Aria's Blushing Assistance
"You?"
I echoed in surprise.
Aria couldn't meet my eyes and fidgeted with her fingers, twisting them together.
"Y-yes. I could use clean magic to wash you, but... I thought wiping you down with a warm towel might feel more refreshing."
"You're going to wipe my whole body? Which means taking off all these clothes?"
I narrowed my eyes and asked.
"Wh-what?!"
Aria jumped back in shock, waving her hands frantically.
Her face flushed bright red in an instant.
"J-just your face! I only meant to wipe your face...!"
She floundered helplessly, her gaze darting around the empty air.
Her ears had turned scarlet too, as if she were imagining it all.
Just my face, huh.
It was a tempting offer.
After suffering all morning, my body felt as heavy as a waterlogged sponge.
Even dragging myself to the bathroom to wash up sounded exhausting. But getting wiped down while lying here?
What could be better than that?
"Alright. Do me a favor."
Aria's face lit up the moment I gave permission.
"Yes! Just a moment, please!"
She scurried off to the bathroom and returned with a steaming towel.
She knelt carefully on the floor beside my bed.
"Th-then, if you'll excuse me..."
Aria's trembling hand reached toward my face.
The warm towel covered my forehead, spreading a soothing heat.
"Haa..."
A lazy sigh slipped out before I knew it.
With delicate, gentle strokes—like handling fragile porcelain—Aria wiped my forehead, the bridge of my nose, and my cheeks.
Every time her fingertips brushed my skin through the towel's warmth, a ticklish sensation tingled through me.
"Is it warm enough?"
"Yeah. Feels good."
Aria let out a small, relieved breath at my answer.
She soaked and wrung out the towel in warm water again, then moved to my jawline and the nape of my neck.
"Mm..."
I tilted my head back slightly, and Aria's gaze naturally drifted downward.
Her eyes traced my neckline and skimmed over the top of my chest.
For a split second, her hand froze.
My sweat-soaked shirt had thinned, clinging transparently to my skin.
Beneath the white fabric, my pale skin gleamed faintly, and my collarbones rose and fell with each quick breath.
I could see her face heating up even more.
"Aria. Your face is red again."
"I-it's hot! The room's a bit stuffy!"
Aria yanked the towel away and made excuses in a panic.
Unsure where to look, her eyes wandered the air before she cleared her throat awkwardly and stepped back.
"Now... you should probably change your clothes..."
"Oh. Yeah."
I couldn't keep wearing this sweat-and-rose-scented uniform.
The rose scent wasn't bad, but the damp, sticky feel was unpleasant.
Still lying down, I lifted my arms slightly.
"Help me take it off."
"Wh-what?!"
Aria recoiled in horror, her eyes wide as she alternated between staring at my hand and my face.
"You dressed me this morning. Taking it off should be easier, right?"
"Th-that's true, but... you were standing then... and now you're lying down..."
"Too lazy to get up. Hurry."
I wiggled my fingers impatiently.
Aria approached the bedside again, her face scrunched in distress.
That personality of hers—wanting to refuse but unable to.
She sighed deeply and reached out tentatively.
"Ex-excuse me..."
Her shaking hands began undoing the buttons on my jacket.
Clink.
The soft sound of buttons clicking together.
One, two.
With each button undone, the fabric parted, revealing the contours of my body beneath the thin shirt.
Aria squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them, desperately trying not to look.
But she had to, to undress me.
Her gaze kept lingering on my chest before fleeing in panic, over and over.
"Ugh..."
Aria grunted with effort as she struggled to remove the jacket.
Since I was lying down, our bodies had to press close to pull my arms free.
Her arm brushed my chest; her hair tickled my cheek.
The jacket was off, leaving just the shirt.
The sweat-drenched shirt clung transparently to my skin.
"The shirt too."
Aria's expression turned on the verge of tears.
"D-do I really have to go this far...?"
"Hurry up."
Her hand touched the top button of my shirt.
Pop.
The button at my collar came undone, exposing my pale nape.
Second button. My collarbones emerged.
Third button.
Her fingers descended toward my chest.
They trembled visibly from tension.
The tip of her index finger grazed the soft skin beneath my shirt.
Twitch.
My body reacted on instinct.
Aria froze in surprise too.
Silence.
In the cramped room, only our breathing echoed.
Her hand hovered over my chest.
Not quite touching, not pulling away—an ambiguous distance.
She stared blankly at my chest.
Through the parted shirt, white skin and the thin undergarment covering it came into view.
The fabric gaped and closed with each rise and fall of my breasts.
And through that gap...
Gulp.
Aria's throat bobbed visibly.
Her pupils dilated hazily.
Like someone entranced, her fingers inched slowly toward the inside of my shirt.
"Aria?"
I called her name softly, and she jolted.
"Ah... S-sorry!"
Her face exploded red as she fumbled with the remaining buttons.
Once the shirt was off, cool air enveloped my upper body.
I sat up and let the shirt slide off my shoulders.
"Wh-wh-what are you doing...!"
"It's sticky. So sticky."
Aria turned her head sharply toward the wall at the sight of me in just my undergarments.
"Clothes."
I held out my hand, and Aria—still avoiding looking—passed them over carefully.
I pulled the fresh shirt over my head.
"Phew. Much better now."
The tension finally eased.
I stretched my refreshed body and sat on the edge of the bed.
Aria tidied my discarded uniform, stealing glances at me all the while.
Her ears were still flushed.
"Thanks, Aria. I feel clean now."
She flinched at my thanks and bowed her head.
"N-no... Roommates do this much..."
Her trailing voice trembled faintly.
"L-Lady Elise...?"
"What?"
Aria hesitated, peeking at me as she nibbled her lip.
She clearly wanted to ask something but wasn't sure if she should.
"Um... if it's not too rude, can I ask one thing?"
"What is it? Spit it out."
Aria mumbled hesitantly before whispering,
"Why... were you sent to prison...?"
"Why?"
"Was it because... maybe you..."
Her eyes flicked briefly to my collarbones and chest, where she'd just touched.
"Seduced someone... to get information or something...?"
"...What?"
I doubted my ears.
"Seduced? Me?"
"N-no! I mean!"
Aria waved her hands, babbling incoherently.
"J-just now, and... you seem so naturally alluring... I thought maybe you seduced high-ranking officials for secrets or...!"
Then she hung her head.
Seduced, huh.
What the hell is she talking about?
The absurdity made me chuckle dryly.
"Your imagination's way too wild."
"P-pardon...?"
"Who would I seduce? I don't have that kind of skill."
I'd been a guy originally, after all.
I had no clue how to enchant anyone.
Especially not a man—that'd trigger instant rejection.
I smirked and waved it off.
Aria looked dazed at my confident demeanor.
"Oh... I-is that so...?"
"Yeah."
But she didn't quite buy it, her mouth staying slightly open.
"...No, it's not."
Aria muttered so softly I almost missed it.
"No self-awareness, huh...?"
"What'd you say?"
"N-nothing!"
She shook her head frantically, pretending to fuss with the clothes.
Her ear tips stayed red.
As we bantered about that nonsense, my stomach growled loudly.
Changing out of the sticky clothes had finally let hunger hit.
I hadn't eaten lunch yet.
"Mm... I'm starving."
I rubbed my belly and grumbled.
Aria looked up from tidying.
"Hey, Aria. It's still lunchtime, right?"
"Y-yeah... I think so...?"
"You eaten?"
"Huh? Oh... I did, but..."
Her gaze trailed off to the half-eaten, stale bread crumb on the desk.
"What'd you eat?"
"Just... some bread and stuff..."
"That's food?"
I scowled, pointing at the shriveled crust. Eaten dry, without water?
"When studying... time slips away..."
Aria mumbled excuses.
"How do you plan to survive the afternoon like that?"
"B-but it fills me up..."
"No. Let's go."
I sprang from the bed.
"Huh? Where?"
"To eat. I'm hungry, and you barely ate, so let's get something proper."
I grabbed Aria's arm and tugged.
"I-it's really fine...!"
She resisted, but couldn't match my strength.
I dragged her out of the room relentlessly.
"Wh-where are we going?"
"Dunno. We'll figure it out once we're out."
"B-but I actually have afternoon classes..."
"No afternoon classes. I saw your schedule."
"Eek...!"