Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - The Falling Women (24)
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The time when half the sun had set and the moon began to peek out.
Crimson sunset light spilled over the windows, illuminating the corridor.
The two were quietly basking in the sunlight as they walked. It was still a long way from nightfall, but the sun set in an instant all the same. It was the perfect time for dinner.
"......"
"...Haa, you're not even a little nervous, are you."
Serennia, who had been stealing glances at Valdes nonstop, finally let out a sigh and spoke first.
"What's there to be nervous about."
"Well..."
Her lips pressed shut.
Who should she call him?
Her patron's husband? Her master's husband? Or... her affair partner's husband?
None of those were easy to say aloud. Honestly, the first two weren't much cause for tension. Even as a commoner, Valdes's affiliation with the Pedro Knight Order and his status as the princess's lover were backgrounds that even nobles couldn't look down on. Even if their relationship with the squire was a secret one.
But the last one... she couldn't bring herself to voice it. Her heart wasn't bold enough for that yet, nor had she made up her mind.
"Worried? About what I might do?"
"Not that, but..."
"Then..."
Valdes spread his legs wide and stepped right up to her, grabbing the plump, juicy ass she'd changed into a dress for. The sensation of her bountiful rear, too much for one hand, transmitted through the fabric. As expected, Serennia was more ass than tits.
"!!"
"...Excited?"
"......"
Serennia flinched at her disciple's sudden skinship. Valdes didn't stop at just grabbing; he kneaded his master's ass, wriggling his five fingers.
Despite the blatant sexual harassment, she said nothing. She glanced around furtively. Not looking for help. Confirming the corridor was empty except for them, Serennia nodded slowly.
Her mouth didn't open until a little after the nod.
"Y-yeah... What if I said I was."
"You've grown, haven't you? Master."
"What?"
"Giving answers like that."
"......"
She was speechless. She pondered how to handle this cheeky disciple. But there was no way she could outtalk him.
"Hmph. Let go."
"Oh dear. Upset, are we?"
"You little..."
"Hahaha, just kidding."
Valdes laughed it off and released her ass. Then he gave her butt cheek a light pat that didn't even make a faint smack. Serennia shot him a glare before turning and leading the way to the dining hall again.
No trace would be left from his slap, but Serennia felt embarrassed without knowing why.
'...Disappointed? I must be crazy.'
On the other hand, she was a little amazed.
They'd only shared bodies once, but hers was reacting sensitively to him. It craved her disciple's touch, his cock. It desperately yearned to recreate that night.
Her body did. And her heart too.
Serennia wondered.
'Why did I even invite him?'
The dinner Valdes mentioned clearly included what came after. It was a roundabout way of proposing an affair. And she wasn't the type to miss that.
That much was fine. Her heart was swayed too, after all. She'd just been too embarrassed to answer, but her mind was made up.
The problem was that her husband was home today.
He spent most of his time gallivanting outside, but he did rest thoroughly at the mansion about once a week. And today was that day. One might wonder if he couldn't just head out again, but on rest days, he always pre-ordered fancy dishes from the head chef in the morning.
In other words, Viscount Hermeng was definitely planning to have dinner and sleep at the mansion tonight.
'...No. Don't go soft.'
Serennia steeled her resolve as thoughts of her husband surfaced.
This was revenge.
Revenge against the man who'd caused her heartache—not just you get to fool around with others. And it carried a sliver of expectation. What if he came to his senses? A small hope that wasn't entirely impossible.
Because she still loved her husband. If her feelings for him were gone, she wouldn't even worry about the affair. Separate from her feelings for her disciple, love for her husband lingered in a corner of her heart.
That was why such thoughts arose.
If he got on his knees, apologized, and begged forgiveness, she'd surely accept him. Not right away, but after agonizing deliberation.
Then... what would happen to her relationship with her disciple?
"......"
It was a future that hadn't happened, might never happen—but it was an important dilemma for her.
"Master."
"......"
"Master?"
"...Ah, um. Sorry."
"We've arrived at the dining hall."
"Yeah, let's go in."
Serennia snapped out of her reverie and entered with Valdes. Their eyes fell on one man.
Viscount Hermeng.
Serennia's husband and head of the Hermeng family. Granted, he was a noble without territory, but his bloodline had steadily produced skilled knights in Ulstro for ages—a family with real sword talent.
'They first met on the battlefield, right?'
According to Valdes's investigations, Serennia had saved Viscount Hermeng when he was in peril. Smitten with his lifesaver, the viscount had pursued her hotly after the war ended. Serennia hadn't been entirely uninterested, so they'd continued seeing each other.
He gave Viscount Hermeng's body a quick once-over.
Unlike Serennia, it had been ages since he'd held a sword: protruding belly, hands softened without calluses—a classic middle-aged dad bod. His face looked solidly in his forties. He'd said he was older than Serennia, so it fit his age, but next to his wife, he just seemed even more aged.
"......"
Even after they entered the dining hall, Viscount Hermeng didn't spare them a glance, just kept eating alone.
Serennia showed no reaction to her husband's snub, calmly walking inside to sit opposite him. Valdes, led by her hand, sat right beside her.
'Not taking the head seat—classic Serennia.'
Last meal, she'd sat at the head. Natural as the mansion's owner.
But she yielded it out of consideration for her husband. He knew that, yet didn't even look her way.
"Let's eat, disciple."
"Yes."
Valdes turned his gaze to the table.
'What the hell are these dishes...'
His eyes narrowed involuntarily.
For some reason, most were stamina and virility boosters. The whole spread was geared toward men. Sure, they'd have some effect on women too, but the first impression was "food for guys."
'Knew it, but this is hilarious.'
All these were what Viscount Hermeng had requested from the head chef.
Valdes was dumbfounded. He couldn't fathom what gall let the viscount pull this. From their reactions, this had gone on for years, and Serennia putting up with it was impressive too.
Strip away love, and it was baffling how they'd even married—the gap was that huge.
He might've been handsome in youth, but Serennia was a beauty beyond that. Plus, long training and master realm kept her in peak form. Title, wealth, sword skill—nothing where Viscount Hermeng came out ahead.
In their passionate days, maybe. But now, he'd have to watch his wife's eyes—yet the viscount seemed unfazed.
"Valdes. Eat this too."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Throughout the meal, Serennia served him food and chatted affectionately.
Blatant actions and tone. Clearly to provoke her husband, but he showed no reaction. It only made her more frustrated and hurt.
Valdes, though, noticed something different.
'Well, well?'
With senses sharper than Serennia's, he picked up subtle tells from Viscount Hermeng.
Pretending indifference, but the man was definitely attuned to his wife.
Glimpsing her eating, hurriedly scarfing the food she'd served Valdes to make it disappear, deliberately taking the same dishes to enter her view. Individually meaningless, but together, they painted a picture.
'Not as wary of me as expected. Not about me, then...'
He wants to reconcile.
That's how Valdes read it. But even with that intent, it wouldn't be easy. From what Mercedes said, he'd distanced first after the succession issue. And he'd cheated.
He wanted to, but his fault was too grave—he clearly couldn't extend a hand easily.
'So how should I play this...'
Naturally, he had zero intention of helping them reconcile. Which left one option.
"Serennia, you have sauce on your mouth."
"...?!"
"Eh, wha?"
Provocation.
With a straight face like iron plating, Valdes extended a napkin to wipe her mouth. Naturally, there'd been no sauce from the start. What would smear on the napkin was the bit he'd secretly dabbed on his fingertip—and Viscount Hermeng saw it all.
Her flustered reaction to the unusual form of address was bonus.
"Um, th-tha-thank you..."
Serennia blushed, showing a girlish expression. Not one you'd make for a disciple wiping your mouth.
He wouldn't suspect much from that alone, but Viscount Hermeng couldn't stop his knife-gripping hand from tensing.
Screeech.
"...Sorry."
"Huh? Ah, um... Y-yeah."
His words weren't true remorse—they were to divert his wife's attention. Being his first utterance since the meal started as an apology, Serennia replied awkwardly.
"Um, that Se..."
Pressing the momentum, Viscount Hermeng tried to continue, but there was an interrupter.
"Greetings are late. Hello. I'm Valdes of the Pedro Knight Order, disciple and ward of Master Serennia."
"...Yes, nice to meet you."
At Valdes's out-of-nowhere greeting, he replied with clear discomfort.
"Thank you for the invitation today. I didn't expect to find Viscount Hermeng here. We've never met until now—I'm glad."
"...I... see..."
This was only his second invitation, but Valdes's words made it sound like he'd visited the mansion multiple times. Exactly as intended. Serennia was the one left awkward.
"Valdes?"
"Yes, Serennia?"
"No, uh... Haa, nothing."
"......"
Viscount Hermeng felt his mood souring more and more.
He didn't like that half-demon bastard's antics or his wife's reactions. He'd already been annoyed she'd invited her disciple today of all days, and they sure didn't look like a normal master-disciple pair.
They served each other food, chatted sweetly. Like lovers not yet official but getting to know each other—right on the cusp of dating.
It recalled their own couple from long ago. A thoroughly foul sight.
"...I'm done."
"Already getting up?"
"Yes, stomach's not feeling great."
"Oh my. Rest well then, Viscount Hermeng."
"......"
"......"
He'd started first too, and with real indigestion now, Viscount Hermeng rose and left the dining hall. Unlike the ornate, brightly lit room, the corridor was pitch dark, not even moonlight entering.
'Couldn't properly talk with Serennia after all.'
Unhappy expression on his way back to his room, he suddenly stopped at a thought.
"...Why should I even care about that guy?"
Viscount Hermeng turned to bare his heart to his wife. No reason to mind Valdes's presence. Worst case, ask him to give them space for a spousal talk. Without cause, he'd have to comply.
But such worries proved needless. For some reason, Valdes was gone from the dining hall.
"Th-the disciple...?"
"He stepped out to the kitchen briefly... What is it?"
A voice cold yet laced with heat somewhere. The viscount took it as a positive sign.
"Could we... talk a bit?"
"What about... Hn!"
"...?"
"Ah, so-sorry."
"No. Then..."
With expectant steps, he sat opposite his wife again. He saw her flushed face and huddled posture. Where to even start? Trying to talk after so long, he had no feel for it.
"You... um... seem to have drunk a lot."
"D-do I...?"
"Your face is... quite red."
"Ah... Y-yeah, drank a bunch. ...Yes♡"
"...Serennia?"