Chapter 109: After the Show(3)
Chapter 109: After the Show(3)
I clutched my head, feeling a wave of dizziness at Cecile’s logic, which seemed to operate on an entirely different dimension. No matter how much I replayed her words in my mind, the reality of what she said didn't change.
I couldn't tell if it was because she was a demon, if Cecile herself was just unique, or if this was simply the culture of this world. The idea that she would be "next in line" after Mari made my head spin.
"Um... Noona?"
"Yes? Is something the matter?"
"Maybe I’m just slow, but what exactly do you mean by 'next after Mari'?"
I asked, hoping against hope. I needed to know if I had fundamentally misunderstood something.
Cecile tilted her head, looking at me with a look of innocent confusion as if wondering what could possibly be wrong.
"It’s exactly as it sounds. Mari was the first woman to become your lover, so shouldn't I at least yield that much to her?"
"No. No. That’s not what I meant... Ugh, damn it. How do I even put this..."
I was so flustered that my brain refused to function properly. I ruffled my hair aggressively and looked at Cecile. She was treating the idea of us being intimate as an absolute certainty.
Of course, having accepted her into my life, the thought hadn't never crossed my mind, but this was so sudden. It felt like skipping all the middle chapters and jumping straight to the epilogue.
As I struggled to get my gears turning, Cecile, who had been watching me quietly, spoke up in a trembling voice.
"Um... Savior? Do you... dislike the idea of being intimate with me?"
It seemed she had misinterpreted my reaction. I looked at her, stunned by a question that would make anyone else gasp. Cecile was currently gazing at me with the most pitiful, soul-crushing eyes.
Her face was beyond words, so I’ll skip the description, and her body... let’s just move past that, too. It was as if every ounce of celestial beauty had been concentrated into one person. It felt like a betrayal to Mari to say it, but in terms of raw feminine allure, Cecile was on an entirely different level.
But the point wasn't her looks or her figure. I just couldn't wrap my head around her wanting to skip every step of a relationship and go straight to the bedroom.
I shook my head vigorously to dispel her anxiety.
"No, no. Of course not. It’s just so sudden. Don't you think it’s a bit... much to just jump into bed? What do you think about having a sweet, normal relationship like I have with Mari?"
"If you are willing to accept me, I don't mind at all. In fact, that might make me even happier."
"Right?"
"Yes. Thinking about the things you and Mari have done together... Haa..."
Cecile let out a suggestive sigh, seemingly recalling the lovey-dovey moments she’d witnessed between Mari and me. She cupped her face with an ecstatic expression, and I felt a chill go down my spine—it was like I’d flipped a switch.
Fortunately, her horns didn't turn red, but her flushed cheeks were vivid enough. I didn't dare ask what kind of fantasies were playing out in her head.
"A-anyway, I understand how you feel. You really won't regret this?"
"Do you remember the first letter I ever sent you?"
"The letter..."
I searched my memory at her question. Back when I was at the Academy, Cecile had sent me a fan letter as an apology.
"My true feelings were poured into that letter. My sincere vow to offer both my body and soul to repay the debt I owe you."
"...Ah."
Now that she mentioned it, I did remember something like that. A fan letter overflowing with the resolve to give me her everything.
Cecile was simply trying to live up to those words. One might think of her as a mere devotee, but considering the impact Xenon’s Biography had on the demons, it wasn't entirely strange.
I had liberated them from centuries of persecution; it would be stranger if they didn't become my followers. The scale was just massive because she happened to be the Princess of Helium.
"As a demon, I will do everything in my power to repay the Savior who rescued our entire race. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but my charms as a woman are quite exceptional compared to others. And it isn't just my body; my heart loves you as well. So..."
"Okay. I get it. Please, stop."
Feeling my mind start to go numb again, I hurriedly held up a hand to stop her. There was no telling what else she might say if I let her continue.
Regardless, I had confirmed her sincerity. It wasn't empty talk; Cecile was essentially a devotee who only had eyes for me. A follower who would gladly offer her body if commanded.
It felt a bit uncomfortable, as if she were making herself my slave. I looked at her with a complicated expression.
"I don't think you need to go that far. I prefer horizontal relationships over vertical ones. You don't have to give me everything..."
"You’ll return to the embrace of nature in a hundred years anyway. Shouldn't I at least do this much while I can?"
"... ..."
I had no comeback for that. I froze with my mouth agape at her blunt rebuttal. I’d felt it before, but our perspectives on time and life were fundamentally different.
Oblivious to my internal crisis, Cecile just smiled brightly and waited demurely for me to speak. I barely managed to pull my straying soul back into my body.
"...If you put it that way, I have nothing to say. Do as you wish."
"Thank you."
"On one condition."
"I am prepared to accept any condition you set."
"... ..."
The moment she answered while placing a hand over her heart, a dark, murky emotion surged from deep within me. It was the same feeling I’d had when I started speaking casually with Lina.
Since I had almost caused a major incident with Cecile just moments ago, my mind wandered to places it really shouldn't have.
'It must be because of that seductive aura from earlier.'
Normally, I wouldn't even entertain such thoughts. But the allure Cecile had radiated earlier had stimulated my senses, triggering a primal desire—specifically, my libido.
Since reincarnating, my physical urges had been one of the hardest things to manage, and having that trigger pulled sent my thoughts spiraling in a dangerous direction.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying my best to maintain my composure. Fortunately, my endurance had been tempered by physical training, allowing me to pull myself together.
"...What I want is simple. I’m going to stop using formal speech with you, and I want you to do the same with me. Whether we're in public or alone. That’s fair, right?"
"Hmm... Okay. I just have to speak casually, right?"
Once she dropped the formalities, Cecile returned to her usual self rather than acting like a devotee. As expected, dropping formal speech does more than just show intimacy; it breaks down the walls between people.
I felt a sense of relief the moment she spoke casually to me. The burden of being treated like a 'Savior' vanished instantly.
"That’s enough. Then I’ll speak casually to you too, Noona."
"Yeah. But are you going to keep calling me 'Noona'?"
"If you don't like it, I’ll stop."
"No, do whatever you want. You can call me Cecile if you prefer. Are you sure this is all you want?"
"What else would there be?"
"For example..."
Cecile trailed off, her face flushing slightly as she spoke in a shy voice.
"Asking to touch my chest?"
"... ..."
"I’ve said it repeatedly, but my body and soul are yours. You can handle me however you like."
"...I’ll pass."
Seriously, she was constantly testing my patience. If I hadn't met Mari first, I probably would have crossed the line long ago.
Cecile was a woman so irresistibly charming that she felt like too much for me. But since she was the one pursuing me, I decided to let it go.
However, even if I accepted her, one final hurdle remained. I pinched the bridge of my nose again and voiced my concern.
"But Cecile, can you get Mari’s permission? I’m fine with it, but I doubt Mari will just accept this..."
"You don't have to worry about that. I have my ways. Besides, as your value continues to grow, you absolutely need someone who can protect you politically. No matter how much power Mari’s family has as a Ducal house second only to the Emperor, the state itself doesn't protect you."
"Well, if that’s the case, then I’m glad, but..."
Even though this was a world where polygamy was permitted, I couldn't help but feel like I was cheating due to the influence of my past life. In my previous world, polygamy was mostly a custom found in Islamic cultures.
Of course, in the West, there were rare cases where people had lovers with their spouse's consent, but even that required the wife's permission.
Furthermore, the fact that it was Cecile—the Princess of Helium—made it even more daunting. Having a Duke’s daughter as a girlfriend and a Princess of Helium as another lover... what kind of ridiculous situation was this?
It was a testament to my immense value, but it was a headache nonetheless.
"You don't have to make that face. All you have to do is accept it. My body and soul exist only for you. Even if you throw me away like a used rag after we've been together, I will accept it all."
"I have no intention of living like a piece of trash."
I was suddenly reminded of Adelia, who had been abandoned by those she held dear. Just imagining Cecile crying like her made my heart ache, almost as if it were tearing apart.
When I answered firmly with a hardened expression, Cecile smiled softly and nodded, looking pleased.
"I understand. Even if these moments feel short to me, please know that the happiness they bring will last forever. I want to live missing these moments, not regretting them."
"I’ll do my best to make sure you don't regret it either. Tell me what you want. I don't like just being on the receiving end."
"Then, can you hold me?"
Cecile asked, spreading her arms wide. As she did, her ample chest became even more prominent, drawing my gaze.
The moment we hugged, there would be no turning back. It meant taking full responsibility.
But my mind was already made up. I had to offer at least this much to Cecile, who gave me such infinite devotion and love.
After a brief hesitation, I opened my arms and stepped toward her. Before I could even reach her, Cecile hopped into my arms and hugged me tight.
"Mmm... So this is the Savior’s—no, Isaac’s body... It’s warm and smells so good..."
"... ..."
I couldn't say a word, even as Cecile made cute noises in my arms. The moment we embraced, the sensation of her overwhelming presence was transmitted directly to me.
The pressure was almost suffocating, and it didn't just tickle my primal instincts—it felt like it was grabbing them by the hair and dragging them out. It was on a completely different level from hugging Mari.
With Mari, love easily suppressed lust. With Cecile, lust felt like it was forcibly trampling over love. Her scent was like pouring oil onto a roaring fire, driving me mad.
'Endure it. Just endure... You’ve held out this long...'
I had managed my desires well until now. I couldn't let them explode here. I had to exercise every ounce of my patience.
After some time had passed, Cecile, who had even been humming to herself, finally loosened her grip.
"Haa... that was wonderful. I feel like the desire inside me has been somewhat quenched. I should have done this sooner."
She spoke while looking me straight in the eye, her breath still slightly hitched. I didn't have the courage to meet her gaze, so I looked away and scratched my cheek.
She got to quench her desire, while mine was piled up to the ceiling—what an unfair arrangement. Or perhaps her desire had simply been transferred to me.
"That... was a bit embarrassing."
"How does it compare to Mari? You can feel the weight, can't you?"
"... ..."
"Isaac, your face is red again."
I couldn't even open my mouth as Cecile giggled in front of me. Right now, I had to do something about the blood rushing to my lower half.
It had been reacting since the moment we hugged; surely Cecile must have noticed. I was standing in a very awkward posture, hips pushed back and upper body leaning forward, so even if she didn't feel it, she must have seen it.
I’ll say it now: she was practically a walking piece of obscenity. I was genuinely afraid that I might get aroused just by looking at her face later on.
"...Let’s head back to the mansion soon. As you know, I have prior plans with Mari."
"Yeah, okay. Oh, before that, Isaac. There’s something I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
As I tried to cool down my burning face, Cecile asked me with a slightly serious expression, her smile fading.
"Isaac, do you know anything about Dark Elves?"
"Dark Elves?"
"Yes. They are a tribe that was exiled by their own kind due to a past civil war. Like us demons, they primarily worship Mora, the God of Darkness."
"I know a little bit."
I had seen them mentioned in books I found in Professor Elena’s laboratory. Dark Elves rarely showed themselves to the world, moving in shadows, so they weren't well-known to the public.
All I knew was that they had bronze skin and were naturally gifted at stealth. Their history was also quite intriguing, which had piqued my interest.
"Then do you know that their stealth abilities are exceptional?"
"Yeah. But why the Dark Elves?"
"Because the culprit who stole your manuscript was a Dark Elf."
"What?"
What was this now? I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the shocking truth Cecile revealed.
Even if a Dark Elf had stolen the manuscript, I couldn't understand why. Even if my manuscript was incredibly valuable, I wondered how they would even use it.
From what I knew, Dark Elves had almost no interest in human society and focused entirely on their own affairs.
"It’s something we discovered after Helium launched its own investigation into the theft. By now, the news has likely reached the top brass of the Minerva Empire as well."
"What do the Dark Elves stand to gain from stealing my manuscript?"
"Who knows? I’m not sure either. But it’s highly likely they stole it for their own selfish reasons."
"Hmm..."
It was a bit bewildering. At the same time, I remembered the statement Albenheim had released in the newspapers.
They had claimed they would never stoop to such lowly acts. Of course, since the Dark Elves were exiles from Albenheim, the high elves likely didn't consider them their own kind.
"And we managed to track down the culprit. They will be visiting Helium a week from now. I’d like you to come with me then."
"Alright. I am curious to see what the thief looks like."
"Would you forgive them if it was a child?"
Cecile asked with a hint of concern. Given the question, the culprit was likely young.
But I answered without a moment’s hesitation, as if her concern was misplaced.
"No. Why would I? They used their power to steal my work; in a way, that makes the crime even worse."
"You’re more firm than I expected."
"Children tend to become more cunning the moment they realize the power they possess."
In my past life, I had seen countless cases of juvenile delinquents hiding behind their age. Children, especially the younger they are, often cleverly exploit their youth.
"Well, my mind might change if they get on their knees and beg for forgiveness. But they’re still getting a stern lecture regardless."
"What if they were trying to steal your manuscript again?"
"Hmm... then..."
I looked up, pondering for a moment, before scratching my head and speaking quietly.
"I’d probably ask them if their parent count is an odd number."
"Pfft!"
Cecile burst out laughing at my biting, savage remark. It was a cathartic laugh, the kind that made me feel good just watching her.
"Puhahaha! What a witty question. How do you come up with things like that?"
"I just thought of it."
"Puhuhe... Ah, honestly. Isaac, you really are adorable."
"Ahem."
Now it was my turn to be embarrassed. As Cecile looked at me with warm eyes, I cleared my throat and looked away.
"Anyway, so I just need to go to Helium in a week?"
"I’ll have Sir Balak come to your mansion then. You just need to be ready."
"Got it."
"Oh. Are you going to write bad things about Dark Elves in Xenon’s Biography because of this?"
I thought about Cecile’s question. Just as I had saved the demons, writing something negative about the Dark Elves would surely have a massive impact on them.
However, I had to keep business and personal matters separate; doing that might mess up the story. While it was true that the elves were arrogant, the elves I planned to write about in the future were a race that would realize their arrogance and unite as one.
The same went for the Dark Elves. They would unite with the kin who had exiled them to defeat the demons—a fairly standard story, in a way.
But...
"I won't write anything bad, but there will be some trouble. Not just for the Dark Elves, but for all elves."
"What kind of trouble?"
I smiled brightly at her.
"Sorry, but that’s a spoiler. I can't tell you."
In the novel, Albenheim would fall to the demons because of the elves' own arrogance.