Chapter 9: A Hot Spring Session
"Ahhhhhh~ Now this is what I call relaxation." I exhaled in deep satisfaction, slouching into the warm, lilac-scented spring water, the sensation of the built-up lactic acid and tension within my muscles leaving my body kicking in within seconds.
The sedating and stress-relieving effect of Mother's medical concoction easily puts the collective might of every masseuse in existence to shame. I can even feel my regenerative prowess kicking up a notch while I'm doused in the alleviating watery substance.
"You should take some time to loosen up as well, overworking isn't good for your skin." I turned to Thora, who was positioned only a foot or two away from me, the sight of her ravishing, nude figure sending a rush of heat through my head.
I seriously ought to calm down. I said I wasn't going to do anything rash, didn't I?
The fact that I could see the upper half of her smooth, supple bosom floating like inflated balloons above the steam really wasn't helping my situation. Honestly, Devil proportions are something else.
"I assure you Young Lord, I'm more than capable of looking after myself." She gave me a judgmental side-eye. "Maybe if you ameliorated your academic diligence, I wouldn't have to spend so much time micromanaging your study routine."
"Kuh! You got me right in the heart strings!" I clutched my chest, exaggerating a pained expression and slouching further into the water. An idea popped into my mind like a lightbulb as I did so. "I suppose it's only proper that I start making up for all the stress I caused you."
"Young Lord?" She raised an eyebrow as I scooted closer, cracking the built-up air out of my fingers in preparation. "Might I ask, what it is you think you're about to do?" She narrowed her eyes, clearly assuming that I had something lustful in mind.
"Calm down, I just want to give you a Senjutsu massage. Consider it the starting point of the long list of reparations I owe you." My expression softened as a warm smile overtook me, a white blanket of Ki enveloping both of my hands.
"Young Lord, there's absolutely no need for you to— Ahhhn!" I slid my fingers across her glossy back, my heart beating faster than usual as I applied pressure to the acupoints on her shoulders. Ki flowing out of my core and into her pores through my appendages.
"Goodness, that was quite the noise you just made." I'd be lying if I said it didn't make a dent in the mental wall I had just put up to keep my composure. Thora, I have a feeling you're blissfully unaware of your own frighteninglypowerfulappeal. "It sounds like I'm doing a good job. Should I interpret that as a sign to continue?"
Even though Mother clearly has her issues, it'd be crass of me not to thank her for giving me the ability to do this.
Senjutsu's usefulness can't be emphasized enough.
"Young Lord! I'm being serious! You don't have to— Mmppph!" This time, she planted her palm against her mouth to silence herself, which, unfortunately for her, only motivated me to keep going.
"Who said I was doing it because I have to? I'm simply doing this because I want to." My tone shifted as I tightened my expression. "Thora... it's tough isn't it? Dealing with all the pressure within these walls."
"...Young Lord?" She stammered to a degree, a noticeable flush appearing across her face as I poured more effort into my massaging.
"I'm not oblivious Thora, I know that even by the Underworld's standards, the behaviour of my Mother and Father could be considered—unorthodox, and that's putting it lightly." I offered her a bleak, dry smile. My palms glided down to her alluring, broad hips. "They pushed all the actual parenting responsibilities onto you, solely focusing on my physical training and nothing more."
She shook her head. "No, Lord Buné handed me the privilege of looking after you, and it's a responsibility I take great pride and pleasure in. You needn't harbor any resentment towards him or Lady Buné because of that." Her words managed to evoke a classic, warm, and fuzzy feeling within me.
"Believe me, I'm happy to hear that you feel that way. I really am." My thumbs began to circle her lower back as I rhythmically adjusted the amount of force I was exerting. "However, that doesn't make it any fairer. When Ladora was born, did Father assign a maid to take care of him? Or did he do so himself?"
I felt her breathing hasten a little, her silence proving to be a sufficient answer.
"Just to be clear, I'm not mad that you're the one who raised me. I'm mad that they didn't. Although in hindsight, I'm probably better off being under your care." I don't know enough about Sebastian to decipher what's up with him accurately, but whatever this current version is, I'm glad that I'm not a replica.
Clench!
To my astonishment, she abruptly turned around and grabbed me by the shoulders with an evidently shaken expression—her nails digging into my skin, which I imagine was unintentional.
And for better or for worse, it was kind of a turn-on.
"Young Lord! You mustn't say such a thing!" Her grip tightened while I contemplated my response. "The Lord and Lady are—!"
"Thora. We already went over this. You don't need to divulge anything." I promptly hushed her, unsure if my family had some kind of listening device or surveillance installed.
I couldn't care less if my discontent becomes known to them, but putting Thora in their line of fire is counterproductive to what I'm trying to accomplish here. They've no choice but to allow me a certain level of rebelliousness due to my position and the hopes they've placed in me.
However, I doubt they'd extend such leniency to a servant of the house. Even if they do happen to be the Head Maid.
"I still plan on prying into their situation, but I have no wish for you to get caught in the crossfire."
I felt my heart spike again, the pace of my breaths starting to match hers. The front-side view of her yielding breasts bobbing above the water, with her pinkish nipples appearing in and out of sight—caused my blood to rush.
I know she wasn't doing it on purpose, especially since I'm the one responsible for this whole situation, but right now it is becoming exceptionally challenging to concentrate.
Part of me desperately wanted to throw my arms around her waist and pull her close, but this definitely wasn't the time for it.
Damn. I told myself I just wanted to have a more amiable master-servant relationship, but is that seriously what I'm doing at the moment? Or am I instinctively trying to push for something else?
I mean, I meant every word I said before we got in the spring. I wouldn't mind that kind of a relationship with her, actually I'd welcome it—but I also need to carefully think over both our positions before I do anything hasty, especially in this family.
However, I'm starting to think that I won't be able to hold myself back for long.
"Young Lord… are you alright?" Her tone shifted from anxiety to concern.
I appear to have let my thoughts wander for a bit too long. I can only hope her sharp perception hasn't reached the mind-reading level.
"I'm fine," I exhaled calmly. "We should probably hop out now shouldn't we? I'm not in the mood for another surprise appearance by my Father."
"Yes, I think that would be for the best." She nodded affirmatively.
After drying myself off with a handy Fire Magic application, I put on the fresh set of attire that Thora had prepared for me beforehand.
It consisted of a freshly ironed white dress shirt with a black blazer over it, accompanied by House Buné's emblem in the form of a gilded pin attached to the breast pocket, a set of black slacks, and a pair of dark brown loafers. Giving me an overall appearance most would expect from an Heir belonging to the Underworld's 72 Pillars.
Wait a minute.
Isn't this the same thing that rooster wears?
No, I'd best not think about it. It'll only end up worsening my already faltering ability to focus.
"Oh, Thora, there's something I've been meaning to get your advice on," I recalled the conversation I shared with Martha earlier today.
"I'm always at your assistance, Young Lord." She nodded affirmatively, changing into a mint set of maid attire.
"Mother mentioned that Sona Sitri's birthday will be occurring in about a week's time, which means I'll need to pick out a present for her won't I?"
"That will be expected of you." She affirmed.
I sucked my teeth. "The thing is, I don't really have much of a history or relationship with the Sitri Heiress. I'm not entirely sure what I should get her."
Looking back, if there's one thing Sebastian and Martha agreed on—it's that they have a particular disdain for letting me socialize with people outside the Buné Territory. Exceptions are only made for instances like these, where rejecting the Sitri Clan's invitation would be seen as a blank letter of sorts, basically an open declaration of hostility for refusing them.
Considering that we already have a relationship with them by virtue of Martha's trade arrangements, the fact that they're ranked at Prince, and that they're the house responsible for birthing the current Satan Leviathan—it's unsurprising that they're reluctant to let me miss out on this one.
"You wish for me to help you pick out a gift?"
"Yeah, it'd be a big help."
She hummed inquisitively. "I certainly don't mind offering a hand. However, I also think this is something you should handle on your own. As mundane as it may seem, gift-giving is an essential skill to have in your class of society. Birthdays aside, celebratory events in general, visits from fellow high-ranking nobles, and wedding ceremonies are all situations you'll encounter throughout your life that will require you to procure an appropriate tribute."
Hmm. She certainly has a point. I could also use this as an opportunity to stretch my legs outside of the Buné Territory in the name of finding a good place to buy a present. Maybe a trip to Lilith would be nice? It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to visit the Underworld's capital.
Strangely enough, I do actually have a pretty generous allowance even though I'm rarely ever given the opportunity to use it anywhere. I believe some splurging might be in order, and I know for a fact that buying Thora a present is long overdue.
"Of course, I wouldn't want you to show up at the Sitri Clan empty-handed—if finding a suitable present ends up proving too troublesome, I'll naturally chime in."
"Sounds like a plan." I nodded my agreement.
Afterwards, we retired to the estate's library upon which Thora began handling my academics. The hopefulness of her approach became clear to me, proving that she hadn't simply shrugged off all the firm declarations I made to her. Of course, at the end of the day, words are just words. Actions are the only way I can meaningfully develop anything between us.
She began with the history of our own house, specifically focusing on Selvaro Buné himself—our founding Ancestor whose level only Sebastian was able to reach throughout our lineage.
Apparently, even though he perished in the Great War, it wasn't at the hands of Heaven or Grigori. His death was a result of one of the most monumental events, surpassed only by that of the war's actual conclusion. An event so grand that it managed to force all three sides that had been mercilessly butchering one another to form a temporary truce.
The rivalry of the Heavenly Dragons, who stood at the pinnacle of their kind, the Welsh Dragon Ddraig, and the Vanishing Dragon Albion. One with the ability to continuously multiply his own already godly strength, and the other to continuously half the strength of his opponents.
The plan was to seal both of them into items called Sacred Gears, which I'm sure Thora will make me study at another time, a plan that required the Heavenly Dragons first to be weakened enough so that their souls could be forcibly transferred elsewhere.
Selvaro perished during the subjugation effort against Albion, and was recorded to be among the few people daring enough to be the front-runners of the battle.
Honestly, that's a pretty legendary way to go for a Buné. I don't know as much about dragons as I probably should, but having your last moments be fighting an existence so powerful it forces enemies as old as time to band together sounds like a solid final chapter for someone's life story.
I wonder if Sebastian's actually as strong as Selvaro? Sure, they both mastered Dragonification—but I don't have the experience to comprehend what that means properly. Does having mastered Dragonification mean you no longer have any room to grow? Or does it simply allow you to use the Clan Trait without having to worry about burning your own life force?
Also, who's to say that two Bunés mastering their trait will lead to the same level of strength? What if your blood and innate talent make a difference to the end result? I mean, Selvario was the de factoprogenitor of our bloodline. Maybe he had the added advantage of being simply better.
Sigh. So many questions already, yet so few answers.
Answers I won't get unless I pay proper attention.
It's time to dial it in Alduin.
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