Chapter 33: The Three Rules

After Roland's lingering, teasing mouth to mouth feeding session, even the strong-willed Haruno had completely melted into his arms.

Well, to be fair, the feeding alone wouldn't have been enough to completely soften her up. That's why he had secretly used his Massage Technique again, while feeding her.

As he'd mentioned before, there were no rules saying massages had to be done with hands. As long as he was "kneading" her, even with his tongue, it would still trigger the passive effect of the Massage Technique.

And since Haruno's most sensitive spot happened to be the tip of her tongue, the combination nearly made her roll her eyes in his arms.

This clearly demonstrated the exceptional effectiveness of his Massage Technique when applied to intimate acts.

Now, the question arose: if his tongue could trigger the passive effect, could his "weapon of choice" do the same?

If so, would "stabbing" someone with his "weapon" also count as a massage under the technique's definition?

And with the Massage Technique's enhancement, who in the world could withstand his "stabbing"?

The thought made Roland genuinely want to experiment.

Not because he wanted to "stab" anyone, of course, but purely for academic purposes.

Yes, just a scholarly investigation that every man with a special weapon want to do. Don't get the wrong idea!

"Big sister Haruno, why don't you finish your breakfast first?" Roland said, noticing her mood had improved. He tried to gently pry her off him, mindful of Yukio's watchful gaze.

"Hmm? What did you call me?" Haruno's brow furrowed again in displeasure.

"Ahem, my dear wife~, I'm still getting used to it, you know?"

"Hmph, you'd better get used to it. Don't think you can go back to calling me 'big sister Haruno' just because I'm in a good mood."

"Of course not, my dear wife! I might slip up occasionally, but I hope you won't mind~."

"Alright, go serve me some rice."

"Yes, my dear wife!"

Roland resigned himself to his fate, dutifully serving Haruno her rice like a proper husband. After all, he had already acknowledged her as his wife, so he had no choice but to pamper her accordingly.

He even served a bowl for Yukio.

Ahem, serving one's mother-in-law was a mandatory skill for any good son-in-law, after all. It certainly had nothing to do with treating Yukio like another wife...

Absolutely not.

In short, Roland acted like a henpecked husband, serving Haruno her rice and perfectly demonstrating his subordinate position in the household.

But what could he do? As the saying goes, "Marriage is a man's grave." Since he had already acknowledged Haruno as his wife, he naturally had to treat her like one.

So let him be henpecked for now. Keeping his wife happy was all that mattered.

Besides, once they were in bed, he'd have plenty of opportunities to show her what true dominance meant~!

Breakfast finally began as Roland served food to Yukio and Haruno.

At this moment, Yukio deliberately sat directly across from Roland, no longer leaning against him side-by-side.

After all, her daughter was still suspicious of their relationship, and it was best to maintain appearances.

However, avoiding suspicion publicly didn't mean she had to refrain from subtle gestures in private.

On the contrary, after witnessing Roland's pretense of feeding Haruno—which was really just a passionate kiss— Yukio suddenly felt a parched dryness on her own tongue.

She seemed to recall the moment last night when Roland had secretly kissed her lips, the soft sensation still vivid in her memory.

Now, watching her daughter enjoy the kiss so thoroughly, she felt a longing to relive that sensation herself...

Alas, it was just a fleeting thought. Yukio finally understood the discomfort her daughter must have felt when she and Roland had fed each other, leaving Haruno sidelined. Now, she felt that same emptiness.

Perhaps it was to fill this void that Yukio had deliberately positioned herself directly across from Roland.

Since Haruno needed to maintain appearances, she would have to find opportunities in secret.

As the family enjoyed breakfast, none of them noticed Haruno's hair gradually.....

Beneath the table, a pair of black-stockinged legs extended toward Roland, intimately rubbing against his calves.

Ah, this feels so good...

Yukio's expression slowly transformed from emptiness to delight, as if this small contact alone could satisfy her.

But that wasn't the truth. It wasn't the physical touch itself that pleased her. How could such a fleeting connection possibly fill the void in her heart after forty years of emptiness? Her joy stemmed solely from successfully sneaking around right under her daughter's nose.

I never imagined... This clandestine behavior was far more thrilling than any public display of affection!

Especially when she saw Haruno's completely oblivious expression, Yukio's body trembled with delight, excitement and thrill.

Ah~!

Utterly satisfied!

The constant tension and thrill of possibly being discovered by her daughter was the perfect finishing touch, as if it were about to unlock some strange new part of her!

Breakfast passed in this peculiar atmosphere, with Roland openly embracing Haruno while secretly flirting with Yukio. Despite the odd circumstances, the meal was surprisingly enjoyable.

Just then, Yukio seemed to remember something important, pulling herself slightly out of her lascivious thoughts.

"Haruno, you'll be leaving for the banquet venue this afternoon. Have you finished packing?" Yukio asked, rubbing her leg against Roland's calf and exchanging playful glances with her daughter.

"There's nothing much to prepare, no need to rush. But Mother, won't you be attending this time?" Haruno frowned, sensing her mother's hidden meaning.

"My health requires quiet recuperation, so I won't be able to accompany you. You'll represent the Yukino Family instead," Yukio explained, feigning illness.

"Is that so... It's not impossible for you to stay behind, but what about Roland?" Haruno suddenly realized the gravity of the situation.

"Roland isn't a member of the Yukino Family yet, so naturally, he won't be attending," Yukio replied matter-of-factly.

"So Mother means... I'll go alone, leaving Roland here to take care of you?"

"Precisely."

"For two days and two nights?"

"Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on Roland for you."

"Is that what you call 'keeping an eye'?" Haruno's face darkened.

You're practically wearing your intentions on your sleeve—you want to steal him away and have him all to yourself!

What a joke!

When Haruno's home, those two already hide in their rooms and lock the doors. If she left for two days and two nights, they'd probably be glued together, refusing to even get out of bed!

By the time Haruno returned from the banquet, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing a husband and gaining a father—she'd probably end up with another little sister too!

What a joke! She can barely handle one little sister as it is. If there were another...(ˉ『ˉ)

Ahem, anyway, she'd never let such a thing happen!

"Either we all go to this banquet, or none of us do!" Haruno snapped, her anger rising. Her mother's ideas were becoming increasingly outrageous.

"Oh, Haruno... can't you trust your own mother?" Yukio sighed helplessly. She knew exactly what her daughter was worried about.

How could such a thing possibly happen? What kind of person do you take your mother for?

"First, move your foot from under the table!" Haruno demanded, her face still dark.

"Oh my~, did you notice?"

"How could I not? You're practically touching me!"

"Since I've been found out... I'll just be blunt. You can't guard Little Roland forever, nor can you prevent us from being alone together. This is inevitable. If you continue to view him with such suspicion, it will eventually ruin your relationship."

"And whose fault do you think that is?" Haruno retorted angrily. "If your relationship with Roland were more normal, would I need to act like this? If you weren't constantly hugging and cuddling him, I wouldn't be so paranoid!"

Why don't you look at yourself for the reason! Hmphh! Pot calling kettle black.

"Well, that can't be helped. This level of intimacy will continue. If you can't accept it, perhaps you should give up on this relationship now, while you still can." Yukio stated bluntly, making her position clear.

She had no intention of giving up her closeness with Roland—though it was strictly platonic. She had been close to him since he was young, and suddenly stopping would feel unnatural. If her daughter couldn't even tolerate this, she wouldn't hesitate to have Yuki take her place in Roland's affections.

Haruno was speechless. Her mother had laid everything bare. What more could she possibly say?

Was Haruno supposed to beat her mother and berate her for her shamelessness?

Clearly impossible.

On the contrary, her mother's willingness to discuss the matter indicated a willingness to negotiate. Haruno knew her mother well.

"Can you guarantee that the contact will remain within these boundaries?" Haruno frowned slightly. If her mother clearly defined her bottom line and promised not to cross it, it would be easier to accept than if she secretly engaged in underhanded tactics.

"I'm not desperate enough to steal my daughter's man," Yukio said calmly.

"Very well. If you're willing to guarantee that, I can tolerate this level of contact. But if you break your word..." Haruno narrowed her eyes. If her mother broke the agreement, what recourse would she have?

"If I break my word, I'll never approach Little Roland again."

"A deal?"

"A deal."

Mother and daughter stared intently at each other. After a moment, a fragile trust seemed to re-emerge between them, and they actually sealed their verbal agreement.

You should at least sign something! What's the point of a verbal agreement?

Roland couldn't fathom what these two women were thinking. All he knew was that Yukio had successfully maneuvered him into being alone with her.