So all her worry had been for nothing. Lana had thought and thought as hard as she could to find a solution, only to be played by a mistaken moron. Even so, she dutifully did everything in her power to prevent violent conflict—and sold her body to me. The elven princess offered herself as sacrifice to this so-called trifling heim.
“Thank you very much, King of Elves. You’ve helped me make up my mind.”
All right, I’ve decided. It’s done. I know how to move forward now. Despicable as it is, it was worth it for the truth.
“Take your disgusting thanks elsewhere,” the elven regent bristled. “Ah, regarding Éa, I could not have fathomed you would be able to save her from that wound. Would you consider sharing your medical expertise with the elves?”
“Hell no.”
“Hmph. You may keep Éa for the meanwhile. When the time comes, I will have you return her to me.”
“You’d better prepare to have your whole goddamn forest razed before you try.”
I’d die before I saw eye to eye with Mellum. Even his resemblance to Éa made me want to puke.
“It’s as if I’m watching young Medîm and Mellum again.” The king sighed, defeated.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave,” I said in parting and got up from my seat.
Ah, can’t waste these.
I shoved the rest of my bacon and rakkyo in my mouth, packing my cheeks like a chipmunk, then quickly devoured them.
“You did exemplary work, adventurer,” King Remlia applauded. “I expect more great things from you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” I bowed my head at the king’s kind words, then rushed out of the room. Lanceil followed. “Lanceil, is Lana back at camp?”
“No, she is staying at an inn close to the palace called Haven from Two Blue Moon Monsoon. The staff has been informed to expect you.”
We jogged down the hall. Driven by impatience, I only then realized the pain had subsided. “And the others?”
“Shuna and Bel have returned to Lady Gladwein’s residence, and Éa is at camp,” the beastmaid replied. “I will join her there. It would not do to let my sister feel lonely.”
Outside the castle, night had long fallen over the land. A short walk took us to the hotel, where I parted with Lanceil.
Before she left, Lanceil said, “Souya, while it may not be my place to speak, I do hope you shower Lana with love and do not let her go. Otherwise, your gentle doe might one day disappear. And remember, I come next in line. Do not forget.”
“Huh?” But before I could ask anything, she had vanished into the night.
Putting that aside, I stepped into the inn—no time to waste standing around confused. It was a bright place, very similar to a common private dwelling, but neat and tidy. Though many hotels in the area opened their first floors as taverns, this one appeared to be solely meant for lodging. The clangor of the city did not cross the threshold into this calm, quiet space.
A sign posted near the entrance read, DO NOT DISTURB THOSE WHO SOFTLY SLUMBER, OR YOU SHALL REST IN PEACE FOREVERMORE.
“Excuse me, I’m supposed to meet someone staying here,” I mentioned to the petite, young girl at the front desk. She looked almost elfish. I wondered if perhaps people of her race all had such youthful appearances.
“Lord Souya, I presume. We have been expecting you,” she responded in a mature voice. She was probably older than me. “If you’ll follow me,” she said, then led me to the second floor. “Allow me to explain a few details regarding your stay. Royal representatives have already paid us an extraordinarily generous sum, so you are welcome to stay for however long you wish. Please let us know if you require anything, and we shall provide it. We can deliver your meals to your room at any time. Should you require our services, kindly ring the small bell located by your room. The walls are completely soundproof, so we would not be able to hear should you call out for us,” the receptionist explained. “May you have a pleasant stay.” With that, she left me in front of the designated room.
I rapped on the door using the metal knocker affixed to it. After a pause, a sleepy-eyed Lana opened it.
“May I?”
“Come in.”
As soon as I stepped in the room, I clasped her in a tight embrace and hungrily sought her lips. Lana struggled against me in surprise, but I passionately took her hands in mine. Then shedding all my gear by the threshold, I carried her over to the bed and pushed her down. Low light revealed tranquil furnishings in the room. There was only one bed.
“D-darling, you’re scaring me. Calm down.”
“I can’t.”
As I held her head, I ravaged her with my tongue, swirling it together with hers, softly biting her lip, licking the top of her palate. Though her eyes were closed tightly, and her body was stiff with nerves, she slowly began to soften into my embrace. In one smooth motion, I stripped off her loose robe.
“Ah,” she moaned, her eyes dewy with tears. It made me crave her even more. Having just awoken after dancing along the line between life and death, a weird switch had turned on inside me.
……Ah, crap. I completely forgot what I came to say.
Changing positions with Lana still in my arms, I rolled us over, so she lay on top of me.
“Your father and King Remlia told me everything about the forest and how it burned.”
“………I see.” Her face dropped. Pressing her beautiful breasts against my chest, she clung to me like an anxious child. “That rabbit, the one that shows you visions of death. I’m sure you noticed, but I didn’t see anyone die.”
“Yeah, I know.” You’re a terrible liar.
“I don’t have the right to feel sorrow for anyone’s death. How could I after robbing so many of their lives? It would be unforgivably preposterous.”
“More would have died if you hadn’t stopped that beast.”
“Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not. It is a moot point.” It was human foolishness to ask yourself a long list of what-ifs and then regret you even began asking in the first place—a trait I couldn’t hate. “When that monster kidnapped me, I saw a dream.”
“A dream?” Rhora’s venom—it put people into a deep, deep sleep and kept them hostage like that until they died, never knowing the unspeakable torture their bodies endured. “It was peaceful. I was back in the forest, with all the people I’d killed, living a quiet life. It was tranquil, uneventful. Neither you nor my sister were there with me. A foolish, self-serving dream. That is what I am, a shameful disgrace. Laualliuna, the tainted princess. You must despise me now, don’t you?”
“Not even close.”
“Huh?”
I caressed Lana’s ears with my free hand. They twitched, and her body jerked. Looks like I’ve found a nice weak spot.
“Have you forgotten who I am? I am devoted to Lady Mythlanica, the Goddess of Malevolence. So you razed your home to the ground? You killed innocent people? What about it? If you wanted to make me despise you, annihilating a country or two wouldn’t nearly be enough. Slaughter a thousand, ten thousand people, and it still wouldn’t phase me. Try decimating the entire Great Land—no, destroying the entire world. Only then would I maybe consider the idea of disliking you.”
“What? Wait, that’s—”
“Don’t take me so lightly. If you’re feeling unsure, I’ll swear it to you now. By my goddess Lady Mythlanica’s name, I forgive you entirely.”
“U-um, my ears— Ngh!” I lightly twirled both ears at once, and she twisted her thighs together. This was fun. “S-seriously, not my ears or—”
When I flicked the very tips of her elven ears, Lana seized me with all her strength, biting my shoulder. After a pause, she loosened her grip and relaxed her body. Her breath was ragged, her damp skin clinging to mine.
“Haah, haah…… My love…… Either have a serious conversation with me or play with my body; pick one. Or I’m going to get angry,” she whispered with a threatening tone. I felt a little guilty. “You’re so— I swear, I don’t know what to do with you.” She sighed, exasperated. “………But yes, I suppose if anyone in this world was to love me from the bottom of their heart, they would have to be someone like you. No—they would have to be you.”
“I doubt it.”
She bit down hard on my collarbone for some reason. “It would have to be you, right?”
“Yes, only me.” It hurt—pretty bad.
Then, as if intent on paying me back, Lana ripped my shirt off. She nibbled my earlobes. But I wasn’t going to lose; I fondled her breasts and ran my fingers down over her plump bottom. She murmured adorably in response.
I adored her. Never had I loved anyone before, but if this was what you called love, then I’d give all of myself to it. I’d carve it into my heart like a curse, there to remain for the remainder of my short life.
“Lana, marry me.”