Revised on H28.4.2.
Revised again on H28.4.23.
Since Elise had overwhelmingly won the “Etiquette” table manners match challenged by Munam and others, she needed a reward.
Looking at the precedent set by Ly’s reward, it seems necessary to even prepare for the “First Night Ritual.”
Or rather… Elise wouldn’t be satisfied unless I take her virginity.
Among the maidens who have gathered around me in this life, Elise and Ly were particularly insistent on being connected to me.
Previously, I dimly recalled either Kirika or Swan Hilda speculating that their souls might be seeking me due to a side effect of “Resurrection Magic,” and it appears that speculation holds a high degree of credibility.
Meanwhile, in Alicia’s case, while her marriage to me and the path to becoming the main wife were already decided, encountering maidens more noble than her at the “Princess Harem” Base Mansion was a complete shock to her, a bolt from the blue. It’s likely this anxiety led her to seek a connection with me.
Still, in my past life as Lester Adamon, I had absolutely no luck with romance, but it seems I’m making up for it in this life.
The first matter to consider is Elise’s reward.
Regarding the recovery of the ancestral Magic Staff located at the deepest part of the underground dungeon of Portland Castle Ruins, which was proposed by Elise during the Second Bath Meeting, it would take too long, so it should be postponed for now.
Therefore, a reward that can be carried out within or near the Imperial Capital Granza would be ideal.
As for Mai, Swan Hilda, Kirika, and even Tirna? Follow-up on them can wait.
However, among the matters proposed during the Second Bath Meeting, regarding Edele, the female demonkin who is Swan Hilda’s cousin, she is scheduled to disappear within a few days, so some conclusion needs to be reached.
Perhaps this matter can be left entirely to Swan Hilda.
The movements of the Hero Party are detailed on the Adventurer Guild’s Special Bulletin Board, and I have no desire to get involved myself.
No, no, my thoughts are straying.
First, it’s about Elise’s reward. What kind of situation would be good this time?
First, I need to find an excuse to be alone with Elise.
This can be framed as a reward for the “Etiquette” match.
The easiest method would be to sneak into the guest room where Elise is sleeping, as I have a spare key, but… Elise would be angry if I tried to skimp on what’s considered the “First Night Ritual.”
I’ve thought about it a lot, but nothing good came to mind.
Since there’s no other choice, I decided to take the straightforward approach and ask her out on a date.
So, where should we go? Simply going straight to a hotel wouldn’t be very inventive…
In the end, the plan settled on inviting her for a picnic at a flower field in the suburbs, and then…
On the day itself, I’ll ask Tirna for her cooperation in making sandwiches and other food.
With the Elise conquest plan in mind, I headed to the Princess Harem’s Base Mansion.
The doorbell chimed—”Chirin, chirin”—as I arrived, and unfortunately, Ly was the one who greeted me. It had been nearly ten days since our encounter, yet she greeted me in high spirits.
“Hal-sama, welcome.”
“Ly, you look well, too.”
“Yes, I’m in top condition.”
Her skin was so lustrous that if the others hadn’t been around, I might have pushed her down right there. Close call.
As I was talking with Ly in the entrance hall, Elise came rushing down from the second floor with hurried footsteps—”Dotadota.”
“Welcome, Hal-sama!! Have you decided on the reward yet?”
“I’ve thought about various things… I’m sorry if it’s a bit cliché, but with the good weather, I was thinking of going on a picnic to the flower fields in the countryside, just the two of us… what do you think?”
“A picnic for just the two of us in an uninhabited rural flower field… I’m very pleased.”
“So, when should we go?”
“How about tomorrow?”
“Yes, understood.”
After that, I moved to the living room on the first floor and chatted with the other members of “Princess Harem.”
“Hey, Swan Hilda?”
“Yes, Hal-sama?”
“Regarding the matter of your cousin, the female demonkin, which was proposed during the Second Bath Meeting, how about you handle it on your own first?”
“Can I… act alone?”
“I don’t see why not… Also, you can check the movements of the Hero Party on the Special Bulletin Board of the Adventurer Guild.”
“Okay, I understand. Well then, I’ll head out starting tomorrow.”
The next day was clear and perfect for a picnic.
As I waited at the checkpoint waiting area on the way to the suburbs as promised, Elise arrived with the basket containing the lunch that Tirna had made.
Elise was dressed in clothing suitable for venturing into the mountains, and her beautiful silver hair was tied up neatly.
However, the hooded robe she wore over it, along with the Valkyrie mask, was standard equipment as a member of “Princess Harem.”
The clothing she wore under the robe was in the style of a village girl, but unlike an ordinary village girl, an air of elegance emanated from her every simple gesture.
I knew Elise was a beautiful girl, but was she this enchanting?
It was, in a way, only natural that someone like Munam, whose family was merely on the fringes of nobility, couldn’t compete.
“Good morning. Hal-sama, I’m so happy you invited me on a picnic today.”
Elise was in high spirits.
“Good morning, Elise. Shall we go?”
Her somewhat slanted eyes and determined expression today seemed to soften with happiness.
After walking along the road for about an hour, we turned off onto a side path and entered a secluded mountain trail. I had Elise store the hooded robe and mask in her Item Box, and then, dressed casually, we headed towards the rural flower field.
Elise’s ample breasts, walking beside me, seemed precariously contained within her village girl attire, threatening to spill out at any moment.
And after six months of diligently adventuring, Elise’s stomach had quietly receded, forming a beautiful waistline.
“Hal-sama, excuse me.”
Noticing my gaze, Elise spoke up, then entwined her arm with mine and rested her head on my shoulder.
In that posture, Elise’s breasts pressed against my arm, even through her clothes, intensely stimulating my sense of touch.
Furthermore, Elise’s sweet body odor stimulated my sense of smell, causing me to become excited.
It was truly a joy to walk together like this, leaning on each other.
“Hal-sama, I… I’m glad to be alive.”
And then, a hill was covered in an explosion of pale purple flowers.
“It’s… so fantastical.”
“I’m happy that Elise is pleased.”
By the time we arrived at the flower field, it was lunchtime. I spread out a cute floral picnic blanket and invited Elise to sit.
Although, the blanket itself was already in Elise’s Item Box…
“Come, Elise. Let’s have lunch together.”
“Yes, Hal-sama. These sandwiches and black tea look delicious.”
Food eaten outdoors always tastes good, but when the person you’re sharing it with is as lovely as Elise, it makes eating even more enjoyable.
The ample lunch we’d brought was soon finished, the basket empty. Elise and I dozed lightly under the chirping of small birds and the gentle sunlight.
Feeling that our fullness had subsided just enough, I thought it was the perfect timing. To rouse the slumbering Sleeping Beauty, I decided to give her a Kiss.
“My dear Elise, I’ll give you a kiss to awaken.”
I gently pressed my lips to Elise’s.
As it turned out, Elise was also awake. She hugged me tightly.
“Hal-sama, no, Master… I love you, Master.”
As Elise confessed this, she began to kiss me deeply.
As Hal and Elise engaged in a deep kiss, they occasionally shifted positions, savoring each other’s touch.
“I want Elise’s first time.”
Then, with Elise pinned beneath me, I stated the main objective of the day.
“…Yes.”
Elise agreed, her voice barely a whisper.
