"In that case... wanna give it a try now? Let's see if we're a good match."
Holding Himeko close, Lucian lowered his head and whispered beside her ear in an intimate voice, his warm breath lightly brushing against her sensitive skin and sending a shiver through her entire body.
"By the way, if there's a problem, just tell me to stop, okay?"
Lucian's voice seemed to carry an irresistible hook, each softly spoken word tugging at Himeko's heart and making her legs gradually go weak.
Buried in his embrace, she could clearly feel the steady vibration of his chest with every word he spoke, as well as the comforting warmth radiating from his body. Before she realized it, the unease and worry that had been lingering deep within her heart for so long were strangely soothed, slowly melting away under his gentle closeness.
Himeko hesitated for a long moment before finally giving an almost imperceptible nod and letting out a barely audible response.
"...Mm."
Half-reluctant and half-willing, she ultimately accepted his suggestion, allowing herself to take that long-overdue step forward.
"So, what made you suddenly change your mind and wanna get a little closer to me today?"
Lucian casually asked while patiently and skillfully guiding the inexperienced Himeko, his tone relaxed as though they were simply having an ordinary conversation.
Himeko's thoughts were already in complete disarray, her mind hazy and unfocused from the overwhelming emotions swirling inside her, so without thinking through her answer, she instinctively blurted out what had truly been weighing on her heart all this time.
"I... I was afraid Evernight would steal you away..."
As soon as those words reached his ears, Lucian froze for a brief second.
'Good grief! Doesn't that mean if Evernight hadn't shown up, Himeko would've just kept dragging this out for a few more years?'
'Evernight, Evernight... who would've thought you'd end up being useful like this too?'
'Now that's one heck of an assist!'
As he thought that, the corners of Lucian's lips subtly curved upward in satisfaction.
He then leaned in and gently brushed his lips against Himeko's sensitive earlobe before speaking in a low, magnetic voice filled with endless temptation, deliberately whispering every word close to her ear.
"Silly woman. If you're the one who's got me, she can't take me away..."
Right after saying that, Lucian deliberately changed the topic with a calm expression, as though mentioning it on a whim.
"Still, now that you mention her, she's pretty gorgeous too. Her body's flawless, and she's as soft and tempting as a perfectly ripe peach—"
Lucian did not even finish his sentence before the woman in his arms instantly bristled.
At this moment, jealousy mixed with a newly awakened possessiveness surged through Himeko's mind like a Stellaron eruption, instantly overwhelming the last traces of her composure.
"You're not allowed to think about her! You can only think about me now!"
Himeko suddenly raised her head, her eyes having turned slightly red—whether it was from anger, embarrassment, or the overwhelming surge of emotion was impossible to tell.
Right afterward, she wrapped her arms tightly around Lucian's neck and bit his neck fiercely, as though trying to leave her own exclusive mark on him, declaring in the most instinctive way possible that he belonged to her alone.
"..."
Lucian fell silent for a brief moment before taking advantage of the opportunity to pull the suddenly proactive and unexpectedly domineering beauty even tighter into his arms.
"Heh, alright, I won't think about her anymore. I'll only be thinking about you..."
A low, satisfied chuckle escaped Lucian's lips as he held her close.
Amid a haze of confusion and overwhelming bliss, Himeko completely cast aside those meaningless fears that had weighed on her heart for so long.
At this moment, she no longer cared about uncertainty or hesitation and simply wanted to hold tightly onto the star that belonged to her, unwilling to let it drift beyond her reach ever again.
Only Evernight, who was resting peacefully in the room next door, seemed to vaguely catch the faint sounds of movement coming from the neighboring room.
As though she had already expected this outcome, she quietly turned over in her bed. A faint smile of hidden accomplishment gradually appeared at the corners of her lips before she continued resting with her eyes gently closed.
"Lucian, you'd better thank me properly..."
===
Several hours later, Lucian slowly woke from his sleep and looked down at the still-slumbering Himeko, who rested peacefully in his arms without any fabric covering her beautiful body.
An unconscious smile gradually spread across his face as he quietly admired her peaceful sleeping expression.
At this moment, the beauty sharing his bed looked exceptionally radiant. A healthy rosy tint colored her cheeks, her long eyelashes shimmered softly in the gentle light, and her flawless skin seemed almost to glow.
Meanwhile, the calm, relaxed expression on her face made her appear even more captivating than usual.
At first glance, she looked every bit the mature, elegant, and intellectual woman she always presented herself as.
In reality, however, things were not nearly that simple.
Lucian could personally certify that Himeko, just like Himiko, was a hungry wolf beneath that composed and elegant exterior.
Back then, she had nervously talked about being afraid of his little brother and had looked as though she might die at any moment.
Yet what had happened in the end?
Not long after experiencing several enthusiastic rounds together, she had abruptly thrown away every remaining restraint, completely abandoning her earlier hesitation as she eagerly devoured his little brother as though she could never get enough.
'Heh... women...'
Lucian smiled faintly as memories of everything they had shared together resurfaced in his mind.
Yet, the smile on his face gradually faded the next moment, and his brows slowly furrowed as he lowered his gaze to the peacefully sleeping Himeko in his embrace, his expression becoming increasingly thoughtful.
'I guess this counts as winning over both her heart and her mind, right?'
Despite everything that had happened between them, the script still had not been marked as completed, which meant there was still something left undone.
In other words, besides winning over Himeko's heart and mind, there were apparently additional requirements that had yet to be fulfilled.
However, they had already reached what should have been the final step, so why did there apparently seem to be another final step remaining?
Could it really be because Welt and the others had not boarded the Astral Express yet?
Or did he actually need to bring Stelle aboard as well before the script considered itself complete?
Or perhaps did he have to formally go through the marriage process with Himeko too, just as he had with his wives in Izumo?
As Lucian remained lost in thought, the woman resting in his arms stirred slightly.
Her eyelashes fluttered gently before her beautiful eyes slowly opened.
Himeko had finally awakened.
As soon as she opened her eyes and found Lucian's face so close to her own, memories of the previous night's passionate madness came rushing back into her mind like an unstoppable tide, causing the tips of her ears to grow faintly warm.
"G-Good morning..."
Himeko instinctively shrank even deeper beneath the blanket as she spoke, as though trying to hide herself away completely. Her soft voice carried both the unmistakable hoarseness of someone who had just woken up and a lingering trace of embarrassment that she could not conceal.
Lucian lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.
"Morning, my dear student."
Although their teacher-student relationship had not lasted very long, the memory of those roles still lingered between them, adding an indescribable sense of taboo that made the atmosphere even more intimate.
Hearing Lucian's teasing greeting, Himeko's cheeks immediately grew a shade redder as she lowered her gaze in quiet embarrassment, yet the corners of her lips unconsciously curved into a faint smile, unable to hide how happy his words had made her feel.
Just as the two were quietly enjoying their private moment together, a sudden series of knocks echoed from outside the door, abruptly shattering the peaceful atmosphere inside the room.
*Thud—Thud—Thud—*
Strangely, although the rhythm was slow and unhurried, the knocks carried a deliberately teasing cadence, as though the person outside was intentionally reminding the occupants of the room that they had already been discovered.
Immediately afterward, Evernight's amused voice drifted through the door.
"Lucian, sleep well last night? Where's that big-boobs? Why isn't she making coffee? Don't tell me she's still in somebody's bed."
Hearing that amused voice, Himeko's face instantly flushed crimson, and she became so embarrassed that she wished she could evaporate on the spot.
In the next moment, she hurriedly searched for her clothes in a flustered panic, desperately trying to get dressed as quickly as possible.
"Of course she's in my bed. If my girl's not in my bed when I wake up, where else would she be?"
Lucian, on the other hand, remained completely calm, even deliberately raising his voice as he answered toward the door, as though he had no intention whatsoever of hiding the truth.
In response, Evernight let out what sounded like a soft, satisfied laugh from outside before her footsteps gradually receded down the corridor.
"Fine, you win. Hurry up. March is about to starve to death."
Inside the room, Himeko immediately turned toward Lucian and angrily punched him in the chest, her face burning even hotter than before.
"Y-You... how could you just say that out loud?!"
"Why shouldn't I? It's the truth." Lucian said as he gently caught her hand before she could pull it back, smiling at her with obvious affection. "Why do you think she came knocking on the door today?"
Only then did Himeko realize that Evernight had probably already guessed everything long before she knocked. In an instant, the thought made her wish she could find a crack in the floor to hide in forever.
===
A few minutes later, after Lucian and Himeko had finally finished getting ready, they arrived together at the Dining Car.
March was happily scooping up Pom-Pom's special pastries with a spoon, but the moment she noticed Himeko walking in, she immediately flashed a bright, cheerful smile.
"Morning, Himeko! You're looking especially pretty today! You're practically glowing!"
In March's eyes, Himeko genuinely looked exceptionally beautiful this morning. Her complexion was rosy, her expression seemed softer than usual, and there was an indescribable charm hidden within her golden eyes that made her appear even more radiant.
Himeko became even more embarrassed after hearing the compliment, so she could only give a vague response before quickly sitting down, avoiding everyone's gaze as much as possible.
Evernight sat directly across from her, leisurely cutting into her steak with elegant, unhurried movements. Her gaze casually wandered back and forth between Himeko and Lucian, while the playful smile lingering on her lips never disappeared for even a second.
"...Congratulations, Himeko~ You finally got what you wanted. How does it feel? Did it fit?"
Deliberately drawing out every word, Evernight slowly raised her glass toward Himeko, the teasing amusement in her crimson eyes growing even more obvious.
*Cough!*
Lucian nearly choked on his coffee.
"Evernight! D-Don't talk nonsense!"
Across the table, Himeko exclaimed in embarrassment as her face instantly turned as red as her own hair before she hurriedly lowered her head until it was practically buried in her plate, far too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze.
If she were being honest, Lucian's thing hadn't really fit at first.
However, as time went on, it gradually became smoother and smoother until it slipped inside her with ease. If not for the blessing of Abundance, she probably wouldn't even have been able to get out of bed by now.
"Heh..."
Evernight let out a dark little laugh, the knowing smile on her face making it abundantly clear that she was thinking, 'I know. I know everything.'
Meanwhile, March watched the exchange with complete confusion written all over her face.
"What're you guys talking about? What do you mean by she got what she wanted? And what do you mean by 'fit'? You mean clothes?"
As soon as those innocent questions left March's mouth, Himeko panicked and immediately stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth.
"It's nothing! March, just eat!"
"Owh, owkay~"
March obediently chewed on her bread, though her large eyes continued darting back and forth between everyone at the table with unconcealed curiosity.
It was obvious she still had absolutely no idea what was going on.
"March, big sis wants to ask you something. If Himeko and Lucian both fell into a river and you could only save one of them, who would you save?"
Evernight finally stopped teasing Himeko and shifted her attention toward March instead, asking the question with a playful smile.
Hearing that question, both Himeko and Lucian instinctively turned to look at March with curious expressions, genuinely wanting to hear her answer.
March frowned slightly before hugging Evernight's arm with both hands.
"I can only save one? But... Himeko's always been so nice to me, and she even makes really pretty clothes for me... Lucian's amazing too. He saved us, took us in, and cooks really good food for us... I really like both of them! I wanna save both!"
As she finished speaking, March slowly raised her head.
"What about you? Who'd you save?"
Her clear, innocent pink-blue eyes were filled with visible conflict as she looked at Evernight and asked, sincerely hoping there was another answer besides having to choose between the two.
"Of course I'd save you. You're the most important person to me. I wouldn't save anyone else."
Evernight answered without the slightest hesitation, the sincerity in her voice leaving no room for doubt, as though the answer had never required even a single moment of consideration.
As soon as March heard that response, she immediately realized she had answered the previous question incorrectly. Her expression changed at once as she hurriedly clasped her hands together and began acting cute in an attempt to smooth things over.
"Aww, sorry, big sis! Ask me something else! I'll definitely answer it right this time!"
Looking at March's flustered and somewhat silly attempt to make up for her mistake, a trace of amusement quietly flashed through Evernight's crimson eyes. Even so, she deliberately maintained a stern expression, pretending to take the matter very seriously.
"If it were Lucian and me, and you had to choose one of us... to be thrown off the Astral Ex—"
"You! I'd choose you!"
Evernight hadn't even finished her sentence before March impatiently pointed straight at her and answered without the slightest hesitation.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 300 Power Stones]
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