Chapter 48: Can I touch your butt?

When I raised my hand, the quiet sound of water filled the bathroom.

“Hmm hm~”

A soft hum naturally flowed out as I soaked in the warm water. I gently scooped up some petals floating on the surface of the bath, bringing them to my nose to inhale their scent. The sweet, captivating fragrance had a calming effect on my mind.

Slowly, I stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around my body. Droplets of water dripped from my still-damp hair, but I opened the door with a playful smile.

“Iris, I’m done bathing.”

Iris, who was standing by the door, turned her head at my call. Her dark eyes widened in surprise, and she immediately turned her head away, a faint blush spreading across her face.

“Uh…!”

A sound escaped Iris’s lips—something I hadn’t heard since our first meeting. As I felt back then, Iris’s voice, like her appearance, was calm and cold.

“Hehe, I just wanted to play a prank.”

Iris shot me a sharp glare.

Well, showing my bare body didn’t make me feel particularly uncomfortable. I knew that someone as beautiful as I am, with a stark and pale body, would appear irresistibly alluring from an aesthetic point of view.

It wasn’t a prank I’d pull in front of a pervert like Mardian, but standing before someone as aloof as Iris made me want to tease her a little.

After all, seeing someone naked doesn’t wear anything out… And if it’s Iris…

“It’s fine… If it’s you, Iris, it’s fine.”

“…!”

At my soft words, Iris’s eyes widened again. She, who usually wouldn’t flinch at mere words, was visibly disturbed twice today. It felt like quite a meaningful day.

“Just kidding. Did you perhaps have some strange thoughts?”

Iris remained silent, and I laughed playfully at her expression.

“No way, I trust that someone like Iris isn’t that kind of pervert. As fellow women, you wouldn’t get excited, right?”

I closed the door, leaving Iris staring blankly at me. Holding back a burst of uncontrollable laughter, I dried my hair with a towel.

‘Should I ask to have Iris as my personal maid when we return to the mansion?’

Viviana doesn’t particularly get attached to people, so it might be worth persuading her. If she agrees, I’ll take Iris back to the mansion and keep teasing her.

“Hehe…”

What should I do next to pass the time?

After enjoying a relaxing bath, I spent time reading a book on the bed until evening approached.

When I rang the bell twice for dinner, a blonde maid entered the room.

“Oh… I see it’s Ciriel on dinner duty today?”

Her face twisted at my words. I took a moment to think about her blatant disdain for me, which she didn’t bother to hide.

I had no desire to eat a meal prepared by someone like Ciriel, who disliked me. I never even requested a meal on the days she was on duty. Who knows if she might spit in the food meant for me?

I wasn’t particularly curious about why Ciriel hated me, but I could guess.

‘Probably jealousy.’

Ciriel wasn’t of commoner origin. Her well-maintained skin and refined appearance were closer to that of a maid than a laborious servant.

Judging by her subtly noble demeanor, she was likely someone who had entered the duchy’s service from another family. It wasn’t hard to understand why she would be displeased with having to serve the daughter of a declining barony.

Not that it was any of my business.

“People should live in a place that suits them.”

I smiled at Ciriel and rang the bell again. A new wrinkle formed on her forehead at the sound.

“Would you prepare dinner for me, Ciriel?”

Don’t feel too aggrieved, Ciriel.

Honestly, wouldn’t you feel better off than I do, being ignored by a game character like you who isn’t even worth being called an extra?

“You may just be a common maid, but I am a cherished pet of the young lady.”

“Make it delicious for me. I’m looking forward to it, okay?”

Ciriel’s lips trembled. She looked at me with a face flushed with anger and eyes burning with fury, then opened her mouth.

“You… you wretch, like something dragged in from a brothel…!”

“Oh, you spoke?”

“…!”

Ciriel’s body flinched. Seeing her clear reaction, I smiled with satisfaction once again.

“Didn’t the young lady tell you not to speak to me at all…?”

I slowly got up from the bed and approached Ciriel. With a nasty temper and an impatient nature, she really was quite insignificant.

“Did you just disobey the young lady’s order? Wow… I guess even a maid of the Merdelia Duchy can do such a thing.”

“……”

“Kik… You’ve become mute again. Must be really frustrating for you.”

Ciriel clenched her fist and ground her teeth. By the look in her eyes, it seemed like she was ready to slap me any moment. I thought of coaxing Viviana to throw her out of the duchy if she actually slapped me, but surprisingly, she didn’t make a move.

Usually, in these kinds of clichés, they end up hitting, right? But I guess even a noble has some pride.

[Tina, I’m coming in.]

While I was looking at Ciriel with a puzzled expression, a familiar voice came from outside the door. I checked the clock, and it was already time for Viviana to return from her duties.

Too bad. I wanted to provoke Ciriel a little more.

Soon, the door opened, and Viviana, exuding her usual nobility, appeared. Ciriel immediately bowed her head, and I ran toward Viviana with a faint smile.

“Oh… you’re back, Viviana. You’ve had a hard day again…!”

Viviana hugged me as I stumbled toward her, lifting me up in a princess carry. Having grown accustomed to this position, I naturally wrapped my hands around the back of her neck and let her hold me.

“Tina, did something happen?”

Sensing the tense atmosphere between Ciriel and me, Viviana looked back and forth between us with a curious expression.

Ciriel’s eyes trembled slightly. Talking with me meant disobeying Viviana’s orders, so it must have weighed on her mind.

Villains of the third-rate always end up showing their tails like this. I swallowed a sneer and gently rested my head on Viviana’s shoulder.

“Nothing much happened. I was just about to ring the bell for dinner when you arrived.”

“You haven’t eaten yet? You must be hungry.”

“I was hungry… but now I’m fine.”

Viviana nodded quietly and signaled for Ciriel to leave. After giving her master one last deep bow, Ciriel left the room with hesitant steps.

Before closing the door, Ciriel turned around and looked at me one last time. I smiled and waved lightly, and she closed the door with a frustrated expression.

Now, only Viviana and I were left in the room. As an awkward silence filled the air, Viviana spoke first.

“I missed you, Tina.”

I was slightly taken aback by her straightforward confession. It was rare for Viviana to express her feelings so honestly—was she perhaps tired from work today? Now that I think about it, she did look a bit worn out…

“Did something happen?”

I asked cautiously.

“Hmm?”

“You look tired. Would you like a massage?”

There’s no better opportunity to raise someone’s affection when they’re emotionally drained. Maybe today, I could boost Viviana’s affection level a bit more.

‘That would be good for me.’

If Viviana falls deeper for me, there are many things I want to ask her for. For example, making Iris my exclusive maid or even kicking Ciriel out of the mansion might be possible.

“No, I don’t think I need a massage.”

Viviana took off her thick coat and unbuttoned her shirt. Then she lay down on the bed, grabbed my arm, and pulled me onto the bed with her.

The soft bed cushioned me as Viviana pulled me into her embrace. She held me as if giving a back hug, and I was momentarily bewildered to be nestled in her arms.

I blinked blankly, feeling like I had suddenly become some kind of body pillow.

…Huh?

What’s going on?

Viviana’s behavior seemed unusual today—more affectionate than usual, perhaps. Of course, we’ve hugged and had intimate moments before, but she had never given me a back hug like this. I had received such embraces from others, but I never expected Viviana to act this way.

As thoughts swirled around in my mind, Viviana leaned closer to my ear and whispered.

“Tina.”

“Huh?”

Her faint breath tickled my ear, and I shivered instinctively. Feeling flustered, I turned to look at Viviana. Her usually calm purple eyes were now burning as they stared at me.

“Tina, can you do me a favor?”

“Y-Yes…? If it’s your request, Viviana…”

I was caught off guard by her sudden request, but I nodded in agreement. Viviana stared at me for a while, then smiled softly and whispered again into my ear.

“Can I touch your butt?”

“…What?”

Butt…?

For a moment, I doubted my hearing.

What did she just say?

Did she just ask if she could touch my butt?

“My… butt?”

“Yes.”

…What on earth?