Chapter 291

‘...That’s definitely Ethan in the bath, right?’

Standing in front of the Blackwood family’s large bath, I double-checked the clothes left outside the bathroom before going in.

From the size of the clothes, the dirt stains, and the smell, it was definitely Ethan’s training outfit. And since there weren’t any other clothes in the basket, it was clear he was the only one inside. After all, aside from me, the only person who could share the bath with Ethan in this mansion was Harold.

‘And I saw Harold go into his office earlier.’

It would be pretty embarrassing if I walked in naked and found someone other than Ethan in there. But knowing Harold’s habit of sitting in his office for at least three hours once he goes in, I was certain he wouldn’t leave until after dinner.

With that thought in mind, I carefully placed my neatly folded clothes in a visible spot before entering the bathroom, just in case someone else came by and saw Ethan and my clothes, prompting them to leave.

Creak.

“...”

As soon as I opened the door, the first thing I saw was Ethan’s back. No one else was in the bath.

Ethan probably noticed someone coming in from the sound of the door, though he wouldn’t know exactly who it was since he had his back turned to the entrance.

“...Father?”

“It’s me, Young Master Ethan.”

“Oh, Lilith.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

He responded normally, without any particular reaction. He probably thought I came in to help him bathe. ...Of course, my real intention was far from that.

“Did you come to help me bathe? Or is there something urgent you need to say?”

“No. I just came in to bathe with you, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Ah… You came to… bathe with me….”

I subtly hinted that I was completely naked, but his reaction was oddly mild.

I distinctly remember him freaking out before when I came in just to scrub his back.

On the one hand, it was kind of satisfying to see him react this way, but on the other hand, it left me feeling somewhat conflicted.

‘So now he’s not even fazed by me being in the bath with him?’

We’d done everything—kissing, touching, even seeing each other naked—so I guess being in the bath together was no big deal anymore. His attitude, as if this was just part of everyday life, rubbed me the wrong way.

Of course, it wasn’t like there was anything I could do about it. All I could do was silently complain in my head.

Besides, the whole reason I came into the bath was to get Ethan to finally cross that “last line,” so I had to put up with it for now.

Scrub, scrub.

“...”

Slosh, slosh.

“...If you’re uncomfortable, should I leave first, Lilith?”

“I told you, I came in to bathe with you, Young Master. Are you really going to leave me here alone?”

“...Sorry.”

What kind of personal maid kicks her master out of the bath just to take it over for herself?

I made a point of washing myself as audibly as possible, so Ethan could hear the sound of me scrubbing. Once I was done, I quietly approached the spot opposite Ethan in the bath and slipped into the water.

Splash.

“...”

“...”@@novelbin@@

The slight rise in the water’s surface sent a ripple over the edge of the bath, the sound of water hitting the floor breaking the silence.

Ethan, sitting across from me, seemed strangely intent on avoiding my gaze. His face was flushed enough to be noticeable even from this distance.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed about being naked at this point, is there?”

“...Lilith, are you trying to seduce me right now?”

“In a way, you could say it’s a kind of seduction. ...Although I didn’t come here with the intent of telling you to pounce on me right this second, Ethan.”

“P-pounce? I’ve never forced myself on you.”

“Yes, that’s true. And that’s why I trust you. Even if I flaunt my body in front of you like this, I trust that you’ll have the self-control not to recklessly take me, Young Master Ethan.”

“...”

Ethan nervously brought his hand to his lower half, while I deliberately averted my gaze and continued to speak as calmly as possible.

“Young Master Ethan.”

“Y-yes, Lilith?”

“Do you remember two years ago, when I gave you your first ‘reward’?”

“...The reward, you mean...”

“When you were still young and reckless, I let you touch my breasts.”

Splash, splash.

“I remember, so you don’t have to wave them in my face.”

Ethan, averting his eyes from the ripples made by my two breasts, recalled that moment from two years ago.

“And do you remember the condition I set when I let you touch them back then?”

“...The condition was that if I won a round against Father in a duel, you’d let me touch your breasts.”

“You remember well. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten, given how freely you’ve been touching me lately.”

“...You were half-seducing me yourself.”

“Yes, and the other half was you giving in to your own desires and pouncing on me.”

“...”

Ethan fell silent, as if finally realizing it. Lately, he’d been crossing that line more often without fulfilling the condition of beating Harold in a duel.

Of course, it wasn’t like I had much right to say anything, since I’d been letting him get away with it... But for the first time, the significance of the act still mattered to me.

I hoped that he remembered the meaning behind the first time I allowed him to touch my breasts.

“Lilith said she likes strong men.”

“...”

“That’s why you said you’d let me touch your breasts if I won a round against Father, the strongest man in the Blackwood Estate. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s correct. I’m glad you remember so well.”

“In this case, forgetting would’ve been the problem. After all, the only reason I started taking dueling seriously was because of what you said.”

“...”

“It’s thanks to you that I’ve reached a level I never would have imagined back then. And for that, I’m truly grateful.”

Honestly, Ethan’s skills weren’t lacking. He was only being outclassed because his opponent today was Harold.

In fact, compared to his peers, Ethan’s skills were practically unmatched. He knew this himself—among the academy’s swordsmanship club, the only person who could rival him was Gerenol. He maintained a winning record against everyone else ranked third through fifth.

Since he had awakened as a Sword Expert during this summer break, the gap between him and the other students, save for Gerenol, would only grow wider.

The only reason it seemed like he was being overwhelmed was because his opponent was Harold, the youngest Sword Master in the empire, who had broken countless records. Even if I brought Gerenol in here, he wouldn’t stand a chance against Harold.

That’s why asking Ethan to win even a single round with all restrictions removed might’ve seemed like an impossible request. But if I was going to make such a difficult demand, it was only fair to offer him an equally motivating reward.

“The condition I gave you back then wasn’t just an excuse to preserve my ‘Saintess’ status.”

“...”

“I was genuinely attracted to seeing you grow stronger, Young Master Ethan.”

“...”

“That’s why I truly want you to win your next duel. A duel with Master Harold—one with no restrictions or handicaps. I want to see you take at least one round.”

I’d said all this, and still, his expression didn’t change much. So far, all I had done was offer encouragement in the form of words.

But now it was time to move on from words and discuss the real “reward” I had in store for Ethan.

“If you manage to win that duel, Young Master Ethan... I’ll give you everything I have, without regret.”

“E-everything...?”

“Yes, everything.”

“Everything... L-Lilith’s... everything...”

As if in a trance, Ethan muttered the last words I had spoken, repeating them over and over.

I could practically feel his racing heartbeat resonating through the water, even though we were seated far apart. Or maybe it was my own heartbeat I was feeling.

“Of course, my ‘everything’ as a mere maid might be nothing more than a trivial amusement for you, Young Master.”

“W-what are you talking about?! L-Lilith, you’re not just some maid to me...!”

“As a swordsman, you should prove it with your sword. If you truly care for me, Young Master, show me your strength and claim me with it.”

“...”

‘That should be enough motivation for him.’

I had deliberately chosen the bathhouse as the place to say this to stimulate Ethan’s imagination. Simply saying the words “everything” wouldn’t have been as effective as saying it while showing my body.

It was like those product pages that show cross-sections of adult toys for clarity... No, forget that. That’s an inappropriate metaphor, even for me.

Anyway, with this, Ethan would be completely focused on winning his next duel against Harold.

Of course, Harold wasn’t someone who could be beaten with mere determination... but I had faith in Ethan.

“I’m looking forward to it, Young Master Ethan. I’m counting on you to take my first experience with the full power of your swordsmanship.”

“...Yeah. You can count on me, Lilith.”

“I’ve said everything I needed to. I’ll be leaving first, Young Master.”

“...”

Splash.

Leaving Ethan, who was clearly not in any state to “leave the bath” himself, I got out of the bath first.

Now...I could only pray that Ethan was as lustful a man as I thought he was.