Chapter 15 : Chapter 15
Volume 1
Chapter 15 : A Maiden’s Joy and Sorrow Do Not Align
Selicia sat atop Muen, her slender waist graceful, her clothes in disarray.
Her already loosened dress slipped further downward under the pull of gravity.
Having already crossed that highest peak, everything that followed seemed only natural.
And so, even more breathtaking sights flooded unimpeded into Muen’s vision.
This was bad—extremely bad.
This position, this view.
And the heat radiating from Selicia, so different from her usual icy presence.
Muen felt his mind explode with a buzzing sound, a surge of heat rushing to his nose, nearly bursting forth.
“Your Highness, please calm down!”
With the only hand he could still move, Muen covered his nose, his expression filled with panic.
“If this continues, it is going to become inappropriate!”
“Do not move!”
Selicia’s voice was still cold, yet now tinged with an alluring softness.
Just hearing it made Muen’s mind waver.
“Do not move…”
Selicia lowered her head and pressed down Muen’s other hand as well.
A delicate fragrance, like that of an orchid, enveloped him.
Muen tried to struggle, but the girl sitting atop him felt like a mountain, leaving him unable to move.
At this moment, Muen finally understood the importance of strength.
Only with strength could one avoid being humiliated like this—pinned beneath someone without the ability to resist.
Damn it. If I survive this, I will definitely train properly!
“Evil dragon blood…”
“Huh?”
Selicia suddenly began muttering.
“In the drug… There is evil dragon blood mixed in. When added to a potion, it enhances its effectiveness…”
“Oh… okay…”
Muen nodded blankly, completely confused as to why she was talking about this at such a moment.
“However… Evil dragon blood has a property. It must not come into contact… with dragon salvia. Once it does, it will trigger… the toxicity of the dragon blood…”
Selicia’s breathing grew heavier, her speech becoming fragmented.
Her expression flickered between clarity and confusion, as if she were still struggling against the potent toxin within her body.
“In other words… an aphrodisiac effect.”
Muen suddenly realized—Selicia was not speaking to him at all.
“The toxicity… is incurable…”
She was talking to herself.
“Incurable, incurable, incurable, incurable… it is incurable. There is no antidote.”
She repeated those words again and again.
As she did, Muen noticed that a certain desire in her eyes was becoming almost tangible, as if it might spill out at any moment.
It was as though she was… convincing herself.
“Except…”
Selicia’s eyes suddenly regained a trace of clarity.
She pinned Muen’s hands down tightly and stared directly into his eyes.
For the first time, such a fierce expression appeared on her beautiful face.
“Muen Campbell… this time… you have won.
But I swear, this humiliation… I will repay tenfold in the future!”
“Huh?”
What?
Repay… in the future?
Before Muen could react, Selicia suddenly leaned down—
Her soft lips pressed against his, sealing his mouth.
…
“Mmm…”
“Ah…”
“Oh my…”
“I cannot take it anymore!”
“This feeling… it is overwhelming…”
“I am going to ascend…”
“The Pachichi cake is so delicious!”
Ariel stuffed large bites of Pachichi cake into her mouth, its sweet fragrance filling every corner of her mind.
Completely satisfied.
With her cheeks puffed full, she looked like a little hamster.
But she simply could not stop!
“You really love Pachichi cake, do you not?”
Lia, standing beside her, teased, “Be careful or you will upset your stomach.”
“Eating Pachichi cake would never upset my stomach! I have evolved a special organ just to digest it!”
Ariel patted her belly proudly.
“I will call it the Pachichi stomach! With it, I can eat as much as I want!”
As she spoke, she took advantage of a nearby noble being distracted in conversation to quietly move all the Pachichi cakes on the table in front of herself.
After a moment’s thought, she picked one up and handed it to Lia.
“Want some?”
Looking at the cute and delicious cake, Lia was tempted.
Her family was merely a low-ranking noble house, and she rarely had the chance to taste such a luxury dessert.
But then she glanced down at her own chest—something that already caused her shoulders to ache when walking—and hesitated before shaking her head.
“I will pass… I have gained weight recently, so…”
“What are you talking about?!”
Ariel stuffed another cake into her mouth and huffed angrily.
“You are taking your blessings for granted! Do you even understand my pain, you walking milk cow?!”
“W-What?! That is too much!”
Lia flushed with embarrassment. Her reaction only made her look even more adorable, making one want to pinch her soft cheeks.
“Oh? Still denying it, are you?”
Ariel’s fingers twitched mischievously as she lunged at Lia with sparkling eyes.
“Let me teach you a lesson, you big milk cow! Take this!”
“Ah—stop… It tickles! Ariel… there are so many people watching…”
“Is that not even better? It makes it more exciting! Take this, take this—”
“Waaah…”
The girls’ playful antics did not disturb the nobles’ conversations.
Though a few adolescent noble boys could not help but sneak glances, they would quickly look away, muttering disapprovingly about improper conduct—
Only to sneak another glance moments later.
“Alright, enough.”
After playing around for a while, Lia slapped Ariel’s wandering hands away and rolled her eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed.
“By the way, were you not looking for Princess Selicia? Why are you still here eating cake?”
“It is fine. I can find Selicia later. It is not urgent—I just wanted to ask her about swordsmanship.”
“If not now, I will have plenty of chances at the academy.”
“But I just saw Her Highness leave with that Muen Campbell guy. They have not come back yet. Is that alright?” Lia blinked teasingly.
“I saw that too!”
Ariel frowned, her lips pursing.
Just thinking about Muen Campbell annoyed her.
He only relied on his family background to make things difficult for her at the academy.
Worst of all, he was actually Princess Selicia’s betrothed.
How was he worthy of her?!
Princess Selicia is my prey!
“But it should be fine.”
Ariel quickly brushed off her annoyance.
“In a situation like this, it is only natural that Selicia could not refuse his invitation. After all, that annoying guy has a powerful father.”
“Aren’t you worried that Muen Campbell might try something improper with Her Highness?” Lia asked playfully.
“Please. With Muen Campbell’s pitiful skills—even I can beat him easily.”
Ariel curled her lips in disdain.
“How could he possibly do anything improper to Her Highness? Drug her? With how smart Selicia is, she would pin him to the ground and deal with him before he even got the idea!”