Chapter 120
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Lucia is Crying (3)
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When I opened my eyes, the sun was shining brightly at noon.
'...How many times did we do it?'
Dealing with Lucia, who kept reviving even after passing out, had drained every ounce of strength from my body.
"...I... I'm sorry!... M... Master... I think... I must have lost my mind..."
I turned my head and saw Lucia kneeling on the bed, her forehead pressed to the sheets.
"I never imagined... you'd actually come, Master... I'm so sorry...!"
"...It's fine. These things happen."
I pulled the trembling Lucia into my arms and stroked her back, feeling sorry for her.
"...Master... really... I'm sorry..."
"I said it's okay."
As I kept stroking her, Lucia gradually relaxed her stiff body and leaned into me.
We stayed like that for a moment, sharing our warmth, when Lucia lifted her head slightly and spoke.
"...Um... Master?... I know this isn't the right time, but..."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"That... promise you made... yesterday..."
"...."
The promise from yesterday...
It had to be the date.
'...I'm exhausted.'
I desperately wanted to keep my word, but last night's lovemaking had left me completely spent.
"...N... No, forget it... You must be tired. I'm sorry..."
As I stayed silent, Lucia bowed her head with a gloomy expression.
Seeing her like that made my fatigue seem trivial.
"...It's already lunchtime. Let's get ready and head out."
"Yes! Master!"
Lucia beamed and dashed into the bathroom. I glanced at the scraps of clothing scattered on the floor and muttered.
"...Come to think of it, I have no clothes."
"Don't worry! I have them!"
Somehow hearing me from the bathroom, Lucia popped back out and declared.
I wondered why she had my clothes, but...
"Come on, Master! Join me! I'll wash you!"
Trivial details didn't matter when bathing with Lucia was on the table.
"Let's go buy clothes first! I'll pay!"
Lucia, who had dyed her hair brown for disguise, thumped her chest confidently.
"...I have money too..."
"No! I tore your clothes, so please! Don't refuse!"
She dragged me by the hand straight to a luxury clothing store.
"Hmmm!! I knew it would suit you perfectly!!"
Lucia's eyes sparkled every time I tried on new outfits.
"...Isn't it a bit too flashy?"
"No! It looks amazing! Here, try this one too!"
"...I thought this was the last one..."
"The real last one! Promise! ...Please?"
This "last one" had been repeated countless times already, but with that expression on her face, I couldn't refuse.
'...This really is the last.'
I resolved inwardly, changed, and stepped out. Lucia's smile bloomed like a flower.
"Mmm! This suits you too! Oh no, now I like everything... What to do..."
After pondering like she was solving an unsolvable puzzle, Lucia clapped her hands and grinned.
"Ah! Great idea! If I like them all, I buy them all!"
"...All of them? Isn't that too many?"
"No! We need more! These aren't enough to show the world Master's charm...!"
Mid-sentence, Lucia shook her head as if realizing something.
"...Actually, this should be plenty."
I sighed in relief, thinking the shopping was over...
"Now, let's shop for mine!"
...But it was Lucia's turn.
"...How's this? Do I look cute?"
"...It suits you."
"Hehe... What about this one?"
"That suits you too."
I nodded and gave my honest opinion, but Lucia puffed her cheeks.
"...Hmm... Master... You've just been saying 'it suits you' since earlier."
Lucia sounded a bit sulky, but it was an objective assessment from my side.
'What can I do when her looks carry everything...'
Even if she threw on a sackcloth, she'd make it fashion. What was I supposed to say?
"...You're so beautiful, everything suits you."
"Eek!... Hehe... If Master says so... I'll try it on and come out!"
Blushing furiously, Lucia rushed into the changing room.
"...M... Master."
While waiting outside, Lucia called me cautiously.
"What's wrong?"
"...My... my chest feels a bit... tight..."
Swoosh—
The curtain parted slightly, revealing Lucia's pristine white back that stole my gaze.
"...Can you help?"
Thanks to accumulated experience, even I could spot the 'trap' now.
'...It's a trap.'
If I accepted and entered the changing room, I'd end up doing something I shouldn't.
"...Sure. I'll help."
I knew, but...
How could anyone resist this?
I swallowed hard and was about to step in when...
"I'll assist you, miss."
A female clerk appeared out of nowhere and entered the changing room.
Then the shop owner, a woman, appeared with a smile.
"...Young sir, apologies, but our store only has women's changing rooms. If you need help, please call a staff member."
"...Sorry."
Her sensible words, rare as they were, made me bow my head.
"...In the end, that one was too tight around the chest, so I couldn't get it... Even though Master said it looked pretty..."
Lucia, arms full of bags in one hand, said regretfully.
She could've split the load, but she refused to let go of my hand.
"We'll come back and buy it next time."
"Hehe... Yes, Master."
Lucia smiled brightly and squeezed my hand gently.
"...So, where to next..."
"Oh! There's an alley over there!"
Lucia acted like it was her first time seeing it, but it was the same alley she'd mentioned when we first arrived in the village.
"Master. Shall we check what's down there?"
Without giving me a chance to reply, she pulled me along.
"...Hehe... Master... No one's here... Nothing at all."
"...I see."
Lucia looked up at me slyly.
"...So no one would know what happens here, right?"
She tugged at the tight chest of her clinging outfit.
....Revealing pink nipples.
"...Ah!... Eek!... Haha...! M... Mas... ter♥... Hn♥"
"You pervert. Not satisfied even after that?!"
"...Yess♥ Lu... Lucia's... a pervert...!♥ Hn...! I want... more... with Master!!♥"
"Hehehe..."
Before we knew it, the blue sky had darkened amid our antics.
"...To have Master all to myself like this. Getting drunk occasionally isn't so bad."
Lucia, arm linked with mine, pressed close and said.
"...."
Exclusive or not, I wished she'd hold back on the drinking.
"Hehe, Master's face stiffened up."
Lucia unlinked her arm and skipped ahead.
"Master. Today was so happy... It felt like pure magic."
Lucia's blue eyes, gazing at the night sky, reflected the moon.
"...But magic has to end sometime."
She turned to me with a wistful smile.
"I know... Why you won't say you love me."
"...Lucia."
As I opened my mouth, she shook her head.
"You don't have to say it now. I won't push... But someday, after you... after we save this world..."
She stepped forward and hugged me tightly, smiling radiantly.
"...Whisper that you love me then."
Time rewound to right after Eugene and Lucia left the inn for their date.
Marjan emerged from room 402, heavy dark circles under his eyes.
"..."
He'd known about Lucia and Eugene's relationship for a while.
Even that she'd chosen Eugene as her husband... and their unhealthy dynamic. She'd told him everything.
"....Haa..."
Marjan rubbed his eyes and yawned.
Being in the prime of puberty, he'd spent the night with his ear glued to the wall, fearing he'd miss any sounds.
"...Should've slept if I knew..."
But the inn's soundproofing magic was flawless; he heard nothing.
Heading down for lunch, Marjan paused in front of room 401.
"...Lady Lucia and... Sir Eugene are out, right?"
Something clicked in his mind. He swallowed hard.
'...This isn't ulterior motives.'
As her guard, he just needed to check if anything dangerous was in the room where Lady Lucia and her husband slept!
Definitely not curiosity about the aftermath of their tryst.
After justifying it to himself, Marjan inserted a thin wire into the keyhole and twisted.
—Click.
"...Ugh!"
The moment he entered, the intoxicating scent of night flowers and a woman's fragrance assaulted his nose, making his head spin.
"...Ex... Excuse me... Whoa..."
The bed was soaked everywhere, and the floor was littered with torn clothes.
Marjan swallowed.
'...La... Lady Lu... Lucia was... this wild...!'
He'd expected it, but the evidence was several times more intense. His face flushed red.
"...Th... This is... ju... just an inspection..."
Repeating his excuse despite being alone, Marjan scanned the room and spotted a familiar wine bottle under the bed.
'...This is...?'
Checking the contents, he frowned.
It was the non-alcoholic wine Lady Lucia, weak to booze, often drank.
"...Marjan?"
"...La... Lady Lucia?!"
Startled by her sudden appearance, Marjan yelped.
'...I thought she was out with Sir Eugene!'
He couldn't fathom why she was here.
"Wh... What brings you here?"
Instinctively hiding the bottle behind his back, he stammered.
"...It was a bit chilly, so I came to grab a scarf for Master... But you? I locked the door. ...Did you pick it again?"
"...I... It's... Sorry!... Just in case... s... something dangerous was hidden...!"
"Sigh... I told you to fix that habit... Hmm...?"
Mid-scold, Lucia eyed his suspicious behavior and beckoned with her finger.
"Marjan, what are you hiding?"
"...N... Nothing..."
"You're terrible at lying, Marjan. Hand it over."
Under her interrogation, Marjan gulped dryly.
It wasn't even a big deal—just a wine bottle—yet his heart raced inexplicably.
"Now."
To her cold tone, he presented the bottle with both hands.
"...Th... This..."
"Oh my."
Lucia tilted her head at the bottle, then pressed a finger to her lips.
"...A secret from Master?"