“Waaah!”
“We’ve been waiting for the war hero to return home!”
“Infinite blessings to the two who helped us gain independence!”
The gathered crowd was there to welcome Masera, the war hero, and Cynthia, who had helped them gain independence.
“But I heard the Princess has silver hair?”
“Is that really the Princess? Her eyes are definitely red, though.”
As some people expressed doubts, looking at Cynthia wearing a black wig, Masera spoke with a calm expression.
“I seem to have become a man having an affair.”
At that, Cynthia, looking embarrassed, took off her wig.
The people cheered again only after seeing the shimmering, flowing silver hair.
‘This is a little awkward.’
Cynthia, looking like a walking flower wreath because of the bouquets and flower necklaces, waved her hand with an awkward smile.
‘Mare de Veldetta’ was a country surrounded by a beautiful sea, just like its name.
The ravages of war were still visible in many places, but hope could be glimpsed in the eyes of the people who were repairing the collapsed buildings and working hard to rebuild.
Masera, with shadows under his eyes, looked down at Cynthia.
“You’re making me tired.”
Unlike Cynthia, who had slept soundly on the train and ship, Masera hadn’t slept a wink chasing after her.
“You didn’t sleep? Then we should find a place to stay quickly.”
“General, there’s a decent hotel nearby. The outside is a little burnt, but the inside is fine,”
Cynthia’s subordinates, holding a lot of flowers, bowed to her at a 90-degree angle.
“…Who are you talking about?”
Masera, whose military rank was General, tilted his head.
First, Cynthia, the Organization’s boss, lifted her chin and smiled arrogantly.
“My subordinates are good at their jobs, right?”
“I wonder.”
That was Masera’s answer after seeing the hotel, which had turned into a burnt-black, haunted house.
The subordinates, seeing that it was in a more serious condition than they had thought, lowered their heads, not knowing what to do.
“Sorry, Boss! No, General!”
Soon, they started bickering, blaming each other.
“I told you not to ask an eight-year-old!”
“Kids don’t lie!”
…The source was a child.
Chief and Stan, who were in charge of information strategy, were absent because they had kidnapped anti-royalist forces to use as tasters, leaving only the muscleheads behind.
As a generous leader, I smiled kindly.
“Guys, don’t fight. It seems like there’s a story behind it, and there might be some ghosts, but the interior might be stylish. Construction site interiors used to be trendy, you know?”
I had hoped for a reversal, but the interior was also a mess.
The people who were working on the construction inside were startled by the fierce faces of my subordinates.
“D-Did you come to collect the money? The situation is….”
Everyone probably didn’t know about our visit because they were busy with reconstruction.
My subordinates, receiving my signal to put on their service smiles, smiled brightly, causing the people to look even more frightened.
Unable to help it, I stepped forward and introduced Masera.
“Hello? I’m Princess Cynthia from Rutemia, and this is General Masera Guise. These people may look intimidating, but they’re kind and gentle subordinates of mine. We came to visit today to celebrate the opening of the sea route and independence.”
At this, the people were even more surprised and paid their respects.
Among them, a man with a towel around his neck sweated profusely and looked apologetic.
“I am the owner of this hotel. I’m really sorry that you came all this way. The hotel is currently being renovated, so we are not ready to accommodate the Princess and the war hero.”
Masera shook his head and approached the owner.
“We visited without notice while you’re busy with damage recovery, so you don’t have to worry about it. Instead, could you introduce us to a suitable place if you know of one? We just need a place to sleep.”
“We should be providing you with proper hospitality, but everyone is so busy… I ask for your understanding. I’ll take you there first. I happen to know of a vacant villa.”
“That’s fine. Just tell us the location.”
With that, Masera asked the owner for a business card.
“My wife, Princess Cynthia, runs a foundation for war victims.”
“Applications for damage recovery and rehabilitation support funds are welcome! Consultations are welcome!”
Compared to him, who used sophisticated adult language, I spoke like a spam text.
The owner, handing over his business card, looked like he was about to cry. His wrinkled eyes showed the hard work he had put in.
“Thank you… really. I hope you’ll help the people who lost their homes first, rather than me.”
“Of course, we have to help. You’re also eligible for support, so don’t worry and be sure to apply.”
At my signal, one of my subordinates took out an application form and handed it to the owner.
“Boss, I’ll go around and hand out the application forms as you instructed!”
Soon, the subordinates quickly divided the area and began to scatter.
And Masera and I headed to a luxurious villa that had been spared from the bombing because it was located in a remote forest.
The villa we arrived at was owned by a nobleman who had fled to another country and had a magnificent view.
Facing away from the sea, it looked as if it were hanging over the blue coastline when viewed from afar.
“Princess Cynthia and General Guise, welcome. Please stay as long as you like.”
The caretakers of the villa, who were about the age of grandmothers and grandfathers, welcomed us enthusiastically and led us inside.
“The villa owner… probably won’t be able to return. I heard that most of those who sided with the Defeated Empire and lived in luxury before running away were either caught and executed or sent to concentration camps.”
“Ah, so it was a traitor’s villa.”
I thanked the caretakers who welcomed us warmly.
“I’m grateful that you welcomed us even though it must have been sudden.”
“It’s nothing. We old folks were lonely, so we’re so happy that such precious people have come to visit. Please stay for a long, long time.”
They seemed happy to have guests after a long time.
No matter how wonderful a house is, it becomes unsightly if it is not taken care of, but this place was kept clean by the diligent caretakers.
After being led to the room, I stretched languidly.
“Oof, I’m tired.”
It wasn’t something I should say in front of Masera, who had stayed up all night trying to catch me.
At that moment, Masera, who had finished showering and was changing into a shirt that the caretaker had brought, let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
At my question, he turned around and slowly raised his head as he buttoned up his shirt.
“The shirt is small.”
“The buttons won’t close?”
“It doesn’t fit well, especially around the shoulders and chest, but I think I can manage if I force it.”
Soon, his arm muscles tensed, and he forced the buttons into place before turning back to me.
‘Oh my.’
I gasped as I looked at him in the tight shirt that revealed the curves of his body.
I felt sorry for the shirt buttons that were being torn apart because of the wrong owner.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
“I can’t go around shirtless. And they took the shirt I was wearing to wash it…”
I pointed to the silk gown hanging on the wall, and Masera, who usually preferred neat shirt-style pajamas, looked troubled.
“Then just bear with it.”
I brought my own clothes.
I was about to open my suitcase and take out my indoor clothes when I felt a gaze so intense it could burn a hole through me.
I raised my head and looked at him, who had narrowed his eyes seriously.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and slowly lowered his eyes.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you in a military uniform.”
“Oh? It suits me quite well, right?”
No sooner had I finished my question than he strode over and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Actually.”
His mind was already dominated by something else, and it seemed like there were no words left to express the conclusion.
Because he acted on instinct instead of words.
“Uh, you said you were tired?”
“Something else is more urgent.”
His large hand, now revealing his true intentions, cupped the back of my head.
I subtly looked around and thought.
‘Something else?’
Before I could answer, my breath was taken away by his lips, which overlapped with mine along with a short sigh.
The kiss, which had been impatient as if quenching a thirst, slowly turned into indulgence.
Snap.
The sound of his shirt buttons bursting, unable to withstand the violent movement, could be heard.
Without realizing it, I opened my eyes and looked at his exposed body.
It felt like the boundaries of abstinence, which had been secretly hidden beneath his neat shirt, were being peeled away one by one.
He parted his lips slightly and looked at me with a rough breath, flushed face, and languidly opened eyes.
His thickly lowered voice wrapped around my ears.
“I’ve been thinking about why I keep biting you.”
He gently bit my finger and whispered.
“I can’t help but want to when I see something so cute.”
“So you bite?”
Is it perhaps something like ‘cuteness aggression’? That feeling of wanting to bite something when you see something cute?
“Of course, you’re the only one who makes me feel that impulse.”
He let out a sigh and pulled down his shirt, revealing his collarbone and shoulders.
“As an apology, I’ll let you do the same to me.”
“Huh?”
Yes, as revenge. I definitely didn’t have any lewd thoughts.
Without hesitation, I bit his shoulder, and a suppressed groan escaped from him. I could feel his firm body trembling.
…Is it because of the visual and auditory stimulation?
“……”
I was seized by a very strange feeling and looked at him.
He also looked back at me.
The surroundings were quiet, and a strange current flowed.
He didn’t say anything. Neither did I, who was usually talkative.
It was a moment heading towards another first.
One with no end in sight.
“…Actually, I apologized in advance because I don’t think I can control myself.”
And so, I was bitten by him again.
XD