Chapter 136
Chapter 136
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: In the Changing Room (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The fifth glass is filled.
Cool beer with golden bubbles floating lazily on top.
Two slender, pale hands grasped the glasses.
“Whew…”
“Grr…”
Irina elegantly dabbed her lips with a napkin after taking a swig.
Tina, true to her northern roots, simply wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“By the way, I was a little disappointed in the Leon Empire today.”
Tina spoke, her skin flushed from the alcohol.
“To think they’d keep someone who grasps their territory so well relegated to a mere lowly knight.”
Her gaze turned to me.
Those blue eyes gleamed like those of a monarch scouting talent.
“I was already planning to give him a higher position soon anyway. Don’t worry—I’ve got him well taken care of.”
Irina crossed her arms, speaking as if to say no more eyeing her possession.
“Is that what you call ‘well taken care of’?”
Tina brushed off Irina’s warning with a smirk.
She extended her palm, pointing at my sharp eyes.
“He looks like a poor wild fox, doesn’t he?”
‘Haha… A fox, huh.’
“If it were me, I’d take him back to my homeland and raise him comfortably.”
I forced a smile for the sake of diplomacy with the Bakal princess.
“I’m grateful for the high praise.”
Tina rested her chin on the back of her hand.
Then, watching me pour her beer, she said approvingly.
“Heh heh… In my lab, you only work five hours a day and the rest is free.”
“That does sound tempting. I do prefer jobs with less work—”
I smiled warmly, steering the mood.
Five hours? Honestly, it was a bit enviable.
“We place a huge emphasis on tactical talent, so it’s only natural.”
Tina pinched her sweat-soaked T-shirt.
A lewd fragrance wafted from between her neck and collar.
“Ahem…”
Her scent made me clear my throat.
“Oh, right—how did you know to build the stockade upriver in advance?”
“Ah, that was…”
As I started to answer her question, I glanced at Irina.
Watching our friendly chat, the fork in her hand trembled faintly.
‘She’s really pissed…’
Her face smiled, but her lips were pressed tight.
If Tina weren’t a state guest, she’d have thrown a punch by now.
Sensing it, I flashed a grin.
Then, politely pointing at the empire’s Second Imperial Princess with an open palm.
“Truth be told, it was all on Irina’s orders.”
“…!”
At my words, both women’s alcohol-glazed eyes sharpened.
“The princess ordered it herself…?”
Tina asked suspiciously.
I answered even more confidently.
“She’s been telling us to stockpile supplies on the highlands for a while now.”
“Hmm… Unexpected. I didn’t know you were so skilled at logistics, Irina.”
Irina stared at me blankly, following Tina’s lead.
Then, catching my intent, a faint smile curved her lips.
“Well, it’s only natural for a ruler.”
Her mood lifted, and her bound ponytail swayed.
Like a wolf with eased tension.
Tina frowned at her.
She could sense how close Irina and I were.
“You two seem awfully tight.”
“Of course. As I said, I treasure my subordinates greatly.”
Emboldened, the silver-haired princess declared proudly.
But at that moment.
“But doesn’t that mean you need to keep a tighter leash on him?”
The Bakal princess countered.
“If you’re too lax, it just makes me greedier—”
Tina’s eyes flashed cold as ice.
Her empire was a warlike nation famed for conquest and expansion.
“A leash? That’s a bit much, Christina.”
Irina shot back with poison in her emerald eyes.
Who was her mother?
The originator of conquest and destruction.
The second daughter of Leonhardt.
“My bad. I’m just too blunt…”
Tina chuckled.
Then, she offered an alternative to “leash.”
“If you like him that much, you could always get engaged or grant him a title to claim ownership.”
“Engaged…”
Irina’s interest piqued at the word; she rested her chin on her hand.
Her eyes narrowed like a ruthless queen’s as she pondered.
“Haha… The glasses are empty!”
A chill ran down my spine; I hurriedly snatched the two beasts’ glasses.
Slowly refilling them, I changed the subject.
“We should probably stop here and head out soon.”
Tina’s glass brimmed with beer.
Irina’s had only foam.
I’d deliberately adjusted the ratios.
Yet this bear of a woman showed no sign of backing down.
She dove deeper into talk of engagements.
“In our empire, we often bind talent through marriages between families.”
“True… We’ve done that plenty too.”
Both stared at me with strange looks.
Especially Irina.
Her eyes lit up as if remembering something she’d forgotten.
“Ahem…”
Overwhelmed by their gazes, I covered my mouth with my fist.
Clearing my throat, I tried wrapping things up.
“It’s already 10 o’clock.”
I glanced around the quiet tavern, nudging the mood.
“You’ve both had plenty, so let’s call it.”
I reached quietly for their glasses.
But then.
“What are you saying? We’ve got plenty left.”
“Yeah, Veil. We’re fine.”
Tina and Irina stopped my hands in unison.
‘Fine…?’
The two guard captains were already so drunk they’d been sent downstairs.
Tina’s eyes had been half-lidded from the buzz for ages.
Even Irina, whom I’d served lightly on purpose, had a flushed face.
‘They really are daughters of conqueror lords…!’
“This is the crowded city streets.”
I slipped from their hands like a snake.
With a firm expression, I said.
“So please, maintain some dignity.”
“…”
Was it the alcohol?
Neither princess scolded my forceful tone.
“Hmm…”
If anything, they seemed to admire my concern for them as rulers.
“Fine… If our Sir Veil says so, no choice.”
Tina swept her tousled white hair aside.
Gripping her last glass, she said.
“Then let’s finish these and go.”
Bakal culture held that standing first meant defeat.
Because of it, Tina lifted her glass.
“Yeah, we have to drain what’s left.”
Irina too.
Today, she seemed determined not to lose to Tina, matching her boldly.
‘Sigh…’
I sighed deeply at them.
I knew Irina’s tolerance well.
When drunk, she became more honest and acted on instinct.
‘And I’ve experienced it firsthand…’
The seated Tina was no pushover either.
Her personality was strong sober; fully wasted here, who knew what she’d do.
“If the remaining drinks are the issue, I’ll handle them.”
I grabbed both beer glasses with my hands.
Poured them into one.
“…!”
Then, I downed it coolly.
Tina and Irina stared blankly as I emptied it for them.
Thud!
I set the empty glass on the table.
Wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I declared proudly.
“All gone. Let’s go.”
I stood first.
Then fetched Tina’s jacket.
“It’s cold outside.”
To send the princess off, I held it open.
Tina smirked, slipping her arms into the sleeves.
“Pfft, the women out there are walking around with bellies out. What’s cold about that?”
“That’s just the event. They’ll all switch back to normal clothes after the festival.”
I answered her blunt question calmly.
“Oh? You know that well, so you must like those outfits too.”
Tina poked fun, chuckling.
Savoring my flustered face.
“…”
Irina’s ears perked at her words, her messy hair twitching like animal ears.
“It’s just knowledge from being a security captain.”
I tossed a joke to keep things harmonious.
With a sly smile.
“Of course, I think it’s a fine event.”
“Heh heh… Yeah, a man’s bound to have fantasies about such events.”
The white-haired woman donned her jacket.
It finally covered her sensuous figure that had stolen gazes.
“You Leon folk are definitely more open about that stuff than us Bakal. Nice.”
Tina wobbled over, pressing her shoulder to mine.
She groaned, pressing her chest against me.
“Ah, drank too much… Feeling dizzy.”
The princess looked up, breathing raggedly.
With very seductive blue eyes.
“…”
But I could feel it.
The faint mana from her arm.
‘She’s faking it.’
“I’ll escort you.”
I smiled, grabbing her arm.
Just to the front of the shop.
But…
“Yes, lead the way yourself.”
The princess naturally hooked her arm in mine.
Like lovers, she clung as we headed down the stairs.
“I’d prefer if you saw me all the way to Bakal.”
She glanced back at Irina with a coquettish smile.
Asking her opinion together.
“Your Highness, I’ll see Tina downstairs and return.”
“Okay.”
Irina replied with a lonely blank expression.
Like a silver wolf left alone in the snowfield.
Her tousled hair made her look especially forlorn.
“A-are you alright…?”
“Yeah, of course. Hurry and take her.”
The Second Imperial Princess stood too.
With a cold smile, she urged me.
“I’m heading to the changing room quick. Spilled something on my clothes.”
“Understood.”
‘Sigh…’
I focused on the princess first.
Arm in arm with her, I descended the stairs slowly.
“Hmm… You smell nice.”
The princess buried her nose in my jacket.
Like sniffing prey.
“That’s meat.”
I replied to the princess with a tired look.
“…”
Downstairs, the two waiting guard captains approached.
Knowing her drinking habits well, they gave me apologetic looks.
“Good work. We’ll take it from here.”
“You’ve had a rough one.”
The burly guards supported Tina on both sides.
They looked like security escorting a drunk.
“Veil… Next time we meet, bring a positive answer to my offer.”
The princess spoke leisurely, as if used to being dragged off.
“If it’s not satisfactory, I’ll just snatch you away—”
“Haha, you’re drunk, Your Highness…”
The guards silently led away the princess with her grim joke.
Watching, I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘Christina’s always been like that…’
As an enemy, she’d seemed a cold empress.
Up close, she felt like a cheeky peer.
―――.
In front of the shop, she bantered with her guards.
I watched fondly, then headed back upstairs.
“…”
I plopped into a restaurant chair alone.
Inhaling the quiet space.
‘The buzz is hitting already…’
Maybe from chugging that huge beer.
My head spun.
‘How did those two down five each?’
Dazed, I popped grapes from the plate into my mouth.
Savoring the sweetness, I waited for Irina.
But.
“…”
No matter how long, she didn’t return from the changing room.
There were knights waiting outside, yet she was too late.
‘No way she fell asleep in there.’
Suspicious, I stood.
Headed down the hall she’d taken.
“…”
The empty shop made the hall silent.
Walking quietly, I spotted light from a door crack.
‘Drunk and forgot to close it…’
I moved to shut it myself.
But then.
“Ah, it won’t button…”
Irina’s hiccuping voice came from inside.
“Have I gained weight lately…?”
Drawn by it, I peeked in.
And…
“…!”
A smooth lower belly caught my eye.
Above it, full breasts and dizzying hips.
“How does this go on again…”
Irina in short shorts.
Her plump thighs and wide hips kept the buttons from closing.
“Eek…!”
Struggling with her clothes, hiccuping.
Her half-lidded eyes brimmed with mature allure.
Like a female ready to mate.
“Haaah…”
She tied her T-shirt tight, barely covering her chest, exposing her belly.
Now in festival cheerleader gear.
“…”
The tight fabric made her whole body sensitive; lewd breaths escaped her lips.
But she soon placed a hand on her chest, steadying her breath.
“Allen, you there?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Irina cast a telepathy spell via her inner aura.
“Withdraw from the plaza first with the princess.”
“And you, Your Highness?”
At the captain’s question, the Second Imperial Princess smirked.
“I’ll head back with Veil. He only had one drink.”
Allen cut the spell with an acknowledgment.
The changing room fell silent again.
Until I accidentally nudged a glass bottle on the floor.
――――――!!
‘Damn…!’
Irina approached the door slowly at the sound.
Flung it open, meeting my eyes.
“Oh my, Veil. What brings you to the women’s changing room?”
Breathing heavily as she opened the door.
The alcohol? Or the squeezing cheer uniform?
Her face flushed lewdly red.
“Were you peeking?”
I swallowed hard at her mature gaze.
“N-no way. You were taking so long, I got worried.”
“Worried about me too? You’re so sweet, Veil.”
Her mature figure shone as she stepped forward.
From full thighs to the alluring sweat-beaded lower belly.
“Thank you…”
Irina fully opened the changing room door.
And…
“But I don’t like you being kind to everyone.”
She grabbed my wrist.
With flashing emerald eyes.
“So I’ve got a lot of gripes today.”
“I’m sorry.”
But the princess ignored my apology.
Instead…
“Come in. My clothes won’t button; I need help.”
She pulled me naturally inside.
“P-Princess! This is the women’s changing room!”
Flustered, I protested; she chuckled.
“It’s fine. No one else here but us.”
Hiccuping from drink, she shut the door.
Locked it with a lewd smile.
“Now, button it for me?”
The princess pinched her T-shirt wrapping her full breasts.
“Only this outfit to change into…”