Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - The Innocent Princess and the Vicious Knight (7)
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Etilene had been deceived.
"A bit sorry about that."
There was no crystal ball capable of performing contract magic. It had all been his lie. The crystal was merely for communication, and no contract magic had taken place. Instead, what had been inscribed on her body was Lewd Tattoo Magic.
To achieve this, he had used a touch of Charm Magic along with mental magic on her. So even if Etilene harbored some suspicions, she readily accepted his proposal. It was magic that merely nudged her mind a little, leaving no traces behind.
Thanks to that, though it was only stage 1, he had successfully inscribed the lewd tattoo without issue.
That didn't mean he had any intention of skipping the bet or ignoring the rules. If he lost, he planned to accept the results and leave Ulstro.
He simply shared Etilene's confidence that he would absolutely not lose.
Wearing a smile brimming with that assurance, Valdes gazed at the female knight exposing her lower abdomen in shame.
"Have you... confirmed it?"
Etilene's body trembled with humiliation.
"Yes, it's done."
With a huff of disdain, she lowered her clothes, covering her pale skin once more. But unlike her body, shame still burned plainly on Etilene's face.
"Will you be leaving now?"
"Of course."
"You don't seem to have washed up yet either, Lady Etilene... How about joining me?"
At his words, Etilene's eyes widened as she glared at him. Words as sharp as her rapier flew from her lips.
"The bet hasn't even started yet."
"Who said otherwise? You'll be showing everything soon enough anyway. I'm just being considerate toward you, Lady Etilene."
"Considerate?"
She was dumbfounded.
How was suggesting they bathe together in any way considerate? If anything, it made her worry he might try something shady. Even if her skills outmatched his, they were both unarmed now. Naturally, the muscular man held the advantage.
"You're not used to men's bodies, are you? I'm giving you a chance to look your fill. I won't lay a finger on you."
"......"
But his follow-up words tempted her once again.
'He's right. Completely right, but...'
As she hesitated, Valdes slipped into the pond alone. His attitude suggested it was a genuine offer of generosity, indifferent to her choice.
It irked her in a strange way, leaving a nagging unease as she bit her lip lightly. She needed to decide soon.
'I don't need to get too comfortable with it, but I should at least get used to it.'
No matter what, she had to be able to stare straight at a naked body and groin without flinching.
If she got nervous and let him take control, something regrettable might happen. Letting her guard down because she lacked confidence was third-rate. Losing meant an irreversible future—she had to prevent that at all costs.
This bet carried the fates of two women, after all.
"...Fine. I-I'll join you."
"......"
Despite her careful deliberation, Valdes didn't even respond. Whether her voice was too quiet to hear or he simply didn't care, it soured her mood either way.
'Even for the daughter of Duke Profilene, treated like this?! He really rubs me the wrong way!'
The boy had his back turned.
She shot a quick glare at his muscular back before slowly removing her greaves and undergarments, neatly stacking them aside. A typical noblewoman might not manage even this, but Etilene preferred tidiness by nature and believed knights should handle at least as much.
Unhappy as she was, she tidied his clothes too for good measure. His garments carried a faint scent of sweat and body odor—mingled with Mercedes's, an indecent mix of man and woman.
Her heart raced a little, but she chalked it up to nerves.
Now fully nude, Etilene had neatly folded everything. Still wavering until the end, she muttered quietly as she dipped her foot into the pond.
"...I'm, ...coming in."
The pond water was colder than the chill night air.
"Hngh..."
The fresh, twenty-year-old knight's bare body sank gradually into the water. A soft moan escaped at the icy temperature; she hurriedly covered her mouth, but Valdes still didn't glance her way.
It bruised her pride a bit, but she couldn't very well demand he look at her.
As she quietly washed, she stole glances at his body.
'His body's really impressive...'
The same thought every time she looked. Handsome face, perfect physique—no wonder other male knights and squires envied him. If he matured into manhood like this, he'd seduce women with his body alone, face be damned.
Mid-thought, Etilene realized something crucial.
'Wait... Aren't I already used to men's muscles?'
Of course. As a knight, she'd trained endlessly and carried out countless missions. She'd inevitably brushed against men. Just as Valdes had said when removing his shirt, she was used to ordinary bodies.
What she needed to get accustomed to wasn't his back, but his front— not his upper body, but his lower. Precisely, his manhood.
"V-Val... Hey."
"Hm? What's up?"
"...When someone talks to you, at least turn around."
"But you'd hate it if I looked."
"Sigh, it's fine. You'll see it all in a few days anyway."
"Well, alright then."
Valdes turned around.
"!!"
Etilene froze at the sight.
"Sorry about that. Given the situation..."
His apology fell on deaf ears. All her attention focused on one spot.
'It's... that big...?'
The pond wasn't deep, but its deepest part reached his waist. His manhood, below the waist, should have been submerged. Yet his navel was the part hidden by water.
"...Lady Etilene? ...Etilene? Lady Etilene?"
"Uh—ah! Y-Yes!"
"You alright?"
"N-No, I mean—!"
Her flustered state was enough to make Valdes grin.
To shatter her composure over just a dick. He wondered what reactions she'd have when he truly toyed with her body.
The lewd tattoo hadn't even fully activated yet. At best, it amplified her slight fondness for him a touch. How useful could a mere stage 1 tattoo be?
"Aren't you overreacting a bit?"
"Eek—b-but...!"
She couldn't bring herself to say it was too big.
Commenting on its size would sound like praise, which she refused to give—especially with that smug smile. He was definitely teasing her. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Once she lost the upper hand, she might never regain it.
"Mercedes sis had a similar reaction."
"...Mercedes did...?"
But she couldn't ignore that.
Etilene regretted responding the moment she did, furrowing her brow.
"Sis panicked at first too. But after washing me a few times, she got used to it quick."
"W-Washing you...?!"
'The noble princess, washing a commoner's body?!'
Valdes took a step closer toward her.
"Nothing beats physical contact for getting used to the opposite sex. Want to try?"
No way. Washing that half-demon commoner?
"......"
But knowing Mercedes had done it kept swaying her.
'Right, this is just to get used to... uh, penises. Not because I'm curious about his body, or want to wash him, or because Mercedes did it too.'
"A-Al... Alright. I'll... wash you."
The man's body—with its dick, no, the dick-attached man's body—approached steadily. He stopped exactly three steps away.
Thump, thump.
"You won't like my touch, so I'll stay still."
"...Good."
At least that was a relief.
"Hoo."
She took a deep breath and accepted the washcloth he offered. Then she began wiping his body.
The wet cloth slid across his skin with a soft swish.
Her movements were clumsy and half-hearted. Far from thorough—repeating spots, skipping patches from back to arms. Less inexperience, more indifference.
The reason? Even as she washed him, her eyes stayed glued to one place.
'Is she... actually a total perv?'
Her virgin-on-the-verge-of-first-time reaction had vanished. Now she stared at his dick like a boy seeing tits for the first time.
So fixated she hadn't noticed him watching her face. And every twitch made her jolt, cheeks flushing—hilarious. What face would she make if he slapped it against her cheek?
'I was gonna let it slide like this, but this reaction changes things.'
"Lady Etilene."
"......"
"Lady Etilene."
"...Huh? Y-Yes! What is it?!"
"You really take after Mercedes sis."
"Eh? M-Me...?"
Etilene's face lit up. Just "you resemble Mercedes" brought such a radiant smile.
From someone she disliked, even praise would annoy her—like getting looks compliments from an ugly person. Yet this reaction showed how much she adored Mercedes.
"Yes... Especially your perverted side."
"...Pardon?"
Valdes pressed against Etilene. Not with his hands.
Like bumping into someone on the street, he closed in purely with his body.
A soft, springy sensation pressed against his upper chest. Was it her admiration for Mercedes? Oddly, even Etilene's breasts felt similar. Slightly larger, though—with her shorter height, her chest was fuller.
"...Hngh! Ahh..."
Etilene lost her senses to the hot, hard pressure on her breasts and stomach.
"Mercedes sis did the same. Sneaking peeks at first, then staring holes through it. Well, by then..."
'We'd already done it a few times.'
He thrust his dick forward, pressing it firmly against her belly. The tip rubbed gently over her skin. Etilene's abdomen was soft outside but rippled with abs beneath.
"B-Bel-Belly..."
Her mind in chaos, no words came. Yet her focus sharpened on the sensation at her abdomen over her breasts.
Her belly burned like fire. Could any part of a human body generate such heat?
Regaining a sliver of composure, bubbly thoughts frothed up. How could anyone take something this size, this hot, inside without harm?
"Haaah..."
Heat spread through her, breath fogging white in the night air, head and chest dizzy.
And...
'...My belly's throbbing...'
Not quite her belly. Lower. Kidneys? Bladder? No. Definitely her womb.
The woman's secret organ, her womb, pulsed and quivered.
The female, the bitch inside her, awakening.
Not her brain, but her womb screaming to accept that massive thing.
"Ah, ah, aah..."
"You've barely spoken properly since earlier."
Squish—
"...Hngggh!"
Shocked by her own moan, she shoved him away. Instinct screamed danger—stay like this, and peril awaited.
"...Eek!"
She tossed the cloth aside and fled the pond. Or tried to.
"Ah..."
She'd come to bathe, not prepared with clothes or a towel.
After brief hesitation, she glanced at Valdes, threw on her clothes haphazardly, and hurried away from the pond. Wet fabric clinging inside her armor felt gross, but escaping took priority.
Valdes returned to camp as if nothing happened.
Etilene, feigning sleep in her bedroll, peeked at him, but the boy ignored her completely. The events felt dreamlike, yet her damp clothes and lingering abdominal sensation proved otherwise.
Thus passed their long, long first day.
Afterward, Valdes never approached Etilene first. No contact, no initiating talk.
It left her mood oddly unsettled.
She still recalled that belly sensation now and then, yet he treated her normally after seeing her naked—it infuriated her.
Even more galling was catching him secretly with Mercedes.
But her anger stayed in her thoughts. Days passed, and their group finally reached the capital.
The bet between the two began.