Chapter 26
“Ah!”
Lucy barely managed to keep her balance on the slippery floor.
She almost fell.
‘Is he trying to assassinate me?’
She took several deep breaths to calm herself.
Then…
‘Huh?’
Her eyes widened as she noticed the tiny hairs standing up on the back of Edward’s neck because of her breath.
‘…Was that because of me?’
It was strangely fascinating.
He looked like a perfectly carved statue, someone who shouldn’t even have body hair.
‘He actually has tiny hairs.’
Soft little hairs that looked oddly delicate compared to his intimidating body.
Tap. Tap.
Curious, she gently touched them with the sponge.
The fine hairs stood up even more.
“…”
It felt strange seeing his body react to every touch and every breath from her.
Somehow, she even found it a little enjoyable.
“…Phew.”
Pretending she was just relaxing, she gently blew on his back.
The tiny hairs stood up even more.
Watching the soft hairs rise over his marble-like back, she kept scrubbing.
Honestly…
Edward’s body was satisfying to wash.
His muscles had deep curves and sharp lines.
His skin looked smooth but also felt firm.
It made her want to clean every little corner carefully.
Scrub… scrub… scrub…
She had been nervous at first, but now…
‘This is just like any other difficult but rewarding job.’
The bathroom was filled with hot steam.
Even a little movement made her sweat.
Drops of sweat rolled down her flushed face and fell from her chin.
Her dress clung to her body, soaked with water and sweat.
It was uncomfortable, but somehow satisfying.
Lucy became more and more focused as she carefully washed his back.
She didn’t even notice his shoulders gradually becoming redder.
Scrub… scrub… scrub…
Then something caught her attention.
‘What’s this?’
Near his spine, where his back met his waist, she noticed a small scar.
‘This looks familiar.’
Without thinking, she glanced at her own arm.
It still carried the marks left by the Temple’s experiments and countless injections.
For some reason…
Edward’s scar reminded her of those scars.
The difference was that hers were recent.
His scar had healed long ago, leaving only a raised mark.
She didn’t know how he got it.
‘…What a shame.’
No matter how awful Edward’s personality was…
She couldn’t deny that his body was beautiful.
Having a scar like that…
Especially in such a noticeable place…
Then she remembered something.
Powerful priests could heal not only wounds but even old scars.
Holy power naturally possessed healing and purification abilities.
‘Maybe I should try.’
She already believed this body’s holy power was probably at the level of a High Priest.
‘It’ll also let me see how strong my purification ability really is.’
That would help later.
After all, she’d probably have to purify Edward several more times.
As she stared at the scar, Edward noticed she had stopped moving.
“What is it?”
His voice sounded strangely low and rough.
“Duke…”
Ignoring the goosebumps spreading across her arms, Lucy smiled.
“…I’ll give you a free service!”
Without warning, she placed her bare hand over the scar and poured holy power into it.
“…Ah…”
“…!”
The next instantā
Heat burst out like fire spreading across spilled oil.
It crashed over Lucy in a wave.
She stared in shock.
‘W-What is this…?’
The scar absorbed her holy power much faster than their kiss had.
It was as if it wanted to devour every bit of strength she had.
“Hah… ah…”
That wasn’t all.
Every time her holy power flowed into the scar, heat spread through her chest.
Her mouth filled with saliva.
Heat rushed into her head.
It felt as though her thoughts were melting away.
Crack.
The solid ceramic bathtub began to crack beneath Edward’s grip.
Water leaked through the cracks, soaking the floor and Lucy’s skirt as she knelt beside the tub.
Even then, she couldn’t move.
It felt as though every nerve in her body had gathered at the fingertips touching Edward.
Each time her holy power flowed into him, tingling sensations raced through her arm.
‘Why…?’
It was only skin.
So why did it feel so deep and overwhelming?
As if she had plunged her hand into thick, sticky oil.
Even though the bathroom was unbearably hot, goosebumps spread across her wet skin.
‘I’m cold.’
‘This is strange. It’s hot… but I’m cold.’
‘It’s like swallowing burning ice.’
‘Hot… no, cold… warm… no, freezing…’
Her confused mind searched for warmth.
Toward the nearest source of heat.
Toward Edward.
“…Damn it.”
The moment his low voice reached her earsā
Splash!
Her body was suddenly pulled toward the warmth.
“Ah…!”
When she came to her senses, she was splashing helplessly inside the hot bathtub.
More precisely…
She was in Edward’s arms.
‘Ah…’
His red eyes were brighter than ever as they looked down at her.
Just meeting his gaze left her unable to move.
Like a mouse frozen before a snake about to swallow it.
Yet the shiver running through her wasn’t only fear.
Her entire body had become strangely sensitive.
Her clothes rubbing against her skin felt almost painful.
‘We haven’t even done anything… so why…?’
Before she could finish the thoughtā
“Mmph…!”
Something warm and soft covered her lips.
As she instinctively parted them, he immediately moved deeper.
“Ah…”
The sound she tried to make disappeared into the kiss.
He explored her mouth, brushing over her teeth before pressing in even deeper.
The corners of her mouth ached from being stretched so wide, but she couldn’t pay attention to that.
Helplessly, Lucy could only accept the overwhelming kiss.
Her mind became hazier and hazier.
‘Is this…’
‘Is this… a kiss?’
Even that thought scattered apart before she could finish it.
Edward was no calmer.
His entire body leaned toward the small woman in his arms.
No matter how much he kissed her, the thirst inside him only grew stronger.
“Hah… ah…”
Hearing her weak sounds filled him with a desire so intense that even he was shocked.
He hated losing control more than anything.
Yet instead of regaining his senses and stopping himself…
He willingly gave in.
‘Damn it.’
This had never been his intention.
Just moments earlier…
When he had said he would wash her, he had meant it.
‘It’s been a while since I bathed an animal.’
He had only been thinking casually, as if washing a pet mouse.
Instead…
She had insisted on washing him.
‘What could those little hands possibly do?’
More importantly…
Edward had never allowed anyone to help him bathe.
He even changed his own clothes himself.
He disliked close physical contact with anyone.
He should have refused her immediately.
But…
For some reason, the words never came out.
