Eve's room turned out to be the room literally right below the penthouse suite where Mari lived.
I came to a stop in front of the ornate door with a silver '2' on the door panel.
Considering Eve's competitiveness, it must've been a shock for her to see that when she first arrived at Starlight Academy.
But I had a feeling she probably didn't mind it much anymore, if at all considering well... me, haha.
A slightly muffled explosion echoed from upstairs, followed by dampened mana waves. It seemed like Mari was hard at work trying to iron out the last bits of her recent advancement to a rank 7 mage.
I'd definitely need to consult with her too in a bit. Since time was running out, and since I'd confirmed that Isaac had gotten wrapped up with demonic energy, I needed to sort out those countermeasures of mine.
But that was a later thing.
Right now, I walked in front of Eve's door and knocked.
Silence, and then a cold and curt voice echoed. "Who is it?"
I chuckled, unable to help the smile crossing my face. "It's your Alex, Eve. Did I come at a bad time?"
Unlike before, there wasn't silence. Instead, there was a loud scuffle, along with the sounds of things being knocked to the ground before the door suddenly swung open, revealing Eve.
I smiled and opened my mouth to say good morning. But then I noticed how she was dressed. Or rather... how she WASN'T dressed.
All that Eve was wearing was a thin white camisole that left nothing to the imagination. Although it was a long one, with the bottom falling to the middle of her thigh...
...It was transparent enough that I could see she was wearing literally nothing else beneath it.
Before I could be shocked, surprised, or even react in any way though, Eve pulled me into her room and closed the door.
After that, Eve hugged me tight and said, "Alex! Good morning!" She kissed me on my cheek and then leaned against me. "You needn't have come all this way to see me. I would have gone anywhere you said to meet you."
The soft silk of the camisole. Her warm and slightly squishy curves. The delicate scent of vanilla and something citrusy...
And the fact that Eve was practically draped over me with nothing but a simple thin sheet between me and her bare body...
It was honestly overwhelming. In a very good way.
But I didn't let myself get lost in that emotion or properly overwhelmed. Instead, I gave her a soft kiss on the lips and then said, "I just wanted to say hi and spend a bit of time with you before the day started, Eve."
Eve's eyes widened and her face turned a bright red. She shifted in place a bit, subconsciously leaning closer to me. Despite that, she said, "W-We c-cannot do that, Alex. E-Even if I wish to..." She swallowed and said, "E-Even if I wish to give that to you, i-it is a bit too soon. I-I-I... T-There is much to prepare... A-And in the event that it takes and I am with child..."
I blinked and then felt my face burn up. 'W-Well... I certainly know what's on her mind...'
It was clear that Eve loved me. And it was also clear that she was practically drowning in love for me.
I mean, considering how much I loved her and showed how much I loved her, it was inevitable. But... I didn't think it'd gotten to this point. Maybe whispering sweet nothings late at night was a bit too much?
I didn't want to think about it too much, but Eve was shifting in place a lot. And rubbing her legs together just a bit...
...Quick, change the subject.
I smiled and then reached up to poke her cheek. "My, my~ Is my Eve having impure thoughts unbefitting of a princess?"
Eve turned an even deeper shade of red and then quickly took a step back, holding both of her hands against her heart, as if trying to forcibly stop it from racing. "O-Of course not!" Her silver eyes instinctively flickered down before looking back up and shaking a bit. She let out a nervous laugh and said, "I-I-I m-m-m-most definitely did not think that you arrived at my room to have a morning rendesvous and explore- I-I... T-That is to say...!"
I couldn't help but laugh at how cute Eve was. Especially since she was subconsciously edging back, as if trying to run away.
Before she could go too for though, I closed the gap and pulled her back into a hug, giving her a soft kiss on the neck.
Eve bit her lips, shaking a bit and leaning against me.
I smiled and then tucked a strand of her golden hair behind her ear and said, "Be a bit patient. Let's get married first, alright? I don't want to have to raze half your lovely empire to the ground because an 'accident' happened to the imperial princess."
Eve's entire body turned red and she shoved me away, her eyes shaking. "Y-Y-You scoundrel!" She subconsciously touched where I had left a soft kiss on her neck and then started fanning herself to cool off.
I laughed and said, "A bit too much, Love?"
Eve huffed, glaring at me. Then she paused and glanced down, suddenly realizing her state of undress. After that, she gasped and quickly ran to her bed, wrapping herself in a blanket.
I laughed again and said, "What, NOW you're feeling shy?"
Eve chucked a pillow at me and said, "You're terrible!"
I grabbed it and smiled, watching as Eve grabbed a handful of clothes and rushed to the bathroom.
A few seconds later, the sound of running water echoed. No doubt Eve trying to forget everything that had just happened with a cold shower.
I chuckled and then sat down on her bed, waiting. As I did, I pulled out
A gift, a promise, and a hope all in one.
I shifted it to my right hand, subconsciously clutching it tight. Then I sat back and waited for Eve to be finished.