The morning after sleeping with Alyssa.
Usually, even after a deep sleep, I wake up feeling unwell.
But for some reason, today, I felt surprisingly good.
An unfamiliar bed, my younger sister clinging to me and refusing to let go—given all these factors, I had braced myself for a bad morning.
Yet, what wind had blown over my fragile body to change this?
“Alyssa, get up. We have a lot to do.”
“Five more minutes… Just five…”
Shake, shake.
I shook her shoulders to wake her, but Alyssa buried her face into my chest and hugged my waist even tighter, refusing to budge.
Feeling her warm breath against my chest was oddly unpleasant, and I wanted to push her off immediately.
But no matter how hard I tried, her grip was too strong.
It was like I had become her hugging pillow, so I had no choice but to let her cling to me quietly.
I knew it—I shouldn’t have allowed her to sleep next to me.
Ten minutes, twenty minutes… thirty minutes.
How much time had passed?
Alyssa finally opened her eyes when the slightly dim light outside had turned fully bright, and the bustling sounds from downstairs reached our ears.
“…Sister?”
Stretch—
“Thanks to you, we’ve wasted a lot of time. How do you plan to make up for this?”
“Ouch… ow…”
I pulled her cheek as much as I could, feeling oddly satisfied as her beautiful face distorted in response.
Even though she’d just woken up, her radiant, glowing skin felt so smooth to the touch.
She might be useless except for her magic skills, but this alone made me reconsider her value as a companion.
“We’re heading into the city now. If you want to come along, you’d better hurry. I need to take a bath now, thanks to my annoying sister.”
“The city…?”
We had no time to explore the capital when we arrived yesterday, but today, I was determined to do some sightseeing.
Once I enrolled at the academy tomorrow, I wouldn’t have the freedom to roam around as I pleased.
And even if I went out, I’d likely be returning to the estate, leaving little chance for sightseeing.
Today was essentially my last opportunity.
I briefly considered leaving Alyssa behind at the inn and enjoying the day alone.
But being in the capital I’d dreamed of softened my heart—
I thought it might not be so bad to bring her along.
Snuggle, snuggle.
“Sister, can we just stay at the inn today? It doesn’t have to be today for sightseeing…”
“Alyssa, don’t test my patience. I was about to be generous, but if you don’t want to go, that’s fine!”
“Ah, no! I want to go! Please take me with you, Sister…”
“You should’ve said so from the start. I’ll let it slide this time, but next time, you’d better follow me quietly. Got it?”
“Yes!”
You’d better be grateful my condition is good today, Alyssa.
Even as she got up and followed me to the bathroom, she kept muttering something under her breath, her head lowered.
I couldn’t catch all of it, but I caught bits about bakeries, florists, and restaurants—famous spots in the capital.
Was Alyssa secretly looking forward to sightseeing?
If so, she should’ve just been honest from the beginning. What a frustrating child.
“This bathroom is better than expected.”
As expected of a luxurious inn for nobles.
The bathroom, with its grand lion statue at the entrance, was extravagantly decorated.
Rows of various tubs stretched endlessly.
It might even surpass the bathroom back at the Roswell estate.
Just how much money does it take to build and maintain such a facility?
Then again, the price for just two nights here was exorbitant.
“Alyssa, I’d like to bathe alone. You can finish your bath separately.”
“But I want to bathe with you…”
“If you interrupt my bath again, I won’t talk to you for a while. Understand?”
“…Yes.”
After firmly warning Alyssa, I opened the door to a private bath adorned with roses, the one I had my eye on from the beginning.
The tub was filled with an unusual crimson water, so opaque you couldn’t see through it.
Just standing there, I could feel the sweet scent of roses permeating my body, making me wonder how heavenly it would feel to soak in it.
Splash—
‘This is bliss…’
The stunning glass ceiling allowed me to gaze at the blue sky, and the lavishly painted walls drew my attention.
This luxurious bathroom reminded me of the joys of bathing, which I hadn’t enjoyed in so long.
This must be paradise.
If I inherit the estate and make a lot of money, I’d like to renovate the mansion’s bathroom like this.
Replacing the ceiling with glass would probably cost a fortune, wouldn’t it?
Still, I want to try…
Ah, this fragrance is incredible…
To think such a marvelous bathroom is empty.
Maybe it’s because it’s still early lunchtime.
What luck…
Splash—
“This inn’s bathroom is wonderful, don’t you think?”
“Eek!”
As I soaked in the tub, gazing up at the sky, a figure suddenly rose before me, startling me.
Had they been underwater the entire time I was here for over 30 minutes?
“This inn is one of my favorite spots. I visit it occasionally.”
“It is nice, but…”
The water rippled.
“…I’ve never seen anyone bigger than me before.”
The woman, who fully stood up, was overwhelming in every way, radiating an aura of sheer magnitude.
Her height, her chest, her hips—everything about her physique exuded an intense and almost violent sensuality.
Yet, her long, flowing indigo hair that cascaded down to her thighs seemed to transform that sensuality into something more encompassing and noble.
“Ah~ May I sit beside you? I’m so happy to meet someone who shares my hobbies after so long~!”
Without waiting for my permission, she slid into the water beside me, as though my approval had already been granted.
Her utterly uninhibited demeanor would normally have put me off, yet strangely, I felt at ease.
“Um…have you been in the water this whole time?”
“Ehehe~ I feel most at peace when I spend at least an hour here every day~.”
So, she had been in the water even before I arrived?
Was she human?
Maybe a hybrid of a human and a mermaid?
But she didn’t have webbed fingers or anything…
“You have an unusual hobby. Oh, I should introduce myself—I’m Amy Rosewell, the eldest daughter of the Rosewell family, visiting the capital.”
“Amy, is it? I’m Marybell Flora~ Nice to meet you~.”
“…Flora?”
The moment I heard her name, my mind began to race.
Even someone like me, a rural noble, knew of the powerful and influential Flora family.
The Flora Ducal…?
“P-Pardon my insolence!”
“Oh, come on~ It’s fine,” she said with an unaffected smile, gently patting my shoulder.
Despite her casual attitude, my heart pounded at the realization that I was face-to-face with the daughter of the most powerful family in the kingdom.
Unlike the distant royal family, the Flora Ducal wielded real influence, controlling the rights to the kingdom’s most vital trade routes.
My family, barely surviving on modest trade revenues and taxes, was like a mouse before a cat when it came to the Flora family’s power.
Meeting a noble of such authority for the first time, I felt at a loss.
While the princess had been straightforward in her desires and personality, making it easy to navigate her whims, the duke’s daughter was a mystery.
What did she want?
How could I avoid offending her?
“Amy, dear~ May I call you Amy?”
“If Lady Flora wishes, you may call me whatever you like.”
“Fufu, that makes me happy~ As expected, someone who’s close to Sharen is different~.”
Thump-thump.
“I-I’m not exactly a close friend of Lady Sharen…”
“Oh my~ Aren’t you? I was under the impression you were her friend.”
“Am I wrong?”
“N-No…”
As her deep indigo eyes bore into me, it hit me like a lightning bolt.
From the beginning, I was her target.
Somehow, Marybell had uncovered everything about my connection with Lady Sharen.
My lie about being the princess’s friend to avoid suspicion seemed to have backfired spectacularly.
“Don’t be so scared~ I only came here to chat with you, Amy~.”
At some point, she had moved behind me and wrapped me in her large embrace.
The feel of her wet skin and the warmth of her chest against my head was oddly pleasant, though I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.
“So, Amy, how exactly did you win over Sharen? She’s notoriously difficult to befriend.”
Squeeze—
“Was it these breasts? Strange… Sharen isn’t the type to be swayed by such things. Did she fall for your face instead?”
She tightened her grip on me, immobilizing my body completely as her gaze roved over me.
Her piercing indigo eyes lingered on my chest, prompting me to instinctively cover myself with my hands.
“Or was it the little sister act? But I heard you were the elder one. If so, your sister must not be of much use…she doesn’t seem particularly noteworthy~.”
“Marybell Flora.”
How dare you.
“Heh?”
“If you’re so curious, why not ask Sharen directly?”
The icy calm that had numbed my veins now surged back, igniting a dark and cold fury deep within me.
Marybell released me from her grip, her surprised gaze meeting mine.
Though taller than me, the fact that I stood while she sat made her seem so much smaller.
“Or, if you prefer, shall I show you myself? I’ll demonstrate exactly how I gained Sharen’s favor, piece by piece, with this ‘wanton body’ you seem so interested in.”
“Y-Your hair and eyes…”
“Details like that are irrelevant right now. Focus on yourself. I’m not kind enough to forgive the first strike.”
“S-Stop coming closer!”
As a torrent of blue magic erupted from Marybell’s hands, a violent spray of water surged forth, its destructive energy unmistakable.
Swish-
However, the stream of water that poured down on me disappeared before my eyes, as if it were melting like dew.
“Ma… Dark Lord…”
I approached her as she gave up resisting.
Raising her fear-stricken face gently with my fingertips, I gazed at her leisurely.
“Do you still wonder why the princess and I became so close?” Marybell said.
“No…”
“Good. You did well. I’ll praise you specially for this.”
Swoosh, swish.
“A… Ah…”
As I stroked her deep indigo hair, she trembled slightly, curling up her body.
Yet she seemed to feel my touch, quivering slowly.
Her appearance, so endearing like a kitten, made me unconsciously tickle her chin.
“Now, let’s have you return for today. Remember, what happened today must remain our secret. If it ever gets out…”
“I’ll keep it a secret… Lady Amy…”
“Good girl.”
As soon as the black tendrils binding her vanished, Marybell began to slowly immerse herself in the water.
Her blissfully dazed eyes lingered on me until the very last moment, giving me a sense of conquest.
Ahaha… Ahaha…
How adorable she’d be when we meet again…
Hmm?
Covering my lips with the back of my hand as I laughed elegantly, I only regained my senses after Marybell completely disappeared.
It felt like waking from a brief dream, but the violently rippling red water reminded me that what had just happened was real.
What… What have I done…?
Gripping my head, I was filled with regret.
But spilled water cannot be retrieved.
The thought of a messenger from the Flora Ducal House arriving tomorrow filled me with intense dread.
Why couldn’t I control myself?
Even in the estate, I’d often feel dark urges when I saw Alyssa, but I could always suppress them, albeit at the cost of stomachaches and headaches.
Was it because I didn’t take the medicine Ameri gave me yesterday?
But even so, I feel better than usual…
Ah, if only I could turn back time… I’d sincerely apologize for my rudeness…
“Sister, you’re finally here!”
“Alyssa…”
No longer wanting to stay in the bathroom, I stepped outside, only to be greeted by Alyssa, who had already finished her bath.
Her slightly damp, shimmering golden hair made me envious, but I could endure it.
“Come here.”
“…Huh? Wh-what?”
I pulled my younger sister close, feeling her soft and supple body pressed against mine.
Her body, soft and delightfully squishy no matter where I touched, embodied the loveliness I envied and adored, stirring a desire to tease her.
Hmm… But I can hold back.
“Sigh… Perhaps leaving the estate was the problem.”
“Uh… Sister… W-wait…”
Why did I lose control when I met Lady Flora?
Sigh…
I hope everything passes without issue. It’d be great if she kept the secret.
“It’s fine now. Hurry and get ready to go out, Alyssa.” “W-what was that all about?”
What’s done cannot be undone.
Just in case, I’ll write a note asking Mother to inform me if any messages come from the Flora Ducal House.
For today, I’ll enjoy sightseeing in the capital!