Later, in the hot spring.
Lita couldn’t figure something out.
Why did Cecilia like sitting on her lap so much?
With the buoyancy of the water, Cecilia’s delicate weight seemed almost non-existent, yet Lita could still feel the soft, unconscious rubbing of Cecilia’s skin against her own thigh.
Strands of golden hair, slipping free even from under the towel, were now resting on Lita’s chest. Cecilia’s fair shoulders, beaded with droplets, stood out clearly in the dim moonlight.
Staring at this scene, Lita found herself having thoughts she shouldn’t.
Spicy Chicken Burger, Spicy Chicken Burger, this is a very attractive Spicy Chicken Burger.
Lita kept chanting this in her heart, letting the searing heat of the water envelop her body, hoping the spring would wash away her tangled emotions.
“Lita, why are you so tense? Are you tired?”
Cecilia’s voice sounded just at the right moment. The calm tone made it hard for Lita to tell if she was being asked in earnest or teased.
Whatever Cecilia’s intent! Of course it’s because of you! If you didn’t keep doing these things, how could I possibly be this nervous?
Although her mind was in turmoil, all that Lita managed to say was, “It’s nothing.”
“Mm.” Cecilia responded, then took Lita’s arm and guided her hands to rest in front of her.
Lita naturally wrapped her arms around Cecilia’s slim waist. Cecilia’s waist was indeed slender, but so very soft—Lita could feel her palm sink into the gentle curve of her belly.
This embrace brought them even closer, so close that Lita felt as if her unseen tail might stiffen from the tension.
“I don’t plan to participate in the King Selection, nor does anyone support me. If nothing unexpected happens, the First Princess should end up as queen, right? Still, it’s hard to truly be indifferent to everything related to myself,” Cecilia said, seemingly out of nowhere. Then she pursed her lips, maintaining her previous posture without another word.
So frank—was Cecilia always this straightforward?
Maybe it was because the pressure had gotten to her, so she’d decided to confide in me?
As if she could read Lita’s mind, Cecilia closed her eyes and said, “You’re the holy knight I chose for myself. You should know what I think. In the future, when things like this happen, you’re to step forward and resolve the trouble for me.”
“Resolve the troubles in the King Selection?” Lita asked on purpose.
“Of course not.” Cecilia had wanted to lecture Lita a bit, but Lita’s listless tone didn’t seem all that serious: “Lita, are you joking with me?”
“Yes, I’m joking.” Lita nodded, admitting it. “But if Lady Cecilia wants, I really could take care of your troubles in the King Selection.”
“Comforting me is nice, but don’t say things like that in front of anyone but me.” Cecilia turned her head, raised her hand—warmed by the hot spring—and stroked Lita’s cheek a few times.
“I want you to know, Lady Cecilia, that at least you have my support.”
“All right, all right, I get it.” With that, Cecilia slid off Lita’s lap and sat on a stone by the hot spring.
Lita’s gaze happened to fall on Cecilia’s chest—not those slightly underwhelming parts, but rather on the odd markings there, the ones that, even after watching Valfis’s online lectures, Lita still couldn’t figure out the meaning of.
That’s strange, was this curse always this bright the last time I saw it?
After the hot spring, Lita escorted Cecilia directly back to her room.
“Lady Cecilia, I feel a bit strange. I want to go out for a walk.”
“All right, but don’t go too far. If I really run into danger, you need to be able to get back quickly. If possible, try not to use your special powers.”
Lita understood. The power of her crest could barely be used, at worst exposing both her and Cecilia’s identities—after all, anyone accompanied by a holy knight would be easy to guess.
But the succubus abilities were different; if she used them and failed to silence witnesses, the danger would be enormous.
She couldn’t just slaughter the whole Village—she wasn’t that kind of bloodthirsty person. Best not to use them if she could help it.
That said, before heading out, she still set up some beguiling aura traps at Cecilia’s window and door. It wouldn’t do much against a strong enemy, but it was more than enough to guard against petty thieves.
Anyone able to get past that beguiling aura unscathed certainly wouldn’t be an ordinary person—she’d deal with them when the time came.
As for whether ordinary folks might get caught up in it, that was beyond Lita’s control.
At the very least, she should warn the bard, or else she might find a dazed Claire mumbling nonsense outside her and Cecilia’s room the next morning.
Just as she stepped out of the inn, the owner greeted her enthusiastically, several grinning old ladies standing behind him.
“Dear guest, did the hot spring make you feel truly blissful?”
“It was… all right, I guess.” Lita thought of the unique experience, though it couldn’t compare to the great bath palace in Solus City, and she didn’t want to be too blunt.
“Just all right? Did you really savor it?” The old lady’s smile froze.
The owner’s smile turned odd as well. He patted the old lady’s back, “Don’t rush, grandma. Let the guest have a good sleep—she’ll naturally come to understand how blissful this place really is.”
“Ah… this happiness you’re talking about, what is it exactly?” Lita scratched her head.
“You’ll know. Happiness is just happiness,” another old lady said.
What nonsense. These people really aren’t normal. Did they eat too many mushrooms and go silly?
“All right, all right, I’ll try to feel it tonight.” Lita didn’t want to chat any longer, so she brushed them off and returned to the hot spring again.
As expected, Claire was already stark naked, lying in the water and humming a little tune. Seeing Lita enter, she lazily lifted her lashes.
“Ah, Miss Lita, did you need something?”
“If there’s nothing important, please don’t disturb Miss Sepharia’s rest. We’ll call you when we leave tomorrow.” Lita replied as she glanced at Claire in the water.
She had to admit, Claire’s figure was much better than Cecilia’s.
Though, just a bit lacking compared to herself.
Still, even as Claire laid herself bare before her, looking even more beautiful out of her showy garb, Lita’s heart remained unmoved.
Indeed, Lady Cecilia really was special.
But what’s the difference between Claire and Cecilia?
J…
No! That’s not it! Lady Cecilia is legal! Don’t think about weird things!
Lita slapped her own cheeks, and only then did Claire’s voice sound again, lazy as melting butter.
“Leaving? Ah… right, we’re leaving.”
You’re way too slow on the uptake! It’s been ages since I finished talking!
“Claire, aren’t you a bit dizzy from soaking so long? The hot spring’s nice, but you shouldn’t stay in it forever,” Lita advised.
“How could that be? I’m great. Ahh, so comfy… I can already feel the happiness they were talking about.” Claire turned over in the water, pressing her chest to the stones at the edge, hair dripping as she lifted her eyes to Lita with a silly smile.
Well, seeing her gobble down food at dinner, it was clear she hadn’t enjoyed herself in ages. Lita couldn’t help but remember how she’d been herself after escaping the Demon Tribe’s lands.
It’s just like people stuffing themselves at an all-you-can-eat buffet after starving—let her enjoy the hot spring for a while.
With that thought, Lita reminded Claire once more not to visit her room, then left the spring.
By now, the sky was pitch black, but that was no issue for Lita. She wandered the streets at random, keeping half an eye on the inn.
Maybe she was being too cautious, but she didn’t think a little vigilance would hurt. After all, she still remembered all too clearly how getting tricked before had put Cecilia in danger.
Just as she’d first guessed, the Village wasn’t very large. Before long, she’d reached the Adventurer’s Guild nearby.
She knocked on the door. No one answered, but the heavy clank of chains rattling caught her attention.
The iron chain on the door was rusted through, yellow with old stains. It clearly hadn’t been used for just a day or two—this place had been closed for a while.
Well, whatever, let’s check out somewhere else.
Not much further on, the Village’s Chapel came into view.
No need to knock this time; just looking at the layer of dried leaves on the chapel steps, it was clear no one had tended this place for some time.
But it wasn’t ruined and derelict—more like a shop that had quietly closed for lack of business. There was a fundamental difference between the two.
A matter of how long it’d been.
Other than these landmark buildings, there wasn’t much else in the Village, was there?
Guess I should head back, then?
Just as Lita turned to leave, she caught sight of several pairs of eyes in the shadows, fixed intently on her.
“Come out.” Lita called coldly, her eyes locking on where the figures lurked in the darkness.
A rustle of grass followed. Then, from the shadows, several figures emerged, forming a semicircle around Lita—their faces wearing grins that flickered and faded in the moonlight.