Chapter 28: If it gets too Comfortable… I’ll Become a Plaything…

“…Something like this… it’s not impossible, you know.”

Floralia deliberately revealed a confident, teasingly hesitant expression.

After Sophia glanced at her curiously for three seconds, Floralia raised a finger and continued, swaying slightly as she spoke the second half of her sentence:

“But, I do have one condition~”

“Oh? Lady Sister wants to bargain with me now?”

Sophia’s face remained that half-smiling, half-amused look, as if Floralia’s words didn’t surprise her in the slightest.

“…What, you don’t agree?”

Floralia crossed her hips and snapped back stubbornly.

“Of course I agree. I’m not that unreasonable. Lady Sister, whatever you want, just say it. We’ll have a fair trade.”

Sophia smiled.

“Just promise me, Lady Sister, that you won’t go back on your word.”

“Hmph, naturally.”

Seeing Sophia fall right into her trap, Floralia secretly rejoiced.

“Ahem… it’s simple. My condition for the exchange is this… from now on, I want to continue living in this bedroom, and all the belongings inside should belong to me as well. How about that?”

“No problem!”

Sophia agreed without hesitation, answering instantly.

“Don’t push your luck, Sophia! This has always been my bedroom. Even though I was missing for so long, the ownership of this mansion should still belong to me… W-Wait, what did you just say?”

Floralia was still rambling off her prepared arguments but suddenly sensed something was off halfway through.

“I said, ‘No problem.’”

Sophia maintained her smile, expression calm and indifferent.

“…You just agreed just like that?”

“Of course. Since Lady Sister has returned, it’s only natural for you to move back into your original bedroom.”

Sophia nodded smoothly.

Floralia’s eyes widened slightly, momentarily stunned before her heart surged with joy.

Hehe… I never expected my comeback plan to go so smoothly.

As long as I can enter the bedroom’s Secret Door and open the Little Treasuries I stashed away back then, I’ll have all sorts of Magical Tools, Healing Scrolls, potions—you name it.

Hoohoohoo~ Once I recover my Peak Strength, Sophia, you’ll be the one crying—

Floralia sweetly fantasized about her victorious future.

But her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Sophia’s teasing words:

“Lady Sister, steady yourself. Let me help you change clothes~”

“W-Wait… what did you say?”

Floralia’s expression instantly shifted into visible panic.

“Don’t you get it, Lady Sister? Just like before, I’ll help you change your clothes.”

Sophia tilted her head, feigning innocent confusion, but her eyes sparkled with the mischief of a successful prank.

“Y-You, stay away from me! When did I ever agree to… let you help me change?!”

Floralia’s reaction was fierce.

She tried to step away, but her unsteady steps—now without the cane—made her stagger dangerously.

Almost falling, she was swiftly caught by Sophia’s quick reflexes, who wrapped an arm around her waist from behind.

“What I said earlier was, ‘I hope Lady Sister can put it on for me again in front of the mirror.’”

“In the past, Lady Sister never changed clothes by herself; you always had me attending to you.”

Those words struck Floralia like a thunderclap.

“Lady Sister already agreed just now, didn’t you? No backing out now~”

“You… Sophia! You’re playing dirty with these word games!”

Floralia struggled in the teasing embrace, both angry and flustered.

But Sophia’s guilty hand had already reached for the over-the-knee dress Floralia was wearing.

Though Floralia couldn’t see, she distinctly felt the laces at her back loosening one by one.

Soon, her dress became loose and sagging, revealing large swaths of her delicate, fair skin to the open air—springtime teasing exposed.

“Stop… you wanton woman! I order you… don’t touch me!”

Floralia pressed both hands hard against the arm that was pinning her waist, but despite her efforts, she couldn’t budge it even an inch.

Instead, Sophia tightened her hold.

“Lady Sister, why such a strong reaction? You should be used to this by now.”

“This… this is nothing like before! Don’t twist the meaning!”

“Is that so? What’s different then?”

Sophia asked curiously from behind, then gently lifted Floralia’s small frame off the ground.

Suspended midair, her feet not touching the floor, the only support was Sophia’s arm.

A wave of unease instantly washed over Floralia’s heart.

“Oh, I remember now. Back then, Lady Sister didn’t even allow me to touch with my hands.”

Sophia’s tone was hard to pin down—half reproach, half teasing.

Then Floralia felt a warm, slightly rough sensation brush against the laces at her back, fidgeting restlessly.

“You really are something else…!”

“Lady Sister, don’t move around too much, or you might hurt yourself~”

That strange combination of soft and firm touches, infused with a faint magical energy, rippled through Floralia’s senses with each of Sophia’s movements, plunging her into a chaotic haze.

“…You pervert! Sophia, can you have some shame? As a proud Holy Knight… can you really be so shameless?”

Floralia twisted uncomfortably, struggling to break free, but the magically enhanced grip held fast.

“Lady Sister, keep your voice down. I didn’t close the door very tightly just now.”

Sophia gave a “kind” reminder:

“If Lady Sister doesn’t want your daughter bursting in hearing strange noises, then behave, okay?”

“Bah…!”

Floralia spat indignantly, but her voice involuntarily dropped in pitch.

“When I recover my strength… just wait… I’ll make you see what’s what… Ugh—!”

Her threatening words nearly dissolved into a shy whimper.

The back laces of her loose dress had long come undone, and the fabric slipped downward uncontrollably under gravity.

The bright afternoon sunlight streamed through the gauze curtains, spilling across her shoulders and collarbone, only highlighting her embarrassment further.

Almost instinctively, Floralia raised her hands to cover her chest, guarding the neckline to prevent her skirt from revealing what shouldn’t be seen—yet even her utmost effort barely concealed the front.

Her sides and back remained exposed to danger.

At this moment, Floralia seemed even more helpless than when she sat in the wheelchair earlier.

Her slender frame pressed down on the clothing with one hand while the other struggled to pry apart Sophia’s wrist, but the difference in strength made resistance futile.

Her cheeks burned crimson with shame, flushed enough to drip water, and her breath came in panicked gasps.

“No need to wait for the future anymore, Lady Sister.”

Sophia leaned close to her ear, voice low and teasing.

“The Lady Sister I see now is already enough to show me a good time~”

Her gaze was playful yet appreciative as it rested on the skin illuminated by the afternoon sun.

That calm, straightforward look only made Floralia’s heart race harder, a prickling heat burning through her.

The next moment, Sophia’s free hand silently slipped to Floralia’s side, settling on her waist and abdomen.

Fingertips slowly wandered, radiating a faint magical pulse—subtle but rippling across Floralia’s skin like a current, triggering an odd tingling sensation.

Wave after wave of this strange feeling assaulted her nerves.

Floralia couldn’t help but gasp hurriedly; her chest heaved more violently.

Her whole body began to soften, and the strength in her hand gripping Sophia’s wrist faded away.

What little energy she had left was utterly drained, as if she were being swallowed whole.

If this kept up… she’d completely collapse into a toy at Sophia’s mercy—

No, that can’t happen… absolutely not…!