Chapter 163: Gods and Dragons......
R/ê/Ad lateSt ch/a/pters at nô(v)e(l)bin/.c/o//m Only
In a quiet and elegantly furnished room, where simplicity met an air of grace, a young lady slowly awoke.
Her red eyes fluttered open, greeted by the gentle light of the morning sun filtering through the open window.
As she stirred, the soft straps of her one-piece dress slipped slightly from her shoulders, the white, comfortable blanket falling away as she sat up.
"He's still not here..." she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her gaze drifted to the window, where the morning sky seemed to stretch endlessly.
She rubbed her eyes, still drowsy, and stifled a yawn with her hand, feeling a pang of disappointment.
Seo had been waiting in this room since the previous day, but there had been no sign of the person she longed to see.
Sighing, she noticed the large full-body mirror in the corner of the room and turned to look at her reflection.
Her once meticulously styled hair was now tousled, strands falling loosely in all directions. The dress she wore, which had been flawlessly smooth, was now slightly wrinkled.
Even the light makeup her maid carefully applied had begun to fade.
'I got too comfortable...'
Seo thought, a faint blush rising to her cheeks as she realized how disheveled she looked.
She had never imagined she would fall asleep in this room-Riley's room-without even noticing.
She hadn't even locked the windows.
The thought of how at ease she must have felt to drift off in his bed made her smile, but it was tinged with embarrassment.
Seo reflected on Lina's advice as she stood before the mirror.
"Remember, Lady Seo, if you really want your relationship with Riley to progress, then it's better to make the first move!"
"First move?" Seo had questioned, her brows furrowing in curiosity.
"Yes, right now you currently have the lowest-cough! I mean, the highest advantage of all the girls aiming for his heart, so it would be best to take advantage of your lead."
"Is that so...."
Remembering the conversation, Seo felt a twinge of regret.
Despite Lina's efforts to make her look presentable, Seo had let the opportunity slip through her fingers.
She sighed, her reflection showing the disappointment she felt.
'I should probably return soon...'
Her probation was already a precarious situation.
Lina was probably doing everything she could to keep the dorm master or any academy staff from finding out that Seo had left her room to visit Riley-a man-an act strictly forbidden by academy rules.
Her overstaying for the night wasn't part of their plans.
'Lina must be worried....'
Seo had already burned through a significant amount of her merit scores, and any further demerits could seriously impact her standing at the academy.
Despite her high status and excellent academic performance, Seo knew that her probation was lenient-a mere slap on the wrist compared to what other students might have received for a similar incident just a few days ago.
Seo came to Riley's room with a sense of purpose, though her intentions were clouded by confusion.
Her emotions were in turmoil, leaving her unsure of what she truly wanted.
Seo was known as Riley's friend, and some even whispered that she might be more than that, perhaps one of his lovers.
With that in mind, Yui felt a tinge of acceptance, acknowledging the unusual situation but choosing not to let it bother her.
For now, her focus remained on her duties, leaving the complexities of young love to those
directly involved.
"...I'm going to get back now," Seo quietly mumbled, fully intending to jump out the window and avoid any more complications.
Her probation at the academy was already a burden on her mind, and she didn't want to risk
getting caught.
But before she could make her escape, Yui gently but firmly grabbed hold of her hand.
"Please wait, Lady Seo. I've already prepared the bath, as you can see. Why don't you take one
first? I'll make some early morning breakfast for you in the meantime," Yui offered, her eyes soft with concern.
Seo's appearance, though still lovely, showed signs of the night she'd spent in Riley's room.
Yui's instincts as a maid told her that Seo needed some care before stepping out into the
world again. "There's no need—" Seo began, trying to decline, but Yui was already a step ahead. "Now, now, come on, don't be shy, Lady Seo," Yui insisted, quickly maneuvering behind Seo
and gently but firmly pushing her towards the bathroom. "I've even brought a new dress for
you to change into."
"But I'm going to be in trouble-" Seo protested weakly, her concern over the academy's rules still lingering.
"Don't worry," Yui reassured her with a confident smile. "Lina has got everything under
control."
...
'Is this really alright....?'
As Seo settled into the warm, fragrant bath, her thoughts swirled with a mix of
embarrassment and satisfaction.
The bubbles rose around her, gently caressing her skin as she sank deeper into the water,
letting the warmth envelop her.
Her cheeks flushed a bright pink, not just from the heat of the bath but from the realization of
her situation.
Here she was, completely naked, bathing in a room that wasn't hers, in a house that wasn't hers, and yet, despite the initial discomfort, a strange sense of pride washed over her.
'I'm the first girl to use his bathroom, right?' she thought, a small, almost mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
The thought of it made her heart flutter with a mix of excitement and a little bit of triumph.
For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the thought, feeling a sense of connection to Riley that no one else had.
It was a silly, almost childish notion, but it made her feel closer to him in a way that nothing
else had.
The warmth of the bath, combined with the soft scent of the aromatics, made her feel relaxed and content, if only for a short while.