Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 95 - Before Marriage 3

When I opened my eyes again, the sky was already close to dawn.

That might have been a bit much for me... Or maybe a better way to put it: I wasn't sure I had the confidence to satisfy all three of my wives at once.

Though it seemed like, aside from Eris, both Sylphiette and Roxy had already tapped out in the second half.

So that means... I'm pretty impressive?

I turned to look at my sleeping wives and smiled. Really glad I bought such a big bed.

Well, to be precise, Aisha bought it for me.

I pulled on some shorts and headed for the door to use the bathroom.

"Rudeus."

I'd barely stepped out of the room when I nearly jumped out of my skin.

A familiar voice, from right behind me.

I turned around. It was Ghislaine.

"Uh... what are you doing out here?"

This feeling again.

I remembered it being exactly like this after my first time with Eris, years ago. Nearly morning, walking out of the room, and there was Ghislaine.

Wait. Last night... did I forget to cast Silence Magic?

Well... Aisha was sensible about these things, and Ghislaine probably had no interest in any of it... right...?

"So. How was it?"

Ghislaine's voice dragged me back to reality.

"Huh? How was what?"

"The night with your wives."

"Ghislaine, I'd really rather not discuss this with you."

I mean, the Ghislaine in my head was a bit of an airhead. She wasn't supposed to be bringing up topics like this.

Hmm?

Ghislaine was standing right at my doorway. She'd called out the second I stepped through it.

And as far as I remembered, I hadn't cast any Silence Magic on the room last night.

"Ghislaine... you didn't sit out here listening all night, did you?!"

She tilted her head at the question.

"I'm not that bored. But I did hear some of it."

"Can you please just forget that..."

"I'm happy for you both — even if I heard, I wouldn't think anything of it." She paused. "Anyway, that's not why I came. I have something serious to discuss."

Serious business from Ghislaine?

I thought about it for a second. The answer came almost immediately.

"Rudeus. Help me kill Darius. I need you."

Called it.

Even if Eris's grandfather hadn't been killed by Darius directly, on the surface it was him, and the odds that Darius was the real culprit were high. Ghislaine was the type who repaid her debts. She was probably still carrying regret over not listening to me back then, not staying close to Sauros.

My next goal was getting Ariel onto the throne, and Darius was squarely in the prince's camp. Removing him was necessary regardless. If he'd just been some stupid noble it would be simple enough, but that Water God behind him...

"I'll help you. Eliminating Darius is already on my list."

I'd commit to it now. It was going to happen one way or another.

"Thank you, Rudeus."

Ghislaine's tail was swaying, her eyes lit up with something fierce and certain. And yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I knew her well enough to ask.

"Humor me for a second. What exactly are you planning?"

"Simple. We go together, fight our way to Darius, the two of us are more than enough. Masks on, get it done, and run."

"That's... direct. But how do we actually get out?"

"Didn't you mention it once? That you can cast magic to freeze an entire city."

"There would be a lot of innocent people caught in that, you know."

"Doesn't matter."

I knew Ghislaine was the same as me, neither of us were the type to lose sleep over people we had no connection to. Still, hearing it from her usual silly, easygoing self was a little jarring somehow.

I cleared my throat.

"Don't rush this. Darius has power and position, and he's practically running the prince from the shadows. Someone like that — you think he doesn't have serious muscle backing him up?"

"Mm..."

"For now, stay at my place. Orsted gave me a rough timeline for when things need to move. I'll probably start the operation within half a year. The revenge is coming, it just needs a little more time."

Ghislaine nodded and agreed without hesitation.

She was a lot like Eris that way. She knew she wasn't clever, and so when it came to someone she trusted, she handed that trust over completely and without conditions.

"That said, I won't stay in your house. You're about to get married. Nights like last night aren't stopping anytime soon, not for the next few days at least."

"Stop, stop. I'm not having this conversation with you."

But... not stopping for a few days?

Three of them...?

"I'll find an inn."

Ghislaine turned to go.

Then, just before she left, something seemed to cross her mind. She stopped.

"Rudeus... uh..."

"What is it? Hesitating isn't like you."

"You... you should probably pay a little more attention to your sister. She's... she's a bit starved for affection."

"Huh? You mean Aisha?"

"How do I put this... never mind. Just keep treating her the way you normally do."

That conversation left me more confused than when it started. I used the bathroom and went back to the room.

The moment I slid under the covers, Eris pulled me in.

She was awake. She murmured right against my ear.

"Rudeus. I still want more..."

Then, like a little cat, she licked my ear.

"You'll wake Sylphiette and Roxy."

"Tonight. Just you and me. Okay?"

"That kind of thing needs to be discu—"

She kissed me before I could finish.

Her tongue worked against mine for a long moment. When she finally pulled back, she was breathing hard, voice low.

"We already worked it out. Last night was a first-time thing, so we did it together. Tonight, you're mine."

"Alright. I'll do my best to satisfy Eris."

"Last night's Rudeus was already wonderful." She smiled against my shoulder. "I'm really happy right now. I want days like this to go on forever."

"They will."

"So, Rudeus..."

She reached out and started letting her hand wander. Though maybe she really was worried about waking Sylphiette and Roxy, because she held herself back.

Well. Barely. If I hadn't wrapped an arm around Eris, she absolutely would have ended up somewhere she shouldn't.

"Rudeus, are you guarding against me?"

"Of course not."

"Mm~ Then don't hold me so tight. I just want to touch you. Is that really not allowed?"

I loosened my grip.

She was my wife. She'd said so herself.

Just as Eris was starting to get handsy again, Roxy reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling it to her chest and using it as a pillow. She murmured something in her sleep, nestled against me like an infant.

It was hard to believe that this same Roxy had demonstrated genuinely impressive technique last night.

Out of curiosity, I'd even asked her where she learned it.

I was honestly a little scared she might say something like "practical experience." But somehow I'd had a feeling that wasn't going to be the answer.

It wasn't.

Apparently it had been passed down from a certain blonde elf in Paul's party.

Who would have guessed. She always seemed so composed. Clearly there was more to her than I'd thought.

"Rudy~ Why are you awake?"

Sylphiette's voice, soft and drowsy.

I reached up and touched the tip of her ear.

"Not awake. Go back to sleep."

"Mm~"

Her eyes never opened. She drifted off again without another word.

Eris caught my eye and we smiled at each other. She stopped roaming her hands.

The room was quiet, soft with early morning light.

I lay there with my wives, and let myself just enjoy it.

➤ Next: Before the Wedding 4