Chapter 405: A Special Gift
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 405: A Special Gift
“What is it?”
Sylvia wore an expression that said she had a lot on her mind.
Of course, I didn't even need to hear it to have a good idea of what she wanted to say.
“...Are you planning to break the contract?”
“The contract?”
“Don't play dumb!”
A frown creased Sylvia’s fine brow.
In the past, she would have drawn her sword long ago, but now she knew.
That I was stronger.
Of course, that didn't mean Sylvia was weak.
Her level was at the cusp of an Aura Master, a seasoned transcendent strong enough to be counted among the S-rank hunters.
She was even several times stronger than Marquis Laxion, who was at the same level.
Although she hadn't had a clear catalyst to break through to the next level, she had lived for a long time, and her swordsmanship alone was at a level that easily surpassed even my own.
“Play dumb? If we're being strict about it, weren't you the one who broke the contract first? I think I mentioned this before.”
“If you're just going to spout some pathetic sophistry—”
“You don't actually think I'm some kind of saint, leaving your virginity intact all this time, do you?”
I lowered my voice and looked at Sylvia.
Eyes and hair that shone like pure white snow, a face so beautiful it was startling every time our eyes met, and a sensual body that was hard to look away from even now.
Though her personality was a bit violent, the fact remained that Sylvia was a beauty on par with Iris.
The reason I hadn't touched her virginity until now was simple.
“Didn't I tell you before? The reason I haven't taken your virginity is because you keep breaking the contract and rejecting my touch.”
I took a step toward Sylvia.
But far from shrinking back, she glared right at me and raised her voice.
“What a ridiculous excuse! A bastard like you who messes with every woman you see claims to be restraining his lust just because I refuse? I'd have an easier time believing a monkey could resist a banana. You're just spouting nonsense so you can keep sleeping with other women while you're under contract with me! Besides, if you really wanted it, couldn't you just take me by force?!”
Her words hit the mark, and I flinched slightly.
She wasn't wrong.
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“Fulfill the contract.”
“You want me to take your virginity by force, and in return, I don't have sex with other women?”
“...Yes.”
Seeing Sylvia's determined expression, I found myself lost in thought as well.
I could have brought up the World Tree to evade the situation, but honestly, I didn't want to lower her favorability any further.
“Alright, I'll do as you say.”
Since I wouldn't be returning to the Nivia Kingdom for a while anyway, acting according to the contract wouldn't be that difficult.
Besides, my standards had gotten so high lately that most women didn't even register as potential partners to me.
“...How can I believe that? It's obvious you'll start hitting on the next attractive woman you see without a second thought.”
Deep distrust was etched in Sylvia's eyes as she looked at me.
It was a natural reaction.
Not long after we'd made the contract, I had not only slept with Elisabeth and Tina but was also getting close to Amelia. It was no wonder she didn't trust me.
“I'm serious this time. But I have one condition.”
“Ha, of course you do.”
Sylvia crossed her arms and glared at me.
Her expression clearly said, Go on, let's hear it.
“Make an exception for Amelia.”
“...What?”
“You know, don't you? How Amelia feels about me.”
“...”
At first, it was simple goodwill.
A sheltered princess, dropped all alone in a strange foreign land with no one to rely on—how scared must she have been?
It wasn't strange for Amelia to develop feelings for me in that situation.
But in order to cast a spell on Amelia, I had to deceive her artifact, and after kissing her in the process, the situation changed 180 degrees.
Since that day, Amelia, though embarrassed, rarely left my side.
She would even send me strange, envious glances whenever I was physically affectionate with Iris.
Of course, I might have been getting ahead of myself.
But Amelia's attitude was so blatant that rumors were spreading among the royal castle's maids.
It had gotten to the point where Elisabeth had even asked if Amelia was my concubine.
“...And if I refuse?”
“Then that's a shame.”
I shrugged and smiled.
Knowing Sylvia's loyalty to Iris, I knew she couldn't refuse.
Even though Iris herself actually welcomed me seeing other women.
It was an excessive loyalty born from Sylvia's misanthropy, misandry, and the guilt she felt for failing to protect Iris 200 years ago.
For the record, Iris welcomed women who could become future family, not me picking up random women for one-night stands.
“...This is the last time. If you break the contract again and touch another woman, then I will stake my life on tearing you away from Lady Iris's side.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
I smiled faintly and approached Sylvia.
She must have just washed, because she smelled nice. I naturally reached out and squeezed her ass.
Sylvia's body trembled slightly.
Her ass was incredibly firm, as you'd expect from a knight.
“But before that, you need to faithfully fulfill your end of the contract too, right?”
Grit—
Sylvia ground her teeth as if in disgust.
“...Fine. But let's go to my quarters. I don't want to roll around outside like an animal.”
“No, I just told you. Fulfill the contract faithfully.”
This was Sylvia's virginity we were talking about.
I didn't want to take her as if we were rushed for time; I wanted to put in a little more effort.
“In exchange for the contract, you gave me the right to do as I please with you. That's why I even ordered you to call me 'darling' when we're alone.”
I cupped Sylvia's breast and gently sucked on her earlobe.
For elves, the ears are an extremely sensitive spot.
Sylvia's body trembled and flinched.
“But you never call me darling unless I tell you to, and you've always treated me with such a sharp, on-edge attitude.”
“Hngh...! So what do you want me to do...?!”
“Act like a real married couple.”
Grabbing her ass with both hands, I buried my face in the nape of her neck.
Through her pure white hair, the fresh scent of her skin paralyzed my senses.
“Think of me as your loving husband.”
“Hngh, ugh...! Nonsense...! There's no way I could...”
“Then I guess the contract ends here.”
I was firm.
The contract period was one year.
For Sylvia, who had the blood of a high elf, it was a period of time akin to the blink of an eye.
If she wouldn't even follow my wishes for that short moment, there was no reason to continue the contract.
“...”
Sylvia fell silent.
I took that as a sign of affirmation.
“Now that we're officially a married couple, a husband should give his wife a gift, right?”
“A gift...?”
The word "gift" seemed to make her uneasy, and her expression soured slightly.
To get straight to the point, her intuition was spot on.
I took a carefully wrapped box out of my inventory.
“Open it yourself.”
After a moment's hesitation, Sylvia cautiously opened the box.
The moment she saw its contents, her face hardened.
“Th-This is...”
It might be an unfamiliar object to the people of this world, but it was fairly common back on Earth.
“It's called a choker. It's an accessory you wear around your neck.”
“I can see that! What I want to know is why you're giving me something like this as a so-called gift!”
“Why, you ask?”
I took the choker from the box and held it out to her.
“Because you're mine.”
Smack!
In that instant, Sylvia roughly slapped my hand away.
“I am not your property!”
“Property? I never said anything like that.”
I picked up the choker from the floor, dusted it off, and smirked.
I never expected Sylvia to put on the choker willingly. To the people of this world, a choker would look less like an accessory and more like a leash.
“If you really can't stand it, just think of it as being married to a man with peculiar tastes. It's a relationship that'll be over in a year anyway.”
“...”
As I said before, a year was no different from the blink of an eye for Sylvia.
She knew that well, which was why she had agreed to the contract in the first place.
Snatch!
After hesitating, her lips twitching, Sylvia snatched the choker and fastened it around her neck.
It had size-adjusting magic embedded in it, so it was a perfect fit.
“It looks good on you.”
“...You will definitely regret this.”
“Tsk, tsk. Is that any way to talk to your husband?”
“...”
Sylvia trembled with rage as she glared at me.
But I wasn't scared in the slightest.
“Well... you can't expect to be full after the first bite. Should we call it a day?”
“?!”
The moment I finished speaking, a faint look of relief appeared on Sylvia's face.
I almost burst out laughing at the sight.
Should I call this innocence?
“But, there has to be a penalty for not faithfully fulfilling the contract until now, right?”
“A penalty...?”
“Remember what Elisa said while she was hugging me this evening?”
“...Don't tell me.”
As if she had an idea of what was coming, Sylvia's eyes began to tremble faintly.
I leaned in close to her ear and slowly explained the penalty.
“...”
By the time I was done, her face had turned deathly pale.
“For the record, you have to do it once a day. So, should we practice now?”
“You want me to do something so disgusting?!”
“Of course.”
Vmmm—
As I stroked Sylvia's neck and infused it with magic, a thin cord emerged from a small hole in the choker.
I pulled on the leash.
“Ugh?!”
Sylvia was pulled into my arms in an instant. She scowled, but I didn't look away.
“Sylvia.”
“...”
Sylvia squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip.
Just then, the thick clouds parted, revealing her crimson-flushed face.
“D-Darling...!”
A pitiful, trembling voice brushed past my ear.
“H-Hold me...”
“Like this?”
I pulled Sylvia into an embrace.
“P-Pat my head...! Touch my face, too. And kiss me...!”
Finding it impossible to say soberly, Sylvia covered her ears and blurted out the words like a machine gun.
I desperately held back the laughter that threatened to erupt and fulfilled her requests one by one.
It was a little cringey, but this kind of physical affection was important between a married couple.
Of course, my desire to see Sylvia's embarrassed face was greater, but this was also a kind of cornerstone.
From now on, once every day, I planned to repeat these kinds of embarrassing actions to break down the wall between Sylvia and me.
Well... the chance of failure is high, but it's better than not trying at all.
“Once doesn't seem like much of a penalty. Should we do it two more times?”
“Don't be ridiculous!”
“Do you want to do it in front of Iris?”
“...”
That night, Sylvia was only able to return to her quarters after performing the penalty five more times.
Of course, I recorded this too.