”Oh? What happened? I thought you went to see Layla today?” Flare inquired softly.
”I did, but she fell asleep, so I didn’t want to wake her,” Kyle explained quickly.
”Hehehe, I see, so that’s how it is,” Flare giggled slyly.
She noticed Kyle’s pants were a little tight, and when she pointed it out, Kyle made an embarrassed face.
”Well, never mind that, so come in, please,” Flare invited warmly.
”Are you sure about this?” Kyle hesitated.
”Why would you hold back, given that I am your wife?” Flare reasoned gracefully.
She let out a soft laugh, and while her face was intense, there was no meanness in it at all.
”Anyway, we need to deal with that matter first,” Flare noted with a sly grin before gracefully reaching for the ties on her nightgown.
As if being invited, Kyle got into bed, and Flare immediately climbed on top of him.
She sat on his stomach, reached her arms behind her back, and loosened the straps of her underwear while looking unbearably attractive.
”Flare is on top right now…” Kyle murmured softly.
”You said it yourself last time, mentioning that you wanted me to take the lead,” Flare reminded him playfully.
Around his lower belly, Kyle felt a definite weight that was solid without feeling uncomfortable.
Flare was putting all her weight on him as she leaned down.
Where she sat, Kyle could feel the softness of her thighs and hips against his skin. Then Flare raised both arms and slipped off her corset-style underwear, letting her long, wavy dark brown hair flow down over her pale skin.
She ran her fingers roughly through her slightly messy hair, looked down at Kyle, and smiled warmly. That expression on his wife’s face really sent shivers down Kyle’s spine.
”Flare…” Kyle whispered softly.
”Hehehe, don’t move at all, because tonight, I’m going to make you mine,” Flare declared firmly.
Her smile was so attractive that no one would ever guess she was completely inexperienced just half a year ago.
Kyle nodded slowly, feeling almost hypnotized by her gaze.
Flare said she’d make him hers, but honestly, Kyle had been hers long before they got married.
Flare’s hand traced Kyle’s cheek, moved down his neck, and rested on his collarbone. She unbuttoned his pajamas one by one before slipping her hand inside.
When her fingers brushed across his chest, goosebumps exploded all over Kyle’s back while a tingle rushed through his whole body.
And all the while, Flare kept looking down at him with that calm smile that never faded.
As that went on, Kyle’s body reacted even more strongly, urging him to finish the moment already.
But Kyle couldn’t move with Flare on top of him, and she seemed to know exactly what she was doing as she watched his reactions and kept stroking his chest slowly to tease him.
Kyle felt completely overwhelmed by how intense the whole situation was.
Every time Flare’s slender fingers lightly passed over his skin, Kyle’s body trembled despite the gentle touch. His breathing got rough before stopping completely for a brief second.
Flare looked down at Kyle, smiling gently the whole time.
Kyle desperately wanted to beg Flare to move on to the next step.
Maybe she didn’t even realize it, but Flare didn’t act like an experienced woman who knew every trick. Yet just having her on top of him while she stroked his bare skin was enough to make Kyle feel like kneeling before her.
Flare’s fingers traced Kyle’s neck, then stopped on his chest as her face came closer and closer until the moment she kissed him, causing Kyle to lose control right there.
Just a little friction through the fabric made Kyle lose control entirely. His hips twitched, and Flare looked at him with a confused expression.
”But I haven’t even done anything substantial yet…” Flare observed in surprise.
”Sorry, but I was just far too excited…” Kyle admitted awkwardly.
”Hehe, were you really that excited, considering you’ve seen my body so many times already?” Flare teased gently.
Flare’s body, lit by the warm lamplight, looked remarkably beautiful. No matter how many times Kyle saw it, he knew he would never grow tired of her.
Kyle reached out and touched Flare’s skin without even thinking.
Her skin felt wonderfully smooth against his fingertips, staying impossibly soft, which made Flare let out a faint, breathy sigh.
A woman this gorgeous was Kyle’s wife, and she not only let him touch her, but actively welcomed it.
”Flare…” Kyle called out softly.
Kyle pulled Flare close, switching their positions quickly. He laid her down on the bed, tossed off his extra clothing, and dove straight into a dreamlike time with her.
Afterward, the two lay there together for a while catching their breath. Then Flare sat up smoothly and smiled down at Kyle.
”You look a little unhappy, so was it not enjoyable?” Flare asked softly.
”No, that’s not it at all, because it was truly amazing,” Kyle assured her.
Intimacy with Flare really was the absolute best, not just because of the physical pleasure, but because her scent, her voice, her soft skin, and every little expression made Kyle so happy.
However, the reason Kyle had that complicated look on his face was that after he finished and took a moment to breathe, he suddenly felt weirdly calm and remembered what he’d been thinking about before coming to Flare’s room. He wondered if this feeling was what people called post-event clarity.
Flare stared at Kyle quietly without saying anything.
And then it hit Kyle that there was someone right here beside him whom he could trust the most, since Flare was both smart and reliable.
So Kyle decided to talk to Flare about what he’d been pondering regarding Mei, who served as Layla’s lady-in-waiting.
”Are you asking about Mei…?” Flare questioned curiously.
”Yeah, that’s exactly right,” Kyle confirmed clearly.
Honestly, Kyle wasn’t sure where Mei stood or how he should treat her overall. Mei was a distant relative of Layla’s, technically born to a noble family, but she lost her parents when she was five and was taken in by Layla’s household. Right now, Mei was basically living as a dependent family member.
Mei worked as Layla’s lady-in-waiting, doing similar tasks as commoners, but her situation remained tricky.
For example, consider what would happen if Mei decided to get married someday.
If the guy was some country noble’s second son like Aile, Mei didn’t have living parents and her current status functioned like a commoner, so it wouldn’t be an ideal match. But if Mei married into a commoner’s family, her lineage remained too distinguished since she was blood-related to an old noble house, meaning that option didn’t fit well either.
Given all those factors, Kyle took Mei in along with Layla, but he kept wondering what he should do for Mei going forward.
Layla served as Kyle’s second wife, and Taris would probably stay with Flare for her entire life. Furthermore, even if it sounded strange, Taris occupied a position similar to a concubine right now, and she had even accepted the possibility of bearing Kyle’s child someday.
So those three were completely tied to Kyle, meaning they would be with him for life if nothing changed. But in the middle of all that, Mei’s situation felt somewhat out of place.
Kyle brought this whole topic up directly with Flare.
However, Flare looked a little surprised by Kyle’s serious question before smiling, “Oh? Have you really not touched her yet?”
”No, I haven’t at all, so why do you say that like it’s completely obvious?!” Kyle reacted sharply.
”Well, hehehe, because when you decided to take Mei in, you kept staring at her chest, didn’t you?” Flare pointed out teasingly.
”I mean, yeah, okay, but it was even written in our marriage agreement, right? It clearly stated that if I take a concubine, I must discuss it with Flare first. Even if I made a move, Mei would end up in a similar position as Taris, so maybe it wouldn’t be called a concubine, but I should still ask you first before doing anything like that,” Kyle explained carefully.
”…Yes, that is very true,” Flare acknowledged gently.
Flare smiled warmly at Kyle’s words. He didn’t know what was so funny to her, but Flare seemed to be in a great mood.
”Well, I think it’s very honest and noble of Kyle to come to me for advice like this. And since I accepted Mei along with Layla, I assumed that was simply how things were going to be, so it’s completely fine, really. Naturally, I believe she should be cared for at House Walker just as Taris is,” Flare stated cheerfully.
Flare stayed in a pleasant mood up to that point, but then her expression shifted slightly as she furrowed her brow. “However, if Kyle still hasn’t done anything with her, I feel a bit concerned for Mei, because she might be feeling quite anxious right now,” Flare remarked thoughtfully.
”Wait, what do you mean by that?” Kyle asked in confusion.
”Well, what I am trying to explain is…” Flare began smoothly.
Flare rolled over onto her stomach, propped her chin on her hands near the pillow, and turned her face toward Kyle to explain. What Flare shared was something Kyle never would have considered on his own.
”Even though Mei lost her parents at a young age, she was raised within an established family line. Therefore, she understands what it means to come work as a live-in helper at House Walker under Layla. But currently she remains in a position where she cannot easily manage her own future, let alone ensure stability with Layla, which makes me think Mei is likely feeling very insecure right now,” Flare explained clearly.
”Wait, why would she feel that way?” Kyle asked back, thoroughly confused.
Flare gave Kyle a gentle smile that seemed to suggest he was being slow to understand, then explained everything like a patient teacher.
”There are certainly some thick-skinned individuals who wouldn’t worry about such matters. But Kyle, how would you feel if you had to rely on others for everything without fulfilling your primary duties?” Flare asked gently.
”But Mei works properly as a maid and servant around here, doesn’t she?” Kyle pointed out.
”Well, yes, but that corresponds to the same treatment as a standard servant who commutes from outside, doesn’t it?” Flare countered softly.
”I guess so, but is that actually a bad thing?” Kyle wondered aloud.
”Mei lives here directly, and Layla specifically requested her presence because she didn’t want to be separated from her. We accepted her as a special lady-in-waiting, essentially as a family member, similar to how Taris is to me. How do you think she feels if she continues to be treated like any ordinary servant? At this rate, she might worry that she will eventually be let go like any other staff member and sent far away from Layla. Perhaps you held back from touching Mei out of genuine consideration for her feelings, Kyle, but because of that, Mei cannot feel certain that she truly belongs here for life. She receives the exact same treatment as someone who might eventually leave,” Flare explained thoroughly.
”So you mean that if something definite existed between Mei and me, Mei would feel much safer knowing she can stay here with Layla forever? And since nothing has happened yet, she might actually feel more stressed out instead…” Kyle realized slowly.
”Precisely so,” Flare affirmed with a nod.
Flare had an expression that asked if Kyle finally understood the situation. Professor Flare’s explanations were always remarkably easy to follow.
”Then, does that mean…” Kyle trailed off.
”Yes, as your lawful wife, I grant you my full permission, so I believe you should officially welcome Mei into the family. However, I must mention one important thing,” Flare stated firmly.
”Okay, what is it?” Kyle asked attentively.
”There are fewer noblemen who keep multiple partners nowadays compared to the past, but the practice still exists quite a bit. Whether the women in such a household can live peacefully depends entirely on the head of the house, and in our home, that responsibility falls on Kyle,” Flare reminded him smoothly.
”…That sounds like a massive responsibility,” Kyle noted solemnly.
”Yes, it certainly is a heavy task,” Flare agreed calmly.
Flare said it so effortlessly, but the situation felt remarkably serious to Kyle. He listened carefully to everything Flare had to say, knowing he needed to hear a woman’s perspective on the matter.
According to Flare’s explanation:
When multiple individuals in a household share a standing equivalent to a wife, it remains essential to maintain clear structure while treating everyone with equal care and affection.
”A clear structure…” Kyle repeated thoughtfully.
”In this house, the natural order begins with me, followed by Layla, then Taris, and finally Mei. I hold the position of first lady and legal wife, so I stand at the top of the household. Layla is also a wife, even as the second, placing her above Taris and Mei. If you were to treat Taris as higher than Layla simply because you’ve known her longer, it could create unnecessary tension, even though Layla wouldn’t mind such things,” Flare explained smoothly.
Flare paused for a moment, offered a warm smile, and added reassuringly:
”However, we are not like a dramatic court where people fight over power or attention, so you do not need to feel overly anxious about it.”
Still, Kyle knew he needed to remain mindful of how these connections worked between people. If he could care for everyone with equal sincerity, then everyone in the household could live happily together.
Kyle swallowed nervously. Previously, he had acted mostly on impulse, messing around with Taris or teasing Layla whenever he felt like giving her attention. But moving forward, Kyle realized he needed to think carefully instead of just following his mood, because causing conflict among the people in his home would become a serious issue.
Yet just as Flare mentioned, while Taris could be strict with Kyle, she always showed great respect toward Layla and treated her almost like a younger sister.
Meanwhile, Layla stayed exceptionally close to Flare, likely because they attended the same academy previously, and she never seemed uncomfortable around Taris either.
Looking at it that way, Flare was completely right. Everyone currently living at House Walker maintained wonderful relationships with one another. Therefore, Kyle didn’t need to be overly fearful, as long as he worked to help Mei integrate smoothly with everyone else.
That was the solid conclusion Kyle reached after listening to Flare’s guidance.
Once Kyle understood what steps to take, a noticeable weight lifted from his shoulders.
”You look much brighter now, though here you are lying beside me while thinking about other women, making you quite a troublesome husband, Kyle,” Flare teased with a small pout.
”I am truly sorry!” Kyle blurted out in a slight panic.
Kyle knew Flare was merely joking with him, but he still felt a bit flustered by her words.
Even so, Kyle felt tremendously relieved because one core truth remained absolutely certain in his mind. Flare stood firmly at the top of their household, and in truth, Kyle held her in higher regard than even himself.
Kyle looked at his wife’s mesmerizing smile, feeling completely certain that coming to Flare’s room tonight was definitely the right choice.
Trivia:
- Flare’s confidence in bed contrasts sharply with her former virgin status, hinting at a natural dominant streak that likely existed long before her marriage.
- Kyle’s concern for Mei’s future reveals his conscientious nature, but also exposes a blind spot: he hasn’t considered that Mei might have her own desires or opinions on the matter.
- Flare’s teasing comment about Kyle staring at Mei’s chest suggests she is not jealous but rather amused, implying she has already accepted Mei as a potential member of their household.
- Flare’s statement that she ranks above even Kyle in his mind reveals he unconsciously places her authority above his own, showing deep trust and deference.
- The comparison of Mei to Taris and the warning about treating concubines equally foreshadows potential jealousy if Kyle fails to maintain balance.
- Layla’s lack of concern about hierarchy, paired with Flare’s confidence in the household’s harmony, suggests a stable dynamic that Mei will need to adapt into rather than disrupt.