Gardenia’s Heart

As her vision began to take on a pinkish hue, Lily raised a hand to her face and let out a yawn.

Gently opening her eyes, she was greeted by a large room with white walls, the soft yellow morning light timidly slipping through the window that led to the balcony.

Turning her head among the many soft pillows, Lily slowly began to remember the events of the night before.

Although everything was ready for them to head straight into the labyrinth, the sisters had said the palace situation needed to be stabilized first.

Not wanting to return to the prison cell, Lily was ready to search for a place to spend the night, but quickly realized how unlikely it was for a race that rarely welcomed outsiders to have anything like inns.

At that moment, Thelira insisted—firmly—that they were now guests of honor, and Lily had been granted a room far larger than any she'd ever stayed in before.

“Mhnm...”

A soft, pleasant sound pulled Lily from her thoughts.

With a subtle movement, she carefully lifted the blanket covering her stomach. There, with both arms tightly wrapped around her waist, was a girl with violet hair wearing a black dress and a white skirt, clinging to her sleepily.

“You really wore yourself out, huh?”

With a faint smile spreading across her lips, Lily gently pulled her wife's body closer and embraced her in return.

Lily quickly realized that Nia must have exited her body earlier than usual to wait for her to wake up—but ended up falling asleep like that.

The metamorph rarely slept—so rarely, in fact, that Lily could easily count the times she had seen her that tired. Typically, it only happened after expending a massive amount of dark mana in battle, or after consuming a volume of the Book of Truth.

Seeing her rest like this was proof enough of how exhausting the previous night’s battle must have been for her mind.

Lily may not have seen most of it, but judging by the roars and tremors she heard and felt, she knew it hadn’t been as easy as fighting monsters in the forest.

“Mhnm... Hnm...”

Perhaps her movement had been a bit stronger than she thought, because as soon as Lily pulled her closer onto the bed, Nia began to slowly open her tear-filled eyes.

“Sorry... did I wake you?”

Speaking softly, Lily was caught off guard as her lips were immediately taken. Even though she had just woken up, Nia didn’t waste a single second before tracing the inside of her mouth with her tongue.

“...Good morning, Lily.”

Shyly pulling away, Nia rested her head on her wife's shoulder.

The silver-haired girl was about to return the affectionate gesture, but she noticed something was off.

Nia's face was firmly pressed against her shoulder, and both of her tiny hands clung to her tightly.

“Lily... can I ask you something?”

Suddenly, a soft voice broke the silence.

“Of course you can.”

Though Lily didn’t understand what was going on, she responded without hesitation.

She could tell something was wrong—Nia’s behavior was too unusual—but she never could have expected the words that came next.

“My eyes... are they ugly?”

Lily froze, staring at the metamorph in stunned silence.

Her mind raced. She couldn’t understand what could have led Nia to think such a thing—but then the memory from the night before hit her.

Unlike herself, who had been looked at with malice and cruelty for most of her life, this had been the first time Nia had ever received such harsh words.

For someone like her—someone for whom nearly every experience was still new—being treated that way might have been far too cruel for her to process on her own.

“Of course not, my love!”

Wrapping both arms tightly around Nia’s back, Lily pressed her forehead against her beloved’s and held her close.

“Your eyes are the most beautiful and precious thing in the entire world!”

Back when she lived in the village—missing an arm and an eye—Lily suffered abuse and prejudice every single day. In that empty place where nothing made sense, no words, no matter how vile, could hurt her any longer.

But that wasn’t because she didn’t care. It was because the pain she endured was so overwhelming that she had learned to escape it on her own.

She couldn’t let Nia feel the same way.

Pulling her even closer, Lily whispered directly into her ear.

“In this world, there are people who look at what’s different with cruelty and prejudice. You don’t have to stay silent when someone says something like that—and even less should you care about what they think. Right now, there’s only one thing you need to remember.”

“One thing?” Nia asked softly, her voice unsure.

Lily took a deep breath before answering with conviction.

“Nia, no matter what anyone in this world says, everything about you is perfect!”

Lifting her head, Nia looked deep into her beloved’s eyes, her own shining with innocent curiosity.

“Your body, your personality—everything! You should never let anyone else’s words define who you are.”

Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, Lily gently ran her fingers through the girl’s violet hair.

“And if you still ever have doubts, just remember that I see you as perfect. Your red eyes... even the one you gave me... I love every part of them, from the bottom of my heart.”

The moment those words reached her ears, Nia leapt into Lily’s arms.

“Yes! I’ll always believe Lily’s words!”

Rubbing her face repeatedly against her wife’s, she kept repeating the same phrase with teary eyes, a wave of relief washing over her.

Lily couldn’t help but smile at seeing her beloved cheerful again.

Letting Nia snuggle into her joyfully, she reached a hand up to her own bangs.

She had always kept her left eye hidden, thinking it wiser not to draw attention to it.

People like Abelia and her family—or even Agatha and her husband—who had seen Nia without her hood, had never questioned why her eyes looked so different, to the point Lily had forgotten that others might.

Brushing her hair aside, Lily revealed her left eye and adjusted her bangs so it would no longer be covered.

“Even if this is all to find a cure for Thelira, the way Elarielle treated us was rude.” Sitting up in bed, she placed Nia in her lap. “From what Thelira said, if we don’t go with Elarielle, we won’t be able to conquer the labyrinth. Whether that’s true or not, as long as she holds up her end of the deal and gives us the spoils, I don’t care if she comes with us. But I won’t stay quiet if she keeps treating you poorly.”

As she finished her words, Lily suddenly felt her lips being claimed once more.

Eyes widening at the surprise kiss, she watched as the metamorph leaned in and gently licked the string of saliva connecting their parted mouths in a teasing motion.

“I’m going to protect Lily too. Hero or not, I’ll face anyone to keep you safe!”

Hearing her beloved once again declare she’d protect her, Lily couldn’t hold back a small laugh, her cheeks warming up with affection.

At that moment, a soft knock on the double doors caught their attention.

“Miss Lily, Miss Gardenia, we’ve been instructed to assist you in getting ready.”

Without waiting for a reply, three elves entered the room with graceful steps, each one dressed in a maid uniform.

They positioned themselves in front of the bed and gave a small bow, as if awaiting instructions.

Their perfect posture and controlled movements were so elegant that even Lily—who usually hid her emotions well—couldn’t help but show a surprised expression.

“So these are maids…” Nia murmured, pulling the blanket from the bed with one of her tentacles to cover Lily’s body.

Slightly intrigued, wondering what Nia could be thinking now, Lily turned her attention to the maids standing before them with their heads lowered.

“Uh… is there something we’re supposed to do?” Lily asked.

Even though she had once stayed in a luxurious mansion like Selene’s, where the bunny-eared girl handled all household chores herself, Lily had never experienced what it was like to be served by actual professional maids.

“Her Highness, the Sage, has requested your presence for breakfast in two hours,” one of the women replied, still not raising her head. “She instructed us to fulfill any request the young ladies might have until then. We are entirely at your service.”

Whether it was their professionalism or skill, Lily noticed that none of the three women had shown even a hint of prejudice over the fact that she was human—not in their words or expressions.

Bringing a hand to her chin, she began to think about what they should do.

Going back to sleep might be rude, and she couldn’t just go off exploring the palace.

Lily knew that, in these situations, Nia would always leave the choice to her. Which meant, it was up to her to decide.

“Would it be alright if we used a bath? I’d like to clean up,” she said softly, after thinking for a while—the only thing that came to mind.

“Certainly. The bath has already been prepared. Please, follow us.”

Lifting her head, one of the maids moved toward the door and opened it, while the others gestured with their hands for the girls to go ahead.

Getting up from the bed with Nia still clinging to her body, Lily stepped out of the room and into the palace corridors.

Just like the bedrooms, the walls radiated luxury. Paintings, sculptures, and ornate vases lined the path. Stained-glass windows gave them a perfect view of the massive tree branches supporting the castle and the sea of green that was the city of Lampides below.

After a few minutes of walking, the group reached a pair of large, imposing double doors. For a moment, Lily wondered if they had to stop somewhere first before reaching the bath—but the instant the maid opened the doors and she stepped inside, her body froze.

“Th-This… this is a bathroom?”

A wave of hot steam greeted her face, surrounding her entire body.

The sound of warm water cascading over polished stone filled the air like a soothing symphony.

What looked more like a small lake than a bathtub had its own waterfall-like fountain pouring water into it. Several stone shelves had been arranged with soaps, cleaning products, and warmed towels.

“This is the royal bath hall. You have unlimited access to all items. Should you require anything else, please let us know.”

The maid’s words hit Lily like a slap.

The last time she had seen that much warm water was when she reached the third floor of the Stardust Spring Labyrinth. Since then, only tiny bathrooms with small tubs had defined what it meant to bathe.

Without Lily noticing, one of the maids approached to help her undress—

—but her hand was immediately caught by a purple tentacle.

“Lily doesn’t need help with that. We can bathe on our own.”

Puffing out her cheeks and glaring at the three women, Nia placed herself between them and her wife.

“C-Certainly! Excuse us!”

Startled, the maid quickly pulled her hand away from the tentacle, bowed her head, and stepped back in a hurry.

The other two, equally shocked, followed her lead without delay.

Letting out a small laugh at the sight of the three elves retreating from her wife’s sudden protective stance, Lily took Nia’s hands and started walking toward the bath products.

“Come here, Nia. Let me wash you.”

Sitting Nia down on one of the small wooden stools, Lily undressed her wife in record time.

As the black dress gave way to smooth, pink skin, Lily traced a single finger down the length of Nia’s spine.

“Nhm… L-Lily…”

The shaky voice that slipped from her tightly pressed lips made Lily chuckle playfully.

“Sorry~ You're just so beautiful I couldn’t resist.”

Slipping off her own clothes next, Lily took a small bar of soap and rubbed it between her fingers.

After saying she’d help Nia clean up, the girl held out her arms, expecting Lily’s hands—but what Lily did next made her tilt her head in confusion.

“Lily?”

With skilled movements, Lily began rubbing her own breasts in circular motions—both the base and the peaks—ensuring the space between them was slick with soap. She pressed closer to Nia, her foam-covered nipples grinding against her wife’s modest chest.

“Ah…! Nhnnn…!” The sudden stimulation tore moans from Nia’s lips.

Every part of her—chest, back, arms, legs—was soon enveloped by those colossal breasts. The sensation of her skin squeezed between heated mounds sent shivers down her spine, the intoxicating friction of stiffened nipples teasing her until she fought to maintain control.

Lily leaned closer, tenderly tracing Nia’s jaw with soap-slick fingers.

“Your face, your mouth, your nose, your eyes… Every part of you is beautiful, Nia.”

The whispered praise and the comfort of soft breasts against her made Nia finally understand what it meant to be pampered.

“We don’t often get to bathe in such a spacious bathroom, so I’ll make sure to clean you thoroughly~”

With a mischievous smile, Lily positioned herself between Nia’s thighs, her breasts enveloping the penis Nia had kept forming since last night.

“Ahhn… Haaa…!”

Vulgar noises spilled from Nia’s lips—no words could capture the pleasure flooding her mind. As her cock was massaged in a steady rhythm, her legs splayed, toes curling.

“Lily… Nhmm… Lily…”

Reason frayed, her back arching, yet her wicked wife never ceased the breast-driven torment.

“Yes, Nia, call for me.”

Overwhelmed by lust, Nia clutched Lily’s head. The weight of those breasts pinned her hips, leaving her at the mercy of their heated embrace.

“Lily, Lily, Lily!”

Control shattered. Arms tangled in silver hair, she begged wordlessly for more.

Up and down—the motion seemed simple, yet it stoked such heat that her cock throbbed. Her tongue lolled out, fully surrendered to Lily’s ministrations, the culmination of their love about to erupt.

“Lily… Mhnnn… Ahh… I’m—I’m cumming!”

A tremor wracked her body as a powerful jet burst forth, drenching Lily’s chest. Like a river cascading into a waterfall, thick ropes painted her breasts, each spurt wringing out another climax.

“Haa… Haa…”

Panting, Nia watched her beloved lick the warm spend from her skin.

“Delicious~”

Lily’s smile was sinful as she lapped at the mess.

“N-No, Lily… It’s mixed with soap, you can’t swallow that—”

Half-lidded eyes fluttered shut as Nia captured Lily’s lips, silencing her with a kiss.

Tongues tangled, arms entwined—their gazes locked, unblinking.

“But you made so much, just for me. I don’t want to waste a drop.” Lily’s cheeks flushed as she murmured against Nia’s mouth.

“I’ll give you even more… As much as you want, and only for you, Lily.”

Pulled upright, Lily felt trembling hands guide her against the shower wall. Back pressed to tile, she gasped as Nia draped herself over her—weak-kneed, as if her body could no longer stand alone.

Lily didn’t need to think hard to understand what her wife was planning. In an instant, she felt something slowly parting the warm walls of her vagina.

“Hnnng!”

When Nia enormous penis plunged deep into her womb, Lily had to give it her all just to stay on her feet.

This wasn’t the first—or even the second—time they’d made love like this, but it was here, finally, that Lily understood what true compatibility meant.

“Mhnh... Aaah.... Nia... Nia!”

Nia’s penis fit perfectly inside her body as if the walls of her vagina existed solely to keep her wife buried within her, refusing to let her pull away.

Lily could feel Nia’s heat settling deep inside her. That place belonged to her wife alone, and every time Nia filled her again, she was overcome with bliss.

Her throbbing desire overflowed. Nia’s small fingers dug into her belly as she held her close, the tight embrace making it clear she wouldn’t let go for anything.

“Lily... I love you, Lily!”

Nia could feel how feverish Lily’s skin was. Her own back burned with dizzying pleasure, but the press of Lily’s body grounded her, sharpening her senses. With every thrust of her cock into Lily, every shred of doubt or fear inside her shattered.

“I love you too! I love you so much, Nia!” Lily’s voice rang out between uneven moans, each one dictated by the rhythm of Nia’s hips.

The purple-haired girl did her best to keep moving. Nia knew her duty was to make her beloved feel good—and the sight of Lily begging for more pleasure while declaring her love was driving her wild. Every snap of Nia’s hips molded Lily’s ass against her waist. The obscene sound of their bodies colliding played like a symphony of lust.

Then, suddenly, three tentacles emerged from Nia’s back, slowly coiling around Lily’s body.

“Nia... what are you—Hyaaaaah!?”

Before she could even finish, Lily felt one of the purple tentacles slither between her thighs and push into her ass.

“N-Nia... Hhnm...!”

Lily thought she’d grown used to the sensation, but the way her wife’s mischievous tentacle delved deep inside her, rubbing against her innermost walls, quickly pushed her mind to the brink.

“Mhnn... Hnnngh... Aahhh!”

Her womb and her ass—her wife was stimulating both at once.

Staying composed was no longer an option. There was no way she wouldn’t reach her limit like this.

“I’m cumming...! Cumming!”

Her hips shuddered violently, her vagina gushing love juice uncontrollably as Nia kept moving inside her.

And yet, her body only grew more aroused. Waves of pleasure crashed over her, but Lily wanted more—her body demanded it.

“Lily! I won’t stop! I’ll give you all my love!”

Nia continued driving her cock into Lily’s womb, each thrust making the girl’s entire body tremble as another climax tore through her mind.

The remaining two tentacles coiled around the base of Lily’s breasts, squeezing gently before their tips teased her hardened nipples, tugging without rest.

“I love everything about you, Lily! I want to give you even more pleasure!”

Along with her declaration, Nia buried her face against Lily’s back, her arms tightening their embrace.

Love juices and sweat mingled with the lingering soap on their skin. The steam from the hot water made everything even more erotic as the two girls lost themselves in passion.

With quick, relentless movements, the metamorph pistoned her hips forward again and again. Each thrust sent her cock deeper into her wife’s womb while her tentacle explored the clenching walls of Lily’s ass.

"Lily, I love you! I love being inside you, I love being with you! The way you say I'm beautiful, the way you give me affection! I love everything about you!“

”Me too... I love you too, Nia! You're the best wife in the world! Come inside me! I want to be filled with your sperm! I want to have your babies!"

Their heats were different at first, but both had already become one in such a powerful way that it was impossible to separate them.

The moment they had longed for was approaching. Unable to hold back any longer, Nia moved her waist hard one last time, and at that moment both girls moaned as if their lives depended on it.

"Haa... Ah... Ahhhn! Nia, I'm coming!"

"Aah...! Lily... Lily... Cumming... Aaahh!"

Screaming at the top of their lungs, both girls accepted the orgasm that had invaded their minds.

With a sound so loud it reached their ears, Nia's penis began to release a thick layer of sperm directly into the deepest part of Lily's womb. Her tentacles, which climaxed at the same time, contracted before releasing a viscous liquid, both into the girl's ass and over her breasts.

Their bodies went rigid, trembling intensely as they still squeezed each other until finally they both went soft.

"Ah... Aaah..."

"Mhnn... Ahh..."

Elsewhere Lily would have let Nia continue inside her, but her legs were shaking so badly that there was no way they could both stay in that position.

Falling to the bathroom floor, Lily and Nia hugged each other while breathing heavily.

“You really didn't hold back and give too much away, huh...”

Murmuring, Lily's gaze wandered between the girl with a proud expression on her arms and the inside of her crotch. Both her vagina and her anus had a large layer of cum oozing out of them, a small bulge in her belly from the huge amount that still existed inside her.

“I told you I'd leave Lily full of my love~”

With a smug—yet incredibly adorable—smile, Nia leaned against Lily’s chest. Her tentacles joined in, wrapping around her wife’s body to keep them close and connected.

“What am I going to do with you, you naughty bad girl?”

Pulling Nia in even closer, Lily began planting a flurry of kisses all over her beloved’s cheeks, making the girl laugh in delight at the affectionate attack.

Once she was sure her wife had been thoroughly smothered with kisses, Lily planned to return to their original goal of actually getting clean.

But then, a sound from the other side of the door caught her attention.

“Did we take too long? Is it already time to meet with Thelira?”

Tilting her head, she tried to make out what was happening outside. It didn’t sound like knocking—more like a conversation was taking place.

“That indecently dressed elf? She’s outside the door.”

Nia said the words casually, simply tightening her embrace, as if the situation didn’t concern her at all.

But Lily still couldn’t quite figure out what was going on.

Standing up—with Nia clinging to her back—Lily carefully stepped through the thick mist of hot water and cracked the door open just enough to peek outside.

“You know eavesdropping is wrong!”

But the moment she did, she nearly fell backward.

In the palace corridor, dressed in that barely-there outfit of hers, Thelira was pacing back and forth, wildly pointing her finger at the three kneeling maids in front of her.

“I-It wasn’t our intention… It’s just… there were some strange noises and we thought the ladies might be in danger. It sounded like someone was hitting the wall, like… leaning on it really hard.”

The first maid spoke in a quiet voice, her face beet red as she clutched the sides of her dress.

“At first it sounded like a fight… but then there were cries… those kinds of sounds you only hear in intimate situations…”

The second maid began to speak quickly, but her voice trailed off as her whole body flushed with heat, unable to maintain eye contact any longer.

“Miss, I swear we didn’t go inside! It’s just… there were gasps, and the noises kept getting louder, so we just… got closer to the door to try to understand what was going on!”

The third maid fanned her face with both hands, her voice trembling as she fought not to stammer.

Frozen against the doorframe, Lily couldn’t hide the expression on her face at all. If it weren’t for Nia keeping her body perfectly supported, she might have already fainted on the spot.