Chapter 766: Felicia's True Feelings?
Chapter 766: Felicia's True Feelings?
Still, everyone else was busy with something, so I couldn’t just stand around idly like I had nothing to do.
After some persistent persuasion, Vanessa finally allowed me to help with the organizing.
Though, she insisted on handling all the items like underwear herself, leaving me to simply put the things she designated in the places she indicated.
It was a shame I wouldn't get to see more of Rachel’s sexy underwear collection, which might have turned up with more searching, but my desire to help wasn't a lie, so I diligently assisted with the tidying.
And it was while I was organizing the luggage that I found something.
Is this… a towel?
Yes. It was an ordinary towel.
So why did it catch my eye?
Simple. The towel itself looked ordinary, but the circumstances surrounding it were anything but.
First of all, the rest of the towels had already been neatly put away over there.
Why was this one towel being stored separately like this?
…And in a glass case, no less.
It bothered me. It bothered me a lot.
For the first time in a long while, I decided to use an ability I possessed but rarely used.
The item identification window.
And the name of the towel that appeared before my eyes was…
‘Towel Imbued with the Saint’s Essence.’ It was a name that, to anyone, would sound like a legendary-grade item.
I see. So that’s why a mere towel was being specially preserved in a glass case… wait. This is mine!
What is this? Why does Rachel have this? No, more importantly, what’s with this name?!
Don’t tell me all of my belongings have these grandiose names attached to them?
I immediately checked the names of the clothes I was wearing.
Nope. They were normal. Just plain cloth clothes.
That meant not everything of mine was given such a grand title…
Could it be that this towel wasn't mine, but belonged to a Saint who existed before I came to this world?
No, that couldn’t be right. I’d never even heard of such a person, and for an artifact like that, the towel was in pristine condition.
And above all else, I had a hunch about this towel.
It was a long, long time ago, but there was definitely an incident where Rachel took my towel.
I also clearly remembered that when I got a towel back, it was a different one that was just the same color.
Back then, I just thought it was nothing and moved on, but I never imagined she’d been storing my towel like this.
Did it get such a magnificent name because she had cherished it and given it special treatment?
No, wait a minute. Does this mean that from the moment she kept this towel, she already had some feelings for me?
But it was only much, much later, after I was shipwrecked, that we officially confessed our feelings for each other, and even after that, we went through a long period of push-and-pull… just how long had she been holding back?
Faced with a level of patience I couldn't even fathom, I felt a sense of solemn respect.
Hm? Something on the bottom…
As I went to gently set the glass case down, I felt something on the bottom part, the only section not made of glass.
Lifting it slightly to look at the base, I saw an inscription: ‘The first thing I ever received from him♡’.
Ugh. Rachel… you’re so, so innocent!
“…What are you doing?”
“Nothing! It’s nothing!”
Hastily brushing off Vanessa’s question, who was looking at me quizzically after I’d suddenly frozen, I gently placed the towel on a nearby shelf.
What should I do? I suddenly wanted to run to Rachel and embrace her right this instant.
But she’s probably with the girls right now, and if I act on this emotion, I can only see a future where they all gang up on me later.
It’s a shame, but I’ll have to postpone hugging her for a little later. For now, I need to think of something else to calm this overwhelming feeling.
Something else. Something else. Something else…
Come to think of it, it’s still daytime. And I’m alone with Vanessa.
Plus, there’s what she said before… wait a minute. What am I thinking?
Just because the conditions are perfectly aligned doesn’t mean I should. That’s just not right.
To do that with another woman in Rachel’s room, all to suppress my overflowing feelings for Rachel? It’s not like I’m a psychopath.
“Vanessa.”
Erasing the naughty thought that had briefly crossed my mind, I decided to just have a normal conversation with her instead.
“What is it?”
“Did you make time, like we talked about?”
No, let me be clear, I’m not actually trying to do anything lewd.
It’s just that since I just had that thought a moment ago, this was the only topic of conversation with Vanessa that came to mind.
“……”
At my question, Vanessa’s busy hands paused for a fraction of a second. They started moving again right away, though.
It would have been nice if she’d answered, too.
“Don’t you remember? What I said before…”
“…Hmph. I remember.”
I remember, I just chose not to answer, so shut up.
As if to say that, Vanessa turned her head and glared at me slightly.
“So, your answer?”
“…Even for you, Sir Guwon, surely you don’t intend to suggest we do it in a place like this?”
Hey, that’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?
‘Even for you’? What about me?! Am I some kind of animal perpetually in heat who pounces on women regardless of time or place?!
…I’m, I’m not that bad, am I?
“Of course not.”
I gathered my briefly shaken composure and replied in a relaxed voice.
But even after I gave her a clear denial, Vanessa didn’t continue the conversation.
Could it be that she’s secretly a little disappointed?
…No, that’s probably wishful thinking.
“But I see. So it’s not the timing that’s the problem, it’s the place.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing. I just thought that normally, before worrying about doing it in a place like this, one would worry about doing it at a time like this. I see, I see. So the timing isn’t an issue.”
“…It wasn’t.”
“Huh? What?”
I had been deliberately twisting her words to tease her, but after a moment of thought, Vanessa calmly accepted it.
Her reaction was so nonchalant that I, the one who started the joke, was the one who ended up flustered.
“I said the timing was not an issue. However.”
“However?”
“The time I had cleared has now been allocated to organizing Lady Rachel’s unexpected luggage, so in the end, there is no time left.”
As she said that, she shot me a look that clearly blamed me for suddenly moving Rachel in, then went back to focusing on her task.
That girl… to think she’d counterattack like this.
But you’ve underestimated me.
“Hmph. As if I don’t know how capable you are. You think a little job like this would take up all your time…”
Right. There’s no way a super-butler like you can’t make time again after something this minor, right?
“There is none. Even I cannot predict such a sudden turn of events.”
But Vanessa completely crushed my assumption, stating it bluntly.
“…Really?”
“Really. It is unfortunate for you, Sir Guwon.”
Damn it. She’s making a face like she’s completely won.
Well, she’s expressionless. But I’m the only one reading her subtle expression and getting annoyed.
“So you’re not disappointed?”
Unwilling to lose like this, I put on a serious expression and pressed her.
“Of course not.”
“Really?”
“…Did you truly think I would weep and beg… lamenting what we could not do?”
“You know that’s not the issue.”
Seeming to recall what I’d said back then, Vanessa’s cheeks flushed slightly as she muttered. I moved in close, placed my hands on her shoulders, and made her look me straight in the eyes.
“Are you really, truly not disappointed that our time alone together has disappeared?”
“……Hh.”
Faced with my incredibly serious expression, Vanessa finally hesitated to answer.
Heh. I win.
“So, how is it? Tell me your true feelings.”
“…Right now, I am a butler.”
But contrary to my expectations, Vanessa averted her gaze slightly and uttered those words.
“Hey, isn’t that a bit much at a time like this?!”
You couldn’t talk back to Diana like that earlier and just let her drag you away!
“……”
At my vehement reaction, Vanessa seemed to realize that I hadn’t been trying to create a genuinely serious atmosphere.
Ma’am Butler, your gaze is awfully cold.
I think I’ll freeze if it touches me. Ooh, chilly.
“Vanessa…”
“……”
I composed my face again and brought it close to hers, but Vanessa simply blocked my forehead with her hand, stopping me.
I tried pushing forward with a bit of force, but it had no effect.
It seemed Vanessa had absolutely no intention of kissing me right now.
“You’re too stiff for your own good sometimes. You should loosen up with a joke every now and then…”
This time, I moved the hands on her shoulders up to gently poke and prod her expressionless cheeks as I spoke, but once again, her expression didn’t change one bit.
Her cheeks are so soft, but her expression is so rigid.
“If you are only going to interfere instead of helping, please go and play somewhere else.”
“I will help.”
In the end, I couldn’t control my instincts and continued our playful banter, but Vanessa never tried to seriously kick me out of the room.
And since we were steadily organizing the luggage even while we talked, we managed to finish sorting all of it before 2 o’clock.
Vanessa shot me a slightly dumbfounded look as I chattered away nonstop while working, but I’m sure that deep down, she didn’t really mind it. Probably.
“Alright, Vanessa. So now that we’re done, you really do have some free time…”
“I have things to attend to, so if you’ll excuse me.”
“Huh? Hey! Wait!”
Ignoring me completely, Vanessa vanished in an instant.
Let me say it again: deep down, she probably didn’t mind my chatter. …Probably.
Seriously, what’s the big rush?
“Oh, you’re already finished with the organizing? Thank you. I was supposed to do that. I’m sorry.”
And just as I was standing dumbfounded in front of the door, Rachel returned with perfect timing.
It seemed their talk was finally over.
“Is your conversation finished?”
“Uh, yes. So, about that.”
At my question, she seemed a little fidgety for some reason.
“I’m feeling a little tired, so would it be okay if I rested alone for a bit? I’m sorry, okay? I’ll properly repay you for helping me organize later.”
“No, you don’t need to repay me… Anyway, I’ll get going then.”
“Okay. See you later.”
What on earth did they talk about for her to say she’s tired? Especially since she’d been sleeping like she was knocked out since last night.
With that thought, I obediently left the room.
She gave me a light peck on the cheek and saw me out.
And in that fleeting moment, as I was closing the door.
Just before it clicked shut, Rachel’s scream leaked through the crack.
“Kyaaaaaa! Why is this on the shelf?!”
…Rachel. Don’t tell me the reason you rushed me out was because of that towel?
It’s okay. It was innocent and sweet.
No, wait. For someone trying to act like an experienced older woman, she’d probably hate being called innocent and sweet.
Anyway, I had been quite busy from yesterday until just a moment ago, but now I suddenly had nothing to do.
My original plan was to talk a bit more with Rachel now that she was back.
…That’s right. I was going to test the Apostle Appointment. What? You got a problem with that?
But at this rate, it looks like I won’t even see her until dinner.
What should I do now?
I guess I should take care of my other tasks first.
I was planning to put it off today because of my plans with Rachel, but I have no choice.
“Vanessa! Vanessaaa!”
“…What is it.”
When I shouted into the air, Vanessa, who had just fled, quickly reappeared.
She must have really had something to do like she said, because she was wearing a rather unpleasant expression.
“I want to go to the palace.”
“……”
Hey, don’t look at me like you have a million things to say.
I know how this looks, but I’m really just going out of a sense of duty, okay?
Besides, I’m going to be cooped up in the dungeon for special training again soon.
It’ll be a problem if I don’t take care of things like this beforehand.