CHAPTER 24: BATHROOM INCIDENT

A luxury bathroom.

That was the only phrase her mind could supply.

And even that felt insulting.

This wasn’t just luxurious.

This was absurd.

Melis sat naked on a small square stool in the center of the room, arms wrapped tightly around her body as she stared around in stiff disbelief.

A spacious, minimalist room with floor-to-ceiling marble that looked quite expensive. A freestanding soaking tub anchored the space to face a panoramic window to give you a view of the quiet neighborhood.

Even the ceiling had a soft, white glow without torches or light crystals.

And everywhere she looked...

Devices.

Metal devices.

Strange, shiny, humming devices.

The room was so large that her words echoed lightly.

"This bathroom is much bigger than my bedroom back in the Royal Capital..."

She mumbled it, cheeks puffed in confusion.

Steam curled around her knees.

Looking at the square vent in the ceiling reminded her of the one in the room earlier.

She stroked her chin and hummed thoughtfully.

"That one spits cold wind... but this one doesn’t..."

She turned to her left.

"So strange..."

That was the same thing she said when she saw the long slim rectangle in the living room.

"It was able to play entertaining memories..."

Nick called them "soap operas" for some reason.

"Why does a peasant have a memory crystal?"

Her voice thinned.

"This makes no sense... none of these things have been invented yet... they don’t exist... not even in the Magic Research and Development Institute..."

The more she thought, the more she hugged herself as she curled slightly inward.

Her bare skin glowed faintly under the soft lights.

"Is this really a peasant’s home...?"

She pouted, arms squeezed tight across her chest to hug her soft, round breasts so hard that her deep cleavage practically spilled out over her forearms.

"Is he truly a peasant...?"

Anyone who looked at her could instantly tell she was very frustrated.

You could see it all over her body: the tips of her ears had turned bright red, her slim shoulders were practically shaking, the heels of her soft, pale feet were flushed pink, and even the fissures of her breasts were glowing red like she was burning up inside.

One tiny poke, and she looked ready to snap and unload a flood of angry questions.

She shook her head violently.

"Ridiculous..." (,,ࡇ,,)

She reached forward and furiously twisted the hot knob of the bathtub.

FWOOOOOOSH

At once, hot water poured into the large ceramic tub.

Steam bloomed into the air.

Melis blinked at the steady stream.

"It’s too convenient..."

She slipped inside and lowered her body inch by inch until the water cupped her chin.

Immediately—

"Aahh..." ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝). ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

Her entire body melted.

All the tension drained from her shoulders.

Her black hair spread behind her in the water like an elegant dark halo.

Her pallid cheeks flushed pink, and she slowly sank until only her eyes peeked above the surface like a lazy crocodile.

"I don’t mind staying here..."

She slid even deeper.

"For a long... long while..."

And then—

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"EHHH!?"

Water splashed as she jerked upright, hair flinging droplets everywhere.

Her heart leapt up her throat.

Nick’s voice filtered in from behind the door.

"Hey, uh— I’ve got fresh clothes for you."

Melis froze.

Nick continued talking, sounding mildly irritated.

"I washed your red skirt, and got you a black sweater but it might be a little too big on you. I’m still a little confused on how you’re a knight when you’re so small... and uhh... your panties are almost dry."

His face squeezed a little.

"Great. I’ve gone from washing Merlin’s panties to washing the panties of the first random lady who barges into my house..."

He muttered under his breath, probably thinking she couldn’t hear.

She absolutely did.

Melis cleared her throat, trying to sound dignified.

"Uhh... you’ve done a good job. You can leave the clothes at the door."

Nick squeezed his face harder.

"Don’t make it sound like I’m your servant—? I’m not— I— hold on..."

He suddenly paused.

"Huh...?"

Melis frowned.

"What...?"

Nick spoke slowly.

"Why is the temp meter saying sixty-six degrees?"

Melis blinked. Temperature what (｡· v ·｡) ?

Nick scratched his cheek audibly.

"That doesn’t make sense... it’d only be that hot if the water was, like... eighty degrees—"

Melis tilted her head.

"Hmm...?"

She sounded like that one kid in class who pretended they understood everything just so the teacher wouldn’t call on them.

Nick’s next several seconds were spent thinking.

"Oh no..."

He went full panic.

"OH HELL NO—!!"

THUD—clatter—FWOOMP!

The clothes dropped to the floor as Nick barged into the bathroom door so fast Melis thought he exploded through it.

The moment he crossed the threshold—

"AHHH—IT’S— HOT—!!"

He recoiled violently and stumbled backwards as a wave of blistering steam slapped him in the face.

Hissing, he waved his arms.

"What kind of insane temperature—!?"

It felt like he was being cooked alive.

He sucked in a deep breath.

"[Fire Magic: Heat Drain!]"

The air warped and twisted as the steam was violently pulled away like thick sheets of oppressive heat.

Nick stumbled forward again, waved the last of the vapors aside and stopped.

Melis blinked up at him from inside the tub.

"...?"

Nick’s brain melted.

She was naked.

Fully naked.

He had a perfect view of pretty much her entire body soaking in the steaming water.

Her thick, smooth thighs glistened under the surface as water lapped gently against them. They looked like oiled up turkeys moments before being put in the oven.

Higher up, her full, perky breasts floated weightlessly and bobbed just a little with every breath she took. Her nipples were soft and relaxed from the heat, but her rosy pink areolas stood out against her skin.

It was a staggering sight to behold.

Melis stared back.

Nick screamed internally.

Outwardly, well-respected silence.

Then—

"KYAAAAHHHHH!!"

Melis slapped her arms over her chest as water splashed everywhere.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!?"

Nick didn’t even answer.

He dove straight toward her.

She yelped.

He knelt beside her.

"Hold still, okay? I just need to check where it hurts."

His hands started at her shoulders.

His big, warm palms pressed gently as his thumbs slid over her soft skin to feel for any burns.

But all he felt was the softness of her feminine body.

She shivered a little.

It wasn’t the pain that bothered her.

It was how ridiculously careful he was being.

The way he kept gently grabbing and repositioning different parts of her naked body, like he was scared to hurt her even a little, somehow made the whole thing feel kinda pervy and wrong.

When he reached her thighs, he squeezed them slow and steady, one at a time.

Her cheeks wanted to turn red but he watched her face the whole time so she had to endure.

『I don’t get it... is he trying to force himself on me?』

Her eyes went half-lidded.

『I mean... I can’t say I’m impressed...』

Then he turned her just a bit so he could check her lower back and that round, perky butt. His hands cupped each cheek carefully by scooping them up and giving a gentle squeeze like he was testing a ripe fruit.

The skin there was smooth and firm.

They even bounced back softly under his fingers.

"Nothing bad here..."

He let his thumbs brush lightly over the curve one last time before pulling away.

"You’re okay. Just a little pink from the heat."

How did water at eighty degrees celsius not hurt?

『I think I have to double check!』

His hands traveled again.

Melis’s mind lagged three seconds behind.

By the time she processed what was happening—

Nick was squeezing her bare, soaked ass again.

Hands cupped around both cheeks.

Her face went blank.

Completely, utterly blank. ( : ౦ ‸ ౦ : )

Nick finally looked up.

He saw her expression.

And he died inside.

He retreated like a guilty raccoon, hands flailing.

"I... I... okay... that was..."

He scooched back some more.

"THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT—!!! I SWEAR—!!!"

He refused to look at her.

"I saw the temp meter and thought you were boiling alive like an idiot—NOT that you’re an idiot..."

Melis let out a tiny sigh and reached for a towel.

"It’s fine."

Nick froze.

"Huh?"

"I didn’t sense any ill intent. That’s all."

She wrapped the towel around her small body in a calm and matter-of-fact motion.

Inside her mind:

『Does he expect me to be flustered? As if. I’m not some sheltered maiden...』

『The water wasn’t even that hot...』

『And it’s hardly the first time a man has tried something in a bathhouse...』

Her eyes narrowed in memory.

『Those knights thought I was naïve to share a bathhouse with them. Those idiots tried to force themselves on me and I cut off their arms... they deserved it.』

Aloud, she stared at Nick blankly.

"Are you going to leave? Or do you want to see me naked again?"

Nick turned paler than a dying onion.

"Uh, my bad..."

He walked out of the bathroom with his head down.

Melis just sat there with an unreadable face.

══════

Later.

Nick paced back and forth in the dining room like an anxious father who had dropped a baby.

"Why did I touch her—why!? WHY!?"

He clutched his head.

"She didn’t get mad when I spit in her mouth—WHICH WAS ALSO STUPID— but THIS—!?"

He slammed the table.

"THIS is the one that breaks her!?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"What if touching her like that triggered an awful memory or something!? Oh god— I’m an idiot—"

Then—DING.

[ⓘ New Task Assigned!]

[ⓘ Make it up to Melis.]

Nick stopped.

Then smirked as he tightened the apron around his back with a sharp tug.

"Alright."

He cracked his knuckles.

"If the System wants me to fix this—"

He swiftly pulled out a pan, turned on the stove, and grabbed ingredients.

"Then I’ll make her a dish so friggin’ good she forgets everything."

He slammed the cutting board down dramatically.

══════

Melis stepped out of the hallway like a shy little creature emerging from a forest.

Except the little creature was wearing a sweatshirt so baggy it looked like it’d swallow her whole.

The sleeves dangled past her hands.

The hem nearly reached her knees.

But she hugged it like it was the softest, warmest treasure in the entire realm.

She rubbed the fabric between her dainty fingers.

In slow and gentle strokes.

As if she couldn’t believe it was real.

"This fabric..."

She rubbed again.

Then again.

Her eyes softened into two fuzzy, feline slits.

"This fabric is very good. It’s so comfortable... and what amazes me is there’s no irritation or roughness even when it rubs against my skin..."

A tiny purr-like sound escaped her.

"I almost never want to put on armor again..."

Her smile curved, cat-like, smug and lazy.

Right as she was about to nuzzle the sleeve—

sniff— sniff—

She froze.

Her nose twitched as her pupils dilated.

An aroma drifted in from the dining room...

A rich, buttery fragrance of sizzling eggs.

A warm wave of perfectly seasoned chicken.

Hints of spices she had never smelled in her entire life.

Melis almost levitated from where she stood.

"Wh... what... is this heavenly smell...?" (｡ﹷ ‸ ﹷ｡ )

Grrrrrrr—

Her stomach let out a tiny, traitorous roar.

She clutched her belly in embarrassment.

"No way... this scent alone is making me hungry...?"

She drifted forward like a ghost following incense.

Nick was in the dining room finishing the last touches on a multi-layered platter. The table setting looked like something out of a noble banquet... perfectly placed plates, polished cutlery, folded napkins, sparkling glasses filled with chilled water.

Every time he placed something down...

Ding!

A floating info board popped up.

[ⓘ Congratulations! Your skills have leveled up!]

‣ Homemaking Skill: A → A+

‣ Napkin Folding Acquired!

‣ Table Setting Mastery: +2% Hospitality Bonus

‣ Cooking: S Rank (MAX!)

Nick immediately swiped the system windows aside with mild annoyance.

From the corner of his eye...

He saw Melis standing awkwardly, staring at him like a hungry kitten that had lost its mother.

"Oh— hey."

He smiled, gentle but a little shy.

"Come sit. Dinner’s ready."

Her ears perked.

She hurried to the table and sat down like she was afraid the food would run away.

Nick took his seat across from her.

"Alright. Dig in."

She did.

Immediately.

Her fork dove straight into the chicken like a weapon.

"Mmmmm...!"

Her face softened instantly.

"This is delicious..."

She took another bite, eyes sparkling.

"In Camelot, the royal chefs prepare this kind of dish differently for the knights. They bake it with herbs and pepper... but it never tasted like this."

Nick puffed his chest a little. Just a little.

Melis continued happily.

"Mmm~ with cooking skills like yours... you’d make an excellent personal chef to the Queen. She absolutely adores exotic dishes."

DING.

A system message flashed before Nick’s eyes.

[ⓘ New Information Logged!]

‣ Queen of Camelot → Prefers exotic cuisine

‣ Compatibility Route Added!

Another window popped right under it.

[ⓘ Potential Heroine Detected!]

‣ Consider courtship for political advantage

Nick’s smile died immediately.

He glared internally.

『I don’t care if the queen is a heroine. Keep your filthy NTR route to yourself.』 (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ )

"Hmm?" Melis asked, cheeks full of chicken.

"Oh— nothing." He laughed nervously. "Here."

Nick leaned over the table and wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

A soft brush across her lips.

[ⓘ Melis appreciated that gesture...]

‣ Affection +6

‣ Mood: Warm & Comfortable

Melis’s eyes fluttered for the tiniest half-second.

Then she nodded at him with a tiny, pleased smile.

Then she went back to attacking the food.

Nick watched in silence.

She ate like a knight but smiled like a girl who’d finally found a soft place to land.

Halfway through her plate, Melis paused.

"Your name is Nicholas, yes?"

One thing Nick couldn’t ignore was how hard it was to listen to Melis. Her voice sounded almost exactly like his mom’s but just a little deeper. And the fact that she kept calling him by his full name didn’t make it any easier.

It felt weird.

Honestly, it was surprising that such a deep voice came out of someone so small.

Nick leaned forward.

"Yeah... that’s my name..."

She stabbed a chunk of chicken, then pointed vaguely toward the hallway.

"I’m not mad at you."

Nick blinked.

"Really?"

She nodded and took a big bite.

"Like I said earlier, I didn’t sense any ill intent when you... touched me. I could genuinely tell you only wanted to see if I’d gotten burned."

She nibbled on the fork’s tip as her strawberry-pink lips pressed adorably against the metal.

Her deep voice softened.

"Actually... I found it kind of sweet."

Nick’s heart stuttered.

"Oh. Uh. Yeah! I— I mean— good! I’m glad."

She smirked and held out her empty plate.

"Could you get me another one? I’m still hungry~"

Nick grinned.

"There’s plenty more where that came from."

He stood up, grabbed a ladle, and began scooping more food onto her plate.

DING.

Another notification appeared.

And Nick’s smile evaporated instantly.

[ⓘ URGENT QUEST UPDATE!!]

‣ Merlin is on the verge of making contact with your Love Rival in a few hours!

‣ Immediate return to the game recommended!

Nick felt his brain reboot.

The ban on his account was lifted but at what cost?