“….What did you say?”
“If you didn’t hear, I’ll say it again. Tonight, Master…”
“No, no. I heard you, so you don’t need to repeat it.”
Lucy’s expression remained calm, as if she had no idea what she had just said.
I looked at her and slowly ran my hand through my hair.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Her words were practically a confession.
I was momentarily stunned but quickly regained my composure.
Why?
Because it was Lucy who had said it.
‘Well… she’s the type who wouldn’t hesitate to offer a lap pillow.’
Lucy had always been the type to say and do things that most people wouldn’t.
Moreover, lately, her physical contact had been increasing compared to when I first possessed this body.
Was it because she was emotionally numb that she didn’t feel any shyness?
Her saying she wanted to stay by my side might have been just that—nothing more.
Regardless, it wasn’t a conversation to have outside, so it was better to move inside the mansion.
“Let’s go inside first. I want to sit down for a bit.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll take you inside right away. Liliana, please follow us.”
“Huh? Oh, yes!”
Liliana, who had been standing beside me in a daze, quickly followed behind.
I passed by the servants lined up on either side of the garden path and entered the mansion.
Click-clack—
The rhythmic sound of the two women’s heels accompanied us as we climbed the stairs.
The familiar crest of the Develion family and the unique atmosphere of the mansion greeted me.
‘Honestly, there are days when this place feels more like home than my own.’
They say leaving home is tough, but…
In my case, I hadn’t suffered much, but I couldn’t deny that the mansion felt more comfortable.
Maybe it was because I had almost fully adapted to this body.
It felt like returning home after a long trip.
As I let myself sink into the slightly unfamiliar yet comforting sensation enveloping my skin, we soon arrived at the door of the mansion’s study.
I handed my coat to a maid who approached with a bow and then turned to Liliana.
“You should go to your room and rest now. A maid will show you to your room in the mansion.”
“B-but I’m fine…”
“Don’t push yourself. Even though you’ve recovered, you were seriously injured. Today, just rest in your room and don’t do anything. Understood?”
I spoke in a firm, unwavering tone.
The image of my precious heroine, wounded and collapsed on the ground after being hunted by slave traders, was still fresh in my mind.
Perhaps sensing my sincerity,
Liliana hesitated for a moment before answering in a small voice.
“O-okay…”
“You’re being very obedient.”
I placed my hand on Liliana’s head as she answered timidly.
She slightly bowed her head.
I paused for a moment when I noticed her ears turning red.
‘Oh no, did I act too familiarly?’
During our journey to the capital, we had become close enough to exchange light jokes.
I was proud of having built a good relationship with Liliana, just like with Justia.
But thinking about it, maybe being too touchy just because we’re close isn’t appropriate.
In the end, I slowly withdrew my hand from Liliana’s green hair.
“Ah…”
“Then, get some rest.”
“Okay. Um… what should I call you?”
“Just call me Beherit.”
“Okay! Behirit. Then, I’ll go ahead…!”
Liliana smiled with crescent-moon-like eyes and bowed slightly.
I nodded silently in response.
After sending Liliana off,
I entered the study with Lucy and sank into a plush chair.
“Phew.”
A sigh escaped as some of my fatigue melted away.
My body felt like it was melting into the chair.
Wait, the chair felt warm, as if someone had just been sitting there.
‘Huh… that’s strange.’
Had someone really been sitting here?
The thought crossed my mind briefly, but I quickly dismissed it.
No harm in it being warm.
After a short rest,
I felt someone’s gaze and looked up to see Lucy staring intently at me.
“Do you have something to say?”
“That’s…”
Lucy, unusually hesitant, seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
‘Huh? What is it?’
It was rare to see Lucy like this, which only made me more curious.
“Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Actually… earlier, when I saw you pat Liliana’s head, my chest felt tight.”
“Hmm.”
Lucy, who had been hesitating, quickly opened up at my request.
Her straightforward expression left me speechless.
Unless I was having a heart attack, she was saying she felt jealous because of me.
While I was choosing my words, Lucy placed her hands over her chest and continued calmly.
“It was the same at the entrance of the mansion. Whenever you looked at Liliana, it felt like my heart was being crushed.”
“…So that’s why you made that wish earlier?”
“You mean when I said I wanted to stay with you tonight?”
“Ahem, yes.”
“That’s right. I wanted to be by your side instead of Liliana, so I said that.”
Lucy nodded obediently.
I averted my gaze slightly and covered my mouth.
‘This… is a full-on confession.’
And an innocent one at that, since she herself wasn’t fully aware of her feelings.
Lucy’s words, which tugged at my heart, made my face burn.
Lucy was one of the most beautiful women I had seen in this world.
Hearing a confession from such a woman was both embarrassing and flattering.
At the same time, a slight disappointment crept in.
‘So, her earlier words didn’t mean she was coming to my bedroom tonight…?’
I knew there was no sexual implication, but somewhere deep down, I had hoped for it.
But it was clearly a no-go.
Well, my possession life is rated PG-13, not R-18, right?
I knew it wasn’t the time for any steamy scenes yet.
Damn, I knew it.
‘Ugh.’
I closed my eyes, sinking into sadness.
But if Lucy really felt jealous because of me, it was a joyous thing.
It was proof that she was gradually recovering her emotions.
In the original story, there was no such event between Lucy and Behirit.
This was definitely a positive change brought about by me.
I wanted to make sure she could feel happiness not just as my subordinate but also as a woman.
After organizing my thoughts, I stood up and said to Lucy,
“Get ready to go out. We’re heading to the underground city, Orvud.”
“Aren’t you going to rest more?”
“I need to check if Lüdenburger has properly dealt with the Second Prince’s forces. And you said you wanted to spend the night with me, didn’t you?”
“…Understood.”
Lucy hesitated for a moment, seemingly worried about me, but eventually accepted.
I gazed at her doll-like face and spoke.
“Lucy. You don’t need to say you want to be by my side. I’m already grateful that you’re always with me.”
“Ah…”
Lucy’s mouth opened slightly at my words.
Was it just my imagination?
Her face seemed to have a bit more life in it.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
I glanced back at Lucy, her silver hair swaying as she followed, and we headed to the underground city together.
***
“Ugh… Damn it… Do you even know who I work for!?”
“If you don’t want to experience pain worse than death, watch your mouth. This is someone you don’t even dare to look at.”
At the top floor of Lüdenburger’s establishment in Orbit.
I sat cross-legged on a long sofa, looking down at the man Lüdenburger had captured.
Vascus, the man leading the Second Prince’s forces in Orbit.
He was once a knight who served the Second Prince but ended up staying here for some reason.
His messy beard couldn’t hide the fierce look in his eyes as he glared at me.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the glass of wine from Lucy without breaking eye contact with Vascus.
A 30-year-old Dafhausen whiskey prepared by Lüdenburger.
As I sipped the whiskey through the mask, the intricate blend of honey, vanilla, and sherry filled my mouth.
‘Oh, this is warm.’
The high alcohol content burned my throat, but I didn’t get drunk.
My body had reached a level where it was almost immune to poison.
After another sip, I spoke to Vascus.
“Do you know who you work for? Of course, I know. But did you enjoy acting like a noble in the underground city while serving the Second Prince?”
“H-how do you know that?”
Vascus’s face, once filled with anger, now showed confusion.
Lüdenburger growled at him.
“It would be wise to hand over all the documents related to the Second Prince. Unless you want to lose parts of your body bit by bit over the next month.”
Lüdenburger’s terrifying words made even me shiver.
But Vascus’s expression hardened, and he spoke with resignation.
“So, you’re the ones opposing my master. You must already know a lot. But I will never hand over the important documents.”
Crunch.
The sound of something being bitten and crushed.
In an instant, smoke filled the room.
“You bastard!”
Bang!
Lüdenburger slammed Vascus’s head into the floor, but Vascus continued to speak, half of his face buried in the marble.
“Kuhaha… This smoke contains a powerful aphrodisiac. I spread it throughout the room using my mana. I didn’t expect to use it now, but with this, you’ll all writhe in agony until you die.”
Vascus struggled to speak.
Was this something meant for elf hunting or entertaining nobles?
Damn, it didn’t matter now.
If I didn’t want to end up like he said, I had to detoxify immediately.
“You crazy bastard!!!”
Lüdenburger swung his sword at Vascus, who was writhing and charging at him.
A gray aura enveloped the blade, and Vascus’s head fell to the floor with a thud.
I circulated my mana to expel the poison from my body and assessed the situation.
There were three people in the room besides Vascus: me, Lüdenburger, and Lucy.
Both Lüdenburger and I could expel the poison using mana, so we were fine.
But Lucy was different.
“Damn it! Lucy, are you okay?”
“Ah… Ah… Master…”
I grabbed Lucy’s shoulders, checking her condition, but she didn’t look good.
Her face was flushed, her breathing ragged, and her pupils unfocused.
She was clearly affected by the aphrodisiac.
‘Damn it!’
I didn’t even have time to regret bringing her to Orvud.
Lucy kept calling my name repeatedly.
Then, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.
“Snap out of it! Lucy!”
“Ah… Ah…”
I shook her, but no coherent response came.
Her body, overwhelmed by the aphrodisiac, was clumsily trying to rub her thighs together despite her lack of experience.
I took off my mask and shouted at Lüdenburger.
“Get the antidote, now!”
“Yes!”
Lüdenburger rushed out of the room.
As I turned back to Lucy,
“Ugh.”
In an instant, Lucy’s lips were on mine.
Her tongue, sticky and desperate, tangled with mine.
Her hot breath against my skin.
She was like a thirsty person seeking water, craving my saliva.
I didn’t even think about pulling away as we exchanged saliva in a deep kiss.
“Mmm…”
Our lips pressed and sucked against each other in a passionate kiss.
Lucy’s hands instinctively wrapped around my waist,
and I responded by holding her head.
Sluurp.
“Heehee, Master… it’s delicious♥”
After a long kiss,
Lucy, her face flushed, swallowed the strand of saliva connecting us.
I looked down at her, breathing heavily as she leaned against my chest.
Her body pressed tightly against mine, her large breasts squished against me.
The usual doll-like expression was gone, replaced by the look of a female unable to control her arousal.