Chapter 295: Yoru (6)
There were many stories where a person who was once an enemy became an ally.
Conversely, there were also many cases where an ally turned into an enemy. The reason I brought this up was because Yoru’s situation was the former.
Yoru sometimes recalled the stories adults used to tell her when she was younger.
It might seem odd for a grown woman to remember war stories, but the fact that she was from the nomadic tribe of Silleya was the issue.
Since they constantly had to move, their luggage was minimal. They didn’t have enough books, and the few they had were either martial arts manuals or boring documents.
So, the only things children could enjoy were rough games like war simulations or martial arts sparring.
However, Yoru couldn’t even enjoy those.
Her status as the only daughter of the Great Elder drew a line between her and the others.
Still, not every day for Yoru was boring.
The old stories told by the elders.During leisure time after grueling training, or just before bed, she could hear tales from decades ago or old legends passed down by word of mouth.
Stories about waking the sleeping divine dragon.
The tale of a demon who betrayed their own kind.
The legend of the tower that touched the sky…
Looking back now, many of those stories were mixed with so much exaggeration that she doubted whether they were true, but the young Yoru listened with sparkling eyes, believing every word.
However, even Yoru didn’t believe the story about a hero who saved the world and turned out to be a distant ancestor from Silleya.
If such a great hero were really their ancestor, then someone needed to explain why they were being chased. Naturally, the elders of the village couldn’t provide an explanation, and Yoru sulked for a whole week because of that.
Yet despite that, the enjoyment she felt wasn’t false.
Even if exaggerated stories were filled with hyperbole, as long as she didn’t take them seriously, it was fine.
Stories that sparked a child’s imagination were like a refreshing rain in a dull life, and not all of them were completely unbelievable.
…For example.
Yes, there were stories about connections blooming like flowers amid fierce struggles.
There was a tale where two people, during a desperate fight, fell off a cliff, were forced to work together, and couldn’t forget the bond they formed, leading them to abandon their fight.
There was another story where a trusted friend turned out to be a spy for the enemy nation but had already died in their place.
Such human stories, no matter how much they were exaggerated, never felt like lies.
Loyalty and companionship that bloom in the midst of chaos.
Friendship and love, hotter than blood.
Having heard such stories during a time when her sensitivity was at its peak, Yoru couldn’t help but dream romantically, imagining she might one day face a similar situation.
Of course, she knew the battlefield was a place where people kill and are killed, and that if you let your guard down, you could die. It wasn’t something she wanted to know, but she knew it anyway.
Still, even if the reality she faced was harsh, the foundation of her personality, built since childhood, didn’t change so easily.
In other words, she could distinguish between good intentions and malice, and she had enough sense to tell if something was fake or genuine.
“Yaaawn…”
Yoru stretched out a long yawn, slapped her cheeks, and focused on the pile of documents.
[Future arrangements and countermeasures for prisoners]
The neatly written document was a summary of the tasks Shiron had been handling while roaming around Rien recently.
Health checks for her fellow countrymen.
The provision of lodging for them.
The establishment of an immigration office to play a large role in arranging marriages.
Policies on rewards and support when producing children or outstanding talents…
Only a week had passed since they returned to the mansion, yet Shiron had completed all his work with superhuman administrative and office skills.
His work was of such high quality that even the empire’s officials, who had followed him closely, agreed to the plans without hesitation or embarrassment.
Though Yoru wasn’t knowledgeable in administrative matters, she was the kind of person who could acknowledge excellence, even in an enemy.
The empire was a vast nation, and those at its pinnacle were exceptional. Since none of those people objected and nodded along, she vaguely thought Shiron’s plan must be close to perfect.
The report in front of her was neatly summarized in case Yoru didn’t understand. And even to her, Shiron’s work had no flaws.
‘…I thought he’d do a sloppy job.’
Yoru sighed deeply as she turned the last page.
[……Mix the bloodlines of unmarried knights and the warlike Silleya to produce exceptional talents. Future plans should be carefully managed as a grand strategy leading to a thousand years of prosperity, with the aim of promoting at least 10 births per household…]
‘Writing down all these unnecessary details… what a joke.’
Yoru’s face turned red as she read the neat handwriting, but it wasn’t because of the explicit content of the report.
It wasn’t even because she thought the plan was embarrassing or foolish.
‘Wearing this piece of cloth… I really don’t understand.’
The real reason her face was so red was because of her current appearance.
‘Isn’t this outfit way too revealing?’
Yoru was currently wearing clothes prepared by Shiron.
The clothes vaguely resembled Silleya’s traditional attire, but only in appearance—it was far from actual Silleya traditional clothing.
Her chest was completely exposed, and if you looked down, her bare legs were out for all to see without any shame.
Pretending to focus on the report while acting busy was merely a way to distract herself from the coldness creeping up her legs.
And what about the emptiness she felt in her crotch?
Traditionally, even if there was a side slit in her clothes, she would wear underpants. But of course, Shiron hadn’t provided any such thing.
All she’d received was a string thong that didn’t even cover her butt.
Right now, Yoru’s crotch was entirely exposed to the cold winter air.
Even though she was wearing a strange imitation of Silleya clothing, her temperament wouldn’t allow her to wear a string thong.
Of course, that was for the first night of her life, a night that would only happen once.
The very idea of wearing such a revealing outfit and facing a man she hardly knew filled her with intense discomfort…
But at this point, she couldn’t run away.
“…Damn it.”
She was already in the same space as Shiron.
‘I need to do something about his voyeurism. Where on earth did he pick up this habit?’
Shiron, having straightened his coat, muttered with an irritated expression. The reason, of course, was Latera.
Using the excuse of an important matter, he left Latera with Glen and chose a third location, neither the main house nor the annex, to carry out the task.
Even though he had prepared multiple countermeasures, Shiron’s unease did not dissipate, and eventually, it showed on his face.
Yoru trembled slightly as she saw his frowning expression.
“Is there a problem? If so, we could delay until another day…”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing.”
Shiron irritably tossed his head and turned his body toward Yoru.
His gaze moved without hesitation—from her face to her chest, down to her navel, and finally, to her legs. Unable to meet Shiron’s blatant stare, Yoru fanned herself with her hand.
“Don’t look at me so much. It’s embarrassing.”
“Why? It suits you just fine.”
Shiron, seeming to cheer up quickly, smiled slyly and sat next to Yoru.
The bed’s edge dipped under his weight, causing Yoru’s hips to rise slightly. Anyone could see she was nervous, which only made Shiron’s lips twitch as if he wanted to tease her even more.
He was almost tempted to provoke her just to see her reaction. Shiron leaned closer and stroked her thigh.
“Wow, you’re such a shy one, huh? Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle. Just count the stains on the ceiling, and soon you’ll be crying out without a care in the world.”
“Wh-who’s shy…?!”
Yoru, too nervous, bit her tongue as she tried to speak. Trying to act like she was fine, she raised her voice, but only made it more obvious how anxious she really was.
“Ah… ouch!”
“…I’ve never seen anyone this tense before. People might think you’re being forced into this.”
Shiron handed Yoru a glass of cold water as she struggled with her bitten tongue.
“…I mean, it’s not like I’m being forced, but…”
Yoru downed the water in one gulp and stopped Shiron from continuing to stroke her thigh.
It wasn’t just because she felt uncomfortable allowing a stranger to touch her so freely, but every time his hand brushed her skin, her heart pounded so much she thought she’d go crazy.
The feeling wasn’t just embarrassment—it was something more peculiar. This strange, new emotion made Yoru’s mind go blank.
“I just think… it’s a bit too soon.”
“…I gave you a whole week. You even put on the pretty clothes I told you to wear. I thought you were ready by now.”
“It’s not about time… it’s about… right, the heart! I’m talking about emotional readiness!”
“Heart?”
“You know, the bond between a man and a woman. I think if there’s no love, it’s harder to go through with this…”
Yoru fidgeted with her fingers, facing Shiron’s incredulous expression.
He looked at her like she was backing out after getting dressed up in that ridiculous outfit.
“You’re shy and now talking about love? Do you realize how much that doesn’t suit you?”
“You’re the one who made me wear this!”
Yoru awkwardly tried to cover herself with both hands.
Shiron’s lecherous gaze had been on her for a while now, making her even more self-conscious. She avoided eye contact, and her words came out stammered, frustrating even herself.
“I-I still feel gratitude towards you, and I’m prepared to repay that debt, even if it means risking my life. That’s why I’m wearing this shameless outfit. But!”
“But what?”
“But… I think… at least when it comes to something like… a man and a woman sharing something as intimate as this… I’m not a prostitute. I believe it should only happen when there’s love…”
With her head hung low, Yoru forced herself to continue speaking.
“I can wear a revealing outfit if you want, even let myself be treated like a pet. But I want my first time to be with someone I love.”
“So, you’re saying you don’t love me, and now that we’re here, you want to back out?”
“…Yes.”
Yoru nodded with a determined face.
“Of course, I feel great gratitude towards you, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that feeling eventually turned into love. So… if you give me a little more time, I’ll try to… you know, make an effort to love you…”
It was at that moment, as Yoru struggled to voice her opinion, that Shiron whispered in her ear.
“Stop pretending.”
“…”
“You said you feel deep gratitude toward me, right?”
“Of course, I do. After all, you’re not just my benefactor, but the savior of my entire clan…”
“Then just spread your legs.”
She sure was talkative today.
Shiron knelt in front of her and spread her legs with his hands. Yoru tightly closed her eyes and let her legs relax.
“Good girl.”
Shiron praised her, caressing her pale thighs.
Calling her a pet name was something he had refrained from doing, but he knew that once he got going, words of love would come out naturally.
There had never been an exception before.