Leon-sama seemed like he wanted to talk about something important. Therefore, I calmly waited for his next words.
“—I’m going to ask just in case. It’s about how things will be from now on. You…”
As Leon-sama landed a kiss on my hand, he tightened the grasp he had on my hand. His strength was enough to cause pain to my hand.
“Do you want to work here? Military or civil work, what kind of job do you want to do?”
“Of course I’d like to work!”
‘It is quite late by now, though,’ I thought. I was asked about this before as well. About what I wanted to do, what I could do, or if I wanted to be kept until I die.
I have been studying every day, just what is that for, then? Recently, I’ve been training my martial arts, too.
Leon-sama should have assigned Orgueil to me in order to prepare myself for work.
I once again declared my intention to work.
However, Leon-sama didn’t say anything as he had a bitter smile on his face, pulling me closer to him.
We were both naked since we were just finished doing the deed, so I thought that having a serious talk right now was quite odd.
Perhaps it wasn’t anything odd for Leon-sama who usually sleep naked.
After carefully thinking about it, still in his embrace, I answered, “Don’t you think that it’s common sense to work in order to live in this world? I don’t remember it’s okay not having to work.”
But well, training my martial arts isn’t that necessary based on the common knowledge.
It seemed like he could read my mind, as Leon-sama continued to speak with his natural cheerful tone.
“Well, the fact that you’re training your martial arts isn’t included in the common knowledge. It’s just…,” Leon-sama looked into my eyes intently.
“It’s not too late now. Do you dislike the idea of being next to me, just sitting still while being protected?”
Leon-sama said, each word having an emphasis.
“It’s not that I dislike it…”
As a person from Japan, I unintentionally gave an ambiguous answer in response to his seriousness out of habit.
Even if I have lived abroad for so many years, there was no [ambiguous] words when it came to military. Military was a world where black and white were clear. In comparison, I was so defenseless (For the nth time, I was naked). It was quite troublesome for me to be frank.
“What’s the matter?”
Leon-sama’s hand that hugged my waist and the hand that grasped mine were strong that I trembled.
“I want to work.”
When he asked me if I disliked that idea, I hesitated to answer that I disliked it (as I sensed that Leon-sama wouldn’t want that answer), so I tried to change the way I answered him.
“I was asking whether you dislike it or not.”
Leon-sama refused to back down. He seemed to deny my way of answering.
“Even if you stay by my side as my wife, there are still things you have to do, such as socializing and diplomacy with fellow women. –If you can’t say ‘no’, then let me change the question. Do you want to become either a civil official or military official?”
“Yes, I want.”
It was an immediate reply.
I did my best in answering him so that I won’t lose to Leon-sama’s vigor.
Leon-sama was too serious that it was even frightening—to the extent that my legs seemed to turn jelly.
“I want to do something within my power. Not only as the princess who received Leon-sama’s protection, but I want to do something as Riviere Emil la Tuura. Using my social position that has been created with efforts is also fine. Use it to the fullest, and eventually, I want to create my own foothold using my own power.”
After I finished conveying my feelings, I finally felt relieved.
It isn’t my nature to just be protected by someone else. Though I understand that socializing and diplomacy as a woman is necessary, that isn’t my forte. Leon-sama was exceptionally sweet right now, so if I were to tell him I didn’t want to do anything, he’d surely grant it and might even give me a silver spoon. But I don’t want that kind of lifestyle for the rest of my life. Leon-sama will get tired of me sometime in the future, too. I’m sure he isn’t the kind of person to love frail women who couldn’t do anything.
“If Leon-sama were to order me not to do anything, I’ll do as you say. But since you are letting me choose, then I’d like to have the privilege of working.”
I chose my words carefully as to avoid misunderstanding, then I told them to him clearly.
Before long, he loosened his grasp on me. However, he then pulled me at the waist with both of his hands, closer to him that my restricted position didn’t really change.
We were glaring at each other in silence for a while, but Leon-sama became the first one to avert his eyes.
“Leon-sama?”
“Understood. –No, sorry for asking in this kind of manner despite my already knowing that.”
Leon-sama said as if he was laughing at himself.
Then, he once again hugged me using a strength that wouldn’t cause me to be agonized, putting his lips to my cheek.
“…?”
“Even though I understand that you aren’t the type of woman that can be confined within my arms…”
Leon-sama added, still with his lips touching my cheek. He was at my point-blank range that I couldn’t see his face.
“I just wanted to hear your thoughts. –If not, I might seriously think of locking you up. After all, there is no way you can disobey my orders.”
After sliding his lips to my cheek, the corner of my eye, and my lips, Leon-sama finally raised his face.
His gaze was such a strong one that could pull my stupefied mind back to reality in an instant. It was as if he was pinning me down.
“—Riviere Emil la Tuura. In a few days, there will be an announcement that you will be treated as a commodore under the jurisdiction of Duke Evangelista.”
Treated as a commodore?!
Why so suddenly? Even if there is a centralized authoritarian rule… Isn’t this way too tremendous…?!
“…”
I definitely couldn’t say that Leon-sama’s eyes seemed to be scary now that I was way too surprised with how the situation escalated.
Concerning the result, it seemed to be proper, and there was still an addition to Leon-sama’s talk.
“There is a military recommendation for you, written by Orgueil. Since you’re going to be treated as a commodore, there’s a need for Colonel Karnak to appoint you some subordinates. It isn’t rare for those without any achievements to be selected (T/N: as commodore), so you don’t need to worry. There are opportunities where you can make some achievements.”
“…Opportunities?”
“There are some disputes… or rather, there are some areas under battles.”
Leon-sama cut my words before I could even finish them.
“There are some extended disputes since we are at a loss on how to continue. There has been talks about how the disputes should be resolved soon, so the next dispatched troops should be at full scale. At that time, you will be provided with soldiers as well.”
“Full scale?”
“It means that there is a need for a duke to depart for the front. We have arranged it to be Ruud. It’s Duke Sigurd do Odile.”
So, it was that beauty with red hair and sky-blue eyes.
But if so, why would I, as a person under Duke Evangelista, have to participate in the war as well?
“—You’ve heard about the head of the dukes, right? The head of the dukes is me right now. As the head of the dukes, I can’t depart for the front myself.”
Leon-sama said as he smiled with mixed feelings. He saw right through my question.
“Still, we will be deploying soldiers. The one who will gather them won’t be me, but it will be Duke Odile. So, you will be treated as a guest commander.”
“Will a guest commander have soldiers under them?”
“Yes, and it is to demonstrate the unity of the three dukes. We send soldiers to one another, and up until now, there has never been any conflict, only a complete mutual understanding.”
“—Even if you say that…,” I unconsciously muttered.
One would normally not want to listen to the orders of a [guest commander] who’s having their first campaign there—one without no past achievements—and a [woman] on top of it.
It is unthinkable to me. Such a commander would be treated unkindly and even be driven out. Then, if you couldn’t pacify the soldiers, the army would meet their downfall.
“Are you worried, Riviere?”
Leon-sama asked with a relatively strict tone. If I were to falter here, he might even tell me that I am not fit for military.
“—No, Leon-sama.”
I showed a smile on purpose. Suffering in the beginning is also necessary.
Sure enough, Leon-sama seemed to be a bit surprised.
“It’s fine. I’m used to it, even if the soldiers won’t listen to what I say in the beginning.”
I really am used to it. It was also difficult when I had to face my fellow mercenary soldiers in the allied forces back then. But in the end, my strong power became well-known, and furthermore, in terms of commanding abilities, I had the charisma and they even said that whoever fought alongside me would definitely be able to return alive.
“I am thankful enough for Leon-sama and Orgueil’s backing. Leon-sama, please be relieved. I’ll definitely show everyone that the name ‘la Tuura’ I got wasn’t just for show.”
I loudly declared.
Even if I was naked post-copulating, it was still a good victory declaration even before going to the war.
Leon-sama was speechless for a moment, but in the end—still with the same speechless expression—he gently hugged me.
“I’m looking forward to it, Rivea. When you say it like that, it doesn’t seem like an empty promise.”
Kisses began to fall into my hair.
For some reason, going with the flow of the situation… this means another round?
“Once the announcement is out, you will be introduced to Duke Odile’s army officials. It will be better for you to participate in the drafting of the strategy as well as war council. It’s also good for you to train together with their army. Let them see your ability with their own eyes.”
“Leon-sama, could it be that, another r……”
Before long, his large hands began to stroke my body. Slowly, gently, relentlessly. His touches were intended to arouse me.
The heat that had been subdued was now raising up again. My breath turned rough. The center of my body was throbbing.
“Uhm, Leon-sama…”
“Our talk has ended, Rivea.”
Leon-sama’s lips rained down to my hair, ears, and nape.
The hand that was caressing my body stopped, moving on to rub my buttocks. Meanwhile, his other hand was inserted into my tender flesh that was flushing.
The part of my body that had swallowed Leon-sama deeply up until just now was soaked wet due to the caressing he did.
My mind turned hazy due to the pleasure and happiness…
As the obscene sound of liquid echoed, Leon-sama was already hard and I was also losing my presence of mind, so I pleaded first even though it was embarrassing—then he entered me.
It was pulled in and out many times inside me as we changed our postures—and in the end, as usual, I ended up blanking.
That was why, on the next day, I didn’t know how Leon-sama’s face was during the last time he came, and his words—that he uttered in a heartrending tone—saying, “For now, you are mine and mine only.”
Translator’s Note:
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