Emblems of Connection (1)
“……”
“……”
For a moment, Agnes and I sat quietly inside the carriage.
I knew the reason Ashu had sent just the two of us back to the inn without asking.
It was so we could have some good time together.
I could tell we'd made up well enough that Ashu had the peace of mind to arrange something like this. Still, I was a bit surprised by how brightly she smiled and actively shooed us off.
Caught off guard, I was at a loss for words for a second.
And Agnes...
Well, obvious, right? She was embarrassed. Being dragged to a spot like this by her disciple—the father of her granddaughter's child—must make it hard to show her face.
Her face was surely flushed red beneath that robe.
Anyway, sitting like this was getting awkward.
What was there to hide between us?
Her hood clutched tight like she was shivering in the cold had been bothering me since earlier.
Maybe give those bare legs a pinch... No, what am I thinking?
Anyway, just to be cautious, I pulled up Agnes's Status Window to check.
Agnes's Status Window
“Yah!”
Flutter!
Using Happy Moment, I flung her hood wide open.
I already knew she'd changed clothes, Agnes.
“Eh, eek!? W-wait... I'm not ready to fly yet...”
“Whoa!? What the heck!?”
Agnes was black!!
A short black dress exposing her legs and shoulders, her hair neatly tied on both sides with black ribbons.
Her thighs were perfectly hugged by long black stockings, showing off just the right amount of pinchable flesh.
...Agnes had turned into a dark magical girl!?
I blurted out my shock without thinking.
“So cute!”
“Uwaaa, no. For this Agnes to wear something like... wh-what!? Kirgil... okay, I get it. I get it. Just don't stare so intently...”
Flustered, pleased, blushing—her reactions were a rainbow of colors.
Whether it was payback for the morning or some consideration, Ashu had slathered Agnes in her own tastes.
Ashu, solid win!
Since we're at it, I wanted to see this too.
“Wh-what? Why are you grabbing my hair?”
Her hair was tied lightly on both sides, just neatly arranged.
So I tried making big twin tails with all of it. Yeah, twin tails.
Oh, this works too. I wanted to tie it like this and tell her she looked way younger.
“Ki... Kirgil. What art thou trying to say?”
“Can I say it?”
“...Nay. I need not hear it. This Agnes's heart feels like it might burst even now.”
Part of me wanted to soothe that aching heart, but overdoing it in someone else's carriage felt wrong.
Have to hold back a bit.
Instead, I sat beside her and pulled her small body toward me.
Agnes obediently leaned her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes.
With our bodies pressed close, I could almost hear her heartbeat. She was probably hearing mine too. A pleasant warmth spread, real or imagined.
The moment we arrived at the inn and the carriage vanished from sight.
“Kyaa!? Kirgil, what suddenly—?”
I scooped Agnes up and hoisted her over one shoulder.
Holding her cute, wriggling legs against my shoulder, I carried her straight inside.
You might wonder why not princess carry.
“Eek!”
This way, I could freely pinch those plump, soft thighs.
“Ow... mm... uuu...”
Agnes, who'd been thumping my back with her fists, gave up resisting and covered her face with both hands.
Her legs and inner thighs tensed in time with my playful fingers—adorably so.
“……”
Huh, sudden silence?
I had a guess why, but I'd play dumb.
One thing was clear: no need to set the mood anymore. Still, an apology was in order...
I wasn't sure if Ashu had shared intel or taken the teacher role this time.
But Agnes didn't undress herself anymore.
So even by morning, aside from what I'd removed, she lay sleeping in last night's outfit.
She'd always been aggressively eager for new knowledge anyway.
Not that I minded. The mood was just... mixed.
Felt like I was being secretly managed.
Ashu always woke before me to primp, probably to show a neat side.
Agnes was different, though.
Her sleeping face looked somewhat disheveled.
Legs splayed vulgarly, one breast spilling out as she slept beside me.
Hmm... maybe 'cause it's been a while? Felt fresh. Decadent yet relaxed—what's the word?
Comfortably cute.
The sun had been up ages ago, but her cherished form made waking her feel a shame.
So I sat the sleeping Agnes on my lap like a big teddy bear.
“Mmm?”
Suddenly pulled, she blinked open with a dazed look and stared at me.
I grinned and gave her a light kiss; she drifted shut again. Back to sleep.
Not as tiny as Parania, but Agnes wasn't large-framed.
Perfect size to hold in my arms.
I embraced her as she leaned against me on my lap, stroking her hair and back. Like a dad petting his kid.
Just... wanted to.
Her letters often mentioned worrying about me or feeling lonely.
The ring fiasco's intensity might've been backlash from that. Overthinking me led to such extremes.
I wanted to fill that void more, touch her more—for her sake and mine.
“Mmm... ng. Haa...”
Occasional soft moans and wistful sighs escaped her.
Ahem... touching a lovely woman, hands wandering to chest and thighs now and then—unavoidable as a man.
Especially Agnes's flesh: so soft and squishy, my fingers itched to swim through it. Certain spots baby-soft, begging endless kneading.
“Hup!”
Whoa!? Belly a bit much?
Heard it's a woman's most sensitive spot in various ways.
“...Tis fine. Thy hand is the one that led this Agnes's parched heart from the frontier to this city. I longed for this touch daily, soothing my body in dreams.”
Eyes open, she clasped my hand.
“Kirgil, at last my heart's thirst is quenched.”
We kissed without waiting who first, like our beginning.
Midway, real thirst hit; I drank water and shared it mouth-to-mouth, continuing.
Anyway.
Agnes had strong mana but weak stamina.
Even wanting to fill her more, she'd collapse quick.
“Agnes?”
Calling her name, pinching thigh—no reaction. So I held her still.
Exhausted, she curled cat-like instinctively.
Stomach rumbling; time to eat.
...Tried rousing her, but she was a mess.
Disheveled clothes, limp body, dazed eyes, wrecked bed...
No books scattered—just like before.
With Agnes, burnout hits; pure salaryman vibe, tossing all aside.
“Sigh, how'd you manage without me?”
Remembered village days: couldn't stand her habits, so I handled things.
Saw her naked often then, but cohabitation made it unavoidable—no big deal. Saw her as chief, not woman.
“Mmm, Reshi. That child helped much.”
“Poor Reshi.”
Sweet kid, but tending pregnant mom too.
“Wish Reshi could've joined...”
I eyed the mess: Agnes and bedroom.
“Don't wanna show her this.”
“Fuu... Reshi's scary. She'd be fine.”
Dunno what's scary or fine; still half-dreaming.
Time to snap her—and me—out.
We were both wrecks. Bath first.
Filled tub, stripped her fully, princess-carried into soak.
This chief wouldn't budge from my side.
Body and mind totally loose.
Me too—midway, everything annoyed; held her still in tub awhile.
Nice just floating.
Wash, dress, tidy—sun nearly set.
No clothes; borrowed Ashu's from closet.
Bit big on Agnes, but folded/tied—wearable.
“Ashushikara, that child's handy. Tailored to my size in seconds.”
Dressing her, she grinned dreamily at nothing. Embarrassed by magical girl look, but liked it lots.
Starved all day; headed to tavern for dinner and drinks.
Could order, but holing up risked peaking our decadence—out on purpose.
Plus, Agnes knew the city well. Like old hometown.
Spots, eats—she'd know.
Hand-in-hand, strolling bustling dusk streets—felt like shopping with little sis.
Her relaxed face held.
Some beastkin popped up claiming turf; she flicked casual attack magic (her standards), yeeting him far.
“Hehehe, street's the same. But walking with thee feels different.”
“Hearing Agnes chirp fresh off a thug's scream? Definitely different.”
“Rough streets need rough edges. Avoids more strife that way.”
True—in weak law worlds, feisty beats kind for peace.
Hostility around us vanished instantly.
We looked frail: weak human uncle with cute sis at night.
“Hm?”
Agnes dropped grin, scowled.
“...”
“What?”
“...Stink of red just flashed in this Agnes's sight. Hm, gone now.”
“??”
Ideology checks here? Red what?
Nickname, not name—disliked someone.
Hometown vibes; more bad blood like old Parania.
We resumed to destination.
She kept glancing back at that alley, bitter over the 'red' or whatever.