Chapter 360: It's Unfair(1)
Chapter 360: It's Unfair(1)
The reason Mari and Cecile made a surprise visit to Albenheim was actually quite simple.
They were worried about Arwen. It wasn't a lie; they had truly come to check on her out of genuine concern.
Despite their bravado—joking about "squeezing Isaac dry" or claiming he wouldn't get any sleep tonight—the reality was quite the opposite.
Isaac was usually a refined gentleman, but once the "main event" began, he transformed completely. He became a veritable beast, and he wouldn't stop until the one who seduced him was the first to collapse.
Furthermore, Isaac possessed immense patience and a bit of a mischievous streak. Combine that with his deep consideration for his partner and his incredible physical stamina, and the result was formidable.
Rather than satisfying his own desires first, he made sure to pleasure the woman he loved before attending to his own needs. Thanks to that, every night was more than just satisfying; it was an ecstatic experience that bordered on addictive. They never grew tired of it, even if they did it every single day.
Was there a concern about their bodies breaking down from overindulgence? There was no need to worry about that.
Isaac possessed divine power that rivaled—or perhaps even surpassed—that of a Cardinal. And the most effective way to transfer a man's "energy," including divine power, was through sexual intercourse.
This was the reason why women who were involved with him often found their skin becoming more supple and their hair gaining a healthy luster.
Far from being physically drained, it was quite the opposite. Mari, Cecile, and Adelia were all reaping the full benefits of this effect. All three had seen their beauty reach new heights, and their physical stamina had gradually increased as well. If their stamina hadn't improved, they wouldn't have been able to handle Isaac's vigor.
In that sense, they couldn't help but worry about Arwen.
Unlike Cecile or Adelia, Arwen wasn't a warrior; she was a mage, which meant her physical stamina was likely poor. Nor had she been building up her endurance with Isaac from the beginning like Mari had.
But the biggest concern was her small stature. While her hips were exceptionally wide, that was only in terms of proportion; given her short height, it didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.
"I even warned her not to slip up. She'll be okay, right?"
"We have Holy Water. It's basically undiluted Elixir, so even if an accident happens, she should be fine."
"I wish I had something like that back then."
"Isaac was a novice back then, too."
Mari and Cecile chatted idly while waiting for permission to enter. They were currently waiting in a guest room within Elodia.
Adelia hadn't joined them, opting instead to receive special training from Hawk. There was no need for all of them to come anyway.
For anyone else, entering Elodia would have been impossible. But these two were different. Mari was publicly recognized as Isaac's fiancée, and Cecile was the Princess of Helium.
Of course, even as a Princess of Helium, reaching Elodia would normally be difficult. She hadn't been officially announced as Isaac's woman yet. However, those who needed to know already knew, and the fact that she was accompanying Mari was practically a semi-official announcement in itself.
Even if this was an unofficial visit, once rumors began to spread after today, Cecile would eventually be able to make a proud announcement of her own.
"You don't think they're still sleeping because they were at it until now, do you?"
Mari, who had been enjoying some refreshments while they waited, spoke in a half-joking tone.
It wasn't entirely a joke. The women, including herself, had often stayed up for days after their first night. The atmosphere—feeling like newlyweds without officially being so—created a strange sense of excitement that made them lose track of day and night.
"Who knows? It might be a bit much for the Queen, even if it wasn't for us. Still, Keir said they haven't come out except to wash, so the possibility is high."
"I'm jealous. When will I get to enjoy being a newlywed?"
"Listen to the girl who's getting married first. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Ehehe."
Mari let out a pleasant laugh at Cecile's jealous grumbling. Her head was currently filled with nothing but a rosy future with Isaac.
Herself in a pure white wedding dress. Isaac greeting her in a sharp black tuxedo. Going on a honeymoon with everyone's blessings and spending nights there that would rival their first.
Since they wouldn't be using contraception, perhaps a child would be conceived then. Mari closed her eyes, imagining the child that would be born in the future.
She hadn't originally been very interested in having children, but her mind had changed after seeing Lily. Red hair and golden eyes that looked exactly like Isaac's. She had heard that daughters had an 80% chance of taking after their fathers. She herself had often been told she looked like her own father.
How many children should we have? I hope they come easily. Would four be enough, like my mother's side? Naming them will be a struggle, too.
While Mari was grinning foolishly at her happy daydreams, Cecile watched her with a gaze mixed with jealousy and envy.
Since the "bombshell statement," she had partially yielded the position of the primary wife, but she hadn't given up entirely. She had been making occasional provocations, claiming that even if the wedding came first, she would be the first to have his child.
Seeing that Mari was lost in similar thoughts, Cecile spoke up with a highly provocative intent, warning her not to let her guard down.
"But what if an 'accident' happens?"
"Huh? What kind of accident?"
Mari snapped out of her fantasies at the question. It wasn't something she could just brush off.
Cecile wore a mysterious smile and spoke in her characteristically sultry voice.
"What if someone other than you carries Isaac's child first... what would you do?"
"...What?"
"I'm sure it would never happen, but there's always a 'what if,' right? There are already four women involved with Isaac. What if someone forgets their contraception?"
"..."
Mari's eyes twitched at Cecile's question. It was a blatant provocation, but also a warning.
As she said, there were four women, including Arwen, who shared Isaac's bed. And that number was likely to increase. Furthermore, while Isaac was meticulous in his persona as an author, as a person, he was full of holes and could be quite a klutz.
Could such a man really avoid making a mistake in his relationships with women? That was Cecile's point.
"...Are you getting greedy?"
Mari almost lost her temper for a moment but managed to regain her composure. Her first priority was to gauge Cecile's intentions. The demon sitting across from her wanted Isaac's seed just as much as she did—perhaps even more.
To Cecile, Isaac was the man she loved, but even before that, he was the savior of her entire race. Even if she had stepped back from the position of primary wife, she was a rival who could never be ignored.
"To be honest, I am greedy. He's the man I love, but he's also the savior who rescued my people. I've been ready from that very moment."
Cecile replied, elegantly brushing her hair back. It was her unchanging sincerity and a direct display of her affection for him.
Mari's eyes twitched at the words, but then she let out a short laugh. She found the idea absurd.
"Hmph. Don't talk nonsense. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Isaac's number one will always be me. Got it?"
"I know, I know. I'm just talking about when an 'accident' happens. You know how it is, right? There are so many crazy people in this world."
"..."
"I'm sorry for being so pessimistic. But we demons always live our lives keeping the worst-case scenario in mind."
Mari fell silent at Cecile's sincere advice. Though pessimistic, it was a situation with a certain degree of possibility.
One didn't have to look far—just look at Cherry and Kate. Those two were actually on the gentler side. If someone much more aggressive than them targeted Isaac, they might resort to things a human should never do.
If a child is conceived in that situation...
It would be a massive blow to everyone, not just Isaac. That was something that had to be prevented at all costs. Of course, even that was merely the lesser of two evils. The absolute worst-case scenario was Isaac's death.
Mari pondered the thought before letting out a chuckle. Since she had considered the worst and the second-worst, shouldn't she think about the opposite?
"I'll have to do my best to make sure that doesn't happen. The same goes for 'accidents' of a different nature."
"Accidents of a different nature? You mean like breaking up with Isaac...?"
"Are you crazy? Who would that benefit?"
"Tch."
Cecile clicked her tongue in disappointment at Mari's firm answer. Seeing that, Mari smirked. She really was like a female cat. She claimed to yield with her words, but she was a cat constantly eyeing her prey (Isaac).
"Hmm... still, it is worrying. Contraceptives aren't perfect, after all."
"Right? Then..."
"I should just put a chastity belt on him. Come to think of it, do they make those for men?"
"Hey."
Cecile's jaw dropped in horror at the completely unexpected idea. How could she even think of such a thing?
As everyone knew, a chastity belt was something a husband participating in a war would put on his wife to prevent infidelity, or a wife would put on her husband to stop his wandering eye. Fortunately, as culture progressed and public opinion turned against such inhumane practices, most had been discarded, though they hadn't vanished entirely.
But if it was Mari, she seemed like she might actually do it, which was terrifying. Her jealousy regarding Isaac was legendary.
"What? I'm just exercising my rightful authority as the primary wife. If you want to do it with Isaac, get my permission first."
"Aren't you going to ask for Isaac's opinion?"
"There's no need for the opinion of a public utility. Since he can't manage his own lower half, I have no choice but to do it for him."
"You're joking, right?"
"Am I?"
Mari spoke playfully as she elegantly lifted her teacup. Her expression made it impossible to read her true thoughts.
Cecile stared at her with a stunned face before letting out a hollow laugh. The goddess of jealousy was right here.
Of course, she wouldn't actually put a chastity belt on him. Instead, she would take measures of equivalent magnitude.
"Well, if something like that really happens, I'll be bitter, but I'll congratulate you. Though from that day on, all the contraceptives are going straight into the trash."
"Oh. Can I join in on that?"
"No. Way."
"Hmph. Fine. Have it all your way."
Mari giggled at Cecile's grumbling. Cecile was her greatest rival, but also a close friend. Especially since her feelings for Isaac were pure and without any ulterior motives, she could be trusted. The same went for Adelia.
As long as their feelings for him were sincere, she was willing to accept any woman.
At first, she thought she could handle Isaac on her own. But as time passed, she realized how wrong she had been.
I can't handle him by myself.
The physical abilities inherited from Hawk, divine power rivaling the Pope's, and finally, being at an age where his passion was at its peak. When these three factors combined, he was simply too much to handle.
If Isaac were a knight on the front lines, he would have exhausted his stamina and divine power. But he was an author, far removed from the life of a warrior. Since he poured all of that energy into their nights, she had to seriously consider the fact that it was impossible for one person alone.
Even the term "public utility" was more than just a joke. It was like a rotation to manage his stamina.
I hope his stamina doesn't increase even more. I still need time...
Mari seriously worried that Isaac's virility might increase further. He hadn't received a "Blessing" or "Grace" like Kate had, but he was destined to receive one soon. If that happened, his divine power would also increase drastically.
Talent was one thing, but Kate had risen to the position of Cardinal through Grace alone; the effect on Isaac would be even greater.
Just thinking about it makes me dizzy. Even Adelia says it's hard to handle.
Cecile could only handle Isaac during her demonic cycle; outside of that period, she was similar to Mari. That was why, when Isaac was truly "fired up," they always brought Adelia along. No woman could beat her in terms of physical stamina.
However, ever since she started training under Hawk, the tables had begun to turn. The training she received from Hawk wasn't just simple martial arts; it included mana cultivation as well. Her "hardware" was already insane, and now that "software" was being installed, it was becoming difficult to endure.
I have no choice but to trust Leona.
In this situation, Leona was their only hope. Only the robust body unique to the beastkin could possibly defeat Isaac.
To be honest, she didn't expect much from Arwen. In the grand scheme of things, she was the weakest among the women. So, while Leona held the line, Lina, who would eventually enter a political marriage, would join them. There were also Cherry and Kate.
...Wait, why am I getting angry?
There were so many women. Even if she accepted Lina as a matter of destiny, the others were just fanatics. Thinking about it this seriously brought on a wave of weary realization. She didn't know what she was doing.
While Mari let out a hollow laugh and felt troubled, Cecile looked at her with pity. No matter if she was the primary wife or not, the stress remained the same. Especially since Isaac had never once seduced a woman himself. People were simply charmed by the man himself and approached him first. Mari had just been the first to realize it and stake her claim.
It must be tough. But there's nothing you can do.
Grin and bear it. This is the path of the primary wife you chose.
Cecile took a leisurely sip of her tea, adopting the mindset of a bystander watching a fire across the river. As expected of the cradle of civilization, the tea tasted excellent. Helium had been isolated for so long that even these small things were a source of happiness for her.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Everyone. The Queen has granted you permission to enter."
Keir returned at just the right moment with the news.
Mari and Cecile stood up immediately. They had wondered what was taking so long, but they quickly dismissed the thought. It was obvious they had been busy with each other until now. It was as clear as day.
"Let's go and see the situation first. We should give Queen Arwen some advice, too."
"Let's do that."
At that point, they were heading to the bedroom out of pure concern for Arwen. They even enjoyed looking around the interior of Elodia on their way. They commented on how the cradle of civilization was indeed different and how bright it was compared to the dark atmosphere of Helium.
Thus, having enjoyed their little tour, they arrived at the bedchamber in high spirits...
"Uh... hello?"
"W-welcome."
They were greeted by a strangely nervous Isaac and Arwen.
"Mama! Mama!"
"...Huh?"
"...Eh?"
"So many mamas!"
And they were left stunned as they met a small, cute "angel" who looked exactly like Isaac.
They couldn't tell if they were dreaming or awake, and one specific thought crossed Mari's mind.
"What the fuck?"
"...Ariel?"
"Papa. What's 'fuck'?"
"..."
The point was that Ariel had said it for her.
Mari was briefly surprised that the girl had read her mind, then she spoke with a trembling voice.
"...What is this child?"
At that question, Ariel tilted her head and muttered.
"Chastity belt?"
"..."
"Chastity belt. Are you really going to prepare one? Oong? What is it?"
Goosebumps erupted all over Isaac's body.