Chapter 29 (2/2)

”This is a game I learned from my mother. We have time to kill tonight, so I had this prepared.”

This was my secret plan to get through the first night.

”Is that so?  I have never seen this before. How do you play it?”

I was relieved that Leo-sama showed an interest (in the game).

I immediately explained the rules. ”This board has 64 squares drawn on it. There are also 64 black and white stones each. Black goes first, and white goes second. You are able to move down, left, right, up, and slanted. You are also able to change the color of your opponent's stone by blocking the path [to sandwich or to pinch] at both ends.” (I bulls.h.i.+tted this soo much but it was such a long sentence, so I broke it up…)

The game I prepared was ”Oth.e.l.lo”. (Aka Reversi…?) Even though Shogi and Go were good, Oth.e.l.lo's rules are easy to understand and I was confident in this game.

After I briefly explained the rules, I decided to start the game immediately.

Leo-sama had decent strength for a beginner, but he wasn't my opponent. The result was black all over the board; it was my complete victory.

”What is this game? At first, my white was overwhelming, but just like that, it became black all over.” Leo-sama was muttering while looking at the results.

It seems he liked Oth.e.l.lo. (Here’s a bit about )

”Leo-sama, you were very strong for your first time playing. However, for advice in this case would be that if you leave too few s.p.a.ces, it would become a disadvantage.” ***

If he had too much strength, these kinds of games would get boring quickly. It's okay to give advice, but not to the extent of overdoing it.

”I see, well Shane, let's play again.”

Yes, I answered, and put the stones back on to the plate.

After that, the matches continued until morning.

”Please come again when you think of a good strategy.” I told Leo-sama as I saw him off.

Afterwards, when I was starting to feel drowsy, Elias and the Maid-san came into the room with smiles on their face.~*

Everyone was probably thinking it happened, but it was nothing like what they were thinking. (CONFUSION)

And that night, when I was about to go to bed, the door to the room was knocked on again.

I replied in confusion, and Leo-sama came inside.

”Shane, I thought of a good method (strategy), so let's play Oth.e.l.lo.”

He was called the ”Aloof King”, but to think he could be so childish.

But, do not show this kind of behavior. (Att.i.tude?….to others? WAIT WHAT?)~**

”I understand. Will you arrange the stones while I prepare some tea?” I calmed myself down at last, and spoke to him.

From that night on, Leo-sama went to my room for Oth.e.l.lo. His skill improved since then, and there were 1 out of 10 times where I became scared.

Thus, thanks to the ”Oth.e.l.lo Meetings”, a rumor that ”The Emperor is obsessed with the Empress” had spread.

Footnotes/ Please help me:

(WHAT THE f.u.c.k) – 庭園で働いていた時に近い恰好をしてレオンハルト様を待った。

(WHAT?) – あえて一人称を俺にした。

(CONFUSION) – みなさんが思っているような事は何もありませんでしたよ、とは言えない。

(T/N: As you all can see from the footnotes, this chapter was freaking difficult. If I made a mistake of any kind, if I skipped a line, just say the word.  Thanks for reading and sorry for the delay (because of my struggles and distraction).

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