Ch.85Countdown (4)

Asena was waiting outside the classroom, trying to contain her jealousy.

Her eyes fixed on Kirsy as she approached.

When Kirsy came within speaking distance, Asena asked calmly, “…So what about him?”

“…He said not to worry about it.”

“…Ha.”

Asena flipped her hair back in frustration and asked again, “…Then what about Judy… that girl?”

“…I didn’t see her.”

“…How dare she… how dare she…”

One thing Asena absolutely couldn’t yield was Caden.

It would have been easier to give up the position of family head. But the fact that someone had knocked him down and stolen his lips—forcibly taken his lips—made her so angry she felt weak in the knees.

No one could remain sane when someone forcibly took the lips of the person they loved.

“……..”

But deep in her heart, part of her anger might have been directed at the fact that Judy had done what she couldn’t. Though rough, Judy had boldly expressed her feelings directly, seemingly reproaching Asena who had tasted his tongue at night.

Asena shook her head. But that didn’t change the facts. She could never forgive Judy.

If she hadn’t been someone connected to Caden, Asena would have unhesitatingly executed one of the hundreds of plans forming in her mind. And those plans would certainly have included causing her pain.

“…Didn’t he say anything else?”

“…He said you’d probably be angry, so he told me to comfort you…”

“…..”

Right now, only Caden himself could comfort her.

If he would kiss her roughly and be the first to entwine his tongue with hers… then she might be willing to let this incident go.

But Asena knew better than anyone that such a thing wouldn’t happen.

Occasionally, Asena wished he could understand her feelings.

If only he could somehow discover the damp, clingy feelings she hid behind her rigid mask.

…No. Would he run away then?

How could she relieve this stress?

“……”

“……”

At that moment, Asena and Kirsy’s eyes met simultaneously. Though no words were spoken, it was perfectly clear what they were both imagining.

The only way to relieve the stress of having his lips stolen was… to steal them back.

As she resolved to carry out that plan, it felt like a cool breeze blew through her chest, clearing her airways.

Yes. There were only 4 days left until she would reveal her feelings anyway.

Even with such major incidents happening… perhaps she needed to endure and move past them. If she could just taste his lips, his tongue, briefly at night… she could endure for a few more days.

“…After class. I’m going to see him,” Asena declared, calming herself.

Kirsy nodded as if it were only natural.

Still clutching her racing heart, Asena put her mask back on and re-entered the classroom.

****

I was sitting on the floor wiping away sweat. Judy hadn’t returned for afternoon classes either.

The girl who had stolen my lips had been panting, then suddenly seemed to come to her senses, trembled, got up, and fled in a hurry. I hadn’t seen her since.

In truth, this incident had effectively closed off Judy’s marriage prospects. At this Academy where all the nobles of the kingdom gathered, especially where it was easy to meet peers, she had stolen my lips.

Of course, she could still find a match if her family approved, but it wouldn’t be easy with such rumors spreading.

In this world where a woman’s virginity was valued as much as the class system, repugnant as it was.

In this world without contraceptives like condoms, a woman’s virginity was the safety measure for maintaining bloodlines. It was proof that she hadn’t embraced another man.

Along the same lines, because virginity was so valued, such scandals were never good. It raised doubts. Even if it led to a match, a woman who already had someone in her heart might easily stray.

…At this rate… Judy had truly become bound to me.

I don’t want to push Judy away. It’s just that being a commoner makes it difficult to express my will due to my weak position. As much as there are family circumstances, I have to follow them.

Thinking about it that way, Judy was a hundred times better than me. She had sacrificed her future for what she wanted. Of course, she might have impulsively stolen my lips without such calculated thoughts… but her choice seemed remarkable to me.

As I wiped my sweat and stood up, I saw knight department students returning to the dormitory parting in the distance.

I knew the reason without looking.

“…Here they come.”

I muttered to myself.

And sure enough.

The twins were approaching from the distance.

****

“I understand… I’m sorry. Stop being angry. It won’t happen again…”

Caden was stroking Asena’s back, cheeks, and head, trying his best to soothe her anger.

His affectionate tone and touch were calming her anger, but Asena steeled herself.

Today, she had to taste his tongue. She had to kiss him like lovers do.

It wasn’t the feeling or commitment she should have for her brother, but she no longer cared about that.

She still stood with her expression unchanged and arms crossed in front of her dormitory room door where he had escorted her.

“Come on, stop now. Calm down. Let’s see each other with smiles tomorrow. I’ll… talk to Judy.”

“…What?”

Asena, who had remained rigid, turned her head to look up at him.

“…You’re saying you’ll meet alone with the girl who stole your lips?”

“…Girl? Asena, watch your language.”

“…….”

“Anyway, I’m saying I’ll handle it. Honestly… I still don’t really understand why you’re so angry…”

“….”

“….”

“…No. I shouldn’t have said that. Anyway, go in. See you tomorrow.”

“…You’re just going to leave like that?”

Asena asked sharply.

For Caden, seeing Asena this angry was rare. No… it was almost unprecedented. They had fought many times, but she rarely directed her anger at him.

Caden scratched his head.

“…Is there something else I should do…?”

“…Ha.”

As if exasperated, Asena held her breath and snorted.

She glared sharply at Caden for a long time.

When he stood there with a clueless expression, Asena lightly tapped her cheek a couple of times with her finger.

“…Oh, you want a kiss?”

“…..”

Asena nodded briefly and opened the dormitory door.

“…Come in.”

Caden wanted to give her a quick kiss and leave, but he knew that Asena minimized displays of affection where others could see.

Since it wouldn’t take long anyway, he followed her into the room.

-Creak. Thud.

After the twins entered and Caden passed through the door, Asena closed it roughly.

She extended both hands to close the door, trapping Caden in between.

“…Asena?”

Seeing Asena sending him a smoldering gaze as soon as the door closed, Caden felt another strange emotion.

These two had been acting strange since this morning.

As if they had become different people…

He thought.

…Could they have separation anxiety? That wouldn’t be good.

…And.

…Perhaps.

………No.

Caden shook his head, erasing the absurd imagination, and called Asena again.

“…Asena?”

She looked at him with unwavering eyes, then gradually released the strength in her arms and let him go.

“…Sorry, brother. Anyway.”

She offered her cheek to him.

At the same time, she said to Kirsy, “Kirsy. Look the other way.”

Kirsy naturally turned her head. Asena always made sure even Kirsy couldn’t see when she received kisses.

Of course, when they had gone for a walk and explored his lips together, they had shown each other, but that was the first time Kirsy had seen Asena displaying affection.

If she didn’t follow the habit that was already established, Caden might find it strange.

And originally, that moment when they kissed him had been a special moment.

It was all too clear that Asena didn’t want to show others her moments of sharing love.

-Smooch.

A soft but warm, love-filled small sound was made, and Kirsy turned her head back to normal and walked toward Caden.

Kirsy took Asena’s place and offered her cheek to him.

Caden lightly placed his hand on Kirsy’s head and gently kissed her forehead.

“Well, I’m going to rest now. See you tomorrow.”

He waved his hand.

The twins, in the end, waved back at him.

****

“…Sister. Now?”

In the late night, in the unlit dormitory, Kirsy quietly asked.

Normally, she would have fallen asleep in the darkness, but… Kirsy couldn’t be more awake than she was now.

Her heart was racing so much that her hands and feet tingled, and her senses were more acute than ever.

“…Not yet.”

The calm voice of the experienced one came back to Kirsy, who had asked with anticipation.

Asena was sitting calmly on the sofa, staring into the darkness.

Kirsy still wasn’t used to this side of her sister.

Asena had always handled everything calmly and rigidly. Though they were twins, she had been much more reliable and mature than herself.

She wouldn’t even show affection with Caden in front of her. A person who only cared about family matters. That’s what she had thought until they came to the Academy.

But look at her now.

With the sole intention of entwining her tongue with Caden’s, she was calmly waiting for the night to deepen.

Not pretending otherwise, not hesitating. Waiting for the right time with a determined expression as if it were something that had to be done.

It was impossible to get used to this.

…But at the same time… she could understand her. Because their brother was the object of affection.

It wasn’t that one loved him first and then the other followed. They each fell in love with him at different moments. And later realized that they both felt the same way.

As Asena said… if only he weren’t a Praester, all problems would be solved.

While pondering these unresolvable thoughts again, Kirsy waited in the darkness.

The sound of her heartbeat kept getting louder.

How much time had passed like that?

“…Kirsy, let’s go now.”

Asena’s voice echoed.

It was so deep into the night that no sound could be heard.

Even the insects seemed to have gone to sleep, as not even they could be heard.

…Or perhaps they were drowned out by the sound of her heartbeat.

“…Haa…haa…”

Since when had she been breathing heavily? Kirsy began to regulate her breathing.

Her body was starting to get excited again like that time.

Today is the last day.

After today, she would win his heart fair and square.

In just 4 days… no, 3 days, she would confess her feelings to him.

She knew he wouldn’t easily accept her feelings. But at this rate, he would leave, so there was no other way.

She knew a long moment of pain was coming.

As such… today was like taking a deep breath before diving underwater.

Of course… there was also jealousy toward Judy who had stolen his lips.

****

Asena opened Caden’s dormitory door with a spare key she had as a student council member.

-Click. Creeeak…

The sound somehow seemed more eerie, but that didn’t stop them.

Suddenly, Kirsy realized how sinister what she was doing was.

Unable to restrain herself even at the Academy, she was picking the lock to her brother’s dormitory to entwine her tongue with his.

She had always acted cute and affectionate with him. What would he think if he saw this two-faced side of her?

But she threw all those thoughts to the back of her mind. The pleasure of success was more tempting than those concerns.

The fire burning in her heart seemed like it would only be calmed by reclaiming his lips.

They closed the dormitory door and slid to the front of Caden’s door, muffling their footsteps.

They placed their hands on his door without hesitation.

-Creak…

And so the second door opened.

-Shhh…shhh…

Kirsy exhaled her first sigh of relief as she heard Caden’s sleeping breaths.

The two entered his room and closed the door.

-Click.

Kirsy was startled by the momentarily loud sound.

Asena had locked his door with a skilled hand.

Afterward, she approached him without hesitation.

Watching these actions, Kirsy couldn’t tell how many times Asena had done this.

She was too skilled and natural.

Then suddenly, as if remembering Kirsy beside her, Asena asked as she approached him.

“…Do you want to go first?”

The word “first” made Kirsy’s heart race again. They were really going to do it now.

They were going to administer that drug again.

His lips were within reach.

“…Y-you go first, sister.”

She whispered. She didn’t have the courage yet.

Asena nodded and crawled onto his bed.

She straddled him with her arms and legs… and without hesitation lowered her head to kiss him.

“..Mmph..”

-Smooch…slurp…

Moist sounds immediately began to fill the room.

At those sounds, Kirsy sat in a nearby chair, rubbing her legs together.

She averted her eyes, as watching Asena doing that made her heart race even more.

Only sounds reached her.

“…Brother… did you think that would be enough?”

Asena’s voice, barely audible even to herself.

“..Mmph…haa…did you think…hnngh…you could get away with just a kiss?”

Right after, it seemed his mouth opened, as the distinctive sound of tongues rubbing together echoed.

Asena was showing her true self to the sleeping Caden again, as if she had become a different person.

“Only I…haa…only I need to see…slurp..okay..?”

“…..”

“..No one…mmph…but your sister, Asena…”

“…S-sister.”

Kirsy finally couldn’t stand it and called out to Asena.

The wet sounds stopped, and Asena’s flashing eyes turned to Kirsy. She returned from being the affectionate sister to being the older sister Asena, as if the person had changed.

“…What. Don’t interrupt.”

“…I…I want to do it too.”

Asena let out a long sigh.

“…I’ve barely started and you’re saying that.”

“M-my heart is beating too fast… let me do it once first… then you can continue… okay? We can take turns…”

Asena looked back and forth between Kirsy and Caden, then grimaced.

Then, sighing once more, she got off him.

“…Keep it short. Then it’s my turn again.”

“Okay..!”

As Asena moved aside, Kirsy climbed on top of him next.

She slowly lowered herself, lying on top of him as if embracing him. It felt so good to lie like this, as if hugging him.

Calming herself while listening to his heartbeat, Kirsy slowly approached his lips.

“…Brother…I love you.”

She spoke to him as if practicing what she would say in three days.

Then she pressed her lips against his and inserted her tongue deeply.

Indeed, the pleasure she had missed for days entered her head.

It was so ecstatic she forgot to breathe, and so happy that all guilt flew away.

Even her anger at Judy for stealing his lips subsided.

“Haa…brother…why do you keep getting along with her…?”

She began to say what she wanted to say to him, just as Asena had done.

“…I’m right here… can’t you just look at me?”

“….”

“…Hmm?”

“……”

“…Answer me…”

As she spoke while embracing him with her eyes closed, she naturally inserted her tongue into his mouth again.

This feeling that made her go crazy every time she inserted it.

Eventually, Kirsy forgot about talking and pressed against his lips, inserting her tongue as deeply as possible.

Her saliva kept flowing into him.

Every time she rubbed her tongue against his, she felt his tongue moving weakly.

She gradually began to be intoxicated with pleasure.

Kirsy, who had been lightly straddling him, gently put both arms behind his neck.

Then she put strength into those arms, pulling him more strongly toward herself. She tried to narrow the already close distance even further.

The more the gap closed, the more satisfaction filled her chest.

“…Huh?”

She might have heard Asena’s voice from behind, but she ignored it.

She pulled his neck more strongly. She moved her tongue, licking him.

“…Ki-Kirsy, wait a moment!”

Asena’s surprised voice echoed. Kirsy also opened her eyes wide at Asena’s voice, but…

Just before withdrawing her tongue, she felt his tongue, which had been limp, moving with its own will.

“…Cough.”

Strength entered Caden’s relaxed body. Kirsy hurriedly moved away from him. A long strand of saliva drooped.

Caden’s eyes opened slightly, blinked while looking around, then he suddenly sat up.

“…Girls?”

“N-no…”

Kirsy, who had been lying on top of him, ended up sitting on Caden’s knees as he rose.

“…Huh? Tsk…”

“B-brother, wait a moment…”

Caden, who had woken up, wiped his lips as he looked around.

Her and Asena’s saliva came off on his arm.

Asena and Kirsy were so stiff they couldn’t say anything.

Caden looked back and forth between Asena and Kirsy, blinked, then… began to show a confused expression.

“I-I can explain, brother.”

Asena also spoke, unable to stay still.

Caden moved his lips, then uttered just one word. Anyone could see that hundreds of emotions were passing through him.

“…What is this?”