Interrogating the Body
In the end, I hadn't been able to uncover much about the relationship between Carmel and the Black Witch. It seemed that was a thread I would have to pull on later, once I was out of here and free to move as I pleased. Three days, to be exact. Before I knew it, the end of my house arrest was just around the corner.
To be perfectly honest, I was a little worried. Would I even be able to adjust to normal life again? This exquisite existence—breathing in Carmel's scent with every breath I took, feasting my eyes on her naked body flushed with shame morning and night, and fondling her bare, underwear-less form to my heart's content as we slept—had spoiled me. Compared to this, the luxurious daily routine of a princess would be utterly tasteless.
Well, of course, I couldn't stay cooped up here forever. It was time to start moving, and it was about time I paid a visit to Rika at the brothel to give her a proper tune-up. Even so, the lingering regret was real. Above all, I had yet to fulfill the promise I had so boldly declared to Carmel.
My one-sided vow to ravish her at least once before our confinement ended. There was no way Carmel had forgotten. Perhaps, seeing how peacefully she slept right next to me, she had dismissed it as mere bluster. But I was going to take her. For real. Time was running out, which meant my only chances were tonight or tomorrow. I wondered how she would react. If she stayed asleep, that had its own charm, but I was also eager to see her face if she woke up in the middle of it. Though, considering the sheer intensity of what I planned to do to her, the chances of her sleeping through it were practically zero.
"Um, Shinia, do you have a moment?"
"Ah, yes, Princess. What is it?"
"I'd like to burn some incense when we sleep... something to induce a deep slumber. Lavender, perhaps... Oh, and it would be wonderful if it had a relaxing effect on the body as well."
It wasn't a particularly strange request. She would likely assume I simply wanted a good night's rest.
"Understood, Princess. I will prepare it right away. Do you require anything else?"
"No, that will be plenty. Thank you."
It wouldn't have the terrifying potency of the Hypnotic Incense I had used on Rika, but something too strong would be counterproductive anyway. Using something like that would immediately tip Carmel off to my intentions. Of course, ordinary incense possessed no such power. I had chosen it precisely because my stance was, It doesn't matter if she wakes up in the middle. In fact, it's even better. Shinia quickly returned with an incense burner. Now, all that was left was to wait for Carmel.
"You're quite late, Mother."
It was slightly past midnight. Given Carmel's schedule today, there was no reason for her to be delayed this long. That meant she had been up to something extra...
"It is none of your concern, is it? More importantly... what is this smell?"
"I lit some incense. Since you were running late, I thought you might be tired."
"Incense? You didn't burn anything strange, did you...?"
"Of course not. I have to breathe it in just as much as you do. Besides, if I pulled a stunt like that inside the royal palace, even a princess wouldn't escape punishment. It's just ordinary incense to help you sleep. Right?"
My last question was directed at the maid. Finding herself under the sudden gaze of two royal figures, Shinia hurriedly nodded.
"Hmph, always playing the saint..."
Carmel sat on the sofa, raising a hand to her shoulder to shake out her hair. Having kept it bound up all day, she must have felt quite stifled. It was a captivating sight, but I had something I needed to confirm. I sat down directly across from Carmel, leaning forward as I spoke.
"Mother, I still haven't received an answer. Why are you so late tonight?"
"Do I have some obligation to report my every movement to you?"
"I am merely curious. Isn't it only natural for a daughter to worry when her mother returns so late?"
"More of your ridiculous nonsense..."
"If you do not wish to answer, that is fine too. You can even spin a lie if you like. Just keep in mind that even a lie is a form of answer."
Silence meant there was something to hide. And if she chose to lie, exposing that lie would only pave the way to a deeper truth. Perhaps sensing my underlying intent, Carmel let out a sharp breath, her face twisting in irritation as she finally spoke.
"His Ma... no, I met with His Majesty the King."
"Father? At this hour?"
"Yes. It is hardly surprising, is it? We are husband and wife, after all."
Husband and wife. Those words carried heavy implications. What a married couple would do when meeting so late at night... By now, Carmel knew all too well that this was my sore spot. Watching my face for any rare sign of agitation, she looked remarkably smug.
"Well, that is how it is. Surely even you aren't so tasteless as to pry into the private affairs of a married couple? Though, if you are truly dying to hear the details, I suppose I could tell you... fufu."
Carmel clearly believed she had seized the psychological upper hand. And she was right. At this very moment, I felt as though I were barely holding down the lid of a boiling cauldron, desperate to keep the rage from spilling over.
But there was one crucial detail Carmel was blissfully unaware of. Tonight, I was actually going to do it. And I had a foolproof method to uncover the truth behind the secret she was teasing me with.
By interrogating her body directly.
So, just endure a little longer. I suppressed the rising flames of my anger and forced a sweet smile.
"Ah, I see. How thoughtless of me. I am glad to hear that you and Father are still so deeply in love."
"...Is, is that so? That is all you have to say?"
"What more is there to say? As your daughter, I am simply overjoyed."
Having missed her mark so completely, Carmel looked rather disappointed. She had likely intended to use this as a weapon to keep me off-balance for days. She couldn't possibly dream of what was coming. She had no idea she was about to pay a heavy price for attempting to toy with my emotions.
No further words were exchanged. Shortly after, Carmel and I retired to bed.
"Mother..."
I whispered softly. There was no response. Only the slow, rhythmic breathing of someone in a deep sleep drifted through the darkness. I shifted closer, pressing my lips right against her ear.
"Mother... are you asleep?"
Still, she did not stir. Satisfied, I sat up and peeled back the bedsheets. Beneath her slightly disheveled nightgown, an expanse of pale, soft skin lay exposed.
"Haa... haa..."
I had lain perfectly still with my eyes closed for what felt like an eternity, waiting for her to drift off. The anticipation of what I was about to do sent a dizzying heat swirling through my lower abdomen, keeping any trace of drowsiness at bay. Resisting sleep was easy; resisting my other, darker urges was the real struggle.
"I will undress first, Mother..."
Keeping my eyes locked on her, I slowly shed my garments one by one. My skin, heightened by arousal, tingled with intense stimulation at the mere friction of the fabric sliding off. Stripping away my two-layered nightwear and undergarments, I stood completely naked. I folded my clothes neatly and set them on the nightstand before crawling back toward Carmel.
Slowly, I reached for the sash tied around her waist. It felt as though I were opening a beautifully wrapped jewelry box. My fingers trembled with raw excitement.
As the sash gave way, the silk parted on its own. Gazing down at Carmel's pale, defenseless body exposed between the folds of her gown, a sweet, dizzying rush flooded my mind.
"You brought this on yourself, Mother... provoking me like that..."
Of course, I would have taken her tonight even without her little provocation, but the fact that she had dared to bait me made it all the sweeter.
I pressed my body flush against hers. The friction of our slightly damp skin meeting was so intensely sensual it sent shivers down my spine. Draping myself over her as she lay flat on her back, I slid my hand down between her thighs.
First, a single finger.
My middle finger slipped into her warm, tight passage. I swirled it gently, loosening her up while assessing the state of her depths.
"I knew you were lying, Mother... You didn't do anything with him..."
Her body told me everything. This was not the state of a woman who had received a man only hours prior. A wave of profound relief washed over me, closely followed by a surge of indignation at her attempt to deceive me.
"Liar, liar, liar, liar..."
My fingers began to churn inside her. My movements grew rougher, fueled by the turbulent emotions swirling in my chest. Before long, a second finger slipped inside her.
"Hn... ngh...!"
The sleeping queen finally reacted. Letting out a soft, breathless moan, Carmel's body gave a sudden twitch. Then, her eyelids fluttered open.
"Ah...?"
Her gaze was hazy, heavy with sleep and the sudden onset of pleasure. But the instant she realized this was no dream, her eyes widened in sheer shock.
"Se-Sera...! Ah...! S-Stop this instant... What on earth are you...!"
Even as she gasped out her protests, I did not halt the movement of my fingers. Stirred from her depths and freshly awakened, Carmel was more helpless than a newborn babe. As she tried to squirm away, I pinned her down, pressing my body even tighter against hers.
"I cannot do that, Mother. You lied to me, didn't you? You claimed you had just performed your marital duties with Father. This is your punishment."
Well, in truth, it was merely a convenient excuse.