Chapter 367: She's playing games?



Lucretia & Lumiere Arc

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(POV: Lumiere)

I strolled over to Lucretia's gazebo, where her servant was diligently applying oil to her naked body.

Yeah, you heard me right. Naked.

As I approached, I calmly greeted and called her name, "Yo, Lucretia."

But she barely acknowledged me, responding with a nonchalant "Hm?" as if she didn't realize I was there. But then again, it made sense since she was laying flat on the platform and her face was facing the other side. I actually planned to use a calmer approach so that she'd freak out when she saw me casually looking at her naked body.

It was disappointing that she reacted in a much more levelheaded manner, almost like she wasn't naked. If she had a thing for me, she'd definitely have a problem with me looking at her body, and last time in the cave, she was flustered when I took a peek at her breasts... Or maybe It's because she was still vulnerable after the attack of that Frost Lich.

And there was also one other possibility... She planned this.

I sighed.

"Is this... a bad time? I could always come back later."

I suggested, hoping she might have other plans; or at least that's what I wanted her to think.

Lucretia chuckled softly. I could painfully hear the amusement in that posh English voice of hers.

"Do I not have the liberty to be naked in my own home, or is that a problem?" she teased, observing my verbal reaction as her servant continued to work, lathering the fragrant oil on her skin.

Her skin got shinier by the second and it got oddly stimulating.

She still couldn't see my face, and casually inquired, "No response? Flustered, are we?"

I shook my head, trying to maintain my composure. "No, I'm not." I assured her.

"That's rich," Lucretia laughed mischievously.

As her servant gently massaged her back, she playfully quipped, "Or do powerful women scare you?"

I chuckled softly, meeting her gaze. "I've known a few powerful women in my time, so I guess I'm immune to it," I admitted. "Besides, let's not forget that I'm the bastard child of the King; I've lived under the roof of the King's four wives, who were all 'more' powerful and influential women."

I was sure I saw Lucretia twitch for just a short moment. If I could see her face, I'd be able to discern her emotions, but for some reason that statement easily irked her... Sigh, women.

"Oh, I see," she cooed.

An awkward pause followed before she spoke again, this time in a more sincere tone.

"Let's just take that as a poorly timed joke."

I agreed, feeling the tension ease. "Sure, no problem."

She was right actually, that was an absolute joke, and whether or not she meant it as one (which she obviously didn't) mattered very little. I agree that Lucretia does have some impressive skills that makes her likely one of the more powerful women in her generation... But that was it.

Mina respectfully acknowledged Lucretia and then retreated from the rooftop, leaving us alone.

However, even with her servant gone, Lucretia remained relaxed, her gaze was still purposely fixed away from mine.

"Are you planning on taking this serious or not?" I prompted, frustrated.

Lucretia chuckled and quipped, "Can you get me my panties?"

"Eh?"

In my life, I'd never heard such a more scandalous question, and I'd heard quite a lot— after all, I knew Isadora.

I faltered at her request, seeking clarification, "Wait, what did you just say?"

"I need your help with getting my panties," She comfortably explainedu, adding, "Or do you have a problem with that?"

Wary of her intentions, I cautioned, "There's a lot of problems when it comes to getting a woman's panties for her. Are you sure this isn't a trap?"

Why am I the only one that has to get caught up in the most awkward encounters, why do they always have to he so lewd damn it! Can't I just be a normal guy, having one normal day?! Curse you, [Beginner's Luck] I blame this all on you...

Expectedly, Lucretia still remained calm about her request.

"Come on, there's nothing wrong with that, I just need your help to get something I can slip my naked body into... You'd be doing me a huge, huge favor~~"

I hesitated, "Well, before now you didn't have a problem flaunting that nakedness."

Growing agitated, Lucretia raised her voice, "Don't make it sound like I'm a whore! I don't usually do this; you're the only man who's seen me this way. Not even my hus..." she paused abruptly and then retraced her words. "Nevermind."

Chastened, I backtracked, "I didn't mean it that way."

"Nevermind, just get them for me, please?" Lucretia impatiently asked.

Now, the only thing I was painfully praying for, was that these panties of hers weren't freshly worn, please, let it be a fresh pair.

"Sure," I accepted her request for "help".

But then, I asked her a strange question that even I didn't know the reason I'd done it.

"The panties you need me to bring, were they worn or is it a fresh one?"

Lucretia chuckled, "Hm, you sound eager... To know~~" I heard her deliberately slow, chuckling voice. "Well, I'll tell you now, I just wore them... So I'm sure they're still as hot as when I removed them, I always get a little hot in-between my legs, but you can't blame me right? I'm a woman after all."

Yep, I'm screwed.

I sighed and then told her, "You sound like you're enjoying this.."

"Huh? Why whatever do you mean?" she faked a clueless response with that half-assed acting of hers. "I'm merely a woman who seeks to reunite with her panties... Or forever naked I shall remain."

She's talking like those nobles that use super archaic English...

"Whatever," I told her.