Mama Fox

<Cleodora>

The door slammed with grand might.

Standing outside the room, Cleodora stared wide-eyed at the closed door.

… This was too far, no?

How was she being kicked out of her own house? Especially when this matter concerned not only her but also the well-being of her wife. She had every right to be in there right now. Making sure her wife got the treatment she needed. Cleodora didn’t trust that old bat, a truth deeper cemented by the fact she refused to listen to her earlier until she mentioned her wife. It was clear to Cleodora, like most who had laid eyes on her wife, that she’d taken interest in her. Whether that interest was good or bad was up to Cleodora to decide.

Reaching for the door handle, ready to pull, Cleodora paused.

The disgruntled expression of her wife came to mind.

… Perhaps it was best to leave her alone for now.

It was one thing if only the herbalist wanted her gone, but another if so did her wife.

Letting go of the handle with a sigh, she walked away from the door.

She continued to walk, uninterrupted, until she reached the exit of the house.

She paused again.

Then finally opened the door.

Cleodora staying around wasn’t going to improve the situation.

As of now, her wife wasn’t exactly in the mood to see her. And speaking frankly, it wasn’t the least bit surprising. After receiving such wonderful news from her wife, Cleodora had gone a bit overboard. What was supposed to be a slow, wonderful moment for the both of them had quickly descended into a frenzied mess. One that had lasted a good portion of the night, almost carrying onto the next.

Cleodora ran her hand down her face.

She hadn’t meant for things to get so out of… hand.

Yesterday was supposed to be about pleasuring her wife, not herself. But, the moment she got a taste of her wife, she couldn’t stop herself from wanting more. The intrinsic allure her wife held was just too overwhelming. This fact resulted in Cleodora losing herself more than she intended. Her kisses turned into light bites while her gentle caressing grew rougher. And with every soft, cute moan her wife made, Cleodora felt a surge of power that ensured she would not stop.

‘It wasn't that bad, right… She liked some parts’

Perhaps at the start, maybe. But the longer it went on, the clearer it became she wanted out. It was only after she passed out in Cleodora’s lap while still impaled did Cleodora come to her senses. Given her wife’s nature, she wouldn’t issue anyone an apology even if she was in the wrong… But, right before she passed out, the faint words of an insincere 'sorry' could be heard. That was the moment Cleodora realised she may have gone too far.

‘Was… Was that too much?’

Such a thought had been plaguing her since yesterday.

An indescribable feeling beside it.

Cleodora shook her head.

‘She’s… she’s my wife. That can’t be too much…’

Wasn’t it normal for the newly married to be rambunctious?

‘That’s… right, I haven’t done anything wrong….’

Yet, despite thinking that, what she did do hadn’t exactly felt right.

The bruises present on her wife’s flawless skin weren’t something that sat well with her.

“Miss Hero! Miss Hero!!”

A call broke Cleodora out of thought.

Dashing up the path to the house was a familiar trio. The dynamo girl, eyes sparkling, led the charge with the arrogant boy on her heel and the timid girl pulling at his shirt. An energetic air, one that was disastrous at the moment, surrounded them. Cleodora briefly glanced back at the house. How did they manage to always come at the most unfortunate of times?

She forced a quick smile.

“If it isn’t my favourite little guests coming—!” (C)

“Is she here!? We come to see her!!”

Before Cleodora could even finish her words, the ever-impatient dynamo girl interjected.

‘Right, straight to business…’

She excused herself with a cough.

“Sadly, no.” (C)

“She isn’t here!? Why! What happened!?”

At the jumping insistence of the girl, Cleodora decided to clarify.

“I-I mean. She is here but… currently a little busy.” (C)

“Busy?”

She sighed and continued.

“She’s still a little unwell, unfortunately. But don’t worry! She’s seeing the healer right now, so all should be… should be well?” (C)

The dynamo girl raised her hands to her mouth as an exaggerated gasp left her lips.

‘Did I say something off?’

Judging by the fact the others were also looking shocked, yes. Although, they didn’t react to the same degree.

‘What’s up with them?’

Cleodora felt her smile tighten a little.

When she had mentioned her wife still being unwell, they all had looked dejected. In an effort to lighten that feeling, she then mentioned her wife’s treatment, but the reaction she got wasn’t to expectations.

“The Princess is already having a baby, wow.”

A simple statement, said by the arrogant boy, explained the odd reaction.

‘H-Huh?’

“Now, now, now. What would make you think that?” (C)

Kneeling to their level, Cleodora waved away that concern.

The arrogant boy looked directly into her eyes.

“The healer only leaves when babies are coming.”

Unbridled confidence littered his voice.

Feeling her smile about to crack, Cleodora continued.

“That’s… That’s not always true, you know? There are many reasons to make a house—” (C)

“We need to throw a party!”

A shout came from the dynamo girl, interrupting Cleodora once again.

It was shortly followed by a solemn nod of agreement by the arrogant boy.

“A big one is needed.”

And the quiet whisper of a timid girl.

“Flowers… we should get lots of flowers for it.”

Cleodora quickly hushed the kids.

“Okay, okay! I think it would be best if we kept this a small secret between us.” (C)

“Why?”

At the question from the dynamo girl, Cleodora froze. It was a valid question. Why should they have to keep it a secret? But the 'why' was shortly answered the moment she thought about her wife. She was already against telling her family; it was hard to imagine her being on board with telling the villagers.

“Don’t worry about it.” (C)

With a pat on the head, Cleodora stood up straight and began directing the kids back down the hill.

“Let’s go play something, okay?” (C)

Their protests were fierce, but eventually, they carried on at Cleodora’s guarantee of a good time.

Watching the kids chase around a ball of flame, Cleodora smiled to herself.

All things considered, they were quite cute with those tiny little legs of theirs.

‘…I need to send that letter’

An idle thought came to mind as she watched on. Not telling her in-laws this news wasn’t something she could do. With how ecstatic they would be at it, it would be downright criminal to deny them this happiness. Cleodora owed her in-laws basically her whole life. Without them, she wouldn’t be married to the woman of her dreams but be dead in a ditch somewhere. If Cleodora could, she would present them the world. Realistically, though, this was the best she could do.

“Miss Hero?” (L)

Cleodora didn’t need to turn to recognise that voice.

“Yes? How may I help you, healer?” (C)

An elder woman strode up to her side.

“May you lend me your ears?” (L)

Glancing at her momentarily, Cleodora’s eyes harden before gradually relaxing.

The healer chuckled lightly.

“It will be worth your time, I assure.” (L)

Cleodora sighed.

“Very well then.” (C)

After extinguishing the flame in the air and waving the kids off, Cleodora joined the elderly woman on her walk home.

“What is it, healer?” (C)

Her voice was slightly tinged with annoyance.

“Impatient, are we?” (L)

The healer ignored her tone and continued in silence.

It was only after they were half back to her place did she start speaking.

“Are you aware of what you have done?” (L)

The question hung in the air.

“What I’ve done?” (C)

“Yes. What you have done.” (L)

Images of her wife’s bruised body came to mind. Cleodora immediately shoved them away. It was normal for couples to be like this. And, anyway, that was a one-time celebration. That was why it had been more intense than normal. It hadn’t been that bad their first time together, and it will never be again. That was a one-off thing.

‘Was it?’

An insidious thought polluted Cleodora’s mind.

The pleasure her wife presented was nothing short of addicting. Having had a taste of her, it was hard to imagine going back to a before. No, it was downright impossible. The few days Cleodora had spent waiting for her wife to recover were enough to show her this. All forms of pleasure couldn’t hold a candle to what her wife presented. The tension that used to be so easily relieved with a hand was now inconceivably hard to manage.

Facing the healer, Cleodora thought about what she said.

What she, Cleodora, had done.

“…I haven’t done anything wrong.” (C)

“Oh dear. Is that what you think?” (L)

Arriving at her house, Luwn gestured inwards.

“I guess we have much to talk about!” (L)

With a warm smile, she asked.

“Care for some tea?” (L)