https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5562hc/22/
Ice
Lily pried open my lips and pushed the ice cube between them. It must have been melted in her mouth because it was smaller than I thought.
The inside of my mouth chilled down as the ice turned to water on my tongue. With each drop of water trickling down my throat, the true meaning of the relationship between us was further carved into my buddy. Neither a friend nor a collaborator. We are just two pleasure seekers.
And yet, I can’t avoid being nervous. If I were to tell anyone about this, they’d call me an idiot. I’m forming a relationship with someone of the same sex and a fellow hero candidate at that. We aren’t even friends. The only reason we can do this is because we are two people who understand how outrageous this is.
My hot breath turned cold inside my mouth. The tip of my nose felt numb from each chilled gasp as we exchanged saliva.
I decided to return what was left of the ice to Lily’s mouth before it melted completely. I pried open her mouth just as she had done to me and shoved the piece of ice in with my tongue. She received the ice as if she had been waiting for it.
By the time my saliva had warmed up again, Lily separated from me. A transparent bridge continued to connect our lips. I implicitly knew that something like this wasn’t possible just from some melting ice.
It’s not enough. If I’m being honest with myself, I’m not satisfied. This was just a start, and I could sense that something much heavier would begin from here. Despite that, Lily was keeping me in suspense.
“A-…..Ah…..More…..”
“No need to rush. It’s your turn next.”
Lily left me a smile and moved to grab more ice. She picked up a single ice cube the same size as the first and held it out to me.
“Hurry up. It’s cold.”
Lily wanted to continue, so I quickly opened my mouth so the ice cube could be thrown in. Lily likes symmetry, so I guess she won’t be satisfied unless I do the same thing as her. Bit by bit, I’m feeling like she is showing her own commitment to this as well.
The large chunk of ice mercilessly stole the heat inside my mouth. It’s so cold that a sharp tingling sensation shot through me. A dull pain was throbbing in my front teeth.
While snatching Lily’s lips, I wrapped my hand around her waist and made a half-turn as if we were dancing and exchanged positions between us. Now it’s perfectly symmetrical. It is nerve-wracking pushing Lily against the wall, but I’m so absorbed in the moment that I didn’t let it bother me too much.
When I passed the ice to her, Lily closed her eyes and accepted it. Seeing this vulnerable Lily in my arms, an indescribable sadistic feeling sprouted in my heart. Being a top has its own pleasures.
Lily quickly returned the ice to me. Back and forth, we shipped the ice between us more often than the first time, and our lips moved against each other’s accordingly.
Because of how many times we exchanged that ice cube, I was much more satisfied when we finally separated again. Lily’s breath was rough and haggard, and her eyes glistened in the candle light. I guess she feels the same way I do.
I can’t possibly know what is going to happen next. It is a world neither I nor Lily know anything about. But with Lily having made up her mind as well, I reached out my hand.
For a moment, my hand was caressing her cheek. Then someone knocked on the door, and we snapped out of it.
“Lily-san. It’s Olive. May I come in?”
I’m in my underwear right now. But even if I was wearing clothes, it is going to look fishy to have a commoner like me in the noble Lily’s room. It isn’t going to matter much for me, but Lily’s position is going to be put in danger.
Lily and I shared a look together since it would be bad if Olive heard us talking. Lily pointed under the bed. It’s narrow, but I think it is just big enough for me to squeeze through. I quickly picked up my clothes on the ground, and crawled under the bed.
As if to confirm that I was perfectly hidden, I heard Lily open the door as soon as I stopped moving.
“Olive-san, welcome. What do I owe the honor so late at night?”
There was a sharp “Shh!” as I heard Olive take Lily to the back of the room. Thre must be some kind of secret they need to talk about.
“It stinks in here somehow. It smells like a slum where you’d find a commoner.”
“I-It is just your imagination I am sure.”
Olive must be an aristocrat down to her very bones. She has some kind of dog-like sense of smell able to sniff out my presence. I know I haven’t taken a bath yet today, but someone outright saying I smell bad is a little depressing.
“Putting that aside, have you heard the details behind the first screening assignment?”
“Eh….yes. I heard”
It’s surprising to hear that those kinds of stories are circulating in the noble group. Obviously I don’t know anything about it, and I don’t remember Melia ever mentioning anything about it.
“You will obviously be choosing me correct?”
“That…..will need to be decided at the time. I haven’t even decided whether I will be going to the suburbs in the first place.”
The past two years, the first event was a mock battle between teams, but it sounds like this year will end up being different. If there is talk about going to the suburbs, does that mean we will be slaying monsters?
“Do not forget that it is because of the Elijah family’s contributions that you were able to attain the first rank.”
“I am aware. And if I am chosen as hero, I will return that favor. Now is not the time.”
I can’t slow down my beating heart. Lily’s provisional first place is based an organized effort. And not only did Lily know about it, it sounds like she had Olive’s family set it up for her.
“Come to think about it, did you hear about that dancer? Apparently she is learning how to dance from the owner of some small, dirty tavern. It is like she joined this competition just to expose her shame.”
Lily remained silent in response to Olive’s loud laughter. It’s nice of her to answer something like that with just a friendly smile. This way she doesn’t risk hurting my feelings.
“Olive. If you wish to speak badly of our fellow competitors, please go somewhere else. I do not have much free time.”
“The minister’s daughter is always polite I see. No harm when we are the only ones here right?”
“I merely have a hard time understanding everyone’s propensity for slander. Although, I suppose those inside the imperial court are always looking to shove each other down in a similar fashion.”
After the cold reception, Olive eventually found an appropriate end to the conversation and left the room.
“Liffy, you can come out now”
I waited for Lily’s word before crawling from beneath her bed. When I stood up, Lily looked at me apologetically.
“Even if it was an emergency, I am sorry. I forced you to squeeze into such a tight space.”
She apologized while removing a clump of dust from my hair. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind you pushing me into a narrow space while yelling at me, but this isn’t the time for that. Right now we are in friend mode. That’s why I answered her while shaking my head.
“It’s fine. More importantly, you know about the upcoming task?”
Lily looked embarrassed. She probably isn’t supposed to say anything about it.
“Let’s take a bath for now. You don’t want to talk while covered in dust do you?”
An invitation to join Lily in the bath? I have no reason to refuse. After a big nod, Lily smiled at me and began preparing to leave.
Experimental Translations 