Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Tickled into the Bath
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“Are you saying you’ll wash my feet…?”
I blankly stared at the girl, who had only a towel wrapped around her body.
A lascivious heat emanated from her skin.
“Yes, since you refuse any reward I offer, isn’t this a better alternative?”
Lydia sat down on a rock surrounding the open-air bath.
She patted the spot next to her.
“You’re not saying you won’t even grant me this much of a chance, are you?”
I chuckled.
Reluctantly, I moved to sit beside her.
“It feels like I’ve become the fox from the myth you mentioned.”
Refusing further would be ungrateful when her reward was so modest.
“You do resemble one.”
To accommodate my approach, Lydia scooped hot spring water into the basket.
She placed it in front of me and said,
“To me, you’re something like that.”
As I sat down, Lydia knelt.
She wiggled her finger, signaling me to extend my feet.
“Put your legs up.”
I’d always thought kneeling before someone made you feel served.
But with the princess—sharp red eyes and all—it felt strangely off.
“Understood….”
Following her command, I extended my legs.
The princess began caressing my calves with gentle hands.
“How is it?”
Her delicate fingers stroked my firm skin.
It made my legs feel more supple.
“Comfortable.”
I watched her, surprised at her talent for massage.
“When I was young, I used to massage my father’s legs myself.”
“Sharing an experience with His Majesty is too much pressure.”
I swallowed deeply and spoke.
The princess replied with serious eyes.
“It’s fine. You deserve it.”
Kneeling, Lydia glanced up at me.
In that moment.
“…!”
Due to the loose towel, her pale upper chest came into view.
Not as large as Leah or Irina’s.
Yet, like ripe fruit—petite, with hot sweat and steam pooling between….
It was enticing enough to captivate any man’s gaze.
“….”
Seeing my dumbfounded stare, Lydia’s lips curved into a smile.
Slowly, she slipped her body between my legs.
“There’s so much grime everywhere.”
Her touch on my thighs carried a seductive gaze.
My body twitched at the sensation.
“And here too….”
The princess stroked my legs like pillars.
Like a black panther exploring my body.
“With no one to look after you like I do, of course you’d be this filthy.”
Her red eyes burned with rivalry.
As if she wanted to claim me from feet to head with her caresses.
“….”
The princess glanced up at my languid eyes.
Then, gradually….
She pressed her towel-wrapped, ample chest forward while stroking my legs.
“How is it?”
The princess asked with expectant eyes.
“Comfortable.”
“Comfortable? Don’t you feel anything else?”
Her ruby-red eyes gleamed.
As if curious whether I felt her skin.
“….”
Her persistent question made me furrow my brow slightly.
And….
“Not really yet. It’s rather plain.”
I answered honestly.
“….”
Lydia’s lips twitched.
Thinking me oblivious, she raised her voice.
“Fine, I’ll make it even more comfortable.”
The princess pressed her chest fully against my legs.
She stroked my thighs as if massaging them.
“….”
But perhaps because of Irina’s intense sensation from last night.
It didn’t feel particularly striking.
Instead, watching the twin-tailed girl clinging to my legs….
It was like a cute cat rubbing against me.
“What are you doing…?”
I asked in a flat tone.
Startled by my unexpected reaction, Lydia flinched.
“Uh, yeah…?”
Her lips parted, revealing sharp shark-like canines.
Sweat beaded on her forehead at my expressionless face.
“Is there a massage like this in the East?”
“Y-Yes, of course. It’s definitely a type of massage.”
Lydia swallowed hard and muttered softly.
“Sh-She definitely told me to do it this way….”
Dissatisfied with my lackluster response, she pouted.
“It’s fascinating. It feels like hugging my legs, or a foot bath that cleans the thighs too—very thorough.”
My innocent reply made her ears shake with frustration.
“How would a fool like you understand our traditions…!”
The princess snapped at my casual words.
She turned her head sharply and said coldly.
“Just put your feet up! Massaging thighs for a commoner like you seems too lavish anyway!”
“Yes, understood.”
Smiling, I lifted my feet.
Looking at her sulking face, she no longer seemed the cool sovereign—but a cute junior.
“Even when I do it, you don’t feel a thing. So frustrating.”
Sighing in resignation, the princess gently touched my feet.
The moment she stroked my soles.
“Eek…!”
My twitch made her eyes widen like a cat’s.
“Wh-Why…?”
“W-Well…. I’m quite ticklish.”
I scratched the back of my head and replied.
“Ticklish…?”
Lydia tilted her head.
A Swordmaster weak to tickling seemed odd to her.
“….”
She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
Soon…
“Is that so—?”
Her lips curled like a little devil’s.
“What to do? The massage is just starting…?”
The princess tapped my soles slowly with her fingers.
Like playing piano keys.
“Ahaha… Stop it!”
Chills running through me, I curled up.
Thinking she’d finally won, Lydia giggled.
“So strange. A guy that strong, felled by something like this—.”
“Once you reach Swordmaster realm, all senses become sharper than a normal person’s.”
I panted roughly and explained.
“So please be careful.”
My laughter subsided, and I sighed deeply.
Yet Lydia eyed me with an even stranger gaze.
Like a predator finding prey’s weakness.
“Reaally—?”
The princess extended her dainty hands.
Small palms like cat paws.
“Then how about here?”
She wiggled two fingers.
Then playfully poked my armpit.
“…!”
Startled, I leaned back.
And then….
――――――!!
Grabbing her arm, we both plunged into the hot spring.
Splash!!
Our bodies hit the water simultaneously, overflowing it.
The once-quiet open-air bath echoed loudly.
“Cough… Cough…!”
The princess surfaced, coughing.
Her twin tails unraveled into loose wet hair.
“Pwah…!”
I surfaced too.
Rubbing my eyes with my hand, I apologized.
“I told you to stop….”
“I didn’t know your body was that sensitive….”
Fortunately, the princess didn’t get mad.
Instead, she laughed innocently like a girl and waved it off.
“Sorry, your reactions are just too fun.”
Lydia exhaled shortly.
She squeezed her soaked hair, wringing it out.
“I’m truly sorry for dropping you in.”
Water dripped as I bowed my head in apology.
Lifting my face then….
I saw Lydia with long, wet straight hair.
“It’s fine. Thanks to you, I got a nice view.”
In the cherry blossom-petal-strewn bath, her towel half-undone.
Shyly covering her petite chest with it….
She was as beautiful as the mythical girl who enchanted the fox.
“I should be the one apologizing.”
The Eastern girl smiled with her eyes.
Transparent droplets slid softly down her pale skin.
“….”
It felt different from when she’d tried pressing her chest against me.
Pure beauty, like a newlywed bride welcoming her husband.
“Since we’re in the bath anyway, sit down.”
One hand clutched her loosened towel.
With the other, she brushed back her drenched hair and spoke.
It was so natural.
“No, how could I share a bath with Your Highness.”
I shook my head, my gaze drawn to her.
“It’s fine. No one’s around except my one attendant nearby.”
Lydia chuckled and sat in the bath first.
“….”
I hesitated briefly.
The princess splashed the spot beside her.
“With those hollow eyes, where do you plan to wander off to? Rest a bit. It’s fine.”
Lydia, now with pure straight hair.
She smiled innocently.
“….”
I looked down at the clear hot spring water.
Just soaking my legs made my body relax.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t properly rested lately.’
I’d spent all day at the hot springs but hadn’t soaked myself.
Was that why?
Or because of the pure princess?
I decided to rest a little.
“Understood. Then I’ll rest exactly ten minutes.”
Even for her selfless offer, I’d join her briefly.
I sat beside her as if accepting.
“Fuu….”
Hot spring with floating cherry blossoms.
Soaking in it melted away my fatigue.
“Hehe… How is it?”
“Definitely relaxing….”
With other princesses, tension never ceased.
But with Lydia like this, my mind felt at ease for the first time.
“You must’ve been exhausted lately.”
Lydia glanced up at my half-lidded eyes and said.
“Yes…?”
“Normally, you’d bolt at such an offer.”
The princess closed her eyes gently.
Still covering with one hand’s towel.
“It’s the hot spring. How could I pass such a beautiful bath?”
Chuckling, I submerged up to my neck.
I half-closed my eyes comfortably.
“….”
Lydia stared down at me like a cat.
Her gaze burdensome, I glanced up and asked.
“What are you thinking?”
To my question, the princess smiled.
Like the mythical girl.
“Nothing. Just imagining the fox spirit soaking carefree in the hot spring.”
She tapped my head lightly.
And kindly said,
“Rest easy. I’ll welcome you anytime….”
Lydia looked away, embarrassed by her words.
“Your words alone honor me.”
We soaked comfortably like that.
Without exchanging words.
“….”
But.
The brief peace shattered soon.
――――――.
Urgent footsteps approached from the open-air bath entrance.
“…!”
We both looked at each other.
Realizing the gravity, Lydia pressed my shoulders with both hands.
“Hide for a moment…!”
Bam—!!
The sliding door burst open forcefully.
“Your Highness, are you alright…!!”
The attendant rushed in, alarmed.
She faced the Empire’s Third Imperial Princess, only her face and collarbone above the water.
“What is it.”
The princess asked, her face flushed red.
“I heard a loud noise from inside.”
The woman in spa attire scanned around.
But all she saw was the princess in the bath.
Because….
“No issue, don’t worry.”
I’d dunked my face fully underwater.
“Are you really alright?”
The attendant approached the bath slowly, asking.
Then….
“Yes, I’ve been alone. What trouble could there be?”
The princess grabbed my rising face.
And….
Pushed it firmly between her thighs, saying,
“…!”
Lydia gradually lost her poker face.
Holding my face between her legs, she smiled seductively.
“I’ve been having a very happy time alone.”
“I see…. That’s a relief.”
Scratching her head, thinking she misheard, the attendant said.
“Then, just to be sure, I’ll check the surroundings before leaving.”
Her meticulous gaze scanned thoroughly.
As the housekeeper assigned by His Majesty, she was precise.
“Yes, do that.”
As Lydia replied, she pressed my face deeper.
So I….
Could only stare at her fluttering towel.
“Hm, no signs of intruders indeed.”
The attendant checked the fences.
“Y-Yes, as I said.”
Lydia swallowed hard, forcing a straight face.
But I was different, underwater.
Her towel lifted in the ripples.
That instant.
I faced the princess’s pure jade body.
“…!”
Her newly adult figure was fully visible.
From her smooth belly to her beautiful hips.
The skin hidden beneath the towel was even more extraordinary.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
The attendant bowed politely and backed away slowly.
“….”
But.
Lydia still pulled my head into her embrace.
“Wait a moment, the attendant hasn’t gone far yet.”
The princess held me like a baby against her body.
Until my nose touched her smooth belly.
“Aah….”
Soon, feeling a man’s breath, she let out a lewd sigh.
“…?”
The attendant eyed the trembling princess oddly.
But attributing it to the hot spring, she moved to close the door.
“Have a pleasant time.”
“Yes…. Hurry and go.”
The princess spoke in a wistful voice.
Beneath her ample chest, round bubbles rose slowly.