論壇

Vol.1 Chpt.2 Declined Aristocrat (1)

Humans were always driven by the ambition to dominate, and the regimes on the Eastern Continent were in constant flux, with powerful nations potentially being eroded within an instant.

Human civilisation originated in the east of the continent and extended westward to the cliffs, stopping at the clenching fangs of the ocean and the jagged rocks. Generations of old nobles regarded advancing westward as the path to their ‘re-raise to the east,’ and those who fled to the western wilderness carved out new nations, engaging in conquest and annexation then and then...

The westernmost part of the continent had been developed at least a hundred years ago. When civilisation had noleft to expand on land, humans would fantasise about conquering the ocean as they did the rivers and lakes. Pioneers, navigators, fearless sailors, conquerors of the ocean; colonisers, plunderers, cruel bandits, greedy maniacs -- these people had countless names. The winds and waves raged, monsters appeared frequently, and remote islands were gradually abandoned, some finding their own way to survive, while others fell into savagery.

Larger islands or archipelagos would establish independent nations, but due to entirely different geopolitical factors, the outcomes of these nations varied greatly. For example, the three large southern islands once formed a kingdom, but the nobles of the three islands often engaged in constant disputes. Gradually, the king could no longer suppress their separatism, leading to the islands frequently spitting into at least three regimes, with the hills on the islands often further dividing one regime smaller.

Because they were not far the continent, the outlaws on the island organised rebellious forces, frequently raiding passing merchant ships the mainland, even raiding the coast. As a result, the nations affected by their raids directly sent troops to occupy their homeland. Then came the irregularly occurring marine monsters. Even though this exhausted nation could rarely unite against their common enemy, they could no longer prevent the calamity of overwhelming misery and suffering. It was said that decades ago, after a maritime disaster, the nobles fled these three islands, which are now infested with monsters, and some nations took them as exile destinations for convicts.

Berde was considered lucky, though also unfortunate, due to the perilous situation. Monsters surrounded the island, while the fertile land in the centre was the battleground of the monsters. Humans launched a major invasion precisely when the monsters were fighting each other and mostly hurt, driving them all back to the edges of the island. Subsequently, they established towering walls as boundaries, incorporating the fertile plains in the centre of the island and the eastern sea route into their territory.

In such an enclosed environment, criminals or those who violated taboos had noto hide. Coupled with frequent monster disturbances at the perilous borders, the king and the Mission firmly grasped the life-and-death power over the entire island.

Earlier, it was mentioned that there were slums and foreign trade districts in the capital, and reasons varied for families like ours who had lost their fortunes and come to this place: some were former continental nobles who had been conquered or lost political struggles, seeking to avoid death or exile to the more perilous Southern Tri-Islands, so they risked hiring fleets or changing their identities to cross the ocean and settled here.

If the exiled ones still had substantial wealth, they could engage in business in Berde or recruit mercenaries to fight monsters and expand the kingdom's territories, and then be enfeoffed to preserve their reputation. If they arrived here burdened with debt, their fate would likely be tragic. There were rumours of daughters of old noble families being sold as prostitutes in taverns; male entertainers who ran underground businesses in the slums were once princes of some nations. The worst-case scenario would be being sent to the front lines as cannon fodder.

There were also those who fled villages conquered at the borders and among them were some nobles. The clever border nobles would at least establish some businesses in the capital for their families, so that their descendants would not suffer too greatly.

————

‘Have you not married, teacher?’ 

That was an exasperating question.

Ever since that incident, even the rare tranquillity of the noon times became somewhat noisy. The bachelors were taken to the southern border to clear the monsters, which gave me a rare month of leisure. After the mission ended, the two girls came as usual to the roof garden during the noon. The teenagers, full of youthful energy, seemed to have an endless supply of vitality, treading this as a pastime after training.

They always come to ‘disturb’ during the noon break. I could no longer enjoy the leisure and peace of having the entire garden all to myself, can could only stay in a corner of the courtyard, keeping them they are out of my sight, so as not to disturb them. They seemed to trust me very much, always fully engaged in their interactions, and even without hiding the awkward noise.

‘Have you not married, teacher?’

The problem came Veronica, a girl in her right floral age who seemed more mature than her peers in every aspect. She always appears ‘dishevelled’ behind the statue and sat beside me of her own will, almost touching me. If I dare to pull away her, she will grab my arm forcefully.’ This time, she was not wearing a neck collar (only the chestplate) nor pantyhose, letting the large area of her thighs and the area under her shoulder blades be exposed.  

‘Tis asking vain. And, you shall not flirt with your teacher!’ I tried to avert my gaze, but my side glance kept drifting towards her. She smiled seductively, bending down slightly to look up at me, revealing a gap in the leather covering her chest.

‘Eh? Did you not say y're not interested in girls aged less than twenty?’

‘Look at you, like you are really just older than ten?’

Her companion, the obedient Via, adjusted her clothes and came out behind the statue. She casually put the collar in the same set of Veronica's uniform on her neck.

‘Teacher, being alone, is that not solitude?’

I could not take it anymore! Asking with such a caring tone was like poking right at my sore spot. There was no single female teacher on this campus, and the teachers the neighbouring Academia who occasionally crossed paths with me were all nobles. Free love was merely a privilege for minors of the middle class, and nobles lost this right when they were granted honour and wealth. Just a glance at the fingers of women of my age could tell me that they have long been arranged by their old masters in their families. How could a fake noble trapped in this tower ever have a chance to meet a suitable girl?

‘Who among you can go and beg the school board officials to give the teachers more vacations? That way, I can hang out around the outer city more often. Maybe I will fall in love with some young lady then?’

In such a hell of a place, I had never even had a friend to share a drink (it could only be tea or coffee; alcohol was forbidden everyin the Chivalria except for the principals’ and school board members’ offices). Thinking about this, my eyes started to go red.

‘Teacher...’

Dear girl, that was a pity, that your embrace could offer me no more than limited comfort.

I could not help but respond to Via's warm embrace.

‘Ah-huh, will you be available in the outer city during your next vacation?’

Suddenly, both Veronica and Via became serious.

‘In the evening of the first day of the weekend break, come to this address. It's best to consider your attire.’

Can you not just hide random things in your braissiere? I took the note which had a faint scent of perfume, the address was a bar at the intersection of the foreign trade zone and the middle-class district.

‘It if goes through, remember to pay me a commission~’ 

It was probably not something simple...

————  

‘Greetings.’

I was not yet very crowded at dusk in the tavern, counting the two waitresses and the bartender, there were only a few people inside. One of the waitress happened to see me and helped push the door open. Veronica was seen sitting in a corner, waving far away at me.

‘Sir, have you got your appointment?’

‘Ah? Uh, ya!’ I only then realised that the waitress seemed unusually mannered, and... she was also a bit too beautiful.

Accidentally we met each's gaze, she frowned a bit and I quickly turned my head, went away.

‘Matters not if you come even later~’ Veronica stood up and sat across, pointing to the seat she had just sat in, facing the tavern, she indicated for me to sit there.

‘Just for some drinks, would it be necessary to take that weapon?’ She pointed to my belt, the part hidden under my coat my magia gun was attached.

‘What about you then? Are you not planning to drink to your heart's content?’ I glanced at her up and down. This girl showed no sense of modesty, wearing a dress that exposed her back and shoulder blades, adorned with a shiny necklace and earrings, her legs crossed and a foot raised, one of the heels was half hanging in the air.  

Late at night, when a bunch of rough men get drunk, I would not know if they would target Veronica. After all, taverns were also in the business of ‘that kind.’

‘It is not a slum anyway, and this is almost my simplest set.’ She pulled her hem, revealing a dagger attached to her thigh, and gave me a signal glance.

‘You took me here...’

‘Talk later, drink first!’ Saying so, she had the waitress bring up two liters (one Berde liter would be a bit more than one lite), two wooden mugs as tall as her face.

‘Can you drink so much?’ I could not help but stare at the waitress who had opened the door for me. After placing the wine on our table, she whispered softly, ‘please don’t stare at me...’

‘Looking down on me huh?’ she said, filling two mugs to the brim, put one in front of me, then took the other, and lightly tapped my mug before drinking bottom up.

In principle, drinking is prohibited for underageds, but strick checks were only imposed in the inner city. Via was not here, likely because she did not want to break too many rules. As for Veronica, it seemed that she had slipped out many times before.

After about two hours, the two liters of wine were almost gone, and I started to feel a bit drowsy. The tavern gradually filled up with people, but thankfully, no one was drunken yet. Veronica sat down next to me, leaning hear head on my shoulder.

‘Aye, don't--’

‘Shh-- hold me, quiet.’

I hesitantly reached out my hand, she grabbed it and pulled it to her waist, pressing her body against mine. I could clearly feel a warm, soft touch on my ribs.

‘Your breast...’

‘Today I’d make an exception and let you feel it~’ Veronica pressed closer to me harder, and I felt my lower body react unwillingly.

‘In fact, Via has quite something too~ She just usually wears tight inside. As for me, if possible, I’d like to keep it empty.’

If it were not for the tight pants I was wearing, I might had already been completely exposed under these slightly alcoholic whispers. Could it be... the one leaning against me, separated by just a thin layer of fabric, is the breast of a girl in her floral... and furthermore, my student...

My gaze rested noproper, because to my right was a group of outlaws I absolutely could not look at-- mercenaries equipped with terrifying gears. If my gaze stayed centred, looking down would reveal the bright white thighs beneath her fress, bare skin brushing against my leather trousers, and looking up slightly would allow me to glimpse the tempting gap through her open collar. I could only stare tightly at the mug in my hand.

‘Cheating yet, I wore something today~’

No, telling so only made me react more intensely.

‘What is your real business?’ Someone who was already in a relationship with a classmate would not just go out for drinks with a male teacher.

‘Hih-hih, surely, to help my teacher with his lifelong matter~’ She signalled me with her eyes, and I followed her gaze; it was the waitress.

‘How? Fits your appetite? A charming lover is she not? If you want her not, I might just go towards her flatter~’

‘Afraid not your girlfriend finding out?’ 

‘She's surely willing to have one more to play with.’

That was enough! I could not imagine the scene. However, the tavern had become busy, and I finally had the chance to take a closer view at that gorgeous waitress.

She did not belong here. I was so impressed obviously, yet her every move was so composed. Her steps and actions to lay out, to pick up, were all so dignified, as if declaring that she was completely capable of handling this job.

Even the most ordinary waitresses would flirt with customers, selling their charms, and often found it hard to reject some unreasonable yet forceful requests. Spending more time in the tavern, the waitresses might gradually be attracted by higher income by satisfying customers’ more extreme demands. The second floor of a tavern was usually furnished with private blocks, and a bit later now on they will be needed.

To tell why it felt out of place, it was probably because of her gaze that was always fixed high and her overly straight back. That was not the image of someone who would be obedient, but rather that of a rebel. She always kept an appropriate distance customers, always gave polite replies with a half-smile, and was always telling others that she would not yield.

She was too special, which made me take an even closer look at her. I had only caught a few glimpses of her face before entering, but I had already formed a deep impression of her appearance. She was very beautiful, which was unusual. Women with such outstanding looks and demeanour would commonly not get hired in the taverns in such a neighbourhood. They might be introduced to the inner city, they would be trained to become court maids or work in high-class cafes and bars. There, they earned well and did not have to deal with any dirty work. Moreover, if they were to steal business competitors or attract the attention of bad people, such girls might face a terrible fate.

Her hair and eyes were both rare. She had the typical blonde hair of the island, but unlike the vibrant and dense golden colours of the girls like Veronica, it was a dull, pale gold. The sheen seen a distance was almost like a silver bowl under candlelight. She tied her hair into two braids that fell the top of her back head down to her waist, straight as flowing water, swaying like luxurious silk.

Her facial features were not very distinct or invasive, but were exquisite and gentle. Her lips were thin and smooth, and the curves of her earlobes seemed to blush in the light, making her grey-green eyes even more captivating. She should be around my age, having moved past her girlhood, and appeared slightly more mature. If Veronica stood beside her, she would seem even more naive.

The waitress's attire retained the headpiece of a maidservant's outfit, but everything else was entirely different: the waist corset of some brown red material on her dress accentuated her slender figure perfectly, and her tall, elegant posture, with a simple indigo-grey dress fluttering around her, complemented her clean-shapen legs clad in high-heeled leather shoes. Between the stockings covering and the hem of the dress revealed the natural skin colour of her thighs.

Her breasts were not particularly large, but the shapes were seen as much graceful. The bare skin of her shoulders, neck and slightly revealed chest between the cover of her clothing made her appear more upright. Her arms were mostly covered by sleeves, revealing only the area near her shoulders and half of her forearms. Her hands were very delicate, with slender fingers but plump skin and muscles, almost hid the traces of veins and bones.

Yet-- there was a ring on her finger.

‘Yoh? Charmed so easily?’  Veronica's face suddenly appeared in my sight.

‘A ring on her finger...’ I was a little disappointed, no, I was totally frustrated.

‘En-hem~ worry not for it yet.’

Veronica then recounted a nearly terrifying story: It was when they were on the mission at the southern border that a surge of monsters the glaciers nearly wiped out the entire territory of the barony. All the warriors fought against the monsters were killed along their route, and more than half the women were captured to be the breeding ‘seedbeds.’

This attack was really suspicious, as there was almost no damage to the castle walls inside the barony, no signs of the monsters breaking through the ground, and the only thing torn into pieces was the gate of the wall. Meanwhile, the defensive weapons were hardly fired, and a bachelor unintentionally discovered a small monster that had died poisoning after eating the remains of a guard. Through the collected remnants of armour and weapons, almost every dead was identified, except for the baron's body and his armour.

‘Moreover, she-- Anastasia, is the daughter of the baron.’

My whole body trembled with it. So, this girl of my own age had just become a ‘declined aristocrat,’ and almost the only continuation of the family.

‘We found here near a lair of monsters. She was unconscious but uninjured.’

Veronica leaned her mouth close to my ear, with a malicious intent, emphasising: ‘I have checked for you, that little layer is still there. No man, no disgusting thing has ever touched her. You have your chance!’

‘Nothing went right! She should be grieving at this moment and next!’

Veronica reached out and grabbed my neck directly, forcing my face to get close to her.

‘Na, 'tis your task. The premeditation of this attack must definitely have something to do with her and her father, yet she is unwilling to say anything.

‘Tis to deceive her sentiment! Tis I cannot!’

‘From your position, this is merely incidental. If you can marry her, that would be the greatest benefit for you, would it not? Double win! Y're too a past-time noble the inner city, quite a match!’

Yep, I must admit that, I am very eager to marry a wife like her-- Anastasia. The more I see her, the deeper my heart sinks into the furnace of desire.

‘If that works not, I guess... I shall sacrifice myself a little~

I immediately caught Veronica's wrist; she had already revealed half of her chest, and I could clearly see the pattern of her braissiere.

‘Fine fine fine! I shall try! Yet coerce her I cannot! I cannot bear to hurt this poor girl again. What should I do?’

‘It is simple, just sit here. Oh, I’d not stay here anymore, I may go now!’

People around had begun to get drunken, pulling the serving waitresses who were pouring them drinks, trying to persuade them to drink in accompany. Veronica noticed the vulgar glances the surroundings, she just skillfully dodged everyone, swiftly running out the main door in a blink or two.

‘Just sit here?’

Nah, ‘tis me supposed to pay for the drink now?

Reeking the air in the tavern began to be the alcohol, as the filth spewing people's ears made it clear. The emotionally agitated filled the tavern with various savage roars and loud laughter. A burly man grabbed a waitress behind and forcibly lifted her, trying to take her upstairs. Another one saw this then grabbed that man's shoulder; surprisingly then, they went upstairs together. I saw that waitress was teasing them with no resistance.

Anastasia, still maintained her posture, taking her time to refuse every table she halted at. When someone rudely grabbed her arm, she simply broke free and politely rejected again.

‘Oyh, that little girl, come drink with us! You’ll get all your wages tonight us! Triple!’

‘Sorry, I have work to do...’

‘Then--’

The drunk pointed a thumb towards the stairs leading upwards, then gripped her breast.

‘Yah! Sir, just show some respect, please!’

She slapped that hand away and turned to the next table, she happened to face me. I saw her cheeks flushed red, her face filled with anger, biting her lower lip with her white front teeth, wiping away a tear the corner of her eye in a moment no one noticed.

I stopped her, paid for the drinks, slipped her some tips, and ordered one more cider.

‘Appreciations.’ I said quietly.

‘I’m fine...’ She replied softly.

This time, the drink took a particularly long time to reach, as the bar to the corner I was sitting, she had to deal with quite a few harassments at every table she passed.

‘Apology.’ She placed the drink on the table, and for a moment as she bent down, her lips opened and closed several times.

Pull...sit down?

I got it, and I by the way pulled her hand, letting her sit beside me, pouring her a mug of ale. She made a pretence of being shy, and her performance was still a bit unnatural.

‘Sorry, Mr, though I know you not, you are the only one I can turn to.’

She leaned against me, then quickly turned the mug bottom up.

‘So bitter...’

I felt a bit lost and, like Veronica had forced me to just moments before, I held her in my arm.

‘You are fresh here, ‘tis not?’

‘On my third day of this job, yet I did not stay that later for the last two days.’

I guess it was that naughty girl Veronica's doing.

As long as she sat beside me, pretending to serve and accompany, she could temporarily get rid of the harassment of others, I guessed. But I soon sensed the malicious glares all around. Claiming a beauty alone was bound to attract the hatred of other men with raging desires. I just did not know when the emotion would erupt.

‘That...I am actually...quite weak.’

‘...Your girlfriend was that dangerous though.’  

‘She was not a little finger of mine.’

Anastasia let go of my arm and drew away me.

Disliked... Veronica, what have you done to this lady?

‘Oyh! Kid, with so many men around, how could you possibly have the nerve to occupy this lady?’ The mercenaries at the next table were also drunken, and taking this chance, their leader stood up to start trouble.

‘Occupy? Even if ‘tis for their job, should one ask not for their consent?’

I stood up, shielded Anastasia with my body, and confronted him. I was not short among men, yet this guy's head nearly touched the ceiling, his arms were twice as thick as mine, and his face was covered in bulging muscles.

‘Kid, have you never tasted the taste of shattering bones?’

He grabbed my collar and punched me on the face without any warning, but as he was bout to hit me, he retracted his strength. Nevertheless, I was still knocked to hear the buzzing in my ear.

‘Touch me again huh!’

My rage flared, fueled by the kingdom's protection law for its citizens, and the girl shielded behind my back, as well as that humble pride in my blood. Most of all, the crude buddy in my hand and the full-power round in its chamber were then pressed against his ribs.

Even without charging, this distance required no aiming; as long as I pour all the magia in with full power, I can mash the guy's innards into great many pieces. After that, I would at least be able to reload once and make one more to be my tribute.

‘Haha, dare you to fire?’

He was bluffing; he revealed it by stepping back half a step. He had already seen the thing pressed against his chest, and the prominent crest on it-- for which the guards would see to it that this foreigner was torn apart by crows and vultures on the gallows, leaving no part of him whole. Killing a foreigner in self-defence would merely cost me an unaffordable fine.

By the way, only in terms of fines can this nation be considered somewhat ‘democratic’ across all classes. The nobles have to pay more if they cause trouble, but how would they even care?

‘No, worth it not!’

Anastasia tugged at my coat hem, while I held her hand.

‘Kid, let that girl alone!’

‘You get out before!’

‘You dare, fire away! Huh? Shoot me! Majestic to act like a hero to the face of a girl? Later then you can make her on the ground all fours like a rutting Lodowolf, licking your prick which is harder than ever, nah? Even you have all your arrogance, your thing is less than half as pathetic as mine at the impotent time. This girl will merely complain about your pretentiousness to other bitches after you’ve gone, saying you’re not even as satisfying as a goblin!’

‘Fxxk you!’

With a teacher's esteem, I spoke my first curse long after the last one in my student days. I infused magia to heat the barrel, but not to fire it, just to scare this guy...

Poom!

A deafening explosion startled me, too; the gun was fired even though it was not charged. A foul-smelling liquid splashed onto my face. I saw the shock-wrapped mercenary boss collapse like a marble statue with suddenly no adhesion in between the pieces. His spine and ribs were blasted away, and his innards were stirred into a clump stuck to the man behind him. A thick pool of blood was mingled with undigested wine and food remnants.

‘Tis what killing felt like?’ Perhaps the rage of the moment had rushed upon my head; I felt no fear or timidity, and within a moment of shock, I immediately loaded my gun.

‘Stay steady!’ I grabbed Anastasia's hand and pointed the gun at the others, slowly backing away to the main door.

‘Take off your heeled shoes, we’re running.’

“You...but...’

Anastasia seemed to have lost her soul, her pupils dilated fear, trying hard to maintain her composure. She could not react to my commands anymore.

‘Excuse manner none!’ 

I scooped her up in my arms, exerted all my magia to activate the enhancement spells, and ran frantically along the road, heading straight for the inner city along the shortest route. In fact, if I had run directly into the middle-class district, the patrol guards would have dealt with it. Fortunately, the panicked mercenaries did not have the courage to chase after us, nor the strength to steady their bows, and so I managed to reach the city gate.

‘Please let us through!’ I handed over my identification sheet to the guard at the gate. By the time I had put Anastasia down, and was out of breath.

‘Checked. But what about this young lady? Sir, it is still illegal for a noble to abduct a common woman, though we cannot interfere. She needs to prove her reason for entering the inner city and submit to a body search.’

Anastasia stepped behind me, turned her back, and seemed to have pulled out her sheet the bottom of her hem.

‘Oh, apologies, Baron of Lodowiec... Madam’

Titles like Baron really carry a strong sense of gender discrimination, but we successfully made our way into the inner city.

(Baron in Chinese is called ‘男爵’, 男 means male. The European aristocratic system is often roughly translated as the titles of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Up to down: 公爵、侯爵、伯爵、子爵、男爵, each title can be seen a ‘male’ tag literally, but ‘男爵’ seems to be the most... You know, ‘male noble’ our views.)

‘If you mind not, just, come for a rest at my place?’

Anastasia shook her head.

‘Thinking of your reputation, it is best not to do so in the inner city.’ She flicked her side hair, deliberately showing me the ring on her finger.

‘Then, when the commotion subsides, I’ll take you home.’

She did not answer, nor did she reject. I did not know what she was thinking, but I was kind-intentioned, so I could only follow her silently.

After wandering aimlessly for quite a while, we slowed our pace in a park with no one else late at night. I noticed her shoulders were twitching irregularly, and she occasionally raised her hand to touch her cheek. I thought she must be crying secretly.

I did not come forward, because my hands were shaking. The bloody smell on my clothes made me nauseous. I was not cold-blooded or heartless, just because on this island, those with some experience have seen gruesome deaths, whether of humans or humanoid monsters. I had not killed anyone, yet I had been taught how to kill monsters. I dared to point the gun at my own kind because I could already shoot monsters with no hesitation, no matter how much they resembled humans-- in that case, it would be myself who would die.

I was guilty, I should have been more vigilant, but I was also utilised... I did not deserve this... I kept excusing myself so.

‘Anastasia... It's my name.’

I have known it.

‘May I know how you would like to be addressed?’

‘Alanzo.’ I replied with my name.

She nodded, still showing her back to me, walked towards the city wall. I followed her out of the inner city, weaving through streets and into alleys. She moved with practised ease, and I nearly lost her several times. Finally, she stopped in front of a flight of stairs, leading up to an iron gate.

‘Here...’ She whispered.

‘Alright, good night then...’ I had no confidence in navigating out.

‘Not coming in for a rest?’ She had already opened that door, inviting me inside.

‘Respectfully, I shall comply.’ I took off my boots and walked in.

The room was not large, but it felt quite spacious for one person, typical of a middle-class neighbourhood. The curtains were not drawn, but I immediately saw the familiar street view.

‘This is...’

Right above the tavern.

‘You got it. You ruined my business.’

As she spoke, she took off the sleeves, loosened the lacing of the waist corset. Perhaps because I was there, she did not take it off completely.

‘Your business? Could it be that you...?’

‘Mislead it not. Everything down the floor is my business.’

As she said, this was probably the last remaining asset of her family. Anastasia, the name behind which now needed to be appended the suffix ‘boss’.

‘I am sorry...’

I apologised to her, but she covered her face with both hands and could no longer bear the sobbing. I saw the handkerchief she had placed on the table and picked it up, passed it to her.

‘That girl, Veronica, she was not your girlfriend, right?’ She asked me in a teary voice.

‘Tis hard to explain. She is my student. She... she is not, by any means!’

They, were utilising me. That gun had never unleashed such powerful magia, nor had it been so uncontrollable, and before... it must have been then, I was tempted and lost my attention...

What did she really want to do? I could not point a finger at anyone to blame, because I joined ‘voluntarily,’ and I was promised a generous ‘reward.’

Anastasia held my hands, stroked over my fingers, probably confirming there was no ring I was wearing. After that, she abruptly pushed me down, and I landed was her bed.

‘Anastasia?’

I looked up in surprise, then felt pressure on my ribs. Anastasia was lying on my chest with her face down at that moment.