We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A long and short night.
“Please, go ahead and use the bath first.”
As soon as we entered the house, Mistral urged me on.
“No, I can’t go before the host.”
Mistral’s parents, Ascres and Cornelia, hadn’t returned yet.
“It’s alright. They were out drinking, so they’ll surely be late.”
“Then, Mistral, you first…”
“Fufufu, the boy should go first.”
It seemed I had dug my own grave by being too polite. Mistral’s slightly embarrassed gesture made me realize it. Apparently, he was shy about me using the bath after him.
It’s difficult to be considerate of girls. While Dragon Sword Dance training is important, if I don’t properly learn about these things too, will they be disappointed?
“In that case, I won’t be polite anymore.”
Mistral led me to the bathhouse.
“I’ll bring you your change of clothes, so you can stay in there.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Mistral’s village receives many visitors from outside. Some come for the Dragon Jewel of the Dragon Mausoleum, and now, others are envoys regarding the Dragon Peak Alliance. Because of this, the village aims to foster camaraderie with outsiders, and many things are communal.
The most significant aspect is that everyone bakes and eats together. And, of course, the bath is also communal. There are separate baths for men and women at one end of the row houses, and many village residents use them. We usually bathe there too.
However, each individual home also has its own bath. Like Mistral’s family home, for instance.
Tonight, instead of the communal bath, we were allowed to use Mistral’s housebath.
I took off my clothes and entered the bathroom. The room, filled with steam, was intensely warm. It’s already summertime, and personally, I wouldn’t mind a cold bath, but it seems the Dragon Race people like hot baths.
After checking the water temperature and confirming it wasn’t excessively hot, I washed myself and then got into the tub. Although the heat stung my skin, it felt much better than the usual communal bath.
Slowly, I sank my whole body into the water, until it reached my neck. Then, I let out a sigh of relief.
A tingling heat spread from my fingers and toes. This would feel nice in winter, but at this time of year, I’d surely be drenched in sweat after getting out.
It’s pleasant to let the night breeze hit you in that state, but I’m embarrassed to go out again and face everyone’s teasing.
I should get out quickly. As I thought this and tried to leave the tub.
I heard a noise outside the tub.
At first, I thought Mistral had brought my change of clothes. So, it would be bad to come out now, naked, and run into him.
My movements stopped.
I strained my ears, trying to sense the presence outside the bathroom. Then, I faintly heard the rustling of clothes from outside.
What?!
He’s not going to come in to take a bath, is he?!
Involuntarily, my entire body flushed red, not from the hot water.
What do I do?!
Is *this* what you meant by “go ahead and use the bath first”?!
My eyes, frozen by tension, watched as the bathroom door slowly opened.
Through the thick steam, a naked outline appeared.
My heart pounded as if it would burst.
“Yo, son-in-law. Mind if I join you?”
However, the person who appeared was a completely naked Ascres!
I was so taken aback that I sank back into the tub, bubbling.
“Ah, it’s been a while since I had such an enjoyable bath.”
Ascres relaxing in the living room.
“Father, go easy on him. Elnea isn’t a Dragon Race member.”
“Ah, my apologies. I got carried away, having too much fun.”
Ascres didn’t flinch at Mistral’s glare, his gentle expression unwavering.
And now, I was lying down with Mistral giving me a knee pillow.
Yes, I got heatstroke.
Overwhelmed by Ascres’s enthusiasm in joining me for the bath, I ended up staying in for too long.
Ascres seemed to want to have a naked bonding session with me. I also tried to endure the hot water to get closer to Ascres, but that decision was definitely a mistake.
Ascres, boasting about his daughter in high spirits. The conversation never stopped, I missed my chance to get out of the bath, and I collapsed.
“I’m sorry, Elnea. Please forgive my father.”
“It’s okay, I’m fine. The bath was fun too.”
It was true that I had fun, as I got to hear stories about Mistral’s childhood. And now, with Mistral’s knee pillow, I felt very happy.
A cloth cooled with water was placed on my forehead, and steam rose from my bare upper body as I lay on my side.
My whole body was red, and my head was still fuzzy. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the pleasant sensation of Mistral’s thigh or if I was still suffering from heatstroke.
“Now, Mistral. You go and take your bath too. I’ll take care of Elnea.”
Cornelia brought me water. I sat up, took the water from Cornelia, and slowly drank it.
“Okay. Mother, I’ll leave them in your care.”
Freed from the weight of my head, Mistral peered at my face. She had a slightly worried expression, but still headed to the bath.
“Should you perhaps lie down a little longer?”
Cornelia also peered at my face. She then gestured for me to lie down, so I did so without hesitation.
“Uwah!”
I felt a soft sensation where I rested my head and was surprised.
“Oh? Were you unhappy without Mistral’s knee pillow?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
I was just surprised because I never expected Cornelia to give me a knee pillow.
“I’m so envious.”
Ascres smiled as he watched me lie down shyly and Cornelia gently stroking my head.
“You never do anything like that for me.”
“What are you saying? When I give you ear scratches, you’re always on my lap, aren’t you?”
“That’s true, but there’s no gentleness in it.”
“You certainly have a lot to say.”
Getting an ear scratch while having a knee pillow sounds like paradise to me. I wonder if there’s something between them regarding ear scratches.
Ascres and Cornelia started bickering loudly, but there was no sharpness or malice in their words. It was similar to how I interact with the women, and it seemed like they were enjoying their banter.
These two must be very close. As I lay on Cornelia’s lap, thinking that I would like to build such a warm family, Mistral came out of the bath.
I thanked Cornelia and left the living room with Mistral.
“Are you okay now?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
We entered Mistral’s room, and I relaxed. Mistral sat on a chair and dried her hair. The sight of her steaming, radiant skin and her actions as she dried her wet hair made my heart skip a beat.
I was captivated by Mistral’s alluring appearance, so completely different from her usual self.
“Fufu, what’s wrong?”
As if sensing my gaze, Mistral turned and smiled bashfully.
“No, it’s nothing.”
I quickly averted my eyes.
“Your face is still bright red. Are you feeling unwell?”
“N-no, I’m just nervous.”
“Oh? What are you nervous about?”
Mistral’s expression as she looked into my averted face seemed mischievous.
“Ggguh, I feel like you’re teasing me, Mistral.”
“That’s probably just your imagination.”
“Really?”
“Oh? Are you doubting me?”
“No, I’m not doubting you.”
“Then that’s good.”
Mistral nodded with satisfaction and returned to drying her hair. I found myself mesmerized by her again.
Afterward, we relaxed for a while with Mistral, who had finished drying her hair. Then, without either of us explicitly stating it, a mood settled in that it was time to sleep.
“You go ahead and get in bed. I’ll turn off the light.”
“Okay.”
It felt like the roles were reversed, but this was Mistral’s room. Once the light was out and the room became dark, I wouldn’t be able to move properly, so this was unavoidable, I told myself as I slipped into the futon.
The pillow smelled of Mistral, and my nervousness instantly escalated.
I had been deliberately avoiding thinking about it until now.
Tonight, Mistral and I would spend the night alone together. Ascres and Cornelia were in the same house, but their bedroom was in a separate location.
Spending a night alone with a woman was, of course, something I had never experienced before. Beyond any impure thoughts, anxiety about what to do filled my mind.
Whether she knew my state of mind or not, Mistral unhesitatingly blew out the candle.
The room was plunged into darkness in an instant.
Mistral approached the bed where I had gotten in with steady steps, and then got into the futon.
“It’s a bit narrow for us to sleep together.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“No, I’m okay. Mistral, are you?”
“I’m fine too.”
In the dark room, we lay close together on one bed, Mistral and I.
My body remained tense with nervousness as I stared blankly at the ceiling, invisible in the darkness.
I could tell Mistral was looking at the ceiling too, from our touching shoulders.
“Fufufu, are you nervous?”
“Yes, to be honest.”
“I’m a little nervous too.”
Mistral was nervous too. In the dark room, perhaps her eyes had opened up just like mine, and her sleepiness had vanished.
“You worked hard today.”
“Oh, right. You dealt with the baboons at noon, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. Have you forgotten already?”
“No, it just feels like ages ago.”
My mind was consumed by the fact that I was alone with Mistral. The events of the day were already in the past, not even lingering in the corners of my mind.
“We’ll have to train a lot tomorrow too.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“In moderation, though.”
“If I do it in moderation, I’ll never catch up to you, Mistral.”
“That’s fine too. The power dynamic is a trivial matter. It’s okay if you remain the cute you.”
“Ggguh. I want to become strong. As a man, I want to be someone reliable.”
“Oh, you’re already reliable enough.”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
“Uwah, that sounds fake.”
“It’s not fake. You’re more highly regarded by everyone than you think.”
“Really?”
“I told you, it’s true.”
Mistral chuckled softly.
“Doubtful men are disliked.”
“Right. A effeminate man like that is no good.”
“Do you call it effeminate?”
“A man should be composed and steady.”
“I don’t like men who are arrogant.”
“Ugh, I’ll be careful.”
“Fufufu, it’s those honest parts of you that are cute.”
“Ggguh, I want to be cool.”
“Coolness doesn’t suit you.”
“Oh, come on.”
“But that’s for the future, isn’t it? Do your best to become that cool Elnea and make me fall in love with you.”
“Huh? You haven’t fallen in love with me yet!?”
“Hmm? What do you think?”
“Ehhhh, no way.”
“Oh? Were you feeling confident about something?”
“Well, I did come to ask for your hand in marriage, and you’ve been preparing to be a bride, right?”
“I don’t know if you can call it bride training… but yes. All the preparations from the outside are done.”
“What about the inside?”
“What do you think?”
“That’s cruel! To hide that!”
“Fufufu, because if you felt secure and slacked off, I wouldn’t like that.”
“That’s basically saying you love me.”
“I didn’t say that?”
“You did.”
“Gosh, you dummy!”
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
Mistral pinched the back of my hand.
“So, do you like me?”
“Of course!”
“Really?”
“Really, really!”
“In that case, I want proof.”
“Proof?”
“Yes. Proof that you like me.”
Hmmph. This is problematic. What should I do?
“Mistral.”
“Hmm?”
As I called out to her, Mistral turned towards me.
“Mmm…”
Without hesitation, I pressed my lips against Mistral’s, who had turned to face me. The soft sensation brought me a happiness I had never experienced before.
“That was a bit of a cheat.”
“I don’t do this with just anyone.”
After our lips remained together for a slightly longer time, I said this.
I was glad the room was dark. I’m sure my face was bright red right now.
“I like you, Mistral.”
“Fufufu, thank you. But that doesn’t count as proof.”
“Grrr.”
Mistral wrapped her arms around me in the futon. When I pulled Mistral closer, she pressed against me without resistance.
“Shall we talk a bit more?”
“Yeah, my sleepiness has completely vanished.”
“Oh my, oh my.”
“Uwah, you’re imitating Ruiseine!”
“Fufufu.”
Mistral and I continued our aimless conversation, staying up late.
