Volume 4, Chapter 47 – A Strangely Flavored Morning

Tock, tock, tock.

The light knocking on the door and the dazzling sunlight shining into her eyes woke Fia from a deep sleep. She rolled over as usual, intending to stay in bed a little longer, but her consciousness was quickly awakened by a faint medicinal scent entering her nostrils. She felt that today’s bed was softer and warmer than yesterday’s, and even had the silky smoothness and fragrance of skin.

…Wait.

Claire.

I don’t even know when I fell asleep last night—could it be that was just a dream I had?

Lying on her side, Fia’s eyes shot open. Then, what came into her view was Claire, who had long since woken up and was also lying on her side on the bed. The blanket was barely hooked over her shoulder, and she had a doting smile on her face.

“Awake?”

“Haah…”

Fia let out a long, long sigh of relief. This action made a look of confusion appear in Claire’s deep, pool-like jade-green eyes.

“What’s wrong? You look so relieved.”

“…It’s nothing. I was just thinking that it wasn’t a dream after all.”

As the words fell, Fia’s gaze subconsciously fell on Claire’s chest. Because they were under the same blanket, and it was now nine in the morning with the sun beating down, she could clearly see the faint outline of her snow-white skin and graceful curves under the covers. Her cheeks couldn’t help but turn red, and she looked away, her long eyelashes fluttering.

Although they were already lovers and had even been intimate, this kind of scene still made Fia feel exceptionally embarrassed. It was like how a swimsuit and underwear are very similar, but being exposed in underwear in front of others feels lewd, while you can walk on the beach in a swimsuit openly. It was a subtle sense of shame.

“Hehe.”

Claire let out a chuckle and reached out to stroke Fia’s soft cheek.

“I was supposed to arrive in Silvar a week ago, but some strange things happened in the Dragonfall, and it took some time to deal with them, so I didn’t arrive until last night. But judging by the time you used that pendant, you probably haven’t been here for long either, right? If we’re too far apart, the pendant can only activate the Fifth-Rank defensive magic.”

“Mhm…”

At the mention of the pendant, Fia, who had been enjoying Claire’s caress, suddenly stiffened. She subconsciously turned her face into the pillow and shrunk her small shoulders into the blanket, not daring to look at Claire’s face.

“Wasn’t that pendant an illusion?”

Although Claire had only revealed a few words last night, Fia could already tell that she could actually feel it when she used the pendant. Thinking about the ever-changing backgrounds in the projection, and those familiar scenes, it was even possible that the images she saw were her own thoughts transmitted to Claire through the pendant, and then Claire would act according to her thoughts.

Come to think of it, if she did some bold actions like lifting her skirt or hooking her underwear on her ankle, the Claire in the image would show a clear hesitation. At first, she thought this was a design to increase the realism, but now that she thought about it, that was Claire actually being embarrassed.

Wait, if she was acting according to my thoughts, then the “business” I made her do for the camera… didn’t that mean she knew I would see it, but still went on with it?

Read оո КаtRеαdіոgCafe

She’s so H!

Fia couldn’t help but raise her eyes to secretly observe Claire, only to meet her gaze, her cheeks also flushed red. She seemed to have already read Fia’s mind. As if to hide her shyness, she pinched Fia’s cute little nose with her thumb and forefinger.

“Weren’t those all things you were thinking, Fia? At first, I thought it was just a spur of the moment prank, but it turns out you think about those H-things every day!”

“Mmph,” although her nose was being pinched by Claire, Fia on the contrary, felt very happy. She turned her head and pointed to Claire’s graceful chest, which was completely exposed because she had reached out. “Um, Claire, it’s showing.”

“Still thinking about H-things even now!” As if she had thought of something, the corners of Claire’s mouth suddenly curled upward. She held her hands under her chest, which was pressed against the bed, as if to show it off, deliberately accentuating her ample bosom. “Hmph, hmph, little Fia was like a little baby last night, she liked—mmph!”

Before Claire could finish her sentence, Fia clapped a hand over her mouth, her expression a mix of shyness and annoyance.

“To say such things in broad daylight, you’re too H, Claire!”

“Oh my,” Claire separated the hand Fia had placed over her mouth with just one finger. “Isn’t this the pot calling the kettle black, Fia? I wonder who was kneeling on the bed in disarray yesterday without even closing the window.”

“Th-that’s also your fault for giving me this shameless item,” Fia huffed, reciting her prepared lines. When she had first discovered the wonderful use of this pendant, she had thought Claire might use it to tease her, so she had already prepared a response.

Claire was stunned for a moment, then she laughed in exasperation. She simply got up and, just like last night, placed her hands on either side of Fia’s face.

“Wouldn’t it be fine if you didn’t think about shameless things, Fia? My original intention was that we could use the necklace to communicate. Who knew you would use it like that, making me too embarrassed to tell you midway that it was actually a communication device for when we’re close.”

“Uh—”

This time it was Fia’s turn to be stunned. And because Claire was looking down at her from above again, like a conqueror, Fia felt an unease as if she were about to be eaten. She subconsciously clamped her legs together under the blanket, her blushing face turned to the side as she said, trying to act tough.

“…Hmph, it’s your own fault for not telling me beforehand.”

“You stubborn little pixie.”

Fia’s stubborn look made Claire find it funny. She got up from her and, like a lover’s good morning kiss, took advantage of her pouting to lean in from the side and kiss her cheek.

“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. This will count as an apology. In any case, my business is resolved. We can talk about the rest over breakfast. To be honest, on my way to Silvar, I was still worried if you would have forgotten me. But when I was resting by that lake and you suddenly contacted me with the pendant, all my worries vanished without a trace. You’re a strange one, Fia, to be able to be immune to even a god’s curse.”

“Of course. How could I forget you because of something like a curse,” Fia said, also getting up from the bed. She hid her hands under the blanket and looked at Claire’s snow-white skin, which was glowing slightly in the sunlight. “It feels a little unreal, for you to just suddenly be here…”

“Then shall we do it again to add a bit of realism? Although I think doing this kind of thing during the day is too shameless.”

“No, let’s not.”

The maids outside had been knocking on the door since just now.

“Then just a simple one.”

“A simple one?”

Rеаԁ оn КatReаdіnɡСαfe

“Close your eyes, Fia.”

Fia had just closed her eyes when she felt something warm press against her lips. Then, a soft and flexible sensation was transmitted to them. She was stunned for a moment, then a fire suddenly shot through her chest. Almost without thinking, she met Claire’s kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck. Claire, in turn, wrapped her arms around her back, and their tongues intertwined like snakes.

It wasn’t until their breathing became extremely rapid, beads of sweat appeared on their skin, and a feeling of near suffocation came over them that their lips finally parted. This time, it was clearly Claire who had lost. She was the first to let go, her cheeks flushed as she wiped the corner of her mouth, panting for breath.

“Hah… hah… alright… alright, we can’t waste any more time here like idiots. If we don’t go out soon, the people outside will get anxious. Let’s get dressed first.”

Without waiting for Fia’s answer, the completely naked Claire got out of bed and began to throw clothes onto it one by one from her storage item. Her perfect, elf-like body in the sunlight made Fia gulp. But although the passionate kiss just now had aroused her desire, Claire was right. If the maids outside were to worry and force their way in, things would become very awkward.

She quickly pulled her nightgown on, then used [Cleanse] and [Magic Control] to tidy up the room.

Both she and Claire had an incredible amount of stamina, so it was only natural that they had made a mess of the room last night. From the bedsheets and plush carpet to the low cabinet, and from the low cabinet to the table, everything had been moved. And because they both knew flight magic and [Telekinesis], if one looked closely, one could even find water stains on the ceiling. Not only that, but there was also a delicate scent in the room. ¹ oh myyyy (≖⩊≖)

With the help of the now-dressed Claire, the room was quickly cleaned.

As she had snuck into the Royal Castle in the middle of the night, and a stranger suddenly appearing would cause unnecessary alarm, Claire felt that she should go through the formal procedures to enter. Although Fia was unwilling for her to leave, considering that she was the future royal consort, it was indeed proper for her to go through the formal process. So, Fia had to go along with her idea and watch as she used illusion magic to slip out of the room through the window.

It was worth mentioning that perhaps because her magic was not of the World Tree Continent’s system, the [Citadel of Silence] had no effect on her.

Once the room was spotless, Fia opened the door in her pajamas, looking sleepy.

What appeared before her eyes were six maids. Besides the four who had served her yesterday, there were also Anastasia and Colita in their maid outfits. Among them, Anastasia seemed not to have slept well; there were slight dark circles under her eyes.

“Uh… why are you all gathered at my door?”

For the sake of business, she had tested the soundproofing of her room. The walls were embedded with a one-way soundproofing barrier. The people in the room could hear the sounds outside, but even if someone inside were to scream for help, the people outside would not hear a thing.

“B-because we heard from the maids that you weren’t responding no matter how they called, so I and Colita came over…”

As she spoke, Anastasia also quietly peeked into the room, as if she were looking for something.

It was as if she knew about Fia and Claire.

Fia couldn’t help but feel guilty.

No, no, there’s a soundproofing barrier in the wall. No one would know what Claire and I did.

With a sense of vigilance, Fia feigned a yawn to hide her nervousness.

“I just slept a little longer, nothing to worry about. Since you’re both here, Anastasia, Colita, help me change. I want to wear something more magnificent today.”

“Yes.”

Reаd οո КαtReαⅾіnɡCаfe

Hearing Fia single them out, the shoulders of the other four maids instantly slumped. However, they were ordinary maids after all. There was no way they could compete with their superiors, Anastasia and Colita. They could only close the door for her with disappointed looks.

As for Anastasia and Colita who had entered the room, Fia instantly noticed that their behavior was a little strange. They were indeed choosing clothes for her, but their noses were twitching very obviously, as if they were sniffing for something.

Claire definitely used an air purification spell, and I also lit some incense. There shouldn’t be any strange smell left.

Just then, Anastasia said, intentionally or not.

“Did Your Highness experiment with magic in the room last night?”

Forcibly suppressing the urge to jump, Fia said to her reflection in the mirror with an expressionless face.

“Why do you say that?”

“You made a lot of noise last night. Not just the maids at the door, but even I in the next room felt the vibrations.”

“…Vibrations?”

“Yes.”

Even without seeing her, Fia could imagine Anastasia’s serious expression. Her answer told her one thing: the soundproofing barrier could only block sound. If the commotion was too big, such as hitting the floor and walls hard, or dragging a table, it would still be perceived by the people outside.

Thank goodness it was only to the extent of perceiving the vibrations. If they had heard the sounds, I would have no face to see anyone.

She forcibly maintained the composure on her face and went along with Anastasia’s words.

“I was just trying some simple magic. Didn’t I tell you before that I was going to try [Magic Weapon Forging]?”

“I see. Forging magic weapons would indeed make that kind of sound. But there is a special place in the palace for that. It is dangerous to try magic in your room. Please be careful.”

“Ah, yes, I will.”

Following Fia’s words, Colita frowned as if she were trying to distinguish the smell in the air.

“But this smell doesn’t seem like forging magic weapons. It’s not just lily and bitter cloves, but also the fragrance of orchid. It seems more like Your Highness was brewing medicine, and ordinary herbs without any magical properties at that. Is Your Highness also interested in alchemy?”

That’s definitely Claire’s scent!

Fia shouted in her heart.

Claire always had a faint medicinal scent on her, and since Colita was an expert in herbs, it was only natural that she could distinguish it.

It seemed Claire’s purification magic wasn’t that effective…

In order not to give herself away, her face became even more expressionless. She encouraged herself in her heart. Since the room had already been tidied up, as long as she insisted that nothing had happened, Anastasia and Colita could only guess wildly and would not be able to find out anything.

Rеaԁ оո ΚatRеаⅾіոɡCαfe

“It’s probably the smell of the fragrances. Those nobles sent a lot of gifts over yesterday. More importantly, Anastasia, was there anything worth mentioning in today’s noble council?”

“The council isn’t over at nine o’clock, but I imagine the matter of the Holy Tree budding will surely become the focus. Although it’s only twelve tender shoots, it’s enough to prove that the Black-Flamed Monsters you encountered in the Holy Tree were indeed the culprits that caused it to wither. It’s just that since yesterday, one place has become a little delicate.”

“What place?”

“Everyone has discovered that no one can enter the Holy Tree anymore.”

At this, Anastasia undid the dress on Fia, and then her gaze inadvertently fell on a red mark on her shoulder. She couldn’t help but frown.

“How did Your Highness get something like a bruise on your body?”

“Is there? I probably just bumped into something.”

“But this doesn’t look like a bruise from a bump at all. It’s more like a scratch from a fingernail… By the way, since I entered the room, I’ve felt that there’s a sweaty smell with a floral fragrance on Your Highness. Normally, the fragrance on you isn’t this obvious.”

“Anastasia… are you a pervert?”

“Eh?”

Anastasia was suddenly jolted out of her monologue, so much so that her hand trembled. She knew that those words should only be said in her heart, but because she had been too relaxed recently, she had completely forgotten that she was not alone with Fia. And even if she were, she shouldn’t have said such a perverted thing. It made her seem like she had a scent fetish.

Her cheeks instantly flushed red.

“I-I was just from the bottom of my heart… no, I-I was just, no… I absolutely have no intention of blaspheming you!”

“Don’t be nervous. I was just saying it casually.”

Anastasia’s strong reaction made Fia breathe a sigh of relief. Although it was a little mean, this way, she wouldn’t keep questioning her.

She feigned a long, helpless sigh.

“Alright, hurry up and change my clothes, or you can just bring them to me and I’ll wear them myself.”

“Please allow me to do it for you!”

“Then I will comb Her Highness’s hair~ Black hair is Her Highness’s trademark. A black-haired, red-eyed elf, you can’t find a second one even in all of Silvar.”

With Fia changing the subject, Anastasia and Colita quickly dressed her in her formal attire, and the three of them walked towards the dining room together.

Translator Note

uhueheheheh this chapter so much fun