Chapter 108: After the Show(2)
Chapter 108: After the Show(2)
The performance, a timeless masterpiece in its own right, came to an end, and I followed Cecile at her request. Even though the stage was dark, the village festival showed no signs of cooling down; the atmosphere remained electric.
The play had started at six, and it was now exactly eight o'clock. It felt like less than an hour had passed, but time had simply melted away. That was a testament to how captivating the performance had been.
Regardless, my appointment with Mari was set for nine, so I just needed to finish my conversation with Cecile before then. Cecile had likely overheard my conversation with Mari, so she would probably wrap things up at a reasonable time.
"Sniff..."
"Are you feeling a bit more composed now?"
However, it seemed it might take a little longer than expected. Cecile was still caught in the throes of emotion, occasionally shedding tears.
Even when she had only heard the Lirus Orchestra's music, her tears had flowed like a waterfall. During the Matrix Theater Troupe's performance, she had wailed so sorrowfully that she was bound to be physically and mentally exhausted.
In the end, I spent about ten minutes just trying to soothe her. Fortunately, thanks to my comfort, Cecile's condition improved significantly.
Currently, we were sitting side by side under a large tree. Unlike the center of the village, this area didn't have much foot traffic, so no one gave us strange looks.
Going to a crowded place might have invited suspicious glares, and above all, one must always be careful at night, even during a festival. Although the knights dispatched from the Imperial Palace were handling security, you never know what might happen.
Of course, that was mostly just my own thought process. Cecile was the heir apparent to the Demon King, so her personal combat prowess was likely immense, and her guard knight, Gartz, was surely watching over the perimeter.
We had simply come to this secluded spot because we needed a place where the two of us could talk privately.
"...I'm sorry. I've shown my benefactor such a pathetic sight."
Cecile's tears, which seemed like they would never stop, finally dried up.
She wiped the corners of her eyes with a damp handkerchief and spoke in a voice thick with embarrassment and lingering sobs. Since it was just the two of us, she had begun using formal speech again.
I was slightly worried about her, seeing as she had cried enough to soak the entire handkerchief. It wouldn't have been surprising if she were suffering from dehydration at that point.
I offered her a drink I had bought from a stall, but Cecile declined with a wave of her hand. Feeling a bit awkward, I drank it myself while Cecile took a deep breath and stared blankly ahead.
"...It was a truly moving performance, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"And the fact that the director was a Demon was surprising, too."
"I was startled as well."
I knew through Cecile that magic had been used for the production. However, I hadn't even imagined that the director would be a Demon.
It might be a prejudice, but the Demon race was generally considered to be far removed from the arts, being a race specialized for combat.
While part of it was due to the persecution they had faced, historically, there were almost no instances of Demons excelling in fields other than warfare.
But the world had changed. The way people looked at Demons had shifted completely, and they were beginning to be treated as people rather than monsters.
Skal, the director of the Matrix Theater Troupe, had likely kept his identity hidden until the change in perception gave him the courage to reveal himself. Even if perceptions had shifted, prejudices didn't disappear overnight.
Perhaps the message Skal wanted to convey was a plea to stop the prejudice against Demons—to show that they possessed great talent not just for battle and magic, but for culture and art as well.
"How did you feel, Lady Cecile, when he revealed he was a Demon?"
"I thought he was incredible, and a very brave person. It certainly couldn't have been an easy decision to make... He must have had the confidence that he could handle the consequences. As I've said repeatedly, discriminatory views toward Demons still persist."
As she explained, there were still many who regarded Demons as devils.
Nowadays, such behavior was treated almost like racial discrimination, and those who discriminated were often met with disapproval, but the hurt felt by the Demons remained the same.
Therefore, Skal would likely face various reactions in the future, and discrimination would undoubtedly be among them.
"But... the reason he was able to find that courage is ultimately thanks to you. If it weren't for the book you wrote, he would have hidden his identity for the rest of his life."
Cecile spoke in a low voice and turned her head toward me. Her red eyes, moist and shimmering faintly, were truly beautiful.
I locked eyes with her for a long moment before turning away first out of embarrassment. But as I turned my head, she subtly grabbed my hand.
Unlike Mari's, her hand didn't feel soft or delicate; it felt rough, the result of decades of training. It was a hand like Nicole's or Adelia's.
"What do you think, my benefactor? Do you have any impressions or thoughts after seeing the performance?"
"...Of course I do."
I answered, but I didn't think I could meet her eyes. I had a feeling that if I did, I would end up staring at her face as if enchanted.
In truth, I had a vague idea of what kind of feelings Cecile harbored for me based on her actions so far. If I didn't know, I'd be more than just dense; I'd be intentionally playing dumb. However, I intended to refuse her firmly.
Even if this world allowed polygamy and powerful men kept many women, I didn't have the confidence for that. If I couldn't take responsibility, I shouldn't start something that required it in the first place.
Above all, it would clearly be a great hurt to Mari, and the mindset from my previous life was deeply rooted in me. Being someone who wasn't naturally cold-hearted, a sense of rejection came to me instinctively.
I was just about to try and slowly pull my hand away from Cecile's grasp. But Cecile tightened her grip, as if determined not to let go, making it impossible for me to escape.
"...So this is why you called me here."
"Have you finally noticed?"
When I asked with a bitter smile, Cecile replied with a faint laugh. Earlier, I had been caught up in the lingering emotions of the play, and with Cecile crying, my brain hadn't been functioning properly.
I wondered if this was how a fly felt when caught by a sundew. I gave up on pulling my hand away and looked up at the sky.
In my previous life, it was hard to see even a single star, but perhaps because the air was so clear here, the stars formed a river, creating a vast Milky Way. Seeing such a sight with the naked eye made me truly realize that I had come to another world.
After staring at the star-filled sky for a while, I lowered my head and spoke quietly.
"...First of all, I plan to resume the serialization. After being shown a stage like that, it would be disrespectful in its own way not to continue writing."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. But because of my studies, the update frequency will be quite long. At least one volume every two to three months."
"That's not a problem at all. Just resuming the serialization is more than enough."
Cecile spoke in a slightly excited tone, clearly happy that the Xenon Biography would be continued. As I was rubbing the back of my neck out of embarrassment, she suddenly asked.
"Then the story of Kair and Elisha will continue as well?"
"Uh... yes."
"I'll be looking forward to it. I've been curious about what will happen to them."
It ends in tragedy, though. I couldn't bring myself to say it, so I just laughed awkwardly.
If I tried to act it out, I'd get caught, so this was the best I could do.
Grip!
In the meantime, I felt the strength in Cecile's grip increase. I flinched and turned my head, only to realize—oh no.
I came face-to-face with Cecile's eyes, which were shimmering with a bright red desire.
"Haaaah..."
As I hesitated, Cecile let out a feverish breath. Glancing up, I saw that her horns were already completely flushed with red.
As I've mentioned before, Demons go through a phenomenon similar to a period called the 'Evil Cycle' at certain intervals. Since it's a time when desire wells up intensely, they usually spend the day in meditation.
But right now, there was no time for meditation, and her eyes were already glazed over. Thinking that I might be 'devoured' by her in more ways than one, I hurriedly called out to her.
"Ce-Cecile? Are you okay?"
"Yes... I can still endure it for now."
Fortunately, it seemed she hadn't crossed the line...
"But I don't think I'll be able to hold back much longer."
...Wait, no, she had reached her limit. At the same time, a subtle scent began to waft from her.
Was it a kind of pheromone that stimulated a man's primal instincts? My heart began to race at the sight of Cecile becoming increasingly sensual, but I quickly spoke up.
If this continued, it could escalate into an irreversible situation like last time. Last time, it was lucky that Mari intervened, but there was no one here now.
It was so dark that even if someone passed by, they might not notice us. We had only made it this far because Cecile had used magic to light the way.
"Get a hold of yourself. You're the Princess of Helium, aren't you? You can endure this."
"...Right. I have to endure. I have to, but..."
Cecile began to break out in a cold sweat. She was clearly trying her best to exercise patience, but seeing her thump her chest repeatedly, I had a feeling she was about to explode.
As I hovered around her, not knowing what to do, Cecile lowered her head and whispered softly.
"You're so lovely and I'm so grateful... how am I supposed to hold back..."
"Cecile?"
"I can't. I can't... anymore."
Thud!
With a determined expression, Cecile snapped her head up and shoved me hard. Naturally, my body fell helplessly onto the ground.
Before I could even process the sudden change in situation, a dark shadow loomed over me. Even in the pitch-black darkness, I could clearly see Cecile's deep red eyes.
"...Cecile?"
"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."
"Cecile!"
"Please forgive me... for losing to my desire."
This couldn't go on. I struggled to break free.
But it was all in vain. Even though Cecile was pinning both of my hands down with just one of hers, I couldn't escape. It was proof that the difference in physical strength between Cecile and me was like heaven and earth.
Last time, Mari had intervened to prevent an accident, but not today. At this rate, something might actually happen out here in the open.
Slide—
Cecile, who had climbed on top of me, tenderly caressed my cheek. Then, looking down at me with eyes shimmering with lust, she spoke suggestively.
"Haa... These soft cheeks. These shining golden eyes. I want them all..."
"..."
"I want to give this frail body pleasure... and make it mine... every single strand of hair..."
As if the claim of being a descendant of a Succubus were true, she uttered erotic yet dangerous words that stimulated me. She even exuded a sensual aura that stirred an irresistible desire within me.
My heart began to pound and strength began to gather in my lower body, but I tried my best to signal my refusal by thinking of Mari.
"Cecile! Please, get a hold of yourself! This isn't good for either of us..."
"No. I'm sure you'll like it too. Why? Because I'm going to make it that way."
"..."
This woman is too far gone. I have to do something...!
Just as I decided I had to do something, even if it meant headbutting her, she used the hand that had been caressing my cheek to fix my face in place. Her strength was so immense that I couldn't even budge my head.
I rolled my eyes around, trying desperately to find a way out of the situation. Gartz, her guard knight, was nowhere to be seen.
"Then..."
Finally, Cecile licked her lips with her tongue and whispered quietly...
"I'll enjoy the meal. ♡"
She slowly lowered her head and parted her lips slightly.
It was the moment I squeezed my eyes shut, inwardly apologizing to Mari.
Flash!
A light so intense it momentarily illuminated the dark surroundings burst forth. I had no choice but to squeeze my eyes shut at the blinding brightness.
After a few seconds, the light gradually faded and then went out completely. As the light vanished, I slowly opened my eyes.
Because of the sudden burst of light, my vision was a bit blurry, but not so much that I couldn't distinguish objects.
"...That was close."
Cecile, who had moved off me at some point, was fiddling with her necklace and whispering quietly. Her face was a mix of relief and embarrassment. I stared at her blankly, unable to grasp the situation.
She then looked at me, gave a bitter smile, and explained the power contained within the necklace.
"This necklace is one of the treasures passed down through the generations in Helium. It has the power to stabilize the mind when the Evil Cycle arrives or when one cannot control their desires."
"Then just now..."
"Yes. I almost did something terrible to my benefactor. I am truly sorry."
Cecile bowed her head deeply to me in apology. I looked at her with a stunned expression and then checked the state of her horns.
While they had been completely red just moments ago, the tips were now black. Though her desire hadn't been completely resolved, it seemed to have provided a temporary fix.
Wow... so I was really about to be screwed?
I almost had my first experience outdoors. And with a princess from another country, not my girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Cecile looked at me hesitantly before asking a very cautious question. Her face was as red as could be because of what had just happened.
"Um... Benefactor."
"...Ah, yes. Go ahead."
"I say this again, but I am truly sorry. Just like last time, I couldn't overcome my desire and have caused you great offense again..."
Knowing she had committed a grave error, Cecile bowed her head in apology. I straightened my disheveled clothes and tried to calm my racing heart.
It felt as if Cecile's sensuality had seeped into my body; my whole frame felt flushed. It was that awkward, lingering sensation of being interrupted halfway through.
I fanned my face with my hand to cool down as I replied. Even so, the heat showed no signs of subsiding.
"It's... it's okay. But since you said the Evil Cycle brings out latent desires, then earlier..."
"...Yes. It's embarrassing, but those were my true feelings."
"Whoa..."
Cecile, unable to overcome her shame, lowered her head and answered in a small voice. I also felt awkward and let out an exclamation that wasn't quite an exclamation.
That meant she normally harbored a desire to pounce on me, which in turn meant she liked me that much.
In the suddenly awkward atmosphere, I pondered what to say before quietly speaking up.
"Um... I understand how you feel. You... like me too, right?"
"...Yes. I love you."
"..."
Cecile didn't beat around the bush like before; she threw a direct hit. Seeing her confess while bowing her head in shame was truly cute and lovely.
However, I had to maintain my rationality as much as possible. Even if this was a world where polygamy was allowed, there were more than a few practical issues.
As for the lifespan issue, I had already suggested an alternative to her, so that wasn't a problem. The problematic part was Mari.
"...Cecile. To be honest, I also have feelings for you as a woman. But I don't have the confidence to take responsibility. I already have to worry about Mari, so having two... it would cause many problems in various ways."
"I know."
"Depending on the situation, I might not be able to give you the love you deserve."
"I'm fine with that."
"Do you really like me that much?"
Why did Cecile, a princess of a nation, want me so badly? I couldn't understand it.
Someone like Cecile could surely meet a much better man than me. Even if I was the author of the Xenon Biography, I wondered why she felt she had to choose me.
As I looked at Cecile with those doubts, she slowly raised her head and looked me straight in the eye.
Her expression was one of firm determination, yet tinged with a certain sorrow.
"Yes. I love you. You, who looked at us Demons without prejudice. I fell deeply for that warm heart of yours. It's likely because of that heart that you were able to write the Xenon Biography."
"..."
"Even if you refuse me, I will protect your legacy. This territory where you were born, and all your future descendants. This is my duty as a Princess of Helium, and the only way I can repay you."
Even if I didn't accept her, she would maintain her feelings until the end. Hearing Cecile's resolute vow, my heart wavered significantly.
If she likes me that much, wouldn't it be okay to accept her just a little?
My emotions screamed at me to accept, but my reason shouted that Mari's opinion was what mattered. After wavering between reason and emotion, I let out a sigh and made a decision.
"...I think it would be best to discuss this with Mari."
"Th-thank you! Truly..."
"In exchange, if you try to pounce on me like earlier, I'll cut ties immediately. At the very least, I want my first time to be with Mari."
This was one thing I couldn't compromise on. Mari was the woman who loved me for being Isaac himself, not Xenon. It was the least I could do.
However, I don't know what Cecile thought when she heard this, but she made a remark that left me utterly bewildered.
"Does that mean after you have sexual relations with Mari, I'm next?"
"...Excuse me?"
"Then I'll have to help you and Mari get together as quickly as possible. That way, I can also..."
"..."
I was speechless.