Summer Vacation Means the Beach! (3)
Yubelia was facing the crisis of her lifetime.
Why was Aren lying there in front of her, upper body stripped bare and sprawled face-down on the sunbed? Why was the bottle of oil he'd handed her still gripped in her hand?
I should have refused! Yubelia berated herself inwardly as she gulped down a mouthful of saliva at the sight of Aren's bare back unfolding before her eyes.
The only men's bodies she'd ever seen were those of frail old men or scrawny fellows escorted to the church with severe illnesses or wounds. They were all puny, with little flesh, and skin pale as snow.
But Aren's was entirely different. Not deeply tanned, but with a subtle apricot glow that radiated vitality. Not bulky like a trained warrior woman's, but perfectly toned muscles forming gentle contours.
Lord God! For a saintess whose only brush with the opposite sex in her life was one rational friend, this was far too stimulating a scene.
All Yubelia could do was cling desperately to her reason, invoking the divine to keep herself from corruption and temptation.
"Still got a ways to go?"
"Ah, no. I'll do it right now. Right away…."
"Yeah, thanks."
And why was this man so utterly defenseless anyway? Even with a friend, handing his body over to a stranger's touch without a flicker of unease on his face. Were men really such oblivious creatures by nature? At least, not in Yubelia's view.
"Th-then, I'll apply it now. Aren?"
Framing it as an extension of the healing arts she'd performed back in the Holy Kingdom, Yubelia barely managed to steady her heart.
"Sure. Since you're at it, make it thorough. Every nook and cranny."
"Ev-ev-every nook and cranny…?!"
But his sudden ambush shook the composure she'd just regained. As she stammered "N-n-n…" like a cooing pigeon, she sensed his gaze turning odd.
Finally shaking her head to dispel the stray thoughts, she bent her knees slightly. The small oil bottle in her hand sparkled in the sunlight, feeling unusually hot.
Do I just rub it on his body? How was she supposed to know—she'd never done this before. First, she uncapped it and cautiously poured some onto his back.
"Hoo, that's pretty cold."
Despite the scorching heat outside, the oil inside was quite chilly, making him shiver.
"Ar-are you okay, Aren?"
"Yeah, I can handle it."
She'd asked in a fluster, but fortunately, he replied that it was fine. Still, worry nagged at her, so she glanced at the bottle and poured a bit onto her own hand. Rubbing her palms together gently warmed the oil with her body heat. A sweet, soft fragrance wafted up.
But before she could get lost in the scent, her gaze locked onto the firm back before her. Thankfully, regaining her senses didn't take long this time.
"I'll-I'll apply it now…? If I'm clumsy anywhere, please tell me?"
"Got it."
Each time the subtle muscle fibers shifted beneath his sun-kissed skin, Yubelia's breath quickened a little more. Back in the Holy Kingdom, touching patients' skin during treatments for the sick or wounded had been routine. But this was different. Not a patient, but a healthy… excessively mesmerizing male back.
Smoothly—as if caressing it—her slightly trembling fingertips began spreading the oil. Rubbing in gentle circles, she felt his body heat transmit through her palm.
"Hoo… Feels good."
The moment his short breath escaped, her heart pounded against her ribcage. Unconsciously, more strength entered the hand stroking his back.
Lord of Light, do not lead me into temptation, and keep my ears closed to the devil's whispers….
Reciting the Lord's Prayer, she somehow kept her hands moving. Half out of duty, half ensnared by an inexplicable emotion. Just as she thought it was nearly done and sighed inwardly in relief….
"Yubelia, sorry, but while you're at it, could you do my legs too?"
"L-l-le-legs…?!"
"Yeah."
…His abrupt request for overtime froze her mind again. But unlike when some random person demanded extra work—which would spark fury—this feeling was something else. A flustered thrill? Yes, exactly that.
This is what Aren asked for. Aren asked. I'm not at fault. Because Aren asked….
At the sight of his long, extended legs, Yubelia's reason finally crumbled. Yeah, by now Aren must be enjoying this too. Not in some lewd way, of course, but he was happy. As a saintess, didn't she have a duty to fulfill the hero's heir's wish?
"Ehehe…."
Unaware she'd let slip a sinister chuckle even a demon might hesitate to make, Yubelia reached toward the forbidden zone.
At that moment….
"…Whoa, looks fun?"
A voice chilled her spine despite the midsummer heat. Yubelia's body stiffened like a statue.
Squeak, squeak.
Turning her head with a creak, she saw Tiabel standing there, back from the villa with towels in hand. For some reason, gripping them with enough force to tear them apart. Even under the blazing sun, her eyes held no light—dull and faded.
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What in the world was this situation?
She'd only gone back to the villa for towels, as promised. So why was her precious Aren being touched by some other woman's hands right before her eyes? They were so focused on him they hadn't even noticed her presence.
Curious how far it would go, she'd watched. But now that hand was stretching toward a place it mustn't touch, she couldn't stand by any longer.
"R-Roze Tail? This is, well… Ah, Aren asked me to…."
"…Aha, so it's Aren's fault? Meaning Saintess has done nothing wrong?"
"N-n-no, that's not what I meant…!"
At the absurd excuse, Tiabel's tone turned icy. The innocent girl who'd just been bantering casually and calling her by name—not "Saintess"—was gone. No matter if the other was the world's saintess; in Tiabel's eyes now, there was only one thing: the oil neatly spread across Aren's back and the glass bottle in Yubelia's hand.
I went out of my way to get that oil just to apply it to Aren myself!
She'd heard about a trend in the western regions where men subtly wanted tanned skin. So she'd brought the oil, suggested it slyly to Aren, planning to rub it everywhere herself! For that sneaky woman to snatch it away!
This was worse than giving away rice to feed a dog. Stomping her feet in frustration at the tragic scene….
"Oh, miss. Got the towels? I was hesitating to ask Yubelia, but perfect timing."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Still spots left. Mind helping?"
Aren turned, pointing at the bottle in Yubelia's hand and making his request. Life flooded back into Tiabel's deadpan face in an instant.
"Of course! I'll do it super thoroughly!"
After her enthusiastic reply, Tiabel shot Yubelia a glance. Yubelia averted her eyes and cautiously handed over the bottle. Tiabel snatched it with a prim expression and took her place beside the sunbed. Following suit, she squeezed oil into her hand, rubbed it warm, and began spreading it over Aren's legs.
"Hic…."
From the side came a dejected sniffle and retreating footsteps, but who cared? She should be grateful Tiabel was even allowing this intrusion on her intimate summer vacation date with Aren.
"Aren, how's the scent? Nice, right?"
"Yeah, good. But this wasn't something you brought for yourself, was it? I didn't steal it, did I?"
"No, it's fine. I got it to put on you anyway! It's trending among guys these days."
"Really? News to me."
Aren never cared much for grooming, so of course he wouldn't know. That's why she'd planned to lure him in with the trend talk—but somehow, she'd ended up sparing herself the effort.
Half of it got taken, though. A shame. That firm yet soft-looking back should've been hers originally. Licking her lips in regret, Tiabel rubbed Aren's calf where she'd just applied the oil.
She was already veering far from her original intent of just offering to apply it. But for her, robbed of her share, this was the best she could do.
"…Huh? Miss, that's already covered."
"Yeah, but it didn't get enough oil. I'll do it more thoroughly."
"Whoa, as expected of my miss. Always so attentive."
"Right? No one else like me."
"Would be redundant to say it twice."
Tensing her neck at his words, Tiabel felt a twinge of conscience deep down. After all, slathering the oil on so thickly stemmed purely from her own desires.
No, it's Aren's fault! But today, she pushed it aside. Blaming it all on her defenseless bodyguard who so casually entrusted his body to another woman.
"Wanna get some sun too, miss? I could apply it for you."
"R-really?!"
"Not a big deal."
"Then please…!"
And with that unexpected treat, Tiabel felt like she could float away. Later, when Aren applied the oil to her own body, she waged an even fiercer internal battle than when she'd done his. But in the end, it made her realize the beach was truly a wonderful place for summer vacation.