Taming The Villainesses

(EP-332.1) Of Heart #1

332 – Queen of Hearts #1

“Why are you doing things you don’t normally do? And am I some kind of object to you?”

Elga scolded me fiercely. It was because I suddenly grabbed her chest in the city hall garden and said something useless.

“Apologize immediately.”

Elga, as if that wasn’t enough, grabbed my pointed ear and pulled it up.

Her grip was far beyond that of an ordinary person, and I felt tears almost welling up.

“Hiek…! I’m sorry…!”

I needed to look as pitiful as possible. Only then would Elga forgive me and let go of her anger.

Perhaps my strategy worked because Elga released my ear and let out a deep sigh.

“Really. We haven’t seen each other in a long time… Are you in heat or something? What’s gotten into you?”

But Elga was half right.

Lately, I’d been grappling with something I couldn’t tell anyone about. Perhaps it was the allure of Elga’s soft maternal aura that made me open up.

“… I’ve been struggling to hold back lately. I don’t want to feel this way, but I can’t help it. I don’t know why.”

“What do you mean?”

“That… it’s like I’m going through puberty all over again. It’s hard to explain…”

Elga narrowed her eyes at my mumbling confession.

“What, are you saying you’re in heat? Are nymphs like that?”

“… I don’t know.”

Recently, my libido has become incomparably stronger.

I didn’t know the reason.

Was it because my physical condition has been improving a lot lately?

Or was it that, like how muscles grow from repeated stimulation, my desire was being stirred from the repeated intimacy?

No.

Maybe this was natural.

In the past, I had suppressed my personal emotions and desires due to various circumstances. But living surrounded by attractive women, it was only inevitable.

Men were simply such creatures.

It’s natural for a man to want to date, marry, have children, and live happily together with an attractive woman

Admitting that I hadn’t been manly enough until now, Elga snorted and turned her head away. This created a brief moment of silence.

“…….”

“…….”

The one to break the silence was Elga, who spoke softly.

“Then just grab any woman and get it over with.”

“Not just anyone will do.”

“… So, what is it, then? Are you saying you want to… with me right now?”

“But Elga-nim has a baby in her belly.”

No matter how much my desire burned, I had to consider the situation and the person. Elga had a child in her womb, and I didn’t want to put her through anything strenuous.

Elga replied.

“That’s true. But I heard that… after the third month, it should be fine. Things will have become more stable….”

“…….”

She was suggesting.

Did that mean Elga also wanted to do it with me? I wanted to ask, but I decided against it—she would definitely get angry if I did.

“Well, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just saying…!”

Suk.

With that, she got up from her seat.

“I’m done moonbathing. I’m going now.”

Elga left abruptly.

As her figure gradually disappeared, I noticed that the bench where she had been sitting was somehow more damp.

The realization sent a tingling sensation down my spine.

Just then, someone approached me from a distance.

“Sir Theo, Queen Aira is requesting your presence.”

Was she a maid from Sandora City Hall?

It was already nine o’clock.

* * *

Among spiders, it’s said that many female spiders eat the males during mating.

To avoid being eaten, the males devise various methods and tricks.

Why am I bringing this up?

Because that’s exactly how I felt right now.

Like a tiny male spider stepping onto the web where a female lay in wait. Heading to Aira’s chambers after such a long time felt daunting.

I won’t be eaten, would I?

Of course, Aira was human.

She wouldn’t literally devour me. But even knowing that, a private audience with her was always a nerve-wracking experience for me.

━Theo, I know you’re out there.

As I lingered at the door, I heard Aira’s voice.

It meant that I stop standing around and go inside. Taking a deep breath, I checked my attire one last time, then slapped my cheeks.

“Alright.”

It’s a small act of self-encouragement.

Finally, I pushed the heavy doorknob and entered the room.

It was the most lavish and beautiful room in the Sandora City Hall.

And in this chamber of gleaming marble, Aira, clad in silk nightwear, was poking at the logs in the fireplace with a poker.

“Come, sit down. I just lit the fire—it might still be a little cold.”

The air was indeed quite chilly.

Since I was enjoying the moonlight until just a moment ago, my body had cooled down quite a bit.

“Then, I’ll sit next to you.”

As I took the seat beside Aira, the warmth radiating from the fireplace melted the cold from my body. It felt pleasant. As I soaked in the heat, like slowly melting cheese, Aira spoke.

“You look healthy.”

“You as well, Aira-nim. I’m glad to see you’re in good health. It seems you’ve been doing just fine without me.”

“Does it seem that way?”

In truth, I had been a little worried.

This was the first time Aira and I had been apart for so long. So, I had thought that perhaps left on her own, she might not even be able to put on stockings.

But it was simply my worry.

It seemed that Aira had been doing well even without me.

Well, that’s only natural.

She’s the queen.

Even if it wasn’t me, there would have been countless people in the palace to take care of her. Realizing this, I couldn’t help but be proud of Aira for truly growing as a person—at the same time, I felt lonely.

Am I no longer needed?

It felt like the same bittersweet emotion of seeing an ex-girlfriend doing well. Of course, Aira was neither my ex nor even my girlfriend.

To shake off this restless feeling, I decided to speak.

“So, why did Your Majesty call me at this late hour?”

At my question, Aira looked at my face.

I usually hesitate a bit when looking into another person’s eyes. But Aira looked at me with those deep, black eyes without the slightest hint of wavering.