I was able to update today, somehow. Well, almost……

I will reply to your impressions etc tomorrow.

Thank you for all the applause. Very very grateful.

　The room I brought her to was something the sponsor prepared with that objective in mind.

　Judging from the characteristics and voice of the sponsor this time, it was probably Marquis Littenheim.

　Considering his social standing and tastes, I thought he would prepare an unusual room but I was relieved that it was normaler than I expected.

　In all honesty, I wanted to embrace her in my personal room at the castle.

　But I couldn’t tell her something like that.

　I didn’t have one inkling of letting this chance right in front of my eyes slip away today.

　Glancing at her appearance, without feelings of fear she looked around the room with great interest.

　After confirming that, I reached behind me and closed the door.

　With that, I breathed a sigh of relief at having imprisoned her in the room.

　Now she couldn’t run away from me.

　Thinking that I would embrace her just moments away, my whole body trembled in delight.

　I slowly approached her.

　Wanting to touch her, my hand stretched out instinctively.

　I thought it couldn’t be helped if she thought I was hasty, but she didn’t run away.

　Having her meekly being hugged in my arms, I breathed in relief.

　I couldn’t help thinking that side of her was also lovable.

　I was spellbound by the tenderly elastic sensation. I was intoxicated by the scent she gave off herself.

　So hugging the one you loved was something this different.

　The depths of my heart was filled with something warm. At the same time, my lower half became heated to the point of hurting.

「I’m finally able to touch you……」

　Finally uttering my true intention, I was replied to with an astounded voice.

「’Finally’ you say. I’ve no memory of telling you to wait though.」

　To her blunt manner of speech, I thought this must be her true self.

「Was that your aim?」

「……Well, I wonder.」

　Throwing away her mask of a graceful n.o.ble lady she replied and looked up at me in a provocative manner. With eyes as if wanting to ask “what will you do?” I was once again captured by her and wryly smiled.

　Everything she did was helplessly pleasant.

　I, who was already wallowing in love with her, could only thinking of permitting her that tone of voice.

「This is nice. This way it feels like I’m speaking to the real you, and it makes me happy.」

「……You’re a strange one. This way is easier for me so it saves me some trouble…… But not too long ago you also changed your way of speaking.」

　I had said what I truly thought, but was met with a dubious expression in return.

　Even from this trivial exchange, my heart was dancing and my mood was out of this world.

「Is that so. That was also my intention. Even so I’m actually quite surprised here, you know? In various ways…… That’s right, replying to the question you asked before, since the first time I laid eyes on you, I’ve been badly desiring you. That’s why saying “finally” wasn’t wrong, yes?」

　I brought my lips close to her ear.

　She s.h.i.+vered in response, and feeling good about that I held her tighter.

　Yes, it was a surprise.

　Even for me, there hadn’t been a time I was able to speak in my normal manner so abruptly.

　I didn’t think I would be able to fall in love in such a short period of time.

　I couldn’t help but want her more and more.

　Like a starving beast, I craved her as if she were my prey.

「……Certainly not. Admiring me while I was wearing a mask? Even I am not gullible enough to believe such words.」

「It’s not a lie. Even now, I l.u.s.t for you so badly my body has grown hot. Such a thing is a first for me…… Yes? You’ve followed me silently up until now. You aren’t a child anymore. Something uncouth like wanting to leave at this point, you won’t say it will you?」

　I had no intention of letting her escape now, though.

　I seized her slender jaw.

　While desperately holding back the urge to kiss her then and there, I peered into her amethyst eyes once again asking to confirm her will.

　I didn’t want to hear any other reply than『ＹＥＳ』.

　While gazing at her with those thoughts in mind, I was once again given an unexpected response.

「……Yes. I also desire you.」

　Being told that, this time I froze vacantly.

　To process the meaning of her words, I took several needed seconds.

　When I finally comprehended, I felt like I couldn’t be any more pa.s.sionately aroused.

　I had thought she was out of the norm, but I never thought she would tempt me so directly.

　If any other man saw her, they might’ve said she was promiscuous.

　But to me, it only served to further provoke my pa.s.sion, and was a rejoiceful thing.

　She timidly looked at my eyes.

　In her eyes only I was reflected. Turning unbearable, I involuntarily cast my gaze downwards.

「Um……?」

「Fufu……Fufufu」

　Maybe she thought she had said too much. She called out to me with a nervous voice, but even so I couldn’t reply to her.

　Because of the immense joy, laughter naturally bubbled up from within the depths of my emotions.

　Towards I who was in such a state, she leaked out a bewildered voice.

　In a rush I raised my face and explained to her in the gentlest way possible to rea.s.sure her.

「Ah, my apologies. It’s not what you think. It’s because I’m happy…… I’m glad. I’m very glad.」

「Is that so? ……Ah!!」

　The happiness I felt frankly showed on the surface.

　With those raging mad feelings, I kissed her as if biting.

　To the tender and soft sensation of her lips, it felt as if my reason would burn away.

　Wanting to feel her more, wanting to know her deeper, I unconsciously used my tongue and as if prompting her, I licked her lips numerous times.

　As if responding she parted her lips, and having waited for it, I thrust my tongue into her mouth as if I were plundering.

「……Nn……Ahh-」

　While violating the insides of her mouth, I poured in my saliva. Without hesitating to swallow it down, I was once again stirred up by her figure.

　Exploring her row of teeth, I took and entwined her tongue with mine.

　Even though it was merely saliva, I wonder why it had the taste of sweet nectar?

　While enraptured and thoroughly entwining our tongues, as if to respond her tongue also moved to entangled mine.

　Without being able to understand what happened in that instant, I stopped moving.

　Surprise slowly surged forwards.

　From before until now, no one had ever returned my kiss even once.

　Because that was exactly the『custom』.

　Women were only to receive. That was the established『rule』.

　Even so, like the exchange in the hall from before, she readily skipped over the rules. Such a woman was scorching to the point of death.

　……Truly irresistible. I’ve never seen a woman like her before.

　I always thought about it while performing sensationless s.e.x.

　If only there was a woman that would respond to my actions.

　If there was a woman like that, we could enjoy ourselves together, and the way I said it was bad, but from there love could sprout, and maybe she did exist.

　Just thinking about it was futile, but even so I prayed for it somewhere in my heart.

　Not only did she exist here, but she was someone who pushed me into love with the force of a drop kick, so there was nothing else I could do.

　……It’s no good. I don’t want to let her go.

　I will absolutely get her into my hands, no matter what.

　Strongly resolving myself, I smiled towards her who wore a puzzled face.

　Seeing my expression, I don’t know what she thought, but she fearfully pushed me away with strength.

　However, in the end it was only a woman’s strength. Such a thing wouldn’t do anything to me.

　As if embracing her resistance I locked her in my arms.

　And I firmly demanded the continuation to just before.

「……Nnn. Nnn–」

　Tangling our tongues once again, I deeply savoured her.

　Towards her who was desperately responding to my, feelings of love swelled up without limit.

　I love you, I love you, I love you……More, I want more.

　From those emotions, I indulged in her further.

　No matter how much I kissed her it wasn’t enough.

　Nevertheless I was reluctant when she parted with me, it seems her hips had given out. Exactly because she couldn’t stand, she clung onto me.

　Feeling glad that she had felt it, I happily carried her in my arms.

　I want to feel her more. I want to divulge in her deepest depths.

　With feelings of impatience, I carried her to the bed.

　I lowered her onto the sheets as carefully as possible, and bent over her like that.

　Wanting to kiss again, I approached her face……and thought the mask was in the way.

　I wanted to tear off this tasteless and stupid mask.

　I knew it was breaking the most significant rule of the Masquerade Ball.

　Even so unable forgive this thing that separated us, I took her mask into hand and said this.

「……Hey, I want to kiss but this mask keeps getting in the way……There’s no problem if I take it off, right?」

「Eh……?」

　I felt I wanted to see her bare face, who was staring at me with shock.

　All the same I thought the mask was in the way, but I abandoned the idea at her firm opposition.

「For what reason do you think this Masquerade Ball is for? It’s meaningless if one’s face is revealed!」

　If I knew her face, then naturally I would know her true ident.i.ty.

　There was a part of me that thought that, but even she didn’t like breaking the rules to this extent. She might’ve also had a reason for not wanting to reveal her face no matter what.

　There was no meaning if I kept persisting strongly here and let her escape.

　Thinking so I easily pulled away.

　In exchange, proposed this.

「……What a regret. Then, would it be fine to tell me your name at least? I am……」

「I will not, and I have no interest!!」

　I was going to announce myself as『Freed』.

　I also wanted to know her name, but the largest reason was probably that I wanted to see her speaking my name.

　I wanted her to call my name in her sweet voice.

　My name being called out by her who I love, surely it would be something special to hear.

　I thought so, but here I was also strongly vetoed.

　Obstinately not wanting to reveal her ident.i.ty, I thought she might’ve had some special circ.u.mstances.

　If that was the case, then I should temporarily withdraw here. There was still time.

　She told me to call her as I liked, so I decided to call her『Diana』, the night G.o.ddess of this country, because of the color of her eyes.

「……Do as you wish. Then may I refer to you as Apollo?」

「Diana’s lover, the Sun G.o.d Apollo. That’s nice, I like it very much.」

　It may have been unconscious, but by suggesting we be paired my mood further elevated.

「Diana, my dear. I give my love to you.」

　I want to know her name quickly.

　Not by an alias, but calling her by her real name and telling her my feelings.

　With burning hope I gazed at her, but even so I whispered as much love as possible.