Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Sisters, Not Rivals
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The two women were not rivals.
Even without a basis for comparison, she could tell this wasn't normal.
This man's passion burned like molten lava, while his stamina surpassed cold steel. No matter how much she did it, satisfaction never came, and it never ended.
Her first experience unfolded in a world utterly different from the rigid theoretical knowledge in those stiff textbooks.
An act solely for satisfying his own desires and pleasure, without even the goal of producing an heir for the Dreitna countess family.
'This happiness isn't a dream, is it...'
What if it vanished like a mirage by tomorrow? That fear made her cling to him even more, craving his affection.
She touched her beloved man freely, let him touch her without limit, hugged him endlessly, and called Roman's name.
It wasn't an empty echo without response. When she called his name, a warm reply and gentle touch always came back.
Each time he poured his hot seed surging into her body, the worries and anxieties she'd suffered until now melted away.
Now, only pure, transparent happiness remained, like flawless ice without impurities.
Watching his face twitch subtly at the corners of his eyes when he climaxed inside her—it was so manly and utterly lovable.
With no schedule tomorrow, Eclair simply focused on savoring and memorizing the sensations washing over her right now.
Counting the number of times they coupled was pointless. She didn't have enough fingers to tally them.
She moaned until her throat went hoarse and moved her body so intensely that she even felt a hunger she rarely noticed otherwise.
After receiving his release once more and nestling in his arms, a sense of mental peace made her eyelids grow heavy.
'Just a moment... close my eyes... and in the morning, we'll have breakfast together...'
—
When she opened her eyes, the darkness had fled, replaced by bright sunlight stinging her vision.
She groped toward the spot beside her, felt Roman, and rolled into his arms.
"Mmm..."
So last night's acts weren't a dream after all. She was happy.
It had been years since she'd felt this deeply refreshed from sleep.
As she inhaled Roman's scent and gradually came to her senses, a cold sweat broke out from sensing one presence outside.
Even as he stroked her hair with his large hand, the tension didn't fade.
"Roman..."
"She's been here about thirty minutes. Said she's preparing breakfast?"
Did she have a guilty conscience...? No, permission had been given. Still, from Eclair's position, she couldn't help but tense up about the conversation and atmosphere ahead.
"Mind if I borrow some clothes...?"
Swish—
Instead of her crumpled shirt discarded in the heat of passion, she slipped on one of Roman's plain t-shirts and cleared her throat.
"Ahem."
Feeling a ticklish tension at the nape of her neck, she gripped the doorknob and slowly opened the bedroom door.
Creeeak—
"Ah! Sis, you're up!"
Her black bob hair swaying as she bustled about, filling the dining table.
Called "sis" instead of "knight" as usual, with that bright smile—it left Eclair speechless.
"Lady..."
"Just call me Rike from now on, nice and casual. Bro~ Breakfast's ready!"
How could she act like this? Roman nudged the dazed Eclair, snapping her out of it.
"Eclair. Let's talk after we eat."
"Mm... alright."
To be honest, if asked what she ate, she'd have no memory—she moved her arms mechanically.
—
"Bro. Mind giving us the room for a bit? Sis and I have a lot to talk about."
"Sure. I'll be in the yard. You remember what I said?"
Roman touched her stiff cheek reassuringly, but even that felt awkward knowing Rike was watching.
Creeak—
She wasn't bold by nature, so this felt uncomfortable. She wished Roman wouldn't leave her alone as he headed to the yard.
But she steeled herself, knowing this was a necessary step for the future.
"Have a seat. Coffee or black tea? We have milk too."
"Uh... black tea, please."
The atmosphere didn't shift dramatically with Roman's departure—no sudden scowl or forced seriousness.
Clink—
A delicate patterned teacup arrived before Eclair, steaming with warm black tea.
Unlike her, Rike poured milk into her own cup.
"Thanks..."
"Sis. Was last night okay?"
"..."
Rike chuckled softly, as if she'd expected Eclair to blush without a word.
"When I got here, I cracked open the bedroom door, and it was filled with that intense heat and Bro's scent."
"Hmph, ahem."
"But honestly, I was relieved."
Eclair eyed Rike tapping her cup with her fingers, puzzled.
"...Relieved?"
"I know it sounds two-faced coming from the one who suggested it... but I worried what I'd do if you really handled all of Bro's lust."
She'd come home to find Roman asleep, sporting a massive erection that seemed ready to burst through the covers.
Eclair couldn't help laughing in disbelief at Rike's earnest words, finally understanding the feeling.
"Even as a first-timer, I can say with certainty—no woman on the continent could handle Roman's lust alone."
"Hehe—yeah, right? Don't you ever want to see it, Sis? Bro collapsing, saying he can't go anymore?"
Stroking her chin as she pictured it, Eclair nodded with an unwitting smile, finding the idea quite appealing.
"Roman has a mischievous side, so he could use a taste of his own medicine."
Rike eased the mood by chatting lightly about Roman, then got to the point once their cups were empty.
"First off... what you need to understand, Sis, is that our situation is nothing like the polygamy back in the Empire."
They weren't married yet, but Rike spoke assuming it already. Eclair had made up her mind too, so she accepted naturally.
"With the outcome set... I'd like to hear more details, especially the parts I missed."
"Of course."
With Rike's permission, Eclair fiddled with the ends of her tousled hair and asked softly.
"Before we start. Sorry to ask after thrusting all day like that... but how's Cloé?"
"She'll be with Seria until this evening. I slipped away saying I had business."
"Phew— I owe Lady Electra my thanks too..."
Smiling brightly, Rike naturally refilled Eclair's cup and her own.
"I should start with how I met Bro. It'll be full of my personal story, so it might not interest you."
"...Far from skipping it. I'm all ears."
A deep breath before starting. Emotions flickered rapidly in her purple eyes.
Caressing the end of the cross-shaped scar on her face, she seemed to gather her thoughts and spoke.
"I should explain this scar first. To keep it brief, back when I was a child—"
She recounted her hellish days in a light tone, as if talking about someone else.
Stories Eclair had wondered about but never dared ask, and past events so unbelievable they'd seem delusions if told elsewhere.
Her eyes tightened in disgust at the acts supposedly committed by the Empire's Third Knight, Yurgena di Venta, right before the young lady.
And the head of the Skadi marquis family, Enoch Skadi, was no different.
She knew not to judge on one side's word alone. Verifying the facts came first... but she had ears and eyes in the imperial court too.
"...I'm truly sorry for making you dredge up such painful memories."
"I brought it up myself. It's all just stepping stones now anyway. I'm fine."
Eclair hesitated watching her smile through it somehow, knowing no one could be truly fine after that. After much internal conflict, she reached out.
"...!"
Rike had grabbed Eclair's hand first countless times, but Eclair had never initiated.
Hesitating, Eclair gently covered Rike's hand on the table. Rike stared at her in rare surprise.
"Ri... Rike. Can you tell me why you're sharing such deep stories with me? I'm hopeless at relationships—if you don't warn me upfront, I might mess up..."
Rike was purely moved by Eclair mustering her courage to say her name.
"...As expected, you're a good person, Sis. You shine with a light like Bro's, but different."
"Not at all... I'm just a greedy, simple human too."
Eclair shook her head firmly in denial.
"Hehe— I haven't gotten to how we met yet. The reason I'm sharing openly like this... is to get closer."
"...Get closer?"
"Our relationships with Bro are top priority for both of us. But I think we should get along well too."
Typically, noble wives and concubines stayed in separate rooms, exchanging mere greetings if they met.
Endless squabbles over family shares, competing over bearing sons or daughters—that was common.
"That's certainly... unique."
"Bro wants it too. This isn't some political marriage—you can tell from the process. If we fought, he'd get super mad or sad, right?"
"You're right..."
Neither sought each other's families or Roman's wealth. They were simply here to be loved by one man.
"So I want you to know about me, Sis. There'll come a time when I upset you—we'll be together a lot, so it's inevitable... If you can think, 'Oh, that's her trauma reacting,' even a little... wouldn't it make mending hurt feelings easier?"
Her words carried such emotion, they resonated like profound lines from a book.
"I always think it, but your thoughts run so deep... A knight like me has a thick skull—I never considered that far. 'We should get along'... I'll remember that. I never want to do anything Roman would hate either."
Rike grinned mischievously at Eclair glancing at the door like someone might overhear, grabbing her hand tight to prevent escape.
"Someday we'll have to share Bro's nights too—better if we're on good terms, right?"
"...T-Together?"