2. <em>The White Knight's 49 Shadows</em>
Click.
The red collar fastened around Kiara's neck.
With a dazed expression, Kiara groped at the foreign sensation around her throat, trying to figure out what it was.
She was still twitching faintly, as if she hadn't fully escaped the pleasure that had dominated her entire body moments ago.
Just judging by her reactions, it wasn't something she'd recover from in an instant.
The growing puddle beneath the hem of her nightgown dress made that obvious enough.
I stared at her for a moment, then murmured softly.
"Take it off."
"...Huh?"
"I said take it off. Kiara."
"..."
Kiara fell silent.
She clutched the collar around her neck and looked up at me, her face gradually flushing pink.
"W-what are you trying to make me do...?"
"Kiara."
"..."
I lowered my stance slightly to meet her eyes.
There was no trace of sanity in that melted gaze.
With eyes like that, could she even tell if I was Adrian or the White Knight?
Whatever. Was that any of my business?
"Since when does a bitch talk back to people?"
It was roleplay, after all—the kind we'd agreed to.
"...Woof."
"Kiara."
"......Woof."
"Look at you, a bitch wearing people's clothes."
"Woof..."
"Take them off. Or I'll rip them to shreds."
"..."
The hand clutching the collar in eager anticipation slowly lowered.
Her arm reached back, deftly undoing the buttons one by one.
Once her back was fully exposed, she slipped her arms free, baring her defenseless upper body.
"..."
Now I could finally get a good look at Kiara's naked body, which I hadn't properly seen amid yesterday's chaos.
It had been obvious even before she stripped, but now her breasts looked even more incredible.
Her nipples, pink-tipped yet slightly buried in that thick layer of fat.
Her waist and hips, accentuated even more than yesterday because she was sitting.
...Doing outdoor exposure with a body like this.
If someone other than me caught her, it could really spell disaster.
The precautions I'd prepared wouldn't solve everything.
"Ngh..."
Kiara staggered to her feet, fully shedding the dress and neatly folding it.
She didn't seem to mind the puddle of her own squirt at all as she knelt right in it.
Without me even telling her to.
Gulp.
Kiara swallowed, looking expectant.
Her eyes gazing up at me from below were half-melted.
"...Stand."
Snap.
I yanked the red collar.
The difference in our strength sent her pitching forward.
She caught herself with both hands, avoiding face-planting into the tidal puddle.
But the recoil made her breasts jiggle wildly.
My eyes were drawn to them involuntarily, so I quickly looked away.
If I kept staring, I wouldn't be able to hold onto my reason.
"Let's go."
I tugged the collar, and Kiara crawled after me on all fours.
It was a remote walking path anyway. Not many people around.
Still, I was mindful of the risks. No plans to stray from this area with its bushes and landscaping trees.
Splash... splash...
Unlike my steady footsteps, Kiara's were accompanied by wet sloshing sounds.
I turned my head, wondering what the difference was between this and quadrupedal movement—then hurriedly looked away once I knew the secret.
It absolutely wasn't the sound of her jiggling breasts slapping against each other. No way.
"Hnn... ngh..."
Even without stimulation, moans leaked from her with every step.
Aftershocks from her climax still lingering?
Or because her heavy tits kept smacking together like squelching mud?
Pondering it was pointless.
I slowed my pace, and Kiara's crawling started to overtake me slightly.
Had she gotten so into being a bitch that she was embracing her role? She kept pushing forward without orders.
Standing still and watching from behind, I could see droplets falling from her thoroughly soaked pussy.
I swallowed a groan, staring at the sight, then snapped back to reality.
Kiara, who had pulled ahead, glanced back at me.
"...Who told you to stop?"
Snap.
I yanked the collar hard, and her head snapped back.
Her hands flew to her throat from the tightening pressure, then she collapsed face-first onto the ground as I let go.
"Kkh, kehk..."
Kiara coughed repeatedly, then pushed her flushed face back up.
"...Woof."
And started crawling again.
"Walk," my ass—it was just circling this modest little garden.
Even on a night full of drunks, we couldn't do this in front of everyone.
It wasn't anywhere near as vast as yesterday's garden, and there wasn't much to see.
Even at a leisurely pace, we covered it all in under five minutes.
"Woof..."
After a few laps around the garden, Kiara barked softly.
I crouched silently to meet her eyes.
What was her intention with that bark?
Our eyes met, then hers drifted down to her lower body.
Did she need to pee or something?
Even after squirting that much earlier.
"You don't even know where to do your business without me telling you...?"
—That's when it happened.
From way off in the distance, unsteady footsteps approached.
Several people. Drunken, irregular gait.
Loud, boisterous laughter carried over without me even straining to hear.
I'd figured few people would pass by, but not that they'd show up right away.
I yanked the collar and whispered to Kiara.
"...Into the bushes."
"Woof...?"
Kiara looked like she didn't understand.
I raised my hand and lightly slapped her cheek.
Her hand reflexively rubbed the spot.
Seeing her lips curl up higher with every slap, I focused on what I needed to do.
"Into the bushes. Now."
"..."
Her face beet red, Kiara crawled into the bushes.
I kept hold of the collar's end and stood outside for a moment.
Waiting for the footsteps to draw nearer.
Thud. Thud.
A group of plump middle-aged noblewomen headed this way.
Just from their gait and voices, they were thoroughly sloshed.
"Oh... if it isn't...?"
"Enjoying the banquet?"
"Ah, it's been years since I attended a bash this big. Having a blast."
The leader of the pack eyed me.
"By the way, aren't you...?"
"Adrian de Vallancien."
"...Ah, Vallancien? The barony, right? How are your parents?"
Dead five years now.
She was hammered, so I decided not to mention it.
"Speaking of, your outfit..."
Before I could answer, another from the group scanned me up and down.
If I kept their attention, Kiara wouldn't get spotted.
I maintained a poker face, praying she stayed hidden.
"It looks just like that."
"Like what?"
The leader asked her companion.
"You know, that thing. The... White Knight?"
"...Oh, that? No idea why, but everyone's just wandering around in white uniforms. Is that it?"
"Still in the dark? Everyone's going nuts to get a peek at that book. 49 Shadows."
"...Really? I've never even finished the holy scriptures."
As the leader deflated unnecessarily, another noblewoman approached me.
A chubby middle-aged one.
Since she didn't recognize my face, she was probably from some remote house like ours—or one so high up they ignored ours entirely.
"You really look just like the White Knight."
"...Do I?"
Still safe for now.
No one had noticed the collar in my hand.
Thanks to their drunken state, probably.
"Yeah. Don't you hear that a lot?"
"Everyone says so. Even Her Highness the Princess."
"Hmm... well, if it's Her Highness..."
"Isn't her eyesight the sharpest in the Empire?"
"..."
Why was that?
It felt like something hot was rising in my chest.
Maybe because she'd mocked my writing as subpar just earlier.
Twitch.
That was when the collar in my hand went taut.
"Hm? What's that you've got there?"
"Looks like... a collar."
"...This?"
If they'd only noticed the collar, that was fine.
I had an excuse ready.
"My fiancée had too much to drink and is resting in her room, so I'm walking her dog for her."
The faint suspicion in their eyes melted away instantly.
Especially the piggish lady.
"Such a devoted fiancé. Adorable."
"Wish my son was like that. Tell him to get along with his fiancée, and he's off with some weird woman..."
A name popped into my head unbidden.
I thought I'd heard it yesterday.
"...Ferdinand."
"Oh, you know my son?"
"...Yes."
Found out by accident.
"Gotta tell him to take a page from your book. You... what was it? Valencia?"
"...Adrian de Vallancien."
"Right, I'll make sure to remember..."
"—Um, one more question?"
Old folks and their endless questions.
"Of course. Ask away."
"Why's the dog in the bushes right now?"
"..."
...Didn't expect that one.
Snap.
I ignored the tug on the collar and racked my brain.
Fortunately, I came up with something plausible.
"...She's shy around strangers. Took a while before she'd even let me walk her."
"Still, no reason to go into the bushes..."
"She won't even do her business in front of people."
"...That kind of dog exists?"
"Hey, dogs like that are a thing! What're you doing embarrassing the young man?!"
The leader barked at the suspicious noblewoman.
I hoped it'd end there, but the questioner wasn't backing down despite the reprimand.
She was pretty drunk herself—what was with the clinginess?
"Then, mind showing me?"
"...Pardon?"
"I love dogs. Haven't seen one all night at the banquet, so I'm curious..."
Shit.
How the hell do I deflect this—
Trickle... trickle...
"..."
"..."
The sound of a stream from the bushes brought instant silence.
"Aw, come on! Even dogs get privacy when they pee. Give up and let's go!"
The leader pinched her nose—though no smell at all—and turned first.
"Tough luck, kid."
"Ah, yes..."
The nosy auntie noblewoman finally shuffled off with the group, still prying to the end.
The middle-aged pack moved faster than expected, putting real distance between us.
Even the persistent one glanced wistfully at her retreating friends before following.
"Haa..."
Once the fuss died down, all strength drained from me.
I steadied my wobbling legs.
"...Come out, Kiara."
......
No response.
Something wrong?
Had she ripped off the collar and fled on her own?
"...Kiara?"
I stepped into the bushes.
Pushing through the thick foliage, I peered inside.
"Mmph, ngh..."
"..."
Contrary to my worries, Kiara was still there.
But her state... wasn't exactly normal.
I'd figured from the sound that she'd peed.
"...What the hell are you doing, Kiara?"
"Mmph, n-ngh...?"
I hadn't expected her to be rubbing her pussy with her legs spread wide.
One nipple dug out from the fat and pinched between her fingers.
The collar balled up in her mouth like a gag.
Did calling her a bitch actually turn her into one?
I stared blankly at Kiara, lost in masturbation with half-lidded eyes, then decided regretfully to snap her out of it.
"...Kiara."
"Mmph... yeah...?"
Our eyes finally met.
She spat out the makeshift gag with a plink.
Facing her fiancé seemed to bring her back to her senses.
"Adrian...?"
"Yeah..."
I had no idea how to continue.
I sighed briefly, then spoke to her.
"This place isn't as safe as I thought."
"..."
"People come by. Drunks might suddenly feel like a stroll."
"Woof—no... yes."
"So we should get out of here quick. Kiara."
"..."
"Mood's killed anyway. Hard to pick up somewhere else."
"Mm..."
Kiara pondered, then belatedly noticed her legs splayed wide and hurriedly clamped them shut.
Her face turned crimson with shame.
Unable to meet my eyes, she bowed her head.
"...Got it."
She started to stand, reaching for her clothes.
I gently pressed down on my fiancée's shoulder, stopping her.
"You know wandering out in just a nightgown is weird, right?"
"...Yes."
"And to head back, we have to cross the path. What if we run into those ladies again?"
The supposedly drunk-and-resting fiancée strolling casually with her dog-walking fiancé? Suspicious as hell.
"...So?"
"This artifact. Let's use it."
"...Huh?"
"Can't?"
"No, it's not that... but..."
"Then?"
"...No."
"Why the hell not...?"
I paused, then guessed her reasoning.
"Kiara."
"But...! I-I..."
Squirting like a bitch moments ago, now curling up in embarrassment.
I nearly lost myself to the sight of her breasts squishing against her thighs.
"Without this, we can't do stuff like this."
"...You need to restrain yourself from this kind of thing, Kiara."
"I don't have anywhere else to relieve stress."
"Is that the issue?"
"Yes..."
"Then, let's compromise."
I leaned in to meet my fiancée's eyes and continued.
"When the author of The White Knight's 49 Shadows releases his next work, I'll get it to you right away."
"...Huh?"
Kiara looked incredulous.
"How would you get it, Adrian?"
"I have my ways. Got a friend who hooks me up with those kinds of books."
"...A friend?"
I recalled the details.
Artifact collar effect: Erases the last 10 seconds of memory for all living beings in a 5-meter radius, including the wearer. Teleports the wearer to a safe location.
Given Kiara's outdoor stunt yesterday, the safe spot was probably her room back at the banquet hall.
All I had to do was wait it out.
10. Their memories would vanish after this. 9. No matter what I said, they wouldn't remember. 8.
"...Who's this friend?"
7. Maybe now I could say what I couldn't before. 6.
"The guy who wrote that book."
5. Kiara's eyes widened. 4.
"...You know the author? Who is he?"
3.
"The one who wrote that book."
2.
"Is me, standing right in front of you."
1.
"...Huh?"
Zzzzt.
I forcibly ripped off Kiara's collar.