Hearing the sound of birds chirping from outside the window, I slowly opened my eyes, revealing the room bathed in the soft orange glow of the sunrise, before I gradually sat up.
Cracking my neck, I waited a few moments for my mind to catch up after a very deep sleep, and as my grogginess melted away… I looked over to my side.
"Mmgh… hmm…" she hummed sweetly, her nose scrunching ever so slightly as the light shone in her face, having no longer been blocked by my body.
Adorable.
And she was even more adorable last night, where after the act, or rather, the numerous acts, were finished.
Apparently, she enjoyed cuddles after sex, and quite a bit of them at that.
Watching as she slowly began to wake up as well, I relished in the image of her naked body wrapped in bedsheets as she sat up, the sheets falling off of her shoulder as she extended her arms in a stretch.
But that only gave me a more arousing sight, as it had revealed her bare skin that were marked in kisses and hickeys, the scent of dried sweat and intimacy wafting from her body as her perky breasts lightly bounced with her movements.
The flushed skin… her tangled hair… her swollen lips… suffice it to say, the slightly-unkept look was extremely attractive on her, especially with how much it contrasted from her usual pristine appearance.
"It is rude to stare, you know," she said as she sent me a look of amusement.
"Apologies… but you simply look too beautiful," I replied.
"Hmm~ well, even if I love hearing that from you, I would still prefer to cover myself for the moment," she said, going over to her side of the bed as she leaned down to the floor, only to come back up with a shirt and ribbon in her hand.
"My… I will certainly need a bath after this… and the maids definitely need to air out this room," she said, her nose wrinkling as she slipped the shirt over her head before tying her hair back with the ribbon.
Indeed, it was quite obvious what had happened considering the intensity of the musky stench, and that wasn't even considering the stains that coated the bedsheets.
Sorry, maids… but I'm not really that sorry.
Shaking my head, I looked back at Priscilla, only to be instantly stunned at the sight of her.
The way my shirt, which was a bit oversized on her, hugged her body, emphasizing her curves in all the right places, and the way her hair was casually tied in a ponytail, exposing the nape of her neck that had a small red mark from last night…
That combination was quite dangerous, somehow even more so than seeing her naked.
"Haa… and then there are all of these," she said, looking down as her hands traced over the hickeys on her neck that continued all the way down to her breasts. "You beast… I will need to use makeup now until they heal back to normal."
"Well… while that is unfortunate, you're not the only one in such a state," I said, looking down at my chest, which also had their fair share of marks from last night.
There were a few hickeys here and there, while my back was likely completely covered in scratches, and there were even a few bite marks from whenever Pris got particularly passionate.
"Indeed… but be sure to not heal them, nor will you be permitted to hide them," she said, narrowing her eyes at me with a smirk. "They are the marks that declare you as 'mine', after all."
Well… I guess I would keep them, as per her wish.
Looking down to her hips that peeked past the hem of my shirt, I remembered just how many times I had grabbed onto them the night before.
Ah… to think I had gone so hard when she was a virgin… even if she was able to keep up, the pain might have caught up to her after a night of rest.
"Speaking of healing… are you sore at all?" I asked, laying down on the bed on my back.
"A bit, but it is nothing I cannot handle. It is not as if I am some dainty flower," she replied, leaning on her side as she placed a hand on my bare chest. "Besides… considering what it came from… the pain is a bit enjoyable."
…No, calm down, Selian.
Even if I had morning wood, I definitely shouldn't ravage her right after we woke up, no matter how arousing she was.
"But on that note… it was very enjoyable, and while I cannot compare it to anything, you seemed extremely skilled. I was told that a pair of lovers' first time would be awkward, yet you seemed so comfortable taking the lead…" she said, her tone hardening as she gave me a slight glare, her fingers that were raking across my body pinching some chest hair. "So? Have you had other women in your bed before mine self, Selian?"
"Uh… n-no, I haven't," I said, looking back up at the ceiling.
In this life, at least…
"Hmph. Truthful, yet veiled… so be it," she muttered, moving her head to rest on my arm as she laid down beside me. "That aside, no matter how enjoyable it was, we do need to exercise caution, as it would be disastrous for me to be with child during the royal selection. For today, I can use my Yang Sword to remove your seed, but I cannot completely rely on that thing for the future."
Ah… right.
We hadn't used any protection, and I had released inside of her… quite a lot last night.
"You're right… but I've heard that there is a herb that can limit the risk of pregnancy, so I can ask the local apothecary for some medicine," I said, looking down at her as she continued drawing circles on my chest.
"Hmph. So you are that lustful… regardless, I also quite enjoyed the act, so I will accept your suggestion," she said, a small smile flashing across her lips before she looked up at me, her lips thinning as her eyes turned down in worry.
"What is it, Pris?" I asked gently.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
"It's… also about the royal selection… as well as your proposal," she said, averting her eyes. "While I accepted your hand in marriage, and still do, as per the rules of the royal selection… a candidate cannot get married during it. And even after, the coronation and seizing control of the kingdom will take some time… so we will need to remain engaged for the foreseeable future. Is that… acceptable?"
With her voice leaking some vulnerability, I smiled down at her before planting a kiss on her forehead, causing her to look up at me.
"Don't worry, I knew all of that when I made the decision," I said, watching as her expression relaxed in relief. "And even then… I only wanted to marry you to cement our love, but no matter what title we share, my love for you remains the same."
Although… that rule regarding marriage for the royal selection was quite annoying.
But I understood it.
After all, it was a rule put in place to ensure that no situations regarding Leip and Priscilla would arrive, where the candidate would simply be a puppet to their supporter and eventually husband who would then take over the kingdom.
Although in the case of the past lord of this place, they had not considered the possibility of a prophecy circumventing the rule.
Anyway, while Priscilla would likely have been headstrong enough to refuse such control from Leip, even if they were still married, if it was someone like Emilia… well, let's just say I understood why the rule was needed.
"Is that so… then I will gladly take the title of your fiancé," she said, snuggling closer to my neck. "And Selian… after how you defiled me so thoroughly last night, it is not as if I can take another husband… so you will need to take responsibility."
I think I had already taken the most responsibility one can with that ring on her finger… but she was right.
"Don't worry, I didn't make that promise impulsively," I said.
"I see… then I will hold you to it," she said, releasing a soft sigh. "Ah… and now that you have seen me like this, I might just ask you to help me bathe. Many of the maids hesitate to clean my more… sensitive places."
I had to fight back the image that was trying to enter my mind.
"Yes… that sounds wonderful," I replied, swallowing hard as the image broke through my restraints, giving me quite the pleasant array of possibilities. "And… does our time in the bath have to consist of only cleaning?"
"Control yourself," she said in a playful tone as she lightly smacked my chest.
That wasn't a no…
"Still… now that I have given you my love and my virginity, I suppose I should lay myself bare completely," she said, closing her eyes as her breath ticked my neck. "I… am a girl originally named Prisca Benedict, one of the many former princesses of the Vollachian Empire."
I already knew a bit from her talk all those nights ago, but now that she seemed to want to explain everything, I decided to wait and listen as she did so.
"My mother died in labour from birthing me, leaving me essentially alone aside from the few maids that took care of me, as my father was much too busy, being the father of many children and the emperor. Although, he did eventually gift me my sister… Arakiya was her name, and she soon became my sworn sword, something akin to a knight," she said, her body curling into mine as I wrapped my arm tighter around her.
This must have been a tough topic for her, seeing how unusually fragile she seemed.
"Eventually, at the age of twelve… I was deemed worthy of the Yang Sword, and was entered into the Imperial Selection Ceremony as a result," she said, looking up at me. "Do you know what that is?"
"It's… the way the Vollachian Empire chooses their next ruler, but I'm not knowledgeable about the rules of the succession," I responded.
"Mmm… it's a terrible, disgusting thing… but I was required to take part regardless, forced to kill my siblings and relatives until there was a victor," she said, her body relaxing as I began rubbing up and down her back. "But I persevered, and in the end, I was left as the last competitor aside from my half-brother… the current emperor of Vollachia."
I see…
"So… you lost," I said, hoping that my words didn't hurt her.
"Yes… I was deceived, and by the only one I allowed into my heart in Arakiya, no less," she said, her face twisting into a difficult expression. "She did it out of concern for me, so I could not call it a complete betrayal, but nonetheless… the plot succeeded in fabricating my death, and as Vincent took the mantle of emperor, I was forced into a marriage near the border of the nation, taking on the name of Priscilla to conceal my identity, the name coming from one of my past body doubles that was killed during the competition."
"Priscilla… I do have to thank her for providing such a nice name for you to take, but I think you will always be 'Pris' in my mind," I replied, feeling her legs wrap around mine.
"Mmm… I quite like that… Selian," she murmured before shaking her head. "Regardless, shortly after that, I was involuntarily involved in a failed revolution, and as punishment, I was scheduled for execution along with my then husband… but I survived. Thanks in large part to the intervention of that very Arakiya, who allowed me to escape."
"So your sister that betrayed you… saved you in the end?" I asked.
I felt her brows twitch as her fingers pinched my nipple.
Ouch.
"Yes… I suppose you can say that… though I would rather not think of such a thing," she said, releasing a huff of annoyance. "Either way, after that, I was smuggled across the border to Lugunica, where I was married to six different men who soon met their end, garnering my moniker of the 'Bloody Bride', before I eventually married Leip Barielle, and then… I found you."
Her hand moved up to my chin, turning me to look at her as those blazing red eyes stared into mine, her eyebrows furrowed in seriousness.
"Selian… I have always been bereft of love… and even if there were people who loved me, such as my former sworn sword, and perhaps my mother if she had not died… they never stayed with me in the end," she said, her tone infused with desperation. "So please… remain at my side and continue loving me. Don't… don't make me regret opening my heart to you."
Seeing her vulnerability, I gently brought my right hand up to caress her cheek, rubbing my thumb under her eye as I leaned in for a tender kiss on her lips.
"I promise that I will… I will always love you, and I will continue to live for you, to remain at your side for as long as you wish," I replied.
Her eyes sparkled as the anxiety faded from her expression, and, after leaning in to plant a soft kiss on my lips in return, she went back to resting her head in the crook of my neck.
"Well… that is the basics of my own story… so now can I ask for yours?" she asked, her tone much lighter than before. "Do you have any secrets from me aside from being former royalty?"
Ah… well, I certainly did.
And if I wanted to follow Heinkel's advice about being truthful… then I should explain everything, especially since she had poured out her entire history to me just a moment earlier.
Well… here goes nothing.
"Have… you ever heard about reincarnation?" I asked, causing her eyebrow to raise in question.
"Reincarnation…" she muttered, a small frown forming on her face. "I have heard of it. Were you cursed under such a technique?"
A curse?
I guess it was in a way… but that was an odd way to put it.
"Yes… but my past life wasn't one from this world… but from a completely different one," I said, watching as her eyes widened, but not as much as I had expected.
"From beyond the Great Waterfall… I had a suspicion, but to think it was true… yet I have only heard of those that have suddenly arrived here, not whatever you had gone through. Even reincarnation itself is but something of legend," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me about it. Your world, I mean."
Ah… then there was this.
"Well… my life wasn't too interesting before… I was a normal kid, and grew up to be a normal teen, and when I was nineteen and walking back from university… I suddenly found myself as a baby," I said, a small smile forming on my face. "Honestly, I don't remember much from my past life, as my memories got messed up while I had the brain of a baby… but I remember enough to know I was just an average guy with a slightly better academic record than most."
Not hearing a response, I closed my eyes as I released a breath to calm my nervousness, my head turning to see Priscilla's pondering expression.
"Do you… think of me differently? Knowing that I was someone of no consequence in my old life, and how I have a past life in the first place," I said, a bit of my unease seeping into my tone.
Would this secret of mine screw everything up with us?
I was a bit worried, but I… could trust her.
I could trust in her love for me.
"Hm? No… not particularly. In fact, your supposedly average origins only make your current success even more endearing to me," she replied as her eyes narrowed in playfulness. "But I do have to ask… did an old man like you enjoy stealing the heart of a young flower?"
…What?
"Pris… can you please not call me old? I can hardly remember anything besides some clouded memories, so I don't think that counts towards my age," I said, bringing my palm to my face as I massaged my forehead. "Besides… I told you that I was nineteen when I died, the same age as I am now… so just consider me as my current age… please."
I really didn't want to think anything otherwise.
But seeing that look on her face out of the corner of my eye… I don't think I was going to be free from her teasing anytime soon.
"Is that so? But I have to say, my dear Selian, for a 40-year-old, you did quite well in bed," she said, her eyes creasing as she poked my cheek. "And not to mention that impressive stamina… but I do feel quite bad. Perhaps I should take the lead from now on so you don't hurt yourself. We wouldn't want you to injure your hips, no?"
"Pris…" I murmured in annoyance.
She simply laughed in response, her giggles causing my chest to flutter as she looked into my eyes, her face glowing in delight.
"You fool… whatever you are, and whoever you are, there is only one thing of importance," she said, her head leaning into my arm. "You are mine, just as I am yours."
Yeah… I guess that was the only thing that mattered here.
"You're right… but I'm still not old," I said.
"Whatever you say, Selian," she replied as she pushed my head to face up to the ceiling, her arms wrapping around my body. "That aside, now that I understand a bit more about your childhood, I do have to ask a question that I have had for a while."
"And what question is that, Pris?" I replied.
"The spear… why did you choose it when Lugunica is known for their swordsmanship?" she asked. "Is it due to your reincarnation?"
"No… not really," I said, shrugging. "I still know the basics of the sword from my early combat lessons in the palace, but I began training in the spear once I was four as, in my world, where there was no magic, it was the best weapon for fighting with its longer reach."
"So did you use the spear in your past life?" she asked, confused.
I was going to hazard a guess that playing with a broomstick didn't count, so no.
"No… I wasn't a fighter in my past life, as ours was an era of peace… and even then, the wars were fought with weapons more like magic cannons than swords and spears," I explained, scratching my ear. "But as for the reason I decided to use the spear… well, mostly because it felt more natural for me. And while there weren't many that could train me in spearmanship, since I knew the basics of combat from my sword training, I was able to transfer those skills to know what to do with the spear… and since spearmanship is rare in this world, not as many opponents know how to deal with it."
I felt her pause, prompting me to look down at her slightly surprised expression.
"That… is quite intuitive. To reach your current level of strength from nothing… you truly are a genius, Selian," she said warmly.
I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me at her tone.
"I… that isn't true," I replied, shaking my head. "My Divine Protection enhances my strength while also allowing me to constantly have mana to train, and my knowledge of physics helped use the connection aspect of Yang magic to it's fullest with quantum mechanics… so it was simply the product of my luck."
Besides, even if my memories were muddled, the experiences of my past life helped me immensely in focusing on training and learning about the world as a child and not wasting a single day to improve.
"Quantum… what?" Priscilla asked, confused.
Ah, right.
"I… can't really explain it that well, but it's a scientific theory from my past world," I said. "I can try to explain it to you later if you would like."
"Yes… I expect you to satisfy my curiosity and explain everything from your world later… but still, you are a genius, Selian," she said, her eyes locked on mine to convey her seriousness. "It was your hard work that made full use of the benefits you obtained, no matter how 'lucky' they were, so do not disparage the effort and intelligence of my favourite person, understood?"
"O-Oh… alright, Pris…" I said, feeling my face get hot at her affection.
How… how the hell could one woman be such a perfect mix of sweet, sexy, determined, and elegant… she was everything I needed.
"And speaking of your hard work… you are quite talented at territory management. I am guessing that many of your ideas are due to your past knowledge?" she asked.
"Yeah. Most of the ideas are simply policies that were implemented in my past world's society, while some come from what I learned in school… at least from what I remember," I replied.
I was in city planning, after all… or, at least something to do with it…
"Anyway, knowing that, do you think of me as a fraud?" I asked jokingly.
"Of course not. Many from beyond the Great Waterfall have tried to implement changes with their exotic knowledge, yet only Hoshin of the Wastes succeeded to any meaningful effect," she said, giving me yet another blindingly sweet smile. "You, my Selian, are an amazing man."
Hearing that… well, what other emotion would I feel than happiness?
"But it is only due to your own skills, influence, and… incredible character that allowed them to be put in place," I said, giving her my own praise.
"I suppose you are correct… then, in that case, we truly must stay together, no?" she replied.
"Yeah… we truly are compatible… in more ways than one," I said, my voice lowering as I leaned towards her, my right hand trailing down to cup her ass.
"My… what a lustful man you are," she said, our noses brushing against each others.
"Yes… but only for you," I said, pulling her body closer to mine. "Pris… I love you."
She blushed, her hands trailing down my back to stop at the top of my underwear.
"I… love you too," she said, slightly averting her eyes. "But everyone in the mansion is likely awake…"
"The sun has only just risen, so we have some time," I said, my hand moving to between her legs as I felt a bit of wetness. "And who cares if they hear?"
"Hmph… then let us be quick about it, Selian," she replied as we both then leaned forward.
And so, with all of our truths revealed to each other, we began another round to start the day… what a wonderful morning.