In Preparation (4)

"Noel?"

"Huh?" I tilted my head and looked towards her direction-- Prune.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm good.. just thinking."

"Something happened between the two of you didn't it?"

"Liliath showed it on her face?"

"I guessed as much."

Prune sat down beside me. For a dozen or so minutes, I continued to stare off towards the lake. It was quite a distance away from the actual wedding venue, so I don't think I'd interrupt whatever is going on there if I did anything here.

"So? Do you mind talking about it?" Prune asked.

"Liliath wants to do 'that'," I said, "I promised her that we would do it when we come of age, which is when she turns 16 and I turn 18. Come to realize, we have to get married first. And you know how insane it is to marry Liliath at that age?" I let loose a deep exhale.

"That as in, 'that'," Prune looked at me like she had seen 'Princess' the frog.

"Yup. It's a problem isn't it.. our values don't align. To her, it's normal to have children at such a young age. As for us who grew up in the modern world, 18 is way too young. At least when we reach 24 or something right? Marrying at 24 is already considered young.. damn it. I shouldn't have made that promise.. now you get the issue?"

"I don't know how to help with this.. I didn't know this was the situation, and there are still parts of it I don't get," Prune forced a laugh. Yeah, I don't expect her to get it either.

"It's alright. She should be alright after a while," just that.. I don't know for how long this topic on 'sex' would become that thorn between us.

I really wanted to say that she's too young. The way I see it, she's like that rebellious teenage girl who doesn't know anything about the world. She's right about that age now.

Same goes for me actually.

I stare up at the sky-- at the two moons.

"Noel, forgive me for this," Prune said.

"Forgive you for.."

She ran and.. jumped in the lake.

"What.."

A soft splash.. Prune?

Ripples across the surface of the water, but there was no sign of her coming up. Five seconds, ten seconds.

"What in the.."

I peered over the ledge, my fingers touching the water--

Fifteen seconds.

Twenty seconds.

What is..

Twenty-five seconds.

Is she not..

Thirty seconds.

I dove into the water.

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Cough. Cough.

Prune was spitting water out from her mouth. Her clothes that clung to her skin were soaking wet, and because the simple blouse she wore was white, her innerwear became visible.

Just what was she thinking?!

'Ding.'

'Prune's Special Quest Complete.'

"What quest?"

Getting her breathing back in order, she said, "Save me from drowning."

The fuck is wrong with her quest this week? She's risking her life again? That's stupid. Then again, I had nothing to say because she had set up the stage properly so I could act.. It's not like she can tell me about it either.

"For a second I thought to just walk away."

"I doubted so."

"Really? I didn't think you'd risk your life just to get the points."

"Wouldn't it be nice.. to have another room?" Prune was shivering.

"That.. that's another issue isn't it," if there was another room, Liliath could sneak in and.. no, was she implying something else?

"What issue? You and Nine wouldn't have to sleep on the couch anymore."

"O-Oh, so it's me and Nine. I see.. I see.." my bad. Thoughts went awry there.

"You were thinking to sleep with Liliath?"

"Something like that.."

"You two do share similar qualities."

The sound of distant applause rang. Prune and I turned to look past the lake-- the stage set for the wedding.

"I think we should return to the room to wash up. It's cold isn't it?"

"It's alright.. for now."

"Let's go--"

It's not just her clothes, my own clothes were also soaked. Just.. it wasn't like her's where it became translucent. But it's heavy.. like really.

I guess there's a limit to how much a heat barrier can protect her from the cold. Better have Liliath create more options if possible.

If..

Weaving through the dark night forest as we proceeded back, Prune started to doze. Her movements were sluggish, and a pained expression would surface ever so often. The sound of her breathing stood out in the silence.

In the darkness, a gust of wind whipped up our clothes-- there was a rustling of leaves.

Then I felt her feeble, shivering hand grab my wrist.

"Can't see?"

"No. It's really dark."

"Should we use light magic or.."

"It's alright."

As mentioned before, demon lords had night vision. So from Prune's POV, she's probably seeing a pitch black world. Fortunately, the path was paved, the chances of her tripping are..

Huh..

"Hkkmh?!" Prune stiffened. Well.. I did that cliche act of placing my hand on her forehead. Obviously that would he her reaction.

"Do you feel sick or anything?"

"Slightly.."

Just as I guessed. She has a fever, the hand she used to hold onto me was freezing.

"We better get a move on," I sped up my pace.

"I-I can't see.."

The mansion came into sight, another making a turn at an intersection. The hedges on both sides arranged forward, as if inviting us.

The entrance was empty besides the few maids who watched the wedding from afar.

I had Liliath's concealment spell on so they didn't notice us as we snuck past.

We had to travel all the way to the lobby and take the stairs from there. Like really.. this mansion has turned into some deserted building. There wasn't a single person in sight. What happened to security?

We reached the room. Locked the door from behind while we entered the apartment. At this point, Prune was supporting herself by leaning against me. Dots of water droplets formed a path from the entrance all the way to the bathroom.

"There's no way I'm helping you with this alright?" I said as we approached the bathroom.

"Un," Prune gave a listless answer.

"I'll go get your clothes.. it's that usual night clothes you wear right?"

"I'll go get it myself, just pass me a towel," saying that, Prune shut the door-- the sound of running water could be heard from the other side.

I went to get the towel, and passed it to her through the gaps of the door-- remembering to close my eyes.

After washing up, she wrapped herself in the towel and went to her room to change.

Only then did I take a shower myself.

The wet clothes were tossed into the washing machine. Will do the laundry later when Liiliath and Nine get back.

Oh yeah.. speaking of which, we hadn't eaten anything yet had we? I totally forgot.. now I'm hungry.

I saw Prune sprawled across the sofa. Her eyes were closed.

"You okay?"

"I just want to rest.. I'm starting to feel sick."

"You should've just laid on your own bed."

Prune replied with silence.

"Do you want the elixir? If you can't stand it."

"I'm fine.. I just need to sleep," Prune got up, leaning against the cushion. Heaving, her shoulders rose and fell together with each breath. Grimacing, she looked like she was struggling.

"Okay.."

Prune stared at me.

"What?"

"Nothing.." she shook her head, and then got up. She had one hand placed on the couch to support her body-- her hands tracing the wall, she-- staggered.

I held her up.

"Are you sure you don't need the elixir? We still have some in the inventory," her health wasn't decreasing at an obvious rate, but it was low at 74%

"No. No. I'm good," Prune laughed.

"Or do I need to force it down your throat like what I did with Liliath?" I carried her to her room without turning on the lights.

"Of course not.. but you did that mouth to mouth.. right?"

"No. Where did you hear that? Liliath said it?"

"Just a guess.."

I laid Prune down on the bed. She pulled the blanket over her body.

"Are you hungry? Should I get something for you to eat?"

"Ah.. I forgot about that.. I'm not hungry. I don't have any appetite.." she whispered.

"I was thinking of having Nine toss the food into the inventory and then we can pull it out from there."

"Un.." she curled up.

"Good night."

"Noel."

"Yes?"

"Are you going to.. leave?"

"Not this apartment though?"

"Nevermind.."

"Okay."

I pulled a chair over and sat beside the bed.

The wedding is still underway. I don't think it's going to finish off that soon. It's alright to wait a little I guess.

'Nine, can you store some food into the shared inventory? Thanks,' and send.

'Will do,' Liliath replied instead.

Well. I guess she's feeling better-- hopefully. I don't know what she's thinking right now.

"Noel," Prune called out again.

"Yes?"

"About that girl.. you're going to build a harem aren't you?"

"Excuse me? There's no way that's happening. You're referring to the demon lord right? No way. Absolutely no way."

"Okay."

"What is it? You want me to build a harem?"

"Just curious."

A little while later when Prune finally fell asleep, I left the room.

That demon lord huh..

Let's just hope what I think she meant by that isn't really the case.. Liliath's influence on Prune is an issue.. I think.

Rinalanashina Bougainvillea.

I checked my map.

Hm? The party isn't over though. Why is she..