I hurriedly placed my hand on my chest.
I also brought my legs together, but it wasn’t because I wanted to; it just ended up this way.
As a result, Ayla’s foot was touching my lower chest while I held her leg tightly with mine.
That too, while facing each other in the bathtub.
Ayla’s face is red. But her expression is relaxed, making it seem like it’s not from embarrassment, but just from being in the warm water for too long.
Ayla’s body is also… stimulating. Isn’t it almost the same as mine?
If Ayla moves even a little too much, her half-submerged chest might become fully visible, and that worries me.
Her once pale skin has turned slightly red. Because of that, Ayla looks even more seductive than usual.
Is it right for me to have these thoughts about Ayla?
I do love her, but to have such thoughts about the person I love…
I know.
I theoretically understand how love reaches its conclusion.
Even if I’ve never had an interest in such things, it’s something that naturally comes to mind.
“Are you embarrassed?”
“This time, I won’t command you. Luna, say it yourself. If I do this, are you embarrassed?”
How should I answer?
Do I still have my pride? Ah, of course, I do. At least, I still have pride when it comes to others.
I never cowered before witches, nor was I afraid when I revealed myself to the shadows.
Even before the Empress, I always stood tall.
I had the skills to back it up, after all.
But even I have only ever run away in front of Ayla.
I didn’t have the confidence to stand before her and say, “That child from back then has become like this.”
I was already rejected once.
I can only guess what Ayla felt back then.
Maybe she didn’t love me that much, or maybe she liked me but did what she did to protect me.
Either way, it all means I wasn’t enough.
Even now, I still haven’t revealed my true identity to Ayla.
“I…If I say I’m embarrassed…”
Aila wiggled her toes.
Her toes tickled between the ribs beneath my chest.
That sensation spread all over my body, making me tingle, especially my lower half.
“If you say you’re embarrassed, I’ll stop. I am a merciful master, after all.”
As Ayla moved her leg, I felt the softness of her skin between my thighs that were holding her in place.
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Have I ever directly said something like this to Ayla before?
Everything Ayla does is full of contradictions.
She acts like she doesn’t trust me, yet she does. She seems to push me away, yet she stays close.
I’ve seen more sides of Ayla in the few months I’ve spent here than I ever did in my entire life before.
Back then, Ayla was always happy when she was with me.
The Aula who leaned on my shoulder, the Ayla who massaged my legs while calling it a treatment, the Ayla who held my hand and dragged me through the marketplace—
But that Ayla never showed me this side of her.
“I-I’m embarrassed…”
My head feels a bit hazy.
It must be because my heart is pounding too hard.
The heat of the water, the steam in the air—
I just want to get out of here quickly.
If I stay any longer, I’ll end up looking pathetic.
“Hehe.”
Ayla laughed.
“Alright, then.”
Ayla’s foot slowly withdrew.
She deliberately raised her toes, tickling me slightly with her toenails as she pulled away.
Her foot rose above the water, making a soft splashing sound, before sinking back in.
Without realizing it, I flinched and pulled back.
My back hit the tub.
But Ayla’s foot never touched any of my more… sensitive areas.
The fact that I even worried about that makes me feel even more embarrassed.
I didn’t know I could blush even more than this.
“Let’s finish up. We’ve been in here for too long.”
“Understood.”
“Why are you trying to get up?”
As I responded and started adjusting my posture, Ayla spoke.
I blinked.
Ayla smiled playfully at me before moving slightly in the water.
“A-Ayla…!?”
I quickly lifted my hands to cover my face.
A bit of water splashed on me, and I could feel soap bubbles landing on my hair.
“What’s the matter?”
Hearing Ayla’s voice, I cautiously opened my eyes—
What I saw was Ayla’s back.
She was lifting her wet hair, gathering it up with her hands.
Her pale white back, shoulders, and nape—
That breathtaking sight made me momentarily lose my words.
Then, Ayla spoke to me.
“We need to finish up, right? Washing my body—
That’s your job, isn’t it?”
“But Lady Ayla, the towel…?”
“You have hands, don’t you? Your hands, which have yet to become a proper knight.”
The moment when Ayla brought my hand to her lips flashed through my mind.
My thoughts kept wandering elsewhere. Just the fact that Ayla was beside me was already…
“Your hands are soft enough to wash my body.”
At Ayla’s words, I couldn’t say anything.
In the end, with slightly trembling hands, I washed Ayla’s body.
I lathered the soap and spread it on Ayla’s body—at least the parts outside the bathtub.
Her nape, shoulders, and the arms she was holding up.
“What about below?”
Ayla was not satisfied.
Cautiously, I moved my hand down from Ayla’s arm, bringing it toward her underarm.
Ayla’s body flinched. This area was sensitive—soft and well-maintained.
Had someone else taken care of this spot before I came?
Even in my dizzy state, I felt a pang of jealousy.
Someone had touched Ayla’s body.
Just as Ayla entrusted her body to me to be washed, just as she had placed her hands on my body, I had also taught Ayla various things.
I thought it didn’t matter. Even if Ayla had met someone before, even if she had borne someone else’s child.
Yes. It shouldn’t matter that I love Ayla. No matter what form she takes, no matter whose woman she becomes, as long as she is Ayla…
I will probably continue to love her.
I am only jealous—of the one who was Ayla’s ‘first.’
The area beneath her soft underarm required even more care.
From behind, Ayla’s body appeared slightly slender. When I touched her side, I could feel her ribs beneath my fingers.
But just in front of that was the place I always tried to avoid looking at.
If my hand moved even slightly forward, I would feel that soft, delicate part.
Splash.
“Uh!?”
At Ayla’s sound, I hurriedly withdrew my hand.
Even with my dazed mind, the sensation at my fingertips remained vivid.
I hadn’t completely grabbed or even properly touched it—just barely brushed against the soft area beside it.
Ayla, who had instinctively moved to cover her chest with her hair, froze in place.
Did she not expect herself to make such a sound?
“…I think that’s enough for today.”
Ayla’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
“I understand, Lady Ayla.”
I responded, feeling relieved.
That was truly dangerous.
Even if I tried to challenge Ayla in a fight, I wouldn’t win, and I had no intention of forcing anything.
But if Ayla had allowed it—surely, I would have crossed the line.
From the bath to stepping outside, I carefully dried Ayla’s body.
Even as I avoided looking at her properly, wrapping her in thick towels, Ayla said nothing.
When she finally put on the thin nightdress she used as pajamas, I felt a bit of relief.
Even though the fabric was far from modest, at least as long as it stayed dry, it wouldn’t turn transparent.
But that wasn’t the end of today’s unusual events.
As I finished drying her hair, Ayla turned to face me and suddenly took both of my hands in hers.
“They’re always so soft. I felt it earlier too.”
Holding my hands tightly as if she didn’t want to lose, Ayla looked up at me with a sharp gaze—then brought my hand to her lips again.
This time, I didn’t waver.
I had experienced too much in just a few days.
Of course, my heart still raced. This moment felt like a dream.
Even if Ayla had no feelings for me, being this close to her was enough.
Seeing my reaction, Ayla seemed slightly displeased.
She looked up at me before lightly biting my hand, then stood up.
As I briefly recalled the feeling of her bite, Ayla spoke.
“What are you doing?”
When I turned to look at her, she continued.
“Isn’t it about time to sleep? Do you even sleep in your maid uniform?”
“Lady Ayla?”
“You’re my personal maid and my doll, Luna.”
Ayla stared at me intently.
“That means you have to stay by my side until I fall asleep. This is my consideration for you—so that once I’m asleep, you can return to your room and sleep right away without any further preparations.”
It seemed like a logical argument in her mind.
“…Understood, Lady Ayla.”
In the end, that was the only answer I could give.