Chapter 93: Two Women(1)
Chapter 93: Two Women(1)
While Isaac and Adele were having their subtle encounter with the Ters royalty, Marie and Cecile, who had already excused themselves, arrived at a secluded spot on the outskirts of the village.
Even with the massive support from the Imperial Family, there were still scattered pockets within the Maishal Territory that remained untouched by human hands. This became increasingly apparent the further one traveled toward the edge of the village.
The boundary between the village and the outskirts felt abruptly severed, as if the two spaces were physically disconnected. This made for plenty of ideal spots to hide away in secret.
Marie and Cecile now stood facing each other on the village periphery. A massive tree, which had spent decades drawing nutrients from the earth, blocked out most of the stinging sunlight with its canopy.
"So, you brought me all the way out here. What is it you want to talk about?"
Marie demanded, crossing her arms with a surly expression. She was currently beyond displeased; she was downright cranky.
Originally, she had wanted to enjoy the exhibition privately with Isaac, but her plans had been ruined by the woman standing before her. To make matters worse, she was now completely separated from him.
For Marie, who had been dreaming of a sweet, romantic date, it wouldn't have been strange for her irritation to boil over into an outright explosion. If she had it her way, she would have ignored everything Cecile had to say, but the atmosphere wouldn't allow it.
Even if it wasn't now, she felt Cecile would have called her out eventually. Her intuition as a woman—and her characteristically sharp instincts—told her as much.
Deciding it was better to deal with a nuisance sooner rather than later, she had followed Cecile without protest. And the place they had arrived at was beneath this very tree.
"I'm sorry. But this is something I absolutely must discuss with you."
Cecile stared blankly at the disgruntled Marie for a moment before answering with a bright smile. It was a smile so beautiful and refreshing that it could naturally lower anyone's guard.
Marie, however, did not relax. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, her wariness only intensifying.
She swept her gaze up and down Cecile’s figure, let out a long breath through her nose, and then placed a hand firmly on her chest, making a declaration.
"I'm telling you now: I have absolutely no intention of giving Isaac to you. Not even a tiny bit. I was the one who confessed to Isaac first, and Isaac likes me too. Got it?"
Marie’s statement was firm, drawing a clear line in the sand. She made her resolve never to yield perfectly clear to Cecile.
An ordinary person might have flinched under Marie’s intense momentum, but Cecile showed no such sign.
On the contrary, as if she had fully expected this, she nodded with a faint smile.
"I know. I've watched from the sidelines and seen just how much you like him. I was actually a bit surprised when you used me during that conversation about... chest sizes. I felt like you really got one over on me for the first time in a while."
"As long as you understand."
"But Marie. Are you familiar with the concept of polygamy?"
"...What?"
At the mention of polygamy, Marie’s eyes widened, her expression suggesting she must have misheard.
Cecile maintained her small smile, confirming that Marie had heard correctly, and continued in a gentle tone.
"You heard me right. It's a custom where one man has multiple wives. It's a form of marriage found not only in human society but frequently in Helium and Animus as well."
"Hey. You..."
Marie’s mouth hung open, opening and closing like a goldfish in sheer disbelief.
This was absolutely not a topic a princess of a nation—and the designated successor to the Demon King—should be bringing up.
Given Cecile’s status, it would be more normal for her to take a consort into her own family rather than join a polygamous marriage. Helium might have been diplomatically isolated until now, but in terms of national power alone, it was a powerhouse on par with Albenheim.
Above all, polygamy was usually tied to political reasons rather than romantic love—like a weak, small nation sending a princess away to marry into a powerful one to secure a strong bond.
Setting everything else aside, Marie could not tolerate the idea of Cecile using Isaac as a political tool. Polygamy or not, she would never allow such a thing.
She let out a hollow, incredulous laugh and spat out bitter words at Cecile.
"Ha. I thought you were different from Lina... I guess I misjudged you. To think you were hiding such dark intentions."
"..."
"Do you really think Isaac would accept that? A guy who hates politics as much as he does?"
Marie prided herself on knowing Isaac better than anyone—excluding his family, of course.
In any case, Isaac was a simple, considerate young man who loved writing.
The only reason he wrote the Xenon Chronicle was as a hobby; he had simply taken another world from his mind and put it into a book. That was why it had taken him so long to even realize his own popularity.
Well, he did have a tendency to get obsessed with strange things occasionally, but that didn't matter to Marie. If anything, she enjoyed seeing those rare, different reactions from the usually stoic Isaac.
Their relationship hadn't started with political intent; it began with pure goodwill and blossomed into love. She was confident that her love for Isaac was purer than anyone else's.
"Hmm... I don't know what kind of misunderstanding you're having, but it's nothing like that. Politics is just a secondary factor. My feelings for Isaac are genuine."
Despite Marie’s string of venomous remarks, Cecile maintained her composed attitude. To add to that, she even blushed slightly, a beaming smile on her face.
It was the reaction of a woman shyly confessing her love.
This, in turn, flustered Marie. As mentioned before, she was born with the instinctive ability to discern whether someone was telling the truth.
And right now, her heart was screaming that every word Cecile uttered in that gentle voice was the truth.
There wasn't a shred of political intent—it was a pure heart reaching out from one person to another.
Marie could feel it vividly.
"...Since when?"
"You believe me? Truly?"
When Marie accepted her words without suspicion, Cecile asked back with a radiant expression. She clasped her hands together in a gesture of deep emotion.
Marie didn't even nod, responding with silence instead. Whether Cecile’s feelings were sincere or not didn't matter. Sincerity came in many forms.
If her sincerity had been foul, Marie would have rejected it instantly, and she intended to do the same even if it was pure.
Marie had no intention of sharing the Isaac she loved—the man who was truthful and without a hint of pretense—with anyone else.
She wanted to see his face every day, hug him all day long, and share every kind of love with him. The moment she shared him with another, that time would be cut in half.
Having been betrayed by someone she trusted in the past, she could never give up on Isaac.
"Thank you so much for believing me. As for when it started... it's a bit vague. I felt an attraction to him at the beginning of the semester, but it turned into love after Volume 9 of the Xenon Chronicle was released. To be precise, it was when you and I talked privately. Do you remember?"
"..."
Of course she remembered. After that, Marie had become slightly anxious and sought a private meeting with Isaac, which led to her kissing him first and starting their relationship.
Though the process had been a bit like a snake slithering over a wall, the result was good, so there were no complaints.
"Back then, you told me this: if trust can only be formed by sharing secrets, then to hell with it. You said that's just liking the person's secrets, not the person themselves."
"...You remember that quite clearly."
"Thanks to that, I realized it clearly. That I truly like Isaac for who he is."
What on earth was she talking about? Marie’s brow twitched at Cecile’s incomprehensible explanation.
Seeing Marie’s expression, Cecile gave a soft smile and placed her hand gently over her heart.
Perhaps it was because she was thinking of Isaac’s face, but her heart was pounding harder than usual.
It beat so strongly that even the characteristic patience of the Demon race couldn't suppress it. Perhaps because her Dark Cycle was approaching, she could feel her desires surging powerfully.
‘It’s coming sooner than expected...’
Normally, the Dark Cycle arrived at set intervals, but there were special cases where it came earlier. Specifically, when a Demon was filled with 'desire,' which was like a drug to them.
The stronger the desire, the more the red energy in their horns intensified, and if they couldn't endure it, the Dark Cycle would arrive. And if they couldn't endure even that cycle, they would turn into a true devil.
Cecile was in a similar situation. Previously, she would have just brushed it off, but ever since she became aware of her feelings for Isaac, desire had been creeping up on her.
She didn't even know what form this desire would take. Until now, it had approached indifferently like a natural bodily function, but now it hit her suddenly, like a potent drug.
Fortunately, she was certain she would never become a devil, but just as human women might become temperamental during their periods, she might experience something similar.
Cecile closed her eyes tightly, barely steadying her heart that felt like it was about to burst, then slowly opened them again to look at Marie.
"At first, I was confused too. Was this feeling directed at Isaac himself? Or was it toward the savior of our race? But the conclusion came surprisingly easily."
"...And what is that conclusion?"
"It's both."
It was a very clear yet difficult conclusion to grasp. However, Marie understood what she meant through the explanation that followed.
"The one I fell in love with is Isaac, and Isaac is the author of the Xenon Chronicle who saved us. Asking which one I love? Both are meaningless questions. They are the same person anyway, so isn't it strange to place more value on one over the other? The one who saved the Demon race is the author who wrote the Xenon Chronicle—in other words, Isaac. That's why my feelings for him are true."
As this miraculous logic flowed from Cecile’s mouth, Marie was left speechless. In fact, everything she said was correct.
No matter how much one tried to separate them, the fact that Isaac was the author of the Xenon Chronicle was an unchangeable truth, like a fundamental law of the universe. Therefore, it wasn't strange for Cecile to harbor romantic feelings for him.
To the Demon race, the Xenon Chronicle was a salvation sent from the heavens. It was a priceless treasure that had instantly resolved a thousand years of harsh persecution and discrimination.
Seeing Marie fall silent and listen intently, Cecile smiled and got to the point, her hand still over her heart.
"I already had feelings for him, and now I know he's the author of the Xenon Chronicle. Even if he weren't Xenon, I probably would have fallen for him eventually, even if it took longer. Unlike others, Isaac’s perspective on the Demon race was different from the start. That's probably why he was able to depict us that way in the book. Once I realized that, I felt there was no longer any need to hide my feelings."
"..."
"So, I'm going to love the man I love. Honestly, I don't think my charm as a woman is lacking at all. You agree, don't you?"
"...I do."
She had no choice but to admit it. Marie took a long, hard look at Cecile’s appearance.
Silky, jet-black hair that flowed down and mysterious red eyes that exuded an otherworldly aura. Her beauty was mature and sophisticated, and her cherry-like lips gave off a subtle sensuality.
But above all, the most striking thing was undoubtedly her figure. Not to mention her breasts, which boasted an overwhelming presence, her smooth waist and hip line radiated a dazzling charm.
It hurt her pride, but objectively speaking, Cecile held the upper hand in terms of feminine allure.
Stung by a fact she couldn't deny even objectively, Marie spoke up quickly.
"Even so, I have absolutely no intention of sharing Isaac with anyone else. And I certainly don't plan on letting you take him."
"I'm sorry, but your opinion doesn't matter. Isaac’s opinion is what matters."
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?"
At Cecile’s provocative remark, Marie pressed her with a voice sharp with hostility. She found Cecile’s behavior—completely disregarding her own will—increasingly distasteful.
In response, Cecile wore a different smile than before. it was a very dark, almost devious smile.
She looked at Marie, who was hissing like a cat with its fur standing on end, and spoke in a low voice.
"You're talking as if you're already his official wife. You're only in the dating stage; it's not like you're formally engaged or married, right?"
"You...!"
"And politically, I can be of great help to Isaac. Though it's only the beginning, Helium has started to engage with other nations. Since our race possesses inherent strength, we can provide significant diplomatic advantages."
Even if Helium had been forced into isolation, Cecile was the princess of an entire nation.
Marie might be the daughter of Duke Rekilis, who held power second only to the Emperor, but she couldn't help but feel somewhat lacking compared to Cecile.
As a woman, and as a powerful figure of a nation.
Being significantly behind Cecile in both aspects, Marie couldn't help but feel anxious.
‘...Absolutely not.’
This was a declaration of war. A declaration from Cecile that she would secure Isaac by any means necessary.
And Marie would have to fight a defensive siege to protect Isaac at all costs...
‘...Huh? Wait a minute.’
A question floated up in Marie’s mind. While it was true that Cecile was incredibly charming, she was a Demon, and Isaac was a human.
There was a fundamental difference in lifespan of more than threefold, and there was no way Cecile didn't know this. Furthermore, Demons turned into devils if they experienced uncontrollable rage or sorrow.
One couldn't even expect a tragic story like the Master and the Elf Queen from the Xenon Chronicle. Isaac wasn't a powerhouse at the pinnacle of mana manipulation like the Master; he was just an ordinary human.
Even if he lived a long life, it would be a hundred years, which for a Demon was roughly equivalent to twenty years for a human. Moreover, Isaac was currently seventeen; even if he lived long, he had about eighty years left.
After Isaac died due to his lifespan, would Cecile, left all alone, be able to endure it? Marie couldn't help but wonder.
"...Cecile."
"Yes, Marie."
"Do you really think the time you spend with Isaac is worth it? More than the time after he’s gone?"
"...You finally noticed."
When Marie asked the question that pierced through to the essence of the matter, Cecile gave a smile that looked somewhat relieved. Then, she tilted her head back.
Though obscured by the tree, the blue sky was visible through the gaps in the branches. The canopy was even shielding them from the warm sunlight.
She looked up at the sky for a while before lowering her head to look at Marie again. Marie waited patiently for Cecile’s answer.
"You're right. I'm a Demon, and Isaac is a human. Nothing in this world lasts forever; one day, Isaac and I will have to part."
"It will be painful."
"Yes. Of course it will be painful. That's why I said Isaac’s opinion is what matters, not yours. Because even a god wouldn't be able to solve the issue of lifespan between races."
All living things are inherently racing toward death. That is the way of nature.
Living beings, including humans, know this well, which is why they strive to leave behind a 'legacy.' That legacy seeps into the form of 'knowledge,' allowing people to develop further.
This is also why humans develop faster than others. Long-lived species like Elves and Demons have a relaxed mindset because their lifespans are so long, while humans are the opposite.
Cecile shifted her gaze from Marie toward the village. Even without sensing it through mana, the bustling energy reached all the way here.
"After seeing that Demon earlier, I thought of something. What I can do to remember him. And what I can do."
"..."
"Even if Isaac doesn't accept my feelings, I will provide support to his territory to remember him. No matter how much he hides his secret, one day people will find out he’s the author of the Xenon Chronicle. And his territory will naturally develop into a cultural city."
"Then, the political help you mentioned..."
"That's right. I will protect his territory so that no greedy person can dare to trample upon it. This won't just be me; other Demons will feel the same."
If that happened, the Maishal Territory would be safe for at least nearly two hundred years.
If a diplomatic deal was struck with the Minerva Empire, there would be no problem with Helium’s warriors being stationed in the Maishal Territory. With both the Empire and Helium as sturdy allies, it would be a win-win for everyone.
Marie was impressed by Cecile’s foresight, which looked into the distant future, but for a moment, she felt a strange sense of pity. Cecile was so devoted, yet a massive wall called lifespan stood in her way.
Of course, even if she climbed that wall, Marie still wouldn't give up Isaac. Feeling as if a weight had been lifted, Marie let out a deep sigh, then regained her confidence and spoke to her.
"I understand your heart. But just so you know, I'm still not giving Isaac up."
"Mmm-hmm~"
At Marie’s declaration, Cecile let out a sultry hum and narrowed her eyes. Just as Marie began to feel a sense of foreboding, Cecile started walking slowly toward her.
"I wonder~ how will it turn out?"
"W-what do you mean? You just said..."
"Even if I can't have his heart, I can still have his body, right? So..."
Then, just as Cecile was about to pass Marie, she leaned in and whispered softly into her ear.
"I might just take him for myself first."
Cecile’s suggestive words pierced Marie’s ear. Those words struck Marie’s brain like a physical blow.
"...!!"
Marie’s body flinched violently, and her blue eyes flew wide open. Her mouth hung agape, as if she were in total shock from what she had just heard.
Soon, her porcelain skin began to flush, eventually turning as red as a sunset all the way to her ears. She had clearly understood the meaning behind Cecile’s words.
Because it was Cecile, of all people, who had said it, she couldn't just brush it off. It felt like Cecile would truly go through with it if she set her mind to it.
"Well then, I'll be going now."
"..."
Having delivered her serious "joke," Cecile tapped Marie on the shoulder and walked past her. Even after Cecile had passed, Marie remained standing in place as if nailed to the spot.
By the time Cecile had moved a good distance away, Marie seemed to snap out of it and whipped her head around. Cecile was already about to re-enter the village.
"...Fine. So that's how it's going to be?"
Marie let out a smirk, as if to say 'just watch me,' and muttered meaningfully.
"You think I'll just let you take him?"
In her blue eyes, a strange desire began to burn like a flame.