For Elves, Holding Out Is Common Sense (5)
"Sorry. My lower half is a bit busy right now."
"......?"
Whoops. I'd meant to soothe her just enough...! But Eve reacted so honestly to every single word out of my mouth that I ended up blurting it out before I could stop myself.
In that short span of time she'd been mentally hammered over and over, leaving her completely frayed. With a deathly pale face, she spoke.
"I-it's fine. That doesn't mean you hate me or anything... right?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah. Honestly there's no reason for me to dislike you, Miss Eve. If anything, I like you quite a bit."
"...You really mean that?"
Her voice sounded almost desperate. Is he trying to butter me up with smooth talk again (X) Or is the virginity-graduation flag still alive...? (O)
I felt a pang of guilt. I'd said I'd stop her from going full dark side, yet I'd been way too harsh. I pulled her head against my chest and leaned in closer. The distance between us shrank instantly. Her breasts, far larger than a typical elf's, pressed right against my crotch as if cradling it.
"Eep..."
Eve reflexively tried to pull away in surprise, but I already had her head firmly in my grasp. In the end she stayed stuck to me in that awkward half-embrace, unable to move one way or the other. Perfect. Acting as if I hadn't noticed a thing, I continued in the same tone as before, only softer now with a touch of genuine remorse.
"Of course. I obviously like you, Miss Eve. I did say I didn't need it earlier, but that was only because it isn't a reason to decide on marriage. It is still a charming point, though, isn't it?"
"Then... may I take it that you haven't completely rejected my proposal?"
Is there still a chance to capture your heart (X) This is what a man's... (O)
Out loud she sounded like some pure-hearted maiden who'd found a sliver of hope, but inside her head there was nothing but filthy thoughts. Isn't that the best?
I had no idea how the men of this continent would feel, but at least for me it was a point that raised her favorability. I stroked the back of her round head and nodded.
"Like I said before, it's impossible right now. But if I manage to finish my work safely someday, and if you're willing to accept other women by my side, Miss Eve... would you give me that ring again then?"
"At that time..."
"Yes. At that time, please slip it onto my finger yourself."
With that, I slowly released her head and pulled my body back.
"Ah..."
Eve let out a small sound of disappointment. Sorry, but the service ends here. Well... maybe one more thing wouldn't hurt?
I grinned, clasped my hands behind my back, leaned in until our foreheads touched, and whispered.
"That's one thing, but... the promise I made with you last time is still valid. When you need the World Tree's power, I'll help you with anything. Think carefully about how and where you'd like to use it."
"......"
After a brief silence, Eve answered with her usual cunning smile.
"Hehe. You're handing me a blank check. Are you sure that's wise?"
Once I know what you'll ask of me, you'll be pounding the ground in regret (X) Male royalty humiliation play is totally viable! (O)
Eve, Eve. What exactly did you hear me say? I told you I'm not doing anything lewd??
Still, I get where that mind of hers is coming from. If I were in her position, the word "emperor" wouldn't do much for me, but the moment you say "empress" my brain instantly conjures up the image of her getting railed like a bitch in heat. ...Though that's because I'm a former erotic novelist. She's a former queen, so why is she like this?
I carefully wrapped up that sudden question and shoved it deep into the back of my mind, deciding to forget it. If I didn't, I'd start feeling too sorry for Eve and might end up giving it to her like a proper man...
Instead I let out a small snort and nodded at her threat that wasn't really a threat.
"Of course it's fine. That's why I stopped by in the first place."
Apparently satisfied with my answer, Eve rose from her seat with a smile. I glanced at her as she straightened her disheveled clothes.
"Ahem. Well, my business is finished, so I'll be going now."
"As you wish. I'm truly sorry for showing you such an unsightly side of myself today."
If only you weren't here, no one would ever know about my shameful behavior (X) What the hell did I just do someone please erase my memory! (O)
Before I knew it, Eve had returned to her usual mysterious aura, complete with those enigmatic squinted eyes and a relaxed smile that made her seem profound. Her inner thoughts were honestly kind of pitiful, but she'd recovered well, so that was a relief. It was also fortunate that our relationship hadn't been completely ruined.
Thanks to that, I'd be able to notice and deal with anything that happened to Eve in the future. Most of all, I hadn't outright rejected her proposal. I'd turned her down for now but left the door open with conditions. And Eve didn't seem to mind those conditions at all.
I never expected her to instantly shout "threesome possible" the moment I mentioned other women... Just what kind of monster have I created?
A wave of self-loathing hit me, but this too was the aftermath of the setting I'd made. In other words, it was karma I had to bear.
I manipulated the plants I'd grown with Basileus to arrange them in a decorative manner, then released the authority.
"Whew..."
The sensation of the wooden crown vanishing from my head. And the emptiness that came with it, as if part of my senses had been ripped away. So that's how it is. If I keep the authority active for a long time instead of just briefly, connecting with the surrounding plants like that, it comes with side effects.
I braced my legs to steady my staggering body and waved at Eve.
"Then I'll be off for today. See you next time."
"Next time... may I ask when that might be?"
Don't think your chastity will be safe until then (X) Come back before I run out of fap material from today (O)
"Hmm. Well, I'll drop by if something comes up. It won't take that long, so don't worry. I'll probably clear the first floor and head to the second pretty soon."
"My, already? You truly possess extraordinary talent..."
I'll crush that talent before it can bloom (X) Strong man, distorted sexual desire (O)
"Yup. So I'll probably visit again before long. If it's alright with you, could I ask you to prepare some information about the authority I obtained... Basileus by then?"
"Of course that's fine. Basileus is a special authority even among the World Tree's powers. For us elves it's ancient history, but the records themselves should remain intact. ...Though it won't be free, naturally."
Heh heh. I'll strip you down to the bone (X) Should I ask for the panties she's wearing today (O)
"Ahaha! Don't worry. Would I really show up empty-handed? I'll prepare proper payment, so just have the materials ready."
"Ufufu. Please trust me. I would never disappoint you of all people, Yona."
I'll slowly build his trust and betray him at the critical moment (X) Saying I'll satisfy him sounds too erotic, so let's say I won't disappoint him (O)
I shook hands with Eve, whose inner thoughts remained consistently filthy until the very end, and left Eden General Store. It was time to head home where Elly was waiting.
Eve slowly looked around the shop after Yona had left. The unusual design that made the plants and building feel like a single living thing was a style seen only in the ancient architecture of high elves from long ago.
The power to rule over plants. The symbol of kingship. The very legitimacy recognized by the World Tree itself. The oldest authority, sharing its name with the first king. Only Basileus could create such a sight.
"Ufufu..."
Now in a slightly better mood, Eve sank onto the sofa where Yona had been lying moments ago. No, she simply sprawled out in the exact same position and took a deep breath. A faint trace of Yona's sweet scent still lingered.
"Whoa. That's way too blatant, sir."
"Boss. Pervert."
Lemon and Apple were making a racket in the corner, but it wasn't important to Eve. Nothing mattered more than burying herself in the traces Yona had left behind and savoring the conversation they'd just shared.
He asked me to wait because he has work to do? I'll wait as long as he wants.
Eve had already waited nearly a thousand years. There was no need to grow impatient over a few more decades. All she had to do was help Yona and wait a little longer.
The real problem was the number of other women around Yona...
No matter who he loves or how stained he becomes, it doesn't matter. As long as he ends up by this Eve Nirvana Yggdrasil's side in the end...!
After all, a human's lifespan was around a hundred years at most! Even the long-lived beastmen or dwarves rarely exceeded a hundred and fifty! No matter how strong someone was, surpassing the limits of their race to live twice their natural lifespan was nearly impossible!
But what about Eve? She had already lived more than a thousand years, yet her youth showed no signs of fading. As long as she wasn't hurt or injured, she likely had several hundred years left... perhaps even another thousand.
All thanks to the World Tree's authority she'd been born with. And now Yona had obtained the World Tree's power as well, the strongest among them, so his lifespan would increase dramatically. At least to the level of an ordinary elf... perhaps enough to stay with her until the very end of her remaining life.
"Ahh... I'm so looking forward to it."
For elves, holding out is common sense. All those rivals who would grow old and die, buried in the ground. The thought of half-elves playing on top of their graves made heat bloom in Eve's lower belly.
She instinctively crossed her legs and rubbed herself against the sofa. At that sight, Lemon and Apple, who had been watching from the corner, recoiled in horror and bolted out of the shop.
"T-that. She's a total crazy bitch, sir."
"Lemon. It's not 'that'. It's boss."
Apple, who never bothered correcting the "crazy bitch" part, locked the shop door from outside. Today, too, Pangrave was peaceful. Anyway, it was peaceful.