The next day, Ronan and Elvana spent the entire day together, But as midday approached Noctis, called Ronan aside with a firm grip on his arm. Her touch was warm, slick with sweat, and it sent a jolt through him as he turned to face her, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Noctis stood before him, a striking figure in the heat of the kitchen. She had been cooking lunch, stirring a pot of simmering stew near the open hearth, and the sweltering warmth had left her glistening with perspiration. Her black hair, thick and lustrous, clung to her neck and shoulders in damp strands, framing her face where her piercing green eyes were. Sweat beaded on her brow, trickling down her temples, and her skin glowed with a flushed, earthy sheen.
The silk cloths she wore—thin, translucent strips wrapped around her chest and waist—barely concealed her intimate parts, leaving the rest of her body exposed. The fabric around her chest strained against her big, heavy breasts, the outlines of her dark nipples faintly visible through the damp silk, which clung to her curves like a second skin.
Her breasts heaved slightly with each breath, the soft flesh trembling as she shifted her weight. The silk around her waist hugged her hips, accentuating the slight roundness of her stomach—a gentle swell adding a sensual fullness to her form. Her toned legs, dusted with fine hair, glistened with sweat.
Ronan's eyes widened as she fixed him. "Did you cum inside my daughter?" she asked.
The question hit him like a blow, draining the color from his face. His heart pounded, a wild rhythm of fear and guilt, as he imagined the consequences—a scolding, or worse.
Elvana had assured him that Noctis and Zyrris wouldn't mind as long as she didn't get pregnant, but he had cum inside her, "Um… I…" he stammered, "Aunt…"
Noctis's lips curved into a soft, reassuring smile, and she reached out, her sweat-slick hand patting his shoulder with a gentle touch. "Hey, don't worry, sweet boy," she murmured, "Even if you did, it's okay. I'm not here to judge you. I just need to know—did you do it?"
Ronan swallowed hard, his throat dry, and nodded hesitantly. "Um… Yes," he admitted.
Noctis sighed, "I hope she won't regret this choice…" she muttered, her green eyes narrowing as she studied him. Then, louder, she continued, "But it's okay. Listen to me. If you come back without achieving anything—if this immortal dream doesn't work out—promise me you'll become my daughter's companion. This is my request, from a mother's heart. I won't force you, but please… and if you achive something and become immortal then please keep her in a corner of your heart. Come back to see her, even just for some moment."
Ronan felt a pang in his chest, "Aunt," he said, "I promised her I'd come back, and I will. No matter what happens, as soon as I get the chance, I'll return to her. I'll be her companion." He paused, his gaze locking with hers, "It might take a year, maybe more… I don't know how long, but I will come back. I swear it. So... So... It..."
Noctis chuckled softly, She tilted her head, her damp hair sliding over her shoulder, revealing more of her sweat-slick neck. "Don't worry, dear," she said, "She won't take any companion. I can see it in her eyes—she loves you. It's not a deep, all-consuming love yet, but it's enough. Enough that she won't let another man claim her."
Noctis had once visited the city, and she saw Ronan as a city person—someone raised with different values. She knew that in the city, intimacy between a man and woman was exclusive, a bond shared only between them. This village was different, though.
Here, men and women were open with each other, their relationships fluid. While they didn't have sex constantly or swap companions often, it wasn't uncommon for them to share intimacy with others besides their chosen partners. Elvana had grown up in this world, her views shaped by its traditions, her body and desires unbound by exclusivity.
If Ronan had left without a word, Elvana might have sought out another man, giving in to the pleasures she'd discovered with him. To her, sex wasn't tied to one person—it was a natural part of life, a shared experience. Noctis understood this, and it fueled her worry.
"Um… okay," Ronan said, nodding, a flush creeping up his neck as he tried to process her words.
Noctis chuckled again, her eyes glinting with amusement as she watched his flustered reaction. Her breasts shifted slightly as she laughed, the damp silk clinging tighter, outlining their fullness.
"But… you knew everything," Ronan said. He had thought she and Zyrris were asleep during his nights with Elvana, but she had known all along—and it seemed she'd approached him now to confirm he'd cum inside her daughter.
"Yes," she admitted, "but Zyrris doesn't know. That man sleeps like a pig—nothing but an earthquake could wake him." She smirked.
He laughed, a nervous, relieved sound, and nodded.
"Well, go ahead and spend the last few moments you have with her," Noctis said.
"Yes," Ronan said, and he turned to leave.
Noctis stayed behind, her gaze lingering on his retreating form. She sighed, a low, wistful sound, and murmured to herself, "I hope he will come back, and situation like mine won't happen."
Her worry gnawed at her. She feared that once he reached the city and saw all those beautiful women—tall, elegant, with flawless skin and refined features—he might not return. Noctis had felt small and inferior when she'd seen the city women years ago, their beauty a stark contrast to her own rugged, earthy allure. Her daughter was same as she, might pale in comparison too. She hoped that when Ronan came back, he'd come alone, without a stunning city wife on his arm. If he did, she wasn't sure how Elvana would cope with the sting of that rejection.
"Double standard," Noctis muttered under her breath, her green eyes narrowing. In the city, men could take as many women as they pleased, but women were expected to remain loyal to one. It was a concept she struggled to grasp, yet she understood its pull. She shook her head, her damp hair swaying, and a bead of sweat trickled down her chest, disappearing into the silk. Even if he brought another woman, she thought, it would be better than him not returning at all.