*

...Oh, this is ...

　When Laura woke up, she found herself in a strange room.
　A strange room - no, this is a room in the "Golden Sheep" pavilion, and even more so, Makoto's room.
　That's right. I made love to Makoto last night.
　We made love last night.

Makoto-sama-uh!

　Laura moaned as she sat up.
　An unnamable pain crawled up.
　She looked around, enduring the pain, but there was no sign of Mako.
　There was no bucket, no syringe present.
　I even wonder if last night was a dream, but this pain is real.

......................healing magic.

　Laura touched the earring and reminded herself that this pain was a sign that she was tied to Mako.
　It's a sign of being tied together, she told herself, and headed for the shower.



　When Laura took a shower and went downstairs, Sherry was at the counter doing water work and Liv was at the counter tipping a glass.
　Perhaps it was because they both knew what was going on, but it was anything but uncomfortable.

'Oh, good morning,'
It's almost noon.
I know that. By the way, where's Makoto-sama?
Makoto would've left with Yuka and the others.
Okay.

　Laura let out a small sigh and sat down next to Liv.
　A moment later, an unnamable pain crawled up from the lower half of her body.
　Maybe I should have used my healing magic.

'Can I get you some water?'
Yes, please.

　Laura said, holding her mouth, and Sherry put her glass on the counter.
　As she sipped the water, it tasted fresh and citrusy.
　She let out a sigh as she looked down.
　I was worried that she would respond differently than usual, but it seems that my fears were not unfounded.

''How did it go?''
"...ribs.

　Laura glared at Liv.

'Wasn't that thing last night too much?
When I said I could help you, you said yes without hesitation.
I did, but you didn't expect him to do that to you.

　I didn't think it was slime - and Laura covered her face in shame.
　I'm going to die in agony from too much embarrassment.

'Don't whine about it now,'
Really, I'm going to cry.
So, how did it go?
What's the matter with...

　Liv leaned forward, and Laura backed away from her.

'I'm sorry to hear that. Which way?
Whichever way you look at it...

　I squirm and move my hips.

'What, you're over there?'
I don't have a choice!
You don't have a choice... huh?
Please don't dump me.

　Shelly raised her eyebrows in annoyance.

'Wasn't it Liv who did that to me in the first place? And yet.....
Just in case. Just in case.
Then you'll have to take a look at Liv--
I wouldn't use it.
Nah!
Well, I'm not interested in that.

　Liv said with a blush on her cheeks.

'You used me as a test subject?'
Well, I'm happy to hear it, but it takes courage to try it yourself, right?　So, I'll take Laura--
Oh, Jesus, you can't do this!
But it's all right.
It's not all right!

　Uggh, Laura moaned.
　'Hmmm, the pain is building up.

'So, how did it go?'
It was painful.
I don't mean that. There's more to it than that.
'There's a lot more to say...'

　Laura clammed up.
　What on earth would Liv expect?
　But silence must not convince Liv to keep quiet.

''It was ... humiliating,''
Humiliating?

　Laura mumbled, and Liv looked startled.

'No, ha, no humiliation, no humiliation,'
But...

　It was humiliating, Laura reminded herself again of last night.
　Last night, Mako was like a different person.
　He was overbearing, contemptuous, controlling - and kind.
　She even wondered if that was what the evil charisma that often appeared in stories was like.
　Oh, yes.
　He was like an evil charismatic person.
　And on top of that, you have to admit, Laura Cervellas.
　I've accepted the control.
　The Holy Knight is an arrogant notion.
　Now that he has accepted control, the Dark Knight seems to be the one he deserves.
　That was my true nature.
　And yet I (Laura), who has lived as a knight, deny it.
　No, she may even be enjoying the contradiction in her heart.
　It really is irredeemable.

"What's the matter, shut up--
Your husband can be like that, can't he?
Shelly!

　Liv giggled and looked at Shelly.
　Laura let out a breath of relief.
　She wasn't the only one who felt humiliated.
　That fact put her mind at ease a little.
　Well, just because it makes me feel better doesn't mean the problem is solved.

'I was normal, you know?
That's one way to go, isn't it?

　Shelly said as she transferred the washed dishes to the basket.

'Is that how it works?'
That's about it.
That's about it.

　Liv muttered in a sincere tone and folded her hands behind her head.

'Come to think of it, you said you didn't have a choice, but what's the point of having a choice?'
It's just, you know, I want to keep it safe until we're married.
Yeah, well, that's a long way off.
What do you mean by "long overdue"?
Hmm?　No, I mean, Mako didn't seem to be interested in getting married.
Well, we're tied together, aren't we?
But you'll take care of it until you're married?
It is, but ... isn't it strange?
It's not funny.
....

　Laura exclaimed.
　'Liv - maybe that's a peculiar feeling to the Bison Horns, but I don't think it's true.

'Is that all right with you?'
Hmm, well, it's not like this is a game.
I'm at my age, you know. I'm beginning to think that being a mistress of a nobleman is not so bad these days.
So.....

　Do you want me to be your legal wife?　I swallowed the words "I'm sorry," as quickly as I could.
　It's not that the two of you did anything to me or anything.
　I had a bad feeling.
　It was a premonition that something was going to go wrong.
　That's what I had a premonition.

'Externally, how about I'm the rightful wife, and in terms of pecking order, Sherry is first, Liv is second, and I'm third?
What are you talking about?

　Shelley gave her a quizzical look.

'Yes, no, I thought it would be best to clarify my position...'
'It doesn't seem to make much sense, but if that's okay with you, Laura, it's fine with me.
Well, that's fine with me. You can't have too many women.

　As Laura patted her chest, Sherry put the shot glasses on the counter.
　There are three - not to mention the number of people to consider.
　An amber liquid is poured into the shot glasses.
　It must be a pretty strong drink.
　The tanginess of the smell stung my nose.

'Are you drinking in the daytime?'
It's just one drink.
If that's the case.

　Sherry picked up a shot glass and Liv and Laura took it too.

'What are we toasting to?'
To your husband and our future, I guess.

　The three of us raise our shot glasses.

""Cheers."

　We had a brief meeting.