Chapter 97: Chapter 45. A Date Under the Moon
Chapter 97: Chapter 45. A Date Under the Moon
After we announced our relationship the very next day, I dragged Elsa on the very first date of her life. I chose a clearing near the lake for an overnight picnic.
It was a trick I'd picked up in one of the novels I was reading. After all, it was a pretty common cliché. The main characters on a romantic walk under the moon-where they confess their feelings to each other.
And since it was my first relationship, I took it seriously. I wanted to surprise Elsa, so instead of sitting in a cafe, I announced that we were going to look at the lake.
When I asked why at night, I said it was necessary. However, my experience as a bookworm told me that in the daylight it would not be so graceful.
Elsa did not argue with me. Near midnight, when Maxie and the elder were already asleep, we left the hut in silence, heading for the nearest body of water, which I had discovered not so long ago.
It was a wide clearing next to the forest, where even at night it was very beautiful. The mirror-like water glistened in the moonlight as different flowers grew everywhere around it.
Elsa had set up a picnic right in front of this spectacle, and I really felt like the heroine of a melodrama. Among the treats brought were mostly desserts, which I insisted on. Elsa simply said it would be the same.
The weather was warm, and there were no buzzing insects. In a word, it was the right atmosphere.
We enjoyed this kind of pastime, discussing all sorts of nice things along the way. I turned out to be right that the girl and I were completely the same in our views.
Elsa also liked pink, little kittens, reading non-serious entertaining literature, and fairness in everything. Thoughts about family life were also identical. The girl wanted a peaceful and quiet life somewhere secluded, perhaps even with one cat or dog. But she did not like children, immediately calling them annoying creatures.
Whatever. However, in the near future, I did not aspire to become a mother myself.
We were almost identical in everything else, which was a big revelation. To be honest, it was the first time I'd ever met a soul mate so suited to me. How nice to know that Elsa thought the same way I did!
We sat at the picnic for several hours, and during that time all our food supplies were empty. Finally Elsa said it was time to go back.
But I wasn't ready to leave without doing something first.
When Elsa was about to pack our things, I suddenly began to undress. At that moment, the girl accidentally looked at me and almost dropped her jaw.
— What are you doing?!
Actively unbuttoning the buttons on the front of my dress, I said:
— I'm going for a swim.
Elsa was even more surprised.
— Here? Right now?
— I've been dreaming about it for a long time,» I answered enthusiastically, «And if I have such a chance, I should take it.»
— B-b-but… It's nighttime…
— That's why! It wouldn't be as interesting during the day.
One of the things on my wish list of things to do in life was to swim in a night lake. I always thought it was very romantic, and somewhat extreme. Besides, being a decent lady, I couldn't undress so easily in the middle of the day.
True, before I finally jumped into the water, I encountered certain difficulties. Without thinking ahead, I managed to put on a dress that had to be buttoned on both sides. Beautiful of course, but rather uncomfortable. And all in order to impress me on a first date.
When I finished unbuttoning the buttons on my chest, Elsa covered her eyes with her hand. She tried not to look at me at all.
— Help me! — I asked.
— Wh-what…?
— I can't reach,» I complained, «can you unzip my dress from behind?
The girl was taken aback.
— B-b-but… It's…
— There's nothing wrong with that. After all, you've seen everything anyway.
Considering what had happened between us just a couple of days ago, I saw no point in being shy anymore, and I was quietly going to take off my dress in front of her. While Elsa suddenly blushed.
— Come on, do it quick.
When I said it again, Elsa finally came closer. But instead of helping, she suddenly took off her jacket and threw it over my shoulders.
I fluttered my eyelashes in surprise.
— Hey, Elsa…» I was embarrassed, «I told you to take off the dress, not the other way around.»
— You shouldn't,» the girl objected.
— Why not?
— It's… It's, uh… It's cold. You might catch cold.
— But I'm not cold at all!
— There's a wind blowing. And anyway… It's dangerous to swim at night.
I couldn't understand why Elsa was so insistent on dissuading me. But at my subsequent attempt to protest, she suddenly turned me toward her.
— I'm just worried about you,» she said with a puppyish expression on her face, «What if someone sees such beauty…»
«…Then I'll have to poke their eyes out.» — mentally concluded.
But that was enough to make Leriana blush. Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze as Elsa complimented her for the first time in their recent relationship. And to get it was a pleasure.
— T-then… I won't…» She finally gave up.
Elsa grinned.
— «That's a clever girl. You've earned your reward.
— What?» Leriana was surprised at first and looked at her when, at that moment, Elsa suddenly kissed her.
***
— Hey, take it easy!
Until this moment, Rachel had never imagined in her life that Leriana could ever get so drunk. But today, she literally outdid herself.
Having officially entered adulthood, the girl apparently decided that she could now drink alcohol without restriction. And the first thing she did… dragged Elsa to the nearest bar of dubious origin.
It was there that she got her first taste of real whiskey. Before that, for reasons of decency, Leriana had never allowed herself anything stronger than white wine. But this time, since coming of age was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, she could not hold back and cut herself off to the max.
After the fifth glass, Rachel tried in vain to stop her. But since the girl had already acquired a taste for it, it was useless.
— Hey, bartender, bring me another one!
— Can't we just stop…?
— I want that drink! No, I want two!
Rachel was finally able to get her out of the bar at three in the morning when she was barely on her feet. Carrying the sleeping Lerian on her back, Rachel figured it was too late to go back to the cabin. Besides, with a drunken man at her side.
She made her way to the nearest working hotel, and quickly rented two rooms. Better let her sleep it off first.
Pushing the door open with her foot, Rachel carried Leriana inside. At this point she ran out of the last of her strength to continue maintaining her disguise. Therefore, she was very lucky that Leriana was very sleepy.
Rachel was about to put her on the bed so she could take off her boots afterward and leave her to sleep it off. But it was at this time that the girl abruptly woke up, and suddenly fell down on Rachel herself, starting to undress on top of her.
Rachel was taken aback by this turn.
— Hey…! What are you…!
— I'm hot…» Leriana complained vaguely, blurring her vision of what was going on around her.
— It's… Ahem… Then at least wait for me to come out. Why you…!
The Archduke's daughter completely ignored her words as she unbuttoned her dress. In doing so, she hovered over Rachel in a way that made it impossible for her to calmly push her away. Sheesh! What had gotten into her?
Rachel closed her eyes, intending to just wait for it all to be over. But after dropping her own clothes on the floor, Leriane also suddenly started on hers.
Now that was bad. If the girl noticed the cursed patterns on her breasts, and even remembered… How would she be able to justify herself in the morning?
— Hey, that's enough!
Rachel grabbed her arms to stop her from following through, but Leriana wasn't planning on giving up so easily. Finding herself half «disarmed,» under the influence of alcohol, Leriana began trying to kiss her.
— I… I want…» she mumbled with a flushed face.
Now that was clearly too much.
Rachel knew she should have stopped her, but she couldn't. After all, when else in the future would she get that chance…? When Leriana herself would want to touch her.
Rachel stopped holding her, about to let her do what she wanted. And the girl was already close to her lips when suddenly… Also suddenly she fell asleep.
Leriana dropped her head on her chest and almost snored. Rachel was surprised at first, and even a little disappointed that she had chosen to pass out at the exact wrong time, as usual.
— Oh, dear…
Then grinned as she felt her peaceful breathing near her ear. She stroked the girl's hair and pulled her close to her.
— Lea, you're such a fool, aren't you?