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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuzio
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“What?”
Vivian’s words made me doubt my ears.
A kiss was a step down from her original request?
The thought of what she had in mind before made me dizzy.
“…Huh?”
Christine seemed just as flustered.
She stood there, eyes wide, unsure how to react.
I had been prepared for Vivian to ask for something outrageous.
So, while her request was unexpected, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
I had anticipated her demanding a rare artifact or some impossible task.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be related to something like this.
“What in the—”
My voice cracked, betraying my composure.
This was the first time since possessing this body that I had been so flustered.
I snuck a glance at Christine, who was frozen beside me.
What should I do?
Objectively speaking, a kiss itself wasn’t difficult.
If it held no meaning, it would be a simple task.
However, Christine was not one to treat a kiss so lightly.
“…That’s impossible.”
It was Christine who broke the silence.
She shook her head, her expression a mix of fluster and determination.
Vivian tilted her head, clicking her tongue in amusement.
“That’s the most lenient I can be. Why is it impossible?”
“That’s…”
Christine placed a hand over her chest, as if trying to soothe a heart that no longer beat.
Words seemed to fail her, but her resolve was clear.
A kiss required love.
A kiss required the right atmosphere.
A kiss demanded those things as prerequisites, at least according to her beliefs.
“When love and atmosphere are present, then… I would like to.”
“But Jekkiel needs the map deciphered as soon as possible, doesn’t he?”
Christine nodded, unwavering in her stance.
“My feelings won’t change.”
“I see.”
Before Christine could elaborate, Vivian simply nodded.
There was no hint of anger or frustration on her face, only a strange sense of satisfaction.
She smiled slyly and continued,
“As expected. As expected, I’m glad. And of course, I never intended for the kiss to happen in front of me. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
So, it wasn’t about witnessing it firsthand.
That was a relief.
But before I could fully relax, Vivian continued,
“It will take me two, maybe three days to decipher the map. During that time, I want you two to… experience true love.”
“True love?”
“Yes. Tsk, tsk, tsk. It’s not as grand as the Ulfens’ territory, but… spend some quality time together around here. Ah, and I’ll provide the most comfortable lodgings, of course.”
It wasn’t as difficult a request as I had feared.
I nodded in agreement.
Christine, still seemingly confused, also nodded.
“Excuse me.”
If something was unclear, it was best to ask.
Christine cleared her throat.
“Why… are you making this request? This isn’t the first time you’ve asked for something like this.”
“That’s because…”
Vivian grinned, her expression unreadable.
“I refuse to believe that there’s nothing in this world that I, Vivian, could envy. I want to see it with my own eyes. I want to find it in you two.”
With that, Vivian prepared to ascend the white tree, Eve, her tail coiling around its trunk.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a map to decipher. The sooner I begin, the better. You two, go and do… whatever it is lovers do.”
“Whatever we do will still be within your sight, Lady Vivian. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
Vivian nodded, still smiling.
“Whether you’re here or there, whether I can see you or not… as long as it exists, that’s all that matters.”
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
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Clatter— Clatter—
Despite having wings, we found ourselves riding in a carriage.
The Lamias, lacking feet, had developed quite the advanced transportation system.
It was said that their carriages were a popular tourist attraction and a point of pride for their kind.
-At least try riding a carriage together~ It’ll spark some romance, I’m sure~ Tsk, tsk~
We heeded Vivian’s advice and boarded the carriage, but the awkward silence was suffocating.
“This is a first.”
“Yes, it is.”
Christine understood the unspoken meaning.
It was true; everything was a first for us.
Spending leisurely time together like this, riding in a carriage… even kissing would be a new experience for both of us.
I had no memory of my life in this world before possessing this body, but I had yet to share a kiss.
“How is your work in the human world?”
“Manageable.”
“Are you certain you weren’t injured on the Harpies’ Hill?”
“I wasn’t hurt.”
“……”
Silence descended again.
Clatter— Clatter—
The carriage swayed, the ride far from comfortable.
“I hear they have delicious food around here.”
“Is that so.”
“There are also many sights to see, I’ve heard.”
“I see.”
“……”
Silence.
I was trying my best to maintain a conversation, but it was proving to be quite difficult.
“Um.”
“What is it?”
“Would you… prefer it if I weren’t speaking to you?”
“Not particularly.”
“Oh.”
Christine rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.
“From now on, when we speak… please answer with at least five words.”
“I won’t do that.”
“……”
Silence reigned once more.
Crunch—
Christine bit into an apple, her expression a mixture of frustration and resignation.
She did love her apples.
Personally, I found the silence rather comforting.
It gave me time to think about how to fulfill Vivian’s request and, more importantly, how to ensure a happy ending for us.
As I pondered these things,
“Um, you.”
“What is it? Ah, what’s wrong?”
Five words. Right.
Christine’s tone turned serious.
“Back when Vivian requested a kiss… what did you think? I’m just… curious—”
THUD!
“Oof!”
The carriage lurched violently, cutting her off.
I slammed against the wall, while Christine tumbled into my arms.
“I-I apologize!”
“It’s alright. It wasn’t your fault.”
My words were muffled as she buried her face in my chest, her face as red as the apple she had been eating.
THUD—!
But even after we had separated and regained our composure, the carriage had other plans.
Another violent jolt sent Christine crashing into me once more.
“My apologies.”
“It’s alright. I mean, I’m fine.”
THUD—!
It seemed our attempts to maintain a distance were futile.
Each time the carriage lurched, Christine would end up in my arms.
After about the fifth repetition,
“Sigh.”
“H-Huh?”
I let out a sigh and simply pulled Christine onto my lap, holding her close.
It didn’t stop the carriage from swaying, but at least it prevented her from bouncing around like a startled bird.
“Y-You’re… squeezing me too tightly. Please…”
Christine’s face was as red as her apple, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to pry my hand from her waist.
It wasn’t like I was doing anything inappropriate…
“And… this isn’t right. I mean… because I’m the Sin of Pride. I’m the one in the higher position… So… It would make more sense for me to be the one holding you… Ah…”
Christine stammered, her words jumbling together in a flustered mess.
It was then that a thought occurred to me.
“There’s no need for this. I’ll have the coachman stop. We’ll switch to a different carriage.”
SLAM—!
“That’s…”
Before I could finish, Christine grabbed my hand, her grip surprisingly strong.
“Absolutely not.”
Her eyes, wide and pleading, met mine, her face flushed a vibrant red as if she were about to explode.
“No. We can’t.”
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[Damn Vivian wants to see them FUCK]
Wut? I thought they already shared a “kiss”. During the last healing process, for her to be able to attend her coronation was to “sacrifice” her “first kiss” to him. Was I wrong or did the author forget???