Stealing a Kiss
“Ugh…”
Chloe let out a pained groan as she opened her eyes. This sensation… it was familiar. She’d experienced it a few times before. It was definitely the feeling of being in a dream.
But.
“Miss…?”
Why was she looking up at Marian so hard it hurt her neck? The Marian Chloe knew was small enough to catch in a mere glance upward…
“Ugh…”
Was future Marian really going to grow this tall? Chloe stared dazedly at Marian’s back for a moment.
“Mis—”
“…!”
Marian whipped around in an instant, grabbing Chloe’s shoulders and shoving her roughly backward. Chloe couldn’t withstand the force from that body a full head taller than hers and collapsed flat onto the bed. Marian advanced toward her with heavy steps…
“M-Miss…?”
“…”
Without a word, she began pounding Chloe’s shoulders and chest with dull thuds.
What the hell is going on? What’s got her so pissed that she’s silently protesting like this?
No, wait—what could I have even done wrong? I’ve never done anything wrong.
Was this some kind of nightmare? A premonition of getting beaten to death by Marian someday? Chloe furrowed her brow in confusion, and Marian’s face twisted in shock at the sight.
“Traitor.”
“Pardon?”
“Chloe’s a traitor. You’re just gonna leave me here all alone? Fine, do whatever. I won’t expect anything from a traitor anyway.”
She started berating Chloe.
“But.”
Or rather, less berating and more…
“Since I’m not expecting anything, I’ll prepare thoroughly. Let’s see if you can really leave the Grand Duke’s castle.”
It felt like a declaration of war, seething with genuine outrage.
“Miss, wait a second. Can we talk about—”
Chloe, utterly bewildered and unable to hide her distress, tried to question Marian.
“Huh…?”
Then she was booted out of the dream. Literally ejected, and damp, humid air greeted her.
This place…
“The bathtub…?”
Warm bathwater enveloped her soothingly. And across from her sat…
“Oh? Ah, Chloe, you’re awake?”
“Miss…?”
p>
“Yeah, what? You got hit by that thunder orb and passed out, so I healed you and was washing you up nice and clean.”
“Th-Thank you…”
“Psh, no big deal.”
Was it because she’d won against Chloe twice in a row? Marian seemed awfully upbeat…
But wasn’t she just staring at my chest?
Marian’s gaze had definitely been fixed on Chloe’s breasts moments ago.
What’s there to even look at?
Chloe tilted her head in puzzlement for a second, then dismissed it as her imagination and grabbed Marian’s slightly flushed cheeks, pulling her face close.
“Ch-Chloe?”
“Why so surprised?”
“N-No, it’s not that…”
Ignoring Marian’s overly serious reaction, Chloe pressed her forehead to Marian’s to check her temperature.
“How long have we been in the tub?”
“Uh, about thirty minutes?”
“You’ve got a slight fever. The water temp feels normal… Why? Your face looks a bit red too…”
Chloe turned Marian’s face this way and that, inspecting her, then muttered in confusion.
“Th-That’s, um…”
“Yes, go on.”
“Er, ah…”
With Chloe’s face so close their noses nearly touched, Marian couldn’t string words together. If she just pursed her lips a little, she could finally kiss Chloe—the one she’d even used a wish right for…! All it would take was a bit of courage to lean in.
But…
“No good. Let’s get out.”
Faster than Marian could muster the courage to risk rejection, Chloe stood from the tub and dragged her out.
“You won fair and square, but you’re still only fifteen. And this was just your second real combat training. Of course you’re exhausted. Staying in water too long could give you a cold, so let’s dry off and rest.”
“Uh, okay…”
Marian sighed over Chloe’s lips, now receding like a mirage, her goal vanishing before her eyes. She had no strength left to resist.
And so…
Pulled out of the tub like a limp, drenched cat, Marian…
“Arm out. Let’s dry your arms first.”
“Okay…”
“Next, legs.”
“Here.”
…relied on Chloe’s familiar hands wiping the water from her body.
“Time for lotion. Arm again.”
“Arm…”
“Leg.”
“Leg…”
“Turn around. Back too.”
…received her post-bath pampering. Well, it wasn’t so bad. Just another normal day…
But to Marian, any day with Chloe was special.
# Marian hadn’t claimed Chloe’s lips, but she still had plenty of chances. Back in her usual nightdress, she declared she’d sleep in Chloe’s room tonight.
“Then I’ll see you downstairs.”
“Yeah! Chloe! See you down there!”
But she couldn’t just waltz into Chloe’s bedroom unprepared. First, she shooed Chloe out, locked the door…
“Alright, rose-scented perfume…”
Rummaging through the unfamiliar vanity, Marian pulled out the rose perfume she’d seen Viola use once. She spritzed it into the air with a pssh, pssh, then spun around in it.
“Perfect, romantic atmosphere achieved!”
Confirming her body now smelled nice, she smirked smugly.
Next…
“Sh-Should I spray it on my lips too…?”
She stared at the still-uncapped rose perfume, deep in thought. Spraying it on her lips would make their first kiss taste like roses. Not a bad choice, but…
“Rose flavor seems kinda weird?”
First kiss tasting like roses? Not even fairy tales described it that way. Kissing someone you like was supposed to feel sweet…
“Ah, ah…!”
As if struck by inspiration, Marian dashed into the bathroom and grabbed her strawberry-scented body oil.
“Ugh, this feels weird too…”
She dabbed a bit on her finger, tasted it, then smeared some on her lips. It was odd, but now her lips were sweet and ready.
So.
“Here I go…”
Time to claim the lips she’d set her sights on. Using the wish right made it a sure thing, really.
“Hoo, haa…”
Marian took a deep breath as she descended and opened the bathroom door.
In Chloe’s bedroom, the owner herself lounged against the headboard, patting the spot beside her with a pat-pat.
“What’re you doing? Come here already.”
Really… Chloe was the best! The absolute best, beyond words. Satisfied that she could sleep with Chloe again tonight…
No, don’t settle for that!
Marian shook her head, banishing the thought. Satisfaction? Today was supposed to be a historic step forward.
“Miss?”
“Nothing.”
Fired up, Marian reassured Chloe and climbed onto the bed.
But…
“Where’s the bear doll?”
For some reason, the bear doll Chloe had kissed was nowhere in sight.
“What bear doll?”
“You don’t kiss your bear doll, Chloe?”
“Come on, Miss. Have you ever seen me play with dolls? I don’t have a bear doll, and even if I did, I wouldn’t kiss it.”
“Really…?”
Why? Why not? In Viola’s drawing, Chloe had definitely been kissing a bear doll… But Chloe said she’d never done that.
Which meant…
Chloe’s first time is with me too…?
Yes! That’s it!
Marian inwardly cheered as it clicked. Sharing firsts—how romantic! Like a prince and princess from a fairy tale.
“Chloe, give me your hand.”
“My hand?”
“Quick.”
“Here.”
But to reach that romantic moment, she needed mental preparation. Even with the wish right, asking another girl for a kiss felt a little off—Marian knew that much.
But…
I want to!
She wanted to, weirdness be damned. She just wanted to press her lips to Chloe’s.
I’ll kiss her too!
She didn’t know the difference between a kiss and a peck, but she wanted both. She wanted to do everything with Chloe.
So…
Alright, I’m ready.
Chloe’s offered hand. Their fingers naturally interlaced, palms together. Feeling connected like this made demanding a kiss seem okay.
So…
So…
“Chloe. Turn your head.”
“My head?”
“Look at me.”
Sitting shoulder to shoulder, she demanded Chloe face her.
And then…
“Using my wish right?”
“Sure, what for—!”
She stole Chloe’s lips.