Ch.80Wife’s Temptation

“Mmm…”

While a man and two women were sprawled together on a bed, one woman woke the other and they washed themselves.

The women were Helena and Ellen, and the faint sunlight was gradually brightening.

After tidying herself, Helena gazed at the exhausted sleeping man, Zion, with gentle eyes before walking toward the balcony.

Ellen was secretly tense, thinking it was too serious for a time when they should have been moaning and writhing in pleasure.

“Is there a reason you’ve moved away without waking the Grand Duke…?”

Ellen asked in a low voice as soon as she sat down.

Since they were on a balcony beyond the window with no soundproofing, they had no choice but to keep their voices down.

If Zion weren’t exhausted, he might have overheard them, but in his current state, he was too tired and asleep.

So speaking quietly was enough.

“It’s about the magician who completed her task. I’ve half made up my mind, but I wanted to hear your opinion too.”

“Ah… you mean that magician? But is there really any need to hear my opinion? You’re the duchess of this territory, and it seems you could handle it according to your wishes…”

As someone who loved the same man, Ellen knew well what Helena’s sore spots and loose screws were.

And since Helena was flawless as a duchess in all other respects, there was no need to listen to others’ opinions.

Especially someone in Ellen’s position, essentially a concubine.

Ellen tilted her head in confusion, but Helena’s thoughts were somewhat different.

She felt a sense of kinship as women who shared the same man’s embrace.

She also wanted to hear the opinion of a woman who knew her limits and positioned herself as a concubine.

“I’m not an expert when it comes to magic. It’s no exaggeration to say I’m blind to it. So I thought I needed the opinion of someone who uses magic, albeit of a different system… no, an elf’s opinion.”

“I see.”

“Also, whatever the reason, you and I are both his women now. As people with that in common, we can rely on each other appropriately.”

From creating potions that enhanced their intimate life to handling the soul-binding ritual that she had kept secret from him—Ellen had done these things privately, and Helena was immensely grateful for her continued assistance.

Especially after being connected by soul, she felt an even deeper bond, which was nothing but pleasant.

Moreover, perhaps because of this, she had become somewhat more generous toward Ellen, who was in the same position as her.

There were times when she felt petty jealousy over who received more affection, but that was all.

Though she had no choice but to endure a situation where drawing swords would lead to mutual destruction, she unexpectedly achieved a good outcome.

Helena took renewed pride in herself for gritting her teeth to be with Zion in his whole state.

Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now.

Helena pulled herself out of the swamp of the past, turned her eyes to reality, and slowly began to speak.

“First of all, I’m thinking of keeping that woman here in my territory instead of sending her to the magic tower.”

“I assume you don’t intend to imprison her… so you’ll formally accept her.”

“That’s right. As you know, that woman… Eve Greenwood’s magical ability is unique. Moreover, it’s too dangerous.”

Dangerous.

Ellen nodded quite emphatically, clearly resonating with those words.

“It is dangerous. This time it ended with just killing mosquitoes, but in other words, she could kill anything else whenever she wants. And since she used an installable magic formation, it could be done periodically, or even semi-permanently as long as it’s not damaged.”

“I thought the same. If that mist that covered the entire territory had tried to kill people, we would have been helpless. You and I might have been fine and survived, but…”

Helena’s voice trailed off as she turned her head as if gazing through the window.

Though hidden by the window, in her mind’s eye she could see Zion sleeping peacefully in bed.

Understandable.

Ellen’s lips trembled in apparent agreement as Helena turned her gaze back to her.

“We can’t guarantee the Grand Duke would be safe.”

“Yes. He might be fine, but he might not be. That’s why it’s dangerous, and that’s why I felt the need to keep her close and make her our person. Even setting aside the danger, she’s quite attractive.”

“But you said you’ve only half decided… are you considering the possibility of her becoming like me?”

Ellen asked, referring to her own impulsive past actions.

Driven mad by love, she had risked her life and blackmailed her benefactor to get where she was.

Though now she had obtained what she wanted and maintained an amicable relationship with the person before her, it still seemed incredible even to her.

“I don’t know how he knows, but that’s not important. What matters is that Zion himself reached out to that woman, acknowledged her value, and made her achieve results. It’s similar to your case.”

And similar to mine too.

Helena swallowed those words and opened the book of history from the past to the present.

History.

It was an incredibly grandiose expression, but she believed everyone had their own history.

Especially the moment she met her partner, who had comforted her as if he knew everything since she was a baby—it was truly historic, at least in Helena’s opinion.

“Besides, Zion has a delicate appearance but is quite firm… he has plenty of qualities that women would like. That’s why I’m worried.”

Some might lament that she was completely blinded by love, but Ellen was also one of those affected, so she nodded firmly.

As someone who tasted that wildness every night, she had neither reason nor grounds to deny it.

“So you’re worried.”

“Zion himself isn’t the type of man who pursues many women, so it’s fine. And… embarrassingly, he seems to prefer the larger type, like you and me.”

Helena blushed slightly and poked at her prominently swollen chest and hip area.

It was a gesture that showed a vulgarity unbecoming of a duchess, or one that shouldn’t be shown.

However, Ellen didn’t think it vulgar or uncultured at all.

Rather, she simply agreed with Helena’s voice stating something utterly obvious.

“That’s right. The Grand Duke likes… the larger type.”

Their nighttime encounters, his fixations, and the conversations they had while resting between bouts of pleasure were evidence of this.

Formless but undeniable evidence that never left their minds.

“Uh, ahem! Anyway.”

Helena felt embarrassed. She cleared her throat softly and tried to cool her increasingly heated body.

If she surrendered to this heat, she feared she might rush straight to the bed where he waited without reaching any conclusion.

“I can’t prevent that woman from falling for him. But it’s a talent I want. A talent we must have.”

“Whatever the reason, the moment she sides with someone else, it could become extremely dangerous.”

Whether someone harbored a grudge against House Krauser or coveted it and tried to interfere, she had no interest.

The mere possibility of Eve’s particle-based magic being used by someone else posed a high potential threat.

Helena intended to prevent this preemptively, and Ellen agreed with her opinion.

The problem was Eve’s instinct itself, which had begun to show faint attraction to Zion.

That’s why Helena hesitated on the final decision and sought Ellen’s answer.

After all, the prospect of Zion Altram having another woman was an even bigger issue than the potential danger for both women.

“So… what would you like to do? I don’t know if she’ll accept, but… seduce her? Or not?”

“Hmm…”

It’s a difficult matter. Ellen sighed over this entity that was like a thorn in their side, and began to calmly weigh the degrees of danger.

She too wished for no more women to join them, but the practical issues were even greater.

Yet there was no justification to kill her immediately, and above all, forcibly creating such a justification could lead to even more dangerous and troublesome consequences.

For example, the magic tower mobilizing under the pretext of persecuting a magician.

And even if they could suppress all that resistance and burn it to the ground, could they still live happily as they did now?

Ellen was confident she could firmly answer no to that question.

Of course, if Zion himself were in danger or if someone tried to harm him, she would go berserk and attack.

The mere thought made her stomach turn, so facing it directly would be no less shocking.

Ellen looked at Helena, whose impatience was becoming increasingly evident, then sighed as if expelling a stifling energy and said:

“I think we should accept her. But instead of the mansion, how about setting up a residence for her in the land where my friends stay?”

“You mean to reduce the chance for attachment…? True, Zion hasn’t been going there much lately.”

Zion used to visit the elves’ huts almost daily, but not recently. Even so, he still met them face to face at least once a week, showing considerable thoughtfulness.

Sending Eve to stay there.

Helena showed quite a satisfied expression, thinking it was a reasonably good idea.

“Moreover, they are skilled practitioners who use spirit magic quite adeptly, if not to your level, so that would be even better. Of course, this is possible because they don’t seem particularly interested in dark elves…”

“In any case, since he’s a magic-obsessed eccentric, they should get along well.”

“Good. That settles it.”

Helena resolutely stood up, and as soon as she flung open the window-like door, she placed her hands on her clothes.

Ellen, who had been quietly watching Helena, also knew well what this action meant, so she loosened her clothes for easy removal and walked toward the bed.

After all, there was still time before breakfast.

◎◎◎

“What…? You want me to stay?”

“Yes. I’ll provide materials needed for your research and anything else you need. Of course, we’ll build you a separate house to live in.”

What is going on?

After breakfast, as Eve was packing her belongings to return to the magic tower with some regret, the duchess suddenly called for her and asked her to stay.

Confused and at a loss, Eve finally managed to ask:

“W-why would you want me to stay…?”

“When I see talented people, I become greedy. That’s why I want to keep you in my territory, modest as it may be.”

She’s greedy for me. Eve was secretly moved by the duchess who valued her so highly.

Moreover, the fact that this duchess was no ordinary duchess but also a Sword Master made it even more touching.

However, having never received proper recognition before, Eve unconsciously shrank back and expressed her refusal.

“I appreciate your high evaluation, but… I don’t think I can produce results as excellent as you expect. My success this time was just due to the Grand Duke’s advice and coincidence…”

“You don’t really believe that, do you? At least I don’t think so.”

Helena smiled kindly and firmly grasped Eve’s slightly trembling hand.

As this was so sudden, Eve’s eyes widened in surprise as Helena spoke:

“I trust my eyes, and I believe in your potential. Even if you lack ability right now as you say, I’ve clearly seen fragments of it.”

“Duchess…”

“I won’t ask you to be confident and act boldly right away. That would be difficult. Instead… would you stay in my territory and show me how you find your confidence?”

With such an excellent duchess believing in her, she felt like she could gain confidence she never had.

Eve momentarily felt a sense of pride, thinking she must be quite remarkable, but quickly erased such arrogance from within.

In any case, this was the first time she had been recognized like this, and it was also the first time she had achieved even modest but meaningful results in this territory.

Meeting unexpected connections and developing through them was a great fortune for her.

And she thought that if she continued her research in this fortunate land, perhaps even greater fortune would come her way.

“Also, though the systems differ, I’d like you to stay near the dark elves who use spirit magic. I think that would help with your magical development…”

“Really…?”

“Yes, really. If you don’t mind, Eve.”

The opportunity to closely and frequently encounter elven magic, which is difficult to access—it was clearly an attractive environment.

Though it might not allow for the active and prompt exchange of ideas like at the magic tower, it was still quite appealing.

Besides, for Eve, there was virtually no exchange of ideas anyway.

A beautiful woman who recognized her and offered to prepare an environment for her.

As Eve’s eyes grew dreamy at the sweet voice that seemed to seduce her,

“So, what will you do? I would very much like to hear a favorable answer…”

Helena’s voice, almost pleading, pushed Eve forward.