The third option if neither fleeing nor surrendering is viable: either take Rufina as a bride, or leave my life in the hands of His Majesty the Emperor.
Now that His Majesty is aware, there’s no way to escape. Both the Guild and the Hasuhanto Trading Company will have their hands full, making survival within the Empire impossible. Even if I fled to another country, if Hasuhanto Trading Company turned against me, I might not even be able to live as a farmer.
Marrying into the family, then? Taking Rufina as a wife and joining the ranks of the nobility. Not a bad idea. Rufina has a slightly problematic personality, but her looks aren’t bad. In fact, I feel like she could shine with some polishing. Though that would mean the White Lily Corps would disband. I don’t want that. Even if it’s bound to happen someday, I don’t want it now.
Guess my only choice is to gamble on His Majesty the Emperor…
—
The next day, as the summoning ritual approached, my mind kept circling the same thoughts well into the night. Over and over, despite the answer never changing.
What finally snapped me out of it was a knock on the door. Entering were Rufina—who seemed convinced we were engaged—and the familiar skeletal form of the Undead Queen.
Wait, when did I summon her? She strode in with a skeleton version of the Undead Queen in tow—the same bare-bones figure from that magic circle battle, her exposed heart visibly pulsing. Not exactly the sight I wanted at night.
“Captain. May I have a moment?”
Not like I could refuse, given she was already inside. Besides, this was Rufina’s house.
“Please. I was just thinking and couldn’t sleep.”
As I tried to rise from the bed, Rufina gestured for the Undead Queen to bring a chair. So she can be used like this too? I always assumed she was just for combat. Using the Undead Queen as a servant—quite the power move.
“I came to formally thank you for the subjugation and apologize for the morning’s commotion.”
Manners are important. She’s an adult, and a noble at that. There’s a saying about courtesy even among close friends.
“You seem to have grown accustomed to the Undead Queen.”
“Indeed. Enough to massage her heart like this.”
She slipped her hand between the ribs and kneaded the exposed heart. Not exactly a pleasant sight. What does it even feel like to have your heart massaged?
Apparently, it feels good. The little girl moaned and squirmed as she worked the skeleton’s heart. But let’s not dwell on Rufina’s questionable tastes—I’d rather get to the point.
“Along with my gratitude, I wanted to ask you to give the Undead Queen a name.”
“A name? Does she need one?”
“It’s important. A step toward unification.”
Unification? Would Rufina and the Undead Queen merge into one? What would that even entail? I’d hate for Rufina to turn into a skeleton.
“How about Rossa? It means ‘red,’ and the Undead Queen’s dress and eye color are both red.”
“I see. From today, she shall be Rossa.”
Good, the name’s settled. Now please leave so I can sleep. Having a skeleton wandering around at night is nightmare fuel.
“There’s one more request.”
This “one more thing” or “last thing” is never good. She says it so calmly, but can’t she do something about that skeleton next to her?
“Before that! Can’t you do something about Rossa’s skeletal form? It’s bad for my heart. You can give her flesh, right?”
Honestly, it’s unsettling. A tattered dress revealing bones, topped with a crowned skull. If Rufina weren’t a zombie enthusiast, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near this.
Rufina whispered to Rossa, and from the hem of her dress, flesh began to form—hands, chest, face, all restored to a healthy hue.
Those same crimson eyes from the magic circle remained, still terrifying, but now with a cleavage so deep it was mesmerizing. Flesh wins. Cleavage wins.
“Now, for the final request. I want you to seal the contract with Rossa through a kiss.”
Why a kiss? Why a contract? …Well, the kiss part is fine now that she has flesh. But shouldn’t the contract be with Rufina, not me?
“This Rossa was a maiden before becoming the Undead Queen. Since then, she’s never been subjugated until now. That’s far too unfortunate.”
So Rossa was human once? No idea how she became the Undead Queen, but to not even know about kissing… Pitiful, but she was a skeleton. A skull. Now she’s stunning, but I’ve seen her arms severed and her brains blown out. The dissonance is too much.
“So you want me to kiss her…”
“Indeed. You fought alongside her and subjugated her. For our future unification, and for Rossa’s desires as a woman.”
Hmm. Rossa may be the Undead Queen, but with flesh, she’s undeniably beautiful. The crimson eyes are a bit much, but not bad. Still, remembering her skeletal form makes it hard to act. …What to do?
“Rossa deeply admires Lord Mikael. His strength, his dignity—even after having her arms cut off, her heart gouged, and her brains blown out, she no longer hides her feelings.”
That last part was intense, but I’ll let it slide. Feels like I’m getting dragged into some necromancer’s mess. But if she has feelings for me, fine. I beckoned Rossa to the bed and kissed her.
Her lips were soft and warm. Something she couldn’t experience as a human. What a waste—with beauty like this, she could’ve had a normal, happy life…
My lips went numb. No, my head too, then my body. What the—? What is this!?
“Well done. I didn’t expect you to fall for it so easily, Captain.”
What are you talking about!? I’m paralyzed! The only thing I can move are my eyes, darting between the two.
“Was this the right way, my lord?”
“Indeed.”
Explain what’s “right”! Undo this! As I pleaded with my eyes, Rufia kindly elaborated.
“You seem curious. Very well, I’ll explain.”
The little demon in black robes began undressing as she spoke.
“This Rossa knows nothing of men. Don’t you find that tragic? She knew nothing in life, and as the Undead Queen, it became an impossible dream. As her lord, fulfilling her desires is part of the unification—the contract.”
What does that have to do with my paralysis!? Summarize it in three pages of manuscript paper!
“Rossa is fond of you, Captain. This is a good opportunity. Teaching her about men would be beneficial.”
I said, explain the paralysis!
“We can’t just unleash your Buster Sword on a maiden. She must be eased into it. But first, I’ll sample the taste of my rejuvenated body.”
In short, they paralyzed me so they could have their way with me. Which is which!? Don’t screw with me!
I tried to muster all my strength—to reach for those small peaks, to bury my face in those larger ones, but my body wouldn’t move. Not even my tongue… My mouth was numb too.
“Rossa, this is a man’s flesh rod, his manhood.”
“So this is what it looks like? It seems manageable.”
Fool! Rufina pulled down my bottoms and pinched my limp member.
“Fool! Rossa, you’re mistaken. Mikael Sin’s manhood is nothing like this!”
This is embarrassing. But at least I can feel her touching me, even if I can’t move.
“Pull it out like this, then take it into your mouth. Lick the tip and shaft—he’ll grow and enjoy it.”
“…Is this magic?”
No, it’s not.
“No, it’s not. This is proof of his pleasure.”
Being told outright is mortifying. And this helplessness… If I could, I’d want to make love properly. I’d scream that I want to knead Rossa’s chest, but I can’t even move my mouth.
“Of course, the Captain can use magic. Limited as it is, this manhood can grow enormous—so much that even I might not be able to take it… My current body might not handle it.”
“To that extent…”
Exactly, Rossa. I’d love to skewer you with this massive rod, but I prefer doing the skewering. …If you’d just undo this paralysis, I’d do a great job.
“First, watch closely.”
Rufina slowly took the slimy rod into her mouth, licking it with her tongue. And just like that, what resembled a tired middle-aged man transformed into a virile young male.
Thanks to the pillow, I could see Rufina had regressed in age. She was already petite before, but now she could pass for a middle-schooler.
This is Rufina’s mansion, and she looks like a child. I’d have no defense if accused of a crime. What do I do? Is this okay? Age-wise, she’s an adult—I think. Never asked. But she looks like a middle-school girl, and I’m a grown man. Is this fine…?
“Slurp… mmm… nngh! …Lick… yes! …Mmph!”
The lewd sounds filling the room stoked my guilt. Please, don’t let Marquis Rutland wake up and come here.
“See? What was once small has grown so much. Now you try, Rossa.”
“Yes, my lord. Then, Lord Mikael, pardon me.”
The baton passed from the little girl to the mature woman. Rossa licked along the shaft, then took the tip into her mouth. I screamed! Well, not out loud—but in my heart! How… how…!
“Wait. The Captain seems to want to say something. ■■■■, Purge.”
“Ow ow ow! Rossa! Your teeth!”
“Eh!?”
You should’ve explained the precautions to a first-timer. Rossa clearly didn’t understand how delicate this thing is.
“Rossa! Watch the teeth! It really hurts… mmph!”
“If you’re going to be loud, just lie here. Rossa will continue without using her teeth. You, lick me.”
When did she take off her panties? Rufina fixed her mouth on me while pressing her privates against my face to silence me. Couldn’t you just cover my mouth instead?
Even if she’s younger now, her weight is still crushing. I can’t breathe under this meaty pressure—let me do it before you kill me! Godspeed, eloquence!
“Ah… ah… ahhn… haah!”
“Ngh… mmph… slurp… nnf!”
Rufina’s hips lifted as if fleeing, while Rossa’s teeth kept scraping. Before I could protest, Rufina lowered herself again, demanding, “Lick,” in a cycle.
It hurts, I can’t breathe, and I’m paralyzed. Just you wait—I’ll get you back. A thought of retaliation crossed my mind.
