Chapter 203 Alone with the Viscount?s daughter?
(POV: Lumiere)
As we stepped through the portal conjured by Stellaria, the world seemed to shift around us.
The Viscounty of Delia sprawled before our eyes, a vast expanse of untamed wilderness, obscured by a dense thicket of towering trees and tangled bushes.
It was impossible to determine our exact location within the Viscounty, the seemingly endless sea of foliage shrouding our sense of direction.
Turning towards me, Lucilia pierced me with her mesmerizing blue eyes.
"Firstly," she began in a firm yet gentle voice, "we must report to my father."
It's been a while since I've seen Viscount Randolph.
It'll be good to speak with him again.
"But shouldn't we do it after everyone's gotten settled?" I asked.
"Our first priority should be to inform your father of our presence," Lucilia replied.
I nodded in agreement.
"Still, I'd like to contact someone in the Royal Capital... maybe later."
Serena interjected.
"Who's this person, my lord?"
I met Serena's gaze, some regret lingering in my eyes.
"It's Genny, I left things on bad terms," I sighed. "I really need to fix things."
Stellaria hovered above me and yawned. "Lame... you shouldn't be apologizing to someone who's beneath you."
I sighed heavily. "Don't start this, Stellaria."
"I don't even have the energy to," Stellaria yawned once more.
The reason I got angry that night was because of Arthur.
If he hadn't said those things that he did, I'm sure I wouldn't even have acted the way I did.
Genny?s precious to me, and with how busy I've been we haven't seen eye to eye much.
I miss my "little" sister.
Lirien cradled the ailing Isadora in her arms.
Her pale complexion and the telltale signs of illness that clung to her made me a worry.
Even after she told me not to, I couldn't help myself.
In a way, I felt like her pregnancy was more abnormal than— "abnormal".
"...Lord Lumiere..."
"Hm?" I raised an eyebrow.
"...where can I rest Isa...?"
"I'm sure there's a place we can rest," I slowly turned back to Lucilia.
Lucilia swiftly turned to Grome issuing urgent instructions.
"Guide Lady Lirien and Isadora to the nearby small mansion. Ensure they have everything they need for her recovery," she commanded.
A sharp salute from Grome. "Aye ma'am!"
"Wait... Lucilia, shouldn't we follow Lirien? I thought your father's there?"
This was a Viscounty with new governance, so I wasn't surprised that Randolph, the current Viscount, hadn't decided where he'd erect his new mansion.
Most likely, the small mansion had always been there.
"No, my father isn't at the small mansion," Lucilia replied.
Nodding understandingly, I turned to my loyal subordinates.
"You guys should go with Grome then, I'll go talk with Viscount Randolph and get back to you guys later," I instructed. "Sounds like a plan?"
Fasit bowed her head respectfully.
"As you wish, Lumiere-sama," she replied dutifully.
However, just as Lucilia and I started heading forward, Ophelia's delicate hand grasped mine, stopping me in my tracks. I turned to her, my brow furrowing in curiosity. "What's the matter, Ophelia?" I asked, sensing her unease.
Ophelia averted her gaze, her cheeks turning a shade of crimson with each passing second. "Promise me you won't do anything... weird with Lucilia in the bushes," she stammered, her words trailing off.
I raised an eyebrow, more confused than ever.
"Weird?" I asked. "What're you talking about?"
Ophelia's eyes widened, a mortified expression crossing her face.
"Yunno, like... s-se...," she stammered, but abruptly cut herself off.
With a slight shake of her head, she called me an idiot before storming off.
"I shouldn't even be wasting my time around you. It'll tarnish my royal image," she muttered under her breath.
Royalty?
That was definitely not the first time she'd said that.
And yet, she still wanted everyone to refer to her as royalty.
Talk about an ego.
I sighed heavily, exasperated. "Sure, whatever you say," I muttered.
"Hah~ she's like that," Lucilia remarked.
"I know, trust me..."
After all, I was stuck in a dungeon with her for almost an entire day.
Shaking off the confusing encounter, I stretched.
"Lead the way," I said, a small smile playing at the corners of my lips.
Lucilia's eyes sparkled as she smiled even more.
"Please, come with me," she said softly. "We're not far now."
She was a lot like Viscount Randolph, but only personality wise.
Everything about her contrasted how daughters of nobility would be. She somewhat reminded me of Aurora, the 8th princess of the Shield Kingdom, as they were both humble to the point you could relate with them.
Lucilia?s humility spanned to the point where she willingly traversed the Beasts? Domain to speak with me.
Indeed, a fine woman.
I nodded, my hands finding their way into my pockets as we walked side by side.
The sound of our footsteps echoed through the empty forest.
Lucilia glanced at me, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"So, Lumiere, it seems like you have a lot if women in your life."
I chuckled softly and shrugged.
"Well, that does seem to be the case," I replied casually.
"Do you plan on marrying them?" Her gaze never leaving mine.
"Marriage? Definitely."
Lucilia's eyes widened, and she stumbled slightly, her hand instinctively reaching out to steady herself.
"W-What?" she stammered, taken aback by my nonchalant confession. "Are you planning to marry all of them?"
I grinned, enjoying her reaction.
"Absolutely, if I truly love them, why should I hesitate? What kind of love would I have for them if I hesitated to answer such a question."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"You're lucky, Lumiere," she said, a touch of envy seeping into her voice.
A genuine smile tugged at my lips as I glanced at her, my gaze gentle.
"Trust me, Lucilia, you don't even know the half of it," I replied.
I mean, Unique Skill: [Beginner's Luck] duh??
The amusement on her face dissipated, she looked more sober now.
"It seems like you could use some of that luck right now. Relationship troubles, perhaps?"
She let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly.
"I wish I even had a relationship to begin with," she confessed softly.
I couldn't understand how someone as stunning as her wasn't in a relationship yet.
"You're telling me that someone as beautiful as you hasn't found the right guy?"
Lucilia let out a small sigh, her gaze thoughtful.
"It's not that simple," she replied, a touch of sadness lacing her words. "The men I've met so far have been either snobby or complete asses."
I chuckled lightly, understanding her frustration.
One person came to mind— Salmarc.
"Ah, the troubles of dealing with children of noble birth," I remarked. "They have a knack for being difficult."
She nodded in agreement, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Just as we were engrossed in conversation, Lucilia suddenly stumbled, her body swaying uncontrollably.
Without hesitation, I rushed forward and instinctively wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me.
Our eyes locked for a brief moment, and in that instance, time seemed to stand still.
Her delicate features were so close, and I could feel the touch of my long black hair gently brushing against her face.
As the initial shock wore off, Lucilia stammered "T-thank... you."
Concerned for her well-being, I asked, "Are you alright?"
I noticed the slight tremble in her voice as she stammered out a reply, "I... I'm fine."
It was clear, though, the close proximity caught her off guard.
Lucilia's cheeks flushed a faint shade of pink as she found the courage to speak up once more.
"Um, Lumiere," she began hesitantly. "Your hand is, um, touching my... you know..."
Realizing my mistake, I quickly released my hold on her and apologized sincerely.
Why did I instinctively grip her ass for that long?
My intrusive thoughts... fuck you...
"I'm sorry about that," I reassured her with a gentle voice. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Let me help you up."
I watched as she struggled to maintain her balance, her gaze darting nervously around as if searching for an escape from the awkward silence that had settled between us.
Sensing her discomfort, I decided to break the ice.
"You know, Lucilia, your gown seems a little too long," I remarked, tilting my head slightly and offering her a small smile.
She glanced down at the fabric pooling at her feet and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I guess so," she replied softly.
If it was Aurora, she'd have fallen down at least twelve times already.
"Well then, let's fix that," I said.
Without another word, I crouched down beside her, causing her to take a step back in surprise.
"WH-WHAT'RE... YOU—?!"
Ignoring her initial reaction, I gently took hold of her delicate, flesh-toned legs, they filled my hands gently.
It reminded me of the fluids that would roll down Serena or Isadora?s legs when their panties experienced a crises.
"Trust me, Lucilia," I looked up at her. "I'll make sure your gown doesn't hinder your movements anymore."
She hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
But after a brief pause, she nodded "Okay."
With utmost care, I carefully tied her gown to one side, ensuring that it would no longer be an obstacle to her graceful steps. As I finished, I stood up and took a step back, admiring my handiwork. Lucilia's expression softened, and the corners of her lips curled upwards into a grateful smile.
"Thank you, uh, Lumiere," she murmured.
I returned her smile.
"My pleasure," I replied. "Now, shall we?"
I took a few steps forward, then realized that Lucilia had yet to move.
Turning back to face her, I raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
"Is something the matter?" I asked.
Lucilia's gaze met mine.
She took a deep breath and spoke with newfound confidence.
"No, nothing's the matter. Let's... let's get going," she replied.
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