CHAPTER 530: CHAPTER 530 - EXPLORING CERYNEIA (PART 12)

By late in the afternoon, we have met all the people we need to meet from Marius’ special list. We discreetly completed the task by either visiting the stores they own as merchants, visiting them in their workplaces or going to the places they frequent on their free time. I simply greeted them, introduced myself as a messenger and then placed a piece of paper on the palm of their hands secretly. Most were shocked but some were quite discreet as if this is not the first time they had encountered this type of exchange.

I also completed more shopping and bought out as many of that crystal I saw on the stove then sent a small batch of 20 pieces to Grandpa Mage for selling. I also sent more samples of each color of Ceryneian pearls to Helios for the upcoming auction he would be arranging together with all the merfolk-made items that I have gotten as payment from the auction and also the fruits of my several shopping sprees in the three cities I have visited so far.

Well, my job as a messenger is finally done with all the letters being sent out or... maybe not. I have one more letter that I need to send that I have been purposely delaying all this time. I would have to deliver it soon.

After all the shopping and errands were done, we finally went back to "Fresh" to have our dinner. The taste of the food here have greatly improved ever since I taught the kitchen staff how to cook with the ingredients I bought from the surface (also known as dry lands here) and gave constructive criticism of the items in their current menu to improve them. Honestly, I chose to eat here because who doesn’t want a discount on the price of their food because they became a business partner of the restaurant owner?

Based on the amount of people inside the restaurant at the time Lir and I ate there, I can proudly say that we are obviously making a killing on the food sales. I do have a part out of of the would-be profits by the way so I am quite happy and excited about this. It is great that I have successfully earned some money during my one week break from the academe too.

After dinner, we walked leisurely back to the inn, just enjoying the sights and sounds of the still very lively city due to the night market areas. The workshops and studios in Cobalt City seem to be open 24/7 and only the stores that sell the completed items close by sun down so there are still a lot of people outside during at night.

After the successful sales of the cooked version made from the ingredients we first sold at the auction last night, another auction was announced and is set to commence tonight. Levi purposely saved around 40% of the inventory for tonight’s auction since it will command higher prices and interest now that the items have become popular. Adding to the fact that the people (nobles and even commoners) have already sampled how they tasted like, it would be easier to sell them.

As I was listening to Levi’s incessant chattering about his upcoming plans, I can’t help but have a smirk at my face when I realized that it is quite funny how this guy has the same way of thinking as mine when it comes to earning even more money. He has also proved to me that he is quite quick-witted and is good at applying what he learned from me immediately to his own business.

I have decided that I will give him an enticing offer regarding how to further grow his business before I leave Ceryneia. I think he would do well if he will do a trading business between this territory and the new city I built near Sklavryet. It should be safe enough for him if I give my assistance on his travels back and forth.

Before I knew it, Lir and I have already arrived back at the inn. For some reason, while I was thinking about a ton of random things while, the guy who was next to me this whole time was extremely quiet as well. Maybe, he is thinking about random things and circumstances as well.

As we got finally got inside our rented room, he finally broke his silence. The first thing he asked me was quite unexpected though as he said, "Do you like Levi more than me because he can help you earn money?"

Where did this question suddenly come from? This is so unexpected and he sounded just like my husbands when they are jealous or feeling neglected.

I did not have any intention to disregard his feelings but the memories that came with his question bombarded my mind. I couldn’t help but reminisce all the instances that I heard similar line to what he just said to me just now. The reminiscing made me chuckle in the end instead of answering his question which clearly upset Lir even more.

His eyes looked blurry as if he was about to cry then he puffed his cheeks and pouted, the cutest version I have ever seen anyone do it mind you. He should look even cuter once his cheeks have more plumpness to them. I need to feed him better and fatten him up a bit.

Oh! I am getting distracted by my random thoughts again.

Without thinking of the consequences, I ended up hugging Lir tight on reflex after seeing that he was about to cry. Still with a chuckling voice, I whispered in his ear, "Sorry. You are too cute right now." just like how I usually cajole my husbands when they are having their little tantrums.

Lir’s whole body stiffened at the sudden intimacy that came from me. On my end, I belatedly realized what I just did but I did let go of him almost immediately. The problem was it was now him who is hugging me tight and he seemed to not have any plans on letting go of me anytime soon.

I let him have his fill for a minute or so but then I eventually had to tap his back to get his attention. I whispered to him, "You can let go now, Lir."

He shook his head to answer my request while he buried his face even deeper on to the crook of my neck. I then heard him murmur, "I will let go of you if you promise to hug me to sleep throughout the night."

I was honestly shocked at his seemingly simple condition. The problem was he is in heat and close proximity won’t help him get over it. I also realized that the next turn of events will indeed greatly depend on my will power to do what I believe was right.

I think I just got into this guy’s trap and it would be a miracle, I could not escape, huh? Well, it is just a hug anyways and that won’t hurt anybody at least as long as all our clothes stayed on.

About an hour after I decided to help the merfolk guy in heat, I regretted my way of thinking earlier. I can now put my full trust on the phrase "If there is a will, there is a way." as Lir’s next steps completely caught me off guard.

After we each took our showers, Lir surprised me as he went out of the bathroom wearing one of the sheerest set of clothing that I have ever seen since I came to this world. As I forbid touching each other’s sensitive part but with clothes like this, would touching really even matter?

I can say that this night, for sure, is one of the hardest nights I have had since I started taking in my my chosen husbands one after the other. I just want to clear up that I am indeed attracted to Lir but it is not like I’m deprived or anything.

I guess the attraction came from him being uniquely different from other mystiques I have met so far. Seeing him was akin to seeing a dish that looked delicious and one that you have not eaten before but you know it is not yet the moment to savor it.

I could only take his "almost naked attire" for a few minutes before I decided to put him under a sleeping spell since I don’t want us to end up at the point of no return. I then placed another robe on top of the current one he is wearing to make him look more decent. At least it was something that looked more like clothes than what seems to be finely woven fishing net that he is wearing right now. I did still hug him throughout the night to keep my promise to him though he was unconscious.

Once he was asleep, I was finally was able to fully relax and forcefully pull myself away from my lewd thoughts. My body reacts differently on intimacy but I have learned how to take control over my lewd thought and strong drive since it has been more than a year since I first noticed this personal peculiarity of mine.