Chapter 412: You Actually Tricked Me!

Erina, fuming with anger, couldn't help but stomp hard on Sui's foot. She glared at him, her cheeks puffed up like a little bun.

Sui winced in pain, quickly trying to placate her, "I meant it—you really do look beautiful. I was just complimenting you!"

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!" Erina's face flushed with embarrassment as she hurriedly crouched down, asking with genuine concern, "Does it still hurt? Do you want me to massage it for you?"

"I'm not sure, it still kind of hurts," Sui said, his face serious, though he was faking the pain.

"Really? Let me help you to the sofa," Erina said, shocked by his response. She quickly supported him, guiding him towards the living room.

Sui exaggerated his limp, leaning heavily on Erina as they walked. He enjoyed the softness of her body and the light fragrance that surrounded her. Once they reached the sofa, he let her gently help him down.

Erina carefully lifted Sui's foot onto her lap and began massaging it with her hands. "How is it now? Does it still hurt?" she asked.

"Yeah, it still hurts, but it feels a little better when you rub it," Sui replied with a feigned expression of relief, thoroughly enjoying the tsundere's foot massage.

"Really? Then I'll keep massaging it," Erina said, nodding seriously as she continued kneading his foot with her delicate hands.

Sui reclined on the sofa, squinting his eyes in comfort. After a while, he shamelessly placed his other foot on Erina's lap as well, letting her tender hands work their magic on both feet.

Erina, dressed in her school uniform, had two golden strands of hair playfully framing her snow-white cheeks. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, and the Butterspice rested on her hair like an exquisite bow, its shimmering wings adding a dreamy touch to her appearance.

Admiring her for a moment, Sui realized how the Butterspice enhanced Erina's already striking beauty, making her look pure and elegant—like a flower fairy.

"Sui, can I have this butterfly? It seems to like me a lot," Erina suddenly asked. She held the Butterspice in front of her violet eyes, gazing at it with adoration.

It was clear she had taken a liking to the charm.

"Of course," Sui replied casually. The Butterspice wasn't particularly expensive. "But tonight, you'll do what I say~," he added with a sly smile.

Erina's face turned red, and she glared at him in mock annoyance, but she didn't refuse.

"But... what does this little guy eat?" she asked, curiosity overcoming her embarrassment. She had never taken care of a butterfly before.

"It enjoys liquid foods like honey, juice, milk, or sugar water," Sui explained, before the system chimed in automatically, "Butterspices are drawn to places with strong fragrances and tend to bond with the first person who feeds them. They often perch on their owner's collar, cuffs, or hair."

'No wonder it likes to stay on her head—it must be attracted to her scent,' Sui muttered, knowing well that Erina's hair always smelled pleasant. He had taken in that fragrance more than once.

"Erina, the powder on its wings is actually a very rare and valuable spice," Sui added. "You can just feed it honey or milk, and it will be happy."

"Really?" Erina's eyes sparkled with joy. She seemed even more attached to the Butterspice now.

Sui realized that the Butterspice was an ideal gift for girls—it had a regal and beautiful appearance, could be kept as a pet, worn as a decoration, and was quite practical, serving as a portable spice dispenser. He decided to get one for Alice as well, and of course, he wouldn't forget Megumi.

As for Tohru... well, she probably wouldn't need it. And Kanna might try to eat it.

Just then, Sui suddenly remembered something. "Oh, the porridge must be ready!" He quickly stood up and started heading towards the kitchen, only to feel a sharp chill behind him.

"Sui," Erina called sweetly, though her tone was laced with menace, "so your foot doesn't hurt anymore?"

Sui froze. He turned slowly to face her, noticing the angry veins pulsing on her pale forehead. With a guilty smile, he said, "Well, it must have healed thanks to your excellent foot massage..."

"You... You tricked me into massaging your feet for so long!" Erina snapped, gritting her teeth in anger.

She had been so worried about him earlier, even letting him rest his feet on her lap and gently massaging them. To think it had all been a lie!

Sui felt a headache coming on. Fortunately, Erina, for all her fiery temper, was also quite forgiving when coaxed properly. After a few well-chosen words of flattery, she eventually softened and even helped him serve the dishes.

The Shrimpfly turned out to be incredibly delicious. Despite its enormous size, the meat was tender and succulent, with a flavor reminiscent of a perfect blend of king crab and lobster. The sashimi made from the raw shrimp slices tasted sublime when paired with a little mustard.

The shrimp porridge, made with shrimp meat, shrimp shells, and enhanced by the spices from the Butterspice, was equally mouthwatering. The phosphorus powder from the butterfly was comparable to the finest seasonings, its fragrant aroma transforming the dish into something extraordinary.

Erina couldn't stop eating, her cheeks puffed out adorably as she stuffed herself with food.

"This shrimp meat... it's so tender! And this subtle fragrance—is that from the butterfly spice?" Erina asked between bites, her curiosity piqued.

That night, Sui once again basked in the warmth of Erina's "God Tongue."

The Butterspice rested on Erina's golden hair like a delicate ornament. Her face, flushed from her efforts, glistened with sweat.

"Hey, Erina," Sui murmured.

"Hm?" Erina responded absentmindedly, too focused to look up.

"I think you're getting better at this," Sui teased with a mischievous grin.

Erina lifted her head, shooting him a glare filled with equal parts shame and anger. She bit down hard in retaliation, making Sui wince.

——

The next day, Sui met Megumi and the others in the classroom.

"Sui-kun, did you finish your training?" Megumi asked with a gentle smile.

"Yeah, and thank you for bringing me lunch every day," Sui replied, grateful for her thoughtfulness.

Despite the lunchtime battles between Megumi and Alice, who constantly tried to outdo each other, Sui was genuinely touched by their kindness.

"It's no trouble at all, as long as you enjoy the food," Megumi smiled warmly. The tense atmosphere from the previous day had vanished.

"Oh, by the way, I have a gift for you," Sui said suddenly, a playful smile tugging at his lips.