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Even though I felt bad for my heart, I stuffed my stomach with the sandwich and enjoyed the tea that Percival had made for me and the lemon tart for dessert.
The tart’s sable was crispy and had a nice texture, and the rich lemony dairy cream and the sour lemon jam went perfectly together. I thought I was full from the sandwich, but I couldn’t stop eating it.
This tart was made by Madam Adeline after a trial and error process with the castle’s cook. It was served as a test at the a cafe in Oriens and quickly became popular.
“Ah, It was delicious.”
I’ve already eaten two tarts, so I’m really full this time, and I can’t eat anything else.
“That’s good.”
The sun was high in the sky and I was full. It was probably about time for a swim.
“All right, let’s swim!”
I stripped off my clothes and was left with a pair of underwear and ran to the lake in just my slippers, splashing around in the water. The water was warm enough in the shallow areas that it felt comfortable.
Suddenly immersing your whole body in water puts a strain on your heart. I stayed still for a while in the waist-deep water until I got used to the temperature, and a school of small fish swam past my legs. I caught a lot of trout, and this lake was full of fish.
Vanderwall is a harsh but fertile land. This is probably because Percival’s ancestors have carefully protected this land for so long. Even though magical beasts are a threat, they are a resource if we think of them as materials. No wonder the royal family of Solmontana cannot disrespect the Margrave of Vanderwall who protect this land.
“What are you looking at, Sapphiras?”
“Oh, Percival. There’s a school of small fish.”
I turned around at the call of my name and involuntarily mumbled to myself.
……I’m completely defeated……
No, I never intended to compete in the first place. For that matter……Percival, you have too good a body!
Percival looks slender in his clothes, but when he takes them off, he has a magnificent physique. He’s not heavy like a warrior, but he’s tall and his body is toned and symmetrical from daily training.
Compared to that, my physique is pathetic. But compared to when I was just skin and bones, I’ve gained enough flesh and my body is much more presentable. Recently, I’ve been revelling in the fact that I’ve developed a solid physique, while looking at myself alone in the bathroom in the mirror. I’m so embarrassed! In front of Percival’s naked body, I look like a skinny lizard.
“What’s wrong, Sapphiras?”
“……No, I just thought Percival still has a good physique.”
“Sapphiras, everyone’s growth and physique are different. Just because you do the same thing as someone else doesn’t mean you’ll get the same results. If you don’t push yourself and train in a way that suits you, you’ll definitely ruin your body.”
“No, no! I won’t do anything reckless again!”
I ate recklessly for a while because I wanted to get bigger as fast as possible. Percival is worried that I will do the same thing again and train recklessly. Even though I envy him a little for his fine body, I know that there is an insurmountable wall between Percival and me now. I shouldn’t do anything useless. It’s a waste of time and energy, and the emptiness I feel afterwards is indescribable.
“……I see. That’s fine.”
“Mm, I won’t be reckless like that again.”
I was about to swim out to see if I could see the trout swimming in the lake, but Percival held out his hand to me.
“?”
Nn, what is this hand?
“This is your first time swimming, right Sapphiras?”
Oh, that’s what you mean! Most noble children don’t swim. And besides, Sapphiras had been locked in a room. If I swam smoothly here, he would be asking, How is that? I don’t think that reading about it in a book would work, no matter how much I read about it.
“I won’t let go of your hand, so don’t worry.”
Percival smiles at me gently. He must be trying to reassure me.
I’ll just ask Percival to teach me. Maybe in this life, I, Sapphiras, can’t swim. I don’t want to go to the deep end of the lake thinking I can swim, and accidentally sink to the bottom.
Taking his proffered hand, Percival slowly leads me to a deeper place.
“If you relax, your body will naturally float. Don’t panic if your feet can’t touch the bottom. Then, keep your body as straight as possible without bending it……”
How should I put it, Percival is good at teaching. He holds my hand so that it’s easier for me to swim, and his advice is easy to understand. If he teaches me like that, even if I can’t swim, I’ll be able to swim in no time.
The Knight of the Sun really can do anything!
And now Percival, with his golden hair dripping water, really is a handsome man dripping with water. As I was absentmindedly watching the water drip from the ends of his golden hair, Percival’s handsome face came closer and our lips met.
“!”
Sur-surprise attack!
I was expecting that he was going to kiss me again, but our lips quickly parted.
“You’re cold. We should get out now.”
“Ah,……eh? Ye-yeah.”
Maybe he was just checking my temperature? I-I wasn’t expecting anything!
Well, I did think he might do it a little. Because usually, he would’ve ended up making me all mushy with his kiss.
While I was feeling somewhat disoriented, Percival suddenly gave me a troubled smile.
“……I’m not a saint. If we were to kiss each other like that, I don’t have the confidence that I can control my own desires.”
“Eh?……Ah, aahh! I-I see, mm, that’s right.”
“When we get back to the shore, I’ll make you a hot cup of tea.”
“……Yeah.”
When we returned to the shore, I was wrapped in a large, soft cloth and made to sit in the shade of a tree where the sunlight was shining down just right.
“I’m going to make you some tea. Just give me a minute.”
Percival said and quickly got ready and started preparing the tea. He really takes good care of me, doesn’t he?
I feel like I heard something unexpected just now, but Percival is just a normal guy. At this age, it’s not strange at all. And yet, that means Percival can have these feelings for me……
We-well, we’re going to be spouses eventually, and unlike with Gilliam, I have no aversion to exchanging vows as husband and husband with Percival.
……Huh? Come to think of it, I’m turning 15 this year, right? I’m sure that at this age, when I was Fortis, I’ve had this and thats in the morning1I think it’s referring to morning boner lol, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for me? Even if I feel good kissing Percival, that’s all, it doesn’t cause any change in my body.
Am I growing up properly for my age?
Surely this has something to do with why I’m not growing taller and why I’m a skinny lizard……
Eh? Hey, are you okay, me?
Once I started to worry about it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“What’s the matter, Sapphiras? You look troubled. Is something wrong?”
Percival, who brought me tea, looked into my face with concern.
“You know, I have a question for you.”
“Oh,”
“Is Percival’s body an adult yet?”
“…………Ha?”
After a long pause, Percival spoke in a slightly silly voice. No, I understand. You’d be surprised if you were suddenly asked that question. I’d be confused too. But this is an important and pressing issue.
“So, Percival, is your body already capable of having children?”
I instinctively grabbed his arm.
“That’s……well, I guess so. But anyway, why all of a sudden?”
Percival is much bigger than me, so it’s probably a bit of a stretch to compare us. In my previous life, I didn’t have as impressive a physique as Percival’s, but even so, by this age my body had already grown to the point where I could have children, and I even responded to sexy things to a certain extent.
“What should I do, Percival……I might never make it to adulthood.”
Melon: Please excuse me while I choke on my tea.
Are we finally going to get to the R18 stuff?