Ch.108After the Performance (2)

After the timeless masterpiece of a performance had ended, I followed Cecilly at her request. Despite the stage show being over, the village festival showed no signs of ending and was still buzzing with energy.

The performance had started at 6 o’clock, and now it was exactly 8 o’clock. It felt like less than an hour had passed—time had simply melted away. That’s how enjoyable the performance was, I suppose.

Anyway, I had arranged to meet Marie at 9 o’clock, so I just needed to chat with Cecilly until then. Since Cecilly had overheard my conversation with Marie, she would likely end our talk at an appropriate time.

“*Sniff*…”

“Are you feeling a bit calmer now?”

However, it seems this might take longer than expected. Cecilly was still caught up in her emotions, occasionally shedding tears.

She’s the same person who had tears streaming down like waterfalls just from listening to the Lirus Orchestra. During the Matrix Troupe’s performance, she had been sobbing miserably, so her mind and body must be exhausted.

In the end, I spent about ten minutes consoling Cecilly. Fortunately, she was in better shape now thanks to my comfort.

Currently, we were sitting side by side under a large tree. Unlike the village center, this place didn’t have much foot traffic, so no one was giving us strange looks.

Going to a crowded place might have drawn suspicious glances, and besides, one should always be careful at night during festivals. Though knights dispatched from the imperial palace were handling security, there’s always the possibility of something happening.

Of course, this is just my own concern. Cecilly is destined to be the next Demon Queen, so she must be physically strong, and her knight guard Gartz Balack would be protecting the area.

We simply needed a space where we could talk privately, which is why we came to this secluded spot.

“…I’m sorry. I’ve shown my embarrassing side to my benefactor.”

Cecilly’s tears, which had seemed endless, finally stopped.

She wiped the corners of her eyes with her damp handkerchief and spoke in a voice mixed with embarrassment and sniffling. Also, since it was just the two of us, she started using formal speech.

I was slightly worried about her, having cried enough to soak her handkerchief. That level of crying could easily lead to dehydration.

So I offered her a drink I’d bought, but Cecilly refused with an outstretched hand. Feeling awkward, I drank it myself while Cecilly took a deep breath, exhaled, and stared blankly ahead.

“…It was truly a moving performance, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“And I was surprised that the director was a demon.”

“I was shocked too.”

I already knew from Cecilly that magic had been used for the production. But I never imagined the director would be a demon.

It might be prejudice, but demons were traditionally considered far removed from art and specialized in combat.

Until recently, demons had been persecuted, and historically, they rarely excelled in fields other than battle.

But the world has changed now. The perception of demons has completely shifted, and people have begun treating them as people rather than devils.

The director of the Matrix Troupe, Skall, must have hidden his identity and then found the courage to reveal himself when perceptions changed. Even if perceptions change, prejudices don’t necessarily follow.

The message Skall probably wanted to convey was to stop prejudice against demons—that demons have excellent qualities not just in combat or magic, but in cultural arts like theater as well.

“How did you feel when he revealed that he was a demon?”

“I thought he was remarkable and courageous. It couldn’t have been an easy decision… he must have had confidence that he could handle it. As I’ve mentioned before, discriminatory views toward demons still persist.”

As she explained, many people still treat demons as devils.

Currently, such behavior is almost considered racial discrimination, and those who discriminate generally receive disapproving looks, but demons still get hurt all the same.

Therefore, Skall will face various reactions going forward, including discrimination.

“But… the reason he could find such courage is ultimately thanks to you. If it weren’t for the book you wrote, he probably would have hidden his identity for his entire life.”

Cecilly spoke in a low voice and turned her head toward me. Her red eyes, moist and faintly glowing, were truly beautiful.

I stared at her face for a while before turning away in embarrassment. But as I turned, she subtly grabbed my hand.

Unlike Marie’s soft and gentle touch, her hand felt rough from decades of training. It was similar to Nicole’s or Adelia’s hands.

“What do you think, my benefactor? Did you find the performance moving? Do you have any thoughts on it?”

“…Of course I do.”

I answered, but I couldn’t meet Cecilly’s eyes. I had a feeling that if I did, I would end up staring at her face as if entranced.

In truth, I had a vague idea of what feelings Cecilly harbored for me based on her actions so far. If I didn’t know, I’d be beyond dense—I’d be deliberately pretending not to know. However, I was determined to refuse.

Even though this world permits polygamy and powerful men often have multiple women, I don’t have that confidence. If you can’t take responsibility, it’s better not to get involved in situations that require it in the first place.

Above all, it would deeply hurt Marie, and my mindset from my previous life is deeply ingrained. Being naturally gentle-hearted, I couldn’t help but feel aversion to the idea.

I was about to slowly pull my hand away when Cecilly tightened her grip, making it impossible for me to escape.

“…So this is why you called me here.”

“Have you just realized?”

When I asked with a wry smile, Cecilly responded with a faint laugh. At that moment, I was too caught up in the afterglow and too concerned with Cecilly’s crying to think clearly.

Is this how a fly feels when caught in a sticky trap? I gave up trying to free my hand and looked up at the sky.

In my previous life, it was hard to see even a single star, but here the air is so clear that the stars form rivers, creating a Milky Way. Being able to see such a sight with the naked eye made me truly realize I had come to a different world.

After gazing at the star-filled sky for a while, I lowered my head and quietly spoke.

“…First of all, I’m planning to resume serialization. After seeing such a performance, it would be disrespectful not to continue writing.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But due to my studies, the publication schedule will be much longer. It will probably be one volume every 2-3 months at minimum.”

“That’s not a problem at all. Just resuming the serialization is enough.”

Cecilly spoke with a slightly excited tone, seemingly pleased that the Biography of Xenon would continue. As I was rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment, she suddenly asked:

“Then will the story of Kayre and Elisha also appear?”

“Uh… yes.”

“I’ll look forward to it. I’ve been curious about how their story unfolds.”

It ends in tragedy, though. Unable to say this aloud, I just smiled awkwardly.

I didn’t want to act, as it might all be exposed, so this was the best I could do.

*Grip!*

Meanwhile, I felt Cecilly’s grip on my hand tighten. I flinched and turned my head—oh no.

I found myself face to face with Cecilly’s eyes, glistening with bright red desire.

“Haaah…”

While I hesitated, Cecilly exhaled a heated breath. Glancing up, I saw that her horns were already completely filled with red.

As I’ve mentioned before, demons experience a phenomenon similar to a menstrual cycle called the “evil cycle” at certain intervals, when desire builds up. They usually meditate for a day during this time.

But now there’s no time for meditation, and her eyes are already unfocused. I urgently called out to Cecilly, thinking she might devour me in various ways.

“S-Sister? Are you alright?”

“Yes… I can still bear it for now.”

Thankfully, she hasn’t crossed the line yet…

“But I don’t think I can hold back much longer.”

…or rather, she’s reached her limit. At the same time, a subtle scent began emanating from her.

Is it some kind of pheromone that stimulates a man’s primal instincts? My heart raced briefly at Cecilly, who was becoming increasingly sensual, but I hastily spoke up.

This could escalate into an irreversible situation like last time. Last time, Marie’s interruption saved us, but now we’re alone.

Moreover, it’s pitch dark without any lights, so even if someone passes by, they might not notice us. We were only able to come this far because Cecilly illuminated the path with magic.

“Get a hold of yourself. You’re the Princess of Helium, aren’t you? You can endure this.”

“…Right. I should endure. I should, but…”

Cecilly began sweating profusely. She was trying her best to exercise restraint, but seeing her pound her chest repeatedly, I had a feeling she was about to explode.

As I was panicking and floundering, Cecilly lowered her head and muttered softly:

“So lovable and precious… how am I supposed to resist…”

“Sister?”

“I can’t. I can’t take it anymore.”

*Thud!*

With a resolute expression, Cecilly lifted her head sharply and pushed me forcefully. Naturally, my body fell helplessly to the ground.

While I was still trying to process this sudden change, a dark shadow loomed over me. Even in the pitch darkness, I could clearly see Cecilly’s bright red eyes.

“…Sister?”

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”

“Sister!”

“Please forgive me… for succumbing to desire.”

This can’t continue. I struggled to escape.

But it was all in vain. Even though Cecilly was binding both my hands with just one of hers, I couldn’t break free. That’s how vast the difference in strength between us was.

Last time, Marie’s interruption prevented an incident, but not now. We might actually end up doing something outdoors.

*Swish-*

Cecilly, who had climbed on top of me, gently caressed my cheek. Then, looking down at me with eyes gleaming with desire, she spoke seductively:

“Haah… this soft cheek. These shining golden eyes. I want to possess them all…”

“… …”

“I want to give pleasure to this delicate body… make you mine… every strand of hair…”

True to her succubus lineage, she uttered provocative and dangerous words to stimulate me. She exuded sensuality, evoking an irresistible desire.

This made my heart race and my lower body tense, but I expressed my refusal by thinking of Marie as much as possible.

“Sister! Please come to your senses! This isn’t good for either of us…”

“No. You’ll definitely enjoy it too. Why? Because I’ll make sure of it.”

“… …”

This isn’t good. I need to do something…!

Just as I was about to headbutt her out of desperation, she fixed my face with the hand that had been caressing my cheek. With her tremendous strength, I couldn’t even move my head.

I rolled my eyes around, trying to find a way out of the situation. Gartz, her knight guard, was nowhere to be seen.

“Well then…”

Finally, Cecilly licked her lips and whispered quietly…

“I’ll enjoy this♡”

She slowly lowered her head and slightly parted her lips.

As I closed my eyes tightly, inwardly apologizing to Marie…

*Flash!*

The darkness around us was suddenly illuminated with such intensity that it was blinding. I squeezed my eyes shut against the dazzling brightness.

After a few seconds passed, the light gradually faded and eventually disappeared completely. As the light vanished, I slowly opened my eyes.

Due to the sudden burst of light, my vision was slightly hazy, but not to the point where I couldn’t distinguish objects.

“…That was a close call.”

Cecilly, who had somehow gotten off me, quietly muttered while fiddling with her necklace. Her face showed a mix of relief and embarrassment. I stared at her blankly, unable to grasp the situation.

Then she looked at me and explained the ability contained in the necklace with a bitter smile.

“This necklace is one of the treasures passed down through generations in Helium. It has the ability to calm the mind when the evil cycle comes or when one cannot control their desires.”

“So just now…”

“Yes. I almost did something terrible to you. I’m truly sorry.”

Cecilly bowed her head to me in apology. I looked at her with a dumbfounded expression and subtly checked the state of her horns.

They had been completely red earlier, but now the tips were black. It seems the remedy was temporary but effective enough.

‘Wow… so I really almost got screwed?’

I almost had my first experience outdoors. And not with my girlfriend, but with a princess from another country.

Meanwhile, Cecilly fidgeted while looking at me and asked in a very cautious voice. Her face was already flushed from what had just happened.

“Um… benefactor.”

“…Ah, yes. Please speak.”

“I want to apologize again. Like last time, I couldn’t overcome my desires and showed you great disrespect…”

Cecilly bowed her head deeply in apology, clearly aware of her grave mistake. I straightened my disheveled clothes and tried to calm my racing heart.

It was as if Cecilly’s sensuality had penetrated my body, making me feel hot all over. It was an ambiguous feeling, like something that had been abruptly interrupted.

I fanned my face to cool it down while answering. Yet the heat refused to subside.

“It’s… it’s okay. But since you said the evil cycle brings out inherent desires, what just happened…”

“…Yes. Embarrassing as it is, those were my true feelings.”

“Oh my…”

Cecilly lowered her head deeply, answering in a small voice, seemingly unable to overcome her embarrassment. I also expressed my awkwardness with an exclamation.

This meant she harbored desires to pounce on me normally, which indicated how much Cecilly liked me.

In the suddenly awkward atmosphere, I pondered what to say and quietly opened my mouth.

“So… I understand your feelings. You… like me, right?”

“…Yes. I love you.”

“… …”

Cecilly didn’t beat around the bush like before and delivered a straightforward confession. Seeing her confess with her head bowed in embarrassment was truly cute and lovable.

However, I needed to maintain my rationality now. Although polygamy is permitted in this world, there are numerous practical issues.

The lifespan issue is already resolved, as I’ve suggested an alternative to her. The real problem is Marie.

“…Sister. To be honest, I do have romantic feelings for you too. But I don’t have confidence in taking responsibility. I already need to care for Marie, and having two… it would create many problems.”

“I know.”

“Depending on the situation, I might not be able to give you love.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“Am I really that good?”

I couldn’t understand why Cecilly, a princess of a nation, desired me so much.

Cecilly could meet a much better man than me. Even though I’m the author of the Biography of Xenon, I wondered why she had to choose me.

With these doubts in mind, I looked at Cecilly as she slowly raised her head and faced me directly.

Her expression showed a firm resolve and, at the same time, a touch of pathos.

“Yes. I love you. You, who looked at us demons without prejudice. I fell deeply for that warm heart. That’s the heart that allowed you to write the Biography of Xenon.”

“… …”

“Even if you reject me, I will protect your legacy. This territory where you were born, and all your descendants to come. This is my repayment as the Princess of Helium, and what I can do.”

She would maintain her feelings until the end, even if I didn’t accept them. Hearing Cecilly’s resolute pledge, my heart was greatly shaken.

If she likes me that much, maybe I could accept her a little?

My emotions screamed to accept, but my reason insisted that Marie’s opinion was important. After vacillating between reason and emotion, I sighed and made a decision.

“…I think it would be best to discuss this with Marie.”

“Th-Thank you! Really…”

“But if you pounce on me like earlier, I’ll cut it off immediately. At the very least, I want my first experience to be with Marie.”

This was non-negotiable. Marie was the woman who loved Issac as a person, not Xenon. This was the best I could do.

However, I don’t know what Cecilly thought of this, but she made a statement that left me perplexed.

“Does that mean I’m next after you have relations with Marie?”

“…What?”

“Then I should help you have relations with Marie as soon as possible. That way, I can…”

“… …”

I was at a loss for words.