Secret (2)

After enjoying the meal for a few minutes, Dylan-sama gave me a suggestive look.. he must be wondering when the assault would commence.

"Novelle, what should I feed Noel?" I whispered for help.

Novelle-sama turned to me and smirked.

This dreadful feeling.. how embarrassing.. to ask such a thing from another person..

"Add this and this meat with the red vegetable together with rice," Novelle-sama deftly directed my line of sight to the targeted dishes. This would become the base to which I feed Noel.

"The chillies. I haven't tried but isn't it something to be avoided..?"

"No, no, trust me big sister. Big brother will absolutely love it," and Novelle-sama grinned again. Truly the smile of a devil...

"Alright.. I shall heed your advice."

"What are you two talking about?"

"I was asking what dishes those are, It's the first time I've tasted this.." I put on a feint, smiling delightfully.

"Seriously?" Noel looked at me with a perplexed expression, he didn't question further.

Dylan-sama met my eyes again.

What should I do..

Could it be that I should act now?

It's necessary to resolve myself..

I took the spoon out of my mouth..

This would be akin to an indirect kiss..

But it must be done..

Noel did say he would comply wholeheartedly..

"Hide the red vegetable under the rice," Novelle-sama hinted.

Nodding, I filled the spoon with rice, a few small pieces of the red round vegetable hidden underneath. On top of the rice, I decorated it with some meat and vegetables, also the 'tofu' I requested. It had a surprisingly delicate taste that I enjoyed. I believe Noel felt the same way since he took the initiative to eat most of the dish.

I glanced at Dylan and gave him a nod.

Then I made contact with Noel by touching his hand, I evoked a confusion spell, charm, to divert his consciousness for a moment.

Then Dylan-sama restrained Noel, stunned from confusion.

"Now," Diana-sama chuckled.

With the spoon in hand, I shoved it into Noel's half-open mouth with prudence.

*

[NOEL]

The fuck?

Where am I?

This is Liliath's hand?

The only thing I could think of was Liliath for some odd reason.

Everything became a blur.

If I were to put it into a wordy illustration.. It's like there's a bunch of small Liliath flying around me, and all of them are attractive beyond measure..

Then someone— or something fixed me in place.

Was it Liliath?

I had no idea.

Something was shoved into my mouth.

And at that moment I regained consciousness. In front of me was Liliath with a difficult to describe expression.

Cute.

Hm?

My mouth.. and her hand..

Huh?

WWWWHHHATT?!

My mouth.. there was something there.. wait.. Liliath is feeding me?

"Eat it already," my father, who held my shoulders in place, said.

Eat it?

I looked down to see her hand holding the spoon in my mouth.

...

Liliath... feeding me?

Why?

"Are you not going to accept it?" Liliath quivered.

Shit. No.. I don't mean that..

I clenched my teeth together and pulled the food into my mouth from the spoon.

The flavor was enchanting somehow.. Was she feeding me with her spoon?

A-AN INDIRECT KISS?!

Liliath pulled the spoon out of my mouth and let out a sigh of relief.

'Liliath's Special Quest Completed.'

The sound of the system rang in my ear.

A slow heat enveloped my mouth.

This.. is..

Chilli?!

I behind Liliath I noticed the smug of the little devil.. a few inches longer than usual.

FUCK!?

IT'S SPICY!

Tears spilt from my eyes..

"Noel?" Liliath looked at me both worried and puzzled.

Fuck.. I can't possibly spit this out right?! Liliath fed this to me after all?! Dammit! DAMMIT!

I swallowed it forcibly without another bite.

Bad idea.

Heat spread through my esophagus, then into my stomach. My throat and tongue burned from the pain.

"Water.." I requested in a meek voice.

Damn fuck it's so spicy..

Was there a need to feed me chillies?!

GODDAMN, I NEED WATER.

"Here you go," my mother passed my drink over. I hurriedly downed the ice cold passion fruit tea. Yes, also tea but a different kind from the one Liliath ordered.

"Why Liliath.. why.." the heat quelled down somewhat, but the pain remained.

"D-did I do something w-wrong? W-why is your face so red.. w-why are you in pain?"

"..."

In all seriousness, I wanted payback.

"Ah, you added chilli didn't you?" my mom announced.

"But Novelle said it was alright.."

I see...

Yea sure, of course, the little devil was the person who instigated it.. but you were at fault too you know?

"Payback."

"Huh?"

I filled my own spoon with rice and random dishes, making sure it was somewhat 'palatable'.

"Open your mouth."

"W-what are you trying to do?!" Liliath tried to shrink away but the little devil was there to hold her in place.

"Fight big brother! I'm rooting for you!" The devil cheered.

Damn. I wonder how I should kill that devil.. she's the root cause..

"Novelle?! Betrayal!"

I shoved the spoon into Liliath's mouth.

"Good job," my father nodded in satisfaction.

"Oh my," My mom exclaimed.

Liliath had no choice but to accept it... I pulled the spoon away from her mouth.

Her face reddened as she continued to chew— tears spilt from her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand.

"Here's your drink," The little devil was kind enough to offer support.

Revenge served.. not yet.. there's still that devil..

I already warned her.. she took the little devil's advice instead... have a taste of your own medicine!

"It hurts," Liliath cried, sucking in the straw while glaring at me.

"Yeah, of course it does. I warned you."

"But you didn't have to do that!" Liliath retorted.

"Noel.. y-you.." there was an extra voice.

Everyone turned to the person in question— Prune?

When did she get here.. Wait, she didn't see that right?!

She stood there with a dish in hand, staring blankly at us. Shit.. she saw it didn't she?

"Ah.. youth is so wonderful, isn't that right honey?" my father said.

"I agree," my mom chuckled.

"Me too!" The little devil cheered.

FUCKING SERIOUSLY?!

*

As for the rest of the dinner.. we didn't say another word to each other. It's awkward.

I didn't know what I was doing. I acted on impulse. I wasn't thinking at all.. and.. Prune saw what happened. Not just Prune but my entire family.

Fuck.

How did this happen?

That was charm magic, right? I lost consciousness there for a moment and a bunch of small little Liliath clouded my mind before she stuck her spoon into my mouth.

...

And indirect kiss?

I can't believe it..

Just what was the purpose of the quests anyways? For me to grow closer to Liliath to eventually marry her off?

That's stupid but pleasant to think about at the same time..

Ughh.. why..

Hey developer— are you trying to raise a flag or something? Because it's working a little too well..

I dilly-dallied in my thoughts, my father had a chat with Liliath.

"Princess Liliath the fourth of Toren Kingdom, I'll be in your care from now on Dylan."

"Ho.. That's interesting. Fourth princess of Toren Kingdom— so what's it like to live there?"

"..."

"Father um.." It surprised me that Liliath was still unwilling to tell anyone about her past—

"Oh, sorry for asking," father let out a sigh, he glanced at mom for a second. "I guess you had a pretty hard time. I won't ask about it too much. Whatever it is— welcome to our family, Liliath," my father said, raising his drink.

Liliath understood the intention, raised her own half-empty iced tea drink and made a toast with my father.

Huh.. I didn't think Liliath would know about clinking cups.

"What's with the mood?" father looked around.

"Welcome to our family Liliath," my mom chuckled as if to break the awkward atmosphere.

"Big sister Liliath is now official," the devil nodded.

"I guess.. welcome to our family Liliath— please take care of us too from now on," last to speak was me.

"Thank you— I will forever be grateful.."

A debt she can never repay..

That was what she told me that night. What she said was true but— it's only true because she thinks it is true. From my standpoint, Liliath's arrival was part of the luck game. My TALENT turned out what it was and her summoning happened on a whim. So.. she's not being indebted— rather, it's our responsibility to take care of her.