The Sister-in-Law's Embrace
Honestly, there was no hiding my nervousness. Never mind the fact that this was my first time—the person waiting for me was my older brother's wife. My sister-in-law.
"Young master. This is as far as I go."
"Mm. Thank you, Lena. You've done well."
Lena, who had guided me here, bowed at the waist and withdrew. After thanking her for her service, I looked ahead and found Saren standing there—the daughter of the nanny who had accompanied Grace at her wedding, now serving as her personal maid.
I had almost never met Grace's attendant Saren face-to-face like this. Even on the rare occasions I glimpsed her while passing by Grace, she had always been waiting quietly in the background.
Brown hair, brown eyes. With a neatly composed expression, she greeted me in silence.
"Thank you for accepting today's invitation."
"I'm the one who should thank you for inviting me."
Franz Castle was divided into several distinct zones. At its center stood the inner citadel, and the area stretching from the main gate to those inner walls contained administrative buildings, training grounds, servants' quarters, and attendant lodgings—anywhere those with permission could freely enter. Behind the inner citadel, however, lay several restricted zones that not even direct members of the Franz bloodline could access without authorization.
The private residence where my father, the family head, and my mother lived came first, followed by separate buildings for the immediate family. That meant the structures my brother and I used individually, along with the building where his family resided.
Since I had neither a wife nor children yet, most of my own building stood empty, though the maids cleaned it every day so it could be used at a moment's notice.
In any case, entering one another's private residences required prior permission. Even my brother, when he chose to observe proper etiquette, had to send word through a maid before visiting Grace's building. Of course, if he simply walked in, there was no one who would dare rebuke him. At worst, Father or Mother might scold him for behavior unbecoming of nobility.
As I walked slowly down the long corridor, the building's interior gradually revealed itself. Though I had visited the building where my brother Aidan lived several times, I had never once stepped foot inside the residence next to it where his family stayed.
Following Saren's guidance, we arrived at an ornately decorated door tucked away in a quiet corner. Only a handful of maids and servants stood nearby, with no guards in sight.
"This is as far as I go."
"Mm."
My tongue felt dry. The image of Grace that rose in my mind made my pulse quicken. She must have known about the relationship between my brother and me. No matter how close two brothers might be, the matter of succession created a delicate situation, yet Grace had always treated me with kindness.
"...What about my brother?"
"Milene will be attending to him tonight."
I gazed up at the moon. Fortunately, this world's moon looked much like the one I remembered from modern times. From the full moon outward, the surrounding stars adorned the night sky with a beauty beyond comparison.
There was one superstition—though it worked so well that calling it mere superstition felt inaccurate. It was said that a full moon made conception easier. In truth, the ambient mana density rose slightly on such nights, making those who held mana more prone to excitement. The effect was truly subtle, but that must have been why they chose tonight.
My brother was still inside this very castle, yet here I was about to lie with his wife. A complicated emotion welled up inside me. At the same time, I won't deny the base lust I felt.
Vibrant golden hair and jewel-like blue eyes. The face that always smiled with gentle warmth. A noblewoman raised with the sole purpose of bearing the next generation's heir, taught that such breeding was the joy of her existence. Strictly speaking, she was not my woman, but my brother's. My sister-in-law.
"Then I'll go in."
"Yes. I'll make the preparations."
The first thing I noticed upon entering the room wasn't the luxurious décor, but the same scent I had grown familiar with during my sex education sessions. So even those lessons had been preparation for tonight.
Nobles weren't devoid of sexual desire, but it wasn't particularly strong either. There were individual differences, as with me, but overall it tended to run thin. Lena must have spent the last three days exposing me to this fragrance under the guise of "sex education" to make me more easily aroused. Not that I needed any help—my excitement was already at its peak.
Breathing in that scent, I looked toward the enormous bed at the center of the room. A single flower lay upon it. She maintained her usual graceful bearing, yet the garment she wore was the thinnest of lingerie. Through the sheer fabric I could see her full breasts, narrow waist, and even the outline of her panties below.
I stared for a moment, dazed, then cleared my throat.
"Thank you for inviting me tonight."
I bowed my head in greeting. She had told me not to avert my eyes, and since I had already looked my fill, this much should be fine.
"Not at all... Leoric. I am the one who should thank you for setting aside time for someone as unworthy as me."
Even while wearing that revealing garment, Grace bowed her head with perfect etiquette from where she sat on the bed. Every small movement made her breasts sway. The fluttering lingerie hid some details, but if I looked closely at the edges...
I forced myself to tear my gaze away. When I looked at Grace again, her cheeks were faintly flushed, but she didn't appear displeased. To be honest, forcing the matter had felt wrong. Even though my brother had given permission in advance, it still seemed coercive.
"...Father and my brother told me, but I wanted to confirm with you, Lady Grace—"
"Hehe."
Just as I was about to make one last confirmation, Grace let out a soft laugh. She covered her mouth lightly with her hand as she smiled.
"Ah, that..."
"I'm sorry. It's just that Father and Aidan's words came to mind."
"Pardon?"
While I stood there confused, Grace shook her head gently.
"You really are kind, Leoric."
Me, kind? I didn't treat the servants like tools, but that was only because I still carried common sense from my modern life. Even then, it wasn't as if I made any special effort to be gentle—it was mostly because of the privileged position I held. I wasn't particularly kind at all. I simply allowed a wider range of behavior than the people of this world.
"I'm fine with this. When I first heard the suggestion, I didn't think it was so bad."
"I... I see."
"Yes. Aidan never blamed me, but..."
Grace gave a bittersweet smile. Years had passed without any news of pregnancy. She must have suffered greatly. When I hesitated, unable to find the right words, she smiled at me once more.
"I've made you uncomfortable. I'm sorry."
"Not at all."
Her gentle words made me feel embarrassed, and I lowered my head. When I shifted awkwardly, Grace smiled and reached out her hand. Her slender fingers parted, revealing her chest. Though still covered by the lingerie, breasts larger than Neria's appeared before me.
"How long do you intend to leave a lady waiting all by herself?"
"...Then..."
I looked into her moist eyes. I couldn't hold back any longer. Gazing at Grace's flushed face, I considered what I needed to do.
"I will give you my child."
"...This is the most intense proposal I've ever received."
Huh? That was a proposal?
"...Haa."
I could feel Grace's sweet breath. I didn't know how they had made it, but the bed was incredibly soft. I climbed onto it naked and approached her.
"Do I not look unpleasant to you? I'm not as young as I once was..."
"Unpleasant? Who would ever say such a thing? To my eyes, you are more beautiful than anyone."
Even if we called her older, she was only in her early to mid-twenties. Well, by this world's standards that might be considered somewhat advanced in age. Still, Grace was a mana holder. No matter how many years passed, her beauty would never fade.
"To hear you say that... I'm embarrassed."
Now that we were so close, I could see aspects of her I had never noticed before. Grace's pure white skin. Her delicate scent. The sound of her racing heartbeat. The faint tremble of her long eyelashes. I gazed at her slowly, then reached out. Noticing how my extended hand trembled with nerves, Grace gently took it and guided me.
"Leoric..."
"Lady Grace!"
I could hold back no longer and pressed forward. At my touch, Grace fell back onto the bed without the slightest resistance, as if she had been waiting for it. With a soft thud, she lay beneath me, looking up with moist eyes. I lowered my body over hers. The red lips before me drew me in, and I kissed her without thinking.
"Ah, kissing..."
"Is it not allowed?"
"That is..."
Grace hesitated slightly. It wasn't that she disliked me, but... it wasn't time yet. I needed to change my approach. The dependable man role was something my brother had already filled. I was still a virgin experiencing his first time—an innocent boy. Embrace the mindset of a youth! Leo! Onee-shota...! Onee-shota...! Though I'm not exactly a shota!
"Lady Grace... No, Grace, sis!"
"Eep!"
Grace's body jolted at my words.
"Just for tonight, it's all right."
"But... Leoric. You mustn't speak that way. We are..."
"Call me Leo. Please, Grace, sis."
"......"
"There's no one else in this room but us...!"
At my earnest plea, I watched Grace's gaze waver. The situation of a younger brother who had hidden his feelings finally revealing them with passionate eyes! The forbidden thrill of an improper relationship! It was working. She was falling for it. Her trembling eyes finally steadied.
-Chu!
A cute kiss where our lips barely brushed—like a peck. But that single action made my eyes sparkle. Her reddened face, the trembling excitement in her gaze. Yet within them, I didn't miss the small spark of passion.
"Just for tonight... Leo."
"Yes, sis."
...Would it truly be only tonight? That was something we still didn't know.