Nurse Elma's Devoted Care
"Good job, that's it. My dear husband."
A few days later, on a weekend morning, Elma's cold had vanished without a trace. Was it thanks to the dwarves' natural resilience, or the medicine? Either way, it had been worth losing my sense of taste for half a day.
"Where do you think you're going? Stay in bed!"
Just as I rubbed my eyes and tried to sit up, two tiny hands shoved my shoulders back down. I flopped powerlessly onto Neukdori.
"Elma? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
I blinked up at the small shadow pinning me down. Oh, morning kiss time, huh. I silently puckered my lips.
The response was nothing like what I'd expected.
"As a dwarf woman, I can't stand the hit to my pride!"
Elma declared it with majestic flair.
"Huh?"
I glanced down. Her outfit caught my eye.
A nurse uniform...? If you could call it that—it was way too revealing. A white miniskirt. A deeply plunging neckline. Garters hugging her thighs. And skin-tight black thigh-highs. This was the kind of cosplay nurse getup you'd find in an adult shop. She'd obviously had the golems make it.
Damn.
Gulp.
Doing this first thing in the morning was dangerous. My lower half reacted fiercely.
"Hyah?!"
Elma, straddling my thighs. My shoulders jerked in surprise. My face flushed hot.
Roll roll. She rolled her almond-shaped eyes and cleared her throat repeatedly.
"A-hem! When I was sick, you took such good care of me."
Her small hands fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. She twisted her thighs bashfully.
"A proper dwarf woman always repays her debts properly! So today, I'm nursing you—just lie there!"
The justification was impeccable. Except I wasn't sick at all.
"I'm not sick even a little."
"Pfft! Whether you're sick or not is for the doctor to decide!"
That's a nurse outfit, though.
No time for nitpicking. With a cute "Hup!" she clambered up onto my chest. Her heavy, springy butt settled firmly against my solar plexus.
"Let me see~"
Swoosh. She leaned forward. Our foreheads touched. Our noses brushed. Hot breath poured over me. Her ample cleavage jiggled right in my face.
Thump. Thump.
"Hmm..."
After gauging my temperature for a while, Elma tilted her head and pouted.
"No fever at all?"
"See? Told you I'm fine."
Elma's face fell openly in disappointment. Her voice dripped with regret.
"Weird. I fed you medicine and gave you some really deep kisses."
"..."
"How come you didn't catch my cold?"
I couldn't help but chuckle. Unbelievable.
"You want me to get sick?"
"N-no! That's not it!"
She flailed her hands in panic. I'd hit the nail on the head.
"I just wanted to nurse you! Nursing! Aah! Whatever—just do what I say today while I take care of you!"
Pure tantrum. The little boss lady asserting her pride. Since she'd gone all out on the outfit, I'd play along.
"Yes, yes. Got it, Nurse."
I nodded obediently. Only then did Elma beam.
"Great! First, to the bathroom!"
=============================
Bathroom. I stood in front of the sink. Elma rolled up her sleeves dramatically.
"Head down! I'll wash your face and shave you!"
"I can do it myself."
"Tch! Patients stay still!"
Elma shouted boldly. She slathered shaving foam on both hands and reached for my jaw with her short arms.
"Hiyap!"
She stood on tiptoe.
"Nngh...!"
She strained, trembling all over, desperate to reach my chin. But she fell short. Her tiny height only came up to my hips at best.
"Ughhh...! H-hubby, bend your waist more!"
"You'll give me a herniated disc at this rate, Elma."
Bending over first thing in the morning wasn't great for the back.
...Truth be told, teasing her was too fun to stop.
Her short arms flailing in the air. Her breasts bouncing with every stretch. Her butt wiggling. Quite the sight.
"Ugh... uuu..."
Elma's eyes finally welled up with tears. Time to stop.
"Let me help."
Whoosh. I slipped my hands under her armpits and hoisted her up.
"W-what the?!"
"Just stay still."
I sat her on the sink. Our eyes met.
"Better like this, right?"
"Ah..."
Her cheeks flushed pink. She was secretly thrilled but embarrassed. She got like this every time, even though it happened daily. So damn cute.
"W-well... yeah, easier this way."
The little nurse cleared her throat awkwardly and reached for my jaw again. This time, she reached comfortably.
"Hold still. Gonna lather you up."
Her small, callused hands were endlessly warm and gentle.
Swoosh, swoosh. She diligently spread foam over my cheeks and jaw. Her eyes were deadly serious. Rough breaths snorted from between her pursed lips.
"Don't move or you'll get nicked."
She picked up the razor. Scrape, scrape. Her focused, narrowed eyes were sharp. The face of a genius professor. All in such a tiny, adorable package.
"Done! Shaving complete!"
She wiped off the foam with a warm towel.
"How's that? Pretty good handiwork, huh?"
"Perfect. Feels super refreshing."
Her nose stuck up at the praise. She puffed out her chest. The nurse uniform buttons strained taut.
"Hmph! Of course! Next, teeth brushing!"
She squeezed toothpaste onto the brush. She wrapped her arms around my neck and yanked my chest toward her.
"Say ahh—ahh."
It felt oddly intimate receiving it after always giving it to her. A grown man getting his teeth brushed? Embarrassing, but she wanted to so bad I couldn't refuse.
"Aah—."
The brush plunged in. Scrub scrub.
"Good job, that's it. My dear husband."
"Mmph-hah-ho-hi-ho." (I'm not a kid.)
Her cringey cheer. I averted my eyes. Still...
Feels nice...
Wet forest scent. Nutty aroma. Elma's body fragrance flooded in. My nose tingled pleasantly.
================================
Afternoon. Artificial beach. Mana stones embedded in the ceiling glowed. The sound of artificial waves was soothing—whoosh.
Sunbed in the middle of the beach. I lay shirtless, reclined. Sunbathing. Replenishing vitamins deficient from underground life.
The pampering continued here too. By my side.
"How's that! Cool, hubby?"
Elma fanned me vigorously with palm leaves. In a micro bikini. Her heavy breasts jiggled wildly with every flap of her short arms.
"Yeah. Super cool."
Was it the artificial sun's heat? Or her pale skin bouncing endlessly? The sweltering heat wouldn't fade.
"Hehe! Try this too!"
Fanning paused. She picked up a grape.
"Ahh—."
"Ahh."
The grape rolled into my mouth. She fed me fruit, then resumed fanning.
"Now, orange juice!"
"Thanks."
Impeccable service. But...
"..."
Something felt off. The fanning slowed. The leaves waved half-heartedly. Her almond eyes kept sneaking glances at me.
She's bored. Tired of playing servant. She can't sit still. And she loves clinging to my body. She was dying to climb on, but holding back since she'd bragged about "serving" me.
No fun if the husband ignores it. Time to give her an opening.
"Ugh."
I shuddered my shoulders dramatically.
"What's wrong? Hurt?"
"Nah. Shirtless, so it's a bit chilly."
Lie. It was so hot sweat beaded on my forehead.
"Ch-chilly?!"
Elma's eyes lit up.
"Th-that won't do! You'll catch a cold!"
Palm leaf tossed into the sand.
"I'll keep you warm! With my body!"
Leap. She hurled herself onto my chest. Splat!
"Ow..."
Small but dense weight slammed my solar plexus. Hurt like hell thanks to her density. But the follow-up sensation was great. Springy flesh spread over my chest. Her dwarven body heat enveloped me.
"Th-this warm enough?"
She mumbled excuses. She hugged my waist tight. I patted her tiny back.
"Yeah. Perfectly warm. Just right."
"Hehe... good..."
She nuzzled her cheek against my solar plexus. Soon...
Snore—snore—.
"Hmmm... zzz... nyam."
Out cold. Snoring like an old man, grinding her teeth. Drool dripping from her mouth.
Knew it'd end like this.
I chuckled and brushed back her bangs. My defenseless little wife, sprawled bare-chested on me. Drool and all, just adorable.
Dear Husband. Grapes served.
Fruit juice for you, Dear Husband.
The little golems appeared in a line. They picked up the discarded palm leaf and started fanning. Grapes and a juice straw hovered at my mouth.
While Elma slept, the golems handled the service. Sip, gulp. I sucked on the straw.
"Not bad at all."
Pleasant breeze. Sweet juice. Warm, heavy wife in my arms. A perfect afternoon.
...For a few minutes, anyway.
===================================
The leisurely time continued. I pulled out my smartphone with one hand. Scrolling to kill boredom, something caught my eye.
"Huh?"
A pink ad in the corner. Group photo of girls in maid outfits. Maid cafe...? Something I'd only seen online. Korea had these now? Curious, I tapped it without thinking.
"Ah."
Screwed up. Forgot the volume was on.
The speaker blared. High-pitched, syrupy aegyo voice. I flinched. The sleeping body atop me stiffened. The loud snoring cut off.
Silence.
"..."
"..."
Totally busted. I frantically lowered the volume, but too late.
Spring!
"Wh-what was that!!"
Elma bolted upright. Eyes half-unfocused. She roughly wiped the drool from her mouth. Murderous intent gleamed in her almond eyes.
"What was that just now?! Which bitch was that!!"
Her little head whipped around fiercely. The killing glare locked onto my phone.
"Uh... well..."
"Master?! She just called you Master, right?!"
Tiny fists pelted my chest.
"Which vixen was that?! Spill it!"
"N-no! Just accidentally tapped an ad...!"
"Liar! I heard her tail-wagging 'Master' clear as day!!"
Snatch. Elma yanked the phone. She growled at the screen.
The banner ad. Smiling girls inside.
"Maid cafe?"
Her eyes scanned the text. Then fixed on the photo girls.
"..."
Her rage-filled eyes cooled. The flames died down.
Instead, another emotion crept in.
Inferiority.