The bedsheets beside me rustled.
A moment later, a sweet scent reached my nostrils.
Licia: "Hmn... if you want to..."
Holding onto my arm, Licia mumbled, whispering temptations into my ear.
Stiff as a rock, I faced the ceiling, careful not to turn her or Claire's way.
Licia: "...You want to... right?"
Already asleep, daydreaming something I dared not imagine, Licia pressed her breasts against my arm.
It was hard, almost impossible to resist the warm, soft sensation on my arm.
Even worse, after sliding a hand down my chest, I felt the texture of her shorts on the back of my hand.
She was pulling my hand, and with every small movement of my legs, I rubbed a dangerous place.
If things were different, and she wasn't sleeping, I'd be overjoyed.
But as things stood, just imagining what would happen if she woke up like this made me break out in a cold sweat.
After quickly registering the satisfied smile she wore when tormenting me, I made the tough decision of turning away.
I thought it'd be fine as long as I kept my distance from Claire, but I underestimated her quite a bit.
From the waist up, she took up less space than Licia, giving me plenty of breathing room. From the waist down, it was a completely different story.
No matter the angle I tried, I couldn't escape the pressure of those hips, and moving too much was a problem in itself.
However, it got worse.
Licia: "I'll help you..."
I had no idea what she was dreaming of, but even that sliver of hope was crushed when she hugged my back.
Instead of helping, her entire body began pushing me toward Claire.
And from the front, Claire pushed back, crushing me up and down.
Things had quickly grown more dangerous than when we started, so...
I bit the bullet.
Turning away from that monstrous, evil rear, I once again found myself facing the ceiling.
The girls lay closer than before, squeezing me even tighter between them, so I held my arms close to my sides, using all of my strength to make sure Licia couldn't play with my hands again.
Claire: "...What are you doing?"
Her words were much clearer than Licia's.
She must've realized what was happening behind her back.
Or worse, she could've gotten the wrong idea...
Miwen: "Sorry. I'll move a little."
Claire: "Hmph."
Licia was still hugging my arm, so I had nowhere to go, but...
If I explained it to her, she would understand.
Claire: "Aren't your arms going numb? That must feel awful."
Miwen: "It's fine. It's my fault that we ended up like this, so it's the least I can do."
It was just a small inconvenience for me.
I was much more worried about making them uncomfortable.
Claire: "...Is that so?"
She mumbled a little, sighing to herself.
A second passed, the bed creaking as Claire turned my way.
Claire: "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not that I care about you or anything. It's just that your bed is too small and I needed more space."
She wrapped my arm over her shoulder, her hand going after the other.
After a small struggle, she broke it free from Licia's hold, causing my first companion to pout hard.
Claire: "Hmph. If you're going to take responsibility, do it to the very end. With no compromise."
She guided my arm toward Licia's shoulder, the two now resting against my chest.
Miwen: "I see. Thanks for the tip."
Spreading my arms felt much better.
As thanks, I landed a hand on Claire's head, stroking her hair.
Claire: "W-What are you doing!?"
Miwen: "Taking your advice to heart."
She stared hard at me, but ultimately, she lowered her head.
Claire: "Tch. It's not me you should be worrying about. If you're gonna comfort someone-"
Miwen: "I know."
I began patting Licia's head as well.
Miwen: "Trust me. I'll make sure you're both comfortable."
Claire: "Hmph! I told you not to misunderstand."
She had buried her face so much that I couldn't see her expression any longer.
However, she never tried to take my hand away, and just like that...
I woke up with Licia, and Claire wrapped around my arms.
Leaving the bed without waking them was another challenge. I quietly took one arm away, then one leg, only to find Licia's arm back on me again.
But eventually, I got out of bed and started working on breakfast.
Only a few minutes after I had started, I heard a couple of light footsteps behind me.
They approached me increasingly fast, and before I could turn my attention back...
Claire: "Bump. You're dead."
She tapped me with the handle of a kitchen knife.
Claire: "And now she's alone, with me..."
For good measure, she tapped my back a couple more times.
Miwen: "...Should I be worried?"
Claire: "You tell me. Do you care about what happens to her after you're gone?"
Hardly the thought I wanted to have in the morning, but...
I turned off the fire before starting on the next loaf of bread.
Claire: "Last night, if she hadn't suggested we sleep together... I have a feeling you would've locked yourself in the room with me."
Probably.
Licia had told me that she'd be fine sharing a bed. She went as far as to say she had spent various nights in inns to save money, and sometimes, she had to share rooms.
Claire also said something similar. She told us that as a duke's daughter, she had a small armed guard, and since she led troops into battle more than once, she was used to sleeping in barracks.
And still, I only accepted after they agreed on me sleeping in the middle.
I wasn't ready for what happened during the night. I had prepared for worse.
If Claire attacked us, I'd be her first victim, and hopefully, Licia would wake up and escape.
Miwen: "You're not wrong."
The fire rose, melting the butter.
I heard a deep sigh behind me, her eyes turning away for a second as she shook her head.
Claire: "I know you just want to make things easy for her, but... I don't like it."
She showed me the knife she'd grabbed, placing it beside the sink.
Claire: "She's already covering your back, and you clearly mean a lot to her, so..."
She stared me hard, her eyes piercing deep through me.
Claire: "Be more cautious and take better care of yourself. You can only make her so happy by sacrificing your own happiness... Rely on her. And if you need, I guess you can rely on me, too-"
With the toasts ready, I took the pan out of the oven.
Her attention briefly turned to the three plates.
Miwen: "You really care about her, huh?"
Claire: "Hmph! I never said that. I just felt like giving you a tip since you seem a bit clueless and... Well, your pillows were nice and warm..."
She crossed her arms, her eyes closed, and her head turned from me.
Miwen: "...You slept on my chest, though?"
Claire: "T-That's beside the point!"
It was the whole point, though...
Claire: "Listen! I'm saying-"
Her face flushed red.
I took the dagger hidden in the nearby cabinet, bumping her forehead.
Miwen: "I appreciate it. Thanks, Claire."
Claire: "You... Since when!?"
She froze for a second, her eyes searching the cabinet again.
It didn't take her long to find the gap between the cabinet and the sink, where I kept the dagger.
I had to give her credit; even Licia needed more than two looks to find it.
Miwen: "I needed to be ready, in case something happened while I was in the kitchen."
Claire: "Argh! Well, that's the problem! You should be worrying about yourself first!"
She started firing off words at me, seemingly unaware of who was behind her.
Licia: "Bump. You're dead too~"
Miwen: "Breakfast will be done in a second. Could you get the table ready?"
Since it was our first morning with Claire, I made it a little extra.
She also hadn't eaten before going to sleep yesterday, so I figured it'd help.
Miwen: "Also, thanks, Licia. I appreciate your help, too."
Licia: "Hm. But I couldn't save you... Ah, I get it. It's for setting the tables."
She knew exactly what I was talking about.
Her smug smile told me as much.
But I had conveyed my feelings to both of them, so there was no need to say anymore.
Or so I thought.
Claire was slightly quiet during breakfast, and out of nowhere...
Claire: "Don't get me wrong, I was just worried about what happens to us if you die. It's not like I care about you two."
Watching her stop eating to correct herself made me chuckle a little.
It was a reasonable fear, though.
Necromancers and their targets usually had a very delicate link. Anything, even mana depletion, could sever that link and end up with the target losing their soul.
Even though being a necromancer didn't sit right with me, I couldn't deny the possibility of my Gift being what fueled their lives.
It was hard to reassure them knowing this, but there was a way.
Miwen: "Then I guess we'll have to cover each other's back, huh?"
She stopped to think for a second, only to lift her chin so high that I could barely see her proud smile.
Claire: "The Ashbrodd family has no cowards that would attack a benefactor's back!"
Miwen: "Other than in simulations, or-"
Claire: "Shut up!"
She knocked the table with clenched fists.
Claire: "If you're going to help me, I'll repay you. Overwhelmingly so!"
Licia was still slightly drowsy, but Claire's energy fully woke her up.
With a warm smile on her face, Licia clapped her hands, as if watching a great show.
Miwen: "Oh, yeah? That's convenient. It just so happens that I have a job for the Continental Burn."
While cutting the sausage on her plate, she looked at me from the corner of her threatening eyes.
I shivered at the thought for a second.
Claire: "Go on?"
Seemingly amused, she resumed eating.
Miwen: "Let's finish breakfast first. I'll explain it to you on the way."
Claire: "...Sure."
It was a chaotic morning, but by the end, I felt like I had started understanding Claire a little more.
She had a little difficulty with her words. But roundabout or not, she had good intentions.
Licia seemed happy with her, too.
That made me hopeful that-
Licia: "Hm... Don't I get any skills for saving your life?"
Miwen: "You came too late, though. I'm already dead, remember?"
Licia: "No fair... You didn't even try fighting back..."
Claire: "Hmph! As if I'd ever lose."
Perhaps not hopeful.
Perhaps just glad.