Reaching downstairs, I didn't pause for a moment and stomped toward the shed.
I needed something, anything, to calm the rage boiling inside me.
An outlet. A release valve before I burst.
Snatching up the spade, I attacked the filth as if it had personally insulted me. After working monotonously with the grime until sweat dripped from my brow, I calmed down.
I kept replaying the scene in my mind, deliberately editing out everything except her calling me a dog.
But one question still gnawed inside me.
Why didn't Rafaella react more vehemently when I confessed I looked at her differently? She didn't even flinch. Isn't that strange? Shouldn't a married woman be alarmed or even furious if a man under her roof admits to lusting after her openly?
The questions churned in my mind as I splashed water across the shed floor, scaring the poor young calves who mooed in protest.
Humph. She's probably stamped it at the back of her thick skull, ready to attack me at the next opportunity.
Bah! Who is going to give her a chance?
My jaw clenched tight.
What am I, some kind of pathetic loser desperate for a woman's attention? Hell, if I rode back to Agroville right now, my Sharron would drop her panties and spread her legs in welcome. So why should I put up with her crap?
There is nothing more important to a man than his pride.
I made a solemn vow in my heart.
Even if Rafaella ran around the entire estate stark naked, I wouldn't spare her a single glance.
When I finished my work, the evening had already draped itself across the landscape. Which meant it was time for the other bitch to appear. I ground my teeth, remembering how she teased and led me up the peak of desire with her sultry smile, only to kick me off the edge bluntly.
I amended my earlier vows to include Lissy as well.
I swore never again to look at either of them. Even if they strip down and grovel at my feet, I wouldn't so much as blink in their direction.
The thought made me laugh to myself. What's the point of all these dramatic vows, really?
If I, Nero, truly didn't want something, I would decide not to pursue it, no matter how tempting it was. My decisions had always been rock-solid. If there's one thing harder than my dick, it's my indomitable willpower.
Walking back into the house, I snatched up a bar of soap and a towel before heading downstairs. Rafaella approached, clearly wanting to say something, but I brushed past her as if she weren't there.
On the way to the pond, I spotted Lissy emerging from the greenery, waving enthusiastically in my direction. I continued forward, pretending I didn't see her.
A smug satisfaction settled over me as I ignored both women. Let 'em go to hell, all of them.
The pond welcomed me like an old friend, and I swam around in lazy circles, letting its cold water strip away the exhaustion and leftover frustration knotting inside me.
I strolled back to the estate, feeling lighter than before.
I noticed Lissy had already finished milking the beasts while Rafaella hovered beside her, looking oddly diminished.
"My, you're taking a bath rather early today, aren't you?" Lissy called out, her lips curving into a familiar, sultry smile.
Damn, that smile really set her whole face aglow.
Suddenly, an imaginary angel materialized on my right shoulder, clearing its throat with quiet urgency.
Nero, remember your vows. A man must never lose his dignity, it whispered sternly.
Right. This was the same woman who'd flirted her way into my head, played me like a fiddle, then left me standing waist-deep in water. Hard and humiliated. I shouldn't even give her the satisfaction of a glance.
But then, with a flicker of smoke and a sly grin, a mischievous demon appeared on my left.
Come on, it purred, voice smooth as silk. You're stuck here for a year. Is it really wise or even possible to hold a grudge that long?
It leaned in closer, eyes glinting.
Besides, let's not write her off just yet. Today sure sucked, but there's still a chance she'll come crawling back. When she does, we'll collect every ounce of payback… with interest.
Yeah… now that sounded reasonable.
My vow was only to avoid lustful stares. Surely there's no crime in a little politeness?
"Thought I'd finish before the evening chill set in," I replied with a carefully calibrated smile, friendly but not overeager.
I deliberately avoided even glancing in Rafaella's direction. On my mental scale of offenses, hers weighed heavier. So I'd treat her like air from now on.
"Oh! Then hurry down after changing your clothes," Lissy said with a playful lilt. "Or if the milk spoils, you'll have to drink it all." Her honey-brown eyes pierced into mine with an intensity that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.
The imaginary angel suddenly coughed pointedly, reminding me of the vows.
"Is there really a need to change just to move the churn to the front yard?" I calmed myself and asked with a forced laugh, hefting the heavy milk container.
"Not the front yard. You'll be making the deliveries today." Lissy's tone was matter-of-fact, brooking no argument.
"Me?" I spluttered, nearly dropping the churn in surprise.
"Of course, silly. You don't expect your Big Sis to make deliveries with her headache, do you?" Lissy tilted her head back. I followed her eyes and saw Rafaella, who stood partially hidden behind her, her face puffy and her eyes looking red-rimmed now.
When did that happen? I don't remember her looking like that when she barked hysterically at me earlier.
"But I don't know this place or the delivery route," I protested, sounding weak even to my own ears.
"That's fine. He knows it," Lissy replied, pointing toward the massive Taurus lounging in the shed's shadows. "He's been doing this for three years and knows every stop and customer by heart. All you have to do is hand over the milk.".
Then she launched into a quick rundown of the delivery process and the people involved, her tone making it clear that any further excuses would be a waste of breath.
The ladies had evidently made up their minds.
"Fine," I muttered, lifting the heavy churn and loading it onto the cart. I trudged back inside to change into something that was presentable.
By the time I returned, the box of empty glass bottles was already secured next to the churn.
"I'll buy you something special from the caravan if you do a good job," Lissy said sweetly, patting the Taurus's thick flank. "And be nice to him."
To my surprise, the beast gave a soft huff, as if it understood her. Lissy nodded with smug satisfaction as she stepped aside.
"Ready for your first delivery?" She beamed as I climbed up.
I gave a noncommittal nod and took the reins.
If you could call what I had 'riding skills, ' it'd be a generous exaggeration. Most of it was theory Granny had hammered into my head, and a few practice rides she conducted.
I flicked the reins, and the cart ride started off awkwardly. The Taurus lumbered ahead at a slow pace as Lissy waved us off. The reins might as well have been decorations since the creature seemed to be in full control.
Not bothered by it, I leaned back, enjoying the evening breeze that carried the scent of wood, letting the cart rock gently as we rolled along the mountain road.
This would be the first time I've stepped out since I got here. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.
From Rafaella and Lissy to Miss Lian, every woman I'd met here so far was a heart-stopper in her own way. If that's just the sample size, Crafts Wood Village might as well be classified as paradise.
Since I couldn't feast inside, I might as well hunt elsewhere. The idea of finding fresh meat made me grin like a fox that had sniffed a new henhouse.
I leaned my elbows on my knees, looking forward to what the rest of the village had to offer.
The first delivery wasn't far from the estate. As soon as the cart's wheels made noise on the path, a guy about my age ran out with an empty bottle, with a grin on his face. That lasted until he saw me.
The smile on his face soon melted into confusion.
"Ahem… is something wrong with the priestess?" he asked quickly.
"Oh, nothing serious," I said, filling a bottle from the churn and handing it over. "She's got a bit of a headache. I'm subbing in today."
"Oh. Got it." His shoulders relaxed as we exchanged bottles. "So she'll be back tomorrow?"
I nodded.
He nodded back, visibly relieved, and hurried off without another word.
I watched him disappear, confused at his odd behavior, then shook my head and climbed back onto the cart.
The second was an old grandma who looked a similar age to my fossil. She took one look at me and grinned like I was the last bottle of wine in the world. The next two minutes were followed by pinching my cheeks while muttering, "So handsome! So tall! So hardworking!"
I gritted through it with a smile but had to make a quick escape when she started rambling about her unmarried niece, who's very beautiful.
The third guy was absolutely obnoxious, and I had a hard time not punching his face. He latched onto me like a leech, demanding to know what kind of 'relationship' I had with Rafaella. Only after I said she was like an older sister, and that I was just here for a short while, did the idiot finally stop jumping up and down like an aggrieved monkey.
I thought that was the end of it, but as the visits continued, I started noticing an annoying pattern.
Most of these guys? They were all secret admirers of Rafaella.
Sure, they knew she was married, and it seemed they were content just watching her from afar. That is, until I showed up. Now they were triggered and wanted to know who the lucky bastard was. They only seemed to calm down once they knew I wasn't a competitor.
At first, I played along, and it was even a little amusing.
But after the fifth guy gave me the same shit?
It stopped being fun. Fast.
Did these clowns actually think they had a shot? Have they never looked in a mirror? Which part of their dumb faces gave them the confidence they could catch a woman like her?
Besides, if my Rafaella was going to cheat, I sure as hell would be the only person who is qualified.
The next stop was at the largest house yet, easily twice the size of anything I'd passed so far. As I turned the corner and the trees parted, the property loomed ahead like a mini fortress.
Thick wooden walls circled the area, topped with jagged metal spikes that gleamed like fangs in the evening sun. A double-layered wooden gate, reinforced with black iron, stood flanked by two guards lounging with lazy professionalism. The only equipment I spotted on them was wooden spears.
I didn't need to be told who it belonged to. The only person who could have such affluence in Crafts Wood, apart from the Temple folks, was the village head.
I pulled up at the checkpoint where one of the guards gave me a bored once-over.
"Milk delivery," I said, motioning to the churn behind me.
"Hold," he muttered as if remembering something, then hurried inside.
After a minute or two, beyond the gates, I glimpsed the guard respectfully leading a man towards us.
The guy sauntered forward with a swagger that reeked of self-importance. Tall, bulky, with slicked-back brown hair and a face too smug for its own good. He wore a vest open over a bare chest that displayed a sprawling scar that was likely real, though he exaggerated it by angling his body to show it off.
"Well, well," he drawled, voice smooth like oil that only lasted until he saw me. He paused and added coldly, "You're not the usual milkmaid."
Fuck, another dumbass that didn't know his place.
I replied dryly. "I'm filling in."
"Shame," he said, not even trying to hide the disappointment that darkened his features. "I had... a fondness for the usual one."
He took a step forward, eyes narrowing as if trying to size me up.
What the? Is this guy asking for a beating?
I wasn't sure, but I didn't like the way his lip curled slightly. I felt like he was looking at me like something stuck to his boot.
"Name's Steve," he finally offered, holding out a hand.
I didn't bother returning the gesture. "Just give the bottles."
His smirk widened, as if he enjoyed being dismissed.
He waved at one of the guards, who came forward to give me five bottles, which I exchanged for ones filled with fresh milk.
Steve guy lingered close, trying to tower over me.
"Tell her I said hi," he murmured just before I turned to leave.
"Huh?"
He waved me off with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Never mind. Just tell her. She'll know."
What a fucking weirdo?
I flicked the reins, and the Taurus started pulling the cart away.
I didn't look back.
As the walled-off property receded behind me, I couldn't shake the feeling that something about that guy was off. The way he spoke and the weird tension beneath his words.
Still, I shrugged it off. Another creepy admirer, I guess.
But if I'd known then how much I wanted to kill that scum later, I might not have just shrugged.
Returning from the delivery, disappointment clung to me like a shadow. Aside from the village idiots, who earned more eye rolls than words, not a single woman had caught my attention.
Sigh. Maybe my expectations were skewed. After spending days around Rafaella, Lissy, and even seeing Miss Lian, I felt everyone would be the overwhelming beauties who could tug my strings.
Back at the estate, I went to the pantry to stash away the box of bottles and the empty churn. Rafaella appeared at the doorway, clearly gearing up to say something.
I walked straight past her without a word.
Instead of heading to my room, I collapsed on the couch, letting the cushions swallow me as I watched Ivan and Irene laughing and rolling around with Eclipse. Their joy was oddly soothing. No responsibilities, no weird urges, and no pressure about the future, just pure mindless innocence.
Rafaella drifted up and down the hall like she was chasing a thought she kept dropping. Every few minutes, she'd pause, misplace things here and there, then facepalm and mutter a curse at herself and go back to the kitchen, only to do it all over again.
At first, I tuned her out. But her presence grew harder to ignore, especially the way her certain... assets bounced unusually under that plain blue dress with every frustrated step.
Had she ever worn something that clung so snugly? Why was her usually obedient ass throwing a tantrum now?
I found myself gritting my teeth, swallowing hard. My gaze kept threatening to drift; my mind kept urging my eyes to look at what I promised myself not to.
Honestly, if not for my damn vows and the anger still curling inside my gut, I probably would've spent the whole evening just watching that hypnotic sway of her butt.
To avoid slipping, I buried my face deeper into the couch cushions, half-imagining they were her velvety bottom. But I wasn't fooling anyone. I knew full well that no pillow could compare to that sinful softness.
Suddenly, Rafaella's voice echoed from the kitchen, announcing dinner was ready.
I glanced at the clock from the couch, confused. It's not even close to dinnertime.
Still, I got up, washed up, and joined the others at the table.
Throughout the meal, I maintained a strict silence in her direction, building an invisible wall between us. But just to twist the knife deeper, I cheerfully talked to the kids, doing my best to keep them laughing with stupid jokes and gossiping about things in the village.
Whenever Rafaella tried to join in, I immediately clammed up, killing the flow of conversation. The third time it happened, she finally took the hint.
She fell into silence, mutely eating from the side as I carried on a cheerful, one-sided dinner with the kids as if we were in a different world.
Once the dishes were cleared, I didn't dare hang around downstairs. I'd already realized the painful truth. I had zero control when I was around Rafaella. My vow not to look at her lustfully was a lost cause.
But that didn't mean I was ready to forgive her either.
Not yet. She had to at least share the same pain as mine from her actions.
So, the silent treatment continued.
Rather than sulking in my room, I walked over to the balcony and settled onto the wooden bench.
The evening mist was creeping in, casting everything in soft blues and greys, while the greenery was blanketed in its icy embrace. In the distance, the sky was beginning to trade sunlight for stars.
I let my legs swing off the ledge, my mind slowly untangling itself as it wandered through the parade of women I'd encountered recently.
Lissy had a fire. Not the kind that warms you, but the kind that keeps you on edge, wanting more. She was not the most beautiful on the list, but she gave the rest serious competition with her wild spirit, magnetic honey-brown eyes, and a pair of milk jugs that made up for more than anything.
Next was Miss Lian. Was she stunning? Absolutely. However, she lacked the charm that I love in a woman —the rich, mature grace that comes with experience. She still had an almost innocent charm, which was kind of ironic, given that she was married. Who knows, after she pops out our kids, that maturity will probably bloom.
Then there was Rafaella. An ever-aching childhood crush. She was a god's gift that was perfect in every way. But damn, her personality was a downgrade. Sigh, I can only hope she leans more into her usual gentle side once I pound some sense into her.
And then... There was Sharron.
My Sharron.
Maybe I was just hopelessly biased. But I felt no shame in admitting that no matter who comes and goes, whether divine goddess or enchanting demoness, none could ever dethrone her in my heart. She is my first, the one who made me a man.
Was she missing me right now? I sure as hell missed her.
Damn, look at me getting all sentimental after just a few days.
Soon, I shook my head and calmed down.
Throwing the womenfolk to the back of my mind, I thought of Granny. I hope she is taking good care of herself. Damnit, if not for the fossil's silly fear of communication devices, I could've called and heard her nagging again. It is funny how I missed even that.
A breeze swept through the balcony, biting through my clothes and sending a shiver down my spine.
Is this what loneliness feels like?
I couldn't even linger on that thought because right then, soft footsteps broke the silence.
The silver anklets sang softly behind me. I didn't need to look. I already recognized the source of my sleepless nights here.
#####
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