Escaping the Mansion and Heading to the Academy

After the intense threesome finally ended, I sat on the bed in my outdoor clothes, having changed out of my naked state. Raibel stood beside me, once again wearing her maid uniform. She was completely focused on something, so I asked for an update on our little project.

"Raibel, how much have you filled?"

She shook the small glass vial in her hand. "Hmm... it's just a little over half now."

"Really? That was faster than I expected."

Raibel carefully aligned the vial's opening with the source again. A single drop of clear liquid fell from the hole with a soft plop. I reached out and stroked the head of the woman producing it. That woman was Masha, completely naked and kneeling like a dog in front of me.

"Good girl, Masha. You're doing amazingly well."

"Hngh... thank you, Mashter♡" Masha replied in a muffled voice, my cock still stuffed between her lips. Even as she spoke, another thick bead of her arousal trickled down from her pussy, which had grown even more sensitive since she'd become my devoted sex slave.

That's right. We were collecting Masha's love juices—the ones I would take with me to the academy. When I'd first suggested it, both women had been stunned by the outrageous request. But once I explained my ability honestly, they accepted it without much resistance.

"To think the young master possessed such a power..."

"As expected of the Master I chose. You're incredible♡"

And so, before leaving for the academy, we'd decided to stock up on the love juices of Masha, a skilled knight. With her strength, even hunting goblins shouldn't be an issue.

Masha's fluids would be a massive help in the cutthroat environment of the academy. Thanks to how much more sensitive she'd become since becoming my slave, filling one bottle didn't take long. The glass container in my hand now sloshed with a viscous, transparent liquid.

I sealed it with a cork. "Perfect. This should last me a while. Great work, both of you."

Praised by her master, Masha bowed deeply, her voice bright with excitement. "I'm so happy I could be useful to you, Master♡ Please enjoy my love juices to the fullest."

"I'm not sure about the 'enjoy' part, but I'll make good use of them."

Behind her, I noticed Raibel's tail drooping sadly, clearly upset about something.

"Raibel?"

No response. She stared at the vial of Masha's fluids in my hand, her brow furrowing as if she'd reached some decision.

"Raibel wants to..."

"Hm?"

"I want to collect my love juices for you too, Young Master!"

Without hesitation, she yanked off her panties. The poor discarded garment fluttered to the floor like a fallen flag.

"...Raibel, you don't need to compete over this."

"I-it's not competition or jealousy! I genuinely want to help you, Young Master..."

I tried persuading her once or twice, but a loyal dog's determination to win her master's favor wasn't easily swayed. 'Well, more is always better. I'm curious what kind of traits she might have anyway.'

Only after switching places with Masha and collecting Raibel's fluids did she finally step back, satisfied. Now I had two full bottles of love juice to take to the academy.

'A guy who packs women's love juices as school supplies... even I have to admit that's insane.'

While I marveled at my own depravity, Masha approached. Her breasts swayed with each step, mirroring the anxiety in her eyes.

"Master, are you sure this will be alright?"

"Honestly... I don't know either."

What worried Masha was Cordelia. She'd caught us spending a passionate night with her mother's personal knight and maid. That knight was also her mother's blood relative and lifelong friend. It wouldn't have been strange for Cordelia to run straight to Isabel and bring her storming into the room.

But Cordelia hadn't done that. Raibel had snuck over to scout the second floor of the main building where Isabel's bedroom was located, but reported it was quiet as a grave.

'What is she thinking?'

Why had Cordelia come to Masha's room in the middle of the night? Why had she stayed outside the door to masturbate instead of leaving? I couldn't figure it out.

As I pondered this, Masha spoke up again. "Um... Master? There's actually one thing that's been bothering me."

"Something bothering you?"

"Yes. On the day I returned to the mansion, did you notice anything strange in the office?"

'The day Masha returned... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that was two days ago. The only thing I remember from meeting Isabel then was catching a glimpse of her areola... Wait a second.'

The brief conversation I'd had with Isabel in that messy office before meeting Masha came back to me.

"Now that you mention it, Mother did ask about Cordelia."

Masha nodded. "That morning, Cordelia and Isabel had a major disagreement."

Masha no longer used honorifics when referring to Isabel in front of me. It was her way of declaring that I was her one and only master now. She filled me in on the details I hadn't known.

Cordelia had suggested a family dinner with the four of us—Isabel, Masha, Arwen, and herself—but Isabel had refused, as expected. Offended, Cordelia had lashed out, turning the office into a disaster zone.

"Lady Cordelia demanded to know what had caused the rift between Isabel and you, Master."

Something about Masha's story felt off. "Wait. Does that mean Cordelia doesn't know the Valeri family is trying to kill me?"

Masha's face flushed with shame at her past deeds. "Correct. Though it's something I deserve death for admitting now, everything was carried out solely between Isabel and me."

"Even when Cordelia delivered the poison, she had no idea?"

"She likely didn't know. Isabel actually wanted me to handle it myself. She probably didn't want her own daughter involved in the crime."

"Then why did Cordelia end up delivering it?"

Masha gave a ridiculously simple answer. "Cordelia insisted. She said she absolutely wanted to do it herself. That was all."

"Hah... I don't even know what to say anymore."

I'd assumed Cordelia was working with the Valeris, but she was actually an innocent third party. The revelation left me reeling. In the middle of my confusion, Masha added, "This is just my personal opinion, but... I think Cordelia wants to restore her relationship with you to what it was before."

"What are you talking about?"

My genuinely clueless response made Masha look equally confused. "I'm referring to the close bond you two shared in childhood."

"Close...?"

'So Arwen and Cordelia used to get along well.' In the original game, Cordelia hadn't been that important. She'd nag at the protagonist a few times in the morning, then exit the story alongside Isabel after Arwen defeated Masha and framed Isabel as the mastermind behind the assassination attempt. I had no idea there was this kind of hidden backstory.

The cold little sister was actually a brocon who wanted to be close to her big brother again? And judging by how she'd masturbated while watching me have sex, she seemed to be a pretty severe case. It was the classic little sister heroine cliché I'd seen countless times in adult games.

"So the reason Cordelia's keeping quiet is because she's worried about me?"

"Or perhaps she doesn't want the relationship between Isabel and you to deteriorate any further," Raibel interjected.

Raibel had a point. Regardless of her reasons, Cordelia protecting our secret was an unexpected blessing.

"Alright. Masha, Raibel—for the time being, avoid contacting Cordelia if possible. We don't know what she might say."

After wrapping up the discussion about Cordelia, I checked the clock. It was already past 8:40. The academy carriage would arrive at nine, which meant it was time to part with the two women I'd spent such a passionate night with.

"Raibel, return to your room now."

"What? But I wanted to watch until you got on the carriage..." Raibel looked distressed.

I gently turned down her kind offer. "I appreciate your concern, but it's better if you stay out of Isabel and Cordelia's sight for now."

"But..."

I patted Raibel's shoulder as she sulked. Then I gave Masha her instructions.

"Masha, go straight to the office. Tell Mother honestly that you failed to kill me."

"Isabel will demand to know why it failed," Masha said.

"Tell her it seems someone put sleeping pills in your water bottle to sabotage the assassination. Say you fell into a trap and had no choice."

Masha shook her head. "If I say that, the Valeris will definitely suspect you, Master. They'll realize you know about their scheme."

"I know. But it's better than them suspecting you."

To keep tabs on Isabel and the Valeri family, Masha needed to remain their planted spy. And to protect her, the best option was to offer myself as bait.

"Still..." Masha clearly remained anxious about her master's bold decision.

"Don't worry so much. Sooner or later, we'll have to face them head-on anyway."

The next four months would be the critical turning point—whether Byeon Tae-sung lived or died. At the academy, I would build power by any means necessary. Strength, money, fame, connections—it didn't matter. I had to gather whatever I could to stand against the Valeris.

I took both Raibel's and Masha's hands firmly in mine. I could feel the slight tremors in their warm palms. With our fingers interlocked, I spoke.

"Just hold on for six months, Raibel, Masha. When I return from the academy, I'll have earned the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right to become the true master of this family."

As they gazed into the eyes of the man they loved saying farewell, their eyes glistened with unshed tears. Raibel and Masha each offered their parting words.

"Raibel believes the only one fit to succeed Lord Ethan is you, Young Master."

"You must not forget your promise to remain my Master for life, okay?"

After one last deep embrace, the three of us went our separate ways.

"Huu... When is Masha planning to show up?"

My legs, crossed in the desk chair, had begun to tremble. Rubbing my cold hands, I glanced at the clock. It was already 8:50. The academy carriage would arrive any minute.

I'd hoped to settle this before the academy representatives arrived, but there was still no word from Masha. Even so, I couldn't bring myself to go to Arwen's room. It was pathetic, but I lacked the courage to face those cold eyes—the same eyes that had looked at me with warmth when he called me "Mother" just yesterday.

"Why did Father issue such an order...?"

The letter had contained only one line: Have Masha kill Arwen and send her to the Roem region. There wasn't a single word about cleanup or follow-up. It was an extreme plan, completely unlike Father's usual cold and calculated decisions. Yet the seal on the letter was unmistakably that of the Valeri family head. There was no way to verify its authenticity now. The letter fragments I'd burned for security lay scattered across the floor like black snowflakes.

Looking at the ashes made anxiety bloom in my chest. 'Did I make a hasty decision?'

But the stone had already been cast. All I could do now was wait for the ripples to reach me.

At that moment, I finally heard Masha's voice.

"Get out of the way right now!"

Masha burst through the door with a rough shout. Behind her, I caught a glimpse of poor Frank sprawled on the floor. As soon as she entered, she dropped to one knee, armor clanking.

"Kuh... I am sorry, Lady Isabel."

"What...?"

The miserable expression on Masha's face told me everything. The operation had failed.

"Why...? Why did it fail?" My lips trembled as I asked.

"Someone... put sleeping pills in the water in my room. By the time I regained consciousness, the sun had already risen."

"Arwen... That bastard. It has to be him."

I didn't know how he'd noticed our plan, but the only person in this mansion who could have done something like that to Masha was Arwen.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fault... Lady Isabel? Lady Isabel!"

Ignoring Masha calling after me, I bolted from the office. If I didn't see that bastard's face right now, I felt like I would lose my mind. I didn't even notice when the hem of my skirt caught on something and tore as I frantically descended the stairs.

"Madam?"

I shoved past the startled maids and burst out of the building. I'd only run a short distance toward the mansion entrance when a familiar, once-beloved pattern caught my eye. A flag emblazoned with a snake biting its own tail—the symbol of wisdom—fluttered atop the carriage like a mocking child's tongue.

And standing in front of the carriage was Arwen, looking perfectly healthy as he exchanged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠greetings with the academy representatives.

"Are you Sir Arwen Reinhardt?"

"Yes, I am Arwen."

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Boris. It is an honor to escort you."

The administrator in academy uniform bowed to Arwen. When he raised his head and noticed me, Boris offered a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠greeting my way as well.

"Good day, Lady Isabel. I am Boris from the Imperial Academy."

Only then did Arwen turn to look at me. He greeted me with a bright smile, his white teeth gleaming.

"Mother, you've finally arrived. I almost left without seeing your face. Haha."

His chest was thrust out proudly, his voice steady and strong. It was hard to believe this was the same person who had looked like he might collapse at any moment just yesterday.

"Since when exactly..." My voice had risen to a shrill pitch I could hear myself, in stark contrast to his calm expression.

"Since when? I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

Arwen responded with a shameless face. "Kuh..."

I could feel the curious stares of everyone around us boring into my skin.

"Lady Isabel, is something wrong?" Boris asked with a puzzled look.

"That is..."

While I hesitated, Arwen stepped forward and embraced me. The arms that I once thought would always be frail now wrapped around me with surprising strength. I could feel my breasts pressing against his firm chest.

"You... You—!"

As I struggled to contain my resentment, Arwen whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my skin.

"I'll be going now, Mother. Let's meet again in four months. I hope to see you in good health..."

It sounded like an ordinary farewell between mother and son, but I knew instinctively. This was a declaration of war.

Without waiting for my reply, Arwen stepped into the ornate carriage. The heavy bag slung over his shoulder swayed, packed with who knows what.

"Take care, everyone! See you in four months!"

As Arwen waved from the carriage window, the mansion staff called out their farewells.

"Have a safe journey, Young Master~"

"We wish you luck!"

Amid their cheers and encouragement, Boris urged the carriage forward.

"We're departing!"

"S... Stop—"

I wanted to scream for them to halt, but the wheels had already begun to turn. Arwen had taken my hand and left my mansion behind.

"No..."

While I drowned in the despair of this crushing failure, Cordelia—who must have come outside at some point—came running toward me. Dark shadows of exhaustion lingered beneath her eyes as she frantically scanned the area.

"Huff... huff... Where's Arwen?"

To my daughter, desperately searching for her half-brother, I could only point weakly at the receding carriage.

"This can't be... I didn't even get to say goodbye. Brother..."

With a hollow expression, Cordelia sank to the ground, staring after the carriage carrying Arwen away. I wore the same vacant look on my face.

"What am I supposed to do now...?"

Even as the others gradually returned inside the mansion, mother and daughter could only stand there blankly, staring at the empty space where Arwen had been.