Chapter 216: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (9)
Chapter 216: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (9)
Lately, the Saintess had been feeling an unprecedented sense of anxiety.
No matter how much she thought about it, something was wrong.
Why hadn't Ian come to see her?
To be honest, the "accident" that had occurred recently was shameful. Even though she was the one who had initiated the seduction, she never imagined Ian would actually act on it.
The Saintess still felt dazed whenever she recalled that electrifying sensation.
A subtle sense of humiliation and depravity, combined with a tingling thrill that crawled up her spine.
It was the first time in her life she had experienced such things—her thighs pressing together involuntarily, her breath turning ragged, and meeting a man’s gaze with such yearning eyes.
If anything, the feeling of being forced by Ian had been… rather arousing.
Of course, the Saintess had to shake her head whenever those thoughts surfaced.
A Saintess was supposed to possess a pure mind and body. She couldn't allow her heart to be defiled by lewd desires.
Above all, ever since that day, a sense of embarrassment took precedence whenever she saw him.
For a Saintess who was naturally outgoing, this was a foreign experience in many ways.
Even amidst her confusion, there was one thing she found quite dissatisfying.
Despite having taken the liberty of fondling a pure maiden’s breasts, Ian continued to maintain an awkward atmosphere around her.
That fact frustrated her so much that she had occasionally tried to press her body against his, subtly.
Yet, Ian would only clear his throat and avoid her gaze. The Saintess scoffed inwardly.
Fine, let’s see how long you can keep this up.
He was a man who had dared to lay hands on a Saintess’s body, unable to suppress his lust. He would surely come crawling back soon, and when he did, she planned to tease him mercilessly.
But several days passed after she made that resolve.
When not a single word arrived from Ian, she found herself tapping her fingers against a table in the examination room. The rhythm, growing faster by the second, reflected her anxious state of mind.
Why hasn't he contacted me?
At first, she thought he was just being stubborn, but now she was starting to feel uneasy. She had heard that Ian was leaving for his hometown in two days; surely he should come to see her before then?
Driven by urgency, the Saintess finally decided to seek advice from others.
Naturally, she hid the fact that it was her own story. Consultations that began with "I heard this story from someone else" were always like that.
The only difference was that, given her status as the Saintess, no one suspected she was talking about herself.
After hearing the Saintess’s long-winded tale, one of the female students suddenly burst into a giggle.
"Wait, wasn't she just 'pumped and dumped'?"
"P-Pumped and… what?"
Hearing the term for the first time, the Saintess could only ask back with a dazed voice.
The student seemed even more amused by her innocent reaction.
"Ahaha, you're so naive… The man's goal was her body from the start. Since he feels like he's gone as far as he can go, he's cutting ties because he finds actual dating too bothersome."
The student then kindly explained exactly what "pumped and dumped" meant.
The Saintess scrambled to squeeze out a denial. Her expression was bordering on desperate.
"T-That can't be… That man might be a bit annoying, but he's actually a good person. He has a strong sense of responsibility, and he's kind…"
"Then why hasn't a man like that contacted her yet?"
With a snicker, the student declared firmly.
"…It was all an act. The girl was just a pitiful plaything."
Unable to think of a rebuttal, the Saintess’s mind went blank.
Frozen like a statue, she barely managed to keep the conversation going. Even after seeing the student off, she remained paralyzed for a long time.
Left alone, sitting in a daze, a faint voice escaped her lips.
"…Was I really just pumped and dumped?"
Before she knew it, tears were welling up in her rose-pink eyes.
The Saintess, age twenty-two.
She was finally learning the bitter taste of romance.
Though, of course, Ian had no such intention.
He was simply busy saying his goodbyes to others.
*
As usual, Senior Delphine was at the Idalos Hall.
When I arrived, the servant of the Idalos Hall glared at me with wary eyes.
It was the same person who had guided me to Senior Delphine last time.
"Is something the matter?"
"…It is nothing."
When I tilted my head and asked, the servant merely replied in a voice that sounded like they were suppressing a great deal of frustration.
It was truly a mystery.
I hadn't done much during my last visit. At most, I had forced the door open with an axe and entered Senior Delphine’s room.
In the end, Senior Delphine’s depression was cured, so wasn't it a good thing?
Faced with my brazen attitude, the servant had no choice but to lead the way. It was well-known by now that Senior Delphine and I shared a special relationship.
After the demonic beast attack, when I was admitted to the concentrated healing room, Senior Delphine reportedly visited the temple every day to check on my condition.
Anyone who had witnessed that would naturally have no reason to doubt our relationship.
Unlike my last visit, Senior Delphine readily opened her door for me.
Her room was dim today as well. The glow of the sunset and the flickering candlelight created a soft ambiance, highlighting her golden hair and blood-red eyes against her pale skin.
The curves of her body, visible through a thin gown, were alluring.
Seated with a glass in one hand, Senior Delphine gave me a slight, knowing smile.
"You're here, Master?"
"…Are you drinking already?"
It was still early evening. Nevertheless, the glass in her hand was filled with blood-red wine.
Senior Delphine sipped her drink with a faint smile.
"I don't have many days left to stay here, do I? I have to return to the Yurdina territory soon, and once the next semester ends, I’ll be leaving the Academy for good."
I let out a low hum at her words.
She was right.
Senior Delphine was a fourth-year, the highest grade at the Academy.
Since the first semester had just ended, she effectively had only half a year of Academy life left.
There was no reason for the successor of the Yurdina family to pursue graduate studies, after all.
This was the place where she had spent the most brilliant years of her life.
It was hard to imagine how it felt to have to leave soon. I probably wouldn't understand that feeling until next year.
Eventually, I sat down across from her and held up a glass.
It was a silent request for a drink.
Delphine let out a soft chuckle.
"This wine is incredibly expensive, you know?"
"Didn't I receive an extravagant prize recently? I intend to exercise my rights."
At that, Delphine poured wine into my glass without further complaint.
Since that "prize" was none other than Delphine Yurdina herself.
Our glasses clinked, the clear ring marking the start of our drinking session.
"That was an impressive performance, Master. Thinking back, I’m glad I chose to stand by your side."
"I just got lucky."
"You seemed quite confident for someone who was just lucky," Delphine said, taking a long sip of her wine.
A drop of wine trickled down the corner of her mouth. From her lips to her neck. From her neck to her collarbone, and then further down.
She was wearing a thin gown that left her cleavage exposed. I had to clear my throat and look away.
It was a sight far too stimulating for a man in his prime.
Delphine’s eyes crinkled as if she found me adorable.
"Thanks to you, my standing has improved as well. I had intentionally postponed the plan to provoke the Percus territory, but I almost caused trouble for the Imperial family's benefactor, didn't I?"
"That's just looking at the results. My reputation hit rock bottom again after I beat Her Highness the Princess in the middle of the street."
"What matters isn't how virtuous we appear to others."
Delphine set her glass down with a thud and made a bold declaration.
"It’s about how much they fear us. That’s everything. A winner must always command the fear of the loser."
"…You could also command respect, couldn't you?"
"If you're a winner forever, you don't even need respect. Rather, obedience is the duty of the loser… Isn't that why I’m serving you, Master?"
With that, Delphine leaned her upper body over the table.
It was a posture that suggestively revealed her cleavage. My eyes drifted to the side again, but Delphine stood up and moved to my side.
She whispered in my ear.
"…We won't see each other for two months. Won't you miss me?"
"I suppose I will."
I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of Delphine as she perched on the armrest of my chair. Her supple hip pressed against my arm.
"I'll miss your skills, Senior Delphine, not just your body."
"…Hehe, I take it you're planning to start something again?"
Delphine chuckled at my unwavering response. She was a woman with an excellent ability to grasp the true meaning behind short words.
That was why she was a comrade I could trust with my back.
"It's not that I'm starting something; the movements of the Dark Cult seem suspicious… So, what do you think? About the Yurdina family getting involved."
"Hmm," Delphine hummed, tapping her lip with her index finger as she fell into thought. She looked like a politician weighing profits and losses.
Soon, she flashed a provocative smile.
"Are you… asking me for a favor?"
As the alcohol took effect, the air around us grew hot.
The sweet scent of a woman, the fragrant aroma of wine, and the dim lighting created a strange atmosphere.
Delphine leaned against me and whispered in my ear.
"…Do you still not understand our relationship?"
A faint sigh escaped my lips.
I knew this would happen, but it was a troublesome game to deal with every time.
However, I decided to play along for now.
We wouldn't see each other for two months anyway; what did it matter if I gave her what she wanted for one night?
A cold voice flowed from my mouth.
"Delphine Yurdina."
At that single phrase, Delphine, who had been wearing a haughty expression, flinched.
Her breathing grew ragged. Slowly rising, she immediately bowed her head and crawled toward my feet.
Then, her body trembling with excitement, she pressed a kiss to the toe of my shoe.
"…Do as you are commanded."
Panting, Delphine replied.
"I shall do as you say, Master…"
Looking up at me, her shimmering blood-red eyes spoke volumes.
"So, please… give this bitch-slave her punishment…"
Clinging to my pant leg, the woman—who had only raised her upper body while remaining on her knees—begged.
"…So that I won't forget for two months."
Delphine hugged my leg tightly. I felt the distinct touch of her soft body. Her request was clear.
That night, I had to spend quite a bit more time in Senior Delphine’s room.
*
It was some time later when I finally left Senior Delphine’s room.
Dealing with her as she gripped the window frame and pushed her hips out was quite a chore. And enjoyable, in its own way.
At the very end, I even had to graze her collarbone with a dagger.
According to her, she planned to look at that spot whenever she missed the throbbing pain.
She certainly had unique tastes.
However, the price for humoring her was certain.
"I'll prepare a special gift for your journey."
Delphine had said those words clearly.
A special gift? I didn't know what it was yet, but since she had gone as far as to promise it, it wouldn't be anything ordinary.
I supposed I could look forward to it.
I was walking back with a pleasant buzz from the alcohol when I noticed someone standing in front of the dormitory.
It was a dark night, so I couldn't see them clearly. Before I could even use mana to enhance my vision and identify them, a shadow lunged at me.
Two hands grabbed my collar.
However, the strength was surprisingly weak, so I didn't feel like resisting. It was a delicate strength that I could have shaken off easily if I wanted to.
Those blue eyes glared at me. Eyes filled with tears.
It was Lupin Lainella.
His hair was unusually disheveled. It was a look that didn't suit him, as he usually maintained a noble appearance.
A pungent smell of burning reached my nose.
Did he get burned somewhere?
Before I could even voice my question, Lupin screamed at me.
"You bastard! Take my sister away right now! Because of you… because of you, she's about to be forced into an engagement!"
In response to his shout, the only thing I could give him was a bewildered look.
An "engagement"? Senior Elsie?
I wanted to think it was a joke, but I couldn't find even a hint of a lie in Lupin’s huffing, indignant form.
It seemed we needed to talk.