18.5 Sprouting

Recently, Jane had been teasing Lily less frequently.

Thanks to that, Lily felt much more at ease physically.

Yet she still felt anxious, as if carrying a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

But there was a reason behind Jane’s behavior.

“The research papers for the academy are done… What else was left?”

She was simply busy preparing for a trip.

The purpose of this journey was to attend the Grand Auction being held in Peshut on the continent.

At the same time, she wanted to enjoy some leisurely time with Lily in a new environment.

Jane prepared enthusiastically, exuding the same energy as when she was about to devour Lily.

“Finished the custom dildo orders too.”

The Fairy’s Playground and Maylily Trading Company affairs were left to Rosefield to handle.

She even planned to let go of the trading company entirely, keeping only her shares.

“Now all that’s left is to depart.”

The Grand Auction was scheduled for midwinter, so there was still plenty of time.

But the reason for leaving so early was the long distance from Albion to the Empire.

So Jane planned the trip with ample time to spare.

After much deliberation, she chose to travel by carriage.

Strictly speaking, there were quite a few options available.

She had even considered sailing on the ship gifted by the academy, feeling the ocean breeze.

“The ship’s name is Imperial Black.”

It was true that she’d have to cross the sea to reach the continent anyway.

Moreover, sailing up the river would allow for a smooth journey to Peshut, making it a decent choice.

But Jane abandoned the sailing plan.

A carriage could simply stop if problems arose, whereas a ship came with more constraints.

“What if Lily gets seasick…?”

Her worries, like a dense fog, clouded her mind significantly.

Another option was to fly through the skies while carrying Lily herself.

The prolonged physical contact and large surface area pressed against Lily were quite appealing.

But this plan was also discarded.

“It feels too much like a business trip.”

The advantage of an unobstructed path to the destination became a disadvantage this time.

If they traveled this way, they could depart just days before the auction without issue.

Thus, the final choice was a carriage journey.

“You quite liked it last time…”

Jane recalled the trip when she had gone to pick chestnuts for the vibrating toy.

Back then, Lily had been a bit bored, but she also remembered her enjoying it in her own way.

Of course, unlike the ship, Jane didn’t own a carriage.

She had never felt the need for one until now.

“I can just borrow one again this time.”

So, for this trip, she planned to borrow the King’s carriage like before.

She hadn’t asked yet, but there was no way he’d refuse.

‘What’s he gonna do if he doesn’t lend it?’

This was the kind of thinking only Jane could have-treating the King’s possessions as her own.

Having organized her thoughts, Jane stretched her arms upward with a yawn.

“Mmm…”

The refreshing ache of her stiff back and waist loosening after sitting for so long.

Normally, Jane would use magic to relieve stiffness.

Stimulating blood flow and muscles with magic meant she didn’t need to move her body like this.

But living with Lily had gradually changed her habits.

Whenever she noticed these little traces of Lily in her daily life, she couldn’t help but smile faintly.

***

Jane emerged from her laboratory, wandering like a lion surveying its territory.

When she went upstairs, she found Lily and Marie chattering away, Lily’s hair still damp from her bath.

“Jane! Done with work?”

“Yeah, mostly.”

Truth be told, Jane had timed her return to coincide with sensing Lily’s presence.

Marie, who had been drying Lily’s hair with a towel, froze abruptly.

Jane’s dark eyes were fixed on her.

“Uh, umm…”

Jane had no particular reason for staring at Marie.

She was just envious that Marie had bathed with Lily.

Jane knew that speaking up here would only make Marie uncomfortable.

So she turned her gaze to Lily, whose cheeks were flushed red from the bath.

“Washed up well? Behind the ears and neck too?”

“I’m not a child, why ask something like that?”

“So, did you wash?”

“Of course I did. I scrubbed like this, see?”

Lily eagerly demonstrated, and Jane found her adorable, pressing a light kiss to her round forehead.

“Good job.”

“Treating me like a kid again.”

Then Jane pressed a finger against Lily’s pouting lips and asked,

“How was it?”

“How was what?”

“Bathing with Marie.”

“It was just… normal?”

“Hmm, now you’re committing adultery as naturally as breathing.”

At Jane’s declaration, Lily’s brow furrowed deeply.

“You’re the one who made me do it!”

Lily’s voice was thick with emotion, likely from feeling wronged.

After all, it was Jane who had ordered Marie to ensure Lily never bathed alone.

“Has our Master forgotten I’m an adult? You won’t even let me wash myself!”

The little white-haired girl stomped her feet to emphasize her anger.

But this only made Jane’s voice drop slightly lower.

“Forgotten? That you almost died in the bath?”

“No, you can’t exaggerate slipping and falling like that…”

“What if you’d hit your head because you couldn’t keep your balance?”

Lily sighed deeply at Jane’s relentless worrying.

Then she glared with her bright jewel-like eyes.

“And whose fault was it that I fell that time?”

“…Whose fault was it?”

“It was yours! Have you forgotten how you tormented me until my legs gave out before my bath?!”

“Hmm…”

Jane was at a loss for words under Lily’s accusation.

She subtly signaled Marie with her eyes.

“Alright, let’s go inside now. You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here.”

“No!”

“It’s getting chilly. We need to pack clothes for the trip too.”

“Tch.”

Marie, accustomed to soothing Lily, led her away, and Jane gave a slight nod.

Jane hadn’t liked Marie at first.

But over time, her opinion had gradually changed.

Marie was diligent and perceptive.

Especially how she took care of Lily without making her uncomfortable-that was what Jane liked.

She began to think keeping her employed long-term wouldn’t be so bad.

As Jane watched the two disappear into the room, she headed toward the bathroom they had just left.

She undid the buttons of her shirt, feeling the lingering warmth in the air.

“Hmm~.”

At the same time, her eyes scanned the laundry basket filled with discarded clothes.

Unlike Marie, who sorted laundry neatly, Lily had tossed hers in haphazardly.

“Ah, found it.”

Jane pulled out a small scrap of fabric buried at the bottom.

Then, with practiced ease, she buried her nose in it.

“Mmm…”

The fabric, imbued with Lily’s unique savory-sweet scent, was none other than her panties.

Had Lily seen this, she would have shrieked loud enough to shake the neighborhood.

But Jane was thoroughly satisfied-no, utterly delighted.

This was her stress reliever, dissolving the tension accumulated throughout the day.

“Haa…”

Her normally steady heartbeat quickened slightly.

Her cheeks flushed warmly as heat spread through her body.

A tight sensation coiled in her lower abdomen, accompanied by a tingling desire.

“Ah, mmm.”

Feeling her underwear growing damp, Jane slid a finger downward.

Then she pressed firmly against her soft mound.

“Nghh… mmm.”

The lust coiled in her chest reared its head.

As always, she desperately wanted to ravage Lily.

Recognizing her familiar frustration, Jane hesitated.

Since she was about to bathe anyway, maybe she could indulge in some self-pleasure while undressing…

Then, her sharp instincts detected something amiss.

It wasn’t unusual for her body to react to Lily’s scent.

But she had never gotten this aroused so suddenly.

“It’s like I’ve been poisoned with an aphrodisiac… Ah.”

Aphrodisiac?

The Archmage’s mind immediately mobilized the magic condensed within her.

A dense energy stirred the surrounding nature, which then cleansed her body according to Jane’s will.

“Hah.”

Her body, previously steeped in arousal, felt refreshed as if doused in cold water.

Of course, she still wanted to devour Lily.

But solving the immediate issue took priority.

“When did I get poisoned?”

There were too many possible sources, leaving her confused.

The variety of aphrodisiacs stored in her laboratory was overwhelming.

Then, a scream echoed from outside the bathroom.

“Gyahk!”

“Lily?!”

Jane’s mind went blank for a moment.

There was no obvious reason for such a scream inside the house.

She stuffed the panties into her pocket and rushed out.

“What happened?!”

“Master!”

Inside Lily’s room, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

Marie, half-naked, was pouncing on her precious Lily of the Valley.

Seeing Lily’s beet-red face, Jane immediately grabbed Marie by the nape.

In the blink of an eye, powerful magic put Marie to sleep.

*Thud*

Jane wanted to crush the insolent maid’s skull right then.

But she swallowed her rage with difficulty and asked Lily,

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. She started sniffing me, saying I smelled sweet, then suddenly…”

Jane took a deep breath and checked Marie’s condition.

“Aphrodisiac?”

Surprisingly, Marie was also poisoned.

“Where did she get exposed?”

Access to dangerous labs or breeding grounds was restricted, so accidental exposure was unlikely.

Jane had strictly warned against touching anything suspicious, and Marie, being timid, wouldn’t have disobeyed.

Jane reflected on the aphrodisiac’s effects affecting both herself and Marie.

“Sweet smell?”

She pulled Lily’s panties from her pocket.

“Eek! Why was that in your pocket?!”

Naturally, Lily shrieked in horror.

Ignoring her, Jane continued pondering.

“Alraune’s sap, perhaps…”

Then she lightly licked the panties.

“KYAAAAH!”

Confirming traces of the aphrodisiac, Jane sighed.

Lily snatched the panties back, panting and trembling.

“Haa, haa… Master… Even for a pervert, there’s a line.”

But Jane licked Lily’s cheek lightly.

“Hiyak!”

“Just as I thought.”

Jane exhaled, having identified the cause of the poisoning.

“Sigh… Lily, we might have to delay our trip a bit.”

Lily tilted her head, unaware that she was unknowingly emitting aphrodisiacs.