First Time (2)

Just as Shui feared, someone from Fairies' Wardrobe had seen Shui and reported it to Lilia. Based on how the conversation went, the woman didn't do it because she didn't want him there, she just wanted to spread the news of his growth. But he couldn't help but keep a bit of resentment.

When they arrived home, Shui and Yur were both given a long and harsh lecture from Lilia. For Shui, it was about how he was going to become a worthless gigolo. That wasn't too hard on him, but once she started laying on the guilt by mentioning Kate he couldn't lift up his head.

Yur got criticized for bringing Shui there, and then it went on to be about him needing to settle down and make a family. On any normal day, Shui and Yur could easily beat Lilia in stamina, but this time both of them were drained of their energy by the time she let them go.

'Ugh, that was terrible.'

Even as he lied on his bed, Shui was still bothered by the lecture Lilia gave him. He knew he couldn't completely throw all of the responsibility onto Yur, but he wished he could be cut some more slack.

'I can already imagine how they're gonna look at me tomorrow.'

Thinking of his future interactions with the women at Fairies' Wardrobe, Shui groaned.

Knock, knock.

In the middle of his self-reflection, someone knocked on the door. The aura that leaked from them was enough to indicate their identity, so Shui gathered his composure and went to open the door. However, all of that composure was lost when he saw the expression on her face. It was a smile so bright it almost seemed genuine, but he could instantly spot the playful look in her eyes, like a predator that had spotted a fun toy.

"What do you want Lily?"

"Why do you seem so down, Master? Are you really that upset we interrupted you?"

Lily had been there when Lilia was giving her lecture, but she had remained silent so he had thought she would let him off, but apparently not.

"Hurry up and tell me what you came here for."

"You won't even invite me inside? Don't tell me you managed to sneak one of them in there?"

Despite his years of experience, Shui felt a vein about to pop from Lily's blatant attempt at provoking him. He could guess that what she wanted to talk about couldn't be discussed in the open, so after a deep breath he widened the door and allowed her entry before sealing it shut.

Without reservations, Lily sat down on the bed and then gestured for Shui to sit next to her. Considering the place he had visited this night, he might have questioned her motives if not for the look in her eyes. Once he took a seat, Shui remained tense as he waited for her to start. He was worried that she would keep messing with him, but after clearing her throat, she showed a more stern expression.

"Now Master, as your loyal retainer, I have no intention of barring you from visiting such a place again. However, so that you don't fall prey to depravity, I hope that you can be satisfied with playing by yourself until you meet a fitting lady."

"Stop!"

Even though it was the same topic, hearing this 'advice' from Lily was several magnitudes worse than Lilia's lecture. Shui felt his face burning from rage and embarrassment, but Lily only shook her head with a firm look in her eyes.

"No, I must say this for your sake. I may not have much experience, but one of your late mother's staff told me that they would be glad to help you learn how to take care of yourself. Of course, if you find it hard to approach them with this matter, then I can learn first and then-"

"I said stop! Are you going to force me to command you!"

As her oathsworn master, if Shui really wanted her to stop talking then the thought alone would be enough, but he usually never went that far as he respected her rights. However, this was simply too much.

"I get it! I get it! I won't go there again. Just please, stop."

Once she saw this reaction, Lily nodded in approval. Ryan showed little interest in the opposite gender, and the same went for the twins so she truly had no idea how to handle boys going through puberty, but was glad to guide her master to the right path.

"Good. I heard that you might be too worked up tonight, so I can also soothe you until you fall asleep. Now come."

Seeing Lily spread her arms after saying those words made Shui second guess himself, but with another look he was sure that his retainer was truly ignorant of what she had implied.

'You're the one that grew up in the slums so why can't you understand what I can?! This is making it look like I'm a pervert or something! I only looked at those books because dual cultivation seemed like an interesting method, but now it just looks like I was a horny brat!'

When Shui froze while trying to defend himself in his mind, Lily saw it as hesitation and pulled his head down to her lap.

"Just relax, I'll have you asleep in no time. I always do this for my brothers and sister whenever they have trouble sleeping. Even a few weeks ago, Sia had a nightmare so I hugged her and rubbed her back until she went back to sleep."

Shui was sure Sia would be very upset that her sister was blurting out her dark secret, but he wasn't in the mood to sympathize. Lily's soft thighs didn't hurt the back of his head or neck, and once she started combing her hand through his hair while humming a gentle melody, he quickly lost the urge to resist.

'I'll just play along for now.'

Once Shui surrendered himself, his mind began to fall into a mystical comfort that he had long forgotten. Ever since losing his mother, he had almost always slept by himself and was reluctant to seek comfort even from Lilia. He thought that he had to be strong and couldn't afford to let such weakness show, lest he ruin himself. However, in the arms of the one who had sworn to the heavens to be loyal to him, he slightly opened the seal on his vulnerability.

Sleep came like a cool night breeze, but even as he slept, Shui's awareness of the bond between master and retainer grew.