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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Lovey-dovey.
There was no better way to describe Rudrick and Eileen. Eileen nestled happily in his arms, a blissful smile on her face, and Rudrick, indulging her.
They were both fully clothed, and nothing scandalous had happened the night before, but “lovey-dovey” was the perfect description for a couple cuddling and chatting in bed.
Time flew by as Rudrick and Eileen enjoyed each other’s company.
They didn’t quite make it to noon, as Eileen had suggested, but they did stay in bed until quite late.
“Shall we eat?”
“…Yeah, we should probably eat something. It’s a bit past breakfast time. We can call it brunch.”
“It’s a chore to go all the way to the dining room… Ugh…”
Eileen chuckled and casually wrapped her arm around Rudrick, supporting him.
“Hm?”
“Let’s have breakfast brought to the room.”
And then she lifted him up.
It was the so-called princess carry. Or in this world, perhaps it should be called the “prince carry.”
Rudrick, suddenly being carried like a prince, calmly asked,
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing. I’m just carrying you to the table.”
“…I can walk perfectly fine.”
“I just wanted to… Is that a lame excuse?”
“Well, I guess it’s not a big deal…”
“Then that’s enough for me.”
Rudrick, securely nestled in Eileen’s arms, was speechless.
Despite her gentle appearance, Eileen was the Black Lion of the Empire, one of the few master-class swordsmen in the continent. Her other title, “The Strongest Swordsman of the North,” was no exaggeration. She could easily carry Rudrick without even using magical enhancement.
He felt a strange sensation, being carried in this manner by a woman, and he quietly sat down at the table.
“Do you have any specific food requests?”
“Let’s keep it simple. Whatever you want to eat, Eileen. Or something you usually eat.”
“That’s a tough request. Those are usually the hardest to fulfill.”
Eileen joked, then asked after a moment of contemplation,
“What do I usually eat for breakfast? Just a simple salad and some bread, I suppose. Is that alright with you?”
“That’s more than enough. It’s not like we exerted ourselves last night.”
“L-last night… ahem…”
“Well, we could always have some… stamina food… to prepare for our honeymoon.”
Eileen blushed and coughed at Rudrick’s teasing remark.
They had grown closer after cuddling and holding hands the night before, to the point where she could casually pick him up, but she was still getting used to this kind of playful banter.
“Stamina food… That’s tempting, but let’s save it for later. And please, tone down the teasing.”
“You’re blushing over a little teasing, even though we didn’t even do anything.”
“…Mmm…”
“I’m just kidding. Let’s just have a light breakfast.”
He had learned his lesson from the previous night’s events. He knew how far he could push Eileen before she snapped.
Seeing her blush and pout, he quickly changed the subject, putting on a cheerful facade. It seemed Eileen often had breakfast brought to her room, as she rang a bell to summon the kitchen staff and sat down across from him at the table.
“Did you tell anyone you were coming here?”
“Tell anyone? No, I didn’t. I didn’t have anyone to tell. I doubt Elena or Sylvia would be happy if I told them I was spending the night in the north. And it’s not like they would worry about me being gone for a night.”
“…Hmm, I suppose you’re right.”
“Besides, there’s a record of me using the teleportation circle.”
Rudrick recalled the events of the previous night, when he had used the teleportation circle late at night.
The mage in charge of the circle had grumbled about being summoned at such a late hour, until he saw Rudrick, his superior and a far more experienced mage, and quickly activated the circle with the nervous obedience of a new recruit.
It wasn’t long before their breakfast arrived.
She truly seemed to prefer a simple breakfast, as it consisted of just a salad with dressing, rye bread, and butter.
Rudrick took a bite of bread and froze.
It was such an abrupt and unnatural pause that Eileen, who was about to take a bite of her salad, asked,
“Rudrick, is there something wrong with the food…?”
“…Ah.”
He swallowed the bread with difficulty and scratched his head sheepishly.
“I forgot to tell her.”
“Tell who what?”
“…Last night was supposed to be my blood donation day for Arwen, but I stayed late in the lab and came straight here without telling her.”
He could picture Arwen, the vampire cat, waiting patiently for him all night, only to be met with disappointment as he failed to return.
He chuckled weakly, his face filled with regret.
“I’m in trouble. I have another angry girlfriend to appease.”
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“…You have no idea how worried I was.”
Thump, thump.
Her silver tail thumped rhythmically against the floor, a clear sign of her displeasure.
Arwen, in her cat form, bared her fangs and growled at Rudrick, who was kneeling before her.
“I waited patiently, even though you were laughing and having fun with that lizard woman.”
“…You saw that?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
She glared at him and continued,
“I waited here all night, believing you would come back. But you betrayed my trust.”
“It’s not… betrayal… That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think-”
“Hmph.”
Arwen clicked her tongue warningly, and he immediately shut up.
He had been regularly providing her with blood. There had been a break due to certain unforeseen circumstances, but after things settled down, he had resumed his blood donations.
And yesterday had been one of those days.
She had waited for him in his room all day, and when she finally went down to the laboratory, she saw him flirting with Sylphia. She had been annoyed, but it was within the realm of things she could tolerate.
But leaving the laboratory without returning to his room and spending the night with Eileen in the north after receiving her call… That was unacceptable, even for someone as understanding as Arwen.
“I could tolerate you laughing and having fun with that lizard woman. But to forget our promise and spend the night with another woman…?”
“…We literally just slept. Nothing else happened.”
“And yet, you smell like…”
Arwen’s violet eyes narrowed.
She padded towards him and sniffed.
“…You reek of another woman.”
“I’m sorry.”
He had broken his promise, and he had to appease the angry vampire cat.
Rudrick quickly apologized.
“Words are meaningless.”
“…Arwen, are you hungry? It’s past dinner time.”
“Of course I’m hungry! I’ve been starving since yesterday thanks to you!”
She swatted his outstretched arm away, her form shimmering like a mirage. She transformed into her human form, sat down on the bed, and tilted her chin up haughtily.
“You’re already so easily distracted. I can only imagine what it will be like after we’re married.”
“…Well, technically, I’m marrying all five of you, so it’s not really accurate to call them ‘other women’…”
“Hee hee.”
Arwen let out a cold laugh at his feeble attempt to defend himself. Her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes remained cold and unforgiving. He apologized again.
“I’m sorry.”
“There are consequences for your actions.”
She beckoned with a flick of her wrist, and black smoke enveloped his arm.
“Huh?”
Before he could react, she lifted him up and gently placed him on the bed.
Then, true to her nature as a creature of darkness, she drew the curtains closed, plunging the room into darkness.
“Don’t you agree?”
She asked in a low voice, her violet eyes glowing in the darkness.
He could only see the faint outline of her face and her approaching eyes.
He turned over on his stomach, exposing his neck, and said in a resigned tone,
“…Please be gentle.”
“I’ll try.”
And with that, her fangs sank into his neck.
It was a strange sensation, one he couldn’t get used to, no matter how many times he experienced it.
He felt his blood draining away and complained,
“It feels weird.”
“Shouldn’t you be used to it by now? You said the same thing last time.”
“Put yourself in my shoes! This isn’t something you get used to.”
His words were muffled, as she was currently draining his blood, but Arwen understood his complaint.
She pressed closer against him, her body flush against his back, and said,
“You smell like that brazen woman.”
“…Why is your sense of smell so sensitive? And why are you pressing against me like that?”
“Marking.”
She pulled back from his neck and replied,
“To erase the scent of other women from you. Don’t ask silly questions.”
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