Chapter 12 — Forbidden Thrills and Twisted Kinks

Part 1 — Exile, Then Saving the Nation

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“Nah. Don’t bother. I’m over it,” I said.

“Really? In that case… want to squeeze my boobs?”

Chloe stood and cupped her own chest from below, bouncing it. For a moment my brain shut down.

Her human form looks twelve or thirteen, all frills and ribbons, petite frame that barely reaches Meg’s shoulder—and a bust on par with Ellie’s. Watching that doll-like girl smile while wobbling her own chest felt… forbidden. I couldn’t look away.

A sharp elbow from Ellie brought me back. “No thanks,” I managed. Chloe pouted and sat down again.

Good. Sanity intact. Thanks, Ellie.

“I’ve always wanted to ask,” I said. “Why did you make a pact with me?”

“Boredom,” she replied. “You’ll die long before I do. I live practically forever. Call it a distraction. Nothing more.”

Probably not the whole truth. If she doesn’t want to share, I won’t push.

She downed a tankard of ale. She may look like a kid, but she’s lived scores of lifetimes more than I have.

Ellie wasn’t satisfied. “Lady Chloe,” she said. “For someone of your stature to bond with a human so casually… what if the Mother of Earth hears?”

“Ellie, was it? Quit dancing around it. Say what you mean.” Chloe waved her hand lazily.

Ellie’s temper flared. “Please—stop hurting him. Your blessing is too powerful. For humans, it’s poison.”

“Oh? A mere saint dares lecture me?” Chloe’s aura went razor-sharp. Ellie flinched.

“Hurting him, hm? Very well. I’ll tell you what our contract—”

“Chloe.” I cut her off. She blinked, then sighed.

“Right. That’s taboo. I can’t speak of it. Forgive me, Ellie.”

Ellie looked ready to argue. I raised a hand. “Thanks for worrying. Away from the battlefield, the ‘urge’ doesn’t flare. I’m fine. I can live quietly here.”

“But—”

“No. I won’t trouble you again.”

Never again.

“Oh, another question,” I said, lifting my tankard toward Chloe. “How old are you now?”

She grimaced. “Still asking. You’re hopeless.”

“Shouldn’t ask a lady’s age, huh.”

“Keep it up and this will be your death anniversary,” she said, smirking. “I’ll tell you when you die. Until then, assume I’m eternally seventeen.”

She traced lazy patterns in the air with her finger, ale in the other hand.

“You look thirteen,” I muttered. “Can’t you take on a twenty-year-old form? Walking around with you draws weird looks.”

“This is easy,” she said. “No men hitting on me. Besides, if I took on a mature form I might seduce you, and some people would hate that.” She shot Ellie a glance.

Great. Now Ellie looked ready to explode.

“And while we’re at it,” I said, “let’s talk about fixing my house.”

Chloe winced. “Right. Sorry.”

She’s one of the Four Heavenly Dragons tasked with guarding this continent, yet she sulked like a scolded kid because she flattened my place. I can’t see her as anything but an older, oddly cute friend.

“I need lumber. Tomorrow you’re clearing the rubble and chopping wood,” I said.

“Got it!”

Ellie blinked. “You’re making her do that?”

“She crushed it.”

“Fair… Lady Chloe, are you sure?”

“Of course,” Chloe chirped. “Easy work—after breakfast.”

She hummed, already planning the rebuild. Fine by me.

“Also, we need to replace the furniture. Did you bring them?”

“‘Them’… ah, Liza and Elza? They should be in a nearby forest. I’ll call them.”

Excellent. Having the wyvern sisters around again would help.

“Anyway, it’s late,” Chloe said. “Let’s sleep.”

“Yeah.”

She grinned wickedly. “Since it’s been so long, I’ll sleep with you tonight.”

Of course she would.

----- End of chapter -----