After lunch, Kaze and Lunaria headed over to the lab where Lunaea and Luniel were supposedly at.
"Kaze, since this is going to be your first time at the lab, there are a few things I must let you know," Lunaria told Kaze while they traversed the streets of Aravel. "You also must not let the others know of what you see later, since there are quite a few secrets inside."
"I understand. It's a lab after all, where even princesses of the nation are working in and developed so many crazy inventions," Kaze nodded, walking by her side. "But the only reason I get to see the inside is because of needing to analyse myself?"
"I could always blindfold you to ensure absolute secrecy, but partly because you are my lover so it's about right you deserve to learn a secret or two," Lunaria admitted in a soft tone in case anyone around them overheard her. "And also because the twins insisted it themselves."
"Ah, I see. So technically I have gotten permission."
A few minutes later, they arrived at what looked to be a small house. Upon entry, Kaze had to bypass a few security measures in place with the help of Lunaria due to him being a stranger. It wasn't much, with the usual checks of weapon concealment and such. If not for Lunaria being there, he wouldn't have gotten past the security either.
They then took a flight of stairs downwards that led to a narrow corridor reinforced with concrete, something that was rarely seen due to the abundance of wood usage instead. Lunaria walked him down the corridor where they ended up to a dead end.
"Uhh, is this the lab?" Kaze asked, looking around, feeling a little lost. "I don't see anything."
Lunaria simply smiled and pulled him to stand in the middle of the dead end, which was essentially made to look like a small circular room. Once the two were there, Lunaria released her magic into the wall in front of her and instantly, magic circles filled the entire area around them. The wall in front began crumbling, as if getting disintegrated by magic while the surrounding structure held up properly without any sort of vibration.
"As you can see, security is rather tight," Lunaria told Kaze with a giggle. "I'm sorry if this spooked you, there was no way I could prepare you for what came next."
"Ahh, you could have at least said something about a crumbling wall," Kaze gulped. "What's with all those magic circles?"
"Each of them fulfils different functions. It would be too tedious to go through all of them, to be honest, so just know they work to prevent this doorway from being detected by normal means and to hold the structure up properly."
Kaze turned to the familiar voice who had just explained the workings of the magic circles to him. At the doorway stood Lunaea, who seemed to have already expected their arrival.
"H-Hope you have already eaten, Kaze… t-this might take a while," Lunaea shyly greeted him.
"We ate at the palace," Lunaria told Lunaea with a smile and patted her younger sister's head. "Thanks for the concern Lunaea."
"D-Don't mention it… this way please."
When entering the lab, Kaze was surprised that the working space was much bigger than he thought. Since the house they entered when going past the security earlier was next to a mountain, it was obvious this was located either underground or directly in another mountain nearby. As such, it would make sense that space was huge as long as they could empty out the insides enough to make space for their research.
What Kaze didn't expect was that there was no one else in the research room other than Lunaea and Luniel. The size of the research lab was simply 2 rooms big, barely bigger than the dining room in the palace. What's more, it was littered with random stuff piled up in messy heaps all over the place. Walking to the back of the room with Lunaea, it led to a separate space where things looked much neater. This was the second room that composed of the lab as a whole, which was rather surprising since Kaze figured they would need more space to work.
"Good, you're here," Luniel looked up from her workspace when she saw Kaze entering. "Shall we start?"
"Mou, you two have to tidy this place up sooner or later," Lunaria sighed at the abysmal state of the place. "Should I help?"
"Do as you wish, Lunaria-nee," Luniel shrugged and looked at Kaze. "Kaze, please come up front."
Kaze obeyed her command and walked in front of her. Luniel spent a few more seconds writing down whatever she had on her stack of papers before turning to face him.
"I will just be running a brief check on you, Kaze, mainly involving stuff like how mana circulates and how your body responds to it," Luniel briefed him on the things she would be doing in a professional manner. "I need you to trust in Lunaea and I that we won't harm your body, understood?"
"Well, if Lunaria trusts you, then I would too," Kaze reassured the twin. "What's the worst that could happen from a simple check?"
"That's true. For now, please strip to your core," Luniel smirked.
"She means strip to your underwear," Lunaria corrected her cheeky younger sister from the sidelines while she tidied up the room.
"Aw, you're no fun, Lunaria-nee," Luniel pouted. "As Lunaria-nee said, just your clothes and pants will be enough."
Lunaea offered a helping hand by taking Kaze's clothes and setting it aside for him once he removed his outfit. With Luniel leading the research and analysing, Lunaea recorded some of the information as they talked amongst themselves. From there, Kaze was truly able to see their expertise come into play.
The previously shy Lunaea now had a very refined look on her face, one of someone devoted to studying seriously while Luniel looked completely immersed in her notes and numbers. This was also another side of the girls he hadn't seen before compared to their usual selves. It was especially refreshing to see Luniel having a serious side too, since he had an expectation that all of Aravel's princesses excelled in their own field.
Their session went by quickly. With Kaze standing still most of the time, Lunaea and Luniel took measurements and casted a few simple magic spells on his body. Any time suitable, they would go back to their notes and take precise recordings to ensure their results were as accurate as possible. At this moment, they were true researchers dedicated to their study and experiments, giving off a completely different vibe. It affected Kaze in a way that he couldn't feel time flowing from how he admired their craft.
"What about that?"
"Oh, it's another failure of ours. There was a time when…"
While they took the recordings, Kaze also chatted with the twins. Unlike normal, they talked in a rather calm and controlled tone than their natural self, be it Lunaea's shyness or Luniel's cheekiness. It showed a form of professionalism that made Kaze shudder in admiration for them. It was no wonder that so many of their inventions were otherworldly and ahead of Czech.
Meanwhile, Lunaria had already helped with what she could tidy using magic and decided to sit aside to watch her sisters interacting with Kaze. Before long, she had gotten bored and dozed off.
"Ah, Lunaria fell asleep," Kaze chuckled lightly when he noticed Lunaria slumping over in the chair. "She must have gotten bored waiting for us."
"… Kaze, why did you fall in love with Lunaria-nee?" Luniel asked as she recorded the readings from a device strapped to his arm.
"Huh? Erm, I would definitely say it's because of her persistence," Kaze admitted to the twin. "Her super cool and beautiful looks aside, Lunaria's character is something to admire. She is selfless and persists through the hard times in her own way. What's more, she is honest to what she wants and won't allow her perception to be warped by others."
"That sounds just like Lunaria-nee," Lunaea smiled at his words. "Even as her sisters, we can tell that Lunaria-nee works hard for our sake."
"Right? It's no wonder I fell for her," Kaze agreed with Lunaea. "But it does make me wonder how she was able to come to love someone like me."
"Lunaria-nee must have seen something in you too. Otherwise, there was no way she would have fallen in love with you after going through so many difficult times," Luniel smiled wryly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you don't deserve Lunaria-nee, but if you knew what she had gone through you can see where I'm coming from. The number of suitors she had rejected after talking with them or eating together… it's not easy. You might think that all she has to do is decide yes or no, but Lunaria-nee feels bad for each person she rejected."
"Regardless of their intent or reason for requesting her hand in marriage, Lunaria-nee is worried. She understands that not all of them had ill intentions when it came to marrying her, since she too knew that men were easily charmed by the sight of a beauty and super competent princess. Not to mention that marrying Lunaria-nee could potentially be life-changing as they would have a chance of becoming the Emperor of Aravel."
Kaze shivered in fear when Luniel mentioned the point about becoming an Emperor. It was something he hadn't considered before since the only thing on his mind was how to make Lunaria happy. Anything beyond that was out of his league at the moment, in which he was given a rather rough reality check by Luniel.
"Ah, Kaze, don't tell me it never occurred to you it would happen?" Lunaea asked him. "Father and mother might be able to rule for a few more centuries, but who is to say that they want to retire early and find a successor? At this point, it is definitely going to be Lunaria stepping up."
"C-Can't the nation be led solely by an Empress?" Kaze sweatdropped. "You know, since it does not necessarily need to have an Emperor…?"
"On paper, yes, but I think one way or another, Lunaria-nee would need to get a husband so she could have a new heir to the throne," Lunaea nodded. "And as of now, it would be you, Kaze, who is Lunaria-nee's lover."
"..."
"Don't look so worried. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it, but for now, you have only just started dating," Luniel sighed. "If things really do turn out the way they do and you two get married, only then will we be able to further discuss this issue."
"Right now, maybe it would be best for you to think how you and Lunaria-nee would be able to live your lives without getting constantly harassed by people in Tristania," Lunaea followed up from her younger twin. "The world isn't so kind as to simply accept a fate like yours, Kaze."
"… Are you two trying to scare me out of a relationship from Lunaria?" Kaze asked nervously, worried that what he said was indeed the case.
Looking at each other, Lunaea and Luniel respectively laughed and giggled at Kaze. They found it funny that Kaze was worried about how his relationship would turn out with Lunaria instead of worrying about his status, placing emphasis on Lunaria more so than himself.
"Scare you away? Far from it! We wish you the best of luck with our sister," Lunaea giggled. "We are truly, deeply happy that Lunaria-nee finally has someone she can rely on."
"Kaze, you might not realize it now, but you have become some sort of emotional thread for Lunaria-nee," Luniel smirked at him. "Think about it: Lunaria-nee, who has always dealt with mental and emotional problems due to her past and present, finally has someone she can trust 100%. I can say for sure she loves you a lot, so much so that she is willing to offer sex with you on the first night alone. Don't you think it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Lunaria-nee is seeking emotional comfort from you?"
"I think it's far beyond that, Luniel. Lunaria-nee has most probably started to shift her emotional attachment onto Kaze without her realizing it," Lunaea analysed. "What I mean is that she has, since a while ago, relayed her emotions to Kaze and similarly relies on him to provide her with the comfort and warmth Lunaria-nee has missed out on for half her life."
"That's probably too absurd. You are saying it as though Lunaria has literally offered her life to me," Kaze laughed, trying to dismiss the fact that it was probably true. "I mean… we just started dating."
"Not so much when you consider that arranged marriages are made all the time," Luniel shook her head, disagreeing with Kaze. "Lunaria-nee has already began considering about revolving her life around you. For example: she asked you to move into her room and sleep together. Isn't that attachment there?"
"M-Maybe, but-"
"Let's make a bet: When Lunaria-nee wakes up, the first thing she will do is walk over and hug you."
"… Fine. You wake her then."
With a sigh, Luniel walked over and shook Lunaria's shoulder lightly. Immediately, Lunaria snapped out of her slumber and looked at her sister.
"Hm? Are you done with Kaze?"
"Yeah. You can take your boytoy away."
"Mm… Kaze~"
Lunaria got up from the chair and slumped over to him, hugging him tightly even when he was still standing and naked.
Proving her point with this, Luniel gave Kaze a knowing nod.
"Look, just because she does this isn't proof enough," Kaze groaned. "It could simply be something at the start of a relationship."
"Hehe, we shall see," Luniel triumphantly smiled, knowing that Kaze could no longer refute her. "Point is, cherish Lunaria-nee. You two can leave now, we're done."
"Hm? What were you three talking about while I was asleep?" Lunaria looked between her sisters and Kaze. "Kaze?"
"… I don't even know," Kaze sighed. "Also, why did you call me a boytoy, Luniel?"
"… Luniel?!"
"Oops, I thought Lunaria-nee was going to let it slip."
With Luniel giggling cheekily at Lunaria's delayed response, Kaze and Lunaria eventually left the lab to return to the palace.
Once back, they discovered that some of their friends had already returned from whatever they were doing throughout the day and began talking together. It was rather interesting to hear the discoveries they had made when touring around the area, especially when talking with the locals and trying some bizarre new food. Yuuji, especially, looked like he enjoyed it immensely.
When it came to Kaze's turn to talk about the wyvern and his horrible luck, everyone else laughed along at his story. Needless to say, they were both humoured and equally intrigued with the wyvern stables. Lunaria then promised to find time within their two weeks schedule to bring the group back to the stables together, this time with extra precaution to prevent something like what Kaze experienced from happening.
"That aside, what else did you do today? Aside from cuddling with Lunaria," Irene asked Kaze with a giggle.
"W-We just… talked a lot," Kaze looked away shyly, though it was really to hide the fact they went to do a check-up with Lunaea and Luniel. "We spoke a lot about ourselves?"
"It was something designated by my mother to ensure that our dating process wouldn't be awkward," Lunaria helped to convince his friends. "Also, I would like to thank everyone for being so supportive towards Kaze and I."
"It was nothing, Lunaria. As allies and friends, it is something we would continue to support," Yuuji smiled. "Plus, we all know how you got along with Kaze from before Aravel. A surprise it may be, but an expected one."
"Sera was just wondering when you two would get together," Rena added. "We couldn't stand watching our friend being so adamant about it."
"Especially you, Lunaria. In moments like these, you should have taken the lead," Sera sighed at the dragonkin. "Were you expecting Kaze to be the first to confess?"
"N-No, it just happened, and I really didn't want to force anything…" Lunaria stammered when faced with such reasoning. "Plus, Kaze looked unsure of himself too."
"Heh~ how considerate," Chris oozed in admiration towards Lunaria. "Kind of reminded me of how Yuuji got together with Mia."
"Don't get into that. I was young and trying to act cool towards a girl I was interested in," Yuuji admitted while dismissing such facts from Chris with a slightly embarrassed look. "Kaze, I admit, is more matured when it came to his approach with Lunaria."
"Really? How so?" Kaze widened his eyes in surprise, knowing that he didn't do anything special when confessing to Lunaria.
"I'm not going to get into that-"
"Basically, he begged and begged Sir Ethan to allow him to get together with Mia."
"Hey!"
With Mitsui immediately exposing Yuuji's embarrassing past, the group once again erupted into another round of laughter as friendships got betrayed, one by one. Starting from Yuuji and leading to Chris, the couples of the room slowly got exposed.
The group then left for a short break each before getting together for dinner. With a little bit of spare time alone, Kaze and Lunaria returned to their room for a rest.
"Kaze, want to cuddle?" Lunaria asked him once they were alone.
"Cuddle?"
"Mm? Do I really have to explain what that means?"
"Um… yes, please. I'm sorry."
"Cuddling is something us lovers would do. The act itself involves hugging and kisses while lying down."
"Ah, I see. Have we cuddled before?"
"Um… if you exclude last night and the bathroom showering, then no?"
"Alright. I would love to try cuddling."
"Come here."
"Hm? Oh…"
Kaze blushed when Lunaria crawled onto the bed and laid sideways. With her legs exposed to him all the way up to her inner thigh, she patted the space next to her to beckon him over. Obeying her actions, Kaze laid right next to her, and she proceeded to rest her head on his side with one arm crossed over his chest. As for her legs, Lunaria had them wrapped around him as well, pulling herself close to him and rubbing her face ecstatically into the crook of his neck.
"Mm~~~~"
"… So this is cuddling?"
"It's a little awkward because you're so stiff. Come on, spread your hands around me too."
"L-Like this?"
"Don't be afraid of touching me, I won't bite you."
"But… isn't it a little inappropriate?"
"It's fine. We're in private without anyone around and I'm giving you permission. Not that you need permission to touch me…"
"…"
"Mm~ Like this~~~~"
Lunaria purred softly when Kaze reached over and stroked her head gently while they cuddled. Her soft moans sent a chill down Kaze's spine in a good way. Combined with her soft body pressed to his, Kaze's lower body naturally reacted in response to his brain triggering the memories of the night before.
"… Oh?"
"S-Sorry…"
"Don't apologise. It's great knowing you are reacting like any normal guy would. I already half-expected this to happen when I proposed to cuddle. You will get used to it. In the meantime…"
"L-Lunaria?!"
"Let me see~"
"Hey, n-no!"
"Mm~ It does look really different when there is proper lighting."
"..."
"Oh? You reacted. How cute."
"D-Don't call it cute. It's weird."
"You should be proud. Exceeding 15 centimetres when erect…"
"Is that really something to be proud of?"
"Dragonkins love it when you have them big. Not to say that there are those who like it small, but this size does make me wonder what would happen if you became extremely skilled at sex."
"… Are we going to 'practice' right now?"
"I'm down. Are you?"
"..."
"Good boy. Let me reward you~"
Kaze later felt guilty for allowing his carnal desires to take over instead of being logical. Whatever cuddling session they had going on had turned physical.