Cohabitation Has Begun
A short while later, we climbed back into the carriage and set off for our new home.
The mansion lay on the eastern outskirts of Pletur. The ride from the city center took roughly fifteen minutes—an agreeable distance, neither too far nor too close.
Gentle green hills rolled past the window. Houses stood scattered at respectful distances from one another. I realized by instinct that we were nearly there.
“Priestess, is that the mansion?”
“Yes, it is. Oh, look—the priest from the local branch is already waiting for us. It seems they gave him advance notice.”
When we stepped down from the carriage, a clean-cut young priest greeted us with a polite smile. Having been informed by the church beforehand, he offered a respectful bow and began the tour at once.
The two-story stone mansion sat atop a gentle slope. White marble and blue pillars blended in elegant harmony. It carried the refined dignity one would expect from a property granted by the church—luxurious, yet never ostentatious.
That was only the outward appearance, however. Once the male priest began explaining the interior, the truth proved rather different.
The outer wall was not especially high, but a church-issued magic formation had been installed. Any unauthorized entry would be detected immediately. In the garden, trees with a distinct silvery sheen had been planted; I could sense a faint, steady pulse of ether radiating from them.
Inside, the mansion maintained the same refined atmosphere as its exterior. Given its size, three to five people could live here quite comfortably. There was a living room, a dining area, a kitchen, a reception parlor…
“Then I shall take my leave. Should you require anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you. And please convey our gratitude to the branch director as well.”
After exploring the first floor, we saw the male priest off and began unpacking.
Priestess Isabel drew clothing and daily necessities from her Ether Pocket. Despite the pouch’s impressive capacity for its small size, she had not brought very much.
The most important room, of course, was the bedroom. On the second floor we found the chambers where we would sleep. My room and the priestess’s stood side by side, separated only by a single corridor. There was also one small spare room. The sole shared bathroom was likewise on the second floor, which meant we would have to coordinate our bathing times.
While I was still pondering the arrangement, Priestess Isabel suggested she bathe first. Since we had traveled a long way to reach Pletur, we decided to wash up without delay.
I organized our belongings while she bathed. I set my Gladius and Buckler on the small cabinet near the bed. About twenty minutes after she had entered the bathroom, the door creaked open a sliver and her languid voice drifted out.
“Rowen, I’m finished. You may come in now.”
“Ah, yes, Priestess. Let me just finish putting these away.”
“You can use the water as it is.”
“Understood.”
I answered reflexively, only realizing what she meant once I stepped inside the bathroom.
Holding my change of clothes, I stared at the wooden tub.
…….
More than half of the still-warm water remained. A faint, creamy scent of lilies floated above it, subtly mingled with the priestess’s own body fragrance.
She had not emptied the tub after finishing her bath.
I froze for a moment.
…Is she truly telling me to use this water exactly as it is?
It was not a matter of hygiene. Priestess Isabel’s mastery of healing and purification magic meant she could cleanse herself perfectly whenever she wished. Bathing, for her, was closer to a way to relax and refresh her mood.
Even so…
How irreverent of me, Rowen.
Overthinking something so simple might make me seem like the real pervert here. Besides, it would be a shame to waste perfectly clean water.
I stripped, rinsed myself quickly under the shower in the adjacent stall, then slipped into the wooden tub. The water was still pleasantly warm. Knowing Priestess Isabel’s body heat lingered in it made my heart beat in a strange, unsteady rhythm.
When I submerged myself up to my chin, the soft, addictive fragrance grew even stronger. I had heard that nobles and wealthy practitioners sometimes added expensive bath oils. This must be what that felt like.
I pressed the protruding knob beside the tub, and the magic formation carved into its base activated.
So the formation keeps the water warm. How fascinating… Haaaa…
My shoulders trembled slightly as I melted against the rim with a foolish, blissful expression.
.
.
.
The sun had set and darkness had settled over the land. Thanks to the ether-powered lights, the interior of the mansion remained bright and welcoming. Beyond the windows, the special trees I had noticed earlier in the garden were glowing as well—silvery and ethereal even at night. While they did not provide a dramatic boost to ether cultivation, they emitted enough ambient energy to power the mansion’s various facilities.
…….
The air carried a refreshing chill. I sat mesmerized by the beautiful garden view, staring out the window in a daze.
My plans for life in the city had gone completely off course—yet in the best possible way. I had expected to stay in a shabby inn, rubbing shoulders with rough mercenaries and carefully counting every coin. Instead, the scenery before me, the very chair I sat on in the dining room—everything felt surreal.
“Just a little longer. I’ll have a delicious stew ready for you soon.”
“Are you certain you don’t need any help? I can handle simple dishes…”
“Hehe, it’s quite all right. I want to do this for you. Oh, have you set out the napkins and spoons?”
“Yes, Priestess.”
The refrigerator was already well stocked with ingredients—enough that we would not need to shop for some time.
After bathing I had changed into a light shirt and loose trousers. Priestess Isabel, having no need to wear her robes indoors, had also put on comfortable clothing.
However…
………….
The kitchen and dining area were connected in an open layout. Sitting at the table, I had a clear view of the entire kitchen.
Priestess Isabel wore a sky-blue linen dress that dipped gently at the neckline. She had tied a crisp apron around her waist and was now leaning forward slightly to prepare the ingredients. The generous sleeves and the ribbon cinched at her waist looked perfectly modest on their own, yet…
The enormous, voluptuous curves of her hips—curves that not even her priestess robes had ever managed to conceal—now stretched the thin fabric tight, drawing the eye with undeniable prominence. Every time she stirred the pot and shifted her weight, those full hips swayed heavily beneath the cloth.
Once. Twice. Three times…
The rhythm was irregular, yet each motion sent soft, hypnotic waves rippling outward. From my seat only a short distance away, the sight was impossibly clear.
…So this is what people mean by “lewd,” isn’t it?… Ah.
My gaze had been helplessly following the swaying motion. I snapped back to my senses and quickly angled my eyes elsewhere.
Haa… How irreverent. So very irreverent, Rowen.
The chair had been pulled out at a slight angle, so I had sat down naturally without thinking. Now the atmosphere felt awkward. Still, turning my back to the kitchen at this point would only make things more obvious and ridiculous. I compromised by moving to a different seat—one that still offered a partial view of both the kitchen and living room.
.
.
.
The stew she had prepared with such care, filled with generous portions of meat and vegetables, had smelled incredible even before it was finished.
It’s delicious…
Whether it was the quality of the ingredients or her exceptional skill, the result was perfect. Probably both. The moment I lifted a spoonful to my mouth, a tender texture and rich, fragrant flavor bloomed across my tongue.
I ate with abandon, heaping praise on her cooking until she beamed with open delight. The tension that had lingered between us seemed to melt away. For a long while afterward, light conversation flowed without pause—an enjoyable, comforting stretch of time.
After we had talked for some while, I let out a soft laugh followed by a gentle sigh. Priestess Isabel had been lifting a spoon to her lips when she suddenly paused.
“Is something the matter? Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking…”
I smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of my neck.
“…I feel like I’m nothing without you, Priestess.”
…….
She lifted another spoonful of stew to her mouth. Only then did I notice she had not answered. I glanced up at her.
“Mm…”
Her eyes were softly closed as she continued eating. For some reason her long lashes were trembling faintly. Those plump, petal-soft lips kept making tiny, repeated motions.
Chew… chew…
It looked almost as if she were deliberately savoring each bite of stew, rolling it around her mouth again and again.
“Priestess Isabel?”
“Yes? Ah, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. And Rowen, really…”
She smiled, then rose from her seat without warning. She proceeded to ladle every remaining portion from the pot into my dish.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop blaming yourself? Here, eat up! You’ll need plenty of energy starting tomorrow, so finish it all. You can manage that, can’t you?”
“Ah, yes! I can finish everything!”
“Hehe. You sound like a soldier.”
She rested her chin on her hand, watching me eat with a gentle gaze. It felt a little embarrassing, yet seeing how happy she looked, I simply focused on my meal.
“Rowen.”
“Yes?”
“Whenever things become difficult or exhausting, always—always—rely on me. I am always, always ready for you—”