I Think My Fiancé Has Regressed

Chapter 57: The Eloreal Empire (3)

Ariana, who emerged from the bath before me, looked as beautiful as a goddess.

The thin robe she wore over her clear skin accentuated her exquisite figure.

The droplets of water in her still-drying hair glistened, giving off a beautiful aurora-like color.

I was mesmerized, and for a moment, my initial resolve almost wavered.

“…Alex.”

“That, yes, Ariana.”

“I’m fully prepared, so if you’ve changed your mind, you can start anytime.”

Ever since I’d traveled with her to Canbina, I’ve never changed my mind about Ariana.

My heart has always been for one thing, the desire to hold her close to my heart, to make her mine, to make her look at me and only me for the rest of her life.

I’ve been suppressing it with all the patience I can muster, but it’s not unlike an unexploded magic bomb that could go off at any moment.

Perhaps Ariana vaguely knows that, which is why she’s always tempting me with her seductive words.

“I know. But we’re not really going to get physical today. I’ve got a lot to sort out for a while, and you know you’re much more important.”

“…….”

“If because of my mistake, Ariana, you’re not alone anymore, you might not be able to face the demon king with that body.”

“…That’s true.”

Ariana said, straddling the bunk bed and flirting with me.

“I know that, but a woman is a lonely creature who sometimes withers away if she doesn’t know she’s loved.”

“You know better than anyone how much I love you, Ariana.”

“Well, I suppose.”

Ariana gracefully crossed her legs and casually unbuttoned the front of her robe.

“I know Alex loves me, but I’ve been having these thoughts lately.”

“…What thoughts?”

“That Alex does love me, but maybe it’s a love that’s limited to platonic love.”

“…….”

“So, in Alex’s opinion, my body isn’t that attractive after all?”

“That’s not possible!”

Ariana shook her head, so I quickly responded, strongly denying her misconception.

But Ariana still seemed to have another misconception, so she put her head down and began to whine.

“Ha, but you don’t always hug me, you just deliberately turn the tables whenever something like this happens, hehe….

You don’t like girls who are chunks of flesh like this after all, you prefer a smaller, slimmer girl who can fit in Alex’s arms rather than me…?!”

“Gee, calm down Ariana, that’s not what I really meant!”

I took out my handkerchief and hurried to Ariana’s side to wipe away her tears.

Not realizing that it was an elaborate charade she’d put on to reel me in.

“You’ve been caught, Alex.”

“…Huh?”

I snapped out of my reverie. My upper body was already on top of Ariana’s on the bed.

She’d suddenly changed her position, tucking her arms under my armpits and wrapping her legs around my waist.

I lost my balance in the awkward position and fell forward, my body naturally draped over hers.

“I knew you’d be fooled.”

Ariana smiled triumphantly, like a lioness who had successfully hunted down her prey.

Her limbs were already wrapped tightly around my body, too tight for me to escape.

“I have eyes too. How can you think there’s no vitality in my body? Alex, you do have a subtly innocent side.”

“Ah, Ariana, untie this….”

“And as a duchess, there’s no way I’m going to show tears just anywhere, controlling my emotions is a fundamental part of nobility.”

“Untie this, Ariana….”

“Unbutton what? Do you want me to unbutton your top? Or the belt, or are you asking me to release Alex’s pent-up libido?”

“I want you to untie the arms and legs that are wrapped around my body…!”

“I don’t like that!”

My warning didn’t faze Ariana, but only made her wrap her legs and arms around me even more.

Her clenched hands were pressed against my upper body, her breasts were pressed against my chest, and her lower half, wrapped around my waist, was barely brushing against my vital parts.

If this situation continued any longer, my self-control would probably fail me.

“Be honest with your desires. Get comfortable, Alex.”

Ariana’s delicate fingers stroked my back through my clothes.

The soft whisper of her voice as she deliberately brought it to my ear was slowly breaking down the walls of my mind.

“Ariana….”

…I must somehow regain my senses.

Because I have a gut feeling that if I don’t get out of here and start crossing the line, there will be no restraint after that.

Not to mention the consequences for Ariana’s future.

I would give into my own carnal desires and procrastinate on what I should be doing, and the kingdom of Leavrov would perish in this lifetime.

The future Ariana has given me a second chance.

I returned to the past to protect what was important to her this time.

This does not change the priorities of what I must do.

It’s ironic that the biggest threat to that is Ariana in the present.

Clearing my mind once more, I called out her name as she entwined herself with my body.

“Ariana.”

“Yes?”

“I really don’t plan on getting involved with you today, but if you keep provoking me like this. I’ll have no choice but to use my last resort.”

“…What do you mean, last resort?”

“In order to physically maintain my own self-control, I’m afraid I’ll have to move to the other bedroom from now on.”

Ariana’s hand, which had been groping my body, suddenly stopped.

I realized that my suggestion had just made it possible for us to spend a night in the same bed, and that it might even end that.

It was a crass, half-threatening statement, but it was practically the only way I could escape her attack.

If she decides to throw herself at me, there’s nothing I can do about it.

“In exchange, I promise to go to bed with Ariana like this from time to time, as long as she restrains her desires the same way I do.”

“…….”

“I’ll do my best to love you, Ariana, at least to the point where you’ll never doubt that you’re loved.”

Ariana looked a little troubled by my words, then whispered something in my ear.

“You promise to go to bed ‘sometimes’?”

“…Often.”

“Often?”

“…Every day.”

“Every day….”

What to do?

If Arianna doesn’t back off here, there’s really nothing left to negotiate.

In fact, my body is at its limits right now.

I’m leaning forward in an awkward position to hide my excitement, but if she sees me in this state, she’ll probably pounce again in a heartbeat.

If only this suggestion would work.

“…Okay.”

I felt her legs around my waist unwind.

The restraints on her upper body were also released, and Ariana slowly lay back down on the bed.

My whole body unwrapped and in its natural form.

“Thank you for your understanding, Ariana.”

“…….”

“…I’m going to go clean up now, too, before it’s too late.”

“…….”

“Don’t look so disgruntled. It’s not like today’s the only time you get to do this.”

Ariana muttered, averting her gaze from my face and sounding a little pouty.

“You don’t know that, unless you can see into the future.”

“Anyway, I promise you this. My first relationship with you, Ariana, will be in a royal palace, not in this ramshackle inn, and only after I’ve properly taken you as my wife.”

“…Okay.”

To my relief, she finally understood, and her expression softened at the last moment.

For the first time, my conscience pricked at the thought of telling her a lie I couldn’t keep, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

As I got out of bed, Ariana looked at me as if to confirm.

“But starting tomorrow, we’ll stay together, whether we get an inn like we did today or camp out like we did last night.”

“Fine. I’ll take that.”

More time with Ariana is something I’d welcome, as long as she doesn’t try to cross the line as she did today.

“I’m going to get cleaned up. If you’re tired, you can go to bed first.”

“…Do you need a back rub?”

“…No, thank you very much.”

Leaving Ariana on the bed, finally calming down, I grabbed a change of clothes and a towel and headed for the bathroom.

As soon as I stripped off my clothes, I realized that I was completely drenched in sweat.

“…That was really dangerous.”

If Ariana had been just one step more proactive, I would probably be undressing on the bed instead of in the bathroom.

But thanks to my suggestion and Ariana’s consideration, for once, I wasn’t forcing her into an irresponsible future.

It left me feeling a little disappointed, but in the end, it was all for her happiness.

When I finished washing my body with cold water, Ariana was already fast asleep on her bed, exhausted.

It must have been a long day for her, traveling long distances by carriage.

I gently lifted her soft body and tucked the covers over her, then placed a light kiss on her forehead.

“Good night, Ariana.”

Shutting off the light magic tool, I plunged the room into darkness and lay down on the same bed, side by side with Ariana, covered in the same blanket.

Just in case I missed it, I held her warm hand tightly under the covers.