Chapter 11.1

‘Finally, it’s over….’

At long last, the beast-like mating had ended, and Lyla was free. Well, she was still within Kadis’ embrace, though.

Kadis still had one arm wrapped around her bulging stomach, filled with his seed. When she glanced up, Kadis growled softly and rubbed his chin against her head.

Having finally gotten what he wanted, Kadis looked utterly satisfied. Then, in a slightly heavy voice, he spoke.

“By the way, you.”

“Yes?”

“…Was it him?”

“Pardon? I couldn’t hear you clearly.”

When Lyla furrowed her brows slightly and asked again, Kadis hesitated, his lips twitching a few times before abruptly sitting up.

“That… Was that professor your first love?”

Kadis turned his head away and shouted the question.

Lyla, noticing his ears turning bright red, burst into laughter.

“You’re laughing?”

Kadiz, now flustered, turned to glare at her.

“No, no! …I did envy him, though.”

“Envy?”

“Back then, I thought he was someone essential to you.”

Lyla gently shook her head. Then, clenching her fists, she continued with a resolute tone.

“But now I know. I’m that person. There’s no one who can cherish and love you as much as I can—no, more than I can!”

“…”

Kadis stared blankly at Lyla, who was speaking with such vigor, before hugging one knee to his chest and letting out a small laugh.

“Fool. You’re only realizing that now?”

“Hehe.”

Lyla scratched her cheek shyly.

“By the way, how did you make the antidote?”

Kadis asked, as if suddenly remembering.

“Oh, I went to Professor Charlier and asked him for the formula used to make the poison. Based on that, the attending physician created the antidote.”

“Hah. And that guy just handed it over?”

Lyla raised her right fist triumphantly.

“I beat it out of him! Until he talked!”

“You… beat him?”

Kadis wondered if he had misheard.

“I may look like this, but I’m your assistant! A bookworm like him is nothing to me.”

Lyla puffed out her chest with an exaggerated ‘ahem.’ Though it was slightly comical given her large, watermelon-sized br*asts were bouncing freely, Kadis found her utterly adorable.

“Fool.”

“Ah!”

Kadis wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her closer.

“I never thought I’d hear such violent words from your mouth.”

He said this while pressing his forehead against hers.

“Well… They say you take after the ones you love.”

Lyla lowered her gaze shyly, her voice soft. Kadis chuckled and nodded in agreement.

Then, his smile faded, and he gazed at her with calm, serious eyes.

“Thank you. But don’t do that again.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll make you happier than any other woman, happier than anyone else.”

“Kadis…”

Tears began to well up in Lyla’s eyes. The clear image of Kadis’ face blurred before her.

“Stop crying already. Whenever you cry, it feels like something in here drops with a thud.”

“Ahaha.”

“What’s so funny all of a sudden?”

When Kadis asked, puzzled, Lyla wiped her tears and shook her head.

“You said the same thing when we were kids. Back then, what did I say? That I should call a doctor or something?”

Had I been oblivious even then? And had Kadis harbored feelings for me since that time?

As the old memories resurfaced, a wistful feeling washed over her.

“Every time I see you, my lower stomach feels pleasantly ticklish too.”

Lyla shyly looked at Kadis and wrapped her arms around her stomach.

“Maybe, I like you, Kad—”

“Do you want to carry my child that much?”

“…What? W-Wait a moment. That’s a bit too much!”

“What? It’s not like I’m wrong.”

As Kadis shamelessly inched closer, Lyla, startled, began to back away.

Kadis quickly grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. Lyla, helplessly dragged, flipped herself over and tried to crawl away on all fours.

“Hey. Let’s do it one more time. I don’t think I can stop.”

“Ah! W-What do you mean you can’t stop? We’re done for today! I’m really exhausted…!”

Kadis pressed his hardened arousal against Lyla’s bottom. Feeling its vivid presence, Lyla froze like a trapped animal.

“If you’re tired, just stay still. I’ll take care of everything.”

Kadis whispered sweetly while stroking her round bottom.

“Just one more round—no, three more rounds.”

And so, the night of passion deepened.

***

A few days later.

“I’ve always wanted an older sister!”

Didian exclaimed, her cheeks flushed.

“Living surrounded by all those rough brothers was so lonely.”

If those rough brothers had heard her, they would’ve shed tears of blood at her casual cruelty.

Should I be happy about this or not? 

Either way, Lyla couldn’t help but smile at Didian’s adorable expression.

“Oh, I see…!”

Lyla also blushed and nodded.

A few days ago, Lyla had visited the Magni Marquisate to sincerely apologize to Didian.

‘You… were a woman?’

‘Yes, Miss.’

‘How… how could this be…? The Earl… was a woman…?’

Didian had been so shocked to learn that her crush had been a woman that she fled on the spot.

It seemed like their encounter had ended without a proper apology, but then Didian sent a letter saying she wanted to visit the Ducal Residence.

And now, today.

In a parlor filled with sweet refreshments, the two were having an earnest conversation.

“I was so mean, wasn’t I? I tormented you every day…”

“No, it’s fine. I was the one who lied first.”

Lyla firmly held Didian’s hands and shook her head. Didian, her cheeks once again turning red, suddenly began to sniffle.

“Sniff. Lyla, you’re such a kind person!”

“Miss Didian, you’re the same. At the victory party, you stood up for me when others insulted me.”

“T-That’s because! It was only natural. I— I liked you, Earl Lyle, no, Lyla…?”

Didian tilted her head, her thoughts visibly tangled, before finally gripping Lyla’s shoulders with determination.

“Lyla!”

“Yes?”

“Will you be my friend? No, my best friend! Please, please!”

Without even waiting for an answer, Didian shook Lyla’s shoulders pleadingly. Her adorably desperate expression made Lyla burst into laughter.

“If you don’t mind someone like me.”

“Yay~!”

Didian jumped up excitedly and hugged Lyla tightly.

Resting her head against Lyla’s ample chest, Didian looked up at her and then—

Peck.

She kissed Lyla’s cheek.

“Ah…!”

“Hehe.”

Didian giggled mischievously, her eyes sparkling.

Though slightly flustered, Lyla gazed at Didian lovingly and smiled.

Was this what it felt like to have a younger sister? 

For the first time, she truly understood how Lyle must have felt, always doting on her as if she were his much younger sibling, despite being twins.

“This is insane. Why are you putting your lips on someone else’s property?”

“Eek!”

At that moment, Kadis appeared out of nowhere and yanked on Didian’s necklace. Didian clutched the necklace with both hands, letting out choking sounds.

“Kadis! Stop it!”

Lyla shouted in shock, and Kadis immediately let go. However, he glared at Didian with a sulky expression.

“Ugh…!”

Didian coughed, covering her mouth with both hands as if she had been strangled. Lyla pulled her into her arms and gently patted her back.

“Oh my, are you alright, Miss? You must have been so startled.”

“Sniff, Lyla…”

Didian whimpered, rubbing her face against Lyla’s chest. Kadis, unable to watch this any longer, raised his voice defensively.

“I didn’t pull that hard!”

“Cough, cough! Ahem!”

Didian exaggerated her coughing even more.

Ha! Look at that sly woman! Kadis sneered at her shameless act, but Lyla’s eyes widened in disapproval.

“Kadis!”

“But she…!”

Kadis pointed at Didian, his finger trembling with rage.

“That’s not the point. She is Miss Didian, the daughter of the Marquis Magni.”

Lyla corrected him firmly.

Kadis trembled, clenched his eyes shut, and exhaled deeply as if preparing for something monumental. Finally, with a determined expression, he suppressed his pride and spoke.

“…Lady Magni. Please refrain from touching what belongs to me in the future. Consider this a polite warning.”

“Hmph, Lyla isn’t an object; she’s a person.”

Didian retorted with a pouty face. Lyla nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. I am not an object, Your Grace.”

“Lyla… the Duke is so scary.”

Didian sniffled and burrowed further into Lyla’s embrace, rubbing against her like a child seeking comfort.

‘That woman…!’

Kadis felt his anger boil over, the scar running across his neck and chest turning a deep red.

“Kadis.”

But Lyla’s cool voice calling his name doused his rage like cold water. Kadis hesitated, suddenly feeling awkward.

“…What?”

“This is a conversation between women, so I’d appreciate it if you could step away for now.”

“What? Who decided—uh, fine! I’ll leave, alright?”

The words “Then I’ll just pretend to be a woman” rose to the tip of his tongue, but even in his jealousy, Kadis knew better than to say something so ridiculous. He grudgingly backed down.

“Excuse me for a moment, Miss Didian.”

“?”

Lyla gently pushed Didian away and stood up. She then approached Kadis, who was still fuming, and softly stroked his arm.

“Kadis.”

“…Yeah?”

Hearing her voice, Kadis perked up like a dog awaiting its master’s command.

Standing on her tiptoes as if she had a secret to share, Lyla leaned in. Kadis instinctively bent down to meet her.

“When the guest leaves, let’s spend some time together as lovers tonight.”

Time as lovers?

Kadis couldn’t help the foolish grin that tugged at the corners of his lips.

He cleared his throat awkwardly and turned to Didian, speaking in the most polite tone he could muster.

“Then I hope you enjoy your time at the Ducal Residence, Lady Magni.”

With the confident smirk of a victor, as if to say “Lyla will be mine once you leave,” Kadis strode away.

“…Tsk. Annoying.”

Didian grumbled. Lyla returned to the sofa and gently stroked Didian’s puffed-out cheek.

“Please don’t hate him too much.”

“I-I don’t hate him! He’s the person you love, after all. I’m just… a little jealous. He has everything good.”

But then again, he was also someone willing to dedicate all those good things to Lyla. Fine, I’ll forgive him just this once. 

Didian thought with a pout.

‘The person I love…’

It was such an obvious statement, yet hearing it from someone else made Lyla blush furiously. She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, before letting out a soft chuckle.

“Hehe, you’re right.”

“Hm?”

“Miss Didian, you’re absolutely right. I truly love Kadis.”

Lyla smiled shyly.

It was a warm smile, one capable of melting even the harshest cold of the North. Didian stared at that beautiful smile, then broke into a wide grin herself.

“Oh, come on. How long are you going to keep calling me Miss Didian? You promised to call me Didi.”

“Oh, right! Didi.”

Under the bright sky, the cheerful laughter of the two women rang out like the song of larks.