Chapter 97: Our last supper, our last night together

August 5th, 2023

Beta Reader: My_Own_Worst_NPC

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It was afternoon, and I was preparing tea inside the carriage; as I feared, it wouldn’t do to make this grand of an appearance and not inviting the most distinguished person of the fort for a tea.

“Goku, help me prepare for the afternoon tea.”

These two Gokus have become really skilled, their movements are as sophisticated as experienced chefs. Even the arrangement of the fruit for the snack is artistic. After they’ve finished making sandwiches, they will bake the scones, and with that our preparations should be complete.

“Miina and Rouge, please set up the table and awning outside, alright?”

The weather is clear today, so it would be nice to have tea outside. I also prepared a magic stove so it wouldn’t be too cold.

While I was waiting for the tea to be ready, Cecily returned.

“Something smells really delicious here.”

“We’re baking some scones for the afternoon tea. Do you think it would be rude to invite the countess and the princess?”

“It’s fine. Rather, I think they’d be delighted. Look, Shirou…”

Cecily called out to me as I was arranging the sandwiches. But I don’t want to hear what she has to say right now; I already know what she’s going to talk about.

“Shirou. I have something to tell you.” She called again, stronger this time.

“What is it?” I tried to sound casual, but my voice trembled.

“Shirou, I’ve decided to go with Princess Evangeline.”

“Is that so…” I listened to her without stopping doing the preparation.

“Shirou, would you like to join with us too?”

“Is it because you need my Creation Magic ability?”

“That’s not it. I… I only want you to be by my side.”

The face of the gentle and at times awkward former pirate had taken on the expression of a stern soldier.

“Cecily… You know how much I love you, but, I can’t go down this road with you.”

“No matter what?”

“That’s right.  No matter what.”

I think I’ve made a clear enough statement. No matter how much I love her, I don’t want to go somewhere that will become a major battlefield. [1]

“Yeah, I’ve had the feeling that you would say so. And to tell you the truth, I feel like it’s better that way.”

Cecily shook her head with a faint smile. And that brought tears to my eyes.

“Cecily.”

I wanted to hug her, but Miina and Rouge, who had finished their preparations, called out to me.“Okami-san, we’ve finished setting up the table.”

“Then, could you bring the dishes there?”

“Roger that!”

Meanwhile, the kettle on the stove had begun to whistle.

“Cecily, could you invite the princess and the countess?”

“Got it.”

With nothing left to say, Cecily began to walk away from the carriage.

——————————————————————————————————————

The afternoon tea party with Princess Evangeline and Countess Elmo proceeded without a hitch.

“We are heading toward Bawanda Fortress, where the Warrior Princess of Regalta is making her stand, and we will gather more people on the way there. We may be treated as aristocrats and not as royalty there, but ultimately we’re planning to take back our lands and restore our kingdom.”

Princess Evangeline enthusiastically explained their plan for the future.

There are people in many places that have been forced out of their lands because of the war, and it seems they’re planning to gather those vagrants and head East. According to her, there are more than 300 soldiers in this fort alone, with many more units out there working separately.

“How about it, won’t you come with me? Having a noble personage like you by my side would really encourage me.”

It was a bit funny to be propositioned by a sixteen-year-old girl, but I politely turned down the offer. In the first place, I have refused Cecily’s invitation, so there was no way I could agree to the princess’ offer like that.

Also, I think not going together with them is the best possible option for me. You could say I’m just being conceited or too full of myself, but there’s a good chance there will be conflict over me if I go. There’ll be a fight between the princess and Cecily, not to mention Chris is there too in Bawanda Fortress. And for a moment, I was having this idiotic thought of having a foursome, but it quickly passed and I found myself disgusted by having such idea…

———————————————————————————————————————–

After the tea party was over, I gathered the girls and officially announced the dissolution of our saint’s group.

“Don’t say that! I’m going with you wherever you’ll go, Okami-san.” Miina clung to me with tears in her eyes.

However, I can’t let her do that.

“I’m happy that you think of me that way. I’m really grateful for all the things you’ve done for me until now, Miina. However, I think it’d be best for us to part ways. You should find someone you can be happy with.”

I kinda feel sorry for her, but I have no intention of becoming a couple with Miina.

“This is the end of our journey together. Rouge, Cecily, I’ve been in your care until now, and I don’t think I could ever thank you enough for it.”

“No, it’s me who should be thanking you, Shirou. After all, you risked your life in order to save me back in the dungeon. I really wanted to stay by your side for the rest of my life…”

“I know. But I also understand that you have an obligation to fulfill. I pray that one day, you will be able to restore your kingdom.”

And then I turned to face Rouge, and I saw that she was in tears, even though she usually only jokes around.

“Shirou-san!”

Rouge suddenly hugged me, and I returned the hug trying to convey my gratitude.

“Rouge, we’ve really been through a lot together, haven’t we…”

“Shirou-san… I want to do it at least one round with you.”

Look, you’ve really ruined the mood, you know.

And stop stroking my crotch!!

“Sorry, I won’t do farewell sex.”

*sobs* “Shirou-san you meanie.”

No means no, alright?

I wanted to give proper closure to our farewell, but unfortunately Princess Evangeline is due to depart tomorrow morning. They also have their own preparations to make, so they can’t afford to delay their schedule. And so, the four of us decided to eat our last supper together, and I began the meal preparation.

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I made a lot of food and we all went to the clearing a short distance away from the fort to eat together.

Everyone was smiling and trying to liven up the dinner table. But as the food slowly disappeared from the plates, and the wine slowly drained from our glasses, our conversation has also become less and less.

“I think it’s time for us to go to sleep.” Cecily muttered as she got up from her seat.

 “I’ll have Goku take care of cleaning up, so all of you just go ahead and rest.”

Tomorrow, the girls would begin their long journey toward Bawanda Fortress. It won’t be a carefree journey like the one we’ve made until now; instead, it would be a harsh experience where they lived each day under threat of imperial assault.

“Good night.”

I kissed Miina’s cheek while bidding her good night.And then, I kissed Rouge’s. Both of them were surprised by what I did, but I couldn’t think of anything else that would please them.

“Since you were doing it too suddenly, I didn’t get to make your kiss land on my mouth.”

I guess Rouge will always be Rouge.

“Sorry, but I’m not kissing you again.”

“Truly regrettable.”

This is a good bye kiss. It’s too embarrassing to do it tomorrow in front of the princess and the countess, that’s why I’m doing it tonight.

And finally, I turned to Cecily.

“Shirou, I…”

She was trying to say something, but I quickly enveloped her mouth with mine. I then hugged her tightly.

“Thank you very much for everything, Cecily. I will never forget your feelings for me.” And I then whispered in her ear, ‘Tonight, after everyone has asleep, come to the carriage’

I felt my voice tremble.This might be the first time since I came to this world that I have directly invited someone out myself.

But if I didn’t do this, then the too strait-laced Cecily would never lay a finger on me until the very end, even though there’s a possibility that we would never meet each other again…

————————————————————————————————————

It’s 11 PM already, and Cecily hasn’t show up yet.

There’s the possibility that she will not come tonight. Maybe she’s too strait-laced that she really won’t lay a finger on someone she has sworn not to, even though I’ve told her it’s alright?

“Well, what do you know, I guess I’ve been stood up…” I said so to Goku, but he only tilted his head curiously.

The inside of the carriage was a bit stuffy, perhaps because the heating was turned up too high. And so I opened the door of the carriage, thinking that I would be welcomed by the night wind blowing in. However, what awaits me was something shocking.

It was the sight of Cecily standing just before the carriage, in the middle of the night, with a pale face because of the cold wind.

“Cecily?”

Now that I took a closer look, her lips had turned blue as well. And I think she’s trembling.

“Just how long have you been standing there?”

“I’m not sure…”

I touched her hand, and it was cold as ice.

“Oh god, Cecily you idiot. Come inside, quick.”

I quickly pulled her into the carriage, sat her down in front of the magic stove and then prepared her a drink.

“Here, drink some brandy to warm up your body.”

Cecily remained still as she stared into the glass that I just handed to her.

“Why didn’t you come inside the carriage?”

“I was afraid that, if I see you tonight, then I would lose my resolve to follow Princess Evangeline…”

Cecily, you’re well and truly a strait-laced woman…

“You shouldn’t have worried about it. You’re just that strong-willed, you’ll never lose your resolve.”

I pulled Cecily close and hugged her. I can feel her body is also cold as ice.

“We may never meet each other again, Cecily. I want you to embrace me for our last time together…”

“Shirou…”

Still, Cecily hesitated to make a move.

Alright, I’m getting impatient now.

I took the glass of brandy from her hand and made her to drink some with my mouth through kissing. [2]

“Mmhh… Puha!”

I could feel that Cecily’s body temperature is rising, not because of the brandy though.

“Cecily, listen. If you don’t want to do it, then I will stop right now. But if you don’t mind with it then I want you to embrace me until the end.”

“G-got it.”

“If you’re fine with it, can you please pamper me for awhile?”

It’ll be our last time together, so I’m really looking forward to get pampered by your colossal breasts.

“Uh, got it. I-I also have a request to make.”

“What is it?”

Cecily took a bottle of brandy that was nearby, poured it to a glass, and took one big gulp.

“I… I…”

What? Why is she hesitating?

Cecily took another big gulp of the brandy.

“I want to…”

“Go on?”

“I want to be the one at the bottom! I like to be at the receiving end!”

Why does she have to say something that would make it harder for us to separate in the end?

“A-alright. Let’s just take turns, okay? First, I get to be pampered. After that, I’ll keep on the offensive, until you throw in the towel.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Cecily’s face, which had been pale, now turned beet red. Her breathing becomes hotter, and her eyes were a mixture of anticipation and melancholy.

I unbuttoned Cecily’s shirt with a bold gesture that surprises even me. And there it was, the biggest pair of breasts that I’ve had the fortune to see, trembling before me.

“Then, Shirou… Come here.”

Cecily, in all her naked glory, sat on the edge of the bed and patted her knee.

“What are you going to do?”

“Didn’t you say you want to get pampered? I was thinking of a lap pillow, for starter…”

It’s here… It’s finally here!

With my heart feels like it’s gonna explode with anticipation, I hurriedly walked over to Cecily’s side.

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1Just a reminder that they’re planning to revive the Kingdom of Luwei, and that they’ll be heading toward Bawanda Fortress which is currently being attacked by the empire.

2 Whoa. That’s bold.

Good for you Cecily! You’re finally doing it with Shirou. And at the same time I feel sad that you’ll no longer together with him.