The Scent of Temptation
A gentle, deliberate pace carried Eloise across the academy grounds toward the dormitory. The healer had told her she would prepare a simple magical device for her, so she planned to use it first and take her time visiting the church. According to her, it had been crafted for a friend of hers, who, unlike Eloise, belonged to a race whose sense of smell was particularly sensitive. The device would undoubtedly look odd at first glance, but it would be far more comfortable than wearing a handkerchief over her nose all day. Nodding at those words, Eloise thanked her and left the room.
“Speaking of which, I heard there’s a rumor that the newly appointed Saintess will be entering the academy…”
The position of Saintess had remained vacant for quite some time after the previous one’s death. After such a long period, she had been selected only a few years ago, and rumors had begun circulating in society that she would soon arrive at the academy.
“What. It’s nothing to do with me.”
Just as she always did, Eloise dismissed the gossip as mere street chatter, but a sudden wave of memories from today’s events in the bathroom washed over her.
...Just like a child licking an ice cream cone, or a thirsty dog panting with its tongue moving wildly, Serina receiving her “education” was a sight that left one breathless.
The sight of Serina passionately sucking and licking inside her skirt, tasting with such fervor, was beautiful enough to make Chloe forget everything for a moment.
“No, no. How dare I think such a thing?”
Of course, licking and serving her own breasts was something she found acceptable, but moving without permission was unforgivable. “I must discipline her for daring to ignore a noble’s words.”
With that resolve in mind, Eloise walked onward, arriving at the dormitory without realizing it.
“Oh? Eloise, you look like you caught a cold.”
“...Yes. My body has been a little off since morning.”
Just as always, she exchanged a brief greeting with the passing officer and hurried to her room. Only after reaching the doorway did she finally remove the handkerchief she had been using over her nose and mouth all day. The moment she set it aside, the fresh air that greeted her face felt invigorating. Breathing became far freer, and even the deepest corners of her lungs filled with clean, crisp air. The cool air that brushed against her skin washed away the stifling discomfort she had felt all day in an instant. The hot, humid air trapped beneath the handkerchief had finally been replaced, filling her with a renewed sense of freshness and even making her heart lighter.
“Haah… Now I feel much better.”
Realizing anew how important breathing was, Eloise immediately stepped inside the room. Since she had already promised Serina that she would continue her training, her roommate was surely waiting. “I wonder if she ran away scared after all.”
Of course, that would only lead to greater punishment, so Serina would not dare avoid her. With the familiar click of the door, Eloise entered the entrance hall and nodded while checking the neatly arranged shoes and boots. Between her own pair of boots and shoes of various designs, there was a single pair of simple, well-polished shoes. Knowing her roommate was inside, Eloise stepped slowly into the room. A subtle warmth hung in the air, and an elegant scent was mixed among it. “...Perfume? No, that’s not it.”
For a moment she wondered about the scent, but deciding it wasn’t important, she passed through the living room. Swaaash— She could hear the sound of running water. No doubt her roommate had finished her shower after returning from whatever she had been doing outside. If they were about to start training, sweat was inevitable anyway, so maybe she didn’t need to shower, but Eloise decided to overlook it with her usual generous nature. She entered her own room, hung her coat on the side, and returned to the living room to sit on the sofa.
“...!” But the moment she tried to sit, she flinched. On the beige sofa lay something black and plain. It was nothing but panties. She had no idea where the upper garment had gone, but clearly this was not the kind of item one would casually toss onto a sofa. “...Serina’s?”
Of course it wasn’t hers. The owner of those undergarments had to be Serina, who was showering in the bathroom right now. Even though there was a laundry basket, watching her roommate carelessly drop her clothes everywhere added yet another item to the list of things that needed to be “educated.” Eloise sighed once and took a seat on the opposite side of the sofa, avoiding the panties. Since it would probably take some time for Serina to finish showering, she decided to plan her next steps. “...I said it, but I don’t know exactly how to do it.”
All she knew was the method of making her lick as a sign of apology. As she waited for Serina to come out of the bathroom, she found herself at a complete loss for how to proceed with the training. And suddenly, the item that snatched her attention away from her worries appeared. Naturally, it was Serina’s panties on the sofa. Gulping— Eagerly staring at the panties with an inexplicable tension, Eloise shifted her body. She had been sitting at a safe distance, but now she was so close that she could reach them with just a hand. Hmph— “Well, I can’t just leave underwear lying around like that. I’ll have to put them away for her.”
Even though it sounded absurd to say such a thing out loud, Eloise decided to stop worrying about trivial details. No, more precisely, she had no time to worry about such minor things. What mattered was the scent that had been teasing her nose ever since they entered the room. And just as she expected, the source of that aroma was the panties right in front of her. Gulping again— Eloise slowly, very slowly, reached out and took the simple panties into her hands. She spread them with both hands and stared at the undergarment in a daze. The design was plain. No flashy patterns or complicated purposes—just a simple, practical pair. Black in color. The kind of everyday undergarment that provided comfort and a stable feeling to the wearer. And Eloise stared at that ordinary underwear with eyes wide open. “...As I thought. It’s definitely here.”
The moment she had entered the dormitory, the scent that had clung to her had been coming from here too. She couldn’t describe it precisely, but it was addictive, mesmerizing, the kind of scent that made you want to keep smelling it. It had to be Serina’s. Once again staring at the panties in a daze, Eloise— Sniff— Haah… As if possessed by something, she brought the underwear close to her face and began taking deep breaths. It was as if she was desperately trying to savor even the tiniest trace before the scent disappeared. “Hic!”
And the moment she realized what she was doing, she had her face buried in the tiny underwear, sniffing the scent with all her might. The instant she became aware of her own actions, Eloise let out a startled yelp as if she had seen a ghost and flung the underwear onto the sofa. She couldn’t see her own expression, but if a mirror had been there, she would have seen her flushed cheeks and the blissful look on her face as she inhaled the aroma. “Damn… Why am I suddenly…”
Even to herself, it was an incomprehensible, impulsive urge. Was Serina really a succubus— An absurd thought crossed her mind. Eloise swallowed once, then picked the panties up again. “Okay. No more nonsense. Let’s put them in the basket.”
She would “educate” her roommate for not properly managing her own laundry. Standing up boldly from the sofa, Eloise carried the black panties toward the laundry room. While staring at Serina’s laundry basket in front of her, she was startled by the saliva she unconsciously swallowed and quickly wiped the corner of her mouth. “...Am I really going crazy?”
Looking at the panties she had been gripping tightly again, Eloise threw them into the basket with a sigh. Hoo— With a sigh mixed with a trace of reluctance, Eloise shook her head side to side and left the laundry room. If she kept staring at that basket, she was bound to do something very improper. Taking deep breaths and letting her flushed face cool down, Eloise realized the sound of water in the shower had stopped. Soon she could hear small movements and sounds coming from inside, and she instinctively knew Serina was about to come out. She composed her slightly disheveled expression and waited for Serina to emerge from the bathroom.
Not long after, with a cheerful “clack” of the door latch, Serina stepped out of the bathroom. “E-Eloise-sama?”
“Ugh…!”
Eloise let out a small gasp at the same time, the surprise and fear mixing in her voice. The reason was simple. The Serina who had just come out of the bathroom was completely naked.