Chapter 274 - 274. Patricia and the Farewell Party ③ (Patricia☆)
The lake visible from the window was cloaked in silence, and at times, the water surface sparkled as if stars had rained down on it. Shifting my gaze inside the room, the luxurious decorations came into view. In particular, the gigantic geometric patterned tapestry hanging on the wall was overwhelming. Such an item would have taken an incredible amount of time to weave by hand. In the center was a large four-poster bed, and next to it was a table where several people could eat. The glossy surface was adorned with a beautiful marquetry of flowers. A white porcelain plate and silverware were placed haphazardly on top, the remnants of a meal. The kebab sandwich that had been on the plate was already in my stomach. I wanted to eat shiitake mushrooms, but they weren't served. This room was the one that Marmie and I had stayed in when we visited before. Now, Patricia was next to me. She was looking at me intently with a tense expression.
"M-Marsh...", she murmured. Her eyes darted around as if searching for the right words before trailing off.
"Every time Patricia comes to this fortress, does she stay in this room?", I asked.
"No, this room is always used by the Master.", she replied. In that case, this was another arrangement by Marmie. I hadn't seen the Levante members since returning to the fortress. My injuries and the poison were treated by the resident priest. Patricia detached herself from the window and walked stiffly toward the bed, then sat down. She placed her tightly clenched fists on her thighs. I approached her and brushed her lips along the white nape of her neck.
"Hn..."
Patricia's eyes fluttered shut as she let out a faint moan. Her hand wrapped around my back. I also put my arm around her back and started to unfasten the ribbon of her apron. The frilly ribbon that framed her shoulders slipped down.
"W-wah!"
Patricia flailed as she tried to stop me, but as a result, the apron fell off the bed, revealing her dark blue dress. The apron was so smooth and glossy that it felt luxurious, and the same could be said of the material of the dress; the fabric felt incredibly soft, and the dress looked like it was not just a maid's but from one who served one of the four great houses. The fabric's texture and the potential of the softness of her skin beneath left me curious. I continued to trace her skin, removing the brooch at her neck and even starting on the buttons of her back.
"Hnn... you're so practiced...", she groaned.
"I'm better at this than combat.", I quipped.
"Really...? Nguh...", she moaned. Raising her slightly, I stripped her bare. Beneath was a floor-length white linen chemise reaching to her knees.
"Negligee?", I asked, surprised. She blinked in surprise, then smiled.
"No, it's called a chemise...
The sleeves were absent, but the neckline was firmly closed. Her slave mark was visible on her arm. Before I could touch the mark, she hid it, pulling her arm close as if hugging herself.
"Marsh, I want you to know that even though this situation is all engineered by Maou-sama, I am here of my own free will. What's about to happen tonight is what I want to happen.", she said, smiling shyly.
"Of course, I might wonder whether someone like me should be embraced by someone Maou-sama loves. But this hesitation should be severed by Marsh..."
I didn't want her to say another word. I reached for the buttons. Patricia stared intently at my fingertips.
"Do you always wear so much? Aren't you hot?", I asked.
"I-I'm hot enough to feel dizzy right now..."
Her face and chest were flushed a faint red. I paused, touching her cheek. Patricia exhaled a hot breath, then placed her own hand on top of mine, leaning against me. I lowered my lips to her eyelids, and then pressed my lips against her cherry-colored ones. After tasting the soft feel, I slipped my tongue into the gap.
"Nguh!"
Patricia's eyes widened. I gazed into her eyes, swirling my tongue inside her mouth, savoring the feel of her saliva and the moist interior. I waited for her response, our tongues touched each other's.
We separated our lips after longing for each other for a long time. A string of saliva connected our lips. I reached for her chemise. My hand was stopped.
"What is it? Are you embarrassed?", I teased.
"It's too late for that.", I thought, as I had seen her naked in the bath before. At that time, I even fondled her chest.
"It's not fair if only I get naked. P-please take your clothes off too!"
As I started to remove my clothes, Patricia's white arms reached out as well, efficiently stripping me bare.
"You're quite skilled at this. Are you used to undressing people?", I teased.
"I-I don't! But it's easier with you than Maou-sama because you at least move to help.", she replied.
I posed in a stiff, heroic stance as my jacket was pulled off. Patricia gripped my jacket tightly and stared at my chest. She reached out, tracing my skin with her fingertips, slowly stroking it.
"Were you that eager to see me naked?", I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"N-no, it's not like that... well, maybe. I'll get to be held by this skin..."
"You saw me in the bath, didn't you?"
"I was too flustered that time. I barely remember seeing it."
"Is that so? I suppose I was only able to insert myself into Mizuki back then.", I teased.
Hearing my words, Patricia slightly raised her eyes.
"You put it on my head and came inside, after all. Really…
She puffed up her cheeks and then dragged her fingertips from my navel to my groin, hooking her fingers into my pants.
"Does that mean you like people who are like that?"
"You won't like it if I say no, right?", I smirked.
"…………"
She fell silent. I felt hostility and stopped walking, taking a step back.
"Sorry. I won't tease you anymore.", I said.
"Please do. I repeat, even though it's such a beautiful night under the moon and stars. Even though Maou-sama has …
She stopped speaking and gazed upward at the sky. I followed her gaze, and in the jet-black night sky, a star stream flowed. The golden half-moon was trying to cross that river. We started walking. The path deviated from the lakeside and continued deep into the forest covered with trees. What kind of flower was Marmie trying to make me pick all the way to the depths of this forest?
"I wanted to marry Wake.", she said.
"Isn't he older than me? Are you trying to incite jealousy by saying that man's name that I know? ……By the way, is Wake at this fortress?", I asked.
Patricia shook her head.
"Wake stayed in the city to support Augustus-sama and Marina-sama. He might look like that, but he's kind to women and popular.", she said.
"Well, of course.", I replied, remembering how fond Maira was of him. Patricia looked surprised when she saw me pouting.
"Are you jealous even though you heard it from Marsh?"
"Shut up.", I grumbled.
Patricia smiled at my reply.
"He has a wife and children, and even grandchildren, albeit just born.", she said matter-of-factly.
"Is that so? Then why?"
I wondered if his family had been safe during the Migul unrest, but hearing her light reply, there was no harm. If I had known about the birth of the grandchild, I would have said at least one word of congratulations.
"It's because Wake serves Maou-sama as an adjutant, so I thought if I married him I could serve Maou-sama by his side. But he's a loving husband.", she said.
In the first place, were the citizens not monogamous? I wondered if someone of his status was allowed to have a mistress.
"Have you never truly loved anyone?"
"Muu, you're jealous just hearing Wake's name…
That was true, but like with a splinter, even though I knew it would be painful, I couldn't help but ask. As I was thinking about such things, Patricia reached out and grabbed my hand.
"I like you, Marsh.", she confessed.
Her palm felt damp, as if she was nervous, and warmth also emanated from it. I stopped talking and continued walking with her. As we did, the dense trees surrounding us gradually thinned, and the view opened up. In the knee-high grass, pale purple flowers bloomed wildly as if covering the ground. It looked as if countless darts were plunging into the ground. The six petals, bathed in the gentle light, gently wrapped around the orange anthers as if protecting them from the chill of the night. Even though there was no wind, the tips of the slender, pointed petals could be seen trembling slightly, probably due to their thinness. The entire flower field faintly reflected the moonlight, releasing a white, dreamy glow into the surroundings.
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