By the time the setting sun had dyed the arena in orange-gold, Akuto had carved his own crest onto Erica and Liliana's weapons one after the other.
With that, the knightly oath of fealty, a ritual that could only be performed once in a lifetime, was complete. Erica and Liliana had offered Akuto their true loyalty as knights in every meaningful sense.
The final ritual of knighthood was now over.
What remained next... was only the final ritual of becoming his companions.
...
Afterward, Erica and Liliana both asked Akuto for leave, saying they needed to make some preparations.
At first, Akuto found it a little strange. Wasn't it time for dinner next? What urgent matter could Erica and Liliana possibly have to deal with?
But once he saw the exceptionally luxurious evening gowns they had changed into, and caught the faint scent of the perfume they had deliberately applied, he finally understood.
So that was it.
They were worried that after all that exertion, they might still carry a trace of sweat. And considering that they would be wearing formal evening clothes for dinner, it made sense that they would leave first after the battle to freshen up.
Akuto understood their reasoning, though in truth, he did not mind at all if Erica or Liliana carried a slightly stronger scent after exercise.
On one hand, the two of them already possessed their own distinctive fragrance, and sweating would only make their natural allure more vivid.
On the other hand, Athena's divine power and Akuto's own constitution could perfectly resolve such things anyway. Athena's power would refine and elevate their bodies, while Akuto's succubus bloodline subtly altered the constitution of the opposite sex through contact.
So from the very start, there had never really been any need for bathing in the practical sense.
Still, considering the feelings of the girls and the importance of ritual, it was only natural that they would want to take the time to prepare themselves properly.
...
Dinner was arranged at a restaurant overlooking the harbor.
Inside the glass-walled revolving restaurant at the very top, Akuto met Erica and Liliana again, both dressed in full splendor.
"You both look beautiful tonight. It feels like I'm seeing a whole new side of you."
Akuto smiled and offered the two girls high praise.
"To be praised by my king is Erica's highest honor."
Erica replied with perfect ladylike grace, then took the seat to Akuto's left.
"As both your knight and your companion, this is only my proper duty."
Liliana lowered her head and answered softly as she sat down on Akuto's right.
Clearly, both girls had put thought into their seating. Neither of them had chosen the seat across from him. Instead, both sat at his sides, where they could remain as close to him as possible.
This restaurant was extremely refined. If they sat opposite him, the distance would have felt far too great.
"Akuto, the Tuscan beef paired with aged Brunello wine is this restaurant's signature dish."
As she spoke, Erica elegantly cut into the veal glazed in balsamic sauce, then raised a fork with a piece of meat toward Akuto.
Meanwhile, Liliana was carefully removing the bones from a sea bass.
"As for me, I would recommend that Lord Akuto try the seafood here. Sicilian seafood seasoned with lemon and olive oil has a very distinctive local flavor..."
Liliana likewise placed a portion of snowy white fish in front of him.
Akuto only smiled and shook his head. With a mere thought, both the meat and the fish drifted into his mouth on their own.
At a moment like this, it was better not to accept either side's feeding first.
Although Akuto had sidestepped the issue, neither Erica nor Liliana was discouraged. Instead, they began introducing him to the other dishes they personally favored.
Both girls knew that even before meeting them, Akuto had already understood them remarkably well. But there were still some things he could not possibly know.
And so the two of them continued, introducing dishes while also tending to him with intimate care.
Because they were wearing elaborate evening gowns, both Erica and Liliana were a little inconvenienced in their movements, so neither of them attempted the face-to-face teasing they had managed earlier that afternoon.
By the time dinner was over, more than ninety percent of the meal had ended up in Akuto's stomach. As for Erica and Liliana, the two of them had taken only a little to drink.
At that moment, Akuto remembered a joke from his previous life.
A bird and a worm were out on a date. The worm kept eating nonstop, while the bird ate nothing and only watched the worm.
Without question, he was the worm being fed.
...
By the time the meal ended, moonlight had already spread across the terrace. Erica suddenly rose and bowed.
"My king, please allow me to take my leave for a short while and change for the next ritual."
Liliana stood almost at the same moment.
"I... I need to make some preparations as well."
The two girls exchanged a glance, then, with perfect unspoken understanding, leaned down and kissed Akuto lightly on each cheek at the same time.
Erica's kiss carried the mellow fragrance of red wine. Liliana's touch was as crisp and cool as the sea breeze. After leaving those two entirely different traces behind, the girls gathered their heavy gowns and quietly departed the restaurant.
At eleven that night, when Akuto saw them again, they had already changed into the iconic knightly outfits they wore only in battle.
Inside Akuto's room.
Click.
The door opened gently.
Erica and Liliana looked at each other once, then slowly stepped forward until they stood before Akuto.
Erica wore her signature battle attire once more, becoming once again that aristocratic girl who carried the charm of a lady knight in every detail.
Each part of her appearance revealed the unique grace and strength of the Crimson Copper Black Cross. Her violet eyes were especially striking. At rest, they were as still as deep pools, yet beneath that calm there flickered the fierce heat of a lion, sharp and penetrating, but no less deeply alluring for it.
Those signature violet eyes were set in a fair, beautiful face, forming a vivid contrast with her radiant golden hair.
Her hair, like molten gold, flowed down behind her shoulders, with a few loose strands brushing lightly against her cheeks, softening her noble bearing with a hint of purity and heroism.
A crimson-black mantle draped from her shoulders, its edges embroidered with the dark-gold crest of the Crimson Copper Black Cross. Even as she stood still, its sharp folds resembled the closed wings of a bird of prey.
Beneath the mantle was a dark battle outfit fitted closely to the curves of her upper body. The material seemed durable, yet unexpectedly emphasized the softness of her shoulders and waist. The light armor covering the vital points protected her without overwhelming the elegant flow of her silhouette.
The brown belt at Erica's waist did not feel like a rigid restraint at all. Rather, it blended naturally into the whole design, guiding the eye downward.
Further below, her shapely thighs were completely wrapped in dark fitted fabric, outlining the rich, toned lines from hip to ankle with perfect clarity. Strength and softness coexisted within her figure in a strangely captivating harmony.
The material carried a faint sheen, and under the light it revealed the subtle rise and fall of her form. Even standing still, she gave the impression that explosive speed might burst from her at any moment.
It could be said that Erica's custom-tailored knight's combat attire perfectly balanced efficiency and elegance in a way that Arianna's overly conservative and standardized maid outfit never could.
The entire design of the female knight's uniform of the Crimson Copper Black Cross fit her body perfectly, gathering and lifting her upper silhouette with subtle artistry while matching Erica's proud, upright posture. She radiated a unique charm born from the blending of noble knighthood and youthful feminine grace.
She needed no movement to become the center of attention.
Red and black, set against golden hair, created an unprecedented kind of beauty. Her loose hair draped across the dark mantle, the contrast of colors intense but never jarring. Instead, it only sharpened the delicacy of her features and the brilliance of her gaze.
The outfit clung perfectly to every curve of her body, as if it had been made for her alone, without a single wasted detail. The heroic sharpness of her outward bearing and the vivid vitality suggested by the fuller curve of her hips, emphasized by the brown belt, formed the very core of her singular allure.
...
Beside Erica, Liliana subconsciously ran a hand through her silver high ponytail, perhaps because she was too nervous.
The silver sheen of her hair beneath the moonlight immediately drew Akuto's attention.
Her hair, like a cascade of moonlight, was tied high into a neat ponytail that fell behind her back.
It was not a dull silver-white, but a delicate, luminous shade, like a river of stars flowing through the night sky. When stirred by the air, those strands moved with the softness of silk, lending her an added sense of vitality.
The high ponytail emphasized her crisp, knightly efficiency, yet did nothing to diminish the softness of her hair itself. Under the light, it shimmered with a faint bluish tint, echoing her clear blue eyes in a quiet harmony.
Lower down, those blue eyes of hers were clear as a lake, bright and deep, as though they could peer into the secrets of another's heart.
There was always a quiet firmness in them, but at unguarded moments, a trace of shy emotion would ripple across their surface.
Like Erica, Liliana had also changed into the knightly attire symbolizing the Bronze Black Cross.
A blue knight's mantle rested across her slender shoulders, and beneath it she wore the black uniform skirt that matched it.
The blue and black interwove across the cape, its edges embroidered with the refined crest of the Bronze Black Cross.
When it moved lightly, it not only framed her upright posture, but also lent her a cool and valiant air.
The black uniform skirt was perfectly tailored, outlining Liliana's narrow waist and graceful curves.
Below it stretched a pair of long, elegant legs, giving her whole appearance a beauty that was both practical and refined.
Her legs, long and pale, were wrapped tightly in white stockings.
The smooth texture of the stockings fit her lines perfectly, accentuating their slender softness. Whether she was walking or simply standing still, they gave off a sense of airy elegance, one that echoed the lightness with which she soared through the heavens using flight magic.
If Erica's most eye-catching features were her supple waist and full thighs, then the thing that attracted Akuto most about Liliana was the light, delicate grace of her legs.
Not her thighs alone. Not her calves. Not even the small feet wrapped in white stockings and black shoes.
What captivated him was the beautiful line formed by her entire lower body as a whole.
Only after thoroughly taking in the charm of both girls did Akuto finally speak in his usual unhurried tone.
"...I thought the two of you would come in those evening gowns from earlier. Why change back into your usual outfits?"
(End of Chapter)
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