Our first night together, though marked by bottomless desire, eventually ended when neither Licia nor I could keep going.
Even the noises echoing through the room gave way to silence as we lay on the sofa, quietly enjoying each other's company.
However, even that silence didn't last forever.
Licia: "Hehe... Sorry that I can't keep going... But we can always do more next time?"
While I stroked her hair, she looked at me with a cheeky smile, clearly already aware of how I'd answer.
Miwen: "That'd be nice."
At some point, I had lost control and just did as I wanted.
She seemed to enjoy it, but I wanted to take it a little slower next time.
I wanted to know more about her and how we could feel even better together.
Licia: "Hm... But that'll have to wait until you do it with Claire, too."
I stopped my hand and blinked.
Her eyes were serious.
Miwen: "...I thought that'd be the case. I swear... You two can be so unreasonable."
Licia: "Mhm-nhm."
She shook her head, wearing a smug smile.
Licia: "We've agreed I'd do it first. I wanted to be with you for longer, and she told me she was only interested due to curiosity, and not at all because she liked you or anything."
That sure sounded like Claire, which probably meant it wasn't the case at all.
Licia clearly knew that as well, but I guess her feelings spoke louder, and she took the opportunity.
She was rarely selfish, so... I was actually glad to see it.
Licia: "She agreed it was better for me to talk with you today, too... And she's not naive. I'm sure she knew what would happen..."
She ran a finger across my chest, a slightly somber tone on her face.
Miwen: "Well, if you're fine with it, you won't hear me complain."
Licia: "I know. You want to make us happy, right? I want that, too."
Miwen: "Yeah, but you're giving me too much credit. Being with two girls is just-"
She grabbed my chin, making me face her eye to eye.
Licia: "I wanted to tell you a little about myself, Miwen."
Miwen: "...I'd love to hear it."
The living room fell into silence again.
Licia lowered her gaze, quietly thinking about what to say.
I caught glimpses of her smiling, but also glimpses of her lips curling downward.
After a few seconds, she looked at me with a solemn gaze and a restrained smile.
Licia: "Before you summoned me, I lived constrained by others. You were the first person to let me choose and give me freedom. I know it's the same care you'd have shown no matter who was summoned, but... It's the first time I feel like I'm choosing to rely on someone else."
She moved my hand toward the back of her head.
Everything I offered Licia, I had also offered to Claire. I also planned on offering it to everyone I'd summon going forward.
It wasn't just out of kindness. Keeping someone who didn't want to stay was basically a death sentence, and building a foundation on trust always felt safer.
However, I was glad to see how much it meant to her.
Helping someone was always something I aspired to.
Miwen: "...What do you mean by constrained?"
Despite my thoughts, it seemed like Licia was having a hard time.
I didn't want to push her, but I respected her courage.
She wanted us to rely more on each other, so...
That only felt fair.
Licia: "My younger sister was bedridden. It didn't matter how much time passed, her disease only grew stronger..."
I could feel her hand trembling as she hugged my back.
She even hid her face for a brief moment.
Licia: "My family had to buy potions to keep her alive... And eventually, that became too expensive for my father to handle alone."
Even though she had her Gift from birth, I always thought it was a little strange that she had gotten to level 80 at such a young age.
Claire also warned me not to comment on that, either, but...
Miwen: "...You stepped in, didn't you?"
Licia: "Father and mother... They were tired. Growing sick... I couldn't watch it. But in the end... It was all for naught."
She let out an exasperated laugh, tears welling up in her eyes.
I gave her a second, letting her feel my chest and back as she pleased.
Only once I saw her looking up did I ask her...
Miwen: "You said that you were a B-rank adventurer, right? Wasn't that enough?"
Licia: "Only for a while. Her condition... She needed mana potions that only the best alchemist in the capital could make."
She shook her head, sniffling.
Licia: "I could afford a few, but... Nobles had priority. After a while, the prices rose due to demand and... Even though I had the money, it was doubtful that I'd get any."
Miwen: "...I see. I'm sorry-"
She hugged me tight.
Maybe tighter than ever before.
I knew it was a delicate topic that ended in her death, so...
I braced myself for the worst, trying not to let my hesitation show and reassuring her by gently caressing her chin.
Licia: "...I met a noble. He was the son of a count..."
Her breath became uneven.
It was as if the words wouldn't leave her.
Licia: "...He told me that... He had heard of me and wanted to greet me. We talked a little, and he offered to buy the potions I was looking for under his name."
My muscles tensed.
That sounded kind.
A little too kind, considering how the story should end.
Licia: "I was dubious at first, so I only sent him the money for one... The very next day, a courier came with the potion I had bought."
I stayed quiet, listening.
Licia pressed her body further into mine, almost as if she wanted to disappear.
Licia: "I paid him every time. But... Adventurers don't have the most stable job."
A second passed.
Swallowing hard, Licia caught her breath.
Licia: "When the time came, I couldn't pay, he said it would be okay. That I could pay him later. My sister couldn't wait, so... I accepted it... But... it was a lie..."
I felt her tears running across my chest.
She lost the strength in her arms, so I hugged her back.
Licia: "After I got the next batch from him, he accused me of stealing them. He said I was out of money and resorted to stealing. He had me imprisoned in his house's dungeon..."
She became frantic, rubbing her eyes.
But the tears wouldn't stop.
Miwen: "...Why did he plot against you?"
It didn't seem like he had anything to gain.
Though there was one possibility.
One I really hoped to be wrong about.
Licia: "He wanted me as his pet. Or his toy. The little fame I had gained enticed him and... He thought I was made for him."
I stared at the ceiling, biting my own lips.
If she'd seen the face I made... Licia might never trust me again.
Licia: "He made me go through hell. Every day... He made me swallow so many drugs and breathe in so many aphrodisiacs that at some point... I couldn't even feel my surroundings. I couldn't even think straight... All I wanted was to die. I just... I wanted it to end..."
I could feel the frustration and hate in her voice, something I'd never seen in her.
Even though it hurt to hear, I could only imagine how much harder it was for her to speak about it.
I was glad that she trusted me this much.
Thinking about it, that she chose to sleep with me despite that horrible experience, also meant a lot, but...
Those feelings couldn't hold a candle to the rage I felt.
Miwen: "...How old were you when you started working as an adventurer?"
Licia: "I used to help mom at home until I was twelve. Then I worked as an adventurer for eight years... And then... I met my end about a year later, I think. I don't.... My memory is fuzzy. I can't remember exactly, and I think I don't want to, either..."
Miwen: "That's... That's fine. You don't have to think about it."
I wanted to give her advice, or support her, or help in any way, but...
Other than being there for her, I didn't know how.
She lived an entire life, since she was a kid, without ever knowing her own happiness.
Only for someone to break and discard her.
I closed my eyes, trying my best to put on a decent face.
Something that wouldn't scare her, at least.
Miwen: "Licia... You don't have to worry. Nothing like this will ever happen to you again, I promise. Not on my watch."
I used the gentlest tone I could, yet I still couldn't face her properly.
But despite that, she made sure to get into my view.
Licia: "When you say it like that, it makes me want to believe so much."
Even though she was the one suffering, she forced herself to smile, caressing my chin as she looked me in the eye.
Miwen: "I've kept true to my other promises, right?"
I could only answer in kind...
Licia: "That you did... Thank you, Miwen."
Miwen: "Hey... You said we'd rely on each other, right? That's only fair."
Licia: "Hmm..."
That was the last conversation we had before falling asleep on the sofa.
Licia seemed even more exhausted than I was, so she slept first.
On the other hand, I stayed awake another hour.
Caressing her.
Watching her.
She seemed at peace.
She'd sometimes giggle.
I even caught glimpses of her pouting.
I thought about my Gift.
About how I disliked the idea of bringing people back from the dead.
About how it wasn't my right to write a new chapter on someone's finished story.
Claire told me she was satisfied with her end. That was the example I feared the most.
Yet, I could tell she was having fun in this new life, as well.
Licia's story shook me to the core.
She was the complete opposite of Claire, someone who was saved by another chance at life.
Seeing the two, I thought that... Maybe I was doing it right.
Even if there was a risk that I'd hurt someone by doing this, Claire was the proof I could still offer something to make up for it, while...
Licia was the proof that it was more than worth it.
Miwen: "It's a little scary. I wasn't ready for this. It's a lot of responsibility."
Licia: "Hmhn..."
I smiled.
Miwen: "I'll make it work."
I wasn't the only one responsible for making Licia's peaceful expression.
Claire, being in a similar position, helped a lot. Especially with the things Licia couldn't tell me.
Despite what happened in the Snow White Wolves Event...
My Gift could be a force for good.
It could be a place for us to heal.
Even if it meant going through another bad experience, hearing more hurtful stories, or even losing a piece of me...
I just had to become strong enough to deal with it.
The Kingdom, under my rule, was to become a place of healing and protection.
I'd make sure to prevent what happened to Mia and Licia.
No matter what I had to do to get there.