Pride and Prejudice (1)
"....."
Ariel's expression was hard to read.
...No, truthfully, I didn't have the spare attention to check anyone else's face. Say what you will, but I'm a healthy mid-teen guy bursting with vitality. Just calming my mind had all my nerves on edge.
"....I'll sleep on the floor. Lady Ariel, you take the bed."
"No, I don't want that."
"....Are you telling me to make you sleep on the floor?"
"It's fine. I've camped out plenty of times."
"...I'm the one who's not fine with it."
"....I don't want it either. Leon sleeping on the floor."
...Whenever one of us suggested sleeping on the floor, the other would vehemently refuse, and this back-and-forth repeated until...
In the end, we both decided to sleep on the floor. Fortunately, it was spacious enough that we could spread out some blankets to make room for two.
"....I'll sleep over there in the corner."
My body was utterly exhausted, but my mind was wide awake. Or rather, sleep just wouldn't come. Even with my eyes closed, it felt like I could hear her breathing right by my ear, and the faint, pleasant scent wafting around kept teasing my nose.
Pretending to toss and turn, I stole a glance at Ariel.
'....She's already asleep.'
She lay in a perfectly straight posture, eyes closed without a hint of disturbance. It was somehow impressive, but I decided to just stare at her blankly for a bit.
I'd never really thought about my ideal type before, but at some point, she'd wormed her way into my heart.
It wasn't just her looks, or lust from her body, or admiration for her family and wealth.
....For some inexplicable reason, I was drawn to her.
As if it were fate or something.
'....Why would someone like her like me?'
I gazed at her steadily. I'd always seen her as the strongest, sharpest person around, but surprisingly, she was warm and easily embarrassed inside.
Unlike the girl I'd met at the swordsmanship tournament, she'd grown taller, and her face had become even more captivating.
....Suppressing the instinct to let my eyes drift downward, I clung to my reason. Even if she liked me, if I kept this up, I might actually do something stupid.
"....Ah, seriously."
Deep down, I wanted to accept her affection, but...
Realistically, it was impossible. She might work as a casual fling, but the weight of the Saint Ducal House was too much for an nameless knight aspirant like me to handle.
For me, and for her.
'....Still, she's really pretty.'
Gazing at Ariel, I let my heavy eyelids finally close. Thankfully, exhaustion and drowsiness hit me late, allowing me to catch at least a little sleep.
.
.
.
The next morning.
I woke up with a strangely stiff body and felt puzzled.
'....Yeah, I did spar pretty hard yesterday. And I won for the first time.'
Basking in the sudden thrill of victory for a moment, my mind suddenly flashed back to yesterday's events, and I realized Ariel was gone.
Yawning as I saw the neatly folded blankets, I scratched my messy hair and stepped out through the open door.
".....You're awake?"
She must have gotten up early, showered, and tidied up already—her hair was still slightly damp as she looked at me. In her hands was a pot of corn soup.
For some reason, she scanned my body briefly, then avoided my eyes.
'....What's this? My neck feels a bit sore for some reason.'
"I... made something simple."
"....Ah, you didn't have to—"
I hesitated, but soon enough, I was sitting at the table with Lady Ariel.
'....This is embarrassingly awkward.'
I brought a spoonful of soup to my lips, then my eyes widened as I spoke.
"....This is delicious. Like, really?"
"....."
She paused before answering that she'd done simple cooking in emergencies before. I wondered what kind of crisis would force a duke's daughter to cook, but I pushed the thought aside to finish the soup she'd made.
As we silently savored it, a pure question suddenly struck me.
"....Um, is it really okay for you, Lady Ariel, to be here at my house like this?"
At my worried expression, she waved it off reassuringly and answered hurriedly.
"I-it's fine. The ducal house has people to handle administrative work, and this is more important anyway."
".....Ah, I see."
She didn't seem fully aware of what she was saying, but the words mixed in were so embarrassing.
....Not that I minded.
"What are your plans when you head back home?"
"....Me? I've only got two days of vacation left, so... maybe some fishing nearby?"
".....Hmm."
"Wanna come? It must be boring stuck here alone...."
She nodded thoughtfully at my words, then looked back at me and spoke.
"...If it's inconvenient, just tell me. I-I can leave anytime—"
"No, no way."
I waved my hands, denying it firmly. Aside from sleeping arrangements, I hadn't felt inconvenienced at all, and even that I could fix by taking the living room.
Besides, who would dare complain even if they were?
'....And now, I've started liking her too.'
Ariel seemed oblivious to the fact that I'd grown fond of her to some degree.
To lighten the mood, I slipped into the storage shed, grabbed two fishing rods, and waved them in front of her.
"I didn't start fishing for fun, but nothing kills time like it."
"....Yeah, sounds good."
My favorite fishing spot wasn't far from home. I handed her a rod and started walking there slowly.
---
That night.
At dawn.
Gazing at Leon, who had finally drifted into deep sleep, Ariel slowly rose.
"......"
Ariel quietly sat up and stared blankly at Leon, lost in slumber.
The first person she'd spoken to upon arriving here was none other than Leon's mother, Catherine. She hadn't revealed her identity but had straightforwardly said she wanted to be in a relationship with Leon. The positive response had led to a request for help, but she hadn't imagined it would create a situation like this.
".....Ah."
...Of course sleep wouldn't come.
Sharing a bed with Leon.
In her previous life, she'd had intense physical contact, but she'd never taken anyone's purity—or had hers taken.
Still, she knew Leon's sleeping habits well enough.
A quirk, perhaps.... She'd learned it while camping together during the war.
Once Leon fell asleep, he never woke up.
'....I shouldn't.'
Her pupils dilated dangerously as her hand began to move on its own.
Ariel was already intoxicated by Leon's scent, acting on pure instinct. Her head buzzed endlessly, filled only with primal urges.
For over a decade of emptiness, though not shown outwardly, her core had craved affection madly.
'.....'
Reason tried to stop her, but the dark night and Leon's defenseless form broke her resolve.
Ariel slowly climbed atop him and pulled him into an embrace—neck, shoulders, chest, arms.
".....Ha...."
His scent clouded her mind further. With dangerous eyes, she savored his warmth for a long while before nuzzling her cheek against him.
What was she doing? The empire's duchess.
A woman who had once stood high above all, issuing commands as empress—could anyone imagine her half-assaulting her beloved while he slept?
A sense of depravity and shame bloomed in her chest, but Ariel was helplessly swept up in the immediate desire and pleasure.
".....Ngh...."
She'd thought about it in fleeting moments. When her dazed mind miraculously cleared, her hand was already on his buttons.
"......."
Finally coming to her senses, she hastily disentangled from the embarrassing, lewd position and slumped into a corner.
Guilt came crashing in relentlessly.
'.....What have I done....'
She couldn't face Leon again. Trying to rub away the faint kiss mark on his neck, she buried her face in her hands and messed up her hair frantically.
'....How far will you fall, Ariel.'
Leon was still a boy. She didn't want to confess such filthy, dirty thoughts to someone with such a pure, innocent soul.
For instance—when she'd approached him while he slept.
She'd wanted him to pin her down.... Such impure wishes.
Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains from the rising dawn.
Ariel stood blankly, resolving to bury that night's events deep in her heart.