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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Sigh…”
Eileen Nord.
She had just finished showering, and her ebony hair, black and lustrous, was still damp.
It was so long that it reached her waist, and even with a magical hairdryer, it would take a while to dry completely.
Her face, with its sharp features and prominent nose, was also dewy with moisture.
Eileen stood there, various undergarments laid out on the bed, facing the biggest dilemma of her life. The sigh that escaped her lips was a testament to her frustration at not finding a solution.
She picked up a pair of frilly, white undergarments and murmured,
“Maybe this is a better option. It’s a different look for me, a sort of unexpected charm…”
She imagined herself wearing them.
Then, she frowned and put them back down.
“…Horrific.”
The frilly, white undergarments were out. She had envisioned it for a fleeting moment, but even she had to admit that they didn’t suit her usual image.
Others might think that anything would look good on her, given her physique, but this was a crucial decision for Eileen, facing the biggest challenge of her life.
And the source of this dilemma was none other than Rudrick.
“He just… casually… said he would stay the night…”
Her face flushed at the thought, and she instinctively covered it with her hands. She felt a warmth spreading through her palms, and a faint metallic scent reached her nose.
A nosebleed, brought on by her own imagination.
She quickly grabbed a handkerchief and dabbed at the blood, making sure it didn’t stain the undergarments on the bed.
“…Is it even possible to lose control of my body just by thinking about it?”
She seriously doubted she would be able to handle their first night together.
She, a master-class superhuman, would probably lose control of her body just by lying in bed with Rudrick in her undergarments. The sight of her blood rushing to her nose would be truly bizarre.
She shook her head, determined to avoid that outcome, and paused her lingerie selection to open the cupboard.
History would be made tonight.
Of course, the reality was that she had simply misinterpreted Rudrick’s casual remark and blown it out of proportion. But Eileen, having already made up her mind, had no reservations.
Drinking to excess was out of the question, as it would make her actions unpredictable. But a glass or two of wine, like she usually enjoyed during dinner, would help her relax.
Having reached this conclusion, Eileen grabbed a bottle of wine from her collection and took a large swig, without even bothering to pour it into a glass.
“…Ahh, that’s better.”
It was a high-quality wine from her collection, meant to be savored, but she had already gulped down almost half the bottle.
It was something she would never normally do, but she was desperate.
She wiped the wine that dribbled down her chin with a handkerchief. The sight was almost decadent, but she was simply trying to calm her nerves.
The alcohol helped her make a decision.
Eileen, who had been agonizing over her lingerie choices, finally closed her eyes with a newfound determination.
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“…Come to my room?”
This wasn’t his first time visiting the Grand Duchess’ residence in the north.
But it was his first time entering Eileen’s bedroom.
Being invited to her bedroom at this late hour might sound suggestive, but he was simply there to discuss the wedding arrangements.
Besides, this was Eileen.
“She gets flustered just by holding hands…”
Considering her reactions to simple physical contact, it was safe to assume that nothing untoward would happen.
Eileen had a reputation, after all.
He still wasn’t used to the idea that men were the ones who had to worry about being taken advantage of in this world, but if it was Eileen, he felt safe.
If their roles were reversed, and Eileen was a man dating his younger sister, he would be comfortable letting them go on a trip together.
With those absurd thoughts in mind, he stood in front of Eileen’s bedroom.
Even though he knew Eileen was innocent, he didn’t want to cause a scandal by openly entering her bedroom, so he glanced around before entering.
The room was dimly lit by a soft magic stone lamp.
“…You’re late.”
“Yeah, it took me a while to get clearance to use the teleportation circle at this hour.”
He closed the door behind him and finally took in the sight.
A large bed that could easily fit five people, and Eileen sitting on it.
“…Ah.”
There was a problem.
“Uh, Eileen… it’s a bit weird to say this in your bedroom, but…”
“Hm?”
“…You’re… dressed rather… provocatively.”
What was the word for it? See-through?
She was wearing a white negligee that revealed her black undergarments underneath.
Well, it was her bedroom, and it was bedtime, so it was normal for her to be wearing a nightgown… But he didn’t know where to look.
Eileen smiled softly, seemingly amused by his discomfort.
“Do you find it strange for me to be wearing a nightgown in my bedroom?”
“Of course you would be wearing a nightgown in your bedroom…”
“Yes, that would be the natural assumption.”
She gestured towards the empty space next to her on the bed, inviting him to sit. He did, but…
The atmosphere was different.
Was this the Eileen he knew? He hadn’t noticed before because she was always covered by her uniform, but seeing her like this… his heart skipped a beat.
He knew that in this world, women were the ones who seduced men. But Eileen’s current appearance was undeniably suggestive.
He knew better.
He knew it was absurd to think, “Is she trying to seduce me?”
It was like in the land of the blind, the one who could see was considered the odd one out. In this gender-reversed world, he was the odd one out, with his outdated views on gender roles.
If he asked Eileen, “Are you trying to seduce me?”, she would probably stare at him in disbelief.
“…I understand how Hong Gildong felt when he couldn’t call his father ‘father.'”
[T/N: Idk either -\(0_0)/- ]
“You’re speaking nonsense again. But that’s nothing new.”
“It’s a saying… Anyway, I don’t know where to look.”
“Hee hee.”
Eileen chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“It won’t wear out if you look at it. And what are you going to do with the sight of a naked woman anyway?”
“…”
What he considered an incredibly revealing outfit was probably the equivalent of a shirtless man at a swimming pool in this world.
He sighed.
He was the odd one out here.
Sighing quietly, he reminded himself why he was here and spoke.
“So, Eileen, do you have any specific requests for the wedding?”
“…Ah, I haven’t decided yet.”
“What?”
“I was going to discuss it with you… But you suddenly decided to come here.”
“Hmm… I didn’t ask because I had any specific ideas.”
“I see.”
A wedding.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, so he wanted to make sure everyone’s opinions were considered. The problem was, Elena was the one planning it.
Well, he was sure she would adjust the plans if he asked her to…
But he had already left everything in Elena’s hands. He didn’t feel comfortable interfering now.
As he was pondering this dilemma, Eileen lay down on the bed and said,
“…We can discuss it tomorrow morning after we get some sleep.”
“Go to sleep already?”
“It’s quite late… You make it sound like you’re not going to sleep.”
“I wasn’t planning on going to sleep just yet…”
“…?”
“…?”
They stared at each other in confusion.
An awkward silence stretched between them, and then Eileen spoke cautiously,
“…I thought you were staying the night, since you came at this hour.”
“Well… It’s not unusual to stay the night at this hour. So, should we sleep together?”
“…?”
What was he talking about?
Eileen’s bewildered expression was clear as day.
She stammered,
“…Isn’t tonight… our honeymoon? That’s why I chose… the prettiest undergarments…”
“Undergarments…?”
Wait a minute.
Did she assume that he was planning to sleep with her in the same bed tonight?
He felt like he had been hit on the head with a hammer.
It was a culture shock.
He quickly composed himself, careful not to hurt her feelings, and said as gently as possible,
“…Eileen…”
“…”
“A honeymoon… is the night you spend together after the wedding, not before.”
“…“
“This would be… a shotgun wedding.”
Eileen pulled the blanket over her head.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue.
Maybe he should have been more tactful…?
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