Ch.115Special Side Story – To Another Continent (8)

Rishe’s sudden appearance turned our world upside down.

Is this what it feels like when a child barges into the bedroom during an intimate moment? My heart was pounding wildly, making me feel blood rushing through my entire body.

Irefi was no exception, carefully avoiding Rishe’s suspicious gaze.

“Ummmm, were you busy?”

“Busy? Not at all!”

“Really? That’s a relief then.”

Rishe was still too young to understand the universal truth that strong denial equals strong affirmation. How fortunate that she was easily fooled by our flimsy excuses.

“So, what brings you here so suddenly?”

Irefi asked after composing herself from the heated moment.

“Actually, I have something I wanted to give you.”

“Did you bring us a gift?”

“Yes!”

Her bright answer was pleasant to hear. For a moment, I suspected she might have been instructed by her parents to bring gifts, but I quickly dismissed the thought. From what I’d seen of Rishe, she wasn’t the type of child who prepared gifts based on calculation.

That’s what made it regrettable. She would make such a good adopted daughter…

Rishe set down her basket and placed its contents on the table.

“Ta-da!”

Rishe proudly puffed out her chest. We expressed our surprise at the nature of her gift.

“This is… a flower.”

“It has quite an unusual appearance.”

The flower Rishe brought as a gift was difficult to describe as beautiful, even out of politeness. To put it simply and honestly, “peculiar” would be the right word.

It resembled a clock. The flower’s face bloomed in a nearly circular shape with a straight stem extending like an hour hand. It was definitely not a species native to the Eld Empire.

“Hmm, can you guess what it is?”

“I can tell it looks like a clock.”

“Ding dong! You have good insight, Nepy! It’s called a Clock Flower!”

“So it’s literally called a Clock Flower.”

“Of course, it’s exactly what it sounds like. See this stem extending like a clock hand? It actually rotates like a clock hand as time passes.”

“That’s amazing…”

Men are still children at heart. Males are the type of creatures who love toy-like objects more than anything. I already fell completely in love with the Clock Flower.

“Well, actually it changes based on light intensity, so if you cover it with a blackout curtain, it stops moving.”

“So that’s how it works.”

“By the way, well-maintained specimens can live for half a century, so if you take good care of it, you can enjoy it for a long time!”

“Hooo…”

I need to plant this in the best spot in the mansion as soon as we return. I feel a sense of destiny in how it marks time like a clock.

I’ll definitely cherish it and nurture it for centuries.

“Irefi. What about you? Don’t you like it?”

“…Pardon?”

“The Clock Flower, don’t you like it?”

“Oh, no! That’s not it. It’s a wonderful gift. I’ll definitely treasure it, Rishe.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Though it seemed natural enough, I detected something off about the brief pause before Irefi’s response.

I couldn’t imagine Irefi missing this kind of conversation because of some distraction.

‘Is something bothering her?’

With Rishe present, pressing the issue would only make Irefi uncomfortable. For now, I had to keep quiet.

“Oof!”

Thump, thud, thump.

Rishe innocently jumped onto the bed where we were sitting. She landed precisely between Irefi and me, enjoying the bed’s elasticity, which naturally brought a warm smile to my face.

“You’ll get scolded by Irefi for being unladylike.”

“Anyone listening would think I spend all day waiting for a chance to scold you.”

“Well, what do you think, Rishe? It seems our Queen of Nagging has been oiling her tongue.”

“D-don’t put me in the middle…!”

Rishe rebuked me in horror. Yet paradoxically, she shifted her center of gravity toward me for protection.

I used Rishe, who had approached me voluntarily, as a shield against Irefi’s flashing eyes.

“Please understand… I haven’t felt this free in so long. Once you and Irefi leave, I’ll have to go back to being a dignified princess…”

“Now I’m the one who needs to scold you.”

“Nepy?”

“A dignified princess? Lying is bad, Rishe.”

“That’s right. Even I have to admit that ‘dignified princess’ is a bit…”

In the end, even Irefi took my side.

We had spent a considerable amount of time together. We had thoroughly experienced how Rishe was the furthest thing from the concept of dignity.

Our unanimous conclusion was inevitable.

“No, it’s true! Why don’t you believe me? Should I show you how elegantly I can walk with a book on my head?”

“I could do that much too. What about you, Irefi?”

“Realistically, at what age do you think I mastered all the proper etiquette?”

“Ah.”

I sometimes forget that Irefi is a genuine aristocrat. If she had servants around her, I would surely be reminded, but her daily life was the opposite of what one would expect from nobility.

Seeing her always relaxed in front of me makes me forget her background.

“Is there anything physical that you two can’t do…?”

“Actually, there is.”

“Is that true, Nepy?”

“…Don’t you ask, Irefi.”

Irefi stared at me with a face full of questions, while Rishe was bubbling with curiosity. However, I had absolutely no intention of telling Irefi.

So, I whispered quietly into Rishe’s ear alone.

“Irefi is terrible at cooking. For Irefi, cooking is murder.”

“W-what?!”

“You should consider yourself lucky. The ingredients that farmers worked so hard to grow become mysterious monst— urk, aaaaargh…!”

Whack!

Divine punishment descended upon me as I was gleefully badmouthing. Transcendent pressure squeezed both sides of my face. Irefi had grabbed my cheeks and was forcibly twisting them.

“Ughhhh… I-Irefi. I’m… sorryyy…!”

“I wonder what kind of mindset one needs to so boldly speak ill of others. Our dear husband.”

“I’m sorry… my dear wife…”

“You’d float with just your mouth if you fell in water.”

While I was being subjected to Irefi’s sweet yet threatening punishment with my mouth sealed…

Suddenly, the ground began to shake.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble…

No, it was an illusion. Rishe’s PTSD had flared up, transmitting vibration mode to the bed. Only then did Irefi release me, shooting me a cold glare.

“This is all Nepy’s fault, so stop trembling.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine even if Irefi crushes all my teeth because she can’t control her strength. No need to be scared!”

“I am scared! Extremely so after hearing that!!!”

For reference, what I just mentioned wasn’t a mere hypothesis but a sincere account of experience.

In truth, I’ve built up enough immunity to Irefi’s disciplinary actions.

As long as she’s not splitting me in half and letting my intestines spill out like during our first meeting, I’m fine with whatever.

“Nepy is already incredibly strong, so I can’t even imagine how powerful Irefi must be.”

“I told you, didn’t I? She’s the strongest in the world.”

“Ugh… I thought that was a joke. But I’m sure she’s not stronger than a dragon, so please stop trying to take me sightseeing for that purpose…”

“Ahaha.”

If she knew what Irefi wears whenever she ravishes me, I can’t even imagine how shocked she would be.

She might react like in cartoons, with her eyes popping out.

“If you saw Irefi truly angry, your body would tremble all day.”

Rumble rumble rumble rumble…

“Yes, just like that.”

“Um… Nepy? Irefi?”

“Yes?”

Rishe carefully pulled my hand and confessed a hidden truth.

“I tried to say this earlier… but that trembling just now, it wasn’t me.”

“What do you mean? Are you saying this vibration is an earthquake?”

“No, no, Nepy? Irefi? Realistically, could a person’s trembling be this massive…?!”

“Ah…?”

“You’re right…!”

Irefi and I exclaimed simultaneously.

We had naturally assumed it was Rishe trembling, but upon review, strange points began to stand out.

Since both Irefi and I could cause such vibrations if we wanted to, we had automatically attributed it to Rishe.

Whoooosh!

A fierce wind blew.

The palace windows screamed as they tried to burst inward.

Flower petals and leaves of all colors scattered chaotically, reminiscent of a storm.

Our gazes naturally turned outward at this mysterious natural phenomenon.

“Speak of the devil.”

Rumble rumble rumble rumble…

This time, we were properly aware of Rishe’s trembling.

It was understandable. She had no choice but to tremble in fear.

Whoooooosh…

A massive shadow enveloped the palace courtyard.

A huge entity blocked the sunlight that had been shining in the blue sky, exuding an overwhelming presence.

It was a creature with scales that seemed to be burning all over its body. Its breath carried fire, and its eyes seemed to hold wisdom approaching that of a sage. This beast with its truly alien appearance radiated immense energy in all directions.

“D-dragon…?”

Rishe’s legs gave out with a thud. Her words ended with a question mark, but it wasn’t a question seeking an answer.

She was unconsciously muttering in denial of reality.

As we supported Rishe together to help her up…

Vertically elongated pupils aligned perfectly with our eyes in a straight line.