NOVEL NEXT Ch. 24
Deltain’s embarrassment quickly dissipated.
The quest notification that appeared as soon as he opened his eyes was, upon a little reflection, the kind that should obviously have shown up.
Meet Agnes Levadine. (Complete)
??? (Incomplete)
??? (Incomplete)
Sleep with Agnes Levadine. (Complete)
??? (Incomplete)
??? (Incomplete)
The magic flower within Agnes’s heart, Actrias, was a crucial ingredient for the main quest.
Thus, it was only logical that there would be a separate quest to obtain it, just like with other ingredients.
There was only one thing for Deltain to ponder: why did this appear only now?
‘The first item was already completed three months ago…’
At that time, there was no such quest. Not only that, but unlike other quests,
‘They included something like this in the main game.’
Malicious difficulty and malicious design.
Deltain let out a dry laugh. He could not comprehend the thoughts of those who created this game.
‘… but nothing changes.’
What needed to be done was clear. Now that the quest had appeared, all he had to do was uncover and complete all the empty items.
In that sense, this quest could even be considered good news.
‘There must be a hint about how to extract the flower within this.’
As with any other quest, so it would be with this one.
Of course, Deltain was puzzled by the inclusion of
This was what one would call an unexpected stroke of luck.
‘Is it a quest related to love? The purpose of the quest is…’
While pondering this.
“What are you looking at?”
A husky voice interrupted.
Deltain turned his head in surprise. Agnes was looking at him with curious eyes.
He hid his surprise and asked.
“… when did you wake up?”
“Just a little while ago? But what are you looking at? You’ve been frowning and smiling alternately.”
“I wasn’t looking at anything.”
“Hmm, then it’s that. I remember hearing that men regret sleeping with strangers in a fit of anger the next morning.”
“Did that come from the princess too?”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like I have one more reason to visit the palace.”
Agnes giggled and snuggled into Deltain’s arms. The two were still naked.
“Last night was great.”
“… shut up.”
“I’m still sore. I think it was a bit too much to handle like that.”
“It’s morning now. Let’s not talk about it.”
“We talk about this in the morning.”
Agnes said, tickling Deltain’s chest with her index finger.
“It’s called pillow talk, right?”
“You got it wrong. That’s only when you want something.”
“Then it’s right. I want a lot from you.”
“….”
Agnes’s gaze shifted to Deltain’s wrist.
There was a faint scar of a thornbush tattoo.
“Non-virgin.”
Poke.
Agnes poked the tattoo with a satisfied smile.
“Non-virgin Deltain.”
“Shut up, non-virgin.”
“You made me a non-virgin. Take responsibility.”
“You wanted to be a non-virgin. Deal with it.”
“You’re so mean. I’m going to cry.”
“Go ahead.”
Agnes hugged Deltain tightly with a pouty face.
Deltain frowned and snapped his fingers.
As mana enveloped the bed, all traces of the previous night evaporated into smoke.
“Stop the nonsense and get up. It’s morning, time to go back.”
“You’re cold.”
“I don’t intend to make an enemy of the duke.”
“If I talk about last night, we’re definitely going to be enemies. Imagine a father’s reaction when he finds out his cherished daughter spent a wild night with a stranger.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Just curiosity.”
Saying so, Agnes wrapped the blanket around herself and sat up.
But there was something she couldn’t hide. The hickeys on her collarbone and upper chest.
Agnes traced the marks on her body with her finger and laughed.
“You know, I don’t change clothes by myself.”
Her cherry-blossom-colored eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at Deltain.
“And my maids are quite talkative.”
“I’ll take you back. On the way, I’ll sew your maids’ mouths shut.”
“Just kidding.”
Agnes leaned down and kissed Deltain on the forehead.
“Do you have clothes to change into?”
“Gerhart must have prepared some. Wait here, I’ll bring them.”
Deltain said, getting up. With a wave of his hand, clothes floated in the air and draped over his body.
Agnes clapped her hands.
“Magic is really convenient.”
“It’s only this easy because it’s me.”
Saying so, Deltain left the room.
In the corridor, Gerhart handed Deltain women’s clothes without a word, and Deltain took them to Agnes.
Of course, she couldn’t put them on immediately.
She needed to wash off the sweat and various marks from the night, and Deltain had to assist with the bath, something he didn’t particularly enjoy.
After the bath, dressed and ready, Agnes clung to Deltain as they moved.
“Do you think it suits me? This outfit?”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s your taste?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Tell me.”
Agnes pinched Deltain’s earlobe. He frowned and replied.
“… neat attire. I don’t like clothes that are too revealing; they seem vulgar.”
“Hm, so you like suits.”
Agnes was wearing a blouse that covered her neckline and a long skirt. Her shoes were flat, and her blonde hair, which Deltain had tied into a ponytail, swayed lightly.
Agnes looked at the tip of her hair and suddenly asked.
“But you’re really good at tying a woman’s hair.”
“I’m good at everything.”
“Have you tied someone’s hair before?”
“No.”
“Have you slept with a woman before?”
“Do you think I have?”
“You’re so good at this for someone who hasn’t.”
“It’s not something you need to doubt. I’m not dumb enough to be inexperienced on my first try. I do mental training to perfectly execute anything I do.”
“You sure make it sound grand when all you did was have dirty thoughts.”
Agnes’s voice faded away. She gently smiled and surrendered herself to him.
Breakfast was simple, sandwiches.
There were no pickles in what Deltain ate, while Agnes added twice the amounts of pickles Deltain removed and left out the onions.
The meal continued in silence without any incidents, and Agnes left the mansion and got into Deltain’s sedan.
“Gerhart, let’s go.”
Deltain eventually accompanied her back to the mansion.
He thought it was at least courteous to show some respect to the duke, who had likely worried about his daughter all night.
The sedan started.
“Are you going to ask for the lady’s hand today?”
“Keep your fantasies to yourself.”
“So, when are you going to confess? Let me know in advance so I can mentally prepare myself.”
“I’m not.”
“That’s too much. After all that?”
Despite being a luxury sedan, space was limited. Gerhart, who was in the driver’s seat, had to listen to their entire conversation. He was uncomfortable. This continued until they arrived at the duke’s mansion.
Vroom.
Gerhart focused on the sedan’s noise, trying to erase what he heard from his mind.
*
When Deltain returned after dropping Agnes off, he had to face some unpleasant guests.
“I meet the Count of Hebron.”
The bowing man was elderly with a rigid demeanor that made it clear to anyone he was a knight.
The elderly man in a neat black uniform with short white hair combed back was none other than Ashvald Greichs.
He was one of only three Lord-level knights in the empire and the head of the Imperial Knights.
“… what is it this time?”
“It is an imperial command.”
Ashvald pulled out a luxurious parchment from his pocket which was immediately recognizable.
He then shouted in a strong voice.
“Count Deltain Hebron, heed the imperial command!”
Deltain sighed and knelt. It wasn’t that he had any particular respect for the emperor, but he wasn’t so uncouth as to disregard formalities.
“Enter the palace! That is all!”
The order that had been passed down was a simple, no-nonsense command that reflected the emperor’s personality.
Deltain had a rough idea of the reason.
‘4th Tier Magic. I might’ve used it a bit much.’
Deltain’s Fourth Tier Magic required permission to use.
Although it was to capture Gaias, the fact that he used unauthorized magic excessively last night required an explanation.
Of course, this was all for show, considering public perception.
Given the contract between the emperor and himself, Deltain had to play along with this farce.
“I accept the command.”
The contract was simple. Deltain would acknowledge the emperor’s authority, and the emperor would not infringe on Deltain’s autonomy.
Ashvald, the emperor’s closest aide, was aware of this arrangement.
“Shall we?”
He carefully rolled up the parchment and placed it back in his pocket.
Then the Imperial Knights lined up around Deltain.
Since the distance from the Count’s mansion to the imperial palace was walkable, they proceeded on foot.
Deltain grumbled at the attention they attracted.
“This is annoying. Seriously.”
“Thank you for your understanding, as always.”
“Yeah, right.”
Ashvald didn’t take issue with Deltain’s grumpy attitude. Having fought alongside Deltain at the war front three years ago, he knew well enough what kind of person Deltain was.
“There will be a meal.”
“I’ve already eaten.”
“Even so, please make an appearance. His Majesty has been quite lonely lately since you haven’t visited.”
“Lonely? Does he think I don’t know about his nightly orgies?”
“The pleasures of the flesh cannot fill the void in one’s heart.”
“Spare me the bullshit. I have no intention of filling that bastard’s heart.”
“Now that I think about it, weren’t you in a relationship with Princess Levadine?”
Deltain’s eyes widened.
“… who the hell said that?”
Ashvald tilted his head, his stern expression giving an almost innocent look.
“It’s the talk of social circles. Ah, and I heard new information this morning that the princess stayed at the Count’s residence.”
Deltain let out a bitter laugh.
“Gossip sure spreads fast.”
“So, you’re not in a relationship?”
“No. She’s a research subject.”
“I’ll take note of that.”
Ashvald said no more.
They arrived at the imperial palace after about five minutes of silence.
Thud!
The palace guards greeted Deltain and Ashvald with impeccable discipline.
As Deltain entered the Sun Palace, he was greeted by none other than—
“Oh, you’ve arrived.”
—a man with long white hair, seemingly similar in age to Deltain, sitting at a long dining table.
With a dancer on his lap.
“Flirting with women even while eating?”
At Deltain’s remark, the emperor burst into laughter.