Just One Bite... Please
"P-please... Please, just one bite...."
The room filled with the silence of two people—and that smell. The aroma the succubus had brought from outside. The scent wafting from the bowl she held carefully in both hands: porridge. Leona hadn't eaten a thing, buried in work and reading. Now hunger suddenly hit her. She swallowed hard.
But more than that, the subtle fragrance emanating from the succubus herself. Leona had roamed battlefields, clashed with all sorts of demons, seen every depravity imaginable—but this smell was new. Warm and sticky-sweet, with a sharp, tangy edge. A unique scent. Was fragrance the right word? Not unpleasant, but definitely distinctive.
"Y-you're supposed to make your presence known before entering!"
The succubus, standing there dazed, nodded hesitantly. Leona had been reading a steamy passage—maybe that's why it felt so awkward now. The succubus looked even more exposed like this. Her ill-fitting clothes only accentuated her figure: breasts so sheer her areolas peeked through, a cinched waist and flat belly, a skirt more like jewelry than clothing. Hips whose size you could guess at, thighs.... Her face too. The purple skin was a bit off-putting. But to Leona, who'd faced demons on the front lines, it wasn't that strange. Long, flowing pink hair. Prominent black horns rising boldly between them. Even accounting for that, the succubus was cute. Adorably so. Violet eyes the same shade as her skin, but the way they blinked....
Leona swallowed again. It looked like the earlier gulp of hunger, but this one was pure restraint.
"H-how dare you barge in without a word! If it's nothing important, I'll have you flogged!"
This wasn't just a scolding. The Empire was at war with demons, and this was a demon. In that light, it was almost a relief. At least she hadn't interrupted strategy planning. The chastised succubus worked her small mouth.
"N-night... service...."
An unexpected reply. Leona couldn't even ask her to repeat it. The phrase popped up often in her reading.
"Is it night outside already?"
The succubus pondered briefly, then nodded. Time had flown to night. Everyone must have eaten dinner by now. So this was "night service." The words suggested as much. But to Leona, versed in such euphemisms, it carried another meaning. Nighttime service.
"Th-this."
The succubus approached with anxious little steps. Leona nearly yelled for her to stop. She stopped by the bed and extended both hands.
"...Eat."
"Th-thank you."
Leona's gaze stuck to the succubus more than the bowl. Up close, her body scent overpowered the porridge aroma. Leona set her book down on the blanket, a bit below arm's reach. Only then did she take the offered bowl. So "service" just meant bringing food. The clothes were probably borrowed from Aisoll. That was all. Just that....
Leona repeated it to herself as she stirred the porridge with a wooden spoon. The thin gruel had cooled.
"N-now be off with you."
She could wash the bowl tomorrow morning. With that in mind, Leona tried to dismiss her. But the succubus fidgeted with her fingers, standing still.
"What are you doing? Out with you."
"Um...."
The succubus's violet eyes wavered anxiously. Backlit by the candle, she wasn't as clear as before. But still: pretty. Cute. Even with purple skin. A true succubus, bewitching by nature. Was that why she looked so alluring?
Leona's musing cut off at her next words. Why hesitate like this? Puzzled, Leona's thoughts drifted to bed. Another night here? But tonight would be tough.
"I-I'm really hungry."
Thankfully, not about bed. But Leona's voice rose sharper.
"...What?"
"S-so... Just one bite. Could you give me just one bite...."
Did I speak too soon? Before she even scooped a spoonful. Did hunger make me blurt it out? No. If she finishes it all, it'll be pointless. I'd held back until now. Even after entering, right up to handing it over—I agonized. Four days without a morsel. Water alone sustains a week, but no. I'm hungry. So hungry. My stomach's growling so loud it's not even an illusion anymore.
"You want... one bite... right now...?"
The hero's face stiffened more than when reading, but I'd snuck in silently—no helping it. Considering that, this was mild. Compare to the mage.
"Y-yes."
Food right in front makes my head spin.
"A s-succubus...?"
"Ah, about that."
Of course she'd wonder. The mage bitch declared I couldn't eat normal food. But no. Wrong. She doesn't know shit—just blocking me out of spite. Fits a mage's cruelty. Clutching the bed to stay upright, I explained what I'd thought up outside.
"S-so. Meals are... insemination. Eating is... insemination. Yeah."
Hunger garbles my thoughts, my words.
"Insemination is... pistil and stamen... meeting. Meals are... insemination and...."
The hero's face hardened. Even I couldn't follow my ramble. I flailed my hands frantically.
"N-no, I mean! That thing."
My arm wobbles pointing at the bowl. Even this shakes my breasts. Insane body—standing on two legs, yet fighting for balance amid starvation.
"That. One. B-bite. Just one bite."
It started as a request, with explanations. Now it's whining. Can't help it. Can't hold back. Stomach growling isn't illusion. It hurts. So hungry. One bite. One spoonful, please.
"Ailet? Are you alright?"
"N-no. So hungry. So hungry. So... one bite."
I staggered. Arms braced on the bed as I pitched forward.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
"S-sorry. But my stomach... ugh. My stomach's too...."
Words stopped. Bowl closer now. Smell hits direct. So, so good. Not just nose—whole face, body feels it.
"Sniiff... haaah. Sniiff."
Eyes shut, deep breath. Fill my lungs with it. Savory, spreading softly.
"Wh-what are you doing?! Get up!"
"The smell... so good. Too...."
Blanket brushes horns, cheek. Slowly. Face turns toward the scent. How can porridge smell this good? Everything tastes divine when starving—but eating now would be heaven. Stopped. Here. So warm. So delicious. Just one spoonful. One bite.
"What in the world—! Get up, now!"
"One bite... p-please... nghk?!"
Head yanked back. Pain rips scalp. Hero grabbed my horn.
"H-horn! Gk? Gyaaah?!"
Hunger forgotten. Instantly. Fleetingly. Skull crushed in vise. Shock, vibration straight to brain. Tears welled.
"Aaaah...."
She released quick, but head still buzzed. Don't touch carelessly. Useless big horns. Not handles!
The hero stared in horror.
"You... what are you...."
Fear she'd grab again—I backed away. Just leave? Scary. That horn-grab sensation terrifies. I thought it just looked weird, but no. If gripped hard again... broken? Head might shatter. Backing hit chair with a clunk. Hero still on bed. Bowl in hand. Porridge cold, no steam. But memory floods: warmth. Delicious scent erases fear. Just sniffing fills me. Yeah, that bowl. Can't leave. Might starve dead.
"Hero... H-hero, please."
I knelt. Pride? Meaningless. Hands clasped. Forehead to floor. Breasts crushed on knees. In this world, this body—no choices. But now, this time, please.
"M-me. Really. R-really, just one bite. Please... huuh...."
Voice cracked with sobs. Weak from emptiness.
"...Fine."
"P-please... Eh?"
Couldn't believe it. Right? Not hearing things? Rustle. Blanket pulled back. Lowered view: hero's legs. Real. Real. Cheers stuck—hunger froze body. Mouth thanks first.
"H-hero. Th-thank you so...."
Plop. White pants dropped. Hero's pale thighs exposed.
"Uh...?"
I tilted head back instinctively. I shouldn't have.