| Author: Carrot Sauce | Original Source: SFACG | Word Count: 3237 characters |
| Translator: LazyButAmbitious | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1899 words |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | ||
A day ago.
The night rain in Heian-kyō had become so heavy that it couldn’t be ignored.
This, however, just gave the two a reason to walk slowly together.
Ayaka, who was carrying the sakura parasol, wore a big pearl-colored kimono while Lily was dressed in a pink kimono. They walked through the mist and rain in the courtyard.
Lily and Ayaka were very close to each other, but they just walked like this for a long time without saying anything.
The two seemed to have a thousand words, but neither of them wanted to say a thing. They appeared to enjoy the time they spent walking together in silence, afraid that unnecessary words would prevent each other from fully appreciating the walk together under the rain.
They went all the way to the study room.
“Lily, tonight is the last night before your expedition. I’ll go in and accompany you, okay?” Ayaka took Lily’s hand and said.
Lily vaguely felt that the company Ayaka was referring to just now wasn’t as simple as two ordinary women spending the night together.
It wasn’t that Lily didn’t look forward to it in her heart, but she knew that this wasn’t right.
Wouldn’t it be considered unfaithful to sleep with another woman?
When thinking about this question, Lily couldn’t help but feel confused. However, she didn’t have an answer at the moment, and she couldn’t keep making the same mistakes.
But, I don’t know how long it will take for me to return and see each other again. When Lily heard Ayaka’s request again, her body had a reaction.
It would be difficult to refuse this time.
“Lady Ayaka, I…” Strangely, it was hard to turn her down.
Seeing Lily hesitate, Ayaka naturally wrapped her arms around Lily’s waist.
Without further delay, she practically ‘kidnapped’ Lily and went into the study room together.
At this time, at the other end of the study room’s corridor, Haihime was holding on to a wooden pillar and watching the two graceful women twist their plump buttocks and walk into the house.
After all, the back of the kimono best highlighted the allure of a woman’s buttocks.
However, there was only helplessness and a trace of bitterness in Haihime’s eyes.
Lily didn’t refuse this time because, before entering the house, she had already made up her mind to tell Ayaka the truth.
After entering the house, Lily made some tea and the two girls sat facing each other.
They had the whole night ahead, so Ayaka was not in a hurry. At this time, besides making the atmosphere better and coaxing Lily to cross the next step, more than anything, Ayaka really loved Lily and wanted to give her happiness as a woman.
This was Ayaka’s love, and it was a responsibility she considered her own.
However, after a brief silence, Lily was the first to speak.
She knelt deeply towards Ayaka.
“Lily, what are you…?”
“Lady Ayaka, I’m sorry. Lily never dared to say the words to reject you because Lily’s heart also wants to… But Lily can’t do that.”
Ayaka also blushed slightly when she heard this, “I don’t understand. Lily, what do you mean?”
Lily knelt down and didn’t seem to have the courage to face Ayaka’s gaze. She took a deep breath and said, “…Lily has already made a private commitment with another woman.”
Patter— The sound of rain outside the window seemed harsher, pouring mercilessly into the Lord Chief Advisor’s garden.
“What?” Ayaka was stunned, and she didn’t respond for a long while.
But she knew that Lily would never joke at a time like this.
“Who is she?” Ayaka’s eyes looked a little dark as she asked, “Is it Uesugi Rei who you are going to look for in Tanba Province?”
“No.” Lily lowered her head and said.
“No? You are going to Tanba Province to find that woman despite the danger and my obstruction, and now you tell me she’s not? Which other woman, exactly, do you have?”
“Sister Uesugi is an important sister to Lily, but she, the person who Lily has set her life on, is the reason for Lily’s adventures and battles so far.”
“What is her name?”
“Lily can’t say her name.”
Only then did Lily feel horrified that she still couldn’t remember the name of her senior sister1!
“You’ve been staying with me all day today and acted so emotional, yet you’re telling me this at night, and you even refuse to tell me the name of that woman? Is my position in your heart so insignificant?!”
“No, no!” Lily knelt down and didn’t dare to raise her head, “Lily can’t say the reason, but Lady Ayaka is also an important sister to Lily and holds a very heavy place in my heart. Lily definitely doesn’t mean to be perfunctory to My Lady, but please believe that I really have a reason why I can’t say this name!”
“I don’t understand what you are trying to say! Are you trying to draw a line with me? Was what happened during the day all fake? Was the sweetness fake? Was everything washed away by a little rain? You, even if you truly want to hurt me, can’t you even make up a proper reason??!” Ayaka’s voice was unprecedentedly agitated. She was the Lord Chief Advisor and had never spoken like this. She was no longer calm and even sounded a little hysterical.
Lily knew that she had deeply hurt Ayaka’s self-esteem.
“Lady Ayaka… Lily blushed, ashamed to raise her head, “During the day… During the day…it was Lily’s fault. Lily’s body has feelings…for Lady Ayaka’s advances.”
Lily took a deep breath after saying such shameless words. It was tantamount to admitting her inner infatuation, but her body was honest.
Of course, Lily was by no means really lustful, but she would rather pretend to be a lowly woman and be looked down upon by Ayaka than hurt her or make her sad.
That’s all.
Ayaka was speechless for a while. She could feel Lily’s strong shame as it was hard for a woman to admit such a thing herself.
She would rather go this far than say that woman’s name.
Could it be that there was really a compelling reason?
Could it be that Lily really cared about her feelings?
Ayaka’s chest was visibly heaving, but it seemed hard for her to be angry with a sincere girl like Lily, even though she had hurt her.
“Did I actually lose to a girl whose name I don’t even know? Tell me, is she pretty? Is she gentle? Is she nice to you?” Ayaka asked.
Lily finally got up and met Ayaka’s gaze with a blushing face, nodding repeatedly.
“In Lily’s eyes, she is the most beautiful woman in the world, yet such a perfect and aloof woman was willing to give up everything she had for Lily without hesitation! Even her life and soul!” Lily said with a look of obsession and sadness in her eyes.
The look in Lily’s eyes wasn’t a facade; Ayaka felt it.
She couldn’t help but ask herself, Lily, although I love you, am I willing to give up my life and soul for you without hesitation?
Ayaka surprisingly couldn’t answer for a while. No matter how much she loved her, she mostly liked Lily’s beauty, sensitivity, body, and temperament.
Of course, she was willing to give up a lot for Lily, but she had no confidence to say she could give up her life and soul without a second thought
Ayaka kept asking herself for a while, but she couldn’t give an answer. Perhaps, she really wouldn’t get the answer until that critical moment arrived.
Sure enough, in this regard, I still lose to that woman whose name I don’t even know…
At this time, Lily took a step forward and held Ayaka’s hand tightly, “Lady Ayaka, although Lily can’t agree to that kind of request, please know that it’s not because Lily doesn’t want it in her heart. If one day Ayaka needs my help, Lily is willing to sacrifice her life and soul for you. Except for betraying her, Lily is willing to sacrifice everything for Ayaka!”
“What?” Ayaka froze as she felt the strong gaze coming from Lily, who she always thought was a weak woman. Holding Lily’s soft hand and feeling her pulse, she knew that Lily definitely wasn’t lying.
Perhaps, at this moment, she could understand why Lily insisted on going to Tanba Province.
“Lily, why do you have to be so kind? You are obviously rejecting me, so why are you saying these words that make my heart flutter…”
“In this world, there are thousands of people who secretly adore and love me, but the only one who is willing to give up everything for me is probably only you, Lily. Unfortunately, the woman you like the most is not me…”
“Lily…” Ayaka hugged Lily in her arms and said, “If there is a chance in the future, let me meet that woman, the woman who can make you so infatuated. If…she doesn’t mind and is willing to give me a place, Lily…I…I am willing to share you with her…2”
Ayaka’s face turned red as she said these embarrassing words.
“Eh? Lady Ayaka…” Lily knew how arrogant and powerful Ayaka was, as well as how strong her desire for monopoly was, yet she said that she was willing to share Lily with other women. This could already be considered a great humiliation; Lily could feel it.
“So? Lily, are you willing?”
Lily knew that this was Ayaka’s biggest concession.
“I don’t know…” Lily said, lowering her head to hide her blushing face.
Ayaka did not get angry at Lily for refusing to answer. Perhaps Lily wasn’t just trying to comfort her and Lily’s body really didn’t reject her.
“Lily, why do you always have a lonely and sad look in your eyes? If such a woman really exists, shouldn’t you be happy…?” Before Lily could answer, Ayaka seemed to realize something.
“Lily, could it be that the woman you love, she…”
Lily lowered her head with a gloomy expression.
At this moment, Ayaka finally understood.
So infatuated, yet so lonely. How could one not feel pity for such a woman? If one forcefully possessed her, wouldn’t it desecrate this delicate beauty?
Ayaka said nothing, stood up silently, and walked out the door.
Without an umbrella, she walked alone in the rain.
Lily lowered her head blankly, listening to the wind and rain in the night.
“Is this okay? Is it okay to part with Ayaka like this and leave her alone in the rain?”
Lily’s heart suddenly fluttered and she stood up to go chase after her.
“Lady Ayaka! Lady Ayaka!!”
The receding figure of the chief advisor walking alone in the rainy courtyard melted the tenderness in Lily’s heart.
Ayaka turned around and a little joy flashed through her listless eyes, “Lily?”
“Ayaka!”
Lily ran barefoot on the stoney path in the rainy courtyard and suddenly jumped into Ayaka’s arms. She raised her head, stood on her tiptoes, and was hugged by Ayaka around her waist.
The two kissed deeply in the rain.
This was, perhaps, a goodbye kiss.
It was uncertain how long it took for them to separate3.
“Be careful on the journey.”
“Mhm.”
“I await your return.”
“Nn.”
