Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - Innocent Princess and Venomous Knight (6)
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"What... do you want?"
"Pardon? What I want?"
A face that claimed no idea what she meant. But Etilene noticed the subtle upturn at one corner of his mouth. It was an expression he'd made hoping she'd catch it.
"You must want something from Lady Mercedes. Go ahead and say it. I may not measure up to her, but I'm still a duke's daughter—and the heir apparent. I'll do my utmost to give you whatever you desire."
"Hmm."
Valdes stroked his chin with his hand, pretending to mull it over. Accepting her offer right away might make her suspicious or wary. From the start, he had only one thing in mind, but getting caught wouldn't do him any favors.
"What if... I said I wanted Lady Etilene's body?"
Etilene's body twitched and trembled for an instant.
It was one of the possibilities she'd anticipated. The worst-case scenario, but even so, imagining it and hearing it outright felt entirely different. Still, she had to do it. This was the way to protect the Mercedes she so admired.
'...Her body...'
Her gaze naturally drifted to his bare upper torso.
It was an impressive physique. Muscles honed not just by training but through countless real battles, developed to perfection. Truly an ideal form. His upper body alone suggested his lower half would be equally formidable.
Honestly, it was astonishing. No way did it look like the body of someone in his mid-teens. If not for his face and build, she could believe he was in his thirties—the prime of a knight's physical peak. In terms of sheer completion, he might even be the best in the knight order.
And yet, with a body like that, his skills and stamina were only so-so.
'...Wait, could it be?'
Was he hiding his true strength? Throwing the tournament on purpose? Why? To get close to Lady Mercedes?
If that assumption held, it sent chills down her spine. But she shook her head. No way. The sweat he'd shed in the tournament was proof enough. No human—not even a monster—could control their perspiration that precisely. Not even a demonkin hybrid.
Besides, if he were truly that strong, it'd be better to prove it outright. Better than an ambiguous squire role in the knight order; he'd grow faster in a proper one.
'Ugh.'
Her thoughts had dragged on too long; she felt his stare boring into her.
"Fine... If you'll just leave Lady Mercedes alone. ...My body is yours."
"Perfect."
Valdes flashed a utterly vile smile, one designed to stoke her rage and loathing even more.
There was that saying, wasn't there? If someone already hates you, make them hate you even more.
That was the foundation of his plan. Amplify Etilene's negative feelings toward him—born of her admiration for Mercedes—and then use blackmail to break her in.
He'd toppled Mercedes with gentle, loving seduction. But Etilene, who idolized her, he'd shatter the opposite way. Not falling for him first and then flooding her body with pleasure—no, he'd crumble her body first, then bind her mind through ecstasy.
'This is real training.'
"So, how exactly do you plan to go about it? I won't forgive you if you just take my body and then crawl back to Lady Mercedes."
"Hmm... How about this? I happen to have a magic tool that can cast contract magic. We'll use that to make a bet."
"A bet?"
Etilene's eyes sparkled for a moment.
Bets were winner-takes-all by nature. Stake what each wants; lose, and you walk away empty-handed. Of course, she didn't expect it to go that far. But she wanted to minimize her losses and his gains as much as possible.
"Yes. A month... too long. Two weeks it is. Precisely from the moment we arrive in the capital. In that time, I'll make Lady Etilene submit. Sexually, of course."
"Make me submit? Ha!"
A hollow laugh escaped her.
"If the two weeks pass and I haven't submitted, you'll give up everything and leave Ulstro."
"...And if I do submit?"
"Isn't it obvious? Oh dear, asking that already—are you lacking confidence?"
Her fine brows furrowed.
It was a childish provocation. Just fishing for better terms, but she wouldn't bite. Anyone could see the bet favored her.
How much did he have to underestimate women to think he could make her submit in two weeks? Sexually submit to a man she didn't love—hated, even? In just two weeks? Absurd.
"Hmph. Fine. But let's set some detailed terms. No aphrodisiacs, for starters. No touching beyond sexual contact. And no adding other spells after the contract magic—though I doubt you'd try. ...Lips are off-limits too."
"Lips? You mean kissing? That's a bit... Ah, could it be you've never...?"
"...Urk! Wh-what if I haven't?!"
Etilene shrieked without thinking. Louder even than when he'd stripped off his shirt.
But what could she do? Raised swinging a sword, idolizing Mercedes. She'd gone to debutante balls in armor.
No matter how beautiful, few men approached her romantically, and those who did never measured up in her eyes.
She'd made such a bold declaration, but it didn't feel as refreshing as she'd hoped.
"Very well. Lips it is."
"...That's your proof of submission?"
Her lips pursed unwittingly, her voice icy.
"Exactly. If Lady Etilene asks me for a kiss, that's proof she's submitted to me. The moment our lips meet, she loses."
"Not bad. I'd never waste my first kiss on a man like you anyway."
"No drugs, only sexual contact, no extra magic—fine by me. Criteria might get fuzzy, but we can agree on the spot."
"And during the bet, with Lady Mercedes...?"
"Zero contact would look suspicious, so I'll gradually distance myself over the two weeks. Of course, if Lady Etilene loses the bet..."
"...I know."
But it didn't matter. She wouldn't lose.
If anything, ending it in just two weeks—not a lifetime—was good news. Mercedes might be a little sad after, but this was for the best, for everyone.
This was all for Lady Mercedes, Etilene firmly believed.
"We'll add clauses as needed. Now, shall we cast the contract magic?"
"...? You have the tool on you right now?"
"It's valuable."
A bit odd, but it made sense. Squires got paid, but not much. Probably saved from mercenary work; he wouldn't leave it lying around.
Valdes rummaged in his bath bag and pulled out a small crystal orb.
"Not a document format?"
"Too easy to scam the illiterate that way, and hard to verify if hidden."
Commoner wisdom, perhaps. She'd never seen the method, but it sounded plausible. Plenty of commoners couldn't read.
"You're more... clever than I thought."
She nearly praised him outright before catching herself. This phrasing could still pass as praise, but better than calling him smart directly.
"So, how does it work?"
"Direct imprint on the body. Impossible to forget that way. Note: location is random. It's not top-tier."
"Well, can't expect miracles from a commoner."
"Grab the orb."
"...Together?"
"Standard for two-party contracts."
"...Tch."
Even touching him grated, but no choice.
She cupped the opposite side gently with her palm. The orb was tiny; a few fingers brushed his. She flinched briefly but endured for the contract.
"...Get on with it."
"Understood. Contract type: bet. Terms: For two weeks after arriving in the capital, Valdes will sexually subdue Etilene Profilene. Proof of submission: a kiss between them. Valdes wins: Etilene Profilene becomes his slave. Etilene wins: Valdes forfeits all gains in the capital and leaves Ulstro Kingdom immediately. No aphrodisiacs, no non-sexual touching, no additional magic; extras by mutual agreement. Do you consent?"
"I... consent."
"I consent as well."
Wooong—
The orb hummed faintly, emitting light. Mana. The glow flowed into their hands grasping it.
"Ngh.... Hnng, ah...!"
As mana entered her body, Etilene let out a small moan.
A tingling buzz inside. She'd seen it done many times but never experienced it. She knew normal contract magic didn't feel like this, but chalked it up to the tool's poor quality.
Imprinting on the body naturally stung there. She tried to stay composed, hide her fluster.
But.
'...Th-there...!'
When the mana headed straight to her lower abdomen, composure shattered.
The stern knight's resolute face melted into a flustered maiden's blush.
And an inexplicable sensation too. She gritted her teeth, barely holding on. It finally faded after what felt like an eternity—but was mere minutes.
"...Haa, haa."
"Well done. Or rather, we haven't even started."
How was Valdes so calm? Where had it marked him? She shot him a glare out of spite, then turned away.
"I'm leaving now."
"Pardon? Where to?"
"Contract's done, and the bet starts after the capital..."
"We need to verify the contract magic worked properly."
"...Pardon?"
The light had faded; she'd thought her face held neutral. But it twisted again.
"The imprint. Gotta check it."
"......"
"How do we know it didn't fail if you lie about it?"
"Sigh. ...Fine. You first."
"Great."
With that, Valdes grabbed his waistband and yanked off his pants in one go.
"Kyaa! Wh-why are you stripping again?! Pants this time?!"
"Gotta, given the spot."
"...Ugh, I hate this..."
Etilene's face crumpled. Fair enough; they had to confirm. And she'd need to get used to his—men's—bodies for the bet. No guarantee her spot wouldn't be embarrassing either.
"Th-then show me quick..."
"One sec. Gotta take more off."
"...Huh?"
Before she could react, Valdes stripped naked entirely. Etilene couldn't bear to look, covering her face with both hands.
Her bright blue hair contrasted strikingly with her flushed-red face. If she were a painting, artists might rave about the ideal color contrast. But Etilene herself was mortified near madness.
'Aah, a man's... naked body!!'
"Not checking? I'm innocent, so no skin off my back... Though once we're in the capital, you'll see it plenty. If you're still like this after the bet starts, it'll count as breaking contract. Breaking means forfeit... Got it?"
"......! ...Y-yes."
Etilene lowered her crimson hands. Eyes still squeezed shut.
"Imprint's on the inner thigh."
"Inn-inner th-thigh?!"
"Yes. And tone it down. Trying to advertise to everyone?"
"Guh...!"
Somehow, even stating facts pissed her off this much.
"Hoo, hoo."
Deep breaths to calm. Not enough; she murmured self-hypnosis to settle. Still short; final resort.
'Lady Mercedes. Give me strength to overcome this trial.'
Repeating inwardly, her mind miraculously eased. Mercedes herself might laugh in disbelief, but for her admirer, it worked wonders.
"......"
She cracked open her right eye cautiously. A blurry apricot-toned naked form shimmered. Not clear yet. Lifting the lid more, Valdes came into view.
She swallowed hard, tension thick as saliva. Imprint check aside; for the bet, she needed to acclimate to his body.
"Hoo..."
His lower body matched the upper—perfectly trained, to her taste. From firm male thighs dangled a small... Wait, small? No.
Men grew when aroused, sure—but it wouldn't sway like that if soft. This was flaccid size. Yet a monstrous serpent hung between his legs.
"Something wrong?"
"N-no... Uh..."
"Ah, hard to see like this. Hold on."
Valdes lifted his member upward. Balls visible now, shaft in clearer detail.
"......"
Her mouth went bone-dry.
That thing—when bigger—went inside Lady Mercedes? Unbelievable. Boyish body, but manhood fully adult. No, bigger. Twice her father's from childhood bath peeks.
She revered Mercedes, but wasn't uninterested in men. As a 20-year-old virgin, curiosity overflowed.
"See it? Or closer?"
'Closer?'
Tempting. Very. She even pondered briefly.
Snapping to, Etilene shook her head furiously, throat sore.
"N-no! I s-saw! Saw it!!"
Truth: mesmerized by the monstrous flesh, hadn't checked. But his confidence suggested it was there. If not, verify in capital.
"Now, your turn, Lady Etilene?"
"M-my... that?"
"Yes. Your imprint."
"Ah, the imprint..."
For a split second, thought he meant expose her privates. Would have to eventually for the bet, but now? She'd hurl herself in a pond from shame.
"G-got it..."
Calling inwardly to Mercedes again, she calmed. Trembling hands shed her armor top, hiked her paired stockings to bare her lower belly.
There, vividly imprinted:
Valdes's Lewd Tattoo of Taming.