Chapter 126: Bonds Forged in the Holy Bishura Empire
Queen Sharfria couldn't contain her joy.
Her little plan, hatched with modest expectations, had been a resounding success.
'Still, I never imagined it would go this well.'
She hadn't orchestrated everything herself. Her goal had simply been to increase contact between the two and spark some affection, letting the butterfly effect take over from there. But the single sentence her daughter brought back from vacation left her stunned.
"Mom... I want to break off the engagement."
Of course, it had taken an eternity for Princess Sharina to utter those words.
She'd planted herself in the office for nearly three hours before finally spitting it out.
The queen had suspected something from her daughter's suspicious demeanor, but she never dreamed it would be about the engagement right off the bat. She'd figured it was some conflict with her fiancé at most.
'Suits me just fine.'
And that wasn't the only surprise.
"You were right, Mother."
"......? ......!!"
Sharfria tilted her head at first, wondering what she meant. Then her eyes went wide.
She burst into laughter soon after.
It was delightful in so many ways.
"You did it, then?"
"Y-Yes?! Ah...! I-I mean... yes......"
Sharina floundered in panic before nodding shyly, her face beet red.
To her mother, the sight was utterly heartwarming.
"Good for you."
"......Yes......"
The queen meant it sincerely. Her bashful daughter was so lovable. Truth be told, she hadn't been certain herself—not of the plan's success, but of her daughter truly meeting Siu, falling in love, and finding happiness.
But seeing her now, Sharina looked just as smitten with her current fiancé as she might have been with the old one—no, even more so. That put Sharfria's mind at ease.
"Yes. I'm so relieved... truly."
Mother and daughter gazed at each other with soft smiles.
The fact that one man had claimed them both made the situation absurdly twisted, but the parties involved were content. Their bond had only grown stronger as a bonus.
A few days later, Siu returned from vacation.
"Hehe."
"......"
The queen flashed a bewitching smile the moment she saw his face.
Siu flinched despite himself.
Unlike with Sharina, he hadn't even considered the queen's meddling in this. A pang of guilt hit him. She'd often nudged them together before, but that didn't make his conscience any clearer.
'Guess I need to get a bit more shameless.'
Some might scoff at that, but he meant it in his own way.
"Did you enjoy your vacation, Siu?"
"...Immensely. Not sure if I actually rested, though."
"Hehe, someone like you can handle it. And you look full of energy besides."
"Huh. Do I?"
Siu was puzzled. Not just her—everyone he passed said the same.
In reality, aside from two or three days, he'd spent nearly every hour in bed, drained dry by three women. He'd enjoyed it, sure, but exhaustion was exhaustion. It wasn't stamina or virility; something else wore him down.
"Anyway, I'm thrilled. You got exactly what you wanted... hehe. That's all I'll say."
"Isn't that basically spilling everything...?"
"Ufufu."
Sharfria's meaningful laugh hung in the air.
Twirling the ends of her golden waves with a finger, she looked utterly seductive.
With the maid chief stepped out, her intentions were obvious. But instead of letting her drag him off, Siu grinned playfully and perched his ass on her desk.
"Hmng...?"
"Miss me?"
Siu teased.
Sharfria let out an involuntary chuckle.
"And how much fun did you have to leave all those marks?"
She nodded at the cluster of kiss marks on his neck.
Her voice carried a hint of hurt and longing. She'd sent him off for her daughter's sake, but that meant she'd spent the time alone. Piled on with work, stress had no end.
"It was a blast. But... you kept popping into my head, Sharfria."
"Eut...!"
The queen clamped her mouth shut without thinking.
Her pent-up lust made it impossible to hold back after words like that.
"Keep tempting me, and you'll get punished."
"How, exactly?"
"Well..."
Her desk wasn't huge. With him sitting there, they were tantalizingly close. A lean forward, and their lips would meet easily.
"Mmwah, smack. ...Like this."
Sharfria kissed his neck, right over an existing mark. She sucked hard, as if erasing another woman's trace.
"If that's punishment, sign me up for more."
"You mean that?"
"Of course."
The pair exchanged syrupy gazes.
Soon, their lips met lightly. Tongues danced with sticky sounds, heating the office air.
"Mm, ah.... Hng, slurp...."
Starved more than expected, Sharfria embraced him fiercely, heedless of place or time. Arms around his neck, she dove into the kiss, forgetting the unlocked door.
"Ah, haa. Siu, you're not stopping here, right?"
"As if."
She giggled softly at his reply and rose from her chair.
The office filled with lewd moans and slapping flesh. It lasted until the maid chief peeked in, gasped, slammed the door, and fled—though really, it went on a bit longer.
"Haa, haa."
"Satisfied?"
"Hmng, kinda insulting, but... yes♡"
Sharfria smiled, but Siu saw through her. Time had cut it short.
His schedule was packed tight after the forced vacation. It teased those waiting for appointments, but left him swamped ahead.
"Next time I come back, we'll go all out."
"Ah.... Hehe, promise?"
"Naturally."
He pulled her close as she sat on the desk.
Half-naked and sweat-slicked, it felt cozy all the same.
"Ahem, ahem. M-May I come in?"
The maid chief asked cautiously, door cracked.
"Ah, come on in."
Siu replied, straightening his clothes.
"Yes. Thank you."
"Oops, sorry. I hogged all the fun while you worked."
"...Not at all."
Her face screamed disappointment.
Siu recalled their first chat, nearly half a year back. Details fuzzy, but escorting him to the queen's chambers, he'd boldly flirted. A maid chief like her was prime material.
'If I had time, I'd chat her up privately. But too busy.'
Hiding his regret, she spoke up.
"Warp gate's booked for tomorrow morning."
"Thanks."
"No trouble."
Fresh off vacation, he was off to foreign lands again tomorrow.
The Holy Bishura Empire.
One of the continent's three powers, in the north.
The nation craving him most right now.
"A saint born after centuries... Still can't believe it."
The queen murmured, adjusting her disheveled dress.
Siu felt the same. He'd only drawn the holy sword. No holy power yet, no official recognition—nothing concrete.
"Taking Gwen along."
"Ah, right. She needs testing too."
"Elaine said it works even in her artificial body."
"Made with that in mind."
The queen beamed proudly, chin high.
Royal mages and alchemists built it, but she'd ordered it—rightly proud. Siu smiled at her cuteness and checked his schedule.
"Two weeks in the Holy Empire?"
"Yes. This visit will be far busier than last."
"Ugh, that's what worries me."
Last time: a one-day New Year's party.
Casual meet-and-greet. This was different.
Not as a saintess's man or party leader, but prospective saint. Deep talks with the pope, 1st Saintess, cardinals, other saintesses—high ranks galore.
'Gonna be slammed.'
Exhausting, but opportunity knocked.
Boost influence across the continent overnight. Mouthwatering. If confirmed as saint, no better shot.
"Travel safe, Siu."
"Will do."
With the maid chief beside her, they swapped sweet glances again.
Fresh off passion, yet their eyes burned hungry.
"Haa, Your Majesty. Love's great, but work awaits."
They turned sheepishly.
"That much?"
"Yes."
"...Can't be helped, then."
Siu eyed Sharfria wistfully.
"See you tomorrow, Sharfria."
"Ugh, yeeesss......"
The queen sighed at the thick stack the maid chief set down. Endless tasks loomed. And post-saint confirmation? More, not less.
'Sharina... Time to give that girl some work.'
At that moment, the princess enjoying tea shivered with a mysterious chill.