Chapter 41: Is This a Date?
Backlund, Empress Borough.
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Audrey was at the edge of the bathtub, reaching out to unfasten her light loungewear.
Silk garments drifted down one by one, stacking in soft curves within the laundry basket.
She pinned up her brilliant blonde hair, leaving only a few mischievous strands hanging by the side of her neck.
She first tested the water temperature with her hand, and after confirming it was her favorite temperature, she stepped cautiously into the bathtub on her tiptoes.
The warm current of water was like a pair of invisible hands, gently enveloping her.
Mist billowed, and fine ripples spread across the water's surface.
Audrey gently sank into the bathtub; her shoulders, neck, and collarbones touched the water first, then the warmth spread to her chest and waist, until finally even her toes relaxed completely.
The water sent out fine ripples, and a few unpinned golden strands clung wetly to the side of her neck, their tips beaded with translucent water droplets that slid slowly down with her subtle breaths, gliding over the thin layer of crimson blooming on her skin—
That was the color dyed by a warmth and relaxation spreading from her toes to her entire body.
"Whew..."
She exhaled comfortably, feeling warm all over.
I really don't want to move even a single finger... Audrey thought lazily to herself, though her body's relaxation couldn't entirely dispel the thoughts in her mind.
The 'homework' assigned by Mr. Lover is harder than I imagined~
Whether it was the deep application of the 'Acting Method' or guiding her father's aides regarding modern accounting and auditing concepts, she had encountered significant obstacles.
The former required her to 'observe' others more keenly, while the latter touched upon the inherent mindsets and interests of many people.
But because of this, there would be a greater sense of achievement once it was finished.
I must do it well!
"I must complete Mr. Lover's task."
She cheered herself on in a low voice, reaching out her snowy-white forearm to pick up a bottle of essential oil from a crystal tray nearby.
As her arm lifted, it brought up a string of crystalline water droplets that rolled down her elegant curves, refracting fragmented light like diamonds under the soft lighting above the bathtub.
She dripped the essential oil into the water, and a rich, tranquil fragrance instantly filled the air.
Audrey tilted her neck back and closed her eyes, enjoying this moment of peace.
Her eyelashes, dampened by the steam, trembled slightly, casting a shallow shadow under her eyelids, adding a touch of hazy soft beauty to her already exquisitely peerless face.
Just as she was about to sink completely into this comfortable dreamland, an invisible ripple abruptly pierced through reality.
The silhouette of an ancient high-backed chair loomed in the mist, and a blurred figure wearing a decent suit was maintaining a posture of prayer.
It's Mr. Lover!
Audrey's body paused slightly, and then, that clear and reliable voice pierced through the barrier of reality, sounding clearly in her ear.
"Mr. The Fool, please trouble yourself to convey a message to Miss Justice."
The voice was polite and modest, carrying a hint of familiar composure belonging to Mr. Lover.
"I have already collected a 'Spectator' Beyonder characteristic through other channels, so I no longer require her to continue searching. For this, please convey my sincere apologies to Miss Justice and thank her for her previous generosity and hard work."
The commission... is over? A small sense of loss flashed through Audrey's heart, but this loss was quickly and completely dispelled by the following words.
"In the coming days, I will set out for Backlund."
Backlund!
He's coming to Backlund!
Audrey felt her heart as if gripped by an invisible hand, and then it began to pound fiercely against her chest!
"At that time, you can contact me at the following address—."
Empress Borough... that theater!
That's not far from my home!
And it's a theater! Is... is he asking me out to see a play?
Audrey's cheeks were instantly stained with a crimson more moving than the water vapor.
She could even feel her heartbeat underwater, thumping, thumping, so fast it felt like it would jump out of her throat.
Splash—
With a crisp sound of water, the young lady suddenly stood up from the bathtub.
The warm current of water slid down the well-proportioned curves of her body, outlining perfect lines from her fragrant shoulders to her waist and then to her long legs.
Her skin, soaked in hot water, was like the finest pearls, gleaming with a moist luster; rolling water droplets sparkled under the light, as if draping her in a radiant garment of light.
She grabbed a nearby bath towel and wiped her body somewhat absent-mindedly.
When her fingertips brushed over her arms and waist, her strength unconsciously lightened, as if she were touching some precious object closely connected to her current mood.
In her mind, she had already begun to uncontrollably imagine the scene of meeting Mr. Lover.
What would he look like?
Although she had seen his image at the Tarot Club, that was, after all, obscured by Mr. The Fool's power.
Would he in reality be the same as in her imagination?
He asked to meet me at the theater—was it simply for convenience, or... was there also a little bit of a different intention?
Thinking of this, Audrey's wiping motion paused slightly, her fingertips unconsciously curling as she tightened her grip on the soft towel.
No, I can't let my thoughts wander like this anymore!
The bath towel wrapped around her chest and cinched at her waist, revealing a section of snowy shoulders and a slender neck.
Her wet blonde hair clung somewhat messily to her cheeks and the back of her neck, water droplets from the tips quietly rolling into the shadows at the edge of the towel.
Mr. Lover's voice continued, carrying a peculiar magic that made it impossible to refuse.
"Miss Justice can bring up any questions or needs she has, as a reward and compensation for helping me with this matter."
"Of course, I prefer to view it as a trivial gift to thank her for the efforts she put in, and I look forward to more pleasant cooperation with her in the future."
"At the same time, I offer a suggestion to Miss Justice."
"There is no need to discard or seal away that extra Beyonder material. If she has a trustworthy pet with extraordinary aptitude by her side, she might as well try feeding it to the pet. This is not an isolated case in the Beyonder world. If she is concerned about the risks, I can assist from the side once I arrive in Backlund to ensure everything is foolproof."
The sounds of prayer Above the Gray Fog gradually dissipated, and the washroom returned to silence.
Audrey pulled her slightly damp blonde hair out from the towel, letting it scatter behind her shoulders, then tossed the towel aside and quickly picked up that clean white robe.
The robe was soft in texture; she pulled it over her head, and it loosely covered her entire body.
When she looked down to tie the belt, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled into a small but genuine arc.
Light poured in from the side, plating her entire being with a soft halo.
That simple white robe worn on her body unexpectedly brought out a pure and bright temperament, as if all the water vapor, fragrance, and the heartbeat that had accelerated just a moment ago were all properly tucked away beneath these plain clothes.
Only she herself knew that the residual warmth on her skin after the bath and the secret circle of expectant ripples quietly spreading in her heart were gently resonating.
Calming her excited mood, Audrey's thoughts shifted to the other matter Mr. Lover had mentioned.
Feeding a potion... to a pet?
Audrey subconsciously looked toward the corner of the bedroom.
There, her most loyal companion, the Golden Retriever Susie, was lying on the carpet. Seeing her master look over, she immediately wagged her tail happily, sticking out her tongue and panting with an innocent face.