Chapter 134: A Kiss

Giliath demands your power stones!

*

Before long, both a purple haired girl and a violet haired boy withdrew from the bath, saying that they had a private matter to attend to. Everyone else was understanding of the matter, so they continued their conversation while enjoying the hotspring and remained merry. Until we parted ways back at the washing area, Angelica's bare butt was in full view as she walked in front of me, giving me a good look at her womanhood. She had a playful smile on the whole time, so there was definitely something going on inside that head of hers.

Otherwise, Angelica definitely wouldn't allow me to look at her butt like that. I definitely would have received a slap to the face, much like how she punched Lechter earlier.

Thinking that, we both wandered back toward the locker area, and parted ways. There was another set of towels for us to dry off with, so I took one and started to dry off my body and my hair. There were also yukatas laid out for us off to the side, seeing how long we were gone. It was likely prepared by the maids here. Mr. Baggins wasn't the only one who was currently on shift here at Phoenix Wings, there were plenty of others working.

It was approaching noon. I did have a train ride back in the afternoon that was a two way stop back to Heimdallr. From Heimdallr, I would take an orbal airship back to Grancel Landing Port. As much as I would love a train ride between the two countries, that in itself would take another couple days of travel, so I opted for the more direct route.

Still, my departure time wasn't set for another two to three good hours, since it was approaching noontime. I could still wear one of these yukatas. And that I did. Thankfully yukatas are a lot easier to put on compared to a kimono. Yukatas in simple terms are essentially glorified bathrobes, used in hotsprings and local festivals. It felt very comfortable the moment the sleeves went on. I then cupped my hands together and hid them in the sleeves, only to walk down the hallway into one of the resting rooms.

To the first one I arrived to, I saw purple haired girl standing near the windowsill, observing the scenery, also dressed in a yukata similar to mine, calmly gazing out the window.

"I'm glad that you decided to come, Naoto.", Angelica happily said.

"Haha, you asked for me, so I don't see a reason to deny you. We're friends too.", I replied with a smile.

"Hehe, true that.", Angelica replied letting out a giggle. I gently closed the door and approached Angelica. She then turned around, only to reveal a grin as she continued to speak. "But don't you lie to me. The others might be clueless but I saw that ogling earlier. I have the most perfect butt, right? I take pride in that ass.", Angelica said, sticking her chest out a bit with pride in her tone. The moment she uttered that, I spat out a mouthful air. I let out a sigh before I answered her.

"I won't deny it, but you let me ogle you, didn't you? If you didn't, I'd probably be seen squatted head first into a ditch somewhere in the mountain range, heh. But didn't you have a preference toward girls, Angie?", I asked, scratching my head a bit.

"I do. But that doesn't mean I don't like boys either.", Angelica answered, causing me to nod a bit. "It looks like you've been having an increasing interest toward the opposite gender lately, which is normal for kids and teens like us. But therein lies why I invited you here in the first place.", Angelica started to explain.

"So that was the case after all...", I uttered, only to think about it for a moment. It was true on the outside that Angelica loved to be around girls. As she grew older, didn't she develop some hidden feelings toward George? It was a shame that never got to be explored further, but hearing Angelica explain it that way, does that mean she has a bit of interest in me?

"Bingo.", Angelica answered me with a nod. "I mean, how could I not grow interested in you, Naoto? For one we're both nobles, and only a year apart. It's already been a few years since we've first met each other. Though it is a shame you have some girls at your side that refuse to have their flower be plucked, hehe.", Angelica playfully said.

"Hey, I take my relationships seriously, Angie. I mean, you are a very pretty girl, and to receive a confession like that, it really does flatter me. Just know you aren't the only one.", I replied with my own playful grin.

"Oh that much is very clear. You're already engaged to that princess, and not to mention the demon of thors proposed to you. I'm pretty sure that plum haired girl also holds an interest with you, not to mention having Erebonia's treasure taking a liking to you as well. You really are a lucky guy, aren'tcha?", Angelica answered with a grin.

"You were already able to see that much?", I responded her, having my eyes widen a bit.

"Haha, I see lots of things Naoto. It looks like you are very open about accepting though. You didn't deny me outright the moment I said I had an interest in you.", Angelica said, donning a more serious tone. Hearing that, my eyes squinted a bit.

"Even with knowing the fact that I might enter a relationship with more than one girl, you aren't denying that either?", I tried to suggest as I squinted my eyes.

"That's exactly right, Naoto. For Aidios's sake, you're a prince to boot. It's normal for a soon to be monarch to have a harem. And I'm saying I want in on that.", Angelica declared her intent, which still caused me some surprise. Angelica was already thinking that far, considering very well that I will have my own harem in the future?

"You're not just aiming at me to get in line with the girls I have interested in, are you?", I suddenly turned cold a bit. Seeing this serious, Angelica looked back right at me., not backing away.

"Of course not. It wouldn't be so farfetched to say I'd give up my love of girls if it would mean I'd secure a spot in that harem of yours. My feelings I hold for you is quite genuine.", Angelica in return responded seriously. "At first, I hid them away, but after coming into contact with a certain something, I decided not to keep them bottled up anymore.", Angelica answered.

"You'd be willing to go that far? And what do you mean a certain something?", I asked back.

"You see. Before you two came to Roer, a little birdie decided to contact me.", Angelica began to answer. "That unification plan of yours is a very bold idea. It's a very simple one yet complex at the same time. It won't be easy to achieve such a thing.", Angelica answered me. Hearing that made me blink my eyes at her for a moment, before a wry smile appeared on my lips.

"Kloe told you, didn't she?", I asked lips curved upward.

"She did. And think about it. If two of the five Great Houses unite, we would be able to hold some decent power over the other nobles and keep them in check. There's been growing unrest with em lately as that new chancellor has proven his power time and time again. We could lose out footing should those stupid guys start something.", Angelica continued to say. I also nodded in acknowledgement. Nobles did play a big part in Erebonia's history so what she said made sense.

"I can definitely attest to that. You'll have to still put up with me though, if I do accept your confession, haha!", I replied happily, which caused Angelica to smile at me.

"Haven't you already?", Angelica replied happily.

"Well I won't deny that.", I said, shrugging my shoulders a bit.

"Then will you close your eyes for a moment?", Angelica asked me, which caused me to blink at her for a moment. As I blinked at her Angelica stepped up right next to me. As she was a year older or so, she was a bit taller. Still, I proceeded to close my eyes as she asked, and my eyes went dark. Right after, I felt two soft hands wrap around my back, only to feel a softness press against my lips. A low groan couldn't help escape as I felt this softness keeping my lips from moving.

"Mm...", I tried to say as I slowly opened my eyes again. The moment my eyes regained clarity, I saw Angelica's hands wrapped around my back, and her head tilted a bit to fall into line with mine. Her lips were planted right onto mine, which is where that softness came from. It was a kiss.

Seeing Angelica take the initiative to kiss me, I enjoyed this sensation for the moment. Sadly it lasted for only a moment, and her lips parted from mine. Once the two of us were free, Angelica revealed a smile as she spoke.

"Just so you know, that was my first kiss~", Angelica replied in a teasing manner. Even though she said that teasingly, my eyes blinked. Was that really her first kiss just now?

"You...", I tried to say. However, before I could say anything else, Angelica and I started to hear a couple of muffled voices coming from the door that I closed earlier.

"You idiot, stop squirming around!", A muffled voice yelled out from behind the door, which caused Angelica and I to blink.

"But it's hard to see! It was just getting to the good part.", A second muffled voice retorted back at the first one from behind the door. However after that second voice yelled that out, the two voices from behind the door suddenly heard the door click open in front of them. All of a sudden, two figures came crashing down, a silvery haired girl with a short brown haired girl on top of her.

"Oh....", Anelace suddenly said, seeing her now collapsed on top of Shizuna. She saw Angelica and I still close by each other, and a small string of drool stretched toward Angelica's lips. Seeing this drool, Anelace's face lightly blushed she began to stutter.

"W-We were just passing by, honest.", Anelace tried to retort back at us.

"Uh-uh, passing by my ass. You're the one who got us into this, you idiot.", Shizuna said, also feeling a bit embarrassed. Hearing that, Angelica wiped away the little bit of drool from her mouth before she giggled.

"Haha, I guess a certain group of people decided to get out of the bath.", Angelica said, seeing Shizuna and Anelace on the floor near the door.

"Sorry. I did try to stop them at first, but I also wanted to see your guys' reaction if I let them be.", Emma's voice said, only to wear an apologetic smile as she approached the door.

"Umm, Congratulations?", Elise's voice also said as she appeared beside Emma, as did Rean.

"I didn't think I'd get to see a confession today either.", Rean said, feeling amazed as he looked our way.

"Boy you can say that again.", Lechter's voice also said as he appeared at the door as well. Looks like they all decided to get out at an "appropriate" time. I couldn't help but shake my head seeing them as Anelace helped pull Shizuna off from the floor. However, before I could say anything to time, I suddenly heard a ding sound off inside my mind, causing me to get distracted.

[Ding! Favorability has reached its maximum with Angelica Rogner, the daughter of the Rogner House. Granting [Angelica's Blessing] to Player.]

[Ding! As Player has accepted Angelica's confession a new parameter has been unlocked for Angelica Rogner. Player will be able to see the [Love] status of a person who has bonded with Player.]

[Ding! Current people who have bonded with Player with the [Love] panel unlocked:

-Klaudia von Auslese, -Angelica Rogner]

*

So far only Kloe and Angelica have reached the [Love] status for Naoto. Characters like Fie and Emma are close by this point, but they have not had a final push yet. Characters like Alfin and Aurelia still require some time, while characters like Elise require a lot, as Elise had just been introduced into the favorability system. Most if not all of this system messaging is kept off screen, but I can give an updated list soon for readers. It will probably be right before the vermillion trials, or right before Naoto starts school.

And if you guys can't tell already, a timeskip is coming before the vermillion trials start o.o