Chương 263: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [263]
What the two girls were up to, Luo Qing couldn't say.
Ayaka never shared the details, and Luo Qing didn't press her for answers.
Pulling Ayaka into the living room, the two sat side by side on the couch. The dim light cast a soft glow over the quiet room.
Ayaka sat with her legs pressed together, her posture elegant but tense. The rare opportunity to be alone with Luo Qing after their parting in Inazuma left her heart racing with excitement.
Maybe… if I'm careful, I could sneak over to see him again after everyone else falls asleep.
"Luo Qing…"
Ayaka stole a glance at him before speaking softly. "What do you think of Nilou's dancing?"
"It's beautiful," Luo Qing replied. "Why?"
"Mm… nothing. Just curious."
Ayaka shook her head, trying to appear nonchalant, but her mind was already working on a plan to surprise Luo Qing with her own performance after mastering Nilou's style.
"What, are you planning to dance for me?" Luo Qing teased.
"Wha—?!" Ayaka turned bright red, flailing her hands. "N-No! I just… I wasn't thinking about that at all! Don't misunderstand!"
She looked like a panicked rabbit caught off guard, flustered to the point of incoherence.
"…"
Luo Qing held back a laugh. All I did was tease her, and she's already activated her ultimate defense. Cute.
"Say, Ayaka…"
"W-What is it?"
Before she could react, Luo Qing cupped her face gently and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
Ayaka's eyes widened, but soon she melted into the kiss.
As the moment deepened, Luo Qing's arm slid around her waist, gently guiding her to lie back on the couch.
"L-Luo Qing…" Ayaka's cheeks burned as she felt his hand drift lower, nearing the edge of her skirt.
Her trembling hand shot out to grab his, stopping him in his tracks.
"T-That… I'm not ready for that yet…"
Ayaka's voice grew quieter as she turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze. "F-For now… kissing is okay…"
"Alright." Luo Qing chuckled softly, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
He knew well about the Kamisato family's strict traditions, which forbade certain actions before marriage. While Ayaka might not be the type to rigidly follow every rule, he understood her desire for the right timing and setting.
Still, nothing was stopping him from exploring other options.
As the two continued their affectionate exchange, Ayaka's borrowed dancer outfit from Nilou grew increasingly disheveled. She clutched her chest, her fair skin peeking through the gaps in the fabric under the dim light.
The sight was nothing short of breathtaking.
If I just pull a little here… Luo Qing thought mischievously, his fingers brushing the edge of the fabric covering her chest.
"S-Stop!" Ayaka suddenly sat up, holding her chest as she spoke in a flustered voice.
"That's enough for tonight. It's getting late, and I need to head back…"
Ayaka's tone was apologetic but firm. After all, she'd snuck into Sumeru under the pretense of training abroad. Staying out too long would undoubtedly raise her brother's suspicions.
And she'd definitely need to change her outfit before going home.
"Goodnight, Luo Qing!" Ayaka stammered as she darted to the staircase, her footsteps hurried.
"…Such a strong sense of self-preservation," Luo Qing muttered, watching her retreating figure with a sigh.
He could still feel the warmth from their time together, and his body burned with unspent energy. If not for Ayaka's sudden retreat, things might have escalated further.
If this were Makoto or Theresa, they wouldn't have held back at all, Luo Qing mused, shaking his head.
But Ayaka's restraint only made her more intriguing.
"I can't take this…" Luo Qing muttered, glancing toward the stairs.
He briefly debated whether to go upstairs. The warmth from Ayaka's touch had him feeling like a loaded gun, ready to go off at the slightest trigger.
But Makoto had explicitly banned him from the second floor…
"Forget it. I can't hold back."
With a resigned sigh, Luo Qing slipped on his slippers and silently crept upstairs.
The hallway was shrouded in darkness, the late hour casting deep shadows everywhere. Relying on his memory, he carefully approached what he believed to be Makoto's room.
"Should be this one…"
Standing outside the door, he twisted the handle gently. Finding it unlocked, he slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Meanwhile, in another room…
Ei had spent the entire day binge-reading light novels—sixteen straight hours of high-intensity reading. Even as an Archon, she needed some time to process and digest all the new stories.
Tonight, she decided to turn in early, hoping to recharge for another day of literary indulgence.
For once, Yae Miko wasn't around to mock her for slacking off, leaving Ei free to enjoy her rare vacation in peace.
Just as she was drifting off, the sound of the door opening snapped her awake.
Ei's eyes opened instantly, though she remained still, deciding to see who dared sneak into her room.
Moments later, she heard quiet footsteps approaching the bed.
"Already asleep?" a familiar voice murmured.
Luo Qing?!
Her heart skipped a beat. Why is he in my room?
"Ah, whatever. Next time, then. For now, let's just sleep."
Sleep?! Ei's mind raced. With who?!
The bed shifted as Luo Qing climbed in, and before she could react, she felt his arms slide under the blanket, wrapping snugly around her waist.
His solid chest pressed against her back, and his breath tickled her neck.
He's… he's cuddling me?!
Unsure if she was dreaming, Ei reached down to touch the hand resting lightly on her waist.
"You're awake?" Luo Qing's voice came softly from behind her.
"…"
"I'm feeling… that way. Can we…?"
"I'm Ei."
"…"
[Luo Qing's Frustration +1]
---
T/N: HA. HA. HA
Reader, your presence signifies commitment.
To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.
Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.
— Raiden Shogun
Chương 264: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [264]
Dressed in her usual light blue kimono, Kamisato Ayaka returned to her room after completing her nightly rituals. The mansion was silent, the hour so late that only a few guards on patrol remained awake.
Gently pushing her door open just a crack, Ayaka peeked down the dimly lit hallway.
At the far end of the corridor lay her brother Kamisato Ayato's room. Typically, he stayed up late, processing official documents before retiring only when he could no longer keep his eyes open.
But tonight, his room was dark.
"Brother must already be asleep…"
Ayaka exhaled a sigh of relief. Quietly shutting her door, she opened her wardrobe and carefully hid away the magical toilet portal she had used to sneak back from Sumeru.
She had been taking great pains to keep her secret trips undiscovered, especially from her brother.
Though he never voiced it outright, Ayaka knew Ayato disapproved of her relationship with Luo Qing. For now, she had no choice but to tread lightly and wait for the right moment to bring it up again.
Previously, Ayato's concerns stemmed from Luo Qing's identity as a Fatui Harbinger, fearing the potential political ramifications for the Kamisato family and the Shogunate.
But now, with both Ei and Yae Miko involved with Luo Qing, her brother's argument was looking weaker by the day.
Surely, with the Shogun and Lady Miko accepting him, Brother can't object anymore, Ayaka thought as she prepared for bed.
Her mind wandered to rehearsing how to broach the subject with her brother as she slipped off her kimono and lay down on her futon. Exhausted from the day's dance practice, she soon drifted off to sleep.
Unbeknownst to her, a small tanuki-shaped daruma perched in the rafters stirred.
"Hmm…"
The daruma shifted into its human form—Sayu. Sniffing the air, she identified Luo Qing's scent lingering faintly on Ayaka's body before slipping out the window into the night.
In the main estate, Sayu bounded deftly across rooftops until she reached Kamisato Ayato's room.
The room appeared as Ayaka had seen—dark and seemingly empty.
But Ayato wasn't asleep. He sat in quiet contemplation, sipping tea on a tatami mat. The open sliding door to his garden allowed the starlight to spill in, illuminating his serene figure.
"When we were children, Ayaka and I used to stargaze like this often…" Ayato mused, his gaze lingering on the night sky before turning to Sayu.
"Did you see everything?"
"Yes," Sayu confirmed with a small nod, seating herself on the mat.
"She returned through the same black toilet as Luo Qing. Also…"
She hesitated.
"What is it?" Ayato prompted, pouring a cup of tea for them both.
"Miss Ayaka smells like Luo Qing. And the scent is… very strong."
"…"
Ayato's hand trembled slightly, nearly spilling his tea.
"Are you certain?"
"I remember Luo Qing's scent clearly. When he was in Inazuma, Miss Ayaka often carried his scent as well. And…"
"That's enough, Sayu." Ayato cut her off with a strained smile.
He had heard enough.
"You've done well. Go rest for the night."
"Understood. Goodnight, Lord Ayato."
With that, Sayu vanished into the shadows, leaving Ayato alone in his dimly lit room.
He sighed deeply, his shadow stretching long across the floor under the moonlight.
"Ah… Ayaka…"
---
Sumeru – Luo Qing's Home
Hearing the calm yet unmistakably icy tone of the woman in his arms, Luo Qing took a deep breath and pretended to stay composed.
His arms, however, remained firmly wrapped around Ei's slender waist, refusing to let go.
"I thought this wasn't Makoto's room…" he muttered, feigning ignorance.
"It's not. I swapped with her because I needed the desk for my light novel readings."
Ei's voice was calm—too calm.
"And why didn't anyone tell me?" Luo Qing asked, trying to maintain a straight face.
"How long do you plan to hold me?"
"Well…" Luo Qing hugged her even tighter.
"Since I'm already here, why not let me stay? Just for tonight?"
"…"
"Sofas are cold and lonely. You're so warm, kind, and lovely—how could you possibly turn me away?"
"…"
His reasoning was infuriatingly sound—except it wasn't.
"You were trying to sneak into Makoto's bed, weren't you?"
"…"
[Luo Qing's Frustration +1]
"Well, Makoto's not here, but her sister will do—ow! Stop pinching me!" Luo Qing yelped as Ei's fingers found his side.
"If you're so concerned about Makoto, why don't you go find her?"
Her voice remained level, but Luo Qing could sense the faintest twinge of jealousy.
"Wait… are you jealous?" he asked, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Jealous? Of you? Don't flatter yourself."
"Then why are you pinching me?"
"Because I want to."
"Fine. Pinch all you want—I'm going to sleep."
Without another word, Luo Qing buried his face against Ei's back and closed his eyes.
They'd already shared a kiss before. Surely, sharing a bed was no big deal, right?
"You're really going to sleep?"
When Luo Qing didn't respond, Ei frowned.
Is he seriously just planning to hold me all night without doing anything else?!
"Hey, I'm talking to you…"
Still no response.
Curious, Ei wriggled around to face him, only to find Luo Qing's eyes closed, his breathing steady.
"…He's already asleep?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
All he's going to do is hug me? Nothing else?
Ei debated whether to kick him out of bed, but before she could decide, Luo Qing muttered in his sleep.
"Such a soft, fragrant pillow…"
He pressed his face into her chest with a contented sniff, a blissful smile spreading across his lips.
Ei's eyebrow twitched.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
---
Meanwhile, in the Living Room
Having tasted success with her first late-night escapade, Theresa was itching for another intimate encounter with her beloved master.
Quietly slipping off her shoes, she tiptoed down the stairs, her heart pounding in anticipation.
But when she reached the living room, she froze.
The sofa was empty.
"…Where's my Master?"
She stared at the vacant cushions, her mind blank with confusion.
Where could my Luo Qing have gone?!
---
T/N: YAE MIKO IS NOT ACTUALLY 'INVOLVED' WITH LUO QING AYAKA IS JUST SAYING THEY'RE FRIENDS OR SOMETHING
Reader, your presence signifies commitment.
To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.
Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.
— Raiden Shogun
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