, the better. Alright, let me get straight to the point.”

With a short sigh, Valentine continued.

“You will be engaging in a relationship with me.”

“….”

“Of course, you understand that I hold no feelings for you. Our relationship is purely for my husband and my enjoyment. You will be nothing more than a living toy. No other meaning will be attached to it. Remember that.”

“Yes, Your Highness, Valentine. I will engrave it deep into my heart.”

“Good. Then read this.”

Slide─

Valentine handed me a contract.

Article 1 (Purpose of the Contract)

The purpose of this contract is to define the absolute obedience relationship between ‘Valentine and Terrace’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the couple’) and ‘Ian’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the contractor’), and to specify all rights and obligations that arise during the contract period.

Article 2 (Prohibited Actions)

The contractor shall not attempt to kiss without the couple’s permission.

The contractor shall not request or attempt sexual intercourse outside of the time and place designated by the couple.

The contractor must use the contraceptive tools designated under the supervision of the couple during intercourse.

The contractor must cease sexual intercourse immediately upon the couple’s request to stop.

The contractor shall not, under any circumstances, disclose the details of the contract to outsiders.

Article 3 (Termination of the Contract)

This contract may be terminated at any time at the unilateral discretion of the couple.

It was written quite complicatedly, but to summarize: no kissing, intercourse only under Terrace’s supervision, contraceptives must be used during intercourse, and stop immediately if Valentine or Terrace demanded it.

‘…Hng..!…Hng…Hng ♥…S-Sir Ian! Ugh..! J-Just a moment ♥…Hng…Mercy…! ♥ Oh…There’s something I wanted to tell you about my sister…! H

Fortunately, there was nothing in the contract that deviated from what Laplace had predicted.

“Don’t worry about compensation. I have no intention of using my royal authority to force you into unpaid labor. If you fulfill the contract faithfully, I will reward you generously. However…”

Valentine paused for a moment, her crimson eyes gleaming as she continued.

“If the contents of this contract are leaked to the outside, I will do whatever is necessary to protect the honor of the royal family. Do not take my words lightly.”

A combination of the stick and the carrot.

The roles of ‘master’ and ‘servant’ had reversed, but it felt as though Valentine was looking at me in the same way Laplace had when I built real trust with her.

“Yes, Your Highness. I will bear that in mind. However, there is one condition I would like to change.”

“…What did you say? Are you serious? Or did I mishear? Do you think, despite standing in this position, that you are in any place to make demands of me?”

Valentine’s demeanor shifted, and the air in the room became heavy as her displeasure filled the space.

Luckily, I had already learned how to handle this from my discussions with Laplace.

‘Target Terrace, not Valentine.’

Even though Valentine Mapleflower was far higher in rank than Terrace Bluetulip, I knew better than anyone that the dynamics between a man and a woman weren’t always determined by rank.

‘…No commoners in this harem, huh?’

I hadn’t planned it that way, but thinking about it, that seemed to be the case.

If Yuris, who grew up in an orphanage, could be considered a commoner, then maybe that counted?

‘I’m not sure if I can really call Yuris a commoner…’

After all, Yuris was essentially already confirmed to be the next Saintess, a position that placed her above most nobles.

Slide─

“I sincerely apologize if I have offended Your Highness. However, this is a matter of pride as a professional. If you cannot grant me this, I will also find it difficult to accept.”

“…You are being exceedingly arrogant.”

“Calm down, Valentine. Let’s hear the condition before deciding.”

“Terrace… Hmph, fine. Since you say so…”

As expected, Terrace intervened to mediate.

“Thank you. It’s not a difficult request. I simply wish to modify Article 2, Clause 4. I want the authority to stop the act to rest solely with Sir Terrace, rather than both of you.”

“…Why is that? Every encounter will take place under my supervision. Your condition would change nothing.”

At Terrace’s question, I smiled slightly and explained.

“That’s not the case. ‘No!’ ‘Stop!’ ‘Enough!’ These are words that every woman I’ve been with has said at least once during our time together. But those are simply reflexive reactions, the result of experiencing a level of pleasure they’ve never encountered before. They aren’t truly meant. According to the contract, however, I would have to stop every time Lady Valentine said such words, and that would be impossible.”

“How dare you! You’re so full of yourself! I am the Empire’s First Princess. Just because you’ve had a few encounters with some nobles, do you think I would be the same? How dare you presume!”

“In bed, Your Highness’s title as the First Princess will have no bearing. In that setting, I always treat all women equally. If you truly wish to stop, all you need to do is ask Sir Terrace. If Sir Terrace requests it, I will stop immediately.”

With that, I turned to Terrace and addressed him.

“So, what do you think?”

“I…”

“…Hmph, do as you please. All of this is for your benefit. If you are not satisfied, none of it matters.”

After hesitating briefly and glancing at Valentine, Terrace responded.

“I’ll accept the condition.”