461: The Blessing of a Dragon
Liz and I had never had a lover. I still had the knowledge I had read and heard, but Liz’s knowledge—was rather biased, I thought. Mainly, because of me.
“…It’s your fault, Master.”
Liz smiled and gently wrapped her arms around my waist and back and lifted me in a princess carry. I was hugged tightly.
“…It’s warm.” For some reason… a sad sound.
“Liz?”
“In Itria… I did this.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want it anymore… for everything to end, without me knowing. To be made to realize that my efforts had no meaning. —To be made to think that if I had done that then…!”
Liz’s voice was suddenly filled with heat. I was hugged tightly, and her hot voice was blown into my ear, and it resonated with my soul.
“Honor, pride… maybe even victory, I didn’t need. Discipline, orders… if it meant losing you, I would have thrown them away…”
“…You shouldn’t. Liz. That’s all, Liz, this country, has cherished.”
I had thrown away my honor and my pride. My discipline was also questionable. But I had given orders in the name of a supreme commander, and I had made them follow them with discipline—and in the end, I had won.
That was what this country had cherished. There had been people who, in the depths of despair, and yet, in their thirst for victory, had tried to maintain the form of their country with honor and pride.
I desperately reached out with my weak hands and hugged her back. What I couldn’t do in Itria. —What I should have done. I had made this child cry, because I had not been strong enough.
I leaned in and whispered in her long dark elf ear.
“I’ll do my best. I won’t die again, and I won’t let anyone die in a foolish war…”
Liz released her tight embrace and met my eyes.
“…Promise me.”
“…Yes.” I nodded.
And a gentle kiss fell.
“…Now, then, let’s go to bed.”
“Yes, let’s sleep together.”
“Wait, I’m not letting you sleep tonight.”
“Huh?”
“In this flow, why?” Liz, with a curious expression.
“Wait, no. Rather, in this flow, why?” I asked back.
Liz’s expression clouded over.
“…I remembered the feeling of being alone.”
“…Ah.”
I—if Liz were to suddenly disappear. Just imagining it, my heart felt as if it would break… and tears welled up in my eyes.
“It’s your fault, Master.”
“I’m sorry…”
“As long as you understand.”
She carried me, who was as light as a feather, and laid me on the bed, which had been stripped of its covers, and she quickly closed the canopy. And she got on top of me, who was unable to move. In the darkness, her golden eyes glinted like a cat’s, reflecting the faint light.
“…Ah, just in case, you’re not allowed to cancel the effect of the drug by restoring your resistance.”
My last escape route was also sealed. My heart pounded, as if it were broken. I wouldn’t say I had no expectations. But to be honest, it was a little scary, like a carnivore. A cat was a carnivore, wasn’t it? As if to tease me, she removed the three amulets and, as she arranged my disheveled hair, Liz traced my cheek with the pad of her index finger.
“Mmm…”
And she slipped her hand under the hem of my pale green robe and, as she stroked my thigh, she rubbed my stomach. The fact that she wasn’t touching the important part, on the contrary, fanned the flames.
“It’s alright, Master. Relax. I won’t do anything that hurts.”
Liz, who was leaning on me, pressing her ample bosom against me, brought her mouth to my ear.
“Mmm—…!?”
And after my ear was lightly licked by her tongue, that tongue entered my ear, and the sound of water echoed in my head. I had a feeling my brain was melting. As I was breathing heavily, and I had reflexively closed my eyes, Liz’s whisper slipped into my ear.
“—I love you, Master.”
At the voice, which was filled with a great deal of affection, which I had heard in the darkness, I gently opened my eyes. With my weak hands, I reached out and stroked her hair and, pressing my lips to her cheek, I answered her feelings.
“…I love you, too, Liz.”
I had a feeling my heart was melting.
The next morning. Liz was getting ready with a briskness that was as if last night had been a lie. I vaguely watched her, as she cast a [Cleansing] spell on the maid uniform that had gotten rather messy and needed to be properly washed later, and as she changed into a new maid uniform. And she offered me my clothes as well. As I, who was exhausted, both physically and mentally, slowly finished changing, Liz, who had opened the canopy of the bed and the curtains of the window, turned and smiled.
“Master, it’s a beautiful morning. Let’s make today a good day.”
It was already bright outside. As I looked at her angelic, innocent smile, illuminated by the soft morning sun, my cheeks gradually grew hot, and I covered my face with my hands and shouted.
“No wonder it’s a forbidden item…!”
“It’s an item whose circulation is restricted.” Liz said, nonchalantly.
“Dragon’s blood is scary… what was that effect… magic…?”
“It might be a kind of a magic. Well, everything has mana, but if it’s Lital-sama’s… then it might have been quite effective on me, too.”
It was true that she had been more aggressive than usual. I took my hands from my face and looked at Liz.
“I’m sorry… I have a feeling I showed you a terrible side of me…” I wanted to believe that the soundproofing spell had worked.
“No? …But you did have a sense of shame, didn’t you, Master?”
What a thing to say.
“Even I have a feeling of shame! …Especially with you, Liz.”
Liz laughed and, as I was still on the bed, she came over and sat on the edge of the bed.
“You don’t have to be ashamed. …We’re a married couple, after all.”
Liz, who was saying the word ‘married couple’ with a shy, blushing face, was cute. But when I remembered last night, I was a little confused about Liz’s shame point. And on top of that.
“…I might ask Lital-sama again, sometime.”
She said.
“Wait, um, a second time is a little…”
“…You didn’t like it?” Liz’s ears drooped a little.
“Was it… indecent?”
“N-no, I like that Liz, too!” It was my true feeling. Though I had a feeling her way of leveling up was a little strange. The direction was, well. …It was unexpected, but I liked it.
“That’s good.” Her long ears perked up, and her scarf twitched. Liz chuckled.
“It was a stimulating ‘spice.’”
“…Yes.” Though it had been much more stimulating than I had expected. And yet, just a little. I had a feeling I wanted to ask for it again.
