Sitting on the guest room bed, Louise and Siesta glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
"Miss Vallière, Mr. Hayashi Maki has already invited me to work at his estate, and I've accepted!"
The little maid played her first card.
When a noble appoints a commoner maid to work at his estate, it usually means taking her as a concubine. Among nobles, that's practically an unspoken rule.
Hearing this, Louise felt wronged but refused to lose ground.
"Then you can go work at his estate now. I can even hire a carriage to take you!"
"That won't do, Miss Vallière. Lady Éléonore brought me here to serve you. If I'm not here, who will cook for Mr. Hayashi Maki? And anyway, working at the estate is for the future. Your engagement to Mr. Hayashi Maki hasn't even been formally settled yet, so I have every reason to stay by his side!"
Siesta spoke triumphantly, her gaze on Louise firm and unwavering. She had decided on Hayashi Maki; showing her love openly was necessary—how else would a noble lady accept her and let her join the family?
Looking at Siesta's resolute eyes, Louise was aggrieved, but she couldn't deny that Siesta's presence did make things more convenient for both her and Hayashi Maki.
"Forget it, I'm not arguing with you. We won't be separated anyway. Since you say he asked you here—where is he?"
Louise looked around in confusion. Don't tell her he was hiding in the wardrobe to watch her make a fool of herself?
Siesta was just as baffled. "Didn't Mr. Hayashi Maki go to find you? Though I hate to admit it, he really does care about you, Miss Vallière."
Hearing that, Louise felt less hostile toward Siesta—but even more puzzled. "He went to find me? But I'm sleeping with Sister Cattleya tonight!"
…
At that moment—
Hayashi Maki was holding "Lou—ise" and kissing her pale neck. The girl was a bit flat, but not entirely. The soft feel reminded him of little Yukino. He decided to use his own methods to help the girl "grow."
And "Louise" didn't seem to resist; whatever she was dreaming about, she even looped her arms around his neck.
Only—
He soon sensed something was off. Was Louise a little too tall? And her legs seemed longer than before.
The woman in his arms felt something amiss as well. She pulled open the curtain; moonlight spilled in.
Their eyes met.
"Ah!"
"You?! Why are you in my bed?"
Éléonore, cheeks burning with anger and embarrassment, shoved him away and folded her arms.
"Uh… if I say I went into the wrong room… would you believe me?" Hayashi Maki asked, awkward, hunching on reflex.
Éléonore arched a brow and smiled dangerously.
"Oh, really?"
"You're supposed to be getting engaged to little Louise, and yet here you are in the middle of the night in my bed up to no good. You need a proper lesson!"
She hopped off the bed—wheat-colored camisole nightdress swirling—and with a toss of her golden hair pulled a riding crop from the cabinet, whipping it toward him.
Naturally Hayashi Maki wasn't going to stand there and be flogged. He caught the crop and yanked. Éléonore's face changed as she stumbled into his arms—and before she could react, he kissed her, full on the lips.
He didn't want to get rough with Louise's sister—so he'd "persuade" her with his mouth instead.
Éléonore had never experienced such closeness; even her former fiancé had never so much as touched her finger before breaking the engagement over her strong, fiery temper. And this man—he dared to defy her "discipline" and kiss her?
"Mmph—!"
Coming to her senses, Éléonore pushed hard, trying to break free—but it was useless. Hayashi Maki was even more forceful. He lifted her onto the bed and deepened the kiss. His masculine presence overwhelmed her; her face flushed, her heart raced, her head swam. Somehow her body went soft—and before she knew it, she'd clung tightly to his neck.
She didn't hate bold, lustful men—she hated those who groveled. A man like Hayashi Maki, unceremoniously pinning and holding her, and handsome to boot, captured her heart in an instant.
In the end, Éléonore's fierceness came from wanting to protect her sisters, and from her own strong magic and pride. Hayashi Maki had healed her second sister and protected her youngest; she'd already had a good impression. Now, after a kiss like this, she couldn't contain the yearning she'd long kept hidden.
…
When he let her go, Éléonore's cheeks were flushed, her breath unsteady, her demeanor docile—stirring his desire all the more. He took a breath, lowered his head to kiss her elegant collarbone; his broad palm found her long, alabaster legs. Noble skin and a captivating scent made his gaze burn hotter.
Breathing hard, Éléonore pressed his head down, eyes half-lidded as he kissed her skin. Her heartbeat quickened; her body softened further. Outwardly forceful women are often fragile inside. No one knew that after being jilted, Éléonore had hidden away and cried in secret. But to keep others from looking down on her sisters, she could only pretend not to care.
"…Mmm—" Her eyes hazed as Hayashi Maki claimed her lips again; the wheat-colored nightdress slipped to the floor. The perpetually forceful Éléonore let out a cute little cry and hugged him tight—offering no resistance.
That night, Hayashi Maki "persuaded" Éléonore with his passion.
—The next morning—
Hayashi Maki sighed, looking at the golden-haired beauty curled against him like a kitten. Who'd have thought—before winning Louise, he'd won the elder sister first. What's done is done—he would take responsibility.
Éléonore blinked awake, noticed his gaze, and blushed.
"You… I… we… mmph—!"
He gave her no chance to protest and sealed her lips again. Morning had come; better to "persuade" her one more time now than face a love-triangle battlefield later.