Senior, I've Come to Visit - Chapter 14

“Did you learn to cook?”

“Saying I learned is too much, I just know how to make a few things. We camp when we go on subjugations. I was the youngest a lot of the time, so I was in charge of cooking.”

“I see.”

Wizards and demonic beast subjugations were inseparable.

From the upper years at the Academy, all students went on them as practical training, and at the Magic Tower, the Safety Department wizards mainly took charge, but that did not mean wizards from other departments never went. Through assignment or volunteering, Research Department wizards also joined subjugations, and Nardi in particular was often assigned and often volunteered

The thought of him cooking during those camps made it clear that being the heir of House Gracian did not earn him any special treatment. I cooled a spoonful of stew and tasted it, and it was far better than I expected.

“It’s good.”

“Is it good?”

Nardi, watching me as if he was curious about my reaction, smiled brightly.

“Try this meat too. The older male seniors refuse to eat if there is no meat, so I grill about ten hunks this size for one meal.”

“This is really good too.”

The meat was grilled to just the right doneness, not tough at all, and melted tenderly in my mouth. I had been drained, but the taste made my strength come back and I kept eating piece after piece.

“You look so pretty when you eat well. I will make this for you often.”

“…You should eat too.”

“Yes.”

After cutting all the meat, he sat across from me. He added fresh salad and bread to my plate as well. I was hungry, and the food was so good that I focused on eating. To be honest, I also wanted to avoid conversation.

I was acting like it was nothing as I ate, but my head was a mess. I had no idea how I was supposed to treat Nardi now, or from now on. Having him suck my milk and breasts because of breast engorgement was already no ordinary matter, and on top of that, we had gone further and had sex.

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

The one who got excited and suggested it first had been me.

Even if it had been an impulsive act, it was not as if I was swept up for just five or ten minutes. We had sex for a long time, and it made no sense to say I had been ruled by impulse the entire time. I could have stopped at any point if I wanted, yet I hadn’t, and in the end, we went all the way.

Should I just gloss over it as if nothing happened?

That seemed like the best option. I would not bring it up first, and if Nardi mentioned it, I would suggest, “Let us pretend it never happened.” Naturally, I would feel awkward dealing with him for a while, but if I acted like nothing was wrong and time passed, maybe things would fade on their own. If it kept bothering me and making things uncomfortable, I could grit my teeth for a bit, then transfer to another research team next year.

We ate in silence for a while before Nardi was the one to speak first.

“You said it was research requested by the Queen, right? Did you already know Her Majesty the Queen before that?”

His question was unexpected. I was relieved it was not about sex.

“No, the Queen called me in and requested it about three months ago. That was the first time we really spoke.”

“I see. She must have known you are a genius in pharmaceutics, Senior. You developed a treatment for an epidemic back at the Academy.”

That medicine had made me fairly famous. I had never wanted fame.

“I’m not a genius, it’s just my area of expertise. And….”

I did not bother to add that my being a commoner had probably played a big role.

“Like I said, you absolutely cannot tell anyone else. It’s a secret commission, and if word gets out, who knows what the Queen will do to me.”

Nardi was not a lighthearted gossip, but out of caution, I reminded him again.

The Queen was wary of nobles finding out that she did not produce enough milk. He was someone at the very pinnacle among nobles.

“That won’t happen.”

He said it firmly, then frowned slightly.

“Did the Queen threaten you in some way? Are you being forced to do this research?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. I got a generous advance payment too.”

“Is this research something you actually want to do, Senior?”

“….”

A magic potion that promotes milk production wasn’t something I’d volunteered to make.

“Given the subject, it’s not really an area I’m interested in… but realistically, it’s not easy to refuse a commission from the Queen.”

“So you don’t want to, but you’re doing it against your will because of the Queen.”

“No, it’s not exactly like that….”

Feeling like a cowardly researcher who’d bowed to power, I found myself making excuses.

“It’s not a project with bad intentions. While I was investigating this time, I found out there are a lot of mothers besides the Queen who suffer because they don’t produce enough milk. If I make it now, it might be good to commercialize it someday.”

In truth, I was still debating whether to commercialize it or not, worried it might be misused. Commercialization required far more consideration than making a potion for a private commission and demanded endless caution.

“What are you going to do, being this softhearted?”

“…Me?”

“Yes, you, Senior Eloise.”

Nardi looked at me with genuine pity.

“I’ve never once been called softhearted in my life.”

“Out of everyone I know, you’re the softest. And the prettiest too.”

“….”

Why does he keep calling me pretty?

Honestly, it wasn’t like I disliked hearing it from him of all people, but I was awkward with compliments and had no idea how to react. Avoiding Nardi’s gaze, I scooped up a piece of potato from the stew and ate it.

“So how long are you planning to run the experiment?”

“About four to five weeks.”

It was a typical experimental period.

“I started last week, so there are three or four weeks left.”

“So about a month. You can’t end up with breast engorgement again, so I’ll suck it out for you every day like earlier.”

“What?”

I almost dropped my spoon.

“You said you got breast engorgement because you couldn’t empty properly. When I sucked it out, your fever went down and your breasts got better. For the remaining month, to prevent engorgement, I’ll suck it out for you if you’re okay with it.”

“I can just hand-express by myself. I’ve been doing that for days.”

“That’s how you ended up with breast engorgement, remember? What if you get it again doing it alone? I can’t stand seeing you in pain, Senior.”

“Why on earth?”

“You also can’t stand seeing other people in pain.”

“Since when?”

I had no idea what he was talking about. I had no interest in other people’s business. I’d only accepted the Queen’s commission because I had no choice.

“Anyway, I want to do it for you. More than anything, we’re lovers now, aren’t we?”

“…What?”

I stared at him in confusion, and Nardi looked genuinely puzzled.

“Didn’t you sleep with me because you were planning to date me?”

“I didn’t exactly think that….”

“Don’t tell me it was just a one-night fling?!”

“If I’m being honest, that’s pretty much what I….”

His face froze, and I couldn’t go on. Nardi looked at me with wounded eyes.

“Are you taking my virginity and then throwing me away?”

I felt like some shameless villain.

“No, seriously, it was my first time too.”

“I’m really happy we were each other’s first.”

There’s seriously something off about him.

After looking hurt, then smiling happily, he went back to a sorrowful expression.

“Was the sex bad, by any chance?”

“….”

“Since it was my first time, I must’ve been really lacking. But I can do better from now on.”

There was one thing I could say for sure.

“It wasn’t bad. I… liked it.”

After moaning like that, spilling so much fluid, and in the end experiencing such a powerful climax, how could I say it was bad? Sex with Nardi had been ecstasy itself.

“I really liked it too.”

He blushed and smiled shyly. He looked incredibly happy at my words, and it was obvious he was trying hard to hide it. After smoothing out his expression, Nardi asked me,

“Then do you perhaps dislike me?”

Once again, with that huge frame of his, he pretended to be pitiful. It was so ridiculous I almost laughed, but I held it back and said,

“I don’t dislike you.”

There was no reason to lie.

If I hadn’t felt any attraction to him from the start, I would’ve refused outright the first time he offered to suck my milk, breast engorgement or not. I’d agreed because he was handsome, charming, and someone I felt attracted to.