Should We Keep Going?
“What if the seal never breaks, even if it takes until I die?”
“Even so, I’ll faithfully carry out the duties of an empress.”
Regina straightened her back.
Conrad looked at her with a languid smile, but a chill light settled in his eyes.
A mage whose mana was sealed could not bear children. That was such a common fact that it had even been recorded in papers published by mages themselves.
Which meant Regina, unable to produce an heir, could not fully perform the duties of an empress.
But Conrad didn’t bother pointing that out with his usual teasing cruelty.
“Now that we’ve made our contract, all that remains is convincing the imperial household of our marriage.”
“Your Majesty.”
“That’s awfully stiff, considering we’re supposedly a pair who fell madly in love and even went so far as to have a secret wedding.”
Conrad smiled crookedly and tapped his lower lip with one finger.
“How about we call each other by name? I’ll call yours as well.”
Regina silently repeated the unfamiliar name to herself, then spoke carefully.
“…Conrad.”
“Good.”
At the sound of her voice, Conrad leaned even closer.
“Then shall we test your mana recovery right away?”
When his lips came into view, so near their breath seemed to mingle, Regina’s cheeks heated reflexively.
The red tongue visible between those lips looked so hot it seemed it could sear her alive.
Before she knew it, Regina swallowed hard and leaned back, only to find the bed’s headboard at her back, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
“Why are you running?”
“W-well, that’s…”
“You were the one who boldly suggested I help you recover your mana.”
A large hand, big enough to cup her whole face, stroked through Regina’s loosened hair. Conrad caught her scarlet strands between his fingers and lowered his lips to the ends.
It was only her hair he touched, and yet her fingertips tingled strangely, the fine hairs at the nape of her neck standing on end.
Clenching her hands into fists, Regina held her breath as though she had forgotten how to breathe. The air between her and Conrad seemed to grow denser by the second.
Her breathing grew hot.
She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. If she looked away for even a moment, it felt as though something would happen at once.
His behavior wasn’t threatening, but Regina still couldn’t hide her tension.
“Regina.”
At the sound of her name rolling from Conrad’s lips, Regina barely managed to swallow. His smooth pronunciation was so elegant it was almost hard to believe he was simply calling her name.
The moment she thought the faint curve of his mouth was drawing closer, his lips parted once more.
“If merely holding hands restored a little mana, what happens if we kiss?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m curious.”
Regina’s eyes shook wildly. Conrad looked entirely serious as he faced her directly.
He added, as though he was only asking out of simple curiosity and not teasing her at all, and Regina thought it over for a moment.
Come to think of it, we do need to figure out how much mana can be restored through different kinds of contact.
When their hands had touched, a very faint amount of mana had returned. Then what would happen if their lips met?
And if they spent the night together after marriage?
Her curiosity, sparked by Conrad’s casual question, kept growing on its own until, in the end, Regina found herself agreeing.
I should at least reduce how uncomfortable this feels.
She didn’t resist the thought as it drifted through her mind. If this was someone she would have to share her body with anyway, wouldn’t it be better to grow close quickly?
She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again and moved slowly.
The moment Conrad’s face filled her vision, something soft touched her lips.
It was only a small contact, but heat rushed through her and a strange exhilaration surged up inside her. Warmth flowed from Conrad’s lips, and Regina let out a faint moan.
“Hngh…”
Some unfamiliar force burrowed into her entire body, turning her mind stark white. Light surged and spilled across her vision.
Golden radiance flickered around her blurred blue eyes.
From start to finish, Conrad watched every change in Regina’s face, then slowly reached out a hand.
The movement was so careful, so slow, it was as though he were stroking something precious.
It was a beauty and a brilliance so dazzling they could have drawn anyone in.
As light returned to her hazy eyes and her own reflection appeared within them, Conrad could no longer hide the laugh that escaped him.
This is… more interesting than I thought.
It looked like it might be fun.
Those eyes, overflowing with greed, wanted even more.
Conrad looked over her trembling lips, then parted his own and said,
“Should we keep going?”
His sweet voice seized Regina’s senses. The next instant, Conrad swallowed her lips whole.
His large hand cupped her face. The warmth that poured from his palm rose up through her skin, and her eyelids fluttered.
The hand that had touched her cheek drifted carefully downward, tracing the curve of her slender neck.
A shiver ran through her. Regina tried to steady her breathing, but the moment his hand touched her shoulder, a strange force drove through her body and a fragile sound slipped from her lips.
“Ah!”
Because Conrad bit lightly at her lower lip, her mouth opened wider. Through her heated breaths, his tongue slipped inside.
The persistent press of his mouth chased after her when she panted, unable to breathe properly.
Regina couldn’t gather her thoughts. The faintly swelling mana made her mind go blank.
Not only the movement of mana, but that tongue insistently stirring within her mouth spread unfamiliar sensations across every corner of her body.
It was pleasure.
Conrad’s tongue, tasting and drinking her in as though it meant to steal every breath from her, swept along her lower lip and pulled away.
His eyes were hot with unhidden passion.
Conrad, never once taking his eyes off the seductive curve of her gaze, grasped the back of Regina’s neck as she tried to pull away and moved his lips again.
“Running away?”
“Nngh—!”
He opened his mouth wider and bit down on the exposed white column of her neck. Her fingertips tingled, strength draining from her body, and Regina shook her head helplessly.
The moment Conrad lifted his lips from her neck, a deep red mark remained on her pale skin.
He yanked at the blanket, which had been twisted and crumpled mercilessly in Regina’s hands, then straightened his upper body.
“…Let’s stop here for now.”
Conrad, watching Regina wheeze as though the effort had been too much for her, reached for the pull cord beside the bed.
“You need something right away, so it wouldn’t be wise to push yourself. For now, just loosen up a little.”
As if she had been waiting for it, the head maid entered through the opened door and bowed politely to the two of them.
“You called for me, Your Majesty.”
“See that she is properly attended to.”
“As you command.”
Conrad passed by the head maid, who still had not moved from her spot, and looked back at Regina.
“I’ll call for you again soon.”
Then he turned and walked out of the bedroom.
Anyone passing by could see how strangely bright and red his lips were.
***
Heat rose from every place Conrad had touched.
Regina exhaled and leaned back against the bed’s headboard. Her body still refused to gather itself.
The head maid remained quietly at her side until Regina’s breathing finally settled.
Regina slapped her flushed cheeks a few times, then steadied herself and turned her head. To the head maid, who still stood waiting with her back bent, Regina said,
“Could you prepare my clothes?”
“Of course.”
With impeccable courtesy, the head maid helped Regina to her feet and guided her toward the dressing room.
Forcing strength into legs that threatened to wobble, Regina took her steps very slowly.
The maids waiting outside the dressing room, along with the head maid, bowed deeply as soon as Regina appeared.
Their movements were so reverent it was as though they were greeting royalty, and Regina had no time to find it strange before they were already bustling about once they entered the dressing room.
I-I’m dizzy.
There were no loud sounds, but she still couldn’t keep up with their efficient movements.
Regina simply sat there and let them take over.
After being washed in the bathroom connected to one side of the dressing room and seated in front of the mirror, she felt a warm current of air drift over her.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the magical device, but the maids only dried her hair with it as though nothing were unusual.
The Fredericks Empire is more open to Ferman’s inventions than I thought.
---