Chapter 218
“It’s not a newlywed house yet. Don’t you have to get married first?”
“So, who’s going to confess first? Is it the human guy’s job?”
“Well, obviously.”
“I disagree. You need to live together for at least ten years before getting married!”
“Hela… If you wait ten years, that guy will be a shriveled old man.”
Honestly, if they got any rowdier in here, Payne felt he would really shrivel up right now.
He rubbed his brow and whispered to Ashtel.
“Ashtel, when are your sisters leaving?”
“Oh, I’ll ask them!”
“No, wait—”
“Sisters, when are you guys going back?”
“Why? You want us gone already?”
The sharp reply came from Hela, who had been prickly all afternoon. It seemed she really didn’t like how Payne had been monopolizing Ashtel.
‘Damn…’
Rather than sit here under her glare, Payne figured it was safer to go make some tea.
Luckily, no one stopped him; Ashtel was too caught up with her sisters to notice.
‘Whew…’
He filled the kettle and set it on the stove, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
It felt strange—he was so used to just being alone with Ashtel, this kind of noise seemed almost foreign.
Back in Medialle, at least it had been more orderly; nobody had shouted over each other like this.
Payne glanced over his shoulder. Matys was slapping the table and roaring with laughter, Nluie was flitting around the room, Carmen was hanging off Roman, while Chacha and Jo took turns kissing Ashtel’s cheeks.
He sighed.
At least they were tolerable.
The real problem was Hela.
She was still glaring at him from across the room, even as he ducked into the kitchen.
Payne tried to ignore the chill creeping up his spine as he poured water into the cups.
‘What is this feeling…’
He glanced up, only to meet Hela’s eyes. He jerked his head away in alarm, finishing the tea with shaking hands.
That’s when he noticed an odd sensation in his lower belly.
It was a familiar, but uncomfortable, pressure—he suddenly really needed to pee.
Just a few minutes ago, he hadn’t felt any urge at all. Now, it was as if someone had poured water straight into his bladder.
He blinked in confusion as he finished pouring the tea.
In just those few seconds, it felt like his bladder was about to burst.
‘Is it because of that potion?’
What else could cause a reaction like this, unless someone had slipped him a diuretic?
Clenching his jaw, Payne grabbed the tray full of cups and headed back to the others, determined to last out the two hours Roman had told him.
‘I just have to hold on…’
But could he really endure this?
“Oh, Payne! Let me help!”
“No, it’s fine. Please stay where you are.”
If Ashtel tried to help, she’d probably spill the whole tray.
He shuddered at the thought of the tea sloshing everywhere, then forced the image away.
“It’s tea!”
“Well, at least he’s not completely clueless.”
“Thank you kindly!”
“Smells good.”
Ashtel’s sisters each thanked him as they picked up their cups.
But the sight of the tea sloshing around in the cups made Payne’s urge even worse. His breathing went uneven, and Ashtel finally noticed the sweat breaking out on his brow.
“Payne, are you feeling okay?”
“…I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Is something bothering you?”
“…A little.”
Honestly, he needed to be alone. But could he really leave a room full of succubi unsupervised?
“Do you want to go upstairs?”
Ashtel rubbed his shoulder gently, probably trying to comfort him, but it only made things worse. He squeezed his knees together, cursing the potion’s side effects.
“Is something wrong?”
Just then, Hela approached and asked.
“He seems a little sick.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“I don’t know… Sis Chacha, could you take a look at him?”
“If I can help, sure!”
With her oversized yellow glasses bouncing on her nose, Chacha came over to examine Payne.
As the rest of the sisters looked on, he felt even more anxious.
“No, really, I’ll just go rest upstairs—”
“Mind if I use a little magic? Hold him still, youngest.”
He tried to protest, but Chacha started checking his pulse, feeling his forehead, and even pressing on his stomach.
“Ah! Not so rough, Sis!”
“For a priest, he’s in surprisingly good shape.”
“Sis Chacha, seriously!”
By now, Payne’s face had gone beyond pale—he was almost ghostly.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.