Chapter 8

The Lion and the Fawn

When the two returned from their date on horseback, the assorted people waiting to confirm their safety breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, when they saw Belvant lift Marietta from the horse like a child, his left arm firmly about her, a shock ran through everyone present.

What is he doing, that beast!

“Marietta seems to be worn out after riding. I will escort her to her room.”

Marietta’s cheeks blushed slightly, and as she was basked in everyone’s observation, she trembled slightly within Belvant’s arm.

“I apologize for showing such an unsightly appearance. However, I… cannot seem to place any strength in my legs.”

WHAT DID HE DO, THAT BEAST!!

General Fargus Belvant’s reputation was at stake, but he indisputably did nothing questionable besides kissing.

Right, besides kissing.

[If you’re this far in the series and still using mean aggregate sites, I’m setting Belvant on you]

While gazing out over the sparkling lake, the two had cordially eaten their picnicking goods.

“Pardon, are you certain I am not too heavy upon your lap as I am?”

“Sorry, but when I grabbed a placemat, I didn’t think to bring a quality carpet. I can’t possibly let you dirty your clothes though, Marietta.”

“Still…”

“Since you’re light as a feather, there is really no problem.”

With his assurances firmly stated, Marietta lightly settled herself into Belvant’s well-muscled, sturdy lap and, with her heart thumping happily, began to eat.

Sir Belvant seems so gentle. Moreover, with how close we are, I am a little embarrassed, but at the same time this is so pleasant and fun! This is exactly like a lover’s date, isn’t it? Kya!

Marietta got excited all on her own inside her head.

Incidentally, Belvant truly felt it would be a shame to dirty the princess’ high class clothing, and didn’t particularly plan to pamper Marietta.

Nevertheless, as he watched the small and adorable Marietta nibble through fruit and sandwiches, smiling and laughing in spite of her shy nature, Belvant’s heart felt at ease. His face looked like anything but a demon; the sweet and clear smile upon his handsome face was a symbol of pure affection.

“Is it delicious?”

“Very”

“Be sure to eat plenty.”

“Yes.”

As he ferried each morsel to her, she would diligently eat. With her every bite, Belvant felt more and more as though he was feeding a small animal and relaxed.

“Come, Sir Belvant as well, you should eat some… Oh, it has already disappeared!”

As Belvant had already grown accustomed to finishing his meals quickly on the battlefield, he had long ago completely consumed his portion. Marietta tilted her head, but took one of her slices of fruit and lifted it to Belvant’s mouth.

“Here, Sir Belvant, aah…”

For Marietta, this was something her older brothers or sisters did relatively often, mainly feeding her sweets.

“No, well, I-“

He managed to say, before the piece of fruit found its way into his mouth, and he ended up chewing if he wanted to say more. And so, the guardian lion was force-fed.

“It is a delicious fruit, no?”

Marietta was innocently smiling, but for the completely disconnected Belvant, such a direct lover’s expression was a considerable shock. Covering his rebelliously blushing face with a hand, he looked aside to collect his breathing.

What even is this adorable creature?

Belvant had received immeasurable damage.

“This is certainly enjoyable. I do hope you might invite me along again.”

“… Indeed, let’s come again. I’ll make sure to bring you as many times as you like.”

Reflexively reaching out a hand, he stroked Marietta’s glossy hair. As he gently stroked her hair as though comforting a child, Marietta gave a slightly embarrassed laugh. Reaching up, she caught Belvant’s rugged hand between her own slender fingers.

“Such a large hand, and so strong.”

Held between her hands, she closely examined the masculine hand.

“Wielding a sword has given me more callouses than skin, so it’s quite thick. Your pardon; I suppose I might injure you if I touch you so casually with hands like these, Marietta.”

“That’s not true. These are splendid hands that have protected their country, and I like them very much.”

So Marietta said with a smile, as she pressed his hand softly against her cheek. Against the feeling of her soft skin, Belvant could only think that he wanted to feel more, and succumbed to his impulses. His hand glided gently over her face, before he slowly traced her lips with his fingertips.

“?”

Wondering what he was doing, Marietta raised her head, allowing Belvant to stare into her blue eyes. He embraced her shoulder, facing no resistance as his large body seemed to cloak her own, and took her luxuriantly pink and tender lips between his own in a kiss.

Ah, he has kissed me again. Sir Belvant, how I love you…

The sound of their lips meeting echoed out again and again. Though Marietta’s eyes were wide open on the outset, she grew conscious of the handsome face at point blank range and embarrassedly shut her eyes.

“You’re so soft, Marietta.”

Unable to successfully spin any words in reply, her lips merely gaped as his body leaned over her once more. With Marietta closing her eyes and seeming to accept the circumstances, Belvant’s offense gradually grew bolder as his impulses refused to be pinned down. Something warm and wet pressed into her lips time and again, and taking advantage of her moment of confusion, it trespassed between her lips.

“Mm?”

That thing… Belvant’s tongue ravaged around Marietta’s small mouth as it pleased, tickling every place in could inside her.

“Mm, hmm”

Marietta let leak a voice not unlike the soft whimpering of a puppy.

Oh no, what is this? What is happening to me?

Marietta, who only knew kissing to be bringing one’s lips together with their partner, was so bewildered by this deep kiss that she could not put forth any resistance. As it was, her small tongue kneaded in turn the slippery mass which stuffed her cheeks full. By guesswork, Marietta would at some moments lightly suck or bite at the tongue in her mouth, and at other times massage it with her own. The fed and now awakened lion caressed Marietta’s mouth as though attempting to directly assault her with his passion. At length, a thread of saliva spilled from her mouth, but even though it was embarrassing, she wasn’t able to wipe it away.

“Mm, mmmm”

Marietta mumbled somewhat reluctantly as, between the hand firmly holding the back of her head and her lips being greedily devoured from the front, she found herself unable to swallow a sufficient breath. They were only kissing, and yet a sweet numbness spread throughout her body, and from her abdomen she felt a strange heat growing. It was the first time she had ever sensed such a thing, though it was not unpleasant. Before long, Marietta’s mind had gone completely blank, and her exhausted body entrusted itself completely to Belvant.

The next thing she noticed, several of the buttons upon Marietta’s shirt blouse had been undone.

“Oh no-!”

With teary eyes, her face flushed and she covered her breasts, but with her lips trembling and still faintly discolored from the severe kiss, her appearance was one that could incite the carnal desire of any man. Belvant needed only remove Marietta’s hands from her chest, and he could bury his face into those faint bulges for a deep breath. With a gulp full of her sweet fragrance, he could rub his cheeks along her soft, white… He endured.

As one would expect from a militant country’s top general. With the tantalizing Marietta before him, softly and embarrassedly moaning, those feelings of wanting to stretch out his tongue and paint her in his colors, of leaving marks across her skin with his lips, of letting loose the fire burning below him, they were all reined back.

Well, he had already left a few kiss marks however.

“We’re returning.”

“Huh?”

As their bodies abruptly parted, Marietta was perplexed.

“The plan was to only… No, I mean, tomorrow seems like it will be very busy with arrangements and meetings and such. I had better return from this short break quickly.”

“That’s so, isn’t it.”

As expected, Sir Belvant is so responsible.

Not noticing Belvant’s simple evasion, Marietta praised him for his thoughtfulness. With her small, trembling fingers, Marietta absentmindedly refastened her loose buttons and arranged her appearance before attempting to stand from Belvant’s lap, but

“Well! I wonder just how I am to do this!”

Because of the vehement kisses, Marietta once more could put no strength into her legs. With an anxious expression, she desperately fought to stand while supporting herself with Belvant’s shoulder, but in the end she could only cling to his chest.

“… You are much too cute.”

Succumbing to the ferocious feeling of a lion presented with a newborn fawn, Belvant embraced the grumbling Marietta, burying his face against her shoulder. The frantic desire to consume her whole was an all but physical weight upon him, the scent from Marietta’s body only making him more and more giddy with each ragged breath, as the fire within him threatened to consume his body.

However, he endured. As one might expect, the general held a resolve of steel.

Yet, if the two of them remained alone as they were, Belvant judged that his self resolve would soon burn away to nothing, and quickly gathered Marietta in his arms again. Taking no heed of her physical ability to ride horseback again so soon, he hastily deposited Marietta atop his beloved horse Mistral, and the two hurried back to the royal castle together.

That was dangerous. As it was, that little spot in the grass nearly became the place I pushed down and ravaged a princess.

This was such a dreamy date. Riding on horseback was and is difficult, but all throughout Sir Belvant wanted me so close to him.

The veteran general and the pure princess were absorbed in their thoughts while the horse rocked beneath them. One could say their first date to become acquainted with each other had led to the best possible results.