Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Latifundium (1)
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It was an exceptionally refreshing morning.
He'd gone to bed late last night, and after tiring himself out with some alone time in the bathroom, his body snapped wide awake right on schedule.
Maybe it was thanks to the fluffy pajamas.
Siwoo opted for comfortable work clothes perfect for hiking.
He grabbed breakfast from the academy kitchen, slipped it into Amelia's room, wolfed down half a sandwich, and bolted out to the garden.
Spirit Mountain!
Just the thought of finally setting foot in Gehenna's famous tourist spot—one he'd longed to visit—made him want to bust a move right there.
Parked at the dorm's main gate was that same opulent Gemernai carriage that had kidnapped him before.
But now that it was time to climb aboard, he hesitated a little.
Facing Odile after jerking off to thoughts of her last night felt awkward as hell. And tagging along with Odette, whom he hadn't had a proper conversation with since that day, only added to the nerves.
"Time will work it out."
Odette had a surprisingly laid-back personality, so she probably wasn't dwelling on it. And Odile? No question there.
They'd come looking for him again just yesterday, after all.
Clinging to that thought, Siwoo boldly swung open the carriage door.
The massive, lavish interior welcomed him once more.
"You're right on time as always, Assistant."
"Ah, h-hello..."
"Thanks for coming out to greet me."
"We invited you—what's there to thank?"
Odile beamed with a bright smile, giving a cute little wave. Odette clung to her arm, burying her face.
Siwoo had always thought gestures like that in dramas or comics were pure fiction. Never imagined he'd see it play out in real life.
And they pulled it off so naturally, without a hint of awkwardness, leaving Siwoo feeling oddly bashful himself.
That made it easy to settle in with Odile's casual welcome, but starting a conversation with Odette? Not so much.
"Odette! Don't be shy—say hi! We're stuck together all day!"
"But sis! How can you just act normal?!"
"That's what adults do: what happens the night before stays buried that same night."
Odette stomped her feet, her face flushing crimson, before finally fleeing into the room inside the carriage.
Siwoo asked, concern lacing his voice.
"She gonna be okay?"
"Leave her be, Assistant. She'll snap out of it."
Thinking back to Odette doped up on that aphrodisiac made Siwoo's cheeks burn.
Stuff like masturbating while thinking of the assistant, wanting his baby, begging to take his seed in her womb over and over.
Bold talk that the timid Odette could never have dreamed up.
If even the guy who heard it was this flustered, no way the one who said it was fine.
Honestly, Siwoo figured Odile had some freakish recovery power.
Just looking at her now, you couldn't tell she'd been tangled in some unspeakable adult mishap the night before last—or last night.
Or maybe her curiosity had bulldozed right over any shame.
In moments like this, Odile came off way more grown-up than Siwoo.
"It's about an hour to Spirit Mountain. Want something to drink in the meantime?"
"Sure, sounds good. We moving already?"
"Been rolling since a bit ago."
"Can't feel a thing."
"Worth every penny."
Now that he was pretty comfortable around the twins, Siwoo naturally trailed Odile to the minibar.
Man, this carriage was basically a private jet.
No vibrations seeped inside at all, and it was loaded with every convenience imaginable.
Odile leaned into the minibar and grunted as she dragged out a huge basket.
"We mentioned picnicking, and wouldn't you know—Galina shoved this on us."
Picnic basket through and through.
Probably crammed with club sandwiches and a thermos full of tea.
"Let's just snag some orange juice for now."
"Works for me."
"Odette! You want any?"
Odile called out loud and clear, but no reply came from Odette's room.
Odile clucked her tongue in an exaggerated, awkward imitation of someone.
"This won't cut it. Assistant, you go sweet-talk her. Tell her you don't mind, it's all good—she'll drop it in no time."
"Hand me a glass of juice. I'll sort it out."
Odile figured going together might make Odette dig in her heels out of spite, so she sent Siwoo solo.
The surprisingly mature approach caught Siwoo off guard.
*Knock knock*
"I'm coming in."
He knocked, clicked the door open, and immediately heard thumping footsteps and rustling fabric.
"Ugh..."
The room's only light came from a single candle, leaving it pitch dark—but it was so tiny, spotting Odette was a breeze.
"Odette."
Odile buried her face when embarrassed too.
Were the twins rubbing off on each other like that?
Odette had wedged herself between two massive sofas, back turned to him.
She was rejecting his very existence with every fiber of her being.
"As... Assistant... please go... I wanna be alone..."
"Brought orange juice. Tried some—super refreshing."
Siwoo patted her shoulder gently, keeping his tone calm.
"It's fine. Like your sister said, water under the bridge. You weren't yourself back then, right?"
Hesitation rippled across her small back—whether to stay or come out.
A muffled mumble leaked from between the sofas.
"But... it's so embarrassing... and I almost caused you real harm, you know that..."
"Seriously, don't sweat it."
She couldn't see it, but he flashed a kind smile anyway.
Truth be told, Siwoo's real worry had been her wild advances nearly killing him—not the acts themselves. Any lingering feelings? Nah.
If you subtracted the near-death scare, it was practically a bonus.
Odette peeked her head out ever so cautiously.
In the dim light, their spitting image threw him—their faces were that identical. For a split second, he mistook her for Odile.
But those huge eyes brimming with tears, locked in a pitiful pout? Pure Odette.
"Really?"
"Yep. Just don't let it happen again."
"You'll forgive me for... thinking of you and... doing it by myself too?"
Siwoo froze, words caught in his throat.
Twins had their moments where common sense went right out the window.
No need to dredge up that day's mess here.
"See! I knew it... how am I supposed to face you after that!"
His hesitation must've shown plain as day.
Odette wailed even harder, burrowing deeper into the sofa gap.
Damn, awkward.
Couldn't exactly say, It's cool—I busted twice thinking of your sister yesterday too.
"You think I'm some lewd, loose girl, don't you?"
How was he supposed to take that from the girl who'd been toying with dicks up till now?
Never pegged her for this level of shame.
Maybe she drew a line between innocent curiosity and the sexy kind...
Odette had her own boundaries, apparently.
"No way. Hey, it's picnic day—let's have fun together."
His soft coaxing drew her out bit by bit.
This was kinda amusing.
"Here."
"Thanks."
She finally wriggled fully free, wiped her sparkling, jewel-like tears on her sleeve, and took the cup from Siwoo.
"Can I... tell you about other stuff too?"
She held the cup primly in front of her chest.
Siwoo nodded without missing a beat.
"Of course."
A brief pause, then Odette spilled.
"Truth is... it wasn't just once."
"Pardon?"
"Thinking of you and doing it... even after that day, two more times..."
Siwoo blanked for a second, not quite processing.
Wait, doing what exactly?
Masturbating?
"Uh... Odette, I really don't mind. You don't have to tell me."
Hell, why was she even volunteering this?
But Odette was on a different wavelength.
Like a Catholic unloading her final confession, she laid it all bare with earnest guilt.
"Truth is... I felt so guilty. Even if it was just for my own pleasure, even if you're a slave—no permission, just thinking of you and... doing it alone."
"Got it, it's fine—no need to bring it up."
Looked like she wasn't just beating herself up over that one night, but everything else too.
Siwoo? Couldn't care less. He just wanted this mismatched, cringey chat over with.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Like, really really really?"
"Yes. It's all natural stuff."
"So after that day... you ever thought of me and touched yourself?"
"......"
The conversation veered into full-on astral territory, leaving his brain in a fog.
Before he could even mull the perfect response, Odette jumped to conclusions solo.
"Knew it... no, right? 'Cause Odette's a bad girl, a weird one..."
Her face fell, voice cracking with sniffles.
Hey, if you're that guilty, just don't do it.
Or at least keep it on the down-low without blabbing.
Her head was a flower field, even more than her sister's—impossible to keep up.
Felt like staring at some fairy-tale princess, pure as fresh snow.
"Odette, quit overthinking. If I'm cool with it, what's the issue? No one's hurt."
"........."
"First time learning about... y'know, self-pleasure? Happens. You're surrounded by guys, only me around—and it wasn't malicious, right?"
What the hell was Gemernai doing, their mentor? Dumping basic sex ed on him?
Overprotective of her apprentice witches? Fine, but teach 'em some damn common sense first.
Not that he'd ever have the guts to say it to her face.
"No need to beat yourself up. Curiosity about the opposite sex, about sex—totally normal. Nothing to be ashamed of."
"But it's indecent..."
"One day, when you meet someone you love, it'll click naturally. C'mon, time to head out."
Odette bobbed her head like a good little hamster.
Relief dimpled her healthy, rosy cheeks.
"Um, Assistant."
"Yes, Odette?"
"Then... thinking of you now and then from here on out... that's okay too?"
Sounded romantic at first blush, but the subtext screamed, 'Gonna keep using you for fodder.'
Siwoo's smile iced over at the innocent display.
"Y-yeah, sure."
"You forgive my screw-up, and you're cool with me thinking of you in the future too?"
She folded her fingers one by one, tallying it up.
In some ways, Odette was trickier than Amelia by a mile.
"Just... no need to tell me next time. Permission's already granted—anytime's fine."
Situation defused, for now.
Once was plenty for this skin-crawling talk.
Siwoo successfully coaxed Odette out, and the second Odile spotted her, the teasing kicked off.
She'd probably eavesdropped on the whole thing.
Blushing Odette darted away as Odile chased her relentlessly, poking fun the whole time.
The cheerful chaos didn't let up until they reached the canyon marking Spirit Mountain's entrance.