Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: A Week That Felt Like Two Days
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A week? More like two days.
Today, our lovemaking came to an end right on the brink of Rike passing out. That didn't mean I'd skimped on the climaxes, though.
We took our time, pacing ourselves to her rhythm, letting loose all the pent-up desire from the past week.
Even enjoying it leisurely from my side, Rike's body had its limits. If I'd moved at my own whim, she'd have lost consciousness long ago and been lying there on the bed with her eyes closed.
Rike pulled my still rock-hard member from her mouth one last time, but after dozens of orgasms, she slumped on the bed like a puddle of slime, utterly spent.
"My little puppy~ Time for a bath~"
Even with a headband on, Rike was a puppy pretending to be a cat. I couldn't say how she seemed to others, but to me, she looked every bit the dog past her appearance.
I scooped her up before she could drift off to dreamland against her will.
Shwaaa.
"Hng... mm... "
As warm water cascaded over us, I massaged her nodding head. She let out contented little hums, clearly enjoying it.
After showering and feeling all relaxed, we embraced and dozed off in the bedroom, only to wake up later.
Rike, who had stirred first, was nestled in my arms, staring intently at my face.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
She poked my cheek with her finger, so I just stayed still, waiting for her to speak.
"I have something I'm curious about."
"What is it?"
Her finger slid down from my cheek, trailing toward my abs, which rose and fell with each breath.
The ticklish touch nearly made me tense up.
"There are all these rumors about you, right? Like how you prefer virgins, love maid outfits, or plan to go polygamous."
At the Adventurer's Guild tavern, when guys get together, the talk's either about women or dead buddies—nothing else.
Try discussing constructive future plans, and you're treated like a lunatic.
Sharing tastes or preferences? That's just standard fare. Polygamy was something I couldn't have in my past life, so it held a certain allure—I'd always been upfront about wanting it.
"Y... yeah?"
Rike wasn't one to nitpick over something like this, so I had no clue where this conversation was headed.
"Seeking out virgins is probably unavoidable for you. And you like it even more if they wear maid outfits... What about polygamy?"
"Hmm... Are you asking if I want to?"
I couldn't read her intentions.
"Yeah. I just want to know what you really think."
There was no sign of her using any skills in her eyes, but I had no reason to lie to her anyway—and even if I did, it'd leave a bad taste in my mouth.
She'd given her okay on that rainy first day—what was there to hide? I just laid out my thoughts plainly.
"I do want to—"
Smack!
As I tried to add more, Rike clapped her soft hand over my mouth.
"Just say clearly if you want to or not. That's enough."
Her hand fell away. I didn't open my mouth right away.
"...If there's a woman worth taking responsibility for—one I wouldn't regret committing to, even Rike would agree without objection. That's when I'd want it."
"Responsibility... Hehe—Oppa, you're such a romantic. That's good enough."
I hadn't spilled everything, but Rike only wanted the bottom line.
Even if I desired polygamy, the issue lay in aspects I hadn't even imagined.
Nobles building harems? It was more like transactions to forge mutual benefits.
Investing time in real romance? That kind of patient courtship was rare, if it existed at all.
It felt more like appraising gains and losses, buying and selling women like commodities.
That wasn't my style. Nor did I plan to collect just any woman like trophies.
But leaving a perfectly fine Rike at home to chase after others, woo them one by one, and nurture affections? Unthinkable.
Even discarding conscience in the trash and pondering it.
The ideal? A woman I fancied walking right up to me... But with Rike always glued to my side, was that even possible?
'What, am I some light novel protagonist...?'
My past life's values were lodged in my brain like an egg, making it impossible to accept.
"Bottom line, yes, I want to. So, what about the knight?"
"The knight? ...Eclair? Out of nowhere?"
"Yep! It'd be fun. Just imagine it~ Imagine only."
Rike covered my eyes with both hands.
I'd just caught a glint of piercing gaze in her eyes... But I'm a guy who dives in when told to.
The mouth that said she wouldn't use skills on me was still my mouth—let her have at it.
'Imagining's no crime...'
My friend, Eclair Dreitna.
Akarite, the-impossible named NPC.
That one line meant nothing in the reality I lived.
Upright, untainted by evil.
She embodied my ideal knight, worthy of respect.
Beneath that, she was clumsy, tormented more than anyone, delighting or despairing at her little sister's every word and deed—adorably so.
If I could see the stoic Eclair unraveling flirtatiously? That charm's value would be incalculable.
But all that aside.
'...How the hell do I seduce her?'
Imagination stalled there. Even in my mind's eye, I couldn't picture her yielding to a man.
Our half-forced friendship felt like a miracle in itself.
"Mm~ Okay, that's enough!"
I opened my eyes to see Rike giggling.
They say girls in the flower of youth laugh at rolling leaves. If my girl was amused, that was all that mattered...
With sleep fading and hunger kicking in, I kneaded Rike's waist and asked,
"Wanna grab some bread in a bit?"
Eclair had never seen the emperor grinning so widely while reporting her duties.
Whatever it was, it clearly pleased him enough to cast aside his imperial dignity, laughing heartily without a care for decorum.
His face beamed with satisfaction by the time he tired of laughing.
It wasn't time to discuss rewards yet, so after formal praise, Eclair returned to the mansion.
"Sis! You're back?"
"Chloe..."
The bright voice of Chloe greeted her the moment she opened the mansion door. Her tangled thoughts loosened, letting in fresh air.
Nothing special had happened in her absence. They strolled the mansion, chatting idly.
"You were gone a whole week, and now you're heading to work again tomorrow...?"
Chloe spoke casually, then glanced around for servants.
Watching her sister mix formal speech with their old, relaxed familiarity, Eclair smiled comfortably.
"Can't be helped. The Empire's always short-handed."
"I see..."
She was undeniably basking in immeasurable joy from this long-dreamed-of situation. Her bond with her sister now was everything she'd wished for her whole life.
But how greedy humans were.
She'd thought there was no greater happiness, yet here she was craving even more.
—
The next morning.
Having pulled an all-nighter with eyes wide open, she tidied her disheveled hair and boarded the carriage.
Seated at her desk, Eclair's gaze didn't settle on the papers.
Her mind was too full; she had a feeling quitting time would come awfully late.
"Hmm..."
In her hand wasn't an ink-stained pen, but the soft metal Roman had gifted her.
A mere week? No, even less now that days had passed.
With the urgency of a major decision looming, time flew like an arrow.
Knock-knock.
She hid the metal and gripped her pen.
"Enter."
"Our captain~ Heard you had a tough one this time?"
A woman floated in, half-drift.
Her week in Limno had been announced externally as extended leave. But now that the incident was resolved, more insiders knew the details.
"...I didn't suffer. And no magic inside the building."
"Tch—such a buzzkill."
Clack.
She descended gracefully from midair.
"If you're here to chat, leave. I have piles of paperwork."
"Aww, say it like that and I sound like a slacker. I'm here on business~?"
"Business...? You're not lying?"
Eclair set her pen back in its holder.
This was the first time she'd visited the office for actual work.
"Straight up~ Empire-boosting business!"
She flashed a mischievous, mage-like grin.
"...?"
"That Ro... whatever, the Platinum adventurer was amazing, right? Even His Majesty praised him like never before."
"...He is impressive. But what does that have to do with anything?"
Roman's recognition felt good, yet a faint unease bubbled up, making Eclair glare.
"I have a half-sister from my family—cute kid."
"..."
"Pretty face, but zero magic talent~"
The words she knew were coming made her stomach churn.
"Heard about that adventurer's rumors, and it fits perfectly! I'd love to offer her as a concubine... Could you help?"
"Me...?"
"My sources say... you and that adventurer get along. Tell him she's a pure virgin, well-trained by a mage family—easy to handle~"
Just sound her out casually if the chance arises.
As always, she said her piece and vanished in a whirl.
"..."
Click.
After the whirlwind passed, Eclair picked up her pen again.
What if she passed on the offer and Roman accepted? The clueless young lady would go to him unknowing, living happily ever after in his embrace.
Even if handed over like a bargaining chip, he wouldn't treat her carelessly.
'As a friend, I'd have to con... congratulate...'
Crack!
Powdered remnants of the pen trickled from her hand.
Now that she'd acknowledged her feelings, there was no way. Just two days in? Wait until she could bear it and give up?
Get the lady's permission, drink with Roman at the tavern as friends like she'd hoped?
Watch him talk about another woman... hear that voice and those eyes filled with special emotion... Could she really brush it off now?
"...Ngh!!"
Things had been fine in Limno, no issue. But now, mere thoughts twisted her guts.
Her tightly bitten lip drew faint blood, the metallic taste spreading as she endured the stinging heartache.
Scraaape—
Eclair wiped the blood from her hand and pulled out a pen and stationery from the drawer.