Chapter 187 - The Dungeon Cell and Marianne (Part One)
I was in a dark room. It was damp, and besides the smell of mold, there was a stench of something rotting.
It seemed I'd been laid down on a mat woven from straw. Beneath it felt like stone paving, and my back ached. I lifted my head and looked around.
"Are you awake?"
"Marianne, are you alone? This place is..."
Marianne was sitting near the wall, her knees drawn up. She was wearing a knee-length green flared skirt and a long-sleeved white tunic, dressed like a town girl. Was she trying to hide her identity when she went out into the city? Her legs were open. If I changed my angle, I might be able to see her underwear. As I tried to move my head, she shifted from her kneeling position to sitting sideways.
"It's just me and you, Mash. This is the dungeon of the House Wanland estate."
I sat up. It was indeed a space enclosed by stone walls. Only one side was barred with iron. The only other thing in the room was a square wooden box in the back corner. It seemed I really was in a dungeon cell. My throat was parched, so I tried to use water magic, but nothing happened. I panicked and tried to open my storage, but that didn't work either. It seemed magic was sealed within the cell. I remembered being on top of the government building dome with Racshell and passing out from mana depletion. How did it come to this?
"I saw you fly up to the top of the government building with Lady Racshell, and although I thought it might be intrusive, I left the church affairs to Miss Maira and followed you with Fam and Marmie."
Marianne probably didn't know what state I'd be in after performing a goddess summoning.
"We found you collapsed on the terrace, and Fam gave you a mana recovery potion."
"Marianne, among this group, you're the one with the highest status. Like I said when I introduced you to Racshell, you can drop the formalities with all the others."
And yet she called Marmie by her name. They were both well-known nobles in the same city. They must have been acquainted.
"...I cannot be so informal with Lady Racshell, but I understand. Fam said you would normally wake up by now, but you didn't, so we all carried you down."
I tilted my head. Was this an effect of using the crystal core?
"Down below, in response to the disappearance of the grand cathedral, the knights had left the site and were pursuing us."
"From House Wanland?"
She nodded at my words.
"That bearded old guy?"
When I pressed further, she shook her head.
"He is the captain of the Royal Guard. The four ruling houses take turns guarding this hill on a quarterly basis. It is currently House Wanland's turn, but a different unit from the Royal Guard is on duty. They are men under my uncle's influence. My words did not reach them."
"I see... so we were suspected of being the ringleaders."
Since I really was the ringleader, I suppose I'd been caught in my own trap.
"The church... Elisha didn't help?"
"The Archbishop has authority, but the four ruling houses do not accept her power, or rather, the church's. Also, the knights cannot arrest me or Marmie."
"Then why are you in a cell with me, Marianne?"
At my question, she furrowed her brow in thought.
"Before I explain that, it was decided that you, Mash, would be imprisoned as the mastermind of the incident. The four ruling houses will gather tomorrow to decide your fate. For the time being, we accepted that to calm the situation. However, Fam became furious, so Marmie put her to sleep with magic and took her back to the House Starunion estate. But Marmie also said that if you are not released tomorrow, she will attack House Wanland..."
"Attack? That's... extreme."
"I find it hard to believe those are the words of the person who attacked the House Starunion estate yesterday."
Still, I wondered if there had been some trouble with the guards.
"Fam can be stubborn sometimes, but just like she looks, she's basically a laid-back, gentle person. I can't imagine her getting that angry over something like this. Did someone provoke her?"
"It was none other than for your sake, Mash."
She got angry for me? Still, I couldn't help but think. We came to this city for Fam's sake, but also because we'd attracted too much attention in Richelle and were looking for a place to live peacefully. And yet, on the first day, we get kicked out of Marmie's mansion. On the second, we attack her house. On the third, we summon a goddess and destroy the grand cathedral. And now, I'm in the dungeon of House Wanland. What in the world is going on?
"...For now, I'll think of a way out of this, so could you tell Marmie to calm down?"
"I cannot. I am also in this cell."
"That's right! Wait, based on what you just said, why are you in here?"
At my words, her cheeks flushed.
"That is... because there is someone who wishes for something to happen between you and I, sharing a bedchamber."
"Is that so! Well then, let's get started right away!"
When I went to embrace her, she pushed me away with her arms.
Marianne, head of House Wanland, one of the four ruling houses, had assumed her position as a child. In her youth, her uncle served as the family's steward in her stead. Now that Marianne was twenty-three, her uncle continued to hold the real power in House Wanland. She existed as a mere figurehead. However, she was not one to be content with that. Though those around her were aware, she went out into the city every day under the guise of being incognito. There, she felt the atmosphere of the city change under the threat of the Demon Lord's kingdom. And so, she began to speak out. Believing it her duty, she tried to involve herself in Migul's politics. Furthermore, upon learning that a village of the dog-eared race near the border had been raided by slave hunters, she tried to mobilize the army and take decisive action. Without even realizing it, power had begun to gather under her. And then, I arrived in this city. She attempted to make contact with me. All of this must have been unacceptable to her uncle. And now, it turned out Marianne had a fiancé. This was a shocking revelation she herself had only learned of last night. Her betrothed was the son of her uncle's concubine, a man who could barely speak properly. Even now, at the age of nineteen, he reportedly had difficulty forming words.
"Sounds like a story I heard from some elf family."
"In her case, I believe it was due to her genius."
That man, in place of intellect, possessed an abnormal level of physical strength, making him the polar opposite of Marmie. Furthermore, he had a short temper and a brutish nature, and was said to be confined to his uncle's mansion. Marrying Marianne to such a man was her uncle's ploy to completely strip her of her power. However, that method would take time, and in the meantime, those opposed to her uncle's authority might rally to Marianne's side. So, first, he had her imprisoned as a co-conspirator in the cathedral's destruction. Then, he would have her engage in an illicit affair with me while she was engaged, and use the dishonor to punish her and seize her power completely.
"Does your uncle have other heirs?"
"Yes, he has three sons with his legal wife," she said apologetically. It seemed he was blessed with children. He likely intended for his power to pass to his own offspring. I peered through the iron bars, but there didn't seem to be a guard.
"If you and I were to have an affair in here, how would anyone know?"
"No, I am checked periodically to ensure I have not been unfaithful. I will likely be checked tomorrow."
"How? Do they spread your legs and check inside your vagina?"
"Y-Yes," she answered, her voice choking.
"Such a wonderful job exists? If I get out of this cell, will you let me do that job? I'll do it for one silver coin!"
"What are you saying! Men are not allowed. Only women."
"Fine. Let me do it for one copper coin."
"This isn't about money!"
I sat down next to Marianne, our shoulders touching. The cell was cold, but there was a pleasant warmth where we met.
"So, is there a man you like, Marianne?"
"Eventually, my body is to be dedicated to House Wanland. I tried not to think about such things. But, now..."
She looked up at me with misty eyes.
"You've fallen for your nephew's son?"
"That's not it!"
I wrapped my arm around her other shoulder and pulled her close. She leaned against me willingly.
"Then there's no problem. Shall we begin?"
Perhaps she didn't understand my meaning. She looked at me with a blank expression.
"Begin what?"
"What we can do in this place is limited. Sex!"
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-why does it have to come to that?"
She tried to escape my arm, shifting her hips to create distance. But I held her shoulder firmly so she couldn't get away, and closed the gap even further.
"Marianne, you yourself said you were mine. I want you too. Besides, your uncle is encouraging us to have sex, isn't he? In other words, doesn't that make it officially sanctioned? Let's give the person who checks your virginity a surprise. I want to ask them what they think when they see my semen, your juices, and the blood from you losing your virginity all dripping out."
"No, no, no, no, were you listening to what I said earlier? My uncle put me in the same cell as you to disgrace me. If that were to happen, it would only make my uncle happy."
"What's wrong with that? Let's make him overjoyed."
"You have a plan, don't you? But, if we are to do this, I would rather not be in a place like this, but on a soft bed... to be your partner, that is."
"I have no plan. For now, I want to hold you, calm this excitement, and then think slowly. And for you, losing your virginity in a place like this is a rare and precious experience you won't get often!"
My only real calculation was that if it came to a meeting of the four ruling houses, House Starunion would also participate. Whoever came, they should be on my side. The only question was which side the remaining two houses would take.
"I only have one chance to lose my virginity. If that's the case, I would have rather lost it at the inn yesterday! Just a little patience. The situation will change again tomorrow. I will invite you to my room. There, you can do as you please."
"How can I be patient when I'm forced to breathe the same air as a beautiful woman like you in a place like this!"
I threw my arms around her and pushed her down.
"N-Not now. Please, forgive me."
Marianne looked up at me with frightened eyes. Her gaze sent a shiver down my spine. I took her hand and made her touch my groin.
"It's hard... Is this what a man's is like?"
As if trying to ascertain its shape, she ran her hand over mine repeatedly in a stroking motion. This woman, while saying no, was she trying to seduce me?
"Mash, if I calm this down, will you wait until the next opportunity?"
"Is there going to be a next time? I might be executed just like this, you know?"
"It will be fine. You have a real goddess on your side. Therefore, for now, please be patient with just my mouth."
She didn't know that I needed a two-day interval before I could use Goddess Summon again. Marianne sat up and started to remove my lower clothing. Since that was what I wanted, I cooperated by lifting my hips. My lower body was laid bare, my member exposed. She stared at it intently.
"It gets this hard, and this big..."
She caressed the head. The soft touch sent a jolt through my brain. Her fingertips traveled down the shaft and touched my scrotum.
"This part doesn't get hard, does it? It really feels like there are two balls inside."
She got on all fours, her face toward my groin. I reached for her back and lifted her skirt.
"Hic—W-Wait a minute!"
Marianne hurriedly held down the hem of her skirt, her face bright red.
"It's not fair that only I'm completely exposed. You take yours off too!"
"N-No way. It's too embarrassing!"
"I'm embarrassed too!"
"Ughhh... fine... Don't laugh, okay?"
With that, she stood up, reached into her skirt, and pulled down her undergarment. It was a pair of glossy white drawers, probably silk. They were the short-hemmed type, what you might call bloomers. As she was about to place them on the floor, I held out my hand, and she gave them to me. I checked the crotch area and found it was slightly damp.
"Wh-What are you inspecting?! It's embarrassing, so please don't look!"
"This is a first for me. I wonder if Fam wears these?"
"Those are mine. Of course she wouldn't wear them!"
She had no idea about Fam's secret hobby of wearing other people's panties.
Thank you for reading. To those who have liked, bookmarked, or rated this story, your support is a great encouragement. Thank you for pointing out the typos. It's a huge help.