Side Story 3. First Meeting (4)

Aster immediately understood what Camilla wanted. There were many conversations a couple could have in the bedroom.

Aster lowered his gaze and laid Camilla down. As he took his place above her, a heavy weight was transmitted.

Every spot where their body heat touched became hot. Aster planted a kiss near Camilla’s ear. Their gazes met, filled with affection.

“To do that, we might have to stay up all night.”

“Tomorrow is the weekend.”

Camilla’s positive response made Aster chuckle. He had already been hard for a while just from her words.

Camilla’s hand gently stroked his shaft.

“Do you want to come inside?”

At her provocation, Aster could no longer control his desire.

“Of course.”

Aster kissed Camilla’s eyes, nose, and lips in turn. The woman he could call the greatest fortune of his life.

It still felt like a dream that the woman he had only admired had become his wife.

Perhaps because he was reminiscing, Aster kissed her as if confirming her existence.

Something as sweet as honey mixed through their parted lips. Aster’s fingers untied the ribbon of her negligee.

The sound of fabric brushing against each other was like stepping on crisp leaves. Camilla skillfully removed his robe and stroked his back.

His back, lined with solid muscles, felt as hot as heated iron. As Aster stroked her plump thighs, Camilla let out a shallow moan.

Aster’s head moved down to her rounded hill. He deeply inhaled her sweet scent.

Did she know? That everything about her stimulated his every nerve. As Aster’s hand explored her intimate area, Camilla’s breath became rough.

“Ah.”

Camilla grabbed the back of Aster’s head and tilted her head, causing her chest to heave. Aster licked what he had in his mouth and met her gaze.

With that fleeting glance, Aster adjusted his position. Familiar with the sensation, Camilla wrapped her arms around his neck and swayed aimlessly.

The conversations a couple had in the bedroom never ended quickly. There was so much to share. The two only went to sleep when they heard the birds announcing the morning.

* * *

“Good morning!”

Raphael greeted as soon as he arrived at the dining room after washing up. The Duke of Francis, who had arrived earlier, lifted Raphael onto his lap and tied a bib around him.

“Did you sleep well, our dear Raphie?”

“Yes! And you, Grandpa?”

“Grandpa couldn’t sleep because you weren’t next to him.”

“Oh no! Then I’ll sleep with Grandpa tonight!”

“You rascal.”

The Duke of Francis laughed heartily and kissed Raphael’s cheek. Raphael was the vitality of the Francis castle.

Receiving love from the whole family, Raphael was very affectionate and polite. These days, just watching Raphael eat made him feel full.

As the child grew, the Duke of Francis became more anxious, fearing he might fly away. Even Camilla found it overwhelming.

Raphael, who had gulped down his milk, asked with a milk mustache on his upper lip.

“But where are Dad and Mom?”

“Ah.”

The Duke of Francis was at a loss for words at Raphael’s innocent question. According to the butler, their breakfast had been taken straight to the bedroom.

Their relationship was so good that this happened. With a son-in-law full of vigor, the Duke of Francis had to come up with a kind lie.

“Dad and Mom had urgent business last night, so they went to bed late.”

“Urgent business?”

“Yes. They had a long conversation.”

The Duke of Francis cleared his throat in embarrassment.

“Since it’s the weekend, let’s play with Grandpa today.”

“Okay!”

Raphael beamed, forgetting he had even asked for his parents. The Duke of Francis wiped Raphael’s upper lip with a napkin and fed him a piece of roasted tomato from the appetizer.

Without Camilla, Raphael acted like a spoiled child and accepted the food.

Recently, Raphael’s favorite vegetable was tomatoes. Contrary to their concerns about picky eating, Raphael ate everything well. He seemed to take after his father.

As Raphael finished a tomato, Edith and Catherine arrived at the dining room.

“Raphie~”

Catherine ran over, squatted next to Raphael, and kissed his hand.

“Auntie, that tickles!”

Raphael giggled as Catherine kissed and sucked on his hand. Despite Edith’s tongue-clicking from behind, Catherine didn’t back down.

Finally, Catherine managed to take Raphael from the Duke of Francis and said,

“Our Raphie. You’ve grown this much again?”

“Yes! I grow every day!”

“Oh my.”

Raphael’s earnest words on tiptoe made all three laugh.

Catherine and Edith, who were attending the academy, visited Francis castle every weekend. Just to see their adorable nephew, Raphael.

Seeing Raphael felt like all the week’s fatigue melted away. Catherine eagerly started discussing what to do with Raphael today.

“What should we make today? A deer? A butterfly? I’ll make anything our Raphie wants.”

Raphael loved Eddie and Catherine’s magic very much. He especially liked the various plants and animals they formed with water.

Then Raphael suddenly clapped his hands and spoke. His eyes were already sparkling.

“Oh, right! Auntie!”

“Yes?”

“I can do it like you now!”

“What do you mean?”

When Catherine looked puzzled, Raphael jumped up and suddenly stretched out his hands forward. It was a gesture Catherine often made when casting magic.

Moments later, water began to spurt from Raphael’s fingertips. Then a small water bird fluttered and flew.

“……!”

The three of them were startled and froze. Raphael, who was only eight years old, could already use his abilities.

Typically, abilities manifested at the age of eleven, so this was early. Considering that even the genius Camilla’s abilities manifested around the age of ten, it was two years early.

Even though he was receiving theoretical lessons at the Magic Tower, it was still too early. Catherine covered her mouth in amazement.

“Oh my…”

Then the Duke of Francis, with reddened eyes, murmured,

“Our child is a genius.”

“Father, Raphie has always been a genius.”

“Then correct that to an extraordinary genius.”

As Duke Francis corrected himself at Edith’s remark, he was dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief.

Raphael, smiling bashfully, said,

“I was going to show it to Dad and Mom first!”

“Oh. So our Raphie loves this grandpa the most.”

“What are you talking about, Father? Raphie loves his aunt the most.”

“No way. Raphie, didn’t you say you liked your uncle the best?”

As they bickered to be Raphael’s favorite, Raphael said,

“Can I show you something else?”

Feeling good from all the praise, Raphael spread his hands again. This time, fire spewed from the water bird’s mouth. Like a dragon breathing fire, the water bird made the three of them freeze.

The manifestation of both Francis and Blanche’s abilities.

The Duke of Francis collapsed onto the dining table. He realized that when someone is too moved, they lose strength.

“Grandpa!”

Startled, Raphael hugged the Duke of Francis’s knee.

“Are you hurt? You can’t die!”

With tears in his eyes, Raphael rubbed his face against the knee. The Duke of Francis lifted him up.

“Well done, my child.”

“Waaah!”

“This calls for making today an official Francis holiday.”

“That’s a great idea, Father.”

“At such a glorious moment, where is Sis… ahem.”

As Catherine pressed down on his foot, Edith held back his words. He belatedly realized how close the couple still was.

“Anyway, Sis will be thrilled when she finds out.”

* * *