Chapter 419

-Rub.

“Hng, ugh...”@@novelbin@@

-Rub, rub.

“Ah, ugh, hmm…”

I indulged in a bit of forbidden relief, using the pen I had borrowed from Ethan. I was fully aware that he could notice me at any moment, but I honestly couldn’t hold back any longer. Spending hours each day in the same space with him seemed to intensify my desires to unbearable levels.

Fortunately, he was focused on his work, his gaze fixed on his desk. That likely gave me at least an hour of freedom.

That would be plenty of time to take care of my needs alone. And if any trace was left behind, I could easily clean it up with magic.

-Rub.

“Haa... haa…”

Holding a letter in one hand, pretending to read, while rubbing myself with Ethan’s pen was certainly a scandalous act. There was something particularly thrilling about indulging my desires with his object while he was right there, none the wiser.

“Haa... haa…”

‘...I still have to make it look like I’m working. After all, he did entrust me with this task.’

Trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy, I focused on the contents of the letter he’d given me, planning out the response in my head. I’d need to start with a courteous mention of the Blackwood estate’s relations, slipping in a few compliments regarding Lady Priha, subtly mentioning her as the count had requested...

-Stab.

“Hng, ah…?!”

Ah, damn. My voice slipped.

I’d been so engrossed in the letter that I accidentally pressed the pen a bit too hard. Though it didn’t pierce too deeply through my clothing, it was enough to elicit a sound from me.

The problem was, Ethan had already turned his gaze toward me, having clearly heard my stifled moan.

“Lilith? Is something wrong?”

“N-No, I just dropped my pen. It startled me a bit.”

“...Is that so? But I didn’t hear it fall.”

“I caught it just before it hit the ground. Like this…”

“I see. Good catch.”

I held up the pen, showing him as if it had been an innocent slip. Luckily, the excuse was plausible enough, and Ethan returned his attention to his work without further suspicion.

He was too far away to notice the slight wetness at the end of the pen.

‘Phew… didn’t get caught...’

-Thump, thump, thump.

My heart raced from the near-miss. It felt oddly thrilling—more so than what I’d done alone last night in bed. The thought of Ethan discovering what I was doing excited me in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

If he caught me using his pen in such a manner beneath the table, how would he react? Imagining the consequences, I slowly brought the pen back under the table.

‘Lilith, what are you doing under there?’

‘N-No, Master Ethan... It’s just a misunderstanding…’

‘Is that so? But that’s my pen you’re holding, isn’t it? Mind explaining why the end of it is so damp?’

‘Well…’

-Rub.

“Hic…ah?!”

‘And look, your undergarments are soaked too. I didn’t expect my maid to be pleasuring herself right in front of me.’

‘…’

‘For such a lewd maid, I suppose some sort of punishment is in order, wouldn’t you agree?’

“Haa... haa... haa…”

Punishment, huh... Just what sort of punishment would that be?

Would he tie me up and deny me release, over and over again? Or perhaps make me walk around the estate naked, like in the original game? Although, I'd rather not expose myself to anyone else but Ethan.

Then again, since Harold isn’t around, maybe it would be possible to restrict access to the fourth floor of the estate and do it there without interruptions…

‘Lilith, lift one leg and relieve yourself here.’

‘W-What are you saying, Master Ethan? Even if I’m crawling around naked with a collar on, surely you wouldn’t expect me to...’

‘Did you think I’d let you off lightly for indulging yourself so shamelessly right before me? We can always clean up with a spell afterward.’

‘B-But lifting a leg to urinate like that... only male dogs do that...’

‘Lilith, when did I ever say you had the right to defy me?’

“Haa... ugh... ah…”

-Drip, drip…

“Haa... haa...”

Ah, no… That’s far too perverse.

He wouldn’t really make me do such a thing just because I snuck a bit of pleasure in front of him, would he?

Of course, given the things he did in the original game, that would be mild in comparison. As long as no one else saw, I could probably endure it…

“Haa… haa…”

“Lilith, could you come here for a moment?”

“Haa… huh, ah…?”

“Lilith?”

“Uh, ah, yes?! Y-You called for me?!”

“Sorry. Were you focused on something?”

“No, no! I mean, yes, yes! I was so focused that I didn’t hear you at first!”

“Hm?”

“...Sorry. I was just mentally preparing my reply to the letter and didn’t catch what you said. Could you repeat it?”

“There’s something I want to give you. Could you come over here?”

“...Pardon?”

His words instantly reminded me of the “punishments” I had imagined moments ago, but of course, it couldn’t be that.

The real Ethan wouldn’t punish me like that, nor would he make me parade around naked or do something as degrading as the scenarios in my mind.

Taking a steadying breath, I walked over to him as calmly as I could manage.

“W-What is it that you wanted to give me?”

“Here, Lilith.”

“...Huh?”

Steadying myself so he wouldn’t notice anything unusual, I moved closer. He placed two small, shiny gold coins in my hand.

“Thanks for helping me with the extra work these past few days. It wasn’t really something you had to do, so consider this a bonus.”

“A... bonus?”

“I’ve been meaning to give you one, and since I remembered, I thought I’d hand it over now. Don’t refuse.”

“...”

I didn’t expect to actually receive a bonus.

I hadn’t been doing this with the intention of getting paid. It was more for my own benefit, to finish the work quickly so I could secure more time with him.

Initially, it had been about carving out more sparring sessions, and lately, it was about getting through things quickly so we could go on our date.

‘I was only helping to satisfy my own desires, and here I am getting paid…’

Suddenly, a wave of guilt crashed over me. Using Ethan’s pen to secretly indulge myself while he worked, all the while he was thinking of rewarding me…

And here I’d been envisioning him as some tyrant who would make me perform degrading acts, when in reality, he was so kind…

“...Is it not enough?”

“N-No… It’s just that I didn’t expect a bonus at all...”

“You’re a talented individual who even attended Luminor Academy, so it would be strange not to compensate you fairly.”

“I... see.”

“Anyway, the reply to that letter will be the last thing I’ll need from you today. I should be able to wrap up the rest of my tasks by this afternoon.”

“...Understood. Thank you very much for the bonus, Master Ethan.”

With that, I bowed and returned to my table.

In this mood, I couldn’t possibly continue my previous activities. I could only focus on the letter in front of me and draft the reply.

‘...Focus on work. I shouldn’t let myself get caught doing anything foolish.’

I’d be able to satisfy all my desires tomorrow anyway.

With that thought, I discreetly wiped the slightly damp end of the pen and got back to the task at hand.