"… Claus, are you there? Can I come inside?" Louise knocked on the door and asked timidly.
I did not reply immediately. Instead, I put on a playful smile and looked at Louise's little-sister, who was currently seated on my lap.
Claire was pale. She gripped my arm and looked at me with a look of panic.
"… Brother-in-law."
"Sigh… What am I going to do with you? Go and hide somewhere. Your sister will suspect something if I don't let her come in."
Claire nodded hurriedly and jumped out of my lap, searching for a place where to hide.
Finally, she hid behind a rack nearby that was holding some towels.
It was not much of a good hideout, but with the dim light of the bath and Claire's small size, she would not be discovered as long as she was careful.
At that moment, Louise's voice came again.
"… Claus?"
"Oh, sorry. I was dozing off. Of course, come in."
"… Okay." Louise said and pushed open the door.
Just like Claire, Louise was completely naked save for a towel hiding part of her body.
I stared at her as she walked towards me, admiring the creamy white skin of her shoulders and her beautiful blonde hair falling until her waist.
Louise blushed slightly when she felt my gaze, but her green eyes did not avoid mine. Instead, they were twinkling softly, filled with satisfaction and love.
When she arrived where I was, she entered the water and sat beside me. She then closed her eyes and put her head on my shoulder.
"I never thought you could be so bold," I said with a slight smile.
"… I was always a bold woman." Louise said with a smile. "Besides, it's just sharing a bath with my lover."
Certainly. Thinking about it, Louise was not very embarrassed the first time we did it.
I remember she was pretty crazy at that time.
Sigh, these are some fond memories.
I chuckled softly and hugged Louise's waist. I then lifted her body and put her on my lap.
Just as her sister had been just a few seconds before.
Unaware of that, Louise blushed and looked at me playfully.
"… Are you so eager to do it with me?"
"Of course." I did not deny it. "You are such a beautiful girl. I can't help but feel excited about having you so close." And with your sister watching us at the same time.
Yeah, it's pretty exciting… And amusing.
"Mmm… It would be great if one or two girls more came as well." I could not help but blurt out.
Louise rolled her eyes. "Pervert, you are dreaming. I asked sister Daisy to help me to get this time alone with you."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Sister Daisy?"
"… Well, we are both your lovers, so…"
I smiled softly and kissed Louise's lips.
"I'm glad you are getting along."
"… Daisy is a very good girl. I'm not sure about the others, but I think I can get along well with her."
"That is good," I said and my hands started to move around Louise's body.
One of my hands reached to her breasts, slowly going under her towel and pinching her nipples.
Louise gasped and looked at me with a small smile, but when I was about to continue, she grabbed my hand.
"… Claus, wait a moment… I want to talk with you about something first…"
"Mm?"
"… It's about my father and brother."
I fell silent. So it's that, huh.
I was wondering when she was going to talk to me about them.
".. I understand. Do speak." I said with a sigh.
Louise nodded. She thought about her words fo a few seconds before opening her mouth hesitantly.
"… My father and brother… I want to ask you to spare their lives when the time comes. Can you?"
I said nothing and just fell deep in thought.
Seeing that, Louise hurriedly continued speaking.
"… I know that your relationship with them is not the best… And I understand if you have a grudge with them… B-But, they are my family… I-I don't want to see them die… Even although my relationship with them is not the best right now, they are still my family."
I sighed and stroked Louise's hair.
"… You know that it's not so easy, right?"
"… Yeah, I know that I'm being unfair to you… Father has shown more than once his intention to kill you after all… Plus, he is partly responsible for the death of your mother…" Louise then bit her lips softly. "… Is it not possible?"
"It's not so simple anymore," I said and shook my head. "To be honest, even if I do nothing, at the current rate, your father will still die."
Louise turned paled. "W-What do you mean?"
I thought for a moment before deciding to tell her a part of my plan. I trust her enough to know she will not betray me at this point in time.
"… Alan is planning a rebellion soon. And although I'm not sure about how much your father knows, he has always been supporting Alan, so once Alan fails, he will be dragged down with him. By then, Hidden History will not allow him to continue living, and your brother will suffer a similar fate."
"What!?" Louise stood up in surprise. "Is he crazy!?"
"… Well, to be honest, I moved some strings to bring this result. Do you understand the situation now?"
Louise bit her lips with an anxious expression.
"… Can't you save him?"
I said nothing.
It's not like I can't save him. In fact, I can do it easily.
Plus, if I didn't mind leaving my father alive for Dina and Lena, there is no way I can't do the same for Louise and Claire.
Of course, I don't plan to let him go scoot free. He will suffer, a lot. But he will live in the end.
But, I can't promise it to her right now.
Mainly because I plan to use the earl's safety as the condition to get something from someone soon.
Yes, something from Mia. Louise and Claire's mother.
Thus, I can only drag my answer for a while.
"How about it?" I said to Louise while caressing her cheek. "I'll try to find a way, but I can't promise you anything."
"… Really? Claus? Are you going to help them?" Louise asked with an anticipating look.
I smiled and kissed her lips. "Really. You are my girlfriend, remember? Even although I really want to kill them, I don't mind sparing their lives if you ask me for it."
Tears started to form in the corners of Louise's eyes. She then turned around and hugged my neck tightly before pushing her lips against mine.
"… Claus, I love you." Louise said lovingly after separating her lips from mine.
I smiled and kissed her lips back. At the same time, I felt my little brother standing up.
"I love you too."