“Princess, have you finished freshening up and are you ready to serve me obediently?”
“……”
“Amidina, I’m coming in now…”
“……”
“Are you really asleep, my dear wife? If you don’t answer me, I might have to do something… a little naughty to you…”
“……”
“Li… sweetheart?”
“……”
“Squeak—”
Before the faint sound of the door handle turning could fully spread, the cautious shadow had already slipped into the room.
The room was fragrant and quiet.
The pinewood incense, specially for rainy days, burned steadily in the fireplace, releasing warmth.
Beeswax candles on the walls cast a soft glow over everything inside.
The silk jacket Amidina had changed into after her bath—so ceremonious—was casually grabbed by Lin Nuo, who covered his mouth and nose with its collar.
He checked the locked door and, pretending to be thirsty, moved to the desk to pick up a cup, but his eyes remained fixed on the stone fireplace in the corner beside the desk.
The maid who had just returned Yulilian had conveniently placed some dry firewood at the door.
Now, half of it was already burning in the fireplace.
No one seemed to have noticed that the firewood had been soaked in a special plant extract:
—Mihun Fern.
His target was Amidina, the elven princess.
If Lin Nuo wanted to drug her drink or food, it was unlikely that Amidina would just let him sample two plates and see how it went.
Her gluttonous and inseparable little sister Yulilian would snatch the plates away and finish them off before he had a chance.
If he wanted the maid to replace the room’s incense with something that would lull Amidina to sleep, Amidina would immediately become alert the moment she noticed the sudden change.
Any mistake would risk Mother forcing Amidina to strip Lin Nuo naked and punish him with a whipping as an apology.
This had long left Lin Nuo frustrated despite finally coming up with a plan.
Luckily!
The “super twisted plot” Lin Nuo heard from Jinxian’s smutty novel, where “no matter how vigilant the stepsister was, she’d still be drugged by her secretly infatuated half-sister, then passed to her girlfriend while unconscious,” sparked a unique inspiration.
Since involving the maid or drugging Amidina directly would be noticed—
What if he soaked the Mihun Fern-drenched firewood by the door, waiting for Amidina herself, or her silly sister Yulilian, to unknowingly toss it into the fireplace, letting the drug’s effects quietly take hold?
Would his chances improve just a little?
“It’s been raining a lot lately; the fireplace really comes in handy.”
“Plus, the pinewood incense Mother prepared for Amidina has a calming effect… Even if a Holy Paladin first inhales a trace of pinewood incense, it’s hard to immediately detect the unique aroma of burning Mihun Fern…”
Lin Nuo analyzed silently but still lacked confidence.
After all, Amidina was a Water Saint Elf with an innate purifying ability that made evil spirits fear her.
Behind the screen, what he might see could be Amidina deeply asleep—or the cool and stunning elven princess drawing a bow and aiming an arrow straight at his little “water buffalo,” delivering a fatal “chicken-shot”…
Lin Nuo tiptoed carefully again.
He listened closely to Amidina’s breathing and confirmed it was steady and consistent with deep sleep before moving around the screen.
Fortunately, what appeared was the breathtaking elf maiden asleep on a beautifully carved walnut wedding bed.
Amidina’s eyes were closed, her face serene.
The bedding covering her delicate figure was thin enough to reveal the graceful hands folded neatly on her smooth stomach, rising and falling gently with her warm breath.
It is said that no matter how majestic a woman looks standing, when lying flat, her form slightly spreads out to the sides, changing her silhouette.
But with Amidina, it seemed no sleep position could hide her full and proud curves.
“Chirp chirp…”
“Shh.”
Fatty Bird, perched on the balcony railing, tilted its head, looking at the big sister who had chased it all the way after stealing its socks from the bed.
Lin Nuo signaled for it, and the bird flew off to keep watch.
Lin Nuo stepped closer, and with a faint “fizz” from the matchstick, the candlestick beside the screen was lit.
The candlelight cast a blurry glow, painting Amidina’s slender figure onto the screen and forming a graceful, enticing silhouette.
Even though Lin Nuo had steeled himself to get close to Amidina, the sight of the elven princess like this still stunned him.
Her long hair was spread casually.
The elven circlet had been removed before sleep, revealing her pure, cold, and exquisite face without a trace of blemish.
Her flawless beauty filled Lin Nuo’s vision: snow-white, smooth skin; rosy, naturally red lips; a high and full nose bridge.
The plain-colored blanket, just barely covering her slender neck, made the sleeping Amidina look even purer and more untouchable than when he saw her yesterday in the garden.
A faint layer of candlelight glimmered on her unique, delicate elven ears, and her curled lashes seemed to float in the halo—a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.
“No wonder the maids spoke so exaggeratedly…”
Even though Lin Nuo had already resolved to keep his distance from Amidina, the longer he looked at her cherry-pink, moist, glossy lips, gently exhaling a mixture of fragrance and warmth…
He couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable urge to kiss them.
Although, secretly smooching her once or twice or thrice right now would go unnoticed…
Suddenly realizing how dangerous this thought was, Lin Nuo pinched his thigh in frustration.
“The gas released directly from burning Mihun Fern is much harsher than a refined drug…”
“I’ve only inhaled it for a short while, and even after taking preventative medicine beforehand, I feel a bit dizzy.”
Lin Nuo felt a slight imbalance but nothing serious.
This firsthand experience proved the dosage was just right.
As long as he was gentle and slow while undressing her, and used exquisite techniques to push her tactile senses to the limit, the princess should—maybe—probably—remain unconscious.
‘The advantage is mine!’
Lin Nuo slowly approached Amidina.
The dim candlelight cast his shadow behind him, gradually enveloping the sleeping, seemingly unaware and delicate girl.
Holding his breath, he gripped the blanket and gathered courage to lift one corner.
He froze for a few seconds, holding the blanket in place, noticing no reaction from Amidina.
He glanced sideways, then slowly moved closer again.
A look of disbelief flickered in his eyes as they widened.
Lin Nuo had already seen Amidina’s otherworldly figure once before.
But this time, what confused him was—
Was Amidina really… not wearing any clothes while sleeping?
No, not quite—not wearing any, but wearing very little.
As the blanket slipped down, more of the unknown was revealed before Lin Nuo’s eyes.
Following the white strap on her swan-like neck and round, fragrant shoulder downward, only a camisole-like bandeau, struggling to support two perfectly round “melons,” was left, stretched tight and heavy.
Her slender waist was fully exposed to the air.
This… ah, this!
Lin Nuo clasped his hands together in awe and took a deep breath.
Could it be he was finally lucky for once?
He had wished all day that Amidina would wear less tonight, and the wish had come true?!