Chapter 697: Daily Life
Chapter 697: Daily Life
“But you’ve been busy since this morning, haven't you? If you just wanted to see me, you could have come tomorrow or some other time when you were free. Hehe. Were you that eager to see my face?”
After we finished our simple pasta meal, Rachel started teasing me again, a look of pure bliss on her face.
Even the playful way she tapped the tip of my nose with her finger seemed much more energetic than before.
It seemed that eating had not only sated her hunger but also helped her regain her composure.
Yeah. This side of her really suits her.
But, Rachel… are you really saying that, when you were the one planning to come find me yourself today?
Although, she did deny having any intention of visiting the mansion to see me.
“I have to go to the dungeon tomorrow.”
“Oh, really? You’re heading back in rather soon this time, aren't you?”
It goes without saying, but Rachel knew my dungeon schedule better than anyone.
After all, I reported to her first every time I entered or left the dungeon.
That's why she, being the expert on my exploration schedule, looked quite surprised to hear I was heading back in so soon.
“Yeah. I am a Saint, after all. I'm starting to go deeper into the dungeon, and I feel like I need to get a bit more serious if I'm going to fulfill the Goddess's mission.”
With those words, I was indirectly telling her one thing.
That it wouldn't just be this time—I'd be going to the dungeon much more often from now on.
“…Is that so. Still, you said ‘for now.’ And saying it like that makes it sound like you haven't been very serious up until now. What a delinquent Saint you are. You'll probably get smote by the Goddess.”
She seemed to understand the hidden meaning in my words, her expression clouding over as she muttered with a hint of bitterness.
But that expression lasted only for a moment.
Rachel's face quickly brightened into a smile, and she spoke again in that same playful tone.
But I could faintly tell that it wasn't a genuine smile from the heart, but something closer to the professional smile she wore while working at the guild.
To think I'm only realizing this now. Has she been making this face all this time, every time I came to report before heading into the dungeon?
“Hey, Rachel.”
Seeing that look on her face, I had to say something.
I had planned to schedule a proper talk for later when I had more time, but right now, I wanted to do something—anything—to ease the anxiety hidden behind that smile.
Besides, the conversation was flowing in the perfect direction to bring it up.
“Oh, come on, Guwon. You'll make me flustered if you take my jokes so seriously. Are you trying to put me on the spot on purpose? I've heard the stories, you know. That the Goddess herself descended to praise you.”
But she must have completely misinterpreted my serious expression, because she just kept the playful mood going.
“No, that's not…”
I tried to deny it and say what I really meant, but once again, Rachel cut me off first.
“Then what is it? Are you trying to seduce me and get something started right now?”
As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly in her chair, putting on the playful expression of an older sister teasing a cute little brother, and stared right into my eyes from up close.
As she leaned over, her large breasts naturally rested on the table, further emphasizing the cleavage visible through the undone top button of her shirt.
“Hehe. But you can't. We don't have time.”
Noticing where my eyes had drifted, she blushed faintly but leaned forward even more, pressing her chest more firmly against the table.
Then, with another tap on my nose, she straightened up and leaned back against her chair.
She's so alluring. So alluring, but that's not what I was trying to talk about!
Damn it. I guess this is what happens when I'm always joking around and only ever look serious when I'm trying to seduce a woman.
“If you want to seduce me, you'll have to come when you have a bit more time.”
Then, with a stylish flourish, she retied the necktie she'd loosened earlier, covering her cleavage, and stood up.
“Well then, Guwon. It's getting really late, so I should be going. Hehe. It was nice seeing you, even if it was just for a moment.”
“Yeah. Take care, Rachel. I'll come see you next time when I have more time.”
“Honestly! You're so naughty.”
“Huh? Oh, no! That's not what I meant.”
“Hehe. See you later.”
Teasing me right to the end, she got up, paid at the counter, and walked out of the café with a leisurely grace.
I feel like I just got completely played by Rachel and her 'experienced woman' act for the first time in a while.
No, it's just that I was trying to be serious, and she came at me like that, so I got flustered.
Still, when she acts like that, Rachel really does seem like she has tons of dating experience. Even though she actually has none.
Just how much does she practice this stuff at home?
And we met so suddenly today, without any plans.
No, wait. Since it seemed like she was planning to come find me anyway, maybe she had plenty of time to practice?
As I thought this, I glanced out the window and followed Rachel's retreating figure with my eyes.
The same Rachel who had been flaunting her composure right up to the moment she left the café was now covering her face with both hands, scurrying back toward the guild in a hurried shuffle.
If she's going to get that embarrassed, she doesn't have to put on the experienced-woman act.
In any case, after we parted ways without me ever getting to my original goal—talking about her past—I headed back to the mansion at a brisk pace.
It was a shame I couldn't bring it up with her, but it couldn't be helped.
I knew from the moment I saw her that I was short on time.
Next time, I'll make proper plans in advance, even ask her to take a day off, and we can have a real conversation then.
And to be honest, I had other things to do after this, so I couldn't afford to linger for too long either.
Which is why I was hurrying back to the mansion now.
“I'm ho—”
But the moment I returned to the mansion, I felt a chill run down my spine.
No, the mansion looked exactly the same as always.
A few maids cleaning the garden even noticed my return and bowed, so nothing could have happened to the mansion itself.
Then what was this chilling sensation?
My intuition was screaming a warning at me.
While I was puzzling over the strange feeling, the mansion door opened and Vanessa appeared.
As if she'd known I was coming, Vanessa strode toward me the moment she opened the door.
Then, with a complicated look in her eyes, she grabbed my arm with both hands.
As if she had no intention of letting me go.
“…We need to talk.”
“Don't worry. You don't have to cling to me so desperately. I'm not going to leave you and go anywhere.”
Of course, I responded by wrapping my captured arms tightly around Vanessa's waist.
“……”
Hey. I told you not to make that face at your man's jokes.
Staring at me like that from point-blank range while I'm holding you is even more intense.
I was just trying to get a joke in first, seeing as how Rachel just ran circles around me.
“…So. What's this about? Why the sudden talk? You grabbed me like I was a fugitive.”
“…Are you really asking because you don't know?”
Vanessa stared back at me with suspicious eyes, as if my confident act was the strangest thing in the world.
“Yeah, I really don't know. You know I was out and just got back, right?”
“It's about what happened with Lady Sara before you left.”
What happened with Sara? You mean this morning?
Didn't Sara explain everything?
There shouldn't have been any problems if she explained it just like I told her to this morning.
“Huh? That? Didn't Sara explain it all?”
“…She did explain, but…”
“Then what's the problem?”
“…It's just that, well.”
In response to my question, Vanessa, for once, seemed at a loss for words, unable to give a clear answer.
“Or what? Don't tell me you want to be punished like that, too? Ha! So that slightly rebellious attitude you always have was—!?”
“Ngh…! That's not it!”
When I made the joke with a smile, Vanessa flinched and shuddered, her denial coming out much louder than I expected.
What's with her? Why is she acting like this? Normally, she'd just say, 'I am currently on duty,' in her usual stiff tone.
She's being unusually sensitive today.
Almost as if she's afraid of sleeping with me.
Ah, now that I think about it, after we had sex, Sara just threw her clothes on and went straight to her room.
She looked for all the world like someone who had just been thoroughly ravaged. Maybe the others saw her like that and it caused a bit of a stir?
If I thought of it that way, Vanessa's over-the-top reaction and the way she'd grabbed me like she was arresting a criminal made sense.
She must have planned to grab me so I couldn't run away and give me a stern warning.
“Anyway, enough about that. Get the carriage ready. I need to head to the royal palace.”
“…The palace, you mean?”
As I nonchalantly changed the subject, Vanessa answered me, though she still wore a troubled expression, as if there was more she wanted to say.
“Yep. I have to go to the dungeon tomorrow. Before that, I need to pop over and take care of the princess.”
“…Understood.”
“Right. Oh, and do you know where Silvia is?”
“She is in the training yard.”
“Then I'll go get Silvia while you bring the carriage around.”
Silvia's already been to the palace once, but she might want to go again.
I should at least check with her.
“…Yes. Please be careful.”
“Hm? Of what?”
“……”
Without another word, Vanessa turned and disappeared in the direction of the carriage.
Seriously. What am I supposed to be careful of?
I found out the answer the moment I arrived at the training yard.
“Silvia.”
“Eekyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The moment I called her name, Silvia, who had been diligently swinging a practice sword in the training yard, flung the sword far away and began to tremble violently, letting out a shriek so high-pitched it was almost beyond hearing.
The only saving grace was that she didn't try to run away.
Well, it looked less like she chose not to run and more like she was physically unable to.
Silvia was frozen solid, like someone paralyzed by terror.
And the closer I got, the more violently she trembled.
Vanessa. So when you told me to be careful, you didn't mean for my sake, but to be careful not to startle Silvia.
Seriously, how was I supposed to know that if you didn't explain?
Besides, this reaction... it's on the same level as those times her resistance hit rock bottom, like after our first kiss.
Did she end up like this after seeing Sara, too?
“I'm not going to eat you, so stop shaking. Unless you did something to deserve a punishment like Sara?”
“N-n-n-no, I didn't! I di-dint do anyfing! P-pwease! Forgive me! I-I'm g-gonna... die...!”
No, I just said I wouldn't.
First Vanessa, now her. Was the sight of Sara really that shocking?
I mean, sure. Sara's the one who's always snapping at me and calling me 'hey you,' so seeing her completely ravaged would definitely have a bigger impact on the others.
But even so, these reactions are way too extreme.
At this rate, am I going to get branded as some kind of monster who'll drag them off for punishment the moment I'm displeased?
Ugh. There goes my carefully crafted image of being a warm, caring man to my women...
Anyway, my first priority is to take care of Silvia, who's already bracing for death from some imaginary punishment.
Hey, your imagination is a dangerous thing. You really shouldn't let it run wild.
Especially since you're the type who climaxes from mental stimulation, not physical pleasure.
“I told you, you haven't done anything wrong, so I'm not going to punish you. Calm down. Let's start with some deep breaths. In and out.”
“Haaaah. Hoooo. Haaaah... Ah, ahn! M-my breath... on Sir Guwon's face...! I-I'm sowwy...!”
No! I was just making eye contact to help you calm down!
Ah, on second thought, this is Silvia we're talking about. Of course that wouldn't calm her down.