Chapter 126: The Story of Three Women(1)
Chapter 126: The Story of Three Women(1)
It happened just after Isaac had left for their lodgings to fetch some medicine. As soon as he was gone, Lina called out to Mari, who was sitting across from her.
"Mari."
"Yes?"
Mari looked up, pausing in the middle of slicing her steak. Her porcelain skin was still tinged with a faint pink hue from Isaac’s earlier comment.
Since her hair was a brilliant white, the blush was even more prominent, but that wasn't what mattered to Lina. What mattered to her was the identity of the 'medicine' Isaac had mentioned.
"Do you know what kind of medicine Isaac takes?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I figured you’d know. I’ve never seen Isaac take medicine before."
Compared to Mari or Cecile, Lina spent relatively little time with Isaac. She had been busy wrapping up the exhibition and had dedicated herself entirely to her studies to maintain her high marks at the Academy.
Now that the exam period was over, she finally had some breathing room, but this was the first she’d heard of Isaac needing medicine. She planned to help him out—partly to support him, and partly to atone for her past mistakes.
"It’s not some kind of chronic illness, is it?"
"It’s nothing like that. It’s just... well, it really is just preventive medicine."
"Preventive medicine?"
What on earth was he trying to prevent? And why was Mari’s face turning even redder than before?
Lina had received sex education at the Imperial Palace alongside Mari, but she had only learned the clinical facts. She was completely oblivious to the private atmosphere or the slang shared between a man and a woman.
This was why Lina was so puzzled, and why Mari found it so difficult to explain. Who could bluntly say that he had gone to get contraceptives so they could have sex?
"Is it expensive? If it is, I can—"
"No. It’s not that expensive. You can find it on the market, so there’s no need for you to help."
"Is it like a nutritional supplement?"
"Um..."
While Mari was agonizing over how to make Lina understand, Cecile, who had been watching silently, spoke up with a playful grin.
"So, does this mean Mari is going to get disciplined by Isaac’s club later?"
"Club?"
What was she talking about now? Lina looked at Cecile with an expression that said she had just heard something utterly bizarre. Her face practically demanded an explanation.
However, Cecile merely kept her eyes fixed on Mari, wearing her signature seductive expression. Her mischievous streak had been triggered.
"Disciplined by a club? What does that mean? Is Isaac actually hitting Mari?"
"H-Hitting? Absolutely not. It’s just... a game. A game between Isaac and me."
"A game that requires medicine and involves you being disciplined by Isaac’s club? What are you talking about? I don't understand a single—"
Lina trailed off. Something had clicked in her mind as she looked at Mari’s face, which was now as red as a sunset.
As mentioned before, while Mari had an instinctive ability to tell if someone was being sincere or lying, Lina possessed exceptional powers of observation. And being highly observant meant her deductive reasoning was equally sharp.
Mari’s embarrassment. Cecile’s teasing remark about being disciplined by Isaac’s 'club.' The medicine that was absolutely necessary for 'prevention.'
And finally, a game played between two people—specifically, a man and a woman.
As all these pieces fell into place, a single concept floated to the surface of Lina’s mind.
"..."
The moment she realized what they were talking about, Lina’s face flushed crimson. Interestingly, she froze completely, her face slowly turning redder by the second.
In any other situation, she would have regained her composure quickly, but since this was deeply related to the private lives of a man and a woman, even Lina couldn't help but stammer.
Imperial Princess or not, she was ultimately a virgin with zero experience with men. In the past, she had met a few men for the sake of a potential political marriage, but that was the extent of it.
Once she had processed everything, Lina swallowed hard and asked Mari in a slightly trembling voice. Mari was currently resting her chin on her hand, her face still flushed.
"...Mari?"
"...What?"
"Are you... with Isaac..."
"We did it. Exactly what you’re thinking."
"Since when?"
Lina had witnessed them on countless dates that practically dripped with honey. But she hadn't even dreamed that they had gone all the way.
Mari, feeling her throat go dry, took a sip of tea while resting her chin on her hand, then glanced at Cecile instead of Lina. Cecile had made the atmosphere awkward by saying something unnecessary.
Regardless, Cecile was currently enjoying the situation with great interest, her trademark mischievous expression on full display.
Mari suppressed the urge to scratch that wicked face and spoke quietly.
"...Since the exhibition ended."
"Then, from then until now..."
"Almost every day. We couldn't during the exam period because we were busy. We’re going to do it now."
"Oh my..."
Lina was now covering her mouth, looking utterly lost. Seeing the 'mask' of the composed princess fall away to reveal such a flustered reaction was a rare sight.
Mari also found the reaction unexpected, but her priority was to diffuse the tension. If she didn't, the atmosphere would remain like this even after Isaac returned. She started by reprimanding Cecile.
"Cecile. Did you really have to say that? And what’s with the 'club' talk?"
"It is a club, isn't it? Something that big has to be a club. What else would you call it?"
Cecile countered, holding her hands a certain distance apart. It was an incredibly blunt gesture, very much in character for her.
Lina, seeing the length Cecile was indicating for the 'club,' went beyond mere surprise and into the realm of pure shock. It was significantly longer than anything she had learned about at the Imperial Palace.
But Mari took it a step further.
"It’s even bigger than that now."
"What? Is that true?"
"Yeah. I guess it grew along with his height."
At the testimony(?) that it had grown longer as he matured, it was Cecile’s turn to be surprised. Ever since she had decided to become Isaac’s woman, she had been receiving 'advice' from Mari whenever she had the chance.
Through this, she had learned everything about what Isaac liked and what kind of acts he enjoyed, but she hadn't actually moved on to the main event yet.
The reason was partly that Mari was still monopolizing Isaac, but more importantly, her 'Evil Cycle' was slowly approaching.
As explained before, to get through the Evil Cycle, one had to either suppress their desires through meditation or satisfy them completely.
Recently, thanks to the invention of a certain medicine, fewer demons suffered through the Evil Cycle, but Cecile was waiting for hers to arrive.
When the Evil Cycle hit, pleasure would far outweigh any pain. Mari claimed to have enjoyed herself since her first night thanks to Isaac, but sexual compatibility varied from person to person.
"Um... Cecile?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell me you... with Isaac too..."
Lina asked Cecile in a cautious voice. She was currently cupping her face with both hands, perhaps trying to cool down her burning cheeks.
Combined with her puppy-like features, she exuded the charm of a maiden embarrassed by lewd talk; her imperial dignity and charisma had vanished without a trace.
Perhaps finding Lina’s unusually naive reaction refreshing, Cecile stared at her for a moment, then gave a sly smile and replied in a provocative tone.
"I wonder~ Did we? Or didn't we? What do you think, Lina?"
"Are—are you going to do it too? W-With Isaac?"
"Yes. I think it’ll be happening soon."
"B-But Mari is right here. Is it okay to just say things like that?"
Lina asked, pointing a finger at Mari. She was so flustered that she was stuttering, which was very unlike her.
Cecile, on the other hand, remained perfectly composed. As if she had forgotten something, she let out an "Ah" and delivered a shocking fact to Lina.
"I forgot to mention it. I’m dating Isaac too."
"Wh-What? Th-Then..."
"It’s exactly what you’re thinking. Polygamy. As you can see, I’m a demon, and Isaac is Xenon. I think that explains enough."
"..."
It was an argument Lina couldn't refute. Furthermore, since Cecile was the Princess of Helium, she would be a great political asset to Isaac.
However, Lina’s mind was in a state of chaos due to all the explicit talk. Her mouth hung open like a fish before she slowly turned her head toward Mari.
Meeting Mari’s blunt gaze, Lina spoke tentatively.
"...Is that true?"
"Yes. For the record, I’m the primary wife. Even Cecile acknowledged that. Right?"
"Actually, since you aren't married yet, I consider the position of primary wife to be vacant."
"You little... That’s it. Get out. Get away from Isaac."
"I don't want to~"
Even as Mari and Cecile bickered playfully, Lina couldn't compose herself. No matter how hard she tried to calm down, all sorts of imaginations swirled in her head.
Mari and Cecile doing those kinds of things with Isaac... No. It sounds like Cecile hasn't done it yet... Ugh...
She could feel her brain overheating in real-time. And then she remembered the width of the gap Cecile had shown with her hands.
While Mari and Cecile were squabbling over who was the primary wife, Lina stole a glance down at herself. She wasn't dating Isaac, but she was at an age where she was very interested in sex.
She then glanced at the other two and made a quiet comparison. I won't explain exactly what she was comparing, as it should be obvious. And...
I-It goes past the navel? Is that really possible?
She was shocked once again. She found Mari impressive for taking it all in, and she felt a newfound sense of wonder at the mysteries of the human body.
Lina swallowed hard and looked up at Mari. Mari had a triumphant expression, as if she had won the primary wife argument with Cecile.
"Um... Mari?"
"Yes?"
"Does that... really all go in? Doesn't it hurt?"
Mari blinked as she met Lina’s gaze. Lina’s face was burning red, and her blue eyes were filled with curiosity.
The Lina she knew had vanished, replaced by a girl showing interest in sex. Not an Imperial Princess, but a cute, charming girl acting her age.
Mari found the sight incredibly adorable. She stared at Lina for a moment, then let her lips curl into a smirk.
She felt good, as if she had caught Lina’s weakness, something she could use against her for a long time to come.
"Lina."
"Y-Yes?"
"Do you want me to explain everything that happened on our first night, or should I just answer your question? You choose."
"Ugh..."
When Mari asked in a suggestive voice, Lina’s face became so hot it felt like steam might actually rise from it. Yet, her eyes remained fixed on Mari, as if she truly wanted to hear the answer.
It seemed she wanted both, so Mari recalled the first night she had spent with Isaac after the exhibition. Just thinking about it made her heart race and her nerves tingle, but it was a cherished memory now.
Currently, she was just a woman who had awakened to sex, no less than a succubus. They would simply indulge each other, passing the lead back and forth until they reached their limits.
"Then I’ll start by explaining how Isaac and I ended up spending the night together. It started with a slip of the tongue from Isaac."
"A slip of the tongue?"
"Yes. Isaac invited me to his bedroom, saying he had something to talk about. He even ordered coffee."
"Th-That’s..."
"Right. In Isaac’s mind, he probably really just wanted to talk, but I didn't. And I was in a hurry because Cecile had said something unnecessary to me."
"Something unnecessary?"
At the mention of Cecile, Lina’s gaze shifted. Seeing the attention turn to her, Cecile shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
"I just said that if she didn't do it first, I’d snatch him away. Who knew they’d actually do the deed that very day?"
"Ugh..."
Lina let out a groan, clearly weak to this kind of talk.
Her reason was screaming at her to stop, but her heart was tempting her, saying it was okay to hear more.
The actual experiences of her friend, which were so different from the sex education she had received at the palace, provided Lina with a new kind of stimulation.
"Isaac was stroking my entire body. As if he were handling a fragile piece of art. You know how large and beautiful Isaac’s hands are, right? Imagine those hands caressing your bare skin."
"A-And then?"
"And then..."
As Mari’s story of their first night continued, Lina became more and more excited. The occasional ragged breaths she let out showed she was completely absorbed.
And when the story reached what could be called the highlight...
"...Gulp."
She even swallowed her saliva, never losing her focus. Mari continued, using descriptions that were surprisingly graphic for someone from a ducal family.
Unlike Lina, Cecile had heard the story several times and remained unfazed, but she listened quietly since it was a story deeply involving Isaac.
"U-Until dawn? Wasn't it exhausting?"
"When I woke up the next day, the sun was high in the sky. I don't even know how I did it back then. Now, I’m exhausted after just thirty minutes."
"I-Isaac has surprisingly good stamina..."
"I heard he even received knight training when he was young. It makes sense that he’s strong."
"Gulp. Wh-What happened after that? Was everything okay in the morning?"
"Well, something did happen. The situation was..."
It was one surprise after another. In Lina’s mind, the image of Isaac as a fragile writer was being replaced by that of a 'man.'
She had noticed that Mari’s face had seemed brighter and more beautiful lately; was it all because of her nights with Isaac? Lina felt a strange emotion as she heard about their spectacular first night.
"That’s the end of our first night. After that, we just did it whenever we had time, so there isn't much else to tell."
"So, do you have any thoughts?"
"..."
Thoughts or not, Lina was in a state of sensory overload. The more she imagined it, the more she felt a tingling sensation down below.
If just hearing about it was like this, she couldn't even fathom what it would be like to actually do it. She wasn't dating Isaac, but he had already become the standard in her heart.
Isaac was the only man she had been seeing lately; Jackson had clung to her in the past but had backed off on his own after the group assignment. There was Leort, but he was her brother, so he didn't count.
Knock—knock—knock—
"I’m back. I’m coming in."
While Lina was hesitating, Isaac returned with the medicine. Lina snapped her head up from its slightly bowed position.
As Isaac opened the door, her gaze instinctively drifted toward a certain area—the part Mari had emphasized so much just moments ago.
However, Isaac, completely unaware of this, spoke with a casual face.
"Are you finished eating? Shall we get the check?"
"Yes. Let’s. Are we going straight there?"
"Is that what you want?"
"It’s been building up for days. I can't take care of it on my own."
If she hadn't heard the story from Mari, she wouldn't have understood their conversation. But not anymore.
As soon as Lina heard them, she could predict what they were about to do.
The Academy had an inn for guests, but it wasn't only for guests. There were also soundproofed rooms specifically for nobles.
So, Isaac and Mari would be there...
"...Gulp."
Lina swallowed the saliva that had pooled in her mouth once again. Just imagining it made her heart pound with nervousness.
She knew she shouldn't, but after hearing the story, she felt a secret impulse to watch.
She thought it might be helpful for her own first night in the distant future. Since she was the Imperial Princess of Minerva, marrying a man was an inevitable step.
Of course, that was her reason talking; her instinct was simply driven by sexual curiosity. At seventeen, she was at the age where such interests were just beginning to bloom.
Would she maintain her dignity as a princess, or would she act on her desires as a human being?
It was a moment where Lina was plunged into the greatest dilemma of her private life.
"Hmm?"
And Cecile, watching her from the side, let out a curious hum.