They decided to recover the lifeboat after dinner—just as Tritos and the others finished cooking.
Tritos's crew weren't especially invested in La Folia and Kanon's family revelations; dinner was far more urgent.
During the meal, Minamiya Natsuki came home. One glance and she spotted the new face at the table.
"Another new girl? Why does she look so much like Kanon?" Natsuki asked, frowning at La Folia.
"The Witch of the Void—no, hello, Minamiya-nee. I'm La Folia Rihavein, First Princess of Aldegia. I'll be imposing on you for a few days," La Folia said with a polite nod.
"Aldegia's princess? What brings you to Itogami… Does it have to do with Kanon?" Natsuki put it together at once.
"Yes. Kanon is my aunt. I came on my grandfather's behalf to bring her home."
"Kanon has that kind of background? …But I doubt you can take her," Natsuki replied flatly.
"I know about Kanon and Shichen. And I can't go back right away anyway—I'll have to stay a couple of days."
"Suit yourself… And why did you call me 'sister'?" Natsuki asked.
"Well~ the dossier says you're Shichen's 'sister,' and as for me… I'm about to be Shichen's fiancée." La Folia walked over, smiling, and hugged his arm—tightly.
"…" Shichen's mouth twitched. She did know how to stir a pot… though she couldn't know how things really stood between him and Natsuki.
"Fiancée? Explain," Natsuki said, expression unreadable.
"I saved her, and she vowed to marry me," Shichen said succinctly.
"'Vowed to marry'… or is she after your status?"
"Please don't put it like that," La Folia said smoothly. "I'm not that kind of person. Shichen saw me completely—so I chose him. I'm very traditional."
"He saw you?" Natsuki's gaze turned dangerous.
"Ahem. I found her while she was casually bathing. One thing led to another," Shichen said.
"What are you talking about?" La Folia flushed and pouted. "You stared the whole time—front, back, top to bottom. I even asked you to turn around and you wouldn't."
She wasn't trying to provoke Natsuki; she genuinely didn't know about Shichen and Natsuki. She just wanted to be up-front—about both feelings and intentions. But that… wasn't how Natsuki heard it.
"Is that true?" Natsuki's eyes went glacial.
"Ahem… Natsuki, I'm a normal man. Faced with a scene like that, playing the gentleman would make me a eunuch. And she looks so much like Kanon—I had to confirm it," Shichen said, owning it. No point dodging now.
"You think I'll buy that? You can't tell the difference between them?"
"Fine. I just wanted to look."
"Hmph." Natsuki snorted, annoyed—but there wasn't much she could do about him. She knew exactly how big his appetite was. And she wasn't sure she had the leverage to do anything—if she pushed too far, she might be the one in trouble. He'd already crossed her boundaries; give him an inch…
Does he really like petite girls that much? Her real body wasn't like this puppet. Would he still like her then?
"Um… what is the relationship between you and Minamiya-nee?" La Folia asked, sensing something off. No normal "siblings" acted like this—the "jealous" kind of off. She knew they weren't blood-related, but she hadn't expected Shichen to win over the Void Witch.
And given the 'younger' looks of Yukina, Kanon, and the housemates… the rumor seemed, well… credible. Denial was natural; what lolicon admits it?
"Figured it out? Less commentary," Shichen said, shooting her a look.
"How was I supposed to know you wouldn't even spare Natsuki-nee…"
"Spare her? Unthinkable. As if I'd let her be with someone else."
"Possessive much."
"Hmph—say what you want. I'm not happy about it," Natsuki sniffed—but her mood visibly lifted.
"Wait—Sensei, you and Minamiya-sensei…?" Yukina finally caught up.
"Ahem. We live together. Getting together is normal, no? Not much to say there. That doesn't count as 'preying on girls,' right?"
"I mean… but you two were listed as siblings…" Yukina said, conflicted.
"Not blood," he said.
"…," Yukina still struggled with it.
"Yukina, you don't want Shichen with anyone, do you?" La Folia smiled. The girl was jealous—plain as day.
"Eh? I—I didn't say that…" Yukina whispered, face aflame.
"Then what's the problem? Shichen and Natsuki-nee like each other, and they aren't related. Besides, Kanon and I are aunt and niece and we're still both planning to be with him."
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Yukina and Sayaka blurted together. Only now did the implications sink in.
"That's… a bit much, isn't it?" Sayaka ventured.
"Why? As long as they're all beauties—kidding. Kanon and I are basically the same age; call it 'sisters.' And Shichen isn't ordinary—he's a Primogenitor. 'Sister Pair' isn't a big deal," La Folia said breezily.
"…," Yukina and Sayaka looked at each other, shocked speechless. Royalty—made of sterner stuff, apparently.
"Kanon, you're fine with it, right?" La Folia asked the quietly eating Kanon.
"Me? As long as I can be with Onii-chan," Kanon said.
"Then we're good."
"…," Yukina opened her mouth and closed it again. She had no standing. As a monitor, she didn't get a vote.
After dinner, Yukina headed home—Sayaka went with her and stayed the night. La Folia bunked with Kanon; they had a lot to talk about. But first—there was one more "urgent" matter.
"Shichen, let's go recover the lifeboat. All my personal things are in there—do you want my intimates found by strangers?" La Folia urged, practically bouncing.
Yukina and Sayaka had left reassured, figuring with Natsuki home, Shichen wouldn't stay out late.
"No one will go there… Still, you're right. Let's be quick."
"Someone's possessive~" La Folia teased—she could already see it in him.
"Natsuki, we'll be right back."
"Don't be late," Natsuki said, sipping her tea.
She wasn't worried. La Folia had only just met Shichen—what could they possibly do?
"Okay."
Shichen took La Folia straight back to the fog island.
"Where's your lifeboat?"
"No rush—let's check over there first."
"That spot…"
She pointed toward the spring where she'd bathed earlier—he remembered.
"What are you up to?"
"Come on, come on~" She tugged his hand and led him there.
They soon reached the pool. La Folia stared at it a moment, a little dazed.
"You're not planning to bathe again, are you? Couldn't you do that at home?"
"This is where we met. And if we go home, we can't bathe together~" She winked.
"You want to bathe with me?"
"Don't you want to bathe with me?"
"Just don't blame me for what happens next."
"I'm not that casual. Even if I've chosen you… royal girls are very well educated, you know~"
With that, she put a hand to her outfit. The dress-uniform came off in a smooth motion; then blouse and skirt—until she was down to her underthings.
Shichen watched silently. She was serious.
"Want to watch me undress? After all, you watched me dress," she said, and reached for the rest.
Moonlight rippled across the pool. A pale "spirit" appeared by the water's edge—fair and dazzling, drawing his gaze like the moon itself.
"Shichen—aren't you going to undress?" La Folia asked, cheeks lightly flushed.
"Alright," he said with a nod, starting on his buttons.
He was curious—just how much did royal "education" cover?
~~~
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