This chapter was posted at the same time as Chapter 17. They were originally one chapter; The Author divided them because he thought they were too long at the time.
Chapter 16: The Cursed Maiden
"Hey! What are you doing? Stop!"
Guiche: "Come on, Montmorency, please don't be so against it. Your rejection hurts me."
I'm trapped; my left hand and back are held. The idiot Guiche dares to put his face close to mine. It's frustrating I can't fight his strength.
"I AM against it! Let me go now! Or I will scream!"
Guiche: "If that is your true feelings I will abide without protest, but please, give me a chance to prove that my love for you is real."
"Reject! Permission denied! Get out!"
Guiche: "I swear I mean you no harm. I only ask that you please give me one chance to redeem myself."
"Y—You still have the gall to say that after the stunts you pulled!?"
His face...It's too close...!
This is bad. This is crisis. If this continues my body will be soiled before I am married...!
No way. That absolutely cannot be allowed! This Montmorency will not let go of her womanly pride so easily!
It's a bit off from the plan, but I guess this is the time to use the secret weapon in my skirt pocket. A hefty fine or whatever, I don't care now!
...
...Why can't I find it?
Guiche: "Montmorency, let me see your beautiful face..."
Guiche's hands press on both sides of my face, turning me to face him.
*thump*
"D...Don't..."
*thump*
Guiche: "Don't be afraid..."
"I...I said..."
*thump*
"I said don't! Are you deaf!?"
*thwack!*
Guiche: "Oogh!"
My knee jerks up before I know it.
The miscreant crumples on the floor, holding the place between his legs.
"Haa...Haa..."
A lady shouldn't use violence, but I'll make an exception for today.
"H—Have you come to your senses!?"
Guiche: "All...five of them, milady..."
My...heat is still beating hard.
Guiche: "My deepest agology...I won't do it again..."
"Y—You had better remember that..."
Calm down. Don't let that guy know how frantic my heart was beating, or he will misunderstand and get even more carried away.
I was careless. Guiche is much more dangerous than I thought. If I've used that potion I don't know how it would have turned out. He could be as tamed as a little kitten, or as dangerous as a starving wolf.
And that potion is nowhere to be found; where did it go!?
"...Hey, have you seen my potion?"
Guiche: "Potion? What kind?"
"You don't need to know that! It's in the same bottle as my perfumes are!"
Guiche: "Then I wouldn't have been able to tell. But I did see a bottle of your perfume lying on the ground earlier."
"That's it! Where is it?!"
Guiche: "I put it on Louise."
"...What did you say?"
Guiche: "Well...I found the bottle while you went out for air. Louise looked depressed so I...put the perfume on Louise, to help her relax. I mean, Montmorency's perfume smells really good! Oh, I see, I thought it was weird I couldn't smell anything this time."
"This is not the time for flattery! Where did you put it on?! Where on Louise's body did you put it on?"
Guiche: "Um...A bit on her shirt collar, uh, and...on her lips, to help mask the smell of vomit. Uh, it got in my mouth by mistake once and I was okay, so I thought it couldn't hurt...Oh! Please don't worry, I didn't touch her lips. I only suggested it and Louise put it on herself. I only did her shirt collar."
"I don't care about that!?" Wait, actually, I would if he had touched a lady's body without permission, but "that's not important right now...!"
Lips. The idiot had Louise put Love Potion on her lips!
And Louise is going back to her room, which means the next person she would see is probably that familiar.
Dead.
I'm so dead, dead, dead, dead! Everyone's so dead!
I have to do something, before it's too late!
Guiche: "Montmorency!? Where are you going?! Why are you so hurried?!"
"To fix the mess you made! If we don't hurry up Louise will be ruined!"
Guiche: "What kind of potion have you made?!"
[...]
That's the door! There's no time to knock! I'll tear the door open if I have to!
"Louise! Don't be ha—yaaaaaa~~!"
Guiche: "Montmorency! What's wro—oooaahhhh~~!?"
It's not true! It's not real! Louise...Louise is on the bed the familiar! Naked! I can't be seeing this! It can't be reeeaaalll~~!
Luka: "You guys...! Louise is acting strange! Help me keep her still!"
A...aa...! W...Wha...Sto...E..Calm down...! I need to calm down and evaluate the situation...!
Louise's familiar, the commoner boy with purple hair, is holding both of Louise's wrists, while they're both on the bed; but he's still wearing his clothes. Also, he seems to be asking us for help. Now that I dare to look at her closely, Louise is still wearing her skirt, though she is looking at us with narrowed eyes, like she's annoyed.
Louise: "How could you enter someone else's room without knocking first; that's very rude. Can't you see we're busy."
B—B—Busy...!?
"W-W-W-W-What the heck are you doing, Louise!?"
What the heck am I asking!?
Louise: "Can't you tell just by looking?"
"B—By looking...!?"
Why am I still doing this!
"Y—You can't, Louise! Think of your parents! Think of Vallière's honor! Think of noble's dignity!"
Louise: "Of course honor and dignity is important, but I don't see how it is related here. This is a private matter between me and my familiar."
"L...Louise...?"
No...This isn't Louise. No self-respecting Tristanian noble would think, let alone say that out loud. Love Potion isn't supposed to change someone like this. And there's no way I could have made a mistake when brewing it.
Unless the recipe I got was fake. Then it would be my own naiveté's fault, for putting trust in a black market of all places...!
Louise: "Enough about that. Hurry up and get out already, shoo. My belly is throbbing; it wants Luka's ***** right now."
"Kyaaaaaaa~~!"
No! No! Forget it! I didn't hear anythiiiiinnnng~~!
Guiche: "L—Louise...She looked so immature and yet...I didn't know she was so erotic..."
Stupid Guiche! Even at a time like this, his brain is still filled with obscenity!
Louise: "Hey, Luka, your master feels cold in here. It's your duty as a familiar to warm your master, isn't it?"
Luka: "..."
Louise: "Luka, are you listening to—Ah!"
T...The familiar flips Louise and...presses her face-down on the bed, and holds her hands behind her back.
Louise: "Hey, I am the master here. If you want to do it from behind you have to get my permission first!"
U...Urk...!
Luka: "Hey, you two."
"Bwah!? M—Me?!" My stomach can't endure this for long...
Luka: "Find something to restrain her. Hurry up!"
"U—O—Okay...!"
...Actually I shouldn't let a commoner order me around, but I don't know what to do anymore...!
What's going to happen to Louise?! What's going to happen to ME?!
{...}
Louise: "What is the meaning of this!? If anyone should be tying someone up it should be me, the master! Hey, are you listening to me?!"
The strips of clothes are enough to keep Louise tied and sit on the bed. The blanket covering her naked body is also a good measure, but I don't have the heart to cover her mouth. I'll just do my best at ignoring her.
Right now, I need to have a talk with these two.
"Do you guys know what's going on? Why are Louise like that?"
They look restless. Guiche can't help but let his eyes wander to Louise almost every time Louise moves or says something. Montmorency has been keeping her reddened face down since earlier.
Guiche: "No, I'm as surprised as you are. More than you are. I never thought Louise could be this kind of girl..."
"Of course she isn't. I've just gotten to know Louise not long ago, but even I can see she is completely different from how she usualy was."
Louise just took off her shirt on top of me. Louise used to strip naked in front of me when I first arrived here, so I didn't immediately stopped her, but her behavior and speech are clearly abnormal.
It's as if she's a monster from back home, and similar to Sara when she was just transformed into monster.
But Louise is a human. I'm sure I would be able to tell otherwise. Her eyes seemed like they glow for a moment, but Wardes's did too when he got really serious, so it was probably something relating to magic.
Guiche: "Then I wouldn't know. There was nothing unusual when she returned from Montmorency's room just a few minute ago... Uh, unless her being a bit glum counts. She didn't hit her head somewhere on the way here, did she?"
"How would hitting their head make someone entire personality flipped just like that? What was Louise doing in your room by the way?"
Montmorency: "T—That..."
She's not answering, or looking at me in the eyes. This is too suspicious...
Guiche: "Hmph, trying to pin the blame on Montmonrecy, are you. It's YOU that was the cause."
"Me?" What did I do?
Guiche: "Having to see her familiar do...that kind of thing with an abomination, Louise's brain probably couldn't take it; that's why she turned out like this."
Louise did say she saw me and Nerian...
This could be bad. I don't know how serious that is for people here; it could be a serious crime punishable by death and I wouldn't know. I should change the subject for now...
"M...Maybe that could be it. But still this is too abnormal! It's like she's an entirely different person—Wait, no, that doesn't matter now. How do we change Louise back?"
Guiche: "I'm not a doctor. I don't know."
A shrug. He fully intends to let someone else handle this, doesn't he.
"Then call one. This school has doctors, doesn't it. Call one here. Or tell me the place and I'll go by myself." I don't want to waste time listening to him says 'Don't order nobles'.
Montmorency: "You can't!"
Montmorency who had kept her head down all this time suddenly looks up and shouts; probably without thinking too, since her hands are fumbling around.
Montmorency: "U—Uh, Louise probably doesn't want anyone to see her like this, so, let's not...?"
This girl has been acting suspicious since earlier.
"But letting her go out like this would be a hundred times more embarrassing for her, wouldn't it? She needs to be back to normal no matter what."
Montmorency: "T—That's true..." She's avoiding my gaze.
Now I am sure.
"...Hey, you know something, don't you."
Montmorency: "W—What are you talking about, I don't know anything!"
"Look at me when you answer."
Montmorency: "W—Why do I have to."
"Then I'll go tell the teachers."
I will make a show and approach the door.
Montmorency: "Wait!"
Knew it. "Well?"
Montmorency: "I—I get it already! I'm going to tell you! There, are you satisfied?!"
"Of course not. We have to turn Louise back to normal too."
Montmorency: "T—That's too many requests...!"
"..."
Montmorency: "Ugh...I—I get it. I'll tell you now!"
[...]
So that's the entire story.
"..."
Montmorency: "..."
Guiche: "..."
These two don't look like they're going to say anything, so I'll say it instead.
"To sum it up, Louise drank the potion you made, and became like this."
Montmorency: "D—Don't say it like it's entirely my fault! I didn't brew it to use on Louise! And I didn't even know it will have this kind of effects!"
"Then what kind of effects were you expecting?"
Montmorency: "Well...It..."
"..."
Montmorency: "I—It's a Love Potion...After it takes effect, the person who drank it will...be enamored by the first person they see..."
"Why did you make it?" I wouldn't ask if she's a monster.
Montmorency: "W—Well, it was just to see if I can successfully brew it..."
Guiche: "M—Montmorency? Isn't Love Potion forbidden? I can't believe my Montmorency would..."
Montmorency: "Why the heck did you tell him! And who's yours?!"
Now I know why she doesn't want to tell teachers.
"Curiosity and carelessness get people in trouble all the time, you know."
Montmorency: "S...Shut up. I don't need a commoner lecturing me."
Guess I'll leave it at that. She is already learning her lesson at the moment.
"Does the potion change personality too?"
Montmorency: "Their behavior may change because of their attractions...but changing their nature like this...isn't included in the expected results...unless the recipe I got was fake..."
Montmorency looks away.
"...Haa..."
She looks down, avoiding my gaze all the time I talked to her.
Uncomfortable. Scared. And guilty.
"...Haa..."
If I blame her any more than this I'll be the one to feel guilty in stead, and it wouldn't help Louise in anyway.
"What do we have to do to cure her?"
Montmorency: "There's a recipe for the cure written alongside the potion...If it can still be trusted..."
"Make it then."
Montmorency: "...I don't have the ingredients."
"Go buy it then."
Montmorency: "...I don't have money. I spent it all on making the potion."
"Aren't you a noble?"
Guiche: "Commoners often get the wrong idea, but nobles aren't all rich. About half of them barely have enough money to run their territory, like my and Montmorency's household."
"...Is that true?"
Montmorency: "...It is."
"This is emergency; can't you ask your family just this once?"
Montmorency: "Well...I guess I can make up some excuses. It will probably take at least a week before the money arrives though."
"That's too long. Can't it be faster?"
Montmorency: "Then they're going to ask more questions, and...They will know..."
...I see.
If it's just getting scolded I wouldn't even hesitate; she would deserve it, and it might even be a good lesson for her. But if what Guiche said is true and the law is involved...I'm not comfortable risking sending a girl to prison or worse over a teenager's curiosity. From what I've seen of the society here, and what the nobles and the royal palace said to Louise, it's possible they wouldn't show mercy even to children.
As long as this mess gets fixed, I would be fine with it. The real victim here is Louise anyway, so I'll let her decide after she's back to normal.
"So, the money is the problem, huh."
...I guess there's a way. Though Louise probably won't like it once she's back to her senses.
Montmorency is still keeping her head down. Only Guiche watches me as I get up.
I remember it was in Louise's wardrobe, the middle drawer... Found it. It's this cloth bag
"Open your hand."
I ordered her like speaking to a kid in trouble out of habit. Montmorency looks confused but obeys anyway.
*clink*
Her eyes widen. She quickly unties the rope and opens the bag. Guiche takes his eyes off Louise to look over Montmorency's shoulder, and widens his eyes too.
Montmorency: "T—This is...! W—Where did you guys get this much money from?!"
"That doesn't matter. Now you can buy the ingredients to make the cure, right? Or is it still not enough?"
Montmorency: "I—I can...This...is enough..."
Both of them looks at the money in the bag with gleaming eyes.
Ah...It won't matter how much the ingredients actually cost; there's not going to be any money left after this, is there? Guess I'll give up on buying a replacement sword.
It's Louise's money anyway; I'll let her handle it.
Montmorency ties back the rope and put the bag in her skirt pocket.
Montmorency: "It's already late today. Tomorrow I will go into the city and buy what I need."
"Make sure to finish it tomorrow. Louise can't miss too many of her lessons. Tell the teacher tomorrow that Louise is sick." I can't let her go out like this.
Guiche quirks his eyebrows.
Guiche: "So you are worried about your master's education. That's a little unexpected from someone who had no problem hitting the hay with a devil."
"Of course I am. Education is very important. Children should study while they have the chance to, for their future. And the last bit didn't have anything to do with this."
Guiche: "I get it, I get it. Geez, did you have say that like the grumbling adults? A dose of that from my father is more than enough..."
If I'm a grumbling adult then you're an unruly kid.
*kachak* *thud*
They're gone now. The outside is getting darker; it's almost dinner time. We would normally be going to the central tower...
Louise: "Hey, Luka, how long are you going to leave me like this?"
...if not for whining voice on the bed. I can't let her get out in this state.
How strong is the potion anyway? Let's try talking to her.
"Louise."
Louise: "Are you ready to do it?"
"I'm not ready to do anything."
Her voice is as commanding as usual, but the contents are completely out of whack. It feels very weird to be having this conversation with Louise.
"Listen, Louise. I will not do anything of that sorts to you. Absolutely not."
Louise: "And why is that?"
"These kind of things aren't to be done lightly. It has to be between people who are ready to spend their life together, understand?"
Louise pouts, and turns her head away.
Louise: "A familiar doesn't get to lecture its master. I will do what I want to do."
"But I don't want to."
Louise grimaces like she was hurt.
Louise: "Why? It's my chest, isn't it? It's too small. I make sure to drink milk every day; it will grow bigger in no time at all. But if you want it to be faster then let me drink your milk too."
...The symptoms are very severe. It's as if her entire thought process is transformed into that of a monster. She needs to be cured as fast as possible.
For now, she has to stay in this room.
"I'll go get dinner for you. Wait here." Have to take the basin out to clean too.
Louise: "No. You're not allowed to leave me alone."
"It's just for a while, I won't be long."
Louise: "No. You would just go see that bird again."
"I won't."
Louise: "Liar. You were on cloud nine back then, it showed on your sloppy face!"
"...You probably saw it wrong. I didn't make that kind of face."
I definitely did. Even though I was sleeping, I'm sure I did anyway. I'm a long way past accepting that weakness isn't going away all my life. I already made peace with that, but what I haven't made peace with is being seen by someone, let alone someone new.
"Anyway, wait here quietly. I'll be back soon."
I can't stay here longer. I have to get out. And don't forget the basin.
*kachak* *thud*
"...Fuu..."
I don't need to look at my crotch to know how it is right now. I tried not to think about it when in the room, but I can't control everything about my body.
It has been two months since I came here; I haven't thought about my home much, since things were usually so hectic, but given just a slight push and it came pouring back every time.
Feeding Nerian this afternoon reminded me of my time there. Then Louise's change in demeanor reminded me of monsters and that aspect of them. Now my body is reacting to every little things. In contrast, when Kirche openly invited me into her room, I didn't even feel a thing.
I guess this is what they call being a slave to monsters, just like in the rumor about me.
I definitely won't do anything to Louise, but if she knows my body reacts to her advances, things might escalate.
I should to focus on what I need to do now: wash the basin, then go get the dinner. Leaving Louise alone for long in her current state is too risky.
There are a lot of students on the first floor; everyone is heading to the central tower. All of them scrunch up their face and pinch their nose as I walk past.
"Excuse me, please make way."
This is kind of convenient: the students are getting out of the way on their own. Usually I have to be the one to step around them.
I've reached the usual place; the fountain in the yard. Dumping the vomit down the drain, rinsing the basin, flushing it all down with water; I'm grateful my body can do all this automatically, since I don't really want to think about what it is in the basin.
It still leaves the smell, but that can't be helped. I don't have a soap or something else to clean it with.
That was over with. The next stop is the kitchen. Now that I can hold the basin in one hand, walking through the crowd of students is much easier. Just have to make sure not to touch anyone, or they might cause a scene.
I should put the basin down before entering the kitchen; can't let that smell enter the kitchen of all places.
Siesta: "Luka-san! Can I help you?"
Siesta looks surprised, before greeting me with a smile like always.
"Yeah, Louise is kind of sick and can't come down to eat. Can I get her share to her room? I'll wash the dishes before returning them."
Siesta: "Ms. Vallière? Of course you can, right, Head Chef."
Marteau: "You bet. We'll get it ready right away."
"Please keep it light. I don't think she can eat a lot."
The staffs are really quick with their job. Everything is lined up neatly on a tray in Siesta's hands in no time at all: two bowls of soup, four pieces of bread, and some pork.
Siesta: "Here you are. There is Luka-san's share as well. Please have it."
"Thanks."
I can carry the tray in right hand and the basin in left. I want to just place the tray on the basin and carry them both with two hands, but I don't want to risk the smell getting on the food, so this way will have to do.
Siesta: "Let me carry one for you. Walking up the stairs with your hands full is dangerous."
"You have work here, don't you. You don't need to go out of your way."
Siesta: "It won't take long so it should be okay, isn't it, Head Chef?"
Marteau: "Completely okay! Make sure to see our Hero to his room!"
I feel like I lost to the majority vote every time I stepped foot in the kitchen.
Siesta helps carry the food tray from the central tower, up the dormitory, to Louise's door.
"Thanks for coming all the way here, Siesta."
Siesta: "It is okay. I am very happy to help."
I smiles and she smiles back. This really is such a good, friendly relationship we have in the place full of people who either looks down on me or are indifferent.
Well, it's good that I reached here safely, but I have to do something now. Siesta can't see what's behind the door.
"I'll take care of the rest. You should go back to work."
Siesta: "Eh? I am already here. Please let me carry it into the room."
"Uh, Louise doesn't want anyone to see her sick."
If she's in her right mind, she definitely wouldn't want anyone to see her now.
Siesta: "Is it that serious? Should we call the infirmary teacher for help?"
"No need. Uh, I already had Louise looked at before dinner. She'll be fine after resting a couple of days."
Siesta: "I see...I hope she gets well soon, so Luka-san's job will be easier."
"Yeah, I hope so too..." Or it's going to be a big problem.
Siesta gives the tray back to me, and bow.
Siesta: "Then I will be going. Please don't run yourself ragged trying to care for Ms. Vallière. You need rest too."
"Don't worry. And thank you."
Siesta: "Then at least let me open the door for you."
Siesta walks to the end of the hall way and disappears down the stairs.
"...Fuu."
I'm saved. If Siesta had seen Louise in her current state, she's definitely gonna see me as some kind of pervert with specific taste, which definitely won't look good to people here.
*kachak*
Well, I'm back and putting things back to their place: the basin on dressers, and the food trays on the table.
"Dinner's here. I will untie you, if you promise not to do anything."
Louise: "And just what do you mean by 'anything'?"
She scowls like always. Her gaze and her voice give away that she knows exactly what I referred to; she's just daring me to say it
"Anything that involves touching me. Also, you have to wear clothes. If you don't agree, I won't untie you."
Louise: "How many times do I have to tell you a familiar don't get to order its master. Fine, if you're going to be that way, then don't."
Eh? What does she mean by that?
...Louise doesn't elaborate, only rolls around on the bed, until she manages to sit her (naked) self up, and looks this way.
"...What is it."
Louise: "Feed me."
"..."
Louise: "Take me to the toilet. Bathe me. And hold me when I sleep too."
[...]
It feels like I am always dancing on the palm of women no matter where I am.
Louise: "I'm done with dinner."
"Alright. I'll take them to wash."
Louise is wearing her uniform again, and eats on her own, but the core of the problem hasn't changed.
Louise: "Do that later. For now, bathe me."
"You're grown up. Take one by yourself." Even Neris who hasn't even turned five could take a bath on her own. Although she always asked me to help her when I was around.
Speaking of Neris, Louise in her current state acts pretty similar to her; asking me to do this and that for her, even the trivial things. It almost feels like I have another overgrown daughter, though I know it's not true.
Louise: "Master's order: you can't refuse."
Louise rolls on the bed toward me, resting her head on my lap and look up at me. Now it looks even more true.
From how she acts, the urge she had at first seems to have calmed down, but the urge to be spoiled has come to take its place. Right now she doesn't look a girl her age at all, whatever her age is.
"How old are you again?"
Louise: "Hm? I turned sixteen this year. Why?"
She told me when I asked, that a year here has exactly three hundreds and eighty four days. Convert the number of days to the calendar I know would get the same number of years plus three hundreds and eight more days, making her around seventeen in my home's time.
"Act your age. You aren't a little girl anymore."
Louise: "You're supposed to do as you're told, not lecture me."
Louise scowls, which looks very much like Neris when she's miffed by little things.
Okay, this is getting worse. My brain is starting to get confused. I know she's a girl not that much younger than I am, but my hand is drawn toward her head out of habits.
Louise: "Mm~ That's right~"
Louise closes her eyes and smiles in contentment, twisting her body a bit, very similar to how Neris acts.
...I can't lie to myself anymore: I miss Neris, Nero, Alice, everyone at the Demon Lord Castle. How are they right now. What are they doing. My head is full of these questions.
This urge to spoil Louise—well, she always have that kind of quality to her personality—but part of it is probably because I miss pampering Neris like this.
Will Neris hate me for suddenly disappearing like that?...
Louise: "Hey, rub me in other places too~"
Louise's voice has moans mixed in. Looks like I stroke her too much without thinking. Tamamo did warn me about something like this.
Tamamo: "Luka, stroking someone's head is a human's way to display affection that translates well to monsters too. Still, you have to be careful not to stroke other places thoughtlessly, especially the belly, back, ears, and tails."
Recently, for some reason, whenever I thought of Tamamo it was always about what she taught me from her wisdom. She's starting to sound like a wise granny in my mind. It doesn't help that most of them are advices I really should've listened to.
"It's dark. You should go take a bath and go to sleep."
Louise: "Luka should go too~" Her voice is still dozy.
"As if I'd be allowed in the same bath as you all."
I really should stop stroking her. Louise looks dissatisfied, as expected.
Louise: "Then I won't go. I'll just sleep like this."
"I like clean people. If you don't take a bath I won't sleep with you."
Louise: "Then you'll have to sleep with me on the bed after I come back."
"Yeah, yeah."
I give up. One way or another I will have to sleep with Louise; if I don't get on the bed with her, she would get down to the floor with me.
Louise gets up from the bed and walks backward to the door, giving me a half warning, half hopeful look.
Louise: "It's a promise."
"Yeah, it is. Button your shirt properly before you go out."
Louise: "You do it for me."
...Haa...
"There."
Louise opens the door and goes out...then pokes her head in again.
Louise: "Don't go running anywhere."
"Where would I go."
Louise goes from frowning to a satisfied nod, and closes the door.
"Haa..."
Is it really okay to negotiate with her like that? It feels kinda wrong. The method I used to persuade Neris into taking a bath is as effective on Louise as I thought. But the fact that the method works on a girl close to my age as it does on my own daughter is...is...kind of hard to put into words.
Letting Louise as she is now meet people is pretty risky, but still much better than wiping her body by myself in this room, considering what happened earlier. If Guiche and Montmorency hadn't come in whey they did, I really can't tell how much things would've escalated. I'm pretty sure I would've been able to stop it before it gets too far though...
I should go clean myself too, I guess. I guess I'll have to take that sauna room...
[...]
[...][...]
Louise: "Hurry up."
"I heard you the first time. You don't have to rush me."
Louise pats the bed beside her. She wants me to sit there, I guess.
...Just this morning, I woke up on the stack of straw over there. Now I'm going to sleep on the same bed as a girl wearing a thin nightgown. This is a ridiculous change within a day.
Louise doesn't seem to notice or care about that at all; she just scowls and beckons me.
Louise: "Get on, hurry."
...I really have to, don't I. I promised.
She doesn't take an eye off me even as I circling around to the other side of the bed.
Louise: "Lie down."
The softness of the mattress feels weird against my back; I've been sleeping on the hard floor and straw for a month.
Louise snaps her fingers to put the lamp off and lies down.
...My eyes haven't even adjusted to the dark yet, but an arm is already slid under my left arm from behind. A slightly smaller body presses into my back. Breathes on the back of my neck feel a bit ticklish.
This feels so alien. The arm is smaller than Alice's but bigger than Neris's. The sound, length, even temperature of the breathes are different. The strength put into the hug is a bit off too.
The person behind me is a stranger. This isn't my place to sleep.
Not to mention there's a hand feeling around my body.
"Louise. Bad."
Louise: "Strange. I could swear a body pillow is talking back to me."
The action is unthinkable coming from her of all people, but the jab was very much like the usual Louise.
Now I get why the potion is forbidden; the line where the original personality ended and the effect of the potion started isn't clear at all. If the victim stays like this for long enough, it would be pretty easy for the person using the potion to get lulled into false hope after a while. And people that doesn't really know the victim might not notice that something is wrong.
Just what will happen tomorrow? I guess it would depend first thing on whether Louise had said something weird at the bath or not. Gossiping is like one of the most shared hobby in the world.
Well, nothing I can really do about that; I will have to stay here to deal with Louise for an entire day while waiting for Guiche's group to make the cure...Just thinking about it makes me tired already.
"...Louise. Bad." I have to harden my voice a bit. Louise's hand is getting too restless; even trying to get under my shirt.
Louise: "But I want to touch you directly. We got interrupted earlier."
"I said no. I only promised to sleep with you. Don't do anything more than that."
Louise: "A familiar don't get to order its master. Their duty is to obey."
"Making sure an ill master go to sleep is also a familiar's duty."
In the end I didn't get to ask why she vomited. Although I can guess...
Louise: "But I feel so itchy down there. I can't sleep like this."
"...You'll have to deal with—I can't help you with that. Try thinking about other things, counting sheep, or whatever it is they count here."
...I thought there would be come backs, but Louise has gone silent. Maybe she really did as I said?
...Why have the breathes on my neck suddenly gotten ragged?
Louise: "...Haa...One...Luka...Ugh...Two...Luka...Uu..."
"What the heck are you counting?!"
Ilias: "Luka...is still the same as always, is he not. He's a magnet for only these kind of events."
PBW: "Well, he's an H-Game protagonist."
Ilias: "What I am more appalled by, however, is the author who had written such things. To change a moral girl into a lump of lust no different from monsters; just how despicable his mind would have to be."
PBW: "Say what you want, I don't feel a thing anymore. How many times do you think I've listened to your speech?"
Ilias: "Not much more than the number of times you have intentionally led Luka to humiliation. Without a doubt, that Surrender button must be as worn-out and overused as Alisfiez the Sixteenth's bruised honeypot. Such an accomplishment for a degenerate."
PBW: "...I take that back."
Ilias: "I believe that is quite enough for a small talk. Let us go into the main topic. From what I have read of the source material, the symptoms of the girl under the influence of the potion are different from what was depicted here. What does that mean? Does it have any underlying reason?"
PBW: "It's more interesting this way."
...
PBW: "Okay, if one asks 'Why did The Author change the effect', then the answer is because it goes in line with what is planned for the future. But if one asks 'Why did the potion's effect change', then the answer would be tied to the second biggest secret (and spoiler) of the world. Though the secret itself is actually simple and easy to guess, there's meaning in waiting to say it aloud."