◇Kinosaki Hot Springs◇
One day, the members Flio's household took a trip to visit the Kinosaki
Hot Springs. "Ahhh..." Rys sighed happily, her hair done up as she soaked
in the hot water. "This bath really is the best..."
"Like, no kidding!" Byleri agreed as she enjoyed the water alongside
Rys, a smile on her face. "Every time we come here, this one is totally the
best."
"U-Um..." ventured Ellie, the Maiden Queen, who had been sitting next
to the two women. She looked up at Rys timidly. "I-Is it really all right for
me to be here? This is a family vacation, is it not?"
"Of course it's all right!" said Rys, smiling cheerfully at the reigning
monarch. "After all, you've been coming by our house for bride training
whenever you have a spare moment! You're as good as a member of the
family."
"B-Bfweh?!" Ellie exclaimed, expelling a jet of water from her mouth in
surprise at Rys's words. "Ack, hack! Ahem! U-Um... You know, my
intention in visiting your house was to study the lives of my subjects. I
haven't the faintest idea what you might mean by bride training..."
"Huh?" Byleri asked. "So, like, you don't want to be Garyl's bride?"
"B-Bfffh!" Once again, Ellie performed an impressive spit-take. "Hack!
Agh! W-Well, you know...I still haven't exactly spoken with Garyl about
that proposition. But...I can't say I am entirely opposed to the idea..." Ellie's
face and even her exposed shoulders turned bright red as she tried
desperately to explain herself. Rys and Byleri just smiled.
"You aren't exactly hiding your emotions with the way you're acting,
you know," said Rys. "Now, let's just relax and enjoy the bath to our hearts'
content as we pray to be blessed with children."
"What was that?" Ellie asked. "Blessed with ch-children...?"
"That's right!" Byleri chimed in. "Like, people say you'll be blessed
with children if you soak in the Yanagi Bath! That's why I was able to have
my Rislei!"
Ellie looked between Rys and Byleri, her face growing redder once
again. "Ch-Children...?" she said. "B-But I've never done anything
like...that."
"Oh?" Rys asked. "You still haven't gotten that far, even after all the
lovers' trysts the two of you have been on?"
"Bfwahhh!" Ellie did her third spit take of the conversation. B-But I had
been so careful! She thought. How could they have found out that I'd been
meeting alone with Garyl?!
Ellie's mouth opened and shut wordlessly, her face bright red...but
unconsciously, she had begun to gently rub her belly in contemplation.