Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Lazy Morning with Lize
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It had been five days since we arrived in the capital for the trip.
Honestly, when I first heard we were heading to the capital, I just thought, "Oh, okay." But surprisingly, it had been more fun than expected.
It wasn't like we did anything particularly extravagant, but maybe it was because I got to spend solid time with those cute girls?
The last few days had been genuinely enjoyable.
"Hmmmmm..."
With just two days left until we headed back to the Academy.
The Academy instructors had given us students the entire day off today.
Of course, there would be a banquet in the evening where all the Academy students gathered, just like the first day, but it wasn't a big deal.
"Lize..."
What mattered right now was how incredibly comfortable it felt lying in bed with Lize.
I'd woken up in the morning and just stayed there, perfectly still.
"Yes, Young Lady."
"What are we doing today?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Hmm... Yeah, fair enough..."
"...But how long do you plan to stay like this?"
"Just a little longer?"
"......"
Lize fell silent again after my response. Was being held by me uncomfortable for her?
If so, she would've squirmed away, but she wasn't moving at all.
I was simply lying in bed with Lize, holding her comfortably from behind.
"Hmm..."
Just like that, arms wrapped around her from the back.
No particular thoughts—just how I'd clutched her like a pillow while sleeping, and now I kept holding on.
I liked Lize's unique body scent, the feel of her soft skin against mine, and the way my arm draped over her stomach. That's all there was to it.
But staying like that started to feel a bit boring after a while.
Stroke... stroke...
So, I began lightly touching her stomach.
Not for any special reason—it was just the closest thing to my hand, the only part of her I was touching.
"...Young Lady."
"Yeah? What?"
"...It's nothing."
"Hmm...?"
She didn't seem to outright hate it, surprisingly.
Lize usually spoke up if she truly disliked something, but this felt more like she was just embarrassed.
We hugged or back-hugged often, but actually touching her body like this was rare.
Still, she didn't seem to hate it as much as I'd thought, which intrigued me.
So...
"Eep..."
I touched her stomach again.
This time, not just stroking—I used my fingers on the hand resting there.
Press... poke...
I even prodded her stomach with my fingers here and there.
Unlike me, who lounged on chairs and beds all day, Lize worked.
Even if she moved around less here than at the mansion, she handled most of my room's chores.
Naturally, her stomach was quite toned.
I'd seen it plenty while bathing together, so it wasn't a huge surprise.
"Young Lady... why my stomach...?"
"Just bored?"
"This is a bit... embarrassing..."
"Is it?"
"...Yes."
She stayed quiet at first, but as I kept going, she seemed shy.
No—her ears were turning bright red from embarrassment.
Just touching her stomach, and she was this flustered?
"Hmm..."
Her reaction was adorable.
Lize had always had this cute side beneath her subtle beauty, but as a maid, she kept things prim and proper.
Seeing her like this was just too fun.
It wasn't outright rejection out of dislike—it was bashfulness. Something about it stirred my heart.
Like when Ivana ranted endlessly about business, or other times... it just hit different.
"Young Lady...?"
"Yeah, what?"
"There are others outside..."
"They're off eating breakfast among themselves anyway. No problem."
"Still..."
The Rosaki sisters had gone out for a walk and breakfast, and I'd told the others I was staying in bed longer with Lize.
No one would barge in, and even if they did, it wouldn't be an issue.
"Why? We're just lying in bed, relaxing quietly."
"That's..."
True, wasn't it?
We were on a big bed, just the two of us. I was holding Lize from behind, and we had the covers over us.
Nothing weird—just playfully touching her stomach.
"Why? Embarrassed like we're doing something naughty?"
"......"
"Girls can touch each other's stomachs, right? Come on."
"......"
Honestly, I had no idea.
It was just a thought—girls hold hands, so why not stomachs?
How would I know how normal girls hang out?
My friends were basically just the club girls and Lize.
Plus, though I lived as a girl now, my memories as a boy were still longer.
No clue how real girls acted casually.
"Hehe..."
Not that it was my business anyway.
"Don't like it?"
"Not in that way..."
"Then?"
"...There are just others around. The Nordal Lady and Ella are outside, and doing this..."
"Feels weird?"
"......"
Lize answered my question with silence.
Touching just her stomach made her this shy—it was cute, but also made me curious.
Was this really that embarrassing?
"How about you touch mine?"
Mine was softer than Lize's or Ella's—quite squishy.
Of course, it wasn't fat or protruding or anything—just pleasantly soft.
I didn't exercise much anyway, and I didn't gorge myself enough to gain weight.
Plus, my body just didn't pack on fat easily.
"What do you think?"
I pulled back the covers, grabbed the hem of my pajama bottoms, lifted it, and said that.
Definitely less toned than Lize's—more plush.
Still, I didn't think it was ugly.
My body was overall stunning—I was confident of that.
Not narcissism; objectively, it was beautiful, and I'd grown a bit more since before.
"Hmm... Not great?"
"A-Ah, Young Lady...? Please cover up..."
"Not great?"
"Not like that—you should value your body more..."
Lize, who'd been staring at my stomach, turned her head away as she said it.
Was it weird?
Or embarrassing?
"It's not weird, right? Why so shy?"
"You're still a noble lady—doing this..."
"You're a noble too, Lize."
"......"
Sure, she was my maid, but Lize came from nobility.
Her family was so minor and fallen it barely counted, hardly above commoners.
Most personal maids for noble ladies came from poor noble houses anyway, and Lize's fallen family fit perfectly.
"So, no problem, right?"
"......"
"And you see my body every bath, every change of clothes. No need to get shy now."
This was straight facts.
She handled my baths and dressing—now what?
"Come on, touch it quick. It's nothing, so why the fuss?"
"...Understood."
"Hehe."
Had she given up, realizing she couldn't win against me?
She started following my words like she'd surrendered.
Even though we'd been lying on the same bed, sitting close, her scooting nearer now was cute.
Finally getting her to obey after she'd dodged felt like a small victory.
"...Excuse me for a moment."
"Yeah, go ahead."
Tap.
After asking permission, Lize touched my stomach.
Or rather, it was barely a touch.
Less than a second—her finger grazed it lightly, then pulled away.
"...Lize."
"........."
She knew full well this wasn't what I meant by "touch."
So, her hand moved toward me again.
"Well?"
"...It's soft."
"Yeah?"
"...Yes."
Short review.
After touching my pale stomach, that was all she said.
I'd hoped for more, but for shy Lize, that was plenty.
"See? No big deal."
"...Yes."
I'd even gotten super-embarrassed Lize to admit it was nothing—just stomach touching.
"Want to touch more?"
"...I'm fine."
"Really? Not gonna?"
I'd thought admitting it wasn't embarrassing would make her okay now.
But she refused outright.
Hmm...
A bit disappointing, but maybe I should be satisfied that shy Lize did it at all?
"Fine, then I'll keep touching yours."
"...Pardon?"
Unlike letting her touch me, she'd refused—so no choice.
I went back to playing with her stomach from behind.
Her ears were still beet red with embarrassment, but unlike before, she didn't stop me.
"Eep... Ah..."
Her reactions were cuter than expected, so I kept at it without a word.