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CHAPTER 66 – EVE OF THE EXPEDITION
When their lips parted, neither could say anything

A kiss from time to time, a kiss when parting, how was this any different from a pair of lovers? Why, why did she let this happen so easily? Could it be that she wanted this deep within her heart

No, she would rather say that she was a woman with fickle emotions than to admit that she and Ayaka were in love.
In love

Thinking of that word, Lily’s face flushed even redder, and the sweetness coated her heart. She snuggled deeper into Ayaka’s embrace, her one revealed eye stared at the distant scenery.
Ayaka’s slow rhythmic breaths put her into a trance.
She was completely controlled by this woman’s strength, yet surrounded by her warmth and tenderness

What was she doing?
But there was a voice in her inner heart that kept saying, this was wrong. There was a pair of eyes that kept on looking at her in contempt, shameless1!
Lily weakly pushed Ayaka away, unable to look at her, she stared at the ground to the side, but this weak resistance was like another side of flirting.
“Come.” Ayaka pulled Lily along, leading her past the silent courtyard to a cave in the middle of a few fake mountains, the scenery was quiet and pleasant. They sat within the cave and enjoyed the atmosphere.
The cave’s floor hugged the water surface, yet the water did flow into the cave. It was like a full moon, the water, rain and skies all dyed in the same color.
“When I became the chief advisor, I encountered many obstacles and setbacks, I would always come here alone. Today, you are the first and last person to be able to come here with me.”
“Lady Ayaka
”
With a light push, Lily was pushed towards a round opening in the wall, at the entrance of the hole was a rock carving in the shape of a lunar moon. Looking at it made her imagine sitting on it, it would be very indecent sitting on it, with one leg on each side of the moon. Pulling off her wooden clogs, Lily sat down with her legs outstretched on the crescent moon, her little white feet dipping into the water.
A little bored, she pushed around the water lilies with her toes.
But how would Ayaka allow her companion to feel bored?
Clasping one of Lily’s hands, she leaned down kissing the curve of Lily’s ear.
“Mmm
” Lily’s body trembled as her cheeks reddened.
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But this teasing of her weakness was only the beginning.
Ayaka continued downwards, kissing past her chin, down to her neck2. Lily couldn’t help but extend a hand to push Ayaka away, but it was a weak ineffectual push.
Fresh cool air and rain was constantly blown in along with the scent of spring flowers and plants. In this large quiet courtyard there were only two people, no matter what they did here, no one would know.
While kissing Lily’s weak points, Ayaka’s hand slowly and gently caressed her neck, collarbones
before slipping towards her lapel.
Lily wanted to push her away, but her efforts were useless.
Ayaka’s hand ran over the soft mounds, and when her hand stopped at the peak of the mound, Lily’s resistance stopped as if this peak had been captured.
Just as Lily thought a part of her was conquered, Ayaka responded as if she could see through her, “Today, do not call me lady, here, we are equals
”
Grabbing Lily’s hand, she led it to her tall proud chest, guiding her hand into her clothes

At this moment Lily could only feel that her palm was numb as if melting from the softness and warmth. Ayaka took a deep breath, her face tinted pink as she hummed, leaned down and kissed Lily.
It took a long time for them to separate, they stared into each other’s eyes timidly with blushing cheeks as they both pulled back their hands.
Is this what it felt like falling in love with a woman?
“No, no! It’s not like that
I don’t know
”
She knew she shouldn’t have, but her bottom line was once again broken, she was approaching that forbidden fruit step by step.
But at least for today, this was already the bottomest line that she could accept.
She could not go any farther.
What is love?
Lily naturally loved sister Rinne, their bond was earth-shattering and unbreakable3.
However, everything happened too fast, in the past it was a hidden crush, and then sister Rinne confessed, and then everything came to an end

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This process of being nervous and shy with each other, exploring bit by bit, the sweet talk that lingered in their ears, Lily had never experienced.
It was hardest for the inexperienced to resist.
She knew this was wrong, but she couldn’t stop it. There were things that she couldn’t stop from longing for despite how wrong it was

They sat on the stone moon and kissed until dawn.
The two talked a lot, but in truth, Lily could not remember what they talked about, all she could remember was the warm sweet tone.
She still remembered the coquettish tone she used as she responded to Ayaka, though she couldn’t remember the contents, the atmosphere had become more harmonious and sweeter

Of course, she said words of rejection but those words lacked substance when spoken while blushing, smiling shyly and squirming
how could such a weak refusal stop Ayaka?
The last embers of daylight glowed in the west, the pond glowed gold and the fleeting beauty of purple
 She didn’t know when she had started leaning into Ayaka’s embrace.
She couldn’t remember how many kisses they had. Did they talk more or did they have more mouth to mouth communication.
Ayaka stroked her hair and felt Lily snuggle, she never wanted to be parted from this peerless beauty, but as the skies grew darker, she started worrying.
“Tomorrow is the date of departure to Tanba.” Ayaka didn’t want to bring up this topic and break the atmosphere, but what must be said would be said. Ayaka was a strong woman, the Lord Chief Advisor of this land.
As for Lily, no matter if this was love or betrayal, she was reluctant to separate from Ayaka.
But this was a journey that she had to go through, as a military official of this country, she would serve the country.
Furthermore, sister Rei was missing within Tanba, she would have to search for her! In the past, sister Rei had not allowed her to join because of her lack of strength. Today, she was no longer the Lily of the past, she was no longer weak!
“Mm.” Lily nodded.
Ayaka tightly grabbed her shoulder, ‘Don’t go.”
“Mm?”
“I don’t want you to go
Lily, can you stay here, with me? We can enjoy the sunset everyday, enjoy the beauty of the four seasons, appreciate
appreciate
each other. I can handle the court, you’re only a small military official, it won’t matter if you don’t go. I will personally go to the court and explain, the imperial court can exempt you from this expedition.”
Ayaka looked at Lily pleadingly, “Ok? Lily, don’t go.”
Lily leaned against Ayaka’s soft towering chest, her clear eyes reflecting the glow of the night, the last traces of light slowly disappearing from her eyes before being replaced by the reflection of the moon, cold and strong.
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Lily shook her head, a sweet yet strong smile on her face.
“Ayaka, you know, I must go.”
This was the first time Lily had called Ayaka by her name, but it made Ayaka happier than hearing ten thousand my lord, or lady.
Only, the happiness faded when she thought about Lily’s story. The reason she must go, of course, wasn’t the imperial court.
The imperial court was originally a series of balances and checks. If Lily didn’t want to go, all she had to do, was do something else advantageous to her faction.
“Because
that woman? That
Uesugi Rei?” Ayaka’s eyes dimmed, with her identity, and how well she treated Lily, treasured her, pampered her, but she would still risk her life to go to Tanba for another woman?
“Yes, but it’s not all because of that
” Lily knew what she was saying would make Ayaka unhappy, but she had to say it.
“Is that woman that important? Do you know that you aren’t alone anymore? Do you know how dangerous Tanba is?”
Facing Ayaka’s anger, Lily didn’t refute, how could she not understand? Was this anger’s source, not Ayaka’s care towards her?
This anger made Lily feel bliss, when she arrived in this Heian-world, her only companion was the sleeping sister Rinne. This world was full of scams and intrigues, how many people would truly care for and cherish her? Even if this care and cherishing was a bit overwhelming and unreasonable, she felt warm and tempted.
Only

“It’s not like what Lady Ayaka thinks, Sister Uesugi saved my life. When one of my sisters is in danger, I must go4.”
Lily thought of the last time she met with sister Uesugi.
It was a rainy day

They had a conversation beside the window, looking at the rain.
“Hate your fate, fight against it, hate your enemies, take revenge, but in the end, you will only end up hating yourself and have nowhere to go.”
“Little sister, I shall toast you with this cup of wine, in memory of those who fell at the hands of that arch-demon.”



“Little sister, I shall ask you, if one day, I fall into that arch-demon’s grasp in a crusade, and that arch-demon has power far beyond what little sister can handle, what will you do?”
“Even if it is a path towards Yomi and the reincarnation cycle, where sister is, I will go!”
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Drizzle—!
Surrounding the cave where Ayaka and Lily snuggled, the rain fell heavier, turning into a watery curtain.
References
Robinxen: Embrace the harem.Robinxen: Ayaka is nothing like she was with that other girl.Yuki: Really? Earth shattering and unbreakable bond with someone you’ve only talked to a few times, I call bullshit
Robinxen: I must.