Crying Out Loud

At that moment, inside the castle, in Irisviel's room.

Two stunning girls embraced each other on the same bed. Orange and silver hair intertwined, while the pristine blanket covered their bodies, faintly outlining their alluring figures.

It was an incredibly beautiful scene.

Unfortunately.

"Ring-a-ling—!"

Suddenly, a sharp ringing shattered it all.

"...Mmm~"

Aozaki Touko's fair hand reached out from beneath the blanket and casually shut off the alarm clock on the bedside table. Then she hugged her sweet wife again, intending to sleep in.

Unfortunately, Irisviel had already woken up.

She blinked her ruby-like eyes and looked at Aozaki Touko, who was within arm's reach, revealing a little-devil smile. She quietly reached out and pinched Aozaki Touko's nose.

After a while, Aozaki Touko's willow brows drew tighter and tighter.

Then she opened her mouth to breathe.

"...Touko, we have to hurry to the Clock Tower."

Seeing this, Irisviel smiled sweetly and leaned close to Aozaki Touko's ear to speak softly. Her gentle voice was like a feather brushing across one's heart, soft yet unbearably ticklish.

Hearing the urging.

Aozaki Touko nevertheless extended one hand from beneath the covers and meaningfully tapped her vermilion lips. Was she showing off that she still had a mouth to breathe with, or did she want a good-morning kiss?

The answer was obvious.

Irisviel smiled helplessly, then lightly brushed back the hair beside her ear. She bent down and kissed Aozaki Touko's vermilion lips.

This time, having received her reward, Aozaki Touko opened her eyes.

Then her gaze met Irisviel's.

"Good morning, my adorable wife."

"Good morning, my adorable husband."

After finishing this exchange, the two could not help but smile at each other. Then they left the warm bed, hurriedly washed up, and set off precisely for London's Clock Tower.

Soon, as time passed.

The roar of a helicopter once again echoed through Einzbern.

This time, Aozaki Touko did not set out alone. Irisviel, Illyasviel, Beo, and the Miko Futago also accompanied her to the Clock Tower.

London.

Outside the airport.

A beautiful girl wearing sunglasses leaned against a stretched limousine, drawing the gazes of more than ninety percent of the people passing by.

If not for the group of black-suited guards intimidating everyone nearby, she might have attracted a massive crowd of onlookers and caused a traffic jam.

Yes, her charm was truly that exaggerated.

Even with sunglasses concealing most of her features, this girl possessed an almost bewitching allure. Her outfit was also extremely fashionable and stylish.

Her rose-gold hair was tied into twin tails. She wore a pink-based outfit, with the hem of her skirt cut diagonally. Her long, slender legs were wrapped in dark-red stockings and fitted with tall leather boots.

She was a fashionable and elegant noble heiress.

"Touko should be arriving soon, right?"

Lidell folded her arms and looked toward the airport exit.

Her purpose here was specifically to receive Aozaki Touko, who could more or less be considered her... friend. To avoid appearing discourteous, she had even arrived at the airport early to wait.

Her relationship with Aozaki Touko was somewhat peculiar.

They had met through the connection of her friend Kuonji Alice. Her first impression of Touko had been that she was a confident and dazzling girl, someone naturally standing at the summit of any social circle.

The two seemed to overlap somewhat in their qualities.

However, they were absolutely not the same type of person. If Lidell was a diplomat who relied on her innate beauty and wit to take advantage of circumstances, mobilizing all sides to achieve her goals,

then Aozaki Touko was someone whose innate talent drew countless people to gather around her, after which she used the power they brought together like an emperor.

Although they appeared similar in some ways, they were definitely not the same.

This could be accurately sensed after spending some time together.

Unfortunately, Aozaki Touko's reasons for interacting with people were strange. She would not treat someone differently simply because they possessed great power or wealth. Instead, she determined her attitude toward others according to an unfathomable logic.

If someone did not meet that bizarre standard, her attitude could be described as cold.

In fact, if not for her connection to Alice, Touko might not have paid her any attention at all.

In short... even now, Lidell could not be sure.

What position did she occupy in the heart of this girl called Aozaki Touko?

Had she already entered the category of friend?

Or was she merely someone Touko was willing to acknowledge because she was Alice's friend?

Even Lidell herself could not figure it out.

"...Lidell, long time no see~"

Lidell had been lost in thought when she heard the voice. She instinctively looked up and saw Aozaki Touko walking over while holding the hand of a silver-haired noblewoman. Besides a maid, three little girls followed behind them.

How should she describe this scene?

Something felt a little off...

Chapter 53: Crying Out Loud

"—Welcome to London!"

Lidell cast aside that strange feeling and smiled brightly. "I'll be your host this time, Touko. I'll definitely let you experience the charm of London properly."

As the future Lord of the Department of Botany, she was unquestionably a local authority in London. Her words carried indisputable weight, and if she became a tour guide, she could easily earn a five-star review.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Aozaki Touko smiled lightly.

Nearby, Irisviel became very excited when she heard about experiencing London's charms. Her slender hand subconsciously tightened around Aozaki Touko's arm, and she looked at Lidell with shining eyes. Clearly, she was very much looking forward to the trip to London.

"..."

As a witch, Lidell naturally sensed that gaze. She smoothly shifted her attention over, then froze for a moment.

Until now, almost all her attention had been focused on Aozaki Touko. Only after focusing on this woman did she realize just how beautiful she was.

Her pupils were like rubies, and her silver hair fell to her waist. Her skin was whiter than snow, while her bearing combined a noblewoman's maturity with a girl's innocence.

She was unquestionably a beauty.

"Touko, is this lady your friend...?"

Her tone was somewhat uncertain, and a subtle wariness rose in her heart.

She did not know where this wariness came from, but it definitely was not because she disliked the woman before her. If anything, this woman was genuinely very likable.

And yet... that strange sense of wariness remained in her heart.

"Hmm... this is my wife."

Aozaki Touko raised her brows slightly, then smiled. "Her name is Illyasviel von Einzbern."

"...I see. I understand now."

Hearing this answer, Lidell finally seemed to realize the key point: Aozaki Touko and this woman named Illyasviel were far more intimate than she had imagined.

That was probably the source of the discordant feeling in her heart.

In fact, she should have realized it much sooner. Given how unusual Aozaki Touko was, it seemed perfectly natural for her to choose a woman as her partner.

After all, Lidell could not imagine Aozaki Touko marrying a man.

"Miss Lidell, I'm Touko's wife. I look forward to getting along with you."

At this moment, Irisviel placed a slender hand against her chest and revealed a gentle, saint-like smile. Her soft voice brimmed with warmth, as if it could open anyone's heart in an instant.

"Ah... it's really nothing~"

Lidell's pretty face flushed slightly, and her gaze wandered as she spoke softly. "Actually, when Touko was in Japan, she took me to quite a few places for fun. So this is just my way of returning the favor..."

"Is that so~"

Hearing this, Irisviel covered her lips and chuckled. "It seems that you and Touko have a very good relationship, Miss Lidell."

"Mm... it's all right."

Rather than immediately admitting it, Lidell answered vaguely. Then, as if she wanted to change the subject, she shifted her gaze toward the three little girls.

"Are they Touko's and your children?"

As soon as she said this, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

Irisviel blinked, then looked meaningfully at Touko, maintaining her gentle and elegant smile without saying a word.

As for the other three little girls, their faces flushed bright red. Yet none of them stepped forward to explain. They buried their little heads against their chests like a group of ostriches.

"...How could that be? I'm still so young!"

Feeling Irisviel's gaze, Aozaki Touko twitched at the corner of her mouth. Then she shifted her eyes toward the wall of people gathering around them.

"We'll talk about the details later. Staying here any longer would interfere with traffic."

More and more people were gathering around them, already affecting the passage of some pedestrians. They could also vaguely hear several hushed conversations.

"Isn't that Lidell?"

"It looks like her!"

"That lady beside her is so beautiful!"

"No, that little blonde girl is the really amazing one!"

"I like the one with orange hair more."

Conversations like these rang out among the crowd. If not for the muscular, imposing guards, some bolder people might have run over by now.

In short... this was not a suitable place to remain.

"..."

Seeing this, Lidell puffed out her cheeks slightly. She was disappointed that she could not satisfy her curiosity, but she also knew that staying here was inappropriate. Otherwise, if her identity was exposed, wouldn't she end up with a huge line of fans asking for autographs? Her hand would be weak from signing by the end.

"Get in. I'll take you all to see the house first. I picked it out personally, so I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

As she spoke, she opened the car door and led Touko's group toward the Clock Tower.

On the way.

"...I see."

Inside the car, after listening to Touko's explanation, Lidell nodded slightly. Then she shifted her gaze to Beo, who was having a great time playing with a bottle of red wine, and asked doubtfully:

"Is she really your familiar, Touko?"

"Of course she is!"

"She doesn't seem very strong."

"Why don't you feel it for yourself?"

"How?"

"Hmm... experience her aura~"

Aozaki Touko spoke uncertainly, somewhat unsure whether Lidell's mental fortitude could withstand it. After all, Lidell had come specifically to host her. It would be bad if she accidentally frightened her.

"...Experience her aura?"

Looking at the blonde little girl who had started foolishly pulling at the cork of the wine bottle, only to get tapped on the head by Aozaki Touko and obediently put it back, Lidell truly could not see anything impressive about her aura.