Chapter 91 - Me and the Saintess Are Fuck Buddies!
It was a smooth, steady carriage ride that didn't jostle us an inch. Fitting for one provided by the princess—it felt like we were inside a building. Probably enchanted with some anti-shake magic. As I marveled at the imperial carriage's grandeur, Charlotte spoke up.
"I've been wondering how you knew the saintess, but I never imagined that woman from back then was her."
After Charlotte agreed to my demands, I'd sent Ray a letter saying it was fine to meet the hero party. So they'd gotten together at some point. I bet the reaction was priceless, though it sucked I wasn't there to see it.
"Surprised?"
"Lucky bastard."
The hero bitch couldn't even admit that much, huh? Did she think showing surprise meant losing?
...Anyway.
Wasn't that glare of hers a bit murderous? Inside the carriage, Ray and I sat facing the hero party. Charlotte was right across from me, Elinne to her left, Jed to her right. Naturally, I'd planted Ray right next to me on the left. No way was I letting her face that Jed prick.
Oh, and just for fun, I'd shoot Charlotte some lecherous looks. Why? To piss off Jed, obviously. Charlotte would think I was eyeing her, but Jed, from his angle, would see exactly where my gaze lingered. I subtly raked my eyes over her tits and below.
True to his sharp instincts, Jed clocked it immediately, eyes bulging. His girlfriend getting ogled by another guy? Yeah, that'd piss anyone off. So I yanked Charlotte's shoulder toward me.
"Jed. What the hell?"
"Why? Jealous?"
"Hey, do I look like I'm in the mood?"
"Ah, sorry."
Whoosh. Even with her boyfriend there, messing with Charlotte when she was already on edge because of me? If they had real love, they'd be considerate and not snap at each other—but was Charlotte the type? And Jed might be a prick too, but he wouldn't dare challenge someone stronger than him, like the hero.
Meanwhile, I glanced at Elinne. She looked a little pleased—probably since she had a thing for Jed. Right when we'd boarded, she'd been sneakily watching me. We hadn't talked since I seduced her back then, and she clearly hated the idea of her crush on Jed getting out. Plus, she'd be embarrassed about wavering because of me.
Still, Elinne wasn't grilling me like before. She stayed quiet while I eyed Charlotte on the sly, and now her tense face had relaxed.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
For some reason, Charlotte was letting Jed get touchy.
"You can just do it."
Jed immediately plastered himself to her, draping an arm over her shoulder. Damn, Charlotte, you slut—is this to make me jealous? Remembering our past, she was probably trying to rile me up by flaunting herself with another guy. And that smug Jed prick? Yeah, it was working on him.
"Oh, you two look great together."
Did these idiots forget?
"How about us?"
"Hey!"
The woman who wouldn't take shit from Charlotte was right beside me. I pulled the silent Ray in close, just like that.
They'd seen us on a date before—did they think since she was the saintess now, we weren't like that anymore?
"Daron. What the hell in front of everyone?"
"Why? You were dying to hug me when we were alone."
"Ugh, you're insane? Why embarrass me like this?"
The saintess. Pure, innocent, clueless about sex—that was the image. So it must've been a shock that even after becoming one, we were still fucking.
"Is the saintess... allowed to do that?"
Even quiet Elinne piped up.
"What's wrong with two people who like each other? Oh, you don't lose holy power if you're not a virgin, right? Otherwise Ray wouldn't still be the saintess."
"Daro-o-on! Shut your damn mouth?"
Once I spilled that we were fuck buddies, Ray turned beet red up to her ears and started pounding my chest with her fists. But how strong could she really be? I hugged her tight, absorbing every hit. To anyone watching, she just looked adorably whiny.
"We're together with the goddess's blessing. And don't go blabbing about this. It'll tank the hero party's strength, and you might get divine punishment."
Divine punishment was bullshit I threw in, but I had reason to be this bold. The saintess was indispensable to the hero party. Why else would Charlotte cave to my demands after some back-and-forth? Hero and saintess were the core. To shut down any threats like "Is the saintess allowed?", preempt it like this.
"Let go."
Charlotte shoved Jed away, since her swipe at me hadn't worked. He was staring at me all envious-like.
"Charlotte. How long are we gonna keep growling at each other?"
"We're on the same mission from Her Highness the princess. Not exactly comrades, but we're stuck together—can't start off like this, right?"
Only after I laid out the reality did Charlotte snap out of it. Good show—satisfied for now.
"Let's talk business."
"Business?"
"We're heading to Lancelot Duchy. Got any plans on how to convince them?"
"What? You idiot? Duchy or not, the grand duke's a Gaia Empire noble. Why wouldn't he cooperate?"
"He won't make it easy."
Charlotte sneered like talking to me was a chore.
"Cut the bullshit and shut up."
"Don't you get why the princess sent us?"
"What?"
Charlotte wasn't entirely wrong, actually. Kasid Nova. The northern hero who united tribes and pushed back monsters to claim vast lands. And he was a grand duke of the Gaia Empire. There was a reason he'd founded his duchy and gotten imperial recognition.
Without Kasid Nova, the empire lacked the means to govern the north. The people he'd united wouldn't just obey imperial orders out of nowhere. So he'd petitioned the empire and established the duchy. In name a grand duke, but in the north, he ruled like a king—and still did.
"It's a duchy in name only. They're moving toward full independence from the empire right now. Not the situation you think."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Exactly what I said. The ruler of Lancelot Duchy, Kasid Nova, plans to break away completely."
And his daughter, Grace Nova, had even bigger ambitions. Unlike her father, who just wanted one kingdom, the grand duchess aimed to swallow the empire itself. That's what happened last round—they backstabbed the empire when the demon army shook it. I knew she was the rebellion's leader, even if it failed. No need to tell Charlotte that, though.
"Even so, with the Demon King prepping for war, they won't cooperate?"
"Charlotte. Let's dig deeper. If it was just a simple request from Her Highness, it'd be done. So why ask you, the hero?"
"Lancelot Duchy... won't obey orders no matter what?"
Not an imperial decree from the emperor himself, but a request from crown princess Asabel. Yet they sent the hero party anyway, figuring the duchy wouldn't play ball. Charlotte finally nodded in understanding.
"We'll see if you're right when we get there."
"Thanks for getting it."
Asabel Silv wouldn't regret sticking me with the hero party. These clowns alone? It'd take forever to sway the duchy.
"That's why we plan ahead. If they refuse, what then—"
"Hey. We'll figure it out when we get there."
...This fucking hero bitch. Thick-headed slut!
...
The carriage rolled on quietly until sunset, finally stopping. Only after I said we should rest—since Charlotte had been sitting like a vegetable—did it halt. Horses needed breaks, coachman needed sleep.
We got off in front of an inn in some village. Less developed than the capital, but whatever. We could've pitched tents, but an inn was better. Crappy or not, way comfier than camping.
"Only three rooms?"
Small village, small inn. Charlotte asked for three rooms.
And laid down the law.
"Jed and I take one. Elinne, you with Ray. Daron, bunk with the coachman."
Lovers together, huh? She knew about me and Ray but must've forgotten. Whatever. I shrugged and went with the coachman.
He crashed hard, snoring like a beast—deep sleep. I unpacked lightly, then slipped out quietly.
Heading straight for...
"Daron?"
"Hey. Why're you here?"
"To see Ray."
Ray and Elinne's room. Elinne, changed into nightclothes with no bra, had her massive tits on full display. Shorter than Ray, but damn, those racks. She caught my stare, crossed her arms over her chest, and snapped.
"Eyes down? What business in the ladies' room?"
"Why?"
Duh.
"To fuck."
"Fuck?!"