Chapter 163: That place!!
Chapter 163: That place!!
"Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Are you... angry?"
"..."
"You are really angry, right?"
"..."
"Sigh, I am sorry, Princess."
"..."
"I am really sorry, Princess."
"... Then?"
"Thank you for helping me."
"..."
"Princess?"
"Show me your thanks. Massage my leg," Aqualina commanded, her eyes still fixated on the array of documents and data she had meticulously collected for the First Trial that Mother had assigned to them.
'This jerk!' Aether raged inwardly, glaring at Aqualina, who remained deeply engrossed in her reading.
After Aria's departure, Aether had devoted his time to rigorous physical training, tirelessly running laps, building his muscles, and punching the trees in the playground. Although he could easily enhance his attributes through other means, he knew the importance of maintaining his physical skills; without them, others would wipe his face off the floor.
He had noticed a separate training ground, fully equipped with advanced training apparatus, but it was restricted to students only. Thus, he had no other choice but to make do with the playground.
His path crossed with Aqualina, who promptly summoned him to her dormitory.
Initially, the Dorm Manager had refused to allow Aether, a boy, to enter. However, after Princess Aqualina coaxed and struck a shady deal, the Dorm Manager relented under two strict conditions:
Aether was not allowed to wander around the dormitory, and he had to leave before the designated sleeping time. Any repercussions from his actions would fall squarely on Aqualina's shoulders.
And now,
"What happened?" Aqualina asked, sitting on the edge of her bed, her eyes still glued to the documents, as she raised her pristine legs.
Aether wasn't simp to fall for her pristine legs because... This morning, he had seen much more than just her legs and even touched something... squishy. The vivid memory of the sensation and sweet smell lingered in his mind.
'Fuck!' Aether shook off the intrusive thoughts, staring blankly at Aqualina's face, "I am sorry, Princess, but I cannot."
"Hmm? Reason?" she asked, her attention still on the document.
Aether, having already concocted an excuse, hid a sly smile behind his sombre expression. "Because those legs belong to Master Kai, and even he hasn't touched them yet... How can I, an unworthy slave, touch you, even a strand of hair... Princess," he said, his tone tinged with longing.
"...."
Aqualina paused and finally looked at Aether, who was gazing at her with tender eyes and a longing expression.
"Hmph!" Aqualina huffed, thinking, 'If you have a one-sided love, shouldn't you seize this opportunity? ... What a loser! If he acts like this, no girl will ever fall for him.'
[+500 Affection]
'Tsk, Tsundere!' Aether thought to himself.
"Then massage my shoulder!" Aqualina demanded.
'This annoying girl!' Aether was annoyed again and was about to give another bullshit excuse, but Aqualina cut him off, "You have massaged the Archpriestess's shoulders before, and there's nothing inappropriate about touching a shoulder.... Do it now!" she was really tired of dealing Aether's mistakes and Mother's trial.
Aether sighed, moving to her bed. He was about to begin the massage when,
"Make sure your eyes never look down!" She said with a serious tone.
"...."
Aether purposefully glanced down, not at her cleavage... well, maybe a little—but more importantly, at the documents she was holding.
He noticed a map with a corner labelled 'Aerionis Zephyra.'
"Are you planning a trip, Princess?" Aether asked when he noticed a few marking places while massaging her shoulders.
"... I told you not to look, didn't I?" Aqualina mumbled but soon responded, "No, I am searching for a place where 'IT' could be."
''IT'... Is she talking about the trial that was given?' Aether thought, scrutinizing the map even more closely, noting several marked locations in deep corners of the outskirts.
"What is 'IT'?" Aether asked carefully.
"...." But Aqualina didn't answer.
Aether sighed.
'I don't know why I am being dragged into their secret meetings. Does Arcane want me to do something? If so, why hasn't any mission appeared?' He wondered. His mission was supposed to be related to Seduction, but why was he being pulled into this?
'What is Arcane truly hoping for me to do?' Aether couldn't help but ponder.
Suddenly, Aqualina asked, "How is it going with Aria?"
Aether snapped out of his thoughts and said, "I am able to get close to her, but..."
"But?"
Aether hesitated. Aqualina stopped looking at the documents and lifted her head, only to freeze when she saw him so close.
Aether, who had been looking at the documents in her hands, was suddenly surprised to see her face this close.
They locked eyes for a moment, he saw her flickering purple eyes, while she saw his mysterious blue eyes.... before Aqualina averted her gaze and asked again, "But?"
Aether snapped out of his daze, thinking, 'Both Mother and Daughter really resemble each other...' He was almost mesmerized by her beauty.
He awkwardly said, "I-It's just that whenever I get close to a woman... my blood boils, my cheeks turn hot, and... I feel something h-hard, don't know why..."
Aqualina's face contorted in disgust as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing, and she immediately looked at him... only to be taken aback by his innocent eyes.
'D-Don't tell me... He doesn't even know what's happening to him?!' Aqualina thought, her disbelief evident. She calmed herself, cheeks tinged with red, and asked, "Y-You... Did you receive any... I mean any kind of... You know..."
Aether inwardly laughed at her innocent, shy expression. Despite her struggle to express it, he decided to play along as an innocent boy who knew nothing about the outside world.
In truth, he was!! But not in this field!
Seeing his expectant, innocent expression, Aqualina grumbled a little before shouting, "Did you receive any sex education?!" she blurted out, her face turning even hotter.
She couldn't believe what she had just said.
Aether tilted his head, feigning innocence, and said, "S-Sex? What?" Your adventure awaits at m-vlempyr.
"Oh my..." Aqualina facepalmed. She never imagined he was this innocent.
'W-What the hell am I supposed to do now?' She wondered, glancing at Aether, who was still acting like an innocent, curious boy. She mumbled, "You do know how babies are made, right?" with a little hopeful expression but Aether smashed it with a large hammer saying, with a shy expression, "W-W-When man and woman... k-k-k-iss, B-Baby will be born" as he mimicked his two hands kissing gesture
"...." Aqualina had a 'What the fuck?' Expression and with utter defeated expression, she said, "I suppose I need to take him to that place."