Chapter 72: Liliana [1]
Rumia lay sprawled on the tangled sheets, her thighs still parted wide in the haze of exhaustion, the creamy mess between her folds glistening under the dim light. My seed mingled with the faint smear of her virgin blood, a vulgar claim painted on her innocence. Her breasts rose and fell with shallow breaths, pale skin gleaming with sweat, her nipples still tight and rosy from all the abuse I had given them. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks streaked with dried tears, and the faint marks of my kisses lingered along her neck. Her eyes fluttered half-closed, lashes wet, and she looked so utterly ruined that I couldn't help but smile at the sight.
I left her to recover, her small body trembling faintly even in sleep, and padded into the bathroom. The room filled with the sound of water rushing into the tub, steam curling upward as I poured in hot water. I sank into the bath, warmth seeping into my muscles, washing away the sweat and scent of sex. For a while, I let the heat soak into me, stretching out, eyes closed, remembering the way she had screamed when I broke her. By the time I rose, the water had cooled. I dried off quickly and stepped back into the room, naked, droplets sliding down my chest.
I froze.
By the bed, Rion knelt, her dark hair falling around her face as she carefully wiped Rumia's body with a damp towel. Her maid outfit clung to her figure, the neckline showing the faint swell of her breasts as she leaned over her mistress. Her expression was focused, gentle, as she traced the cloth over Rumia's cheeks, neck, and down to her thighs. She was cleaning everything—sweat, blood, even the sticky mess between her legs—with precise care, her loyalty obvious in every movement.
For a moment, I wondered whether Rumia would even need a bath after how thorough Rion was being. She was meticulous, almost tender, even as her hands pressed that towel against the intimate parts I had claimed.
Rumia stirred, a soft groan escaping her lips as her eyes fluttered open. "Hmm… haah…"
Rion quickly straightened, her gaze flicking toward me for only the briefest instant before darting away, refusing to acknowledge my nakedness. Her voice clipped, professional. "I will prepare the bath for Lady Rumia." She bowed and slipped past me swiftly, skirts brushing her legs as she left.
I smirked faintly, watching her go, then turned back to the bed. Rumia was awake now, blinking blearily, her body still uncovered. I pulled on my pants, fastening them casually, and walked closer.
"H… Hal…" She whispered, her voice hoarse, her body trembling as she tried to push herself upright. Pain made her groan softly, and she pressed her thighs together, hiding what she could.
"Take your time," I told her with a calm smile.
Her face turned scarlet as she crossed her legs tightly, arms folding to cover her chest. She looked fragile and flushed, but even in that state, she was beautiful.
"You know," I said with a teasing edge, "that just makes me want to fuck you again."
Her blush deepened, her eyes darting away, unable to handle the shamelessness of my words. I sat on the bed beside her, leaning close, inhaling the faint scent of her sweat mixed with the natural sweetness of her hair.
"Did you like it?" I whispered, brushing my lips near her ear, my hand resting lightly against her thigh.
Her cheeks turned pinker still, her voice almost a murmur. "Y…yes. It was good…"
"It will be even better now that you won't feel that pain anymore," I said, letting my hand trail upward.
Her eyes flicked to mine suddenly, a trace of suspicion or perhaps curiosity there. "You seemed… good at it. Was that your first time, Harold?"
I didn't hesitate. "Lisa was my first."
Her fingers curled into fists in her lap, the softness in her expression hardening for a moment. "…Which one was better?" She asked, voice low.
I chuckled, brushing off her question with a grin. "Both."
Her pout showed she wasn't pleased by the answer. But before she could dwell, I leaned down and kissed her neck, whispering against her flushed skin, "Lisa isn't here now. So I'll be having my fill with you. Will you give me pleasure?"
Her body shivered under the brush of my lips. "I… I can…" She breathed, eyes fluttering.
Smirking, I slid my hand upward, cupping her small breasts, feeling their warmth and softness under my palm.
"Hhhhaaa… mmmhhmm~" She moaned softly, arching as I kneaded them, my lips pressing against hers in a hungry kiss. The wet sounds of our mouths meeting echoed faintly through the room, stirring the heat between us again. My cock swelled quickly, pressing against my pants, demanding another round.
I lowered my mouth, kissing down the slope of her breast, circling her nipple with my tongue before sucking it lightly.
"Ahhh… Haaahhh~" Rumia gasped, her back falling to the bed as her hands gripped my hair, pulling me closer.
The urge surged in me, stronger than before. Maybe because it had been so long before Lisa, maybe because Rumia was so freshly broken in, but my lust felt endless, ravenous. All I wanted was to push myself inside her again, feel that tightness, that trembling resistance giving way to my cock.
And then—
"Lady Rumia."
Rion's voice cut through the haze, sharp and controlled. I lifted my gaze to see her standing in the doorway, her gray eyes stern.
"The bath is ready."
Rumia flinched, covering her chest quickly with her arms, her face burning red with embarrassment. She pushed herself up slowly, glancing between us.
"…Ha… Rion…" She stammered, brushing hair from her face.
I sat back, sighing softly in annoyance, though my cock still ached for release. Maybe it was better this way—another round and I might not stop until dawn.
Rumia gathered herself with a shy glance my way, clutching a sheet around her body as she rose.
"Hal…" She whispered, eyes glinting before she turned toward the bath.
I grabbed my shirt and blazer, slipping them on with a smile. "We'll see back at the academy."
She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips, before disappearing into the bathroom with Rion's guidance.
Finished buttoning my shirt I slipped into my academy blazer and left Rumia's house.
Wait, how do I go back to the Lindow Mansion?
A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I stepped out into the night. Well, perhaps it was a small price to pay for the reward I'd just received.
The streets of Erestia transformed completely after sunset. Gone were the bustling crowds of merchants, students, and nobles that filled the daylight hours. In their place was a different kind of beauty – softer, more intimate. Elegant street lamps cast pools of golden light at regular intervals, creating a patchwork of illumination and shadow that stretched endlessly before me.
I found myself walking at an unhurried pace, taking in the sights that few nobles bothered to witness. Night workers hurried past with purposeful steps, their faces briefly illuminated before disappearing back into the darkness. Occasionally, a carriage would rattle by, its occupants hidden behind drawn curtains, leaving only the sound of hoofbeats echoing off the cobblestones.
However, I soon became aware that my academy uniform was drawing unwanted attention. Even in the dim light, the distinctive cut and quality of the fabric marked me as nobility, making me stand out like a beacon among the common folk. A group of late-night revelers had already begun whispering and pointing in my direction.
Deciding discretion was the better part of valor, I shrugged off my blazer and draped it over my arm. The white shirt underneath was less conspicuous, though I suspected my distinctive white hair and unusual pink eyes would still mark me as someone noteworthy. There was little I could do about those particular features without resorting to more elaborate disguises.
The night air felt refreshing against my exposed arms, and I was beginning to enjoy the peaceful solitude when a cry shattered the tranquil atmosphere.
"L…Let go of me!"
The voice was distinctly feminine. My head snapped toward the source of the disturbance.
In a narrow alleyway between two shops, I could make out the silhouettes of several figures. A woman was struggling against what appeared to be three men, her movements frantic and increasingly desperate. Even from a distance, I could tell she was a commoner – her clothes were simple and practical, lacking the fine materials and elaborate styling that marked the upper classes.
The men restraining her, however, were clearly knights. Not royal guards, judging by their armor and bearing, but hired swords or house guards belonging to some noble family. Their equipment was well-maintained but lacked the distinctive markings of the crown's service.
"Do you wish to die?" One of the knights growled, his grip on the woman's arm tightening visibly. "Stop struggling and follow us quietly."
"It hurts! Please, let me go!" She pleaded, her voice cracking with pain.
"Lord Xavier is waiting for you," another knight interjected coldly. "Don't waste his valuable time with your theatrics."
"I don't care about your Lord Xavier! Leave me alone!" The woman's struggles intensified, her red hair whipping around her face as she twisted and fought against their restraining hands.
I found myself studying her more carefully. She was undeniably beautiful, with striking red hair that seemed to glow even in the dim alleyway and eyes that flashed with defiant fire. There was something about her that suggested she wasn't entirely ordinary, though I couldn't quite place what it was.
My hand moved instinctively to the inner pocket of my blazer, where I always carried a particular item for situations exactly like this. The blue mask felt cool and familiar against my fingers – a tool I'd acquired specifically for moments when I might need to intervene without revealing my identity.
For a heartbeat, I hesitated. Getting involved in someone else's troubles was rarely wise, especially when noble houses were concerned. But curiosity had always been one of my weaknesses, and this could be some kind of path showed by destiny for me.
Decision made, I slipped the mask over my face. Then I moved, my body flowing into the combat stance that years of training had made second nature.
Three opponents. Standard house guards, probably competent but not exceptional. I would need to move quickly and efficiently to avoid drawing additional attention.
I launched myself forward, using the nearby wall as a springboard to gain both height and momentum. My first target never saw me coming – my fist connected with his jaw in a perfectly placed strike that sent his eyes rolling back in his head before he collapsed to the cobblestones like a discarded puppet.
The second knight was already turning when I landed, but his reflexes were too slow to match my speed. A powerful kick to his midsection sent him flying backward into the alley wall with a sickening crunch. He slumped to the ground and didn't move.
The third guard had managed to draw his sword, the blade gleaming dully in the lamplight as he swung it toward me in a desperate arc. I ducked under the clumsy attack, my hand shooting out to grasp his wrist with iron strength. A quick twist and throw sent him crashing to the ground, and a precisely placed kick to his temple ensured he wouldn't be getting back up anytime soon.
The entire encounter had lasted perhaps ten seconds.
"Oh... thank you..." The woman said, her voice uncertain as she stared at my masked face. Relief and wariness warred in her expression, as if she wasn't entirely sure she'd been rescued or simply acquired a different captor.
"Who are you?" I asked, keeping my voice carefully neutral.
"Liliana..." She replied after a moment's hesitation, her red eyes never leaving my face.
"What did those men want with you?"
"T…That is..." She trailed off, clearly reluctant to share the full story.
I let the silence stretch between us for a moment before speaking again. "Do you want me to wake them up instead?"
"W..Why would you do that!" She asked, her eyes widening in alarm.
"Because maybe I made a mistake," I said with deliberate coldness. "Perhaps you're some kind of dangerous criminal – a thief or murderer who deserved to be captured."
"I am NOT!" She protested vehemently, her cheeks flushing with indignation. She glanced around nervously at the unconscious guards, then back at me. "Let's... let's go somewhere more private, and I'll tell you everything."
I gestured to the empty alley around us. "I think we're quite isolated here."
"Somewhere else!" she insisted, her tone bordering on desperate. "Please."
Something in her voice made me reconsider. Perhaps she had good reason to fear being overheard, even in an apparently empty alleyway.
"Alright," I agreed with a sigh.
Ten minutes later, I found myself in a modest inn room, watching as Liliana pressed herself against the far wall with wide, frightened eyes. Her face had gone pale, then flushed bright red, as if she were seeing some sort of monster instead of her supposed rescuer.
"W…What are you doing!" She stammered, her arms wrapping protectively around herself.
"Bringing us somewhere isolated, as you requested," I replied calmly, settling into the room's single chair.
"You went too far!" She accused, her voice high with panic. "I... I won't!"
I raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious about her assumptions. "You won't what? Have sex with me?"
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Don't come any closer!"
"And what will you do if I do?" I asked, rising from the chair and taking a slow step toward her. With a smile, I placed my palm against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her. "I'm quite tired, so you'd better have an excellent explanation for all this drama."
The truth was, I had brought her to this private room for practical reasons – to ensure she couldn't pull any tricks or call for help if she proved to be less innocent than she appeared. Here, we were truly isolated, and no one could observe or interrupt our conversation.
"O…Okay..." Liliana seemed to deflate, her resistance crumbling under the weight of exhaustion and fear. "I... I'm not from the capital originally. I came here to earn money for my family – we're deeply in debt, and I was desperate for work."
She paused, gathering her courage before continuing. "I accepted a commission from the adventurer's guild. Someone wanted me to capture a red rabbit – apparently for their private collection. I have certain... talents... when it comes to finding and catching rare beasts, so I managed to complete the job successfully."
"This someone was Xavier?" I prompted.
She nodded miserably. "When I brought the rabbit to him, he... he didn't just want to pay me for the commission. He demanded that I become his woman, his personal possession."
"So you refused and fled, but his men caught up with you," I concluded, and she nodded again.
"Tell me about this Xavier. What's his full name and title?"
"Count Xavier Aldrich," she whispered, as if speaking the name too loudly might summon him.
I filed that information away for later consideration. The Aldrich family was known for their wealth and their somewhat... flexible... approach to ethics.
"Now tell me about your unique abilities with rare animals," I said, and I saw her flinch slightly at the direct question.
She hesitated, clearly torn between honesty and self-preservation.
"I might be able to pay you handsomely for your services," I added, "and keep you safe from this mess with the Count."
Liliana clenched her fists, internal struggle written clearly across her face. "I... I can smell them," she finally admitted. "Rare beasts, magical creatures... I can track their scents even when they're trying to hide. And somehow, I can approach them without triggering their defensive instincts."
"What are you, some sort of hunting dog?" I asked.
Her face flushed bright red again, and she turned away from me in embarrassment. But as she did, something extraordinary happened. From beneath her red hair, two distinctly feline ears emerged, twitching nervously in the lamplight.
I stared in fascination. A beastkin. And not just any beastkin – one with clearly developed abilities that could be incredibly valuable in the right circumstances.
"Well," I said softly, smiling. "This changes everything."