Chapter 51: Hug me

Sara, lost in thought, spoke,

“I believe…Anna, was it? Ellie’s sister is also participating.”

“Sister? Sister’s going?!”

My eyes lit up. I looked at the list Sara handed me; Sister’s name was at the very top.

Anna Estelle

It was definitely Sister’s handwriting. My virtuous sister would, of course, volunteer for such a noble cause. I added my name next to hers without hesitation.

“You idiot, why did you write it there?”

“Wh…what does it matter! As long as they can read it!”

Linne, after a moment of thought, added her name…

…next to mine.

“I’m sorry… Let me rewrite it…”

I finally realized my mistake, seeing what Linne had done. I regretted it instantly, but it was too late.

So, I was part of this…investigation team.
I didn’t care.
I was just happy to spend more time with Sister.

Sara explained something, but
I wasn’t listening. It was probably about enjoying my…outing with Sister.

“I’ll see you then.”

“Yes, thank you, Sara.”

“You’re actually useful sometimes.”

“Ellie, don’t forget your promise.”

Tch. Her memory was too good. I clicked my tongue, annoyed. I waved goodbye to Sara, a pleasant, if somewhat forced, smile on my face.

I had one more thing to take care of.

“…How long are you planning to wear that?”

“This? Why, are you jealous?”

Linne was still wearing my jacket. She tugged at the tight fabric, her action making my blood boil.

“You stretched out my favorite jacket! That’s why!”

“Oh, hey, wait!”

“Just take it off!”

I forcibly removed the jacket, which was surprisingly difficult, even though she hadn’t buttoned it.

“Hngh…what am I supposed to do with this?”

The jacket was clearly beyond repair, the fabric stretched and misshapen, especially around the chest area.

“Are you really that stupid? Who would wear something like this?!”

“But…you gave it to me…”

I yelled at her, and she cowered, her words infuriating.

“You’re an idiot…you useless commoner!”

“I’m sorry. I’ll…fix it.”

I swatted her hand away.

“What could you possibly do? Just reflect on your actions.”

Seriously, with her intelligence, who was she trying to save?
I muttered under my breath, and Linne’s expression changed.

“What did you just say…?”

Her dull eyes darkened, her gaze intense and unsettling.

“Wh…what? Did I say something wrong? What are you going to do about it?!”

I wasn’t intimidated. Not anymore.
I’d been holding back for too long. I needed to put Linne in her place, show her the difference in our…status. Today was the day. She’d remember this as a day of suffering, thanks to me.

We glared at each other, our eyes locked in a silent battle of wills, then lunged simultaneously.

“How dare you bare your teeth at me. Commoners these days lack discipline.”

“You’re always going on about commoners…are you obsessed or something, you arrogant brat?”

“What?! Arrogant brat? You…overgrown oaf!”

Linne’s hands grabbed my cheeks and pulled, the pain making me tear up. But I wouldn’t back down. I reached for her face.

“Ugh…”

I couldn’t reach her. She kept dodging, lifting her chin just out of my reach. It was infuriating.

My cheeks burned under her relentless grip. I couldn’t fight back like this.

“What’s wrong? Not so tough now, are you?”

“Ugh…!”

Grind.—

I gritted my teeth. This was humiliating. I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. And my cheeks were probably permanently stretched out of shape.

I had to fight back…

I closed my eyes, blinded by her assault, and focused on the sensation of her body against mine.

“Ugh…Ellie?!”

I grabbed whatever I could reach, the soft, overwhelming fullness that wouldn’t fit in my hands.

“W…wait! That’s…not fair!”

Linne’s grip loosened. My attack had landed. She looked… strangely vulnerable.

“A commoner like you should be screaming, not me!”

I squeezed and twisted, and she moaned in pain. She stopped pulling my cheeks and grabbed my wrists, trying to stop me, but her resistance was weak.

“P…please…stop…”

The blonde, pierced delinquent, usually so aloof and independent, was now at my mercy. I was so caught up in my victory, I didn’t notice…

“Ahahaha! How does it feel? Starting to understand a commoner’s suffering, are you?”

Linne’s hands went limp. She’d given up, though I wouldn’t let her go until she surrendered verbally.

“Ugh…mm…”

Linne’s body trembled. She was covering her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle…something. How annoying.

“Haa…haa…”

She shuddered, then collapsed. I finally opened my eyes and looked at her. She didn’t look well. Her eyes were unfocused.

…Had I gone too far?

“Are you…okay?”

She didn’t respond, her labored breathing the only sign of…distress. She slowly got to her feet. She quickly regained her usual composure, her expression hardening.

“…Ellie.”

Her eyes were…intense.
I smiled nervously, backing away.

“I…I’ll let you go…for now.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Linne grabbed my shoulder, and I tensed, expecting another attack, but she simply pulled me into a hug, a warm, comforting embrace.

“Linne, what…?”

My heart pounded. She whispered in my ear, her voice serious,

“Ellie, I’ve been thinking…”

Gulp.—
I swallowed nervously, my mind racing. What was she thinking?

No…
I couldn’t believe it.

“N…no…we’re still students…”

I knew what she was going to say. Something like, “You’re the first woman to defeat me,” and then…

We were both adults, technically, but graduation was still far away. And I had…Sister.

As I hesitated, her hand crept up my back, the ticklish sensation sending shivers down my spine. She spoke, her voice low and husky,

“This is what you need.”

Poke.—

Her finger dug into my side.

“Hee…!”

I jumped, but I was trapped in her embrace. I realized what she was doing.

Poke.—

“Ahh!”

She wanted my body.
She was going to tickle me into submission. How devious…

I gritted my teeth. I wouldn’t be defeated by such a childish tactic.

****

After years of training, I’d become…relatively strong. Or so I thought.

“Hngh…”

Even my legendary stamina had its limits. I was completely exhausted, unable to move a finger.

“Um…sorry. I got carried away.”

“You…you’re…too much…!”

My usual sharp wit had been dulled by her relentless assault.

“How could you do that to me…?”

The memory of her merciless touch, the humiliation… I shuddered.

“I’ll…never get married now…sob…”

“It was just a little tickling…”

“A little?! I was…serious!”

“Haa…”

Linne sighed and offered me her hand.

My arm trembled as I reached for it, my exhausted muscles barely able to lift my torso.

“…You okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

I glared at her, and she flinched, avoiding my gaze.

“S…sorry…”

“Just…carry me. I’m hungry.”

I stared at her back, the torn fabric a reminder of our…fight.

“Just…carry me like you did before.”

“…What?”

“You know…like…that.”

I couldn’t bring myself to ask for a princess carry. Linne stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. I hid my face, grateful for my long hair.