As the steam in the bath gradually faded away, Tulia and Lisbeth stepped out, their bodies feeling refreshed and warm, and changed into comfortable sleeping robes.
Lisbeth, brimming with energy like a large dog, was still savoring their earlier horseplay, occasionally nuzzling Tulia affectionately with her shoulder.
“All right, all right,” Tulia said as she towel-dried her damp long hair. Seeing Lisbeth’s eager look, still wanting to cling to her, she finally made up her mind.
“Lisbeth,” she turned around and spoke in a tone more tender and serious than ever before, “listen to me.”
Lisbeth blinked her clear blue eyes and quieted down.
“Look at you,” Tulia stretched out her hand, measuring Lisbeth’s height, “you’ve grown so tall you’re almost as tall as me now. You’re a young lady already.”
She paused, took a deep breath, and voiced the decision she’d been brewing for so long: “Starting tonight, you’ll sleep in your own room.”
“……”
Lisbeth’s smile instantly froze on her face.
“No… No!” She reacted at once, shaking her head furiously, her face full of resistance. “I don’t want to! I want to sleep with you!”
“No.” Tulia’s stance was unusually firm. “We have our own Big House now it’s not like back in the Forest, squeezing together in a little cabin, or sharing one bed at the Inn. You have your very own beautiful Private Room.”
She looked at Lisbeth. Lisbeth’s appearance was that of a mature maiden now.
In truth, Tulia had another reason… one she couldn’t bring herself to say.
For the past ten years, Lisbeth had stuck to her side nearly every moment. It had been far, far too long since Tulia last had any real personal space.
Even worse… Tulia’s mind kept replaying a scene from earlier in the bath, entirely out of her control.
That long-suppressed, forgotten need of her body had been awakened.
“I don’t want to! I just want to sleep with you!” Realizing that reasoning was useless, Lisbeth simply started acting spoiled. She pouted, looking pitiful and wronged, and clung tightly to Tulia’s arm like an octopus.
“Lisbeth, be good.” Tulia hardened her heart and pried Lisbeth’s hands off, one finger at a time. “This is an order. Now, go back to your own room.”
With Tulia’s unyielding, firm rejection, Lisbeth finally gave up her resistance. She shuffled reluctantly toward the hallway, looking back every few steps.
When the door was gently closed, Tulia finally let out a long, relieved breath.
“Phew… Finally…”
She returned to her own bedroom and shut the door. With a soft “click,” it felt as if two worlds had been separated.
Now, she was all alone in the room.
This long-lost, absolute solitude made her feel at ease.
She walked to the big, soft bed and sat down slowly.
She licked her somewhat dry lips, a bashful yet mischievous, sly smile appearing on her face.
(This part was eaten by the Catgirl)
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