Volume 8, Chapter 51 – Deep in Love

“Mmm hmm hmm~~~ Mmm mmm hmm~~”

This girl’s gone crazy.

Looking at Nola, who was rolling around on her bed hugging a pillow and making strange noises, Fia, who had just entered the room, couldn’t help but put a hand to her forehead. Originally, she had brought Nola to Blossom to introduce her to Lucitine, but thanks to Mother Yulisha’s intervention, they had directly leaped from lovers to fiancées in one step.

Of course, that wasn’t a bad thing either.

For her, Nola becoming a fiancée was only a matter of time. But perhaps because of the one-month deadline in Nola’s mind, she felt she was still quite far from being a fiancée. Now, not only had she gained Mother Yulisha’s recognition, but she had also kissed her in front of everyone with her head practically on fire. The shyness at the time was one thing, but afterwards, feeling that their relationship had taken a huge step forward, her heart filled with sweetness and happiness—that was another thing entirely. Just looking at Nola’s tail held high now, it was clear she was very satisfied.

Watching Nola bury her face in the pillow, deeply inhaling, and constantly kicking her shapely calves, Fia could already feel Nola’s joy. The happiness in those strange sounds even infected her, making her unable to help but find it amusing.

Fia stood at the door, her right hand on the doorframe, her left hand on her hip, in a casual pose completely lacking in princess-like dignity, and laughed.

“Hey, rolling around on my bed is one thing, but not even closing the door? Aren’t you afraid a passing maid might see?”

“Eep!” Hearing Fia’s sudden voice, Nola, who had been deeply inhaling Fia’s pillow, instantly froze. Like a child caught doing something wrong, she moved extremely slowly, setting the pillow aside, sitting up straight, and sheepishly looking at the messy bed, revealing a guilty smile. “Ha, ahaha… Lady Colita said I could pick any room on the second floor as my bedroom, so I just…”

“So you picked my bedroom? Colita meant for you to choose an empty room, not to sleep with me. And what’s with that form of address, ‘Lady Colita’? Shouldn’t you just call her Colita?”

Saying this, Fia entered the room and walked towards the round table. She didn’t mind Nola rolling around on her bed—she did the same thing on Claire’s bed. As for the messy sheets, she could just ask a maid at the Twilight Palace to tidy them up.

Seeing that Fia wasn’t scolding her, Nola’s fiery red cat ears, which had been flattened against her head, immediately perked up. She regained her energy. Like a shy young man entering a girl’s bedroom for the first time, she dared not let her gaze wander and only let the tips of her toes touch the ground first. Lowering her voice, she slowly got off the bed and wanted to sit beside Fia.

“That’s because Lady Colita took good care of me before at the Twilight Palace. She not only comforted me but also taught me a lot about elven etiquette. She’s a strict yet kind and good person.”

“Strict yet kind, huh…”

She didn’t deny the strict part, but as for Colita being kind, Fia more often saw Colita stopping at nothing to achieve her goals. She wondered what Nola meant by kind.

As if sensing Fia’s confusion, Nola, who had already shamelessly sat down beside Fia, raised her tail and pressed her body close to Fia while explaining.

“Remember before when I was drinking alone in the dining room because of the Claire situation? Miss Colita comforted me, saying that if you want something, you have to fight for it yourself. If you don’t properly convey your feelings to the other person, they’ll never know how you feel. Ah, come to think of it, when Lady Colita said that, she looked quite sad, as if she was also troubled by love. Even an excellent and cute elf like Lady Colita has someone she can’t win over?”

“No, I’ve never heard Colita mention anything like that.”

Colita had never shown signs of liking anyone in front of her. The only obvious thing was her unwavering loyalty to Fia.

Speaking of which, it was time to cleanse the Darkborn markings for the members of Twilight Flower again. Although several months had passed since she first met Davis, her understanding of Darkborn disease was still stuck at the level of “it might be a mutation caused by outsiders’ influence”—completely clueless. Now, the biggest breakthrough point could only rely on the goddess behind Calista. She wondered how Calista was doing over at Eternal Daylight Mages now.

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Pushing these to-do items to the back of her mind, Fia turned her head to look at the messy pink canopy bed behind her. The original canopy of the Eldest Princess’s bed was a dark blue that matched her cold personality, but dark blue was too dark. Not being able to see sunlight first thing upon waking up, Fia had it changed to pinkish-white. Now, with sunlight streaming into the room through the window, the sunlight reflected off the white sheets made the entire room exceptionally bright.

“So, shouldn’t Nola go pick out her own bedroom now? I’ll need to create a body for the attendant Lucitine brought along in a bit.”

“Huh?” Nola tilted her head, her widened purple vertical pupils full of confusion. “I’m already Fia’s fiancée. Shouldn’t I sleep in Fia’s room? It’s strange, though. Fia’s pillow and sheets don’t smell like Claire and Anastasia. Don’t you all usually sleep together?”

“Why would we sleep together? We’re only fiancées, not official wives yet.”

Because Nola’s face was practically pressed against hers, Fia couldn’t help but scoot over a bit. She felt Nola was exceptionally clingy today.

Come to think of it, beastmen go into heat in spring and autumn. Was Nola approaching that glowing time again?

Fia quickly glanced down at Nola’s left hand. She was still wearing that ring that could detect heat cycles. The ring wasn’t glowing now, indicating Nola wasn’t in that awful state yet. She breathed a sigh of relief. If she were going into heat now, she’d have the duty to soothe Nola’s restless heart. It would probably turn into quite a messy scene.

Not noticing Fia’s little movement, Nola, seeing Fia back away, simply placed one hand on Fia’s thigh covered by her black skirt. Her chest lightly pressed against Fia’s arm, a petulant expression on her face.

“Among beastmen, a fiancée is a wife. If you don’t sleep together every day, the people in the village will think the wife hasn’t satisfied her husband, hasn’t been virtuous, hasn’t fulfilled her wifely duties.”

“Beastmen are beastmen, elves are elves. My pillow and sheets are changed and washed every day. It would be strange if Nola could smell anyone else on them.”

Come to think of it, Nola’s behavior of rubbing all over her bed was probably the same as Tilulu and Milu’s behavior of rubbing against her to mark their scent?

“So Fia is saying I’m not a beastman?”

Nola held Fia’s hand with both of hers, leaning most of her body against Fia’s shoulder. Her mouth curved into a pitiful ‘へ’ shape, and the look in her eyes as she looked up from below was full of pleading. Coupled with the faint honey-like sweetness emanating from Nola’s skin and the warm breath as she spoke, under any other circumstances, Fia would be unable to resist Nola’s maidenly charm. But the moment she realized Nola’s goal was to sleep with her, she was left with only a strong urge to complain.

With her free hand, she grabbed one of Nola’s ears and, to avoid getting too close and being suddenly attacked by Nola, deliberately turned her head away.

“No way. At least not now. Otherwise, everyone will definitely think I deliberately brought Nola all the way from Cold Night just to do something shameless with her. Ultimately, even if Nola becomes my wife, she should still have her own separate room.”

Otherwise, when she was being lovey-dovey with Claire and Anastasia, she’d have to face Nola’s gaze as a spectator—Fia wasn’t thick-skinned enough to say that to Nola’s face.

She rubbed Nola’s bouncy cat ears and continued.

“And what happened to that proud and steadfast Holy Son, the chieftain of the Fire Cat tribe? Lately, Nola’s been like a different person.”

Fia’s teasing words made Nola so embarrassed her tail shot straight up. Then she let out an unceremonious “hmph,” as if guarding what little dignity she had left. Nola proactively put a little distance between them—just a little, only enough to move her graceful chest, wrapped in her white swordswoman outfit, away.

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“Hmph, that’s for outsiders. I’m Fia’s fiancée, and Fia is my fiancée. How could I be fierce with my own person?”

“I don’t see you being like that with Ying.”

“Ying is Ying, Fia is Fia. Friends and loved ones can’t be compared. And…”

For some reason, Nola’s voice suddenly faltered.

Fia curiously turned back to see Nola’s face flushed red, as if it might drip water. She was so shy she could barely contain herself, yet still stubbornly tried to meet Fia’s eyes. Her lips moved faintly as she gently pulled Fia’s arm into her own hot, trembling body.

“And… and doesn’t Fia like this little kitten of hers…”

“Ugh…”

As if hit by a mental magic surpassing the Tenth Tier, Fia froze completely. She stared at Nola’s hazy eyes, so shy they seemed about to tear up, and it took her a long moment to come back to her senses.

Calling herself a little kitten.

That’s just… ridiculously cute.

Maybe Claire had missed out on a wife more excellent than herself.

For a moment, Fia felt a strong wavering in her own feminine charm. She hadn’t expected Nola, who seemed not so smart, to actually be quite talented in the art of seduction. If she learned a thing or two from the Charm Cats, she might become a world-class enchantress capable of toppling nations.

“Wh… what? You’re not saying anything.”

Seeing Fia’s dazed expression, Nola couldn’t help but feel she’d said something wrong.

Fia’s expression turned serious. She placed both hands firmly on Nola’s shoulders and enunciated clearly, word by word.

“Nola, you’re so cute.”

“—!” In an instant, Fia caught a flash of delight in Nola’s purple vertical pupils. But Nola still had some shame; she turned her face away. “Not at all.”

Fia, as if healed, her lips forming an ‘ω’ shape, continuously stroked the top of Nola’s head. The feel of the smooth fiery red hair and fluffy cat ears made her mood soar higher and higher.

Making that proud Fire Cat Holy Son make such a sacrifice—what an achievement!

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I had to give something in return.

Fia noticed Nola’s tail standing straight up in happiness. Looking at Nola’s smooth, adorable profile that looked so bouncy, she seized the moment when Nola wasn’t paying attention and kissed her firmly on the cheek.

“Chu.”

“—!”

Nola immediately turned back, but only saw Fia’s equally flushed, yet smiling face.

“You… you…”

Nola tried to accuse her, but no matter what, her heart was filled only with happiness, to the point where she couldn’t form a complete sentence for a long time. Correspondingly, Fia took the initiative. She smiled cunningly, gently bumped Nola’s shoulder with her own, and then, relying on her smaller, petite frame, pressed herself into Nola’s embrace, most of her body pressing against Nola’s hot form.

“You, you what? Doesn’t Nola like me?”

“At least you should tell me first!”

“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.”

Saying this, Fia blinked. An idea popped into her head. Her delicate, doll-like features showed a teasing smile. She turned around, bent one knee and placed it on Nola’s thigh, climbed up to Nola’s shoulder in a face-to-face position, then pressed her hands on Nola’s shoulders, brought her moist lips close to Nola’s ear, and gently breathed.

“So, want to do it again?”

The warm, moist breath blew into Nola’s sensitive cat ear. Nola’s vertical pupils instantly contracted, and her ears trembled. Before Nola could answer, Fia’s moist red lips had already traced from Nola’s temple down to her cheek. The ticklish sensation on her skin tickled at Nola’s heart, making her both want to pull away from Fia and want Fia to be even more intense.

She unconsciously took a deep breath and thus inhaled Fia’s orchid fragrance. For a moment, she felt this orchid scent was like Fia’s fair, slender hands, teasing the tip of her nose and the strings of her heart. She was captivated by the fragrance emanating from Fia. Her body and soul seemed completely enveloped by Fia, who was like a night sprite, becoming a lamb awaiting slaughter in Fia’s hands. Her heart could no longer contain anything but Fia, who embodied elegance and grace itself.

The moment she realized she was prey, she couldn’t help but frenziedly pursue Fia, wanting only to be closer, ever closer to Fia. As long as she could kiss that arm as fair as a lotus root, even kiss from the smooth, clean, odorless white toes up to the instep, and then all the way up taste the shapely calves with their faint sweetness, or go further and lick from Fia’s beautiful collarbone all the way up to her cheek—if she could do that, it would be perfectly fine to become Fia’s plaything!

To keep Fia from falling, Nola, while fantasizing internally, forcefully pressed both hands down on the hem of her white swordsman skirt. She sat up straight, blushing shyly, waiting only for the moment Fia’s lips slid onto her cheek. Her purple eyes had lost all reason, resembling spiraling mosquito-repellent incense patterns.

Until a dissonant sound appeared at the door—not someone speaking, but something hitting the doorframe.

As if electrocuted, Fia immediately left Nola, and Nola quickly moved her stool away, putting distance between them. Although blushing, both tried their best to restore serious expressions and look towards the door, pretending nothing had happened.

Then, relief and disappointment appeared on Nola’s face, while Fia looked troubled.

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Appearing at the door wasn’t Claire or any other acquaintance, but Afla, one of the Thirteen Attendants. Afla also realized she had made an inappropriate sound. Her figure, which had only been peeking half her face around the doorframe, gradually shifted to her standing obediently at the door, nervously pinching the corner of her clothes. She had been lowering her presence, peeking at Fia and Nola inside the room, until she saw their embarrassingly intimate cheek-to-cheek closeness, and only then did her fingers uncontrollably pierce into the wall with a crack.

She had forgotten to have Afla wait at the door when she came.

The heat on her face rapidly faded. Fia stood up and coughed forcefully. She was the type who, as long as she was thick-skinned enough, the embarrassment would be on the other person.

“Ahem. Come in.”

“I’m… I’m terribly sorry.”

“Huh?”

Fia tilted her head in confusion. She heard fear in Afla’s tone. Although she had called Afla here for the purpose of punishment, Afla shouldn’t be so scared her body trembled.

Hearing Fia’s confused sound, Afla’s already tense body became even more tense, to the point where her walking posture was exceptionally strange.

What Fia didn’t know was that the punishment Afla feared was different from the punishment Fia imagined. Afla was worried about Fia making her lose all face, using her as a tool to vent evil desires. For example, like the maid Ness, being twisted by mental magic into a little dog barking in front of everyone. Afla felt she would definitely be made to wear a collar and be led around the garden crawling like a pet. Now, seeing Fia bully Nola like this, she couldn’t help but imagine being treated the same way, and thus unconsciously empathized with Nola’s perspective, feeling strong unease and a subtle sense of anticipation.

She didn’t know how to describe the feeling she had just now. She only felt that while it was humiliating, there was also an indescribable satisfaction that made her soul tremble with excitement. She both resisted Fia’s encroachment and couldn’t help but fantasize about the feeling of those red lips brushing across her cheek—she had been an undead for a long time and had long forgotten what it felt like to be touched by someone. But that exchange just now made her remember what touch felt like.

Punishment was supposed to be a matter of trampling dignity, so why was she so expectant, even fantasizing about being that bullied fire cat…

She swallowed non-existent saliva and asked quite timidly.

“Lady Fia, may I ask what the punishment—”

“First, sit down. My punishment requires a bit of preparation. Right now, you have no feeling. If I punish you now, I won’t be satisfied.”

Although she didn’t understand what Fia meant, Afla didn’t dare ask what “satisfied” referred to either. Under Nola’s strange gaze from the side, she sat down in Fia’s spot. Then, Fia extended her right hand, her palm aimed at Afla’s forehead from a distance.

Faint golden flowing light began to condense. A sacred strong wind that wildly whipped the curtains filled the room, as if a goddess had descended. The room was filled with a sacred atmosphere.

“[Sacred Relic Analysis].”