The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 236 - Heavy Is The Head That Wears This Crown Of Drool

Chapter 236: Chapter 236 - Heavy Is The Head That Wears This Crown Of Drool

Consciousness returned slowly to Qatrand. Her body was pleasantly heavy from yesterday’s exertions. The fighting would be longer and the rest less frequent during the war. Moments like sharing a bedroll with her cute wife would be nonexistent.

’That was why I was so willing to agree to her last night. Also why I wanted to listen to family rules in the first place. So I wouldn’t start expecting this.’

The familiar weight of her wife draped across her chest brought a smile before she even opened her eyes. That smile turned to confusion as she registered an odd tugging sensation at her scalp. Which was followed by... a nomming sound.

Elua had somehow managed to twist herself diagonally across the swordswoman’s upper body through the night. Her face was currently buried in blonde strands near the crown of Qat’s head. Small hands clutched possessively at Qat’s shoulders while quiet noises suggested the ancient cultivator was treating her hair as a dream snack.

The fragment in her chest radiated peaceful ’contentment’.

"El..."

Her low voice drew a sleepy grumble. The brunette nuzzled deeper, apparently finding the taste of her husband-wife’s hair preferable to waking. A thin trail of drool connected her parted lips to the thoroughly chewed golden locks.

"You’re eating my hair."

"Mm... tastes like victory."

The mumbled response came without Elua opening her eyes and Qat’s spiritual tendrils wrapped around her wife with fond exasperation. Small fingers flexed against the muscular shoulders as she tried to maintain her comfortable position.

"Your drool is making it stick to your face."

That finally got mint eyes to flutter open. The ancient cultivator raised her head slightly, blonde strands indeed plastered to her cheek. Her usual facade powered expressions were nowhere to be found as she blinked owlishly at her fortress.

"Oh. I was dreaming about... sweet... things."

The Yecine’s low chuckle made the Goltbred’s body vibrate with the motion. Her wife’s sleep-addled state was a rare treat. One that was surely sweeter than anything the cute girl had dreamed up.

"Something that required chewing?"

Elua made a non-committal sound as she attempted to unstick the hair from her face with as much dignity as possible. Her usually exacting movements were still clumsy with sleep. The willingness of the cultivator to not force herself to be more awake drew another low laugh from her fortress.

’The fact that she trusts me enough to stay relaxed. It’s really precious.’

"I was thinking about... candy? I shopped for treats yesterday. And then you... the thoughts got mixed."

Her monotone carried no embarrassment about the admission, just like her spirit, as she finally managed to free her Qat from herself. At least as much as she cared to. Some of her husband-wife’s strands were still stuck together with her own brown hair.

She remained sprawled across Qat’s chest, clearly having no intention of actually getting up any time soon.

"The tea party of yours is today."

The spouse’s reminder drew a huff from the reincarnator. Elua’s spirit coiled with ’alertness’ and ’calculation’ as she pressed her face back into the strong shoulder.

’Does she expect me to care about plans and food when my tasty goal is already right here? I clearly only worry about any of that when I’m not *allowed* to be all over you, darling~’

"Mm. My personal servant knows what to do already. I’ve invited who I wanted to come already. Dima’s probably a nervous wreck about it. Aleck seemed comfortable with father, but we’ll have to see how he manages. And Talva..."

She trailed off, considering the pieces of the gameboard she had arranged. Her fingers stroked back and forth on Qat’s collarbone as she ’thought’.

"Will you be attending the open exhibition matches?"

"A few of the elders suggested I should. To observe different styles. Now that I’ve ’proven myself’ capable of learning from others."

The ancient cultivator’s lips curved slightly at that slight bitter phrasing. Her mint eyes gained a gleam as she raised her head to study the face of her beloved.

"Perfect. That gives me time to work while you’re occupied. Though I suppose I should actually get up if I want to get it all finished."

Despite her lilting words that proved her facade was ready, she made no move to leave her lazily mounted position. Qat’s spiritual tendrils tightened around her, finding herself just a bit unwilling to lose the intimate moment as well.

"You don’t seem very motivated to start your schemes."

"Schemes? My love, it’s just tea. What could I even get up to by merely talking to people?"

The ’innocent’ tone drew a soft snort from the swordswoman. They could feel each other’s ’amusement’ even without seeing her face.

"Yesterday you turned a near accident into a conversation with a man you never met. You never told me why you were interested in him."

"That? That wasn’t a scheme. Just... efficient opportunism."

The brunette finally shifted to sit up, though she remained seated on Qat’s chest while looking down at her. Small fingers combed through her own hair, feeling that she might have to wash it quickly before the gathering.

"And today really is just tea. With some talking among people. There perhaps may have been plans for a few carefully arranged seating positions. But I’ve given up on that."

The girl’s spirit pulsed with ’mischief’ that contradicted her innocent tone. The heiress made a promise with someone yesterday before she ’snuck away’ from camp that called for a change of one plan.

’Well, I certainly don’t get it. But if that’s what they want~’

Qat sat up as the brunette wobbled between ’confusion’ and ’schadenfreude’. Her arms steadied the girl’s back as they slid into a close seated hug. The embrace drew an appreciative hum from her wife as the motion introduced lots of contact from the taller girl... and her muscles.

"My love... you might want to put your hair back to black soon. Just in case someone comes to fetch you for the matches early."

The request drew a slight frown from the swordswoman. She had grown used to keeping her natural color in private moments and the cute girl didn’t usually ask her to change away from it. She was sure that her wife must have sensed someone on the way.

"Already?"

"Unfortunately. I’ll get out of... your hair. Well, you might want to wash that, actually."

Her hand pulled away from the damp scalp with a ’grimace’ before giggling at the unperturbed look on the face of her ’fortress’. They pulled away from each other reluctantly and stood to their feet.

Pigeon blues looked at the plain tan colored dress that the Goltbred wore to meet and sleep. It had not ’bothered’ her that much last night, but now...

’The material is so thin, it’s almost sheer...’

"You won’t be wearing that for your get together... right?"

"Of course not. Why would I wear anything but my favorite silver dress for anyone other than you?"

The reincarnator smirked at her, happy any time her clothing could get any sort of reaction.

"This is for when I need to look the part while visiting certain people. For tea I’ll ’wear’ something that suggests I put in just enough effort to be polite, but not so much that anyone feels pressured as if it is a formal event."

As she spoke, an illusion of herself cycled through options to a simple blue dress from her ’collection’. The kind that would make her look young and approachable rather than aristocratic. With a gesture of her hand, the small cultivator showed off the one that she had decided.

"When you’ve done schemes right, people will wonder if you’ve done anything at all."

The words came out in her empty tone as she enjoyed the view of her spouse look dismissively at the illusion. That set of eyes seemed to prefer to stare at the real thing.

"Though right now, I’m finding it hard to focus on any plans at all... if you look at me like that, it makes me want to find a way to prevent that elder from finding his way here, Qat."

"Am I looking at you any differently than normal?"

The dull mint gaze in the tent tilted as the girl’s head did.

"No, darling. It’s as direct and loving as always. You still might need to tell me to leave because of it, though."

"...I don’t like doing that, El."

"I know."

Her husband-wife’s response was as she expected. The illusionist lowered her head for a moment and smiled ’brightly’ when she raised it. Her voice the next time she spoke was chock full of honey and truth.

"Your cute wife is just too weak to your charms. I’m sorry that I make you be the strong one so much. I’ll do a little better to prevent you from having to say things you don’t want just to keep me in line, okay?"

The mostly raven-haired Yecine tilted her head forward just a bit. Not a nod... but something close.

⟠ ⟠ ⟠

The encampment had finished bustling with activity a half hour before the scheduled time. Servants had arranged cushions and low tables in the reception area. Elua’s personal servant directed the setup, excited for never having organized that many similar gatherings in their city home.

The heiress did not often care to socialize beyond meetings with her former betrothed, after all. The blue dress her charge had chosen to wear was plain and nice. She made a mental note to ask her where she obtained it. Its cut and style looked like it might have come from one of the mortal merchants set up in the grounds nearby.

"Everything appears acceptable, my lady."

The servant’s careful phrasing brought a curve to the girl’s lips. Both of them knew what ’acceptable’ meant. Matching the exact specifications the two had laid out the afternoon before.

"Wonderful. Though I believe we should talk again about how sure you-"

Her words cut off as her spirit detected Nohre and Fusand approaching the camp entrance. They had gone out early to look around the grounds and watch some of the first exhibition matches. The orphans’ spirits churned with nervous energy.

’Probably the clothes. They still aren’t used to them, even if they aren’t that formal.’

She had even been accused of spoiling them! The master couldn’t believe her disciples. If they only knew how little they cost compared to how much money she made just yesterday on her bets... they might change their tune and wonder why she was so stingy.

"Ah, my friends arrive early. Perfect timing to review tea service protocols. Not that we’ll be worrying about it too much."

The brunette’s ’sweet’ tone carried none of the calculation hiding beneath it. After all, having them assist and learn would make them feel more involved while conveniently placing them exactly where she wanted when other guests arrived. Engaged in chatting and moving instead of stiff and seated.