Elysia hadn't expected herself to be such a crybaby.
Perhaps her empathy was simply too strong, or perhaps it was because the story involved Durandal.
Either way, Durandal had ended up rinsing the mountain of bubbles from her own hair.
By the time they finished their shower and stepped into the bathtub, Durandal could still see the faint, rosy tint on the tip of Elysia's delicate nose.
"That Otto is truly despicable! I hope I never meet him!"
Elysia bunched her hands into pink little fists and swung them at the empty air.
It looked as if she wanted to take a page out of Herrscher of Sentience's book and experience exactly how Otto's Soulium face would creak and groan under her touch.
Amused, Durandal gently pressed Elysia's fists down. She scooped up some water with her palms and softly wiped away the tear tracks from the other girl's face.
"There's no need to be sad, and no need to be angry. Those things are in the past. Besides, it's impossible for you to ever run into him. After all... once he finally obtained what he desired, he vanished from everyone's sight forever."
As for the present, they were separated from Otto by a staggering expanse of nearly fifty thousand years.
Durandal left that last part unsaid.
Elysia nodded, then leaned back contentedly into Durandal's embrace and closed her eyes.
The tub was only so big, so with two people sharing the space, they were naturally layered one over the other.
Durandal stayed on the bottom, acting as a soft cushion, while Elysia stretched out comfortably on top of her.
The water was clear, without any bath salts or additives to cloud it. Through the shimmering surface, Durandal had a clear view of Elysia's graceful, defenseless silhouette.
She tried to force herself to follow Elysia's lead and close her eyes, but her lids refused to budge, and her gaze was utterly pinned.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Durandal finally understood the weight behind those words.
It wasn't the first time she'd seen her partner's body, yet the restlessness stirring inside her was unlike anything she had felt before.
"It's so loud~♪"
Just as Durandal was locked in a fierce battle with her own instincts, Elysia suddenly spoke up.
Durandal paused, confused. She had been having a chaotic internal monologue, sure, but she hadn't said a word out loud.
Then, she watched as Elysia turned over in the water like a lithe serpent, shifting from lying on her back to a half-prone position, resting her hands on Durandal's shoulders.
A lock of pink hair slipped quietly from Elysia's shoulder, brushing against Durandal's skin.
The sheer allure of the scene sent Durandal's already racing heart into overdrive, her pulse thundering even harder than before.
Elysia's right hand drifted slowly downward, her index finger pressing against Durandal's chest, tracing small, teasing circles.
"It's so loud~♪" she repeated.
Durandal looked down at Elysia's hand, finally realizing what the "noise" was. It was her own heart.
"Elysia..."
Durandal's eyes darkened. Her hands found Elysia's soft waist, and with a firm tug, she pulled their bodies flush against one another.
Seeing the flush creeping onto the tips of Elysia's ears, Durandal couldn't resist pressing her lips close, murmuring in a breathy whisper, "I remember telling you back in that fitting room, didn't I? 'If there's a next time, I won't let you off so easily.' Do you remember what your answer was?"
The "elf" in her arms let out a soft giggle.
"I remember~♪"
Elysia tilted her head back slightly, staring into Durandal's azure eyes—eyes that had lost their usual cool restraint and were now clouded with desire. "My answer was, 'I won't do it again~♪', and..."
Without hesitation, Elysia leaned down and captured Durandal's slightly dry lips. This wasn't like the fleeting peck from before; this kiss was deeper, more desperate, and impossible to break.
Durandal braced her elbows and used her core and legs to shift their positions, quickly flipping them so she was on top.
Her kisses trailed down from Elysia's lips, lingering at the curve of her throat. While a woman's throat isn't as prominent as a man's, it was beautifully exposed as Elysia arched her neck in cooperation.
"Mm... ah...♪"
Elysia opened her eyes, which were now misty with a watery sheen. After letting out a few strained breaths, she pleaded softly, "The... the bed. Can we go to the bed... please?"
Hearing this, Durandal lifted her head. The slight crimson glint in Durandal's eyes gave Elysia a start.
"Elysia..." Durandal's voice was husky. "When you were teasing me in the tub, you should have been mentally prepared for me to settle the score right here."
Elysia: "..."
What preparation? She was just teasing out of habit! Who would have thought she'd dig a hole for herself like this? Her first time in a place like this felt a bit too intense.
Fortunately, Durandal was mostly just talking tough. She didn't actually intend to go all the way in the bathtub.
The water wasn't exactly pristine after they'd been soaking in it, and as much as she knew Elysia's constitution wouldn't be bothered by a few germs, Durandal loved her too much to let her take even the slightest risk.
So, before reaching the point of no return, Durandal lifted a softened, trembling Elysia—whose eyes were already brimming with physiological tears—out of the water.
She snatched a bath towel, dried them both off, and carried her straight to the bed.
Durandal didn't resume immediately. Instead, she rummaged through the luggage Connie had sent up earlier and pulled out an elegant gift box.
"What's that?" Elysia asked, clutching the duvet around herself in a futile attempt at modesty.
Durandal didn't answer with words. She simply opened the box. Immediately, a familiar, rich aroma wafted into Elysia's nose.
"Chocolate?"
Though it smelled different from the ones she'd had before, Elysia recognized the deep scent of cocoa instantly.
"That's right. Chocolate."
Durandal took out a heart-shaped piece and gently tucked it into Elysia's mouth.
Then, meeting Elysia's puzzled gaze, she explained, "I told you before—I don't need a birthday as an excuse to give you a gift. Today is February 14th. Back in my hometown, this is Valentine's Day. It's the day you give handmade 'Honmei' chocolate to the person you love most."
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T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.