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Once she was able to calm herself down, Noelle soon realized that things weren't really as bad as she felt like they were when she first woke up.
As long as Emilia herself didn't regret doing it with her, even if she had to face some punishment from her family, Noelle would be more than willing to do so.
Anyway, she was a better partner for Emilia than Sam, who would have doomed her into a relationship that could never be made public, and would also ruin their family.
In hindsight, Noelle couldn't help but wonder if things between the two sisters wouldn't even have developed in the way that they had if she had been more accepting of Emilia's date proposal when she first made it.
But things being as they were, there was no use in regretting and thinking about what-ifs.
Looking at the peacefully sleeping beauty in her arms, it would be wrong to say that Noelle's heart wasn't moved. Before she realized it, her palm that had been resting on the girl's smooth back slowly slid lower, gently but firmly grasping the soft bun below.
A soft murmur from the sleeping girl broke Noelle out of her daze, and her eyes turned dark when she realized what she was doing. Instead of withdrawing, however, Noelle felt like a fire had been lit in her heart.
Clenching her palm, Noelle couldn't help but pull the younger girl into a tight embrace, burying her nose in Emilia's beautiful crimson hair.
Just as she was about to sigh in contentment, however, a sudden thump startled Noelle out of her thoughts, and she finally realized something dreadful.
She… never locked the door.
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Noelle's expression was grim as she stared at the unconscious girl on the floor.
Going by how she had fainted right in front of her bedroom's slightly ajar door, and was still clutching a piece of black lingerie in her palm, Noelle would have to be an idiot to not realize what had happened.
She couldn't help but purse her lips in thought. 'From this position, Nicole shouldn't have been able to see much, right?'
For now, she could only pick the girl up and set her down back in Nicole's own room.
Just as Noelle was wondering how to deal with it, however, she heard a few soft taps of bare feet on the floor.
Noelle subconsciously hid the lingerie behind her back, but thinking about it now, how exactly was she going to explain this situation anyway?
Although she already knew who it was, when she turned her head towards the door, the gray-haired girl was still left completely stunned.
With her bare body covered with nothing but a white shirt with most of its buttons already popped off, Emilia almost looked even more erotic than when she had been completely naked.
It felt like as long as Emilia moved a little, that thin layer of fabric would surely reveal the tempting scenery beneath, instantly shattering the remnants of Noelle's sanity.
Although she wanted to keep her sight in control, Noelle unknowingly ended up taking a closer look below Emilia's 'dress', and felt like she had been struck by lightning. "W-Why aren't you wearing anything below?!"
Emilia blushed, looking a little embarrassed. "I-I couldn't find it…"
Of course, since they had thrown everything around so recklessly before, Emilia was only shy, but not suspicious.
Noelle, however, suddenly realized something. Wasn't she just clutching it in her palm? No wonder Emilia wasn't wearing anything down below!
Gulping, the gray-haired girl couldn't help but wonder if Emilia was really trying to seduce her back onto the bed, or if it was herself who kept losing control.
Seeing the younger girl's slightly confused gaze, however, Noelle quickly put that thought out of her mind.
Feeling both thrilled and guilty, Noelle could only cough. "F-Fine then."
Of course, since the first thing she saw upon waking up was Noelle standing grimly in her sister's room, Emilia couldn't help but worry. "What happened? Is she sick?"
The situation didn't look optimistic. The first thing she did after spending a passionate night with Emilia was to stand naked in front of her little sister's bed? It would be a wonder if Emilia didn't presume her to be a pervert!
Thankfully, the younger girl didn't seem too intent on making her answer, and simply moved forward to place her palm on Nicole's forehead to check her temperature. "She doesn't seem to have a fever?"
Realizing that the more she delayed, the worse the situation would become, Noelle decided to act decisively as she pulled Emilia into a hug.
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After sending Emilia to shower while shrugging off all her questions, Noelle finally breathed a sigh of relief. 'It's good that she's not so naughty and mischievous just after waking up, or it would have been a lot more awkward… or did she become more docile after last night?'
Her expression turned dark as Noelle licked her lips. Just thinking about how naturally Emilia had leaned up to kiss her with those soft lips after being pulled into an embrace, the gray-haired girl had barely been able to resist the urge to give in to her carnal desires right then and there.
But unfortunately, the night was already over, and Noelle knew that they couldn't always keep indulging as they had last night. After all, there was still a lot of work to be done.
Thinking about it this way, maybe it wasn't a bad thing that she had been disturbed by Nicole. Otherwise, it was impossible for Noelle to not do anything while being naked with Emilia on the bed.
When the colorful scenery popped into her head again, Noelle could only groan in frustration as she headed for the guest bathroom. 'I guess I really need a cold shower, too.'
As for the lingerie that was still clutched in her palm… well, there was no way she could just give it back to Emilia now, right?
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