Chapter 580: The Butler's True Feelings
Chapter 580: The Butler's True Feelings
So, while we'd decided on a course of action for Vanessa's problem, it wasn't something I could act on immediately.
After all, while part of my intention was to get Vanessa out of the room, it was also genuinely getting close to dinnertime.
Besides, tonight was my first night with Matilda.
A major event had just occurred, so some might have forgotten, but spending my first night with Matilda was also a huge event. And I certainly hadn't forgotten.
In any case, that meant there would be no more Vanessa-related events today.
For now, I had to put Vanessa out of my mind and focus all my attention on Matilda to create a memory she would never forget.
That was my plan, but it didn't last long.
The moment I saw Vanessa arrive to announce that dinner was ready, I found I couldn't let it go without saying something.
"Hey. Vanessa."
"Yes. What is it?"
"Turn around."
"Pardon?"
"I said, turn around. Come on, hurry. Turn! Turn back!"
As I urged her on, even gesturing with my hands, Vanessa gave me a slightly suspicious look but obediently turned around.
Seeing her reaction, the fact that she had actually confessed to me hit me all over again.
The old Vanessa would never have turned around so meekly.
Well, it was a strange thing to be realizing just now.
Anyway, that wasn't what was important right now.
I walked up behind Vanessa, who stood with her back to me, and knelt on the floor to get a closer look at her rear.
"...What are you doing now?"
Seeing my reaction, Vanessa finally seemed to realize why I'd told her to turn around. She looked down at me, her voice laced with exasperation.
Still, the fact that she remained turned away from me felt like a subtle sign of affection.
Even as I had that thought, I raised my hands and firmly squeezed the taut buttocks before me.
"It's gone! It's gone! Vanessa! What happened?!"
That's right. There was no hole in Vanessa's pants.
And as you might have guessed from my reaction, Vanessa wasn't in her Dragonian form to begin with.
"Ngh... I changed, sir."
Without even trying to remove my hands as they kneaded her rear, Vanessa answered, her voice as blunt as ever.
"Why! After I told you to!"
"I changed because you told me to. For a butler to walk around dressed for such a purpose... It would tarnish Lady Diana's honor. ...Nn... If you understand, please let go now."
With that, Vanessa finally slapped away my hands, which were still clinging to her butt.
"Aw, come on. Besides, you and I are the only ones who know you're showing your tail for that reason. Huh? Vanessa? Huh?"
"I refuse."
Despite her actions, I reached for her butt again, trying to coax her into staying in her Dragonian form, but Vanessa coldly refused and strode toward the dining room.
Tch. A failure, then.
No. Let me be clear. I don't mean I failed to get her to keep a hole in her pants for instant access.
I'm talking about failing to get her to walk around in her Dragonian form.
My earlier actions were a deliberate attempt to make her focus on the sexual meaning of it all, rather than on her Dragonian form itself.
It was all a calculated move. Really.
But despite that, Vanessa ultimately refused to remain in her Dragonian form.
I have a feeling this is going to be a much longer battle than I'd anticipated.
Watching Vanessa's back as she walked away, flaunting her magnificent figure, I rested my chin on my hand and sighed internally.
*
"Um, are you sure this is okay?"
After dinner, it was time for everyone to head back to their rooms.
Matilda, who would be returning to the same room as me for the first time, looked at me with an expression that was half anticipation, half anxiety.
"Why are you asking now? Didn't you all talk it over and decide last night? Or are you nervous?"
"Nervous... Y-yes. To be honest, there's a bit of that, but it's not just that. You just fought with Sara. Shouldn't you go comfort her?"
It seemed the reason for Matilda's behavior was that she was worried about Sara.
Well, it was true. Although things ended up fine, Sara had been more furious than I'd seen her in a long time.
I could understand why Matilda was concerned.
Still, for her to be worrying about that on the night she was supposed to spend with the man she liked for the first time... she was a little too nice for her own good.
"It's fine. You don't have to worry, Matilda."
I looked at her and gave her a small, reassuring smile.
It wouldn't be right to let Matilda worry about such things on a night like this.
And it wasn't a lie. One of Sara's best qualities is that she doesn't hold a grudge.
When she gets angry, she just explodes, and once it's over, she moves on as if nothing happened.
As I got to know her, my impression of her changed so much that, unlike when we first met, it sometimes felt like only her looks were cool. But Sara's coolness wasn't just skin-deep.
"Instead of that, why don't you worry about tonight? Heheheh. I'm not letting you sleep, you know?"
"Okaay... I'll worry..."
Hey, now. When you say it like that, all the persuasiveness vanishes in an instant.
You're not worried at all, are you?
Matilda was still the same girl who entered pink mode the moment I made a halfway decent expression.
With Matilda already in pink mode before we even reached the room, I tucked her under my arm and headed straight for my door.
Come to think of it, we were going straight to my room without washing up.
Usually, when we came straight to my room from the dining hall, it meant we were going to wash up together that day.
Was Matilda aware of that as she came with me?
"Guwon..."
No. Looking at her now, she was probably just following me without a thought in her head.
Well, that was fine. It was a rare opportunity, so washing together would be nice.
"Well then, my lady. Shall we?"
Once we reached the door, I opened it first and, like a gentleman, gestured for Matilda to enter.
"Yes... Thank... Huh?!"
Matilda, who was still showering me with hearts, smiled sweetly and was about to curtsy, lifting the hem of her skirt with both hands.
But the moment she grabbed her skirt, she seemed to realize something. She snapped out of her pink mode and suddenly began to panic.
"Matilda?"
At my questioning gaze, Matilda pressed the hands that had been holding her skirt firmly down against her legs, as if she didn't know what to do.
"Ah, ahh! Th-that is! What I mean is!"
Matilda exclaimed, her eyes darting around as if she couldn't figure out what to say.
It was as if she wanted to keep my gaze fixed on her face.
But I'm not a man so simple as to fall for such an obvious trick.
I lowered my gaze anyway... and looked at Matilda's chest, which was naturally gathered between her arms as she held them straight down.
Mm. Magnificent breasts, as always. Today she wasn't in her cardinal robes but in light clothing, so her amazing figure stood out even more... Hah! Th-this isn't the time for that!
That was close. I almost fell for it.
A double trap. Matilda... you terrifying woman!
Displaying my brilliant resourcefulness, I broke through the second trap planted in my path and continued to lower my gaze.
Right to where Matilda's hands were.
And just as I expected, her hands were fidgeting, as if checking for something.
That's around her thigh, isn't it? What's wrong with her thigh?
"Ahh! O-on that note! I'll go wash up!"
As I was lost in thought, Matilda seemed to have finally found an excuse. She shouted and tried to get away from me.
So she really did just follow me without thinking.
Well, she was in pink mode, so I guess it couldn't be helped.
"Really? I was hoping we could wash together since we have the chance."
"Ah... Aah..."
But the moment I muttered that, Matilda, who had been about to flee, stopped dead in her tracks.
She began to hesitate at the door, looking completely torn.
"Matilda? What's wrong?"
"Th-that is... please don't wash yet, just wait a little! I'll be right back!"
Without answering my question, Matilda left me with only those words and hurried away.
Even in her haste, she never broke into a run, maintaining a graceful appearance. That's our Cardinal, I thought to myself.
Anyway, that wasn't the way to the bathroom. Where on earth was she going, and for what?
It didn't take long for my question to be answered.
"Did I keep you waiting?"
Matilda reappeared, looking perfectly composed, a stark contrast to before. Other than her confident demeanor, she looked exactly the same.
She wore a dress that fell below her knees with a light cardigan over it.
It was an outfit that was possible now that her curse had been partially lifted—one that covered the traces of the curse while still revealing her figure in a somewhat refreshing way.
She was beautiful, of course, but what had changed?
Ah, maybe she just went to the bathroom?
I hadn't considered it since she was touching the middle of her thigh and not her crotch, but thinking about it now, it was a definite possibility.
And if she had gone to the bathroom, her refreshed expression would make sense.
But if that was the case, she could have just used the bathroom in my room, couldn't she?
The room was thoroughly soundproofed, so it's not like I would have heard anything.
Perhaps our Cardinal was just a bit more delicate than others.
"W-well then, shall we... wash together?"
"Shall we?"
Before my reply was even finished, Matilda gracefully took off her cardigan, folded it neatly, and placed it on a nearby chair.
Just as I was about to get up from the bed to take off my own clothes, Matilda, for some reason, stopped undressing and began to approach me slowly.
She gently placed her hands on my shoulders with a slow, deliberate motion, then spoke to me in a slightly trembling voice.
"W-will you... undress me?"
Matilda's voice started out awkward yet somewhat seductive, but by the time she finished her sentence, it had completely transformed into a dreamy murmur.
We were close, our eyes were locked, and we were in physical contact.
Of course this would happen.
She knew her own symptoms better than anyone, yet she still did this.
Well, she was beautiful like this, too.
Seeing her so completely head-over-heels for me made me feel more cute than sexy, but there was no way I could refuse Matilda's seduction.
I smiled with fond amusement as I reached for the hem of Matilda's dress and slowly began to lift it.
And as the dress rose, her pale thighs were gradually revealed.
The moment I saw something wrapped around the middle of those thighs, I was at a loss for words.
Th-this is... this is...! I take it all back. Who said she wasn't sexy? She's ridiculously sexy!
So that's what she meant when she was touching her thigh earlier?!
I felt like I'd been hit hard on the back of the head.
I didn't notice because the legs visible beneath her dress weren't covered in stockings.
To think... to think she'd come wearing a garter belt!
How was she wearing a garter belt without stockings, you ask?
Simple. Matilda was wearing garter rings around the middle of her thighs.
And the garter belt was connected to those garter rings.