episode_0412

After finishing the afternoon training, the Blackwood family’s large bathhouse.

Thanks to Ethan’s consideration, I was able to lie down in a large bathtub instead of the small shower room that the servants used, but unlike using a nice bathtub, I didn’t feel good.

The bitter feelings from a week of defeat aren’t something that can be relieved by soaking in a warm bath.

-Clack, clack.

“Hueuuu… .”

… Seriously, I’m dying from exhaustion.

We’ve been fighting swords all week, how come that guy Ethan has no weaknesses?

Even though we were using the same dual sword technique, Ethan seemed to see much more than I did when I was swinging my sword.

Of course, since there are differences between daggers and longswords, it was generally a disadvantageous duel for me since my attack range was shorter, but there are definitely some aspects that are advantageous to using a dagger, such as fast movement and relatively less tiring.

As I was staring blankly at the bathroom ceiling, wondering how I could possibly win the game against Ethan, I felt Isabelle’s hand rubbing my shoulder from behind.

“Thinking of you again, Master, Release?”

“… It’s Ethan’s thoughts. To be exact, it’s about the swordsmanship duel with Ethan.”

“It seems like you and the master have been sparring really hard lately. Did you make any kind of bet with the master?”

“… I’m not betting, I just decided that if I work hard I’ll get something like a prize.”

“This must be a really good deal, seeing as how hard Lilith works every day to the point of collapse from exhaustion.”

“… … .”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell this innocent friend what kind of compensation I had promised him, so I just nodded without giving a detailed answer.

Fortunately, Isabel didn’t bother to ask me more questions about things I hadn’t answered, but instead just rubbed my shoulder without saying anything.

These days, after training, when it was time for washing, Isabel would always take care of me like this. When Ethan saw that I was working so hard that I didn’t even have enough strength to wash myself, he ordered Isabel and Katarina to help me wash.

Since it was a woman’s body, I didn’t feel lustful for having naked girls bathe me, but it was true that it was more comfortable for someone else to wash my body than to wash it myself.

“I’m always sorry. Lately, I’ve been making you do things like taking my bath.”

“Huh? I’m fine with it? Rather, if it’s Lilith’s bath time, I can do it without Ethan’s orders.”

“… If you say that, it’ll be too much of a burden to me. It’s weird that maids are taking baths together in the first place.”

“It’s not like that maid… right? And it’ll probably continue like that in the future, right? ”

“… … .”

… Does this mean that I will continue to spar with Ethan like this until I am exhausted and then go into the bathroom?

I was feeling irritated at Isabel for saying harsh words without realizing it with her bright face, so I turned around and rubbed her shoulder in the same way.

-Kuuuk!

“Ugh, huh?!”

“You get a shoulder massage too, Isabel. Come on, just give it a try.”

-Kook, kook!

“Eww?! Gosh, it tickles! It tickles, stop it, release it… !”

So I wake up after playing around in the bathtub and loosening up my body.

I felt like I was a daughter of the Blackwood family, receiving such devotion and care from Isabel that she even cleaned my body for me. … Of course, that would never happen.

“I think there was a time when you, too, were training as hard as you do these days.”

“Huh? Oh, you mean just before Master Ethan entered the academy?”

“Of course you were enthusiastic back then, but I think it was around last summer when you were similar to the current release.”

“… Last summer?”

“Yeah. When the master won a match with his master without a handicap. As far as I know, it was last summer, right? ”

“… That’s probably right.”

… Yeah, I remember hearing the story. What kind of mindset did Ethan have when he was sparring with Harold?

Perhaps what Isabel remembers was when she had finally sorted out the various annoying things related to McHart and when Ethan and I finally had time to have our ‘first time’.

I still remember trying to give Ethan my first time as compensation, but it didn’t seem to be going well, so I purposely got into the same bath as him to slightly stimulate his sexual desire.

I don’t know how the temptation worked then, but it must have been effective, because I won a game against Harold shortly thereafter.

‘Wait, so does that mean I look like Ethan back then…?’

Does it look to Isabel like I’m itching to have sex with Ethan?

No, of course I’m a little frustrated these days because I haven’t been able to have proper sex, but even so, I guess I’m similar to Ethan when he was a man in his prime?

‘…No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think it’s to that extent.’

The purpose is similar, but I’m not in that much of a hurry.

Still, after hearing Isabel’s words, I felt somewhat at ease.

I think I have a rough idea of how determined I am towards Ethan, and how I can strengthen my resolve.

“Yes, Isabel. Thanks for the advice.”

“… Huh? Advice?”

“Thanks to Isabelle, I think I’m starting to get a feel for it. What I really lacked.”

“… Oh, really? I’m glad it helped, but I don’t think I said much… ?”

It didn’t matter if Isabel hadn’t realized it. My mind had already been made up thanks to her thoughtless words.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

-Kang, kang, kkaang!

“Release, focus more! I want you to see where my sword is flowing!”

“Properly… !! I’m watching you… !!”

It had been a week and a day since Ethan had started sharing the sword with Lilith on the condition that she would give him a reward.

Still, Ethan fought with his exclusive maid at full strength and spared no effort in giving her heartfelt advice.

So that Lilith can somehow win a fight with him in a swordsmanship duel using only her pure skills.

-Kyaaang!

“Yeah, when defending, from the inside out! Good job!”

“Ugh, haaah…!!”

… Is it just me or is it just me that watching Lilith desperately swinging her sword to defeat herself reminds me of myself from a few years ago?

It probably wasn’t just her mood. Ethan could easily guess what kind of desperate feeling she had.

It’s embarrassing to say, but he had also been swinging his sword diligently up until now in order to receive the ‘reward’ of spending one night with her, and even now, sharing love with Lilith was still included among the reasons he swung his sword.

So it was a little bit pleasing to Ethan that she was swinging her sword so desperately to get ‘reward’ from him. Because with each sincere clash of swords, he could realize that his desire to sleep with her was not just his own one-sided desire.

-Kkang, kkaang, kkang!

“Eww! Aaaah …

… However, it is not always possible to solve everything with will and desire alone.

Ethan, who had watched Lilith wield her sword the longest and had also fought with her the most, was certain of it.

Perhaps Lilith won’t be able to get a game for herself until at least the end of this summer vacation.

-Boom, boom, boom!

‘It’s good that the dagger is fast, but my mind is also too impatient. It’s as if I’m being chased by something.’

“Ewwh …

‘The only good thing is that he’s better than me at handling eye contact and hiding his momentum, but it’ll be a bit difficult to land a blow to me with just that.’

Ethan wanted her to win over him more than he wanted Lilith to win over him, but that didn’t make him relax his grip on his sword or slow down his movements.

Allowing Lilith to win in the middle would only offend her strong-willed personality, and more than anything, she had already told herself in advance that she would never allow Lilith to win.

So, when the opportunity arises, I will definitely not let it pass me by.

It was Ethan who swung his sword at the protective shield surrounding her body, not missing a single gap in the release that was visible to his eyes.

-Tingle!

“Ugh, ugh!”

With the sound of the protective shield surrounding the black-haired maid’s body breaking, Release and Ethan finally end their match without winning a single game today.

Today, the afternoon training ended after hours of sword fighting, so Lilith must have felt very depressed and sad.

However, Ethan did not bother to provoke that part and said his final farewell to the sparring partner as calmly as possible.

“Haa, haa, haaa… .”

“… Good job, Lilith.”

“… Thank you for your hard work, Ethan Do-ryun, sir… .”

Lilith, who was barely able to stand on her own two feet while catching her ragged breath, held her hand.

After exchanging their final greetings, Ethan entered Blackwood’s large bathhouse to rest his tired body as usual, but today, unlike usual, another maid was following him silently.