Chapter 78 : Secret (13)

As expected of a noble’s mansion, the bathtub is quite large.

The bathtub that Ayla used during her training days was made of wood. In fact, it wasn’t really a bathtub; it was more of a large wooden tub big enough for a person to fit in, filled with warm water.

Of course, if you understand how troublesome it is to fill such a large tub with warm water and to dispose of the used water, and considering that Ayla never once had to do it herself, you could say Ayla was treated quite well.

This mansion’s bathtub, however, was not made of wood.

Nobles with enough money can create bathtubs made from anything. Of course, wood could be included as well. However, it wasn’t the large tub one might typically think of. It was a bathtub carved out of a massive tree trunk.

Just like the incredibly expensive desk in the Count’s office, it was something that could be called a piece of wood carving art.

But the Count was even more vain than that.

In the rooms made with the assumption that a ‘noble’ would use them, there is a marble bathtub carved from marble in every single one.

A bathtub that is far smoother than a wooden one or even an expensive one carved from a single log. Its size is enormous as well.

It seemed designed so that “two people” could fit in it at once.

“I can understand why the Count is in debt now.”

Ayla said, suddenly.

“To make a house with this kind of luxury, a lot of ‘cash’ would have been needed.”

Whether it was carved by hand or made with the help of wizards, no matter how you think about it, it couldn’t have been made in a day or two.

The people might have changed over time, or maybe the Count acquired it from another noble who was disposing of it.

Either way, it’s unlikely that it was transferred just with a simple check or promise.

“Did the Count intend to come in here with me? If so, I don’t think we would be facing each other like this.”

The bathtub was big enough for two people to fit, but strangely, it also felt a bit too narrow for two.

Though Ayla and Luna could sit facing each other inside, they still had to fold their knees.

Even so, there was barely enough space for their bodies not to touch.

The Count, even at his age, took Ayla as his wife. Not only Ayla, but the servants in this mansion were all women about the same age or slightly younger than Ayla.

In addition, his late first wife, Seila’s mother, was also said to have been very young and beautiful.

……………Did she really die of illness? Ayla felt a bit of sympathy for her, whom she had never met. Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t leave Seila alone.

“……”

But right now, that’s not important.

Ayla looked at Luna. Luna still couldn’t meet Ayla’s eyes properly.

Though she always acted confident, whenever it was something related to Ayla, Luna would always become a shy girl.

Ayla had even thought that, if it had been Luna, she would have just stood next to the Count without much expression when she married him.

Even if the moment came when she had to lean into the Count at night—
—No, let’s not think like that. Just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable.

Anyway, the important thing is that Luna only shows this side of herself to Ayla. Ayla herself even wondered why she thought this way, but she thought it was important.

At the same time, there was a part that was a bit annoying. Just as Ayla knew a side of Luna, there was another side of Luna known only to others.

From the room on the second floor, Ayla often saw Luna going outside.

Sometimes she would go into the forest to talk with Seila or Daisy, or go to the Shadow’s room to discuss something.

It seemed like she even knew something about the Empress and was acquainted with the Shadow’s coachman.

Yet Ayla knew nothing about this.

If she asked with a tight grip, Luna would answer, but—no, would she really?

What if there was one question that Luna couldn’t answer even if she died? If that happened, Luna would die. Ayla didn’t want that.

So, Ayla and Luna’s relationship remained in a ‘stalemate.’ Though Luna always seemed to follow Ayla’s words, she was still a woman with many secrets, and Ayla felt a strange sense of challenge in that.

There were soap bubbles floating on the water’s surface, so the bottom was not visible.

Would Luna still have tried to get in here if it was clear?

Ayla gently stretched her foot.

Tap.

Luna’s toes touched Ayla’s foot. Luna was startled, looked at Ayla for a moment, and then pulled her foot back.

But there was no place to escape in the bathtub. It wasn’t large enough for that.

Ayla kept a calm expression as she slowly stretched her foot in the water, placing it on top of Luna’s instep.

The water was still warm, so Ayla didn’t feel Luna’s body temperature directly.

But the soft sensation was still felt.

It was a kind of touch that couldn’t be experienced unless it was the human body, unlike stepping on a carpet.

Luna’s body was soft everywhere. It was as if she had just been born. Despite being able to handle a sword skillfully and carry out other maid duties with ease, she had this softness.

As Ayla slowly moved her foot upward, she felt Luna’s firm bones.

It wasn’t all that fun to trace her calf with her foot, so Ayla shifted her foot slightly.

When she placed her foot on Luna’s calf and pulled, that soft and resilient spot changed shape with the movement of her foot.

When Ayla pulled harder, Luna’s left leg stretched slightly toward Ayla.

Luna quickly tried to retract her leg, but—

“Do you not like it?”
At Ayla’s words, Luna shivered and froze.

Only following orders.

It is Ayla’s command.

What is it that binds Luna so tightly?

If Ayla had been just a little kinder, she might have felt guilty about that reaction.

Or is it because Luna offered herself to Ayla directly that she is having these thoughts?

There is no logic, no reason.

Emotions are, after all, far from logic.

But until now, Ayla had to suppress those emotions and live.

“I suppose you don’t entirely hate it.”

Ayla spoke while trying to maintain her composure.

As she stretched her foot toward Luna’s slightly parted legs, she felt firm flesh, different from her calves.

As she gently pressed down with the tip of her big toe and slowly moved downward, Luna’s body trembled slightly.

“…”

How far would she allow it?

How far could she go under the guise of a command?

Ayla’s foot stopped.

Normally, between people who weren’t lovers, neither hands nor feet would reach this place.

She lifted her foot slightly.

Ayla smiled faintly.

She was laughing not at Luna’s reaction but at her own actions.

She acted as if she would devour her, yet she never touched the most crucial part.

Isn’t that amusing?

But that didn’t mean she would just place her foot anywhere.

Ayla extended her foot smoothly, as if pushing forward.

It landed on Luna’s lower abdomen, a place Ayla had touched multiple times before.

Not too painfully—though, considering she was using her foot, it was debatable what meaning that held—but as gently as she could, she stroked her lightly.

Luna’s face turned red as if it were about to explode.

Her slightly spread legs began to close in.

Between those legs, Ayla’s own leg was wedged, making it look as if Ayla was touching somewhere inappropriate.

No, even now, it was undeniable that she was.

Ayla felt a slight sense of relief that Sayla wasn’t witnessing this scene.

Ayla’s warm foot rested on Luna’s lower abdomen.

Why was Ayla so fixated on this spot?

No, she had a slight idea.

Because every time she touched this place, Luna became unbearably embarrassed.

Her face felt like it was burning up.

She couldn’t even speak properly.

She was sitting in a bathtub, with bubbles precariously floating at chest level.

If she moved too much, Ayla’s body would be fully exposed.

While she was struggling to figure out how to react, the pressure from Ayla’s foot on her lower abdomen weakened.

Just as she felt a slight relief—

“Hahng!?”

A sound escaped her lips.

Ayla lifted her toes and gently scratched Luna’s lower abdomen with the tips of her nails before slowly moving her foot up toward her navel.

The ticklish yet undeniably present sensation made Luna tremble slightly.

Seeing her reaction, Ayla’s lips curled into a smile.

Her foot didn’t stop.

It continued upward, pausing just below Luna’s chest.

Then, resting the top of her foot against one of Luna’s protruding breasts, she gently lifted it upward.