Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Snow Duke's Way of Thinking (7)
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The Roshiar countess family was one far removed from extravagance and indulgence.
They didn't hoard gold like the royal family or run their own trading company like the Luhillen family.
Even the family head, Estelle, showed no interest in the position of magic tower lord, unlike other grand dukes.
Of course, that didn't mean they were poor. Their territory was vast, and they had an abundance of rare goods only available from the North Sea—pearls, spices, things like the dragon flame incense Lehel had received this time.
However, with their enormous military expenditures, most of their income couldn't be turned into pure profit. That was the more accurate way to put it.
Moreover, their family tradition valued substance over appearances, so both Adella and Estelle kept their distance from luxury.
A barbecue joint in an outdoor spot far from Pharenchia Academy's golden commercial district.
Contrary to expectations of her elegantly wielding a knife at a refined dining table like Darling's, Estelle had invited me to a wildly primal dinner.
I'd thought Adella was a big eater for grabbing two pieces of bread at a time, but watching the Snow Duke tear into her meat, it seemed sisters were sisters after all.
There wasn't a hint of sloppiness, like sauce around her mouth or greasy shine.
According to Adella, she never gained weight no matter how much she ate—but the parts that did grow were tormented by gravity and inertia. Truly blessed genes.
"Hwaaaah~. Teacherrr...."
"Sleepy? If you're sleepy, lie down here."
"Thanks, hehe."
As the round charcoal fire for grilling meat and the full moon shone at the center of the world, Adella's head began to droop.
When I subtly offered my lap, she soon smacked her lips and passed out.
After confirming she wouldn't wake even when I held the half-eaten meat close to her cute little nose, I asked Estelle.
"Is that true? That the more Adella wants to have me all to herself, the stronger she gets?"
"From what I've confirmed, yes. Jealousy and possessiveness must be the root of her unique magic circuit."
Hmm, saying it like that made her look even prettier for some reason.
But aside from her adorable looks and charming reason, one ice spike from her had half-demolished my canteen.
Stroking her spiky hair like handling a hedgehog, my touch grew a bit more cautious.
"So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Simple. Keep fanning those flames of jealousy."
"That could be really dangerous."
"Of course I know that. That's why I'll handle it myself. No matter how much she flies and flails, controlling Roshiar's unique magic circuit against me won't be hard for her."
Estelle smoothly rose from her seat and approached me.
Her firm thighs and hips, hidden beneath white pants, captured my gaze effortlessly.
"You're really going to seduce me?"
"Why, don't you believe me?"
"You said you have no heart. No emotions."
"I don't. And I'll never feel love for you. But I'm well aware of what makes men like you swell down below."
With no shame, her word choice was intensely provocative.
She even puffed out her chest slightly, as if proud of her looks and figure.
"You don't seem all that eager, which is odd. Louis, until about ten years ago, 'flower of the North Sea' referred to me."
"Really?"
"Until I inherited the unique magic circuit, that is. I don't think this appearance yields to anyone. I haven't dolled up like the daughters of other noble houses."
She was right.
As Pharenchia Academy's canteen owner—who probably saw more noble daughters than anyone—Estelle's beauty was unequivocally top 1%, a masterpiece sculpted by the gods.
Her seemingly innocent blank expression didn't harden into a mask-like stiffness.
Her long trailing hair and delicate features, combined with her resolute personality, highlighted her intellectual side even more.
"Proportions are good, and there's hardly a flawed spot on the body. Except one."
"One?"
"Here."
Saying that, Estelle pointed between her cleavage.
"Ah! There's a mole under the breast too, but that's no big deal. Do you dislike big breasts because they make women look dull?"
"I like... no, that's not the issue...."
"Then what is?"
"Even setting Adella aside, uh, it feels a bit awkward to treat you that way...."
It was funny hearing myself say that, with two rings rattling in my pocket.
From the start, keeping both Liv and Adella meant I had no moral high ground anyway.
My aversion to polygamy, taboo on Earth, was mostly gone too.
The reason I hesitated was just as Estelle confessed: she couldn't feel romantic emotions.
It would just end up as mutual lusting after bodies.
"Hm, pretending to be considerate as a male isn't bad. No wonder this one fell for it hook, line, and sinker."
'She fell for a few pieces of bread, if we're splitting hairs.'
But the Empress of Extreme Ice dismissed my tangled feelings outright, as if they were none of her concern.
"Louis, I said I have no emotions, not that I have no eyes. Did you think I wouldn't notice your gaze roaming not my blade, but my body from the start?"
"......"
"Besides, I have high standards. The reason I haven't chosen a fiancé yet isn't just because I'm busy."
"So I meet those standards?"
"Much more than dim-witted mercenaries."
Her white, cold hand caressed my cheek, warmed by the charcoal.
Estelle's fingers, tickling my jaw, soon slid past my neck to the shoulder below, scarred more than hers.
"Good body. A warrior's."
"......"
"Even if it's seduction, it might not go all the way. If Adella awakens her unique magic circuit first, that's that, right? And... this is something I heard from mercenaries."
"What?"
"Honestly, doesn't everyone want it?"
Estelle moved her hand to her lips.
That smile, crafted with her razor-sharp eyes, scattered cold beauty like a thorny blue rose across the night sky.
"To crush the noble empress beneath you and make her wail?"
"......"
At least, it wasn't hard to infer that every guy who'd said that was now at the bottom of Cenrir Lake.
Today's lesson for Adella began atop the frozen lake as usual.
Seeing her little sister's uneasy glance at Louis by her side, Estelle inwardly nodded and raised her spear.
Unique Magic Circuit: Bingbaek Magic Realm (White??)
Frozen Labyrinth
Countless ice walls soared into the sky, forming a labyrinth.
Each one, with precisely adjusted angles and transparency, made it impossible to find an exit or even direction inside.
Occasionally, distorted reflections of Estelle and Louis appeared like mirrors in the ice.
From outside the maze that completely enclosed Adella at its center, Estelle gave her the next task.
"Get out of there. You won't find the way alone, so ask the ice. Which path is the only escape."
Her body temperature would drop steadily inside the massive ice.
This time, she'd made it unbreakable.
It was purely a trial to maintain composure and calm.
"Then shall we start too?"
Estelle casually approached Louis, waiting on the bench by the shore.
The plan was simple.
Show their lovey-dovey moments through the faintly visible ice in the labyrinth to draw out Adella's unique magic circuit.
Of course, she mustn't know it was all premeditated, so it was a secret from her.
The issue was the intensity—
"I'll lead everything, so you just sit still."
For two reasons, Estelle firmly pressed down on Louis's knee as he tried to stand.
First, she obviously had no intention of stripping naked in this barren field for intercourse.
It might end with just a light kiss, as she'd told him.
If Adella escaped the labyrinth quickly from that.
And second, it was her nature.
Ruling over all Roshiar knight orders, the Twelve Alliances, seven magic towers, the royal family, and the people of Penheim entire—Estelle received universal admiration.
That position naturally formed a dominator's gaze in male-female relations, looking down on the partner.
If Louis hadn't bested her, or shown hatred for demons, even this wouldn't have been allowed.
Estelle was a beast.
Regardless of emotions, meekly baring her nape like prey and writhing in pleasure was a billion light-years from her temperament.
"What first?"
"Hold hands first."
Estelle overlaid her hand on Louis's large one.
A bang! echoed from the labyrinth, but she ignored it.
It was a hand that no longer gripped swords, yet bore traces of hard-earned past experiences in spots.
They clasped hands gently for minutes, but Adella was still wandering the maze diligently.
"Not enough, huh."
"Then next?"
"I'll kiss you."
"Sigh... do as you like."
For some reason, even facing her directly, he showed little agitation.
Different from men's reactions toward women he'd heard on battlefields or from family servants.
Even after lightly bumping lips by lifting her chin, same.
Estelle's fine brow furrowed slightly, as was natural.
"What's lacking?"
"......Why aren't you even closing your eyes, just like...."
"What?"
"Nothing. More than that, at this rate, Adella won't get out of the maze."
Troublesome.
As she moved to unbutton her uniform's chest, Louis grabbed her wrist.
"Don't rush. I told you, emotions are key in this."
"I have no emotions."
"I know, but... just leave it to me."
Time had passed considerably.
No guarantee baring her chest would end things, so Estelle nodded as if to say, fine, try it.
"Do as you will."
"Got it, then...."
Louis's hand slowly rose, caressing her earlobe.
Expecting a kiss, but this time he tickled her nape.
His other hand naturally wrapped her waist, pulling her seated beside him even closer.
Her low body temperature left hot traces like embers wherever his touch lingered.
"Pretty eyes."
"My eyes?"
"Yeah. Reminds me of a necklace I found on the beach as a kid—the gem embedded in it sparkling underwater."
Ambiguous praise.
Didn't matter; it was just an empty echo anyway.
"More than that, kiss me already."
"Fine, so close your eyes."
"Why?"
"Lovers do that."
"Louis, unlike my sister, I'm not your lover... mmph?"
The kiss cut off her words.
As he'd said last, she quietly closed her eyes.
Thinking it no different from what she'd done, a wet tongue pried her lips apart.
Her body reflexively tried to pull back, but waist and neck were already held.
"Ha, chuup...."
Her hands, lost, naturally gathered at her chest.
Unable to clench or open, they trembled oddly.
As saliva exchanged and tongues entwined, Estelle realized her body changing bit by bit.
A slight rise in body temperature, a physiological response unrelated to emotions.
"Ngh, wait... hup...."
Attempting words only deepened the waist embrace, pressing chests together as the kiss continued.
Even then, her eyes stayed open against his words.
At some point, she allowed his tongue to ravage her mouth, savoring the soft insides.
Felt like her throat was being bitten in reverse.
Yet she couldn't resist.
Roughening breaths, body pinned to prevent escape.
And the faint blooming pleasure.
"Ah, there it is."
When Louis finally parted lips—
"You okay?"
"......Hic."
Estelle gaped, unable to close her mouth.