Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Snow Duke's Way of Thinking (8)
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A kiss with a woman devoid of emotions.
Surprisingly, it wasn't unpleasant.
Her body was cool enough to make one forget the intense midday sun, and her lips were soft.
Even after the kiss ended, unlike her utterly expressionless face—like a piece of ice—her breathing was slightly ragged.
"Are you okay?"
"What does that mean...?"
She had no emotions, but she did have sensations.
Contrary to her impassive attitude, Estelle's body had faithfully followed my lead.
I'd worried it might feel awkward or that she'd despise me, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
The only problem was—
"Teacher...?"
Adella, staring at us pressed together.
She had navigated out of the maze in an instant and approached us.
As I pondered what to do, Estelle promptly wiped her lips and stood up.
"You're slow, Adella."
"What were you doing with Teacher, sis?"
"You saw it all. Do you really need me to say it again?"
Crunch.
Adella's hair rippled as the grass at her feet withered and twisted.
Small ice picks began growing from her hands.
But the moment she showed hostility, Estelle's spear slammed into the ground.
"Fool."
Winter arrived in an instant.
The sunlight that had been beating down moments ago now lacked either heat or light.
The ice pick in Adella's hand and the small castle at her feet shattered entirely under the massive cold wave Estelle unleashed.
Adella's body was flung backward by the onslaught of blade-like winds.
As expected of the Snow Duke.
She was no match.
There was an insurmountable gap compared to Adella, who had only just begun grasping her unique magic.
"Pathetic! Do you think you can claim this winter as yours by casting magic with such petty emotions?"
"Urgh...!"
"You're still so far off. At least that man over there once cornered me, unlike you."
Estelle didn't mention that it wasn't just a defeat—she'd been thoroughly thrashed.
In any case, she firmly suppressed Adella, ensuring she couldn't even whimper, while instilling a sense of crisis that I might be stolen away.
Probably an act, though.
"Now I see he's quite a decent man. Far more fitting as my companion than a half-baked failure like you, rolling around on the ground."
"No, that's absolutely not true...!"
"It is now, but who knows. If you fail to properly master your unique magic, I'll stay here indefinitely."
She withdrew her spear and dispelled her magic.
Then, as she crushed the already dead grass underfoot, she delivered the finishing blow to the trembling Adella.
"Thank you, Adella."
Glancing subtly my way, like a wicked woman trying to steal her little sister's man.
"For summoning me here."
That night.
Adella visited the canteen.
Sobbing uncontrollably, shedding tears so pitiful even the iron dogs couldn't chase her away.
"Waaahhh!! Teaaacherrr!! Open the dooor!! Pleeeaseee—!!!"
Probably sent by Estelle.
I sighed and let the red-eyed girl inside.
"Hic! Teacher, he's miiine, sob, sis is, taking him, from meee!"
"There, there. Come here. Sit right here."
I placed a large freezer next to the counter for her.
Adella wiped her tears and pointed inside it.
"Here?"
"Yeah. Hop in and see if it fits."
"Okay... hic."
She curled up inside like a cat in a box.
Hmm, perfect fit.
Later, I could pour ice cream in there.
I stroked Adella's head and began mental care.
The goal was purely to stoke her jealousy—definitely not to make her cry.
"Is it because Estelle's showing interest in me?"
"Yeah... Sis has always gotten everything she wants. And I don't have a single thing better than her... At this rate, Teacher will go to sis...!"
"That's not true. You have your own strengths."
"Really?"
"Of course. For example..."
What was it again?
Magic? No contest.
Family prestige or combat experience? Estelle crushed her.
She's not even losing in looks.
And her chest is...
"Hic, sob...!"
Damn, nothing to say.
I frantically rummaged through my pockets.
And pulled out one of the rings I'd bought in Lushopard, offering it to her.
"Here, take it. A gift."
"Teacher? This is..."
Adella stared at the ring in her hand in disbelief.
Tears like sparkling ice crystals fell from her eyes as she gazed at me and the ring.
"Teaaacherrr—!!"
"Ow, hey! Don't cling! You're getting snot on me!"
"I love you! I love you toooo—!"
"Your snot's freezing! Back off a bit!"
After rubbing every secretion from her face onto me like pheromones, she grew serious.
"I'll master my unique magic quickly and save you from sis's clutches."
"Yeah, I'm counting on you."
"I can't understand what sis sees in you. Really, I don't get it..."
Of course not—it's all scripted.
I don't think emotionless Estelle is seriously trying to steal me from her either.
Like that daytime kiss, she was seizing the initiative to avenge her previous loss, maybe.
She had no experience and seemed dazed by the pleasure.
Her eyelids trembled, and she couldn't keep her mouth shut—it was pretty cute.
"And someday, when I surpass sis, then..."
But with Adella pulling out an ice pick, brimming with resolve, I just nodded.
Late at night, confirming her sister had sneaked out of the villa, Estelle quietly rose from bed.
Lighting the gas lamp and standing before the mirror, her dizzying figure was revealed beneath the light negligee.
A doll-like beauty sculpted by her deadpan expression.
Slender ankles leading to graceful curves, a narrow waist atop wide hips, and full breasts that sometimes got in the way when swinging her spear.
Estelle opened her mouth before the mirror.
She extended a pale hand slightly and rubbed her real tongue.
Her other hand reached back to press her flexibly curved spine.
Smack.
Her fingers quickly grew sticky.
Pooled saliva trickled from her lips; tilting her head up sent it down her throat.
She stroked the red, moist insides of her cheeks, gently scraped her white teeth, or pulled her tongue hard, letting it slip out like a fish on a hook.
"Something's different."
She was recreating what Louis had done to her during their daytime kiss, but her body felt nothing.
Lacking emotions, she felt no longing for a strange man's touch, no self-loathing for mimicking his actions.
She was merely experimenting.
As a mage curious about the unknown pleasure she'd never known.
"Hmm, no reaction after all."
Wiping her mouth and hands with a handkerchief, Estelle tilted her head.
She mechanically cleaned the drool from her cleavage.
That guy was skilled, indeed.
Adella's growth was smooth, but Estelle had lost.
She'd ultimately let Louis seize control and kiss her.
She needed a way.
With at least two women under his belt—including her sister—Estelle, ignorant of man-woman acts, couldn't win against him yet.
"Hmm..."
Estelle grasped the hem of what she wore—the white nightgown (? ?) prepared at the villa—and lifted it slightly.
Silk fabric, practically naked, an erotic outfit.
It contrasted wildly with her aloof, dignified demeanor, exuding insane allure.
She knew the lustful gazes of mercenaries and soldiers captivated by her femininity, and what their base desires craved.
The Grand Duke simply had no reason to be their eye candy.
Femininity might boost morale slightly, but it would undermine her ruler's dignity.
But to see even the prideful, always nonchalant Louis flustered.
To crush his arrogance and avoid today's humiliation.
"Tomorrow, something lighter should be fine."
This wasn't a battlefield, and few eyes were here.
She folded her formal family attire and busily rummaged through the wardrobe.
"Why isn't she coming?"
I let out a long sigh under the blazing sun, waiting for Estelle.
Adella was playing by the lake, floating ice duck sculptures.
Balancing them so they didn't sink was hard, she said.
Anyway, unique magic practice—huge progress.
"Hey, did your master drink last night?"
"Quiet. The family head will come when it's time."
I picked a fight with the stake-like Siegfried beside me, but got only a cold reply.
Northerners aren't human.
I hadn't noticed with Estelle's chill nearby, but waiting in this heat was torture.
Sweat pouring—I needed to splash my face at the water's edge.
As I squatted to wash, Siegfried's gasp came from behind.
"F-Family head!!!?"
"What?"
"S-Sis...?"
"?"
Adella and her ducks then tumbled into the lake.
As I rubbed my eyes and shook off water, someone approached.
"Sorry I'm late. Let's start."
"Yeah. From next time, finish quick before it heats up... Huh?"
Raising my head in the cool shade, Estelle stood before me.
Arms crossed impassively as usual.
"That dumbstruck look suits you. The wind's strong—get up."
"Ah, uh..."
"Or do you plan to peek at my underwear from down there?"
Wearing a thin dress exposing shoulders, armpits, cleavage, and thighs—instead of Roshiar's white-furred uniform.