Chapitre 80: Chapter 2
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Maria had been thrown off balance just by receiving some radishes as a gift. How ecstatically flustered will she get when she learns this wine was given to celebrate her pregnancy? It might be a bit mischievous, but Maria's panic is truly adorable.
Despite feeling giddy inside, nearly enough to break through her ironclad smile, Ain presents the bottle of wine only to find Maria calmly observing it, contrary to her expectations.
"..."
"Maria?"
"You received this as congratulations for your pregnancy?"
Is she too overwhelmed with joy to express any emotion? Even like this, she's still cute.
"Yes, that's right."
"A child of Lord Ain..."
"Yes, yes... My child with Maria—Maria?!?"
Tears began to fall.
Quietly, droplets streamed down her cheeks. I didn't think they were "happy tears" or anything silly like that. How well did he think he knew her? There was no way he couldn't tell what emotions lay behind these tears shed by his beloved woman.
"What's wrong?!"
"Lord Ain..."
Her eyes filled with sorrow and determination.
What happened? What could have upset Maria so much? This is celebratory wine, after all. Did she not want to drink it? No, something more serious than that must be bothering her. Besides, she enjoyed alcohol enough to partake regularly.
"You're going away to the royal capital, aren't you? P-please take care of yourself..."
"Huh?"
"I will cherish forever the honor of being loved, even if just for a moment, by Lord Ain."
"No, no, no!?"
The royal capital? Just for a moment?
What is she talking about?!
Clearly, there's been some major misunderstanding here. I have to clear it up immediately—using Hypnotic Magic if necessary. This must be resolved, even if it kills me.
"I don't intend to leave this place, and I want to spend my life with you."
"But...!"
This isn't the time to debate whether it's appropriate to pledge your lifelong commitment before proposing. I need her to understand how I feel, but Maria keeps interrupting me.
"The Goddess blessed Lord Ain's child! Isn't that the greatest proof of his greatness?! For such...such a girl from these rural outskirts...! Doesn't it mean the Goddess herself has declared him too good for someone like me?!"
So that's what this is about...!?
Oh... So that's what this is about?! That's why you changed your mind? Is that why you were crying? Why you braced yourself? Agh, seriously?!
"Maria."
I can't yell at her.
I mustn't scream.
I have to reach her somehow—slowly, gently, with all my heart.
"No!" She rejects my words.
Curled up on the bed, she covers her ears like a petulant child.
"Get out! Please leave! Hurry! Go!"
Her voice pierces my eardrums.
Is she refusing me because she prepared herself and then nearly broke down? All for my sake...
I hear her sobbing quietly.
Her curled-up body trembles as she cries silently.
Without saying anything, I touch her small back.
Silently, I continue stroking her hair as she weeps.
The sun rises higher in the sky.
Through the curtains, its rays reflect off Maria's disheveled hair, creating a scene so solemn it almost feels inappropriate, yet captivating nonetheless.
"P-please...leave."
"Maria."
Another rejection.
But the fact that she responded at all was proof her rationality had returned somewhat. This might be my only chance to talk to her.
"The Goddess said—"
She flinched slightly.
Maria's body gave a little twitch. Perhaps she feared hearing the answer. But I'd be stuck if she didn't listen.
"She told me we're blessed because you and I have become one."
"..."
"Do you understand? It isn't just about me being special or anything like that. It's both of us together: Maria and myself. She blessed our continued life, our shared existence."
"...That's not true..."
"It is absolutely true."
"I'm just a country girl."
"I cannot allow such insults toward the woman I love." Gently, I patted her back.
I gently stroked her shuddering back again.
"Out here on the frontier..."
"You don't like it?"
"But for someone as great as you, Lord Ain—"
"This land is where my destiny lies."
"But—"
"And I want to be here, of course with you by my side."
Her sobbing had stopped.
Although Maria's voice still trembled from tears, she seemed all right now. We'd gotten through the most dangerous part, at least. I couldn't let down my guard completely yet, but we were okay.
"Could you please look up?"
"..."
"I love you so much, it hurts. Oh, not that this isn't always true, but especially now. So please show me your adorable face."
"...Ya."
She said "ya." Not no, but ya.
What a cutie.
She can't be doing this on purpose, right? If she is, I'll have to arrest her. And then imprison her in my room and sentence her to all-day sex.
"Maria."
My cock may be hard, but all I do is gently stroke her back like a gentleman.
I know damn well you want me to push you down and thrust inside you, don't you? Trust me, I feel the same way. But that's precisely why we won't do it.
"Maria."
I call out to her multiple times.
Since I'm sure she hears me even without responding, it doesn't bother me. It's almost a form of beauty. The lack of reply itself delights me endlessly.
"..."
After who knows how many attempts...
Finally, Maria lifts her head.
Her eyes are teary, her cheeks flushed from crying,
and I kiss each one in turn.
"...mmn..."
And lastly,
on those moist lips glistening with happiness,
I tenderly press mine.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone