A Battlefield of Women
Grace Hamilion had long sensed that her relationship with Leoric was precarious. She stood beside him on stage as his partner for now, but this position could be stolen away at any moment by someone else. The two women right in front of her were perfect examples.
—Slide.
It wasn’t intentional, but she couldn’t help but let her guard down around the man she loved. As a noble who always had to be conscious of others’ gazes, simply being by his side went beyond relaxation—it felt like her soul was being healed. Even now, she was pressing her chest against his arm. Her breasts, emphasized by her dress, were more voluptuous than anyone else’s here. She had never really paid them much mind before. In daily life they were actually inconvenient, and every time she got new clothes fitted, she had to be extra careful because of them.
“Leoric. Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Right now, these breasts filled her with more pride than anything else. She could feel his body heat through the soft flesh pressed against his chest. She casually draped her arm over his thigh. The sensation of his firm muscles beneath his trousers traveled through her fingertips.
“Nu… Lady Grace?”
Under the table, her shoe brushed against his. The hard tip grazed his leg. The sense of connection she felt with him right now—more than the magical synchronization used for his treatment—filled her heart with satisfaction.
—Glance.
“……”
“……Ugh.”
Grace Hamilion couldn’t suppress the smile born from her overwhelming sense of superiority. She could feel the two women glaring at her. Every time she sensed those stares, it only drew her closer to him. At this point, she was practically half-embracing him. Right now, in this very spot, no one was closer to him than she was…
Really?
No. That wasn’t true.
Grace judged the situation with cold clarity. Her relationship with Leoric wasn’t eternal. Of course, he had said he would come to her regardless of whether she was pregnant. And in truth, she could always feel how much he cherished her. In his caresses, she sensed love, lust, and consideration all directed toward her.
But despite that, she was ultimately the wife of Aidan Franz, Leoric’s brother. It wasn’t an unheard-of story, though it was hardly common. Taking a child conceived with a blood relative who wasn’t the heir and raising them as the successor was a tale that occasionally surfaced in the murky history of the nobility. Still, it remained an unofficial relationship.
In any normal situation, Grace Hamilion would have had to act as Aidan Franz’s wife and partner. Eventually, once Leoric Franz became officially engaged and married, his partner in high society would be his wife. It was obvious he wouldn’t be able to visit her as frequently as he did now. That meant that even if they didn’t completely stop seeing each other, the number of times they could be together would certainly decrease.
Other nobles… especially those of Franz blood with vigorous sexual appetites, had a duty to increase the family’s numbers. Even if her husband Aidan returned, that alone wouldn’t be enough reason to stop their meetings. Their sibling relationship might be framed as part of the successor competition, yet far from being on bad terms, they were strangely close. Their parents didn’t seem to mind either.
It was embarrassing to say out loud, but if she subtly hinted at her own wishes, they might be able to continue their relationship indefinitely… Whether she could endure it if that wasn’t possible was a secondary concern that didn’t matter right now.
“Ugh…!”
But the one with the highest chance of becoming his fiancée right now was Irina Boran, and she was clearly hostile toward Grace. Still, Grace wasn’t overly worried about her. She had a decent grasp of Irina Boran’s personality and character. Even though she was shooting jealous glares like that, Irina was still the one most likely to become his official fiancée. Once she married him properly, she probably wouldn’t make too much of a fuss over her husband’s little indiscretions. Of course, she wouldn’t forgive it if those indiscretions exceeded her own share.
Grace didn’t want that either. Therefore, the most dangerous one was her.
“Aren’t you a little too close, Grace Hamilion?”
“Hehe. But this is the best way to treat his body. Isn’t that right, Leoric?”
“Uh, yeah.”
She ran her fingers across his chest. Even through the thin fabric, she could feel his firm pectoral muscles. She owed quite a lot to that chest. Memories of that hot night suddenly flashed through her mind.
“Hey, hey, hey…!”
“Hey?”
Irina Boran pointed at Grace with her finger.
“You have such a lewd expression!”
“Lewd…?”
“It’s obscene! Totally obscene!”
While Irina threw a fit, screaming kyaaa, Grace’s gaze shifted toward Princess Amelia. As always, her expression was blank and mechanical. Leoric seemed to understand her emotions to some degree, but for Grace it was still impossible to read.
“……I see. If it’s for treatment, then it can’t be helped.”
When Princess Amelia fell silent after saying that, Grace found it impossible to guess how far her thoughts had gone. She knew Amelia was interested in Leoric, and from her reactions so far, that interest clearly went beyond goodwill into romantic attraction. But nobles… especially members of the royal family, rarely decided everything based purely on emotion. Even if she held goodwill, she would have to consider the relationship between Bachnia and Franz.
What worried Grace the most right now was the possibility that her father-in-law, as head of the family, might decide to betroth Leoric to Princess Amelia for a better future. Whether such an engagement with a foreign noble was even possible was secondary. What concerned her most was whether Leoric would be able to remain in this land if that happened.
There was a high chance he would follow her to Bachnia. That was the one thing that could not be allowed.
She could endure Irina Boran, even if it pained her heart. Even if their time together decreased, she could bear it. She could wait for the nights they would share. But Amelia Bachnia was different. The distance was far too great—both physically and emotionally. They might never meet again.
That was why.
Therefore.
She felt sorry for the princess, but because she was the unattainable sister-in-law, a certain greed had taken root. For the sake of that small greed, she absolutely could not yield on this.
“Um, Leoric.”
“Yes?”
When she whispered, his sparkling eyes turned toward her. She felt bad for making the awkward atmosphere in the room even stranger, but the moment he looked at her, warmth filled her heart.
Aah. This is it.
Those eyes that loved her completely—something she had never felt even in the capital.
“Your body has improved a lot, but if you’re tired, wouldn’t it be better to rest a little more?”
“Hmm……”
Yes. Let’s spend a little more time together.
She whispered into his ear. Their bodies drew even closer. So close that they could feel each other’s breath. Her ample breasts pressed against him, pinning him down. The scent and warmth radiating from him made both her body and heart grow hot. Grace wanted to stay in this moment just a little longer.
At Grace’s words, I immediately shook my head. I knew she was worried about me, but I couldn’t just sit still.
“I can’t show such a weak side.”
“Is that so? But who would dare call you weak? You, the owner of that sun which still brightly illuminates this land.”
If that sun ever turned against me… how many people wouldn’t feel terrified at the thought? I had that goal in mind too, but I had no actual intention of doing so. That would be the thinking of a madman.
“That’s right, Lord Leoric! Stay with us a little longer. We barely got to talk properly because of the coming-of-age ceremony.”
“That’s… true. I’m sorry I couldn’t have a proper conversation with you even though we finally met again, Lady Irina.”
“It’s fine! I understand the situation well enough. If we can talk like this, I’m happy!”
The one trying to stop me was Irina. I felt sorry toward her as well. We hadn’t had a single proper conversation despite reuniting after so long. I was a bit surprised by the sudden proposal, but the decision ultimately rested with Count William and my father.
I wanted to stay here and talk with her while resting, but…
“Considering my body, that might be best, but……”
That was when Princess Amelia interjected.
“I want to show the other nobles that I am with you.”
“Hmm… I see.”
There were also political issues with Princess Amelia. In any case, an excuse was still an excuse. There was even a saying about covering one’s eyes and pretending not to see. I didn’t know the exact details, but I could tell that the reason she was here in this land wasn’t normal. To hide that fact even a little, she needed to flaunt our closeness.
I really should head out now.
Grace and Princess Amelia’s gazes met.
…Was the chill in the air just my imagination?
—Creak!
Once again, the secret passage door opened. I looked over wondering who it was this time. Honestly, my stomach was already hurting. For some reason, the mood in the room felt terrible.
“Lord Leoric.”
“Oh, Chloe.”
It was Chloe. Seeing a familiar face finally put me at ease. Chloe glanced at the three people in the room and her expression soured. Why was she reacting like that too?
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“Duke Earthlane has arrived.”
“What? Duke Earthlane?”
One of the two dukes of the Brahms Kingdom, a noble based in the capital. The brown mole of Earthlane. Anyone who looked down on the family just because their symbol was a mole would regret it bitterly. He was a man capable of flipping an entire territory upside down.
“He came all the way here?”
“Yes. You should go see him immediately.”
“Hmm. I suppose so.”
This was a guest even I would find difficult to handle. I had to go out. I stood up right away and prepared to leave. The remaining three should rest a little longer.
‘Chloe Tristan.’
That woman was dangerous too.
All three women had the exact same thought at the same time. Although she came from a mere knight’s bloodline and still felt far from noble status, they all knew that Leoric wasn’t the type to care about such things.
The reaction Leoric had shown the moment she appeared. The expression and look in his eyes that had flashed across his face for an instant. It wasn’t the face one showed to an ordinary vassal.
While internally raising her danger level, each of the three women began calculating what kind of strategy they should take from now on.
After Leoric left, the three women remained in the now deathly silent room, none of them opening their mouths.