Fourth Villa (2)

Before the Manager of the villa showed Ethan and me to the bedroom where we would be staying, they asked a somewhat unexpected question.

‘Are Prince Ethan-nim and Lady Lilith in a romantic relationship? Or are you simply a noble young master and his exclusive maid?’

“Ah, well….”

“We’re in a romantic relationship. Why do you ask?”

“……Yes. We are in a romantic relationship.”

As I was pondering how to explain our relationship as ‘temporary lovers,’ Ethan boldly declared that he and I were a couple.

Indeed, it would be a bit strange to explain something like ‘temporary lovers’ to someone I was meeting for the first time.

So, I didn’t bother to deny Ethan’s words and simply nodded in agreement, accepting it as it was.

‘My apologies if it was an impertinent question. I asked it to inquire whether you two would prefer one bedroom or two when I guide you to the room you will be using.’

“…One will suffice.”

“…Please make it one.”

‘Yes, confirmed.’

“…….”

“…….”

My face felt a little flushed at Ethan’s and my answers, which had come out almost simultaneously.

After all, we had always shared the same room, the same bed, and the same tent. There was no need to use separate rooms just because there was space.

In terms of a relationship between a man and a woman, we had already seen everything there was to see of each other, so there was nothing to hide or reveal.

-Kiiik.

‘Prince Ethan-nim and Lady Lilith, you may use this room as both your bedroom and resting space.’

Although I was a little surprised to see a sentient entity naturally open the door and guide Ethan and me inside, it was probably a type of technology created by Professor Mamari-nim.

Ethan and I carefully entered the room, recalling that the Manager from the Ghost Mansion Episode could perform similar actions.

‘…It’s better than I expected.’

A bed spacious enough for two with room to spare, a small table for sitting opposite each other, a large desk for work, and even a wardrobe. It was certainly too good a villa to leave abandoned for several years.

Since Professor Mamari-nim referred to this place as the ‘Fourth Villa,’ it probably means that other villas also have similar facilities.

I still wasn’t sure what kind of person they were, but I could only guess that, by modern standards, they might be conducting research similar to a robotics engineer.

‘While you are staying at the villa, I will not intervene or question anything regarding your life in this bedroom, so please feel free to use this space as you wish.

Furthermore, I will never intrude upon or peek into your room without permission, so you may rest assured regarding that as well.’

“……Yes.”

“…We won’t do what you’re thinking, so you can rest easy.”

‘Yes. As Prince Ethan-nim has stated, whatever happens in this space will be treated as if no action has occurred.

The blankets and bed sheets will also be washed daily and replaced with new ones, but this is merely a duty I must perform as the villa’s Manager, so you need not concern yourselves with it.’

“…….”

“…….”

The Manager of the villa was merely phrasing things politely; interpreted, it simply meant that we could do whatever we pleased with each other.

If we had committed such unfaithful acts during another research class, we wouldn’t be able to protest even if we received a failing grade, but this place was a space personally created by the professor of the Necromancy Research Class.

In essence, it could be seen as having Professor Mamari-nim’s permission, so even if we were caught, something like this wouldn’t affect our grades.

‘No, I won’t. I mean, I won’t, but.’

Having sex with Ethan was strictly reserved as a reward only when Ethan scored a point against Harold.

Since that humiliating Pet Play last time, Ethan hadn’t really scored any points against Harold, so it was right to restrain myself for his sake.

“Alright, I’d like to rest now, so could you please leave? Lilith seems a bit uncomfortable.”

“Oh, I’m fine, Young Master Ethan-nim. I know now that the Manager isn’t a ghost.”

“…Alright, I understand.”

‘Thank you for your consideration, Lady Lilith. I was planning to prepare a meal and a bath for our late-night guests, but are these not necessary?’

“A meal? At this hour?”

“…A bath?”

Ethan and I simultaneously questioned the mention of a meal and a bath at such a late hour, but the Manager merely replied with a nonchalant answer.

‘It is common for Professor Mamari-nim’s guests to visit at this hour. Most people who visit this area, where Undead-type Monsters frequently appear, live lives where day and night are reversed.’

“…Indeed, there’s really nothing to see around here except for Undead-type Monsters.”

Eating at this hour would surely make me gain weight, so that’s out of the question, but now that I hear it, I do feel like taking a bath.

It seemed Ethan had a similar thought, as he cautiously asked me about the Manager’s suggestion.

“What do you think, Lilith? I think we sweated quite a bit today. Plus, you drove the carriage, so you must be even more tired, right?”

“I also think it would be best not to refuse if we can bathe. If you are hungry, Young Master Ethan-nim, you may even have a meal without me.”

“That’s fine. I’m not particularly hungry either. …So, I apologize, but could you just prepare a bath?”

‘Yes. Then I will prepare the bath so that you two can go to bed after bathing.’

‘…You two?’

…It seemed the Manager had seen Ethan and me using the same bedroom and preemptively assumed we would also enter the bathroom together, preparing accordingly.

I was wondering if I should correct them, but the Manager had already smoothly disappeared beneath the floor, so I missed the chance to say anything about it.

‘…Well, it’s not like I’ve never entered the same bathroom with Ethan before.’

Even before we had proper sex for the first time, we had entered the bath together three or four times, so there was no need to be embarrassed about mixed bathing now.

Ethan’s face seemed to have flushed slightly, but I decided not to pay it much mind.

“It would be best for you to rest while the Manager prepares the bath, Young Master Ethan-nim. I will unpack the luggage, so if you close your eyes for a bit, I will wake you when the bath is ready.”

“Is there really a need for that? It’d be faster if we did it together.”

“This is also the duty of an Exclusive Maid, Young Master Ethan-nim. Although the location has changed, we are here for Academy classes, so I have no intention of neglecting my duties as Young Master Ethan-nim’s Exclusive Maid, just as I would at the Academy.”

“…Alright, I understand. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Ethan retreated at a reasonable point so that I wouldn’t have to refuse twice.

Watching Ethan, I organized his and my nightwear and casual clothes from the luggage bag, hanging them one by one in the guest room wardrobe.

‘There won’t be any need for sleeping bags or tents, so I don’t have to unpack them.’

If it weren’t for Professor Mamari-nim’s goodwill, we would probably just be starting to pitch our tent right now. And after finishing, we would have had to go to sleep feeling sticky without being able to properly wash up.

Outdoor lodging has its own charm, but it’s only enjoyable once or twice; this semester, we’ve had to camp out in almost every class.

Just the fact that it was a night where we didn’t have to pitch a tent or light a bonfire made me feel quite happy.

“Lilith.”

“Yes, Young Master Ethan-nim.”

“…I’m sorry for putting you through so much trouble this class.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t know Lilith disliked Undead-type Monsters that much. I knew you were afraid of ghosts and such, but I didn’t expect you to react that way to Skeleton-type Monsters too.”

“Everyone has at least one weakness, don’t they?”

“Still, the usual Lilith was always so bold. Just recently, during the Humanities Exploration Class, you swung your sword at bandits without even batting an eye.”

“Living people, corpses, and things that should be dead but are alive are all completely different, Young Master Ethan-nim.”

“…Well, that’s true, but.”

“From the very beginning, when you planned this Necromancy Research Class, Young Master Ethan-nim, you asked for my opinion multiple times, didn’t you? Since I agreed, there’s no need for you to take responsibility for it.”

“…Alright, Lilith.”

…Seriously, why does a Duke’s Young Master like him care so much about his Exclusive Maid’s feelings?

Of course, Ethan’s and my relationship isn’t that of a typical Duke’s Young Master and his Exclusive Maid. And it’s also true that I like Ethan precisely because he cares about me even in such small matters.

“…….”

Even though I had clearly said I was fine, seeing Ethan looking strangely dejected made my own heart feel heavy.

Since I had more or less finished organizing the clothes in the luggage bag, I quietly approached Ethan, who was sitting on the bed, and subtly offered a suggestion that might lift his spirits while the Manager prepared the bath.

-Sueeuk.

“Young Master Ethan-nim.”

“……Hm.”

“…Do you want to touch my breasts?”

“Kheuheup…! Wha-what?!”

…Was that really such a surprising thing to say?