‘Who is she?’

Why she came on the expedition with the Hunt family, or if she was the person the Emperor was looking for. Kieran had a mountain of questions he wanted to ask.

Charlie’s physique was smaller than a commoner’s, but she exuded powerful magic and her pheromones were refreshing.

Although she seemed to be receiving the Hunt family’s devoted care, there were many strange aspects that didn’t fit with being a fiancée.

First of all, Charlie didn’t use noble speech.

Not only was she without pretense, but all her actions were very casual.

Although her appearance was as beautiful as a fairy, her eye and hair color didn’t have any particular characteristics of any family.

‘One wrong word and my head might fly off.’

Under the fierce gaze burning like fire, Kieran refrained from speaking and quietly lifted her teacup.

“……Thank you.”

* * *

Before they knew it, Hector was seated next to Charlie.

“I found it!”

Leon, who had jumped down from a tree, waved the card in his hand.

Hector had deployed the entire Hunt family knight order to search for the card.

It was a natural result when you see progress, unlike when they were running around under Leon’s orders to make the Wilkins family suffer, or when Kieran was struggling alone.

“So there are two left now?”

“Something we don’t even need.”

Hector answered indifferently to Charlie’s question.

The schedule had been delayed, and Charlie’s energy had recovered. He planned to hold her all day, but now it was card searching again.

It was a situation where his dissatisfaction couldn’t help but burst out.

“But you said the previous Emperor gave it to you.”

“He’s given me more than enough things.”

“Still, it’s nice to see it like a treasure hunt, isn’t it?”

“Is it fun?”

“It’s not so much fun as……”

In the original story, it was nice to see the two families, who were mortal enemies, working together.

But Charlie trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

“If you find it fun, that’s enough.”

Hector’s expression softened considerably as he let out a short breath.

How much time had passed?

Soon after, Kieran pulled out a card stuck between rocks.

“I found another one!”

Now only one was left. However, Hector’s intention wasn’t to find the cards.

“Leon.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Clean up now.”

Hector stood up, dusting off his seat.

“It’s late.”

It was still a long time before the sun would set, but the Grand Duke’s word was law.

Not only the Hunt family knights, but also Kieran bowed her head to show her intention to comply.

“I feel the Wilkins family’s efforts have been sufficient.”

Although not as much as Leon, the aura emanating from Kieran was indeed worthy of a ducal family’s knight commander.

Her well-tailored demeanor suggested how high-level his training and education must have been.

Moreover, there wasn’t a hint of hostility in her attitude towards Charlie and the Hunt family knights.

Hector, looking down at Kieran, continued speaking.

“If we were to assign responsibility for the lost items, the Hunt family, who failed to keep them properly, would also be at fault.”

“……”

“So the Wilkins family’s knight commander need not concern herself any further.”

Hector embraced Charlie and spread out a teleportation magic circle.

“Leon. See him off politely.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

* * *

“Charlie.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have something to say?”

Hector, who had been reviewing documents, said.

Charlie, who had returned to the tent, had been in that state for a while now.

Glancing at him repeatedly was one thing. Her pheromones, relaxed to the point of languor, were bubbling and filling the tent.

“No….. It’s not really anything……”

Charlie mumbled.

In fact, Charlie had become quite accustomed to being with Hector every day.

More precisely, Hector had started to feel a bit less intimidating.

But the Hector in front of Kieran today was an unfamiliar sight, to the point that she felt a disconnect.

It suddenly reminded her that Hector was a Grand Duke, and she felt excited by his charisma.

Of course, Hector was also a Grand Duke in front of Noel.

But this was strictly different from then.

Seemingly reading Charlie’s inner thoughts, Hector’s lips stretched into a slanted smile.

“We’ll stay here only until tomorrow, then we’ll move.”

“Where to?”

“To the inner part of the mountain range, a bit closer to the monster habitat.”

Hector, who had somehow come close, brushed Charlie’s hair back.

“Because the terrain is more rugged, the size of the camp will be smaller than now, and the distance between tents will be narrower.”

Hector wrapped his arm around her slender waist.

His low, deep voice, subtly settling, tickled her ear.

“So don’t stray from my side.”

Her back curled at the gentle touch caressing her.

“Hair……”

Hector whispered softly. Her earlobe, touched by his hot breath, turned red.

“Wash it for me.”

“Together?”

Charlie’s eyes widened at Hector’s words.

So, he meant to wash together? No, bathe together?!

On the other hand, Hector nonchalantly untied the belt of his robe.

“Yes, together.”

Just as his toned muscles came into view, Charlie hurriedly raised her hands to cover her face.

As if that wasn’t enough, she even squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

“Why are we bathing together?”

They had already seen everything and even mixed their bodies, yet what is she so embarrassed about?

Hector smiled broadly as though he found Charlie adorably cute.

But Charlie, who had no way of knowing this, stammered in embarrassment.

“Y-you said to wash your hair.”

As the bare skin approached and touched her skin, her small body flinched and curled up in surprise.

Hector combed Charlie’s long hair with his hand and whispered in a low voice.

“It’s a waste of water.”

* * *

Snow-white steam rose languidly inside the bathroom.

Thanks to Hector, who had used his fire ability in case Charlie might feel cold, the heat filling the bathroom was unbearably hot.

“……”

There was nothing unsurprising in this enormous tent, but if one had to pick the most surprising thing, it would undoubtedly be this bathroom.

No matter how much magic abounded in this world, the fact that they had brought even a bathtub was truly admirable.

And the more surprising thing was that it was His Grace, the Grand Duke, who was washing her.

[Let’s wash each other.]

He was really paying meticulous attention as he washed Charlie down.

When his large hand brushed down her nape, Charlie flinched and curled up.

At first, she was embarrassed and refused, saying she would do it herself. However, there was nowhere to escape in the narrow bathtub, and there was very little she could do while completely n*ked.

Thus, Charlie had to quietly accept his touch while wrapped in his heavy arms.

Feeling something hard rubbing between her b*ttocks.

“Relax. You’ll get hurt.”

Hector whispered softly from behind as he kneaded her tense shoulders.

Charlie lowered her head deeply, unable to speak.

Who could be comfortable in this situation?

All her senses were focused downward, and she couldn’t even feel where she was being washed.

Hector’s lips silently stretched into a smile at her bright red earlobes.

“Do you dislike this place?”

His hand slowly descended and cupped her rounded br*ast.

“……!”

Startled, Charlie floundered.

The splashing water spilled out of the tub with her movement.

“It seems to be this place.”

Hector, pulling Charlie into his embrace, began to gently caress her er*ect br*ast.

The purpose of the bath to wash away dirt had long been forgotten.

* * *

“Haa….”

Charlie whimpered on Hector’s lap, barely holding onto the tub.

One hand gripped her br*ast while the other relentlessly pursued her secret place.

It was hard to keep her sanity as she was tormented both above and below.

Moreover, her lower part, submerged in the warm water, had already learned pleasure.

A stiff c*ck teased the hole between her spread legs, as if it would enter her at any moment.

Charlie, unable to rise or sit back down, accepted Hector entirely and let out a thin moan.

“Charlie.”

“Haa… Uh….”

“Do you like this place?”

Hector said as he pinched a sensitive spot, rubbing her slippery lower part slick with water and bodily fluids.

Seemingly in response, Charlie’s pheromones burst forth.

Hector gently cradled the tender flesh, sensitive with excitement, and began to twist it.

“Hector, wait. Wait, uh….”

Her slender body shivered, naturally bending at the waist.

As if it was a reward, a satisfied smile spread across Hector’s face.

“It’s alright.”

Hector, holding the panting Charlie tightly in his arms, buried his face in her small shoulder.

Charlie’s moans echoed sweetly in his ears like a melodious tune.

The trembling body above him and his own hands caressing her were etched into his red eyes.

Why does it feel so beautiful?

Hector, like a person entranced, stared at the shimmering scene beneath the water for a long time.

“Haa… Uh….”

Eventually, Hector spread his knees.

Charlie’s legs, draped over them, spread open, revealing her flushed p*ssy.