Chapter 84: Sins Committed in a Dream - 3

Explaining Ian’s true feelings to Isolde was no easy task.

‘How am I supposed to explain something that has already sunk into his subconscious?’

Of course, I could infer some of it.

His love for Isabelle had been so immense that not even a grain of resentment toward Isolde, his former wife, remained.

‘In a way, he’s an impressive man.’

Still, the reason I had disliked Isolde was entirely because of the atrocities she had inflicted on Isabelle.

If she had merely been a somewhat ill-tempered tsundere older sister who nevertheless looked after her sick younger sister, wouldn’t she and I have become the best of friends?

‘Not that I’m in any position to judge anyone in the first place.’

Nothing was more pathetic than the pot calling the kettle black.

Still, when it came to Isabelle, I couldn’t help losing my reason.

Even my attempt to teach Isolde a harsh lesson through the Curse of Monstrosity had been an extension of that.

‘People are so selfish. To think we can only empathize once we feel the same pain ourselves.’

I had thought it was the most fitting punishment for Isolde, who had failed to understand Isabelle’s pain and Adelia’s feelings.

Of course, there might have been better methods than such an extreme measure.

But I had neither the ability nor the circumstances for that.

‘Still, seeing her apologize to me, it looks like she’s finally come to her senses.’

Isolde kept apologizing through streaming tears. From now on, she would become the good older sister Isabelle had wanted.

"If you truly don’t resent me anymore... could you love me?"

At least, that was until Isolde suddenly launched a confession at me.

‘I had some idea, but I didn’t expect her to say it so directly.’

I had already noticed that the looks Isolde gave me were anything but ordinary.

She had kept whining for me to love her so that I would lift her curse.

Well, I could understand it.

From Isolde’s perspective, everyone but me had turned their backs on her.

I was the only one left in her heart, and even now that the curse was lifted, she could only instinctively crave my love.

"Isolde, do you know what you’re saying right now?"

"I do. I know it’s something I shouldn’t do to Isabelle. But I can’t hold these feelings back."

"With your looks, I’m sure you could find a better man than me."

"No. If it isn’t you, I don’t want anyone else. Everyone says they love me just because of my appearance."

Pulling on my arm, Isolde pleaded with me.

"I’m sorry. I know I’m being greedy. But I can’t give up."

"Isolde."

"I-I’ll be an obedient wife. I’ll work hard at the housework, and I’ll learn how to cook from Mother. So please..."

"Don’t do that."

"S-so it really isn’t possible?"

I corrected Isolde’s mistaken assumption before she could fall into despair.

"No. I’m telling you not to become an obedient wife. I’m not particularly fond of women like that."

I didn’t know about other men, but I found no appeal in a woman who followed me blindly.

I had already been lucky enough to possess someone in the world of an erotic game. At this point, I had no interest in a woman who only obeyed whatever I said like an NPC.

"You don’t like obedient women? But men usually like women like that."

"It’s not that I dislike them. They’re just boring. A relationship is appealing when both people give and take. Well, it’s not that I hate a woman being obedient to her husband. I just don’t want to force you to become that way while stripping away what makes you charming."

"Do you think I have charm too?"

"Even your nasty attitude is charming, in its own way."

"What kind of answer is that?"

At my words, Isolde finally smiled.

As expected, women looked better smiling than crying.

"Since you said I’m charming, will you make me your wife too?"

I nodded at her question.

I would have ignored her in the past, but things were different now that Isolde had come to her senses.

‘It’s what Isabelle wanted too.’

If I rejected her here, Isolde would suffer for a while, and Isabelle would be sad too.

‘Isabelle knows that as well, which is why she asked me to take care of Isolde first.’

There was one thing I needed to make clear to Isolde, though.

"But there’s something you need to know. Isabelle is first to me. That will never change, so keep that in mind."

I had decided that from the moment I chose to build a harem.

She was my first, and I had absolutely no intention of changing that ranking.

"I-I have enough shame to know that. I have no intention of pushing Isabelle aside."

She did have a history of trying to push her aside once already, but I didn’t bother bringing it up.

"Then I’ll be second."

"That might be difficult."

"Huh?"

"I’m already involved with other women."

Isolde’s eyes widened at my words.

"There are other women besides Isabelle?"

"Yeah. Isabelle gave me permission."

"Who are they, then? What women are you seeing?"

Isolde glared at me with narrowed eyes.

I was briefly flustered by her stronger-than-expected jealousy, but I answered calmly.

"Don’t be too shocked. Adelia, Reina, and Kate."

"M-Mother? And even the nuns?!"

At my answer, Isolde wore an utterly dumbfounded expression.

"Are you surprised because there are more than you expected? There could be even more in the future."

"O-of course I’m surprised. Setting Mother aside, you shouldn’t be doing that with nuns in the first place."

"That’s true, but I’m not really in a position to worry about that."

"Do you have that much sexual desire? Is it so strong that you can’t hold it back?"

"I do have a strong sex drive, but that isn’t the only reason I’m doing this."

Holding Isolde by the chin, I continued explaining.

"You know I returned to the past with the Goddess’s help, right?"

"Yeah, I heard everything. Thanks to that, Isabelle’s curse was cured."

"Right. That means I’m tangled up in many destinies."

"Like a Hero?"

"Who knows? But there’s one thing I’m certain of. From now on, the world will face all kinds of chaos. War, famine, disasters, and more. If it means I can protect Isabelle and the people who are mine in a world like that, I won’t hesitate to use any means necessary."

"..."

"If you become the wife of a man like me, you won’t be as happy as you imagine. Do you still want to become my wife?"

Isolde answered my question with a question of her own.

"But you won’t abandon your women, will you?"

"No. I’m possessive, after all. Thanks to someone."

"Then I want to be your wife. No... make me your wife."

Isolde said this as she gripped my hand.

The obsessive look in her eyes was all too clear.

"It can’t be anyone but you. You’re the only one who can truly love me."

. . .

While Ian went to wash himself, Isolde prepared the bed for him.

There was not much to prepare beyond straightening the blankets, but Isolde had been unable to calm down since earlier.

Thump, thump.

‘I’m so nervous.’

The thought that they would spend their first night together here soon would not let her excitement fade.

‘Will I be able to do well?’

Nothing had even begun yet, but anxiety slowly crept into Isolde’s heart.

‘What if he sees my body and is disappointed?’

It was something she ordinarily would never have worried about, but because the other person was Ian, she could not help being concerned.

Aside from her state of mind, she was the same person as Ian’s former wife.

He had said it was fine, but that did not mean the wounds of the past had disappeared.

‘Should I ask him to blindfold himself while we do it?’

Isolde even entertained such absurd thoughts, but there was no one here to stop her runaway imagination.

"I’m coming in."

"Ah, w-wait a moment..."

"Is something wrong?"

As Ian abruptly opened the door and came in, Isolde floundered, unsure what to do.

But that only lasted a moment.

Gulp.

To Isolde, Ian looked incredibly sexy as he stood bare-chested, drying his hair with a towel.

‘W-wait, what? Men’s bodies are supposed to be this attractive?!’

He had a toned body, neatly groomed body hair, and even carried a subtle fragrance.

Isolde had never seen a naked man before, but she had never imagined a body as well cared-for as Ian’s.

"You’re still dressed?"

"W-well... do you want me to take them off?"

"No need."

Ian sat beside Isolde and spoke in a low voice by her ear.

"I like taking them off myself."

"I-I see."

At Ian’s answer, Isolde breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

"Still, the more I look at you, the stranger it seems."

"W-what does?"

"I can’t understand how the men in this village left such a beautiful woman alone."

Isolde’s personality had its problems, but her beauty was stunning enough to outweigh them.

"I worked hard to protect my virginity too. That’s everything to a woman, after all."

Environmental factors had played a great role in turning Isolde self-righteous.

Countless men had wanted her and constantly waited for chances to claim her.

To survive among them, Isolde had needed to be vicious.

Of course, the problem was that she had tried to vent the stress those village men caused her on Isabelle.

"You’ve had it rough."

"I’ve had it rough?"

"Yeah. You preserved your virginity all this time for me."

"That’s true. Huh...?"

At Ian’s comforting words, huge tears streamed down Isolde’s cheeks.

"Why are you crying again?"

"Sorry, but the tears won’t stop."

"You and your mother really are alike. Always trying to apologize is a bad habit. Don’t do it from now on."

"B-but..."

"No buts."

Ian said as he stroked Isolde’s hair.

"I want to see my women smiling, not crying. Got it? From now on, smile for me."

"Sob... okay! I won’t cry anymore."

Having said that, Isolde gradually locked eyes with Ian.

Their gazes grew heated, and before long, the air between them began to burn.

"Ian."

Isolde was the first to move.

She offered her lips to Ian and pleaded.

"Kiss me like you did last time."

"Shall we kiss like husband and wife this time?"

"Yes♥"

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