Chapter 15

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: EP 2. Stone Mountain - Pure Love Brainwashing END & EP 2 Complete

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After the inauguration ceremony wrapped up.

I wandered through the banquet hall, making sure to show my face to all the key figures from various factions.

Thanks to absorbing part of Marina's knowledge when our souls merged, it wasn't hard to figure out who was who.

Plus, I'd pulled all-nighters right up until the day before the ceremony, cramming on Wilhelm's history and politics, so I could handle conversations smoothly.

This gathering was as much a chance for me to size them up as it was for them to judge me.

From their perspective, I probably wasn't someone they welcomed with open arms.

I must have looked like some clueless country girl who'd suddenly swooped in, foiled a plot in the mansion, and snatched the most critical position of Chief Steward just like that.

I couldn't care less about their opinions, but I couldn't afford to seem like a pushover.

If I did, I'd end up treated like Marina's weak spot, turning into just another tool for anyone gunning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for her.

"I hear you have family back home. They'll be coming up to the city soon, I imagine?"

A nobleman asked.

"No. They'll stay there. I'm here solely to serve Lady Marina. My own advancement isn't my goal. So neither I nor anyone around me will use any new authority or status I've gained for personal gain. And there shouldn't be any such attempts."

Meanwhile, someone had come up and stood right behind me.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Ever since we shared that Enslavement Potion on 'that night,' some kind of bond had formed between Marina and me.

Like our souls were linked. Just her being nearby let me faintly sense her thoughts, emotions, and mood.

Joy, a racing heart, and a hint of excitement. Marina's inner feelings were brutally honest—completely opposite to her outward composure.

"Sorry, but I'm taking my Chief Steward back now."

Marina said from behind me, placing a hand on my waist.

Shock and surprise flashed across the nobles' faces. As they bowed politely and retreated, Marina led me out through the crowd.

"Glad you're settling in well, Lia."

Marina whispered softly.

"Only because someone crammed a mess of stuff into my head by force."

"Are you still resenting me for it?"

Marina asked in a slightly cowed voice.

"No. I love you more fervently than anyone."

I gazed steadily at Marina and smiled.

One thing I'd realized.

Marina wasn't honest with herself.

Considering the life she'd lived, it was understandable.

So I had to be honest for both of us.

That was what she wanted most, after all.

From here on, I'd live solely for Marina.

As her friend, her Chief Steward, her loyal vassal serving her lady... and as the lover who'd shared her soul.

"Then I'm relieved."

Marina said with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

I could feel her bubbling with joy inside.

The more I learned about her, the cuter she got.

"By the way, Lady Marina."

I slyly slipped my hand behind her, sliding my fingers between her buttocks and into the crevice below.

"How did it feel? Handling official duties with your lower half soaking wet."

The two holes in Marina's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lower body were plugged with small, round stoppers.

Magic tools confiscated from the former Chief Steward.

Anal plugs and dildos whose vibrations intensified based on the wearer's arousal.

"Forcing this on someone you should be serving? You're wicked, Lia."

"Then you shouldn't have said you'd grant me anything. You get too carried away. Even knowing it could backfire."

"It wasn't carried away... I've always felt this way..."

"Then behave and take it."

Of course, I had no intention of tormenting Marina.

All I wanted was her happiness.

I was just fulfilling her twisted desires on behalf of the dishonest woman she was.

I had the exact same magic tools inserted in me.

Modified slightly so they vibrated based on each other's arousal.

In other words, every thrum Marina felt came from the excitement and shivers I got just looking at her.

And Marina knew it.

"I'm about ready to ditch this tedious banquet and head back to our room..."

Marina muttered, rubbing her thighs together.

Her arousal transmitted vividly from her chest to between her legs.

I shivered at the teasing sensation and replied.

"Not yet. It might not matter to you, Lady Marina, but this was a big deal for me. I need to prove I'm worthy of serving you—it makes everything smoother down the line."

"True, but..."

Just then, frantic footsteps rushed toward us.

"Lia!"

Turning around, I saw a blue-haired girl in silvery-white armor.

"There you are. I finally found you."

"Heretic Inquisitor."

Marina reacted sharply. She gripped my hand tightly at the same time.

Like a child guarding her treasure.

"I don't recall inviting you."

"I'm Lia's friend. Doesn't that mean I can see her?"

Lena stood her ground without backing down.

Things could escalate into a real fight if I let it, so I quickly intervened.

"Please don't be like that, Lady Marina. Sorry, Lena. I meant to send you an invite but forgot. Thanks for coming."

Marina huffed and backed off.

Lena approached, grabbed my hand abruptly, and said.

"Lia, what's going on? Quitting adventuring to stay here? And with her, of all people..."

Lena's gaze flicked to Marina for a moment.

I shook off her hand and said.

"Just like I wrote in the letter. I'm not quitting adventuring. Just putting it on hold for a bit."

"Still... you sure you're okay with this?"

I smiled reassuringly at Lena's worried question.

"I get it might seem sudden from your perspective. But it's a decision I made after careful thought."

"But Lia, you're...!"

"We only traveled together briefly—nothing more, nothing less. Honestly, it rubs me the wrong way when you talk like you know me so well."

Her constant clinging was starting to grate at me, so I drew a firm line.

Truth be told, I was pissed.

Who did she think she was, to keep crawling all over Marina like that?

Marina was born to be a great ruler—destined for even greater things now and in the future.

I could feel Marina's satisfaction radiating.

It made my own heart swell with pride.

"Lia..."

"So please, just go."

By the time we returned to the room after the ceremony, night had already fallen.

"I figured we'd wrap this up quick, but everyone had so much to say. Time flew. I wanted to celebrate just the two of us tonight."

Marina grumbled.

I approached from behind, wrapping my arms around her waist, and said.

"We've still got plenty of time left? The night is long."

"Aren't you tired?"

"If you are, I am. If not, I'm not."

"You've turned into a real temptress already."

Marina chuckled.

Our eyes met, and without deciding who went first, we leaned in and pressed our lips together.

We shared a deep, sticky kiss, tongues and saliva mingling, until Marina pulled away contentedly.

"Lia...♥"

I smiled silently and began undressing her.

Marina undressed me in return.

Once we were both naked, we slipped into bed.

"Marina."

I climbed on top of her.

"Looking down on your lady like this? Insolent."

"Here, we're equals."

"You're... right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about that."

Marina smiled shyly.

"Let's do it this way from now on. You own the daytime me, and I own the nighttime you. Just like how we split our souls halfway—time gets split halfway too."

"Quite the romantic notion. But doesn't that leave me at a loss? You're mine, after all."

"We had a deal, remember? You'd grant me anything. And don't forget—once the month's up, you grant my one wish."

"That's... a clever move I hadn't considered."

Marina looked pleased.

I slowly raised my hand, brushing the back of it against her cheek.

Marina clasped it tightly and murmured softly.

"You can have me, Lia."

"I won't ever let you go."

I embraced her and kissed her.

With our hands overlapped, we traded breaths and sighs until I slid my hand downward, crossing our legs.

"Haht...♥"

The night was just beginning.

[ 1. Persuade ]

[ 2. Give up ]

"Ugh...?"

When I came to, the choices were floating right in front of me.

My head was a jumbled mess, but amid the confusion, I barely recalled.

I'd been in the middle of persuading Marina, who'd suddenly begged me to stay in Wilhelm.

[ 1. Persuade. ]

I rolled the die.

The 20-sided die tumbled and landed on 18.

Time began flowing again.

"I can't give up adventuring."

"Why not?"

Marina asked, as if she couldn't comprehend.

"It's my destiny. Just like being a ruler is yours. If I said I wanted to be with you and asked you to quit your duties, you'd refuse too."

"That's..."

Marina hesitated.

"But my role is that important. You can adventure anytime."

"I swore when I left home that I'd become the greatest adventurer. It's just as vital to me. If you can't understand that, then we were never meant to be friends. True friends understand each other."

Marina bowed her head silently.

She quietly released my hand and stepped back a few paces.

"Then... we're not even friends."

Marina slumped into a seat by the wine glasses. She turned her head and stared blankly out the window before murmuring softly.

"Get out of the mansion. I don't want to see your face."

I hesitated, then turned and left the room.

As if she'd anticipated this, the Head Maid was waiting outside.

"I'll guide you to where you can change clothes."

"Wasn't this outfit a gift?"

"No, ma'am."

Hmph.

I'd been hoping otherwise.

I changed back into my original clothes and left the mansion.

I went to the church in the dead of night and knocked. Millia greeted me warmly.

"What happened?"

I explained everything to Millia.

"She won't withhold the evidence over this, right?"

I asked worriedly, and Millia patted my head with a smile.

"Nothing like that will happen. Lady Marina keeps public and private matters separate."

True to her word, a few days later, Marina summoned Lena and me to the audience chamber and handed over the evidence in front of everyone.

"A wise decision. On behalf of the Orthodox Church, allow me to express our gratitude."

Lena said, kneeling and bowing her head.

"Spare me the empty words. Now that business is done, get out of my city."

"As you wish."

"And you."

Marina whipped around to me and said.

I flinched, bracing myself.

Marina ordered a servant to fetch something.

It was a sword in a scabbard.

Marina took it, rose from her throne, and approached me.

Lena watched tensely, glaring at her.

"A promise is a promise..."

She handed me the sword.

"Take it. In place of your wish."

Oh.

Right, there was that.

"Um... can I have something else instead?"

"No. The deadline has passed."

"There was a deadline?!"

"I set it. Have you got a problem?"

Marina asked coldly, looking down at me.

"N-no... none."

"Good."

Marina returned to her throne, lounging sideways as usual with her legs crossed, chin propped on her hand, staring down impassively.

"Now go. I never want to see your irritating faces again."

Lena and I left the mansion and headed back to the church.

Millia saw us off to the station.

"Why the long face, Lia?"

Lena asked worriedly on the way.

"I'm bummed. If I'd made my wish sooner, I'd have a fat wallet now... Now I'm stuck with a sword instead."

"That's what you're upset about...?"

"It's not 'just' anything! Money's everything!"

Why do people work? For money. Damn money.

"'Just a sword'? Lady Marina would be hurt if she heard. That's a heirloom from her family."

Millia said.

"This?"

"See the Enril family crest? Only one sword in the city bears it. It was made over two hundred years ago to commemorate victory in the war against the barbarians. They say it's a masterpiece by the finest blacksmiths of the era."

"Ooh... so it's super valuable?"

"Don't even think about selling it. What do you think happens if you're caught?"

Lena scolded.

"Yeah, now that you mention it. Tch... I still get no money out of it."

"I never realized you were so money-obsessed, Lia."

"It's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠totally normal."

"Not even close..."

We arrived at the station while chatting.

We bid Millia a final farewell.

She hugged us warmly and waved goodbye.

"May God's blessings guide your journey."

"Prosper, Millia."

"Lia, the church isn't a business."

Lena chided.

What a naive thing to say. Everything boils down to survival.

We boarded the stagecoach.

Destination: a nearby city.

On the way, I opened the carriage window and admired the scenery.

Pretty flowers bloomed along both sides of the road.

Suddenly, I turned to look back.

The majestic, towering city atop the hill faded into the distance.

Like a proud, solitary mountain of stone.

- EPISODE 2 Stone Mountain Arc End

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