Chapter 76: Making a Child (1)

(※ Please be advised when reading. This episode contains somewhat mature content.)

It’s hardly necessary to mention now, but the First Princess of Salem, Isabella de Salem, is in love with the hero, Sion.

Of course, the “love” here isn’t the kind a parent feels for a child or a creator for their creation.

It’s romantic love—the kind shared between individuals of different genders, even though the two aren’t quite that, making the term a bit odd here.

When asked why she likes Sion, the answer gets a bit vague, as there isn’t a particularly compelling reason.

Unlike her brother, she hasn’t had any life-altering experience because of Sion.

Isabella was simply drawn to Sion because she was so perfect, an ideal human worthy of admiration.

That’s all.

If this were a romantic comedy, she’d be classified as the “losing” heroine with such a trivial reason.

However, the ordinary nature of her infatuation doesn’t diminish its worth.

The intensity of Isabella’s love is by no means lesser than her brother’s; in some ways, it could even be considered greater.

Unlike Martin, who has somewhat resigned due to his fiancée’s presence, Isabella is still actively pursuing Sion, courting her persistently.

Of course, the sad truth is that most of her advances aren’t taken seriously.

Maybe that’s why Isabella always both blessed and cursed the fact that she was born a woman.

Blessed, because she could get close under the guise of the same gender.

Cursed, because that same reason kept her from crossing a certain line.

Isabella knows that her love isn’t exactly conventional.

Usually, there’s affection between women, but not the kind of romantic or sexual love she feels.

Thankfully, Sion has always been indifferent to romance; if she’d ever blushed at another man, Isabella might have been banging her head against a wall in despair by now.

The fate binding them, ordained by heaven, restrained their relationship even more powerfully than any difference in status or personality.

Recently, however, this fate was unexpectedly broken, ironically by the death throes of the detestable general who had severed Isabella’s arm.

The fact that Sion had become a man was hugely significant.

Originally, Sion’s reason for not marrying was to stay prepared for any looming crisis.

If a disaster struck while the hero was pregnant and unable to move, that would be the worst possible scenario, especially now that Sion had directly witnessed the existence of the Demon King’s army.

But if Sion were a man?

This would nullify the basic premise of that restriction.

It’s women who bear children, not men (even Isabella understands that much).

In other words, Sion could indulge herself and then return to normal without any issue.

Humanity was created with the burden of childbearing placed on women.

The more crucial point, however, is that Sion, as a man, now feels “sexual desire” towards women.

Isabella confirmed this herself, learning that Sion had struggled to suppress the inner urges that arose suddenly after turning into a man.

In fact, Sion had been avoiding her recently because she couldn’t trust herself to control those desires.

Before knowing this, Isabella resented Sion for running away from her, but now it’s different.

In other words, doesn’t this mean that, unlike before, Sion is now drawn to Isabella?

Isn’t she now in a state like a fragile tower of cards, ready to collapse with the slightest push?

Realizing this, a dark desire sprouted within Isabella’s heart.

Perhaps now… it might actually be possible.

She could finally have her sister in her hands—or rather, place herself in her sister’s hands.

Of course, this thought isn’t morally correct by any means.

What Isabella intends to do is called “night crawling” in vulgar terms—a lowly act of exploiting Sion’s loss of self-control to make things a done deal.

Even if she was born a troublemaker, Isabella couldn’t help but hesitate at actually causing a problem like this.

But that hesitation was cleanly pushed aside by her anxiety that there might never be another chance like this.

Sion’s transformation is only temporary, predicted to vanish in about two to three weeks by Mana’s estimation.

After that, even Mana couldn’t restore sexual functions of the opposite gender with a polymorph spell.

So, this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even so, making the decision wasn’t easy, so Isabella pondered and pondered.

Could she handle raising a child right now?

Could she balance attending the academy with motherhood?

Getting pregnant at fifteen would be a social taboo—could she withstand that criticism?

More than her own suffering, could she stand seeing her sister face such scorn?

For three days and nights, ever since realizing Sion had become a man, Isabella was lost in such worries.

Even though the twins, Lancia and Rosalia, expressed concern about her unusual behavior, she brushed off all their worries, lost in thought.

What would be the right choice?

What would truly be best for herself and for the two of them?

And at the end of her long contemplation, Isabella finally made up her mind.

She would carry out her plan.

They would go from two to three.

She wouldn’t let this first and last chance given by the goddess slip away.

She knew she would regret it for the rest of her life if she let this chance pass.

That kind of life was unacceptable; it could never bring her happiness.

Knowing this, Isabella decided to take a step forward, despite the risk of disdain from those around her later.

Thus began Isabella’s “Secret Baby☆Making Project.”

The first step of her plan was to create an environment where the two of them could be alone.

To do so, she needed to get rid of a certain pesky childhood friend who clung by her sister’s side despite being a freeloader.

Isabella tasked Rosalia with this.

She instructed her to find some excuse to get Iris out of the room.

The result:

“Iris, we’re planning a little pajama party with just the maids. Would you like to join us?”

“Huh? Me? But I don’t know anyone…”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s a perfect chance to build new friendships.”

“We’ve even prepared some snacks and treats.”

“! I’d love to come!”

Lured by food like the child she is, Iris was easily led away.

As a result, for just one night, Sion was left to sleep alone.

Of course, her sister wouldn’t feel lonely over such a short separation.

At most, she’d lie down and fall asleep without a second thought.

And then, the second phase of the plan.

Knock knock knock…

Right before lights out, Isabella, filled with nerves, knocked on Sion’s door.

A moment later, a clear voice echoed from inside.

“Yes, who is it?”

“Ah, sister? I just need a small favor…”

“Princess? A favor, you say?”

“Well…”

Isabella cleared her throat, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“I-I just read a horror comic that the twins lent me, and it was way scarier than I expected…

It feels like a ghost might jump out from under the bed while I sleep.

So… would it be okay if I, just for tonight, slept with you? I think I’d feel a lot safer with you next to me…”

“…..”

Gulp.

Isabella swallowed.

This was important.

If Sion refused here, the whole plan would fall apart.

She’d learned from her last visit that sneaking in would immediately get her caught.

In other words, Sion absolutely had to let her in.

“………..”

With her hands clenched over her chest, Isabella anxiously awaited a response.

And then, after a brief pause…

Cre-eak.

The door opened, revealing Sion in her pajamas.

“Come in.”

“Thank you so much! You’re the best, sister!”

Isabella beamed, wrapping her arms around Sion.

She’d anticipated this moment.

No matter how scared she looked, her kind sister wouldn’t leave her out in the cold.

If it looked like Sion was hesitating, Isabella could always put on some waterworks, and eventually, she’d cave.

With that, phase two was cleared without a hitch.

“My humble room may not be much, but please, make yourself at home.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Isabella hesitated as she stepped inside.

Did Sion have any idea what Isabella planned to do?

Probably not.

If she did, she wouldn’t have let another girl into her room so carelessly.

In other words, from now on, her sister would be completely defenseless.

The thought of it filled Isabella with excitement, beyond words.

“I’ll turn off the lights now, princess.”

“H-huh? Wait!”

“Why? Your face is bright red… Are you feeling unwell?”

“Oh, this?! It’s nothing! It’s because I’m scared! Just like I said, I read that horror comic, and now I’m spooked by everything around me! Haha…”

“Hmm…”

Sion eyed Isabella intently for a moment.

But then, as if she’d lost interest, she reached over to the wall and pulled the switch, turning off the magical light.

“Good night.”

“Y-yes… Good night.”

And so, the two lay side by side under the same blanket.

From an outsider’s perspective, it would look like two close sisters peacefully sharing a bed.

Nothing more than a serene scene of 11 p.m. calm.

Of course, Isabella’s mind was far from calm.

Ba-dum, ba-dum ba-dum, ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably, as if it might burst.

She felt her blood rushing wildly from head to toe.

She was fully aware of what she was about to do.

This was something she could never have done when they were just two girls.

But now, being of different genders, it was possible.

An act that a 15-year-old girl should never be allowed to experience—an adult relationship.

An act of joining bodies to create a child.

Huff…!

Isabella pressed down on her chest to calm her breathing, suppressing any sound.

She knew.

She couldn’t show her excitement here.

If she did, her impure intentions might be discovered.

She had to wait in silence, biding her time until Sion fell into a deep sleep.

“S-sister… I’m scared… Can I snuggle closer to you?”

“Go ahead.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Sion granted permission, and Isabella quickly nestled into her sister’s arms.

Now that they were close, even if their bodies touched differently, Sion likely wouldn’t notice immediately.

Tossing and turning in her sleep, shifting positions—these things were all natural.

And it was that opening that Isabella was aiming for.

‘Good… waiting wide awake for my sister to fall asleep is phase three…

Then, after that… I’ll advance to phase four…!’

With her heart pounding, Isabella swallowed once more.

Phase four—the final stage of her secret “Make a Baby” project.

A line that minors (whether same-sex or different) should never cross.

But this time, it would be the act that would create the deepest bond between her and her sister.

An act even more magical than magic itself!

‘Phase four. On the bed… holding hands while we sleep!’

In that moment, Isabella de Salem made a life-altering resolution.