Summer • Sheith

Summer

Shiro is, undeniably, a fantastic suitor. His loyalties remain with the crown, and he is Viscount to a wealthy county in the south. That is really the only task that young ladies today concern themselves with: finding an honorable husband with status.

The Viscount, then, easily becomes prey to their grappling ambitions. He is, after all, awfully good-looking.

The young ladies are nice, but he can't help to feel exhausted by their constant efforts. Even at dinners and parties, he keeps his distance and they pass him off as steely and mysterious, which only adds fuel to the flame.

This is why he is nursing a glass of Chateau d'Yquem and refraining from dancing. He knows it's only a matter or time before one of the older Ladies demands a dance. He will get chided later for being so rude at Lord Sakai's dinner, but a moment of silence is almost worth it.

"Shiro, my dear friend." A hand clapped down on his shoulder, belonging to the Cuban Ambassador, Mr. McClain. "I wasn't sure that you would grace us with your presence."

Mr. McClain is, in the easiest of terms, improper. He is a foreigner, so the leash is held quite loose when he's around. Shiro has only spoken to him a few times, and the Cuban has taken that as a token of friendship.

"Mr. McClain, we meet again." He smiled with most genuine merriness. "How have you been since we last spoke at Mito?"

With a smirk, Lance hummed, his eyes dancing around the sitting room. "I've been well."

Shiro turned more to face him, interest now piqued. "And what are you insinuating with that sly look?"

"I'm not insinuating anything, Lord Ōdate." Shiro knew that something indecent was going to follow. "Only that your country has the most fascinating women."

Not terrible, but Shiro feels there is some ulterior meaning to his words. "Yes, I suppose we do."

"Well, my mother always said it was rude to turn down things offered to you in another country, so I've tested my fair share."

There it is. "What a scandalous thing to say, Mr. McClain. You must be more reserved."

That earned a chuckle from the Cuban. "Don't worry, none of your lovely ladies and duchesses participated."

Shiro thought so, but he wouldn't put it past the ambassador. "You do have a reputation to uphold, I really do hope you aren't tainting it by fooling around. I'd hate to see you in a shameful situation."

It did worry Shiro, but care was not the reason he had spoken so out of turn. Of course, Lance wouldn't notice even if he had been rude.

"I see what you mean, my good chap, but I am perfectly capable of preserving my image." Mr. McClain seemed to deflect all worry, it was truly enviable.

The Viscount left the conversation there. He didn't want to somehow be drawn deeper into the well of the ambassador's effort. Maybe he was being rude by letting their talk go silent.

He did, however, notice a content sigh from said ambassador a few moments later. Shiro followed his immodest gaze, landing on the Marquess of Aichi.

"Is that Lord Aichi?" Shiro questioned, all the while curious as to why Mr. McClain had his sights set on him.

"Indeed it is. Isn't he just stunning?" Lance remarked unabashedly. He was not a shy man.

"Well, yes, he is...." Shiro answered uncertainly.

"Let's greet him, shall we?" Before the Viscount could protest, Mr. McClain was guiding him towards the aforementioned man.