Taming The Villainesses

(EP-330.2) #3
330 – Time Problem #3

“Even in the midst of hardship beyond the wall, you managed to seduce a woman. And now, you’ve made her so deeply attached that it’s indispensable? As expected of my future husband. Impressive.”

It was hard to tell if this was meant as praise or sarcasm. If she had gotten angry instead, I might have accepted it. But Elga’s unusual behavior gave me goosebumps.

“… I, I’m sorry.”

“No, no, why are you apologizing? It’s going well as planned. I have a lot to say about it, but really, I’m sincerely praising you.”

Was she serious?

Then Mirna, who had been listening to the conversation, clicked her tongue.

“Lady Lioness, did something happen to your head during this time?”

“Then what about you suddenly splitting up? But anyway, I mean what I said. We don’t have much time. Theo needs to do a lot as soon as possible. We’re running out of time.”

Time was running out… I glanced at Elga’s stomach.

Although it was hidden by the puffy dress, her belly was slightly rounder than the last time I saw her.

It would only become harder to hide as time passed.

Then Mirna said.

“As expected of a member of the harem, I suppose. Lady Lioness, your open-mindedness is almost admirable.”

“What’s with you all of a sudden? You’re making it sound creepy. Are you up to something? Why are you acting like this?”

Elga seemed more irritated than pleased by Mirna’s compliment. In response, Mirna simply snorted and turned her head away.

These two never got along.

Just when I thought the rift between them might deepen further…

Suk-.

Mirna’s slender eyes subtly glanced at Elga.

“Certainly, it’s grown so big that it’s hard to hide.”

“Yeah, moving around feels tricky these days. If I wear anything thin, it’s way too obvious. It’ll only get bigger.”

“Aren’t you scared? Do you feel all mixed up?”

“I don’t know. I’m past that stage now. It’s hard to explain… You’ll understand when you experience it someday.”

Then Mirna asked with a soft hum.

“Hmm, then… can I touch it?”

“Do, Do what you want.”

With Elga’s permission, Mirna’s fingers moved slowly toward the red dress.

Slowly, ever so cautiously. The peculiar tension of the moment left me feeling faint.

Suruk-.

Finally, Mirna’s fingers landed on Elga’s chest.

Elga asked.

“What are you doing?”

“You said I could touch it. With it this big, a lot of clothes must not fit. It’s only going to get bigger. It must be really hard.”

Squeeze, squeeze.

Mirna casually kneaded Elga’s chest with her hand. The sight of her fingers slipping between the folds of the dress was rather mesmerizing—I couldn’t look away.

However, Elga seemed more dumbfounded than anything else.

“I thought you were going to touch my belly. You meant my chest?”

“Your belly hasn’t grown that much. At three or four months, it’s normal not to see dramatic changes yet. Still, I agree that time is running out.”

Seuk.

Mirna withdrew her hand.

“It’s just a matter of time.”

She added, clasping her hands.

“Professor Stella isn’t fully on our side yet, but it’s clear as day she’s utterly infatuated with Sir Theo. It’s only a matter of time for her as well.”

“So that leaves just one.”

“One.”

Mirna and Elga gazed at the banquet hall—the beyond that closed door.

The final one remaining.

Aira Von Tarantera.

The elegant queen with her long legs and piercing black eyes.

Only she remained.

But the weight of conquering the queen was more than double what I had felt up until now. Honestly speaking, I couldn’t even imagine how I could deal with Queen Aira.

The Aira I had always obeyed.

I couldn’t picture myself whispering affectionately while lying her down on the bed. This was a huge problem. A plan was always based on thorough design.

In other words, it stems from a burning desire to achieve what I want. The more specific and detailed that imagination is, the higher the chances of success.

But in Aira’s case…

That’s when Mirna spoke.

“If there’s an opportunity, it’ll be in the arena. In the martial festival, where Sir Theo wins and defeats Queen Aira in battle. There couldn’t be a more kingly way.”

Elga scratched the back of her head in response to that.

“That may be true, but Mirna, didn’t you think anything after seeing Aira today? She’s gotten even stronger recently. She’s already past the level of simply being powerful.”

“I saw. But there’s always a price to such great strength. There’s bound to be a weakness. With that immense magic power in her body, there has to be a small crack somewhere.”

“Well, it’s true that a small crack can break a dam. But finding that crack is harder than it seems. In the end, it’ll be Theo who fights her-.”

Mirna and Elga exchanged their opinions. As I watched them, I suddenly found myself laughing deep inside.

And so, I laughed. For a little while.

“…….”

“…….”

At my sudden laughter, both Mirna and Elga stopped their conversation and looked at me. Their expressions puzzled as to my sudden act—I lightly explained.

“No, it’s just that… us scheming together like this, it feels somehow unreal. Life really brings about strange things.”

As I wiped my eyes, Elga furrowed her brows.

“What? Isn’t this what you wanted? We’re already in the same boat. One wrong move, and we might all die. Take this seriously.”

“I agree, it’s no longer just Sir Theo’s matter.”

That’s right.

It was as they said.

Perhaps what I had been hoping for was to talk to someone like this and work things out together.

Since becoming like this… no, when I think about it, I’ve always had to do many things alone, even long ago.

I just wanted someone on my side.

I had always dreamed of that.

And I finally achieved it.

Thanks to that, I felt like I could do anything right now. So, I decided to share a story that only I knew with the ladies who were in the same boat with me.

“There might be a way to put shackles on Queen Aira’s strength. However, it would be difficult for me alone, and I may need quite a bit of help.”