AWWEWNR Chapter 34

💫

 

As soon as Shia was told by Belle that Hanaella was looking for him, he came to Ariel’s mansion. 

 

He could have finished practicing, but for some reason, his body made the first move.

 

Sitting uncomfortably in the sitting room, Shia fidgeted and paced around, then jumped to his feet when Hanaella appeared. His face was tense, but there was a hint of pleasure in it.

 

“Make yourself comfortable.”

 

Hanaella said, sitting down across from him.

 

“It seems like it’s been a while.”

 

“How are you?”

 

“Lord Shia, has everything been well, no more harassment from the Knights?”

 

“No. None.”

 

“Good to hear.”

 

“…”

 

“The reason I called Lord Shia today is because…”

 

Hanaella trailed off and picked up the teacup in front of her. 

 

Even if it was for the sake of the Continuation Covenant, it would be difficult for her to say the words to him in person.

 

“Is this about the continuation covenant?” 

 

But Shia beat her to the punch, so Hanaella nodded and told him.

 

“Yes. I wish to enter into an existence contract with Lord Shia.”

 

“It won’t be too late after you become the next Lord.”

 

“No, I want it done now.” 

 

“No– now…?!”

 

His face turned bright red in an instant. 

 

Although he had thought that she was going to ask him to sign a contract of continuance, he was completely unprepared for it right now.

 

“…You don’t want to?”

 

Hanaella asked worriedly, looking at the panicked Shia.

 

“No…! No, it’s not even a question, it’s just…”

 

“Just?”

 

“I just… need to be prepared…” 

 

Shia trailed off, wiping the bridge of his nose with the back of his hand. 

 

Hanaella felt an inexplicable sense of relief at the sight of him, such things were experience, and she realized that she, the more experienced of the two, would have to lead this young boyish man who knew nothing of her. 

 

Perhaps that was why she was doing things her past self would never have imagined.

 

Shia’s eyes widened at the sight of Hanaella suddenly rising to her feet and moving toward him. 

 

She had sent all the maids away, and now, in a room where no one could hear them, she was sitting beside him, whispering in his ear as though someone was listening.

 

“It’s okay, just trust this big sister.”

 

💫

 

Norwen House’s director, Myden, took Gemma’s letter from the staff, which she had brought to the house, and went straight to see Edward. 

 

It was rare for Myden to show up without an appointment, so Edward dropped his duties and quickly made his way to the reception room.

 

“Hey, Eddy, do you know Hayden’s little darkness, or does she know you?”

 

Edward’s face twitched in confusion at the question from Myden, who immediately asked him.

 

‘Hayden’s little darkness? Ariel’s only child?’ 

 

There was no way he knew Ariel’s only child, much less that she knew him.

 

Edward sat down on the couch, wondering what his old friend and partner was talking about. 

 

Then he took Hanaella’s letter from Myden’s hand. 

 

Edward’s eyes widened like the eyes of a startled rabbit as he unfolded it and read.

 

「Dear Ron.

 

I have an urgent favor to ask of you, and would be grateful if you could come to Ariel House.

 

Now, I know you’re a man who travels without revealing his identity, so you don’t have to come in person.

 

But the matter is serious enough that I need you to send it to Ron’s trusted courier.

 

—Hanaella Liv Ariel」

 

“…What is it…?”

 

Edward furrowed his brow. Hanaella Liv Ariel. 

 

It was unlikely that a young lady of House Ariel would know Ron of the Norwen House. 

 

Few of the nobility knew his name, and those who did were related to the Emperor or Empress. 

 

Edward was the son of the Emperor’s sister, and Ron was a title only a member of the imperial family could have, a name he hadn’t used since leaving the palace to become a Duke.

 

The fact that Ariel, the vanguard of neutrality, knew of him and had requested his services could mean trouble for the Empire. He would have to see her.

 

Edward rose with the letter in his hand and walked to the candlestick. 

 

Without hesitation, he burned it in the flame. Myden looked at him and asked with concern.

 

“You don’t mean to tell me that Hayden’s darkness is trying to stir up some sort of antagonism against the next imperial family, do you?”

 

“…”

 

“We haven’t even decided whether we’re going to side with the Emperor or the Empress yet, and if we get a request like this…”

 

Edward frowned weakly at Myden’s words.

 

💫

 

“So, when Lord Shia’s genitals enter mine, I focus all of my power into this place, the fountain of dark energy, and when I do, I place the mark of the Chosen One on Lord Shia’s left chest, a mark that will only be removed when both of us are dead.”

 

Without taking her eyes off the book, Hanaella pointed her index finger down at herself. 

 

Shia blushed up to his ears at her unfiltered words and didn’t look up.

 

“The problem is, for this ritual to work, Lord Shia’s genitals must be hard and erect, and my glans must be slippery.”

 

Hanaella said, remembering when Lloyd had been injured, and it hadn’t gone well, to say the least. ‘I tried to erect Lloyd’s with memories of my past relationship with Tharrott.’ 

 

But it hadn’t gone well, and she figured she’d better be prepared this time, in case it did again.

 

“So, Lord Shia, have you ever put your finger in a woman’s genitals?”

 

“…?!!”

 

Shia’s face turned red as if it would burst at any moment. 

 

He was in no position to answer, he had never been asked this question before, especially by a woman, and he didn’t know exactly what a woman’s body looked like in the first place. 

 

Looking at Shia’s embarrassment at her own question, Hanaella realized she should probably do something about it.

 

“Well… I’ll take care of the arrangements, then, so why don’t you come back tomorrow at dinner time?”

 

“…”

 

Would that be okay? When Shia didn’t give a straight answer, Hanaella smiled at him.

 

“Don’t worry, just trust this big sister.”

 

That same words again. Shia was a little taken aback, feeling like Hanaella was treating him like a child. 

 

After all, he was technically her older brother, since he’d celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony last year.

 

‘Why does she keep calling herself big sister? Does she think I look like her brother?’ 

 

Wondering if he should tell Hanaella that he was a year older and move on, Shia jumped up from the couch when the butler knocked on the door and told Hanaella that he had a visitor.

 

“Then… tomorrow…”

 

Hanaella nodded at Shia, who was still burning, and asked the butler who the visitor was.

 

“His Excellency, the Duke of Delioffe.”

 

“Eh? The Duke of Delioffe?”

 

“Me? Not my father?”

 

“Yes, Miss, he’s looking for you.”

 

“…?”

 

“Well, then, I’ll be going back.”

 

“Ah, yes, Lord Shia. See you tomorrow.”

 

Waving to Lord Shia on his way out, and wondering why the Duke of Delioffe had come to see her, Hanaella told the butler to escort her directly to the reception room. 

 

Then she retreated to her own chambers, where, with the help of a servant and Belle, she fixed her hair and changed into a dress for the occasion.

 

‘Why is it that no one from the requested service has come, but someone who has no reason to be here? The Duke of Delioffe, what reason could he have…’

 

Suddenly, she wondered if Lloyd had already done his part to arrange for her and Delioffe to get acquainted, as she had planned. 

 

The corners of her mouth twitched upward. Hanaella’s pace quickened as she made her way to the reception room.

 

“I’m Edward Ethan Delioffe.”

 

Dark blue hair, almost navy blue, and blue eyes like Lloyd’s. 

 

Edward was a handsome man, with a sharp, cold edge to his manner, as if he were mowing a lady’s lawn.

 

“Pleased to meet you, my name is Hanaella Liv Ariel, please have a seat.”

 

As Edward sat down, the maid set a teacup down in front of him and Hanaella. 

 

Hanaella lifted the teapot herself and poured tea into Edward’s cup.

 

“What brings the Duke of Delioffe all the way here?”

 

Still completely unaware that it was Ron, Hanaella asked. 

 

Edward lifted the tea she poured and brought it to his mouth.

 

“I’m surprised you’ve come to see me and not my father. Are we acquainted? I’ve never met the Duke of Delioffe before.”

 

“It’s my first time, too.”

 

 “…But what brings you here…”

 

“I see you’ve sent a letter to Norwen’s office.”

 

“…!”

 

“I’m here at Ron’s request.”

 

“…Oh…!”

 

Hanaella had never in her wildest dreams thought that Ron would have anything to do with the Duke of Delioffe. 

 

She didn’t know much about him, just what she had heard Tharrott say about him in the past, 

 

‘He’s quick to get things done, neat and tidy, with a tight-lipped mouth. I’ve never seen his face, but I trusted him with the job.’ 

 

He even had the Duke of Delioffe as a personal servant, which made me think, ‘Is Ron royalty?’

 

“What is it you would like Ron to do for you?”

 

Edward asked straightforwardly, and Hanaella thought for a moment. 

 

For a moment, she wondered if she could trust the man who had been Rosaryn’s husband. 

 

Even if he did become Rosaryn’s husband, she knew that Ron would not tell Rosaryn about this request later.