Predators Don't Show Their Teeth
"Oh, yeah... It's okay..."
"My body... feels so hoooot..."
"R-Really...? I, I don't really know how to dispel charm magic... J-Just hold on, don't rub up against me like that...!"
In a secluded spot where few people passed by, Serdi and Elania exchanged glances before simultaneously letting out heavy sighs, as if by prior agreement.
The reason was simple. Kael had fallen under the charm.
Succubi were a race that fundamentally drained vitality from the opposite sex through sexual acts. Of course, incubi were even more terrifying in this world, but succubi who targeted only small, pretty, delicate boys like this were common enough.
O-Of course! I admit he's pretty and cute even by my standards! But how dare some whore try to seduce my little brother?
It had been a close call. Kael was still young, and his resistance to mana was far inferior to Serdi and Elania's. If Serdi hadn't rushed over a step faster, he might have ended up in a wolf's den, torn apart.
No way. Absolutely not.
Cute, lovable, pretty, fragile, and petite... Anyway, she couldn't let some filthy rag taint her blood-related little brother. With that thought, Serdi gently patted the back of Kael, who was nuzzling into her ample bosom.
"What if you suddenly bite my breast like that? People will think I'm some weird woman."
"Squeeze... nu-na's milk... My body feels so hoooot..."
"I-I know, but... You can't just do that out in public, or you'll get bosam'ed, you know? Don't you know how scary bosam is?"
"I knooow... Getting kidnapped..."
"Yeah, yeah. You can't just let it happen to you, right?"
"Yeees... I want... someone cool like nu-na..."
"Khmm...!? Y-Yeah! R-Right! You should marry a woman like me! Ahaha! Whew..."
Wait, what was I hoping for?
He's my blood brother. Get a grip, you lunatic.
Serdi shook her head sharply and took a deep breath, lightly stroking Kael's hair.
"...Time to switch. My turn."
"What? What'd he say?"
"That he likes me stroking him. Move it. And you need to hear this? You suck at petting him. It's on a whole different level from an expert like me."
"Aigoo! Says the one with even smaller breasts than me!"
"Guh...!"
Elania's stance crumbled from the sudden critical hit. Sure, small breasts were a good thing. Men usually preferred women who were flat-chested and tall. That's why those types were popular. She had a modest chest and was fairly tall herself, so she'd been popular at the academy.
But don't I like nu-na's big breasts? Wait... Didn't Kael say he likes big-breasted women?
Following that thought, a sharp pain stabbed her head like she'd been struck.
"K-Kael likes small-breasted girls too, you know!"
"Pfft. See? Look at him now. Can't you see he's still burying his face in my chest~?"
"......"
Elania's gaze drifted downward. She compared her own to Serdi's. Then she looked at Kael, who was vigorously rubbing his face against Serdi's and taking deep breaths. His face was flushed red. He was mumbling with his mouth, purring contentedly. And at the same time, those massive mounds jiggled up and down, relentlessly tempting Kael. But her own were too meager. No? Not meager. They were decently sized. But they looked small.
"...Agh, why does Kael of all people have such a weird taste."
"What? The kid likes it, so why are you getting mad?"
"Shut up!"
"Wuuu..."
Unable to hold back, Elania spat out a harsh curse. At that moment, a whimpering voice leaked from Kael in Serdi's arms.
"Don't... swear... That's baaad..."
"Ah, ahhh...! S-Sorry...! Kael! Nu-na's sorry... Don't hate me...?"
"Yeeah... I looove Elania nu-na so muuuch..."
"R-Right, right! You love me a ton!"
"She really loves him a lot..."
Serdi carefully stroked the whimpering Kael's head, shaking her own slightly with a sigh. In that instant, Elania had trembled in fear that Kael might hate her, and now she was beaming at his words of affection. It was pure sisterly love.
"...But aren't we forgetting something important?"
"We brought Kael."
"No, the decisive reason we followed Kael in the first place..."
"We brought Kael, though?"
"Agh! Not that!"
"My~ What are you two chatting about?"
"Uwah?!"
"Hiiik?!"
Suddenly, a voice blew into their ears like a breeze. Serdi and Elania jolted simultaneously, stumbling back.
"P-Princess...?"
"Your Highness...?"
"Oh, I tried to disguise myself as much as possible? Can you still tell that easily?"
It's because you scream 'princess' too much...
Crois covered her mouth, chuckling. It was a light, harmless gesture to anyone watching, but Serdi and Elania felt an uncanny dissonance.
"Anyway, oh my~ Young Master Kariel is already throwing a full tantrum?"
"...It was a little accident."
"Ah! I saw that. It was so cool? Like, 'Get lost, succubus!' or something."
"I-Is that so?"
"Yeah! How cool was it?"
Serdi's lips twitched ever so slightly. She'd sensed something off, but hearing the praise made her heart race repeatedly.
Seeing her pathetic like that, Elania stepped forward.
"We need to say something."
"Huh?"
"Kael's just a little boy right now. How could a woman leave such a delicate boy alone and go off somewhere else? Are you in your right mind?!"
"You crazy...! What are you saying to Her Highness...!"
"Ahaha~ It's fine. The kid's right, after all."
Serdi's mouth clamped shut at Crois's waving hand dismissing it. Objectively, Elania's words were treasonous—heavy enough for the imperial guard to swing an axe at her neck on the spot. Questioning the emperor's daughter's sanity. As a woman, no less. But Crois just smiled brightly, stopping Serdi and approaching Elania.
*Squish...*
"Oh dear, sorry. I must've squished you with my big breasts~"
"......"
"Oh my, cat got your tongue? By the way, your breasts are so small~ I'm jealous."
"......"
Crois stood right in front of Elania's nose, giggling nonstop. She slowly pressed her own chest against Elania's. The size difference became all too real. Elania's vision started to blur.
"You must be super popular with boys~"
A crack formed in the expression Elania had barely maintained.
"H-Haha... Y-Yes! Right! I'm really popular!"
"Hmm~ But remember, some boys don't like small breasts?"
"......"
"For example..."
Crois slowly turned her head. Her gaze drifted to where Kael was still buried face-first in Serdi's chest.
"...No need to say it out loud~"
"...Tch, what a thirsty bitch...?"
Elania ground her teeth, making grinding noises. Her face smiled, but wrinkles creased her forehead, and fury burned behind her closed eyes.
"Aah~? Just that. I admit I was wrong too. Leaving a boy alone—a super pretty and cute boy like Kariel—is a crime."
"Aha...? You think so too—"
"But you know~"
Crois smiled sweetly and poked Elania's upper chest. It felt like a sharp awl piercing through.
"I think it's a bit much for you, the one stalking him silently, to say that?"
"!? A-Anyway! We saved Kael in the end, didn't we?"
"But that was her, not you. To me, you're just a greedy stalker watching Kariel from afar, always scheming to take him."
"......"
Elania's expression hardened coldly at the rapid-fire words. Crois giggled as if it were hilarious, pulled her chest away, and sidled over to Serdi.
"Thank you so much. I should've protected Kariel."
"N-No, it's nothing..."
"Then, hand him over now. Stalker Number Two?"
"Y-Yes..."
A chilling voice. Golden eyes that flickered menacingly like a rippling sun despite their sparkle. A soft tone that felt laced with hidden blades. If the emperor's weapon was overwhelming charisma and force, the princess's was an aura that dominated through mere conversation alone...
Serdi bowed her head and handed Kael to Crois.
"Hmm...? Nu-naaa... Nooo...?"
"Yeah~ Sorry. I was late getting something. Is Kariel okay?"
"Priiinceeess...? Sooooft... Squishy... Feels gooood..."
"Pfft. So cute. It's getting late, so let's head back to the castle."
Crois smiled brightly and scooped Kael up. She turned and walked away naturally.
"......"
"......"
"...I just realized."
"Yeah, me too."
"There's that saying—predators don't show their teeth."
"...The princess is the real wolf."
The two sisters gaped blankly. They'd just encountered a rival who overwhelmed them with sheer presence.