55

Swish—swish—

The sound of fabric brushing against my pale skin and dropping to the floor echoed throughout the bathroom.

As I took off my clothes one by one, only a thin black undergarment remained to cover my body.

"…W-Wait, Hera."

"Hm?"

Standing in front of the bathroom door was Athena, who was glancing at me with a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

She hesitated, not moving from the doorway, as though unsure about entering.

"What's wrong?"

'…I'm not ready yet…'

"Not ready?"

Her cheeks, faintly flushed, gave her a slightly embarrassed expression.

It took me a while to understand her intention.

Could it be… Athena is…

'…Feeling shy?'

Bathing with someone of the same gender—

It was a common occurrence and wasn't seen as a big deal, regardless of gender.

But for someone doing it for the first time, it could be an incredibly embarrassing experience.

After all, showing your bare body to someone else isn't easy.

I remember the first time I bathed with Dania unnie; I couldn't help but cover myself with a towel, staring at the floor the entire time.

Her figure was simply too… stimulating.

"Fufu… Hera, there's no need to be shy. Come into unnie's arms."

The image of Dania unnie's bare chest from that time was still etched deeply in my memory.

'Like a pair of watermelons…'

I wasn't exactly small myself, but Dania unnie was truly…

Thanks to her, I got used to seeing a woman's bare body and didn't mind bathing with the same gender.

But unlike me, Athena seemed quite unfamiliar with the experience.

Well, given how distant she usually was, barely connecting with others, it made sense she hadn't bathed with anyone before.

Thinking of it that way, I could understand her embarrassed reaction.

Maybe it was because I was seeing a normally confident, imposing Athena looking shy like this.

For some reason, I couldn't help but let a mischievous smile spread across my face.

Smiling brightly at her, I took her hand and gently pulled her into the bathroom.

"H-Hera."

"Hehe… Athena, you do get shy, huh?"

Normally, she took the lead, but this time, it felt like I was the one guiding her.

***

I could hardly contain myself.

Swish—

As Hera's undergarments slid off, her pale skin began to reveal itself.

Once she was fully bare, all I could do was stare at her in a daze.

Her flawless, god-crafted form, as if sculpted with meticulous care.

Her alluring appearance was so captivating that I couldn't tear my eyes away.

Today, her red, glistening lips looked especially inviting.

Trailing down her white neckline was a glimpse of her delicate collarbones, carrying a subtle sensuality.

Two peaks beneath her. And in between, the sight of her…

Drip—

The breathtaking view made her body begin to heat up.

She hadn't even touched the water yet, but she could feel dampness gathering in her lower half.

"Take it off already!"

"Uh."

Her alluring voice made her body flinch involuntarily for a moment.

'Get a grip.'

Hadn't she promised to show her who the master was?

If she kept letting herself get led around by Hera like this, she'd never be able to make her submit.

Hera was the slave. She was the master.

The one who leads the relationship always had to be oneself.

Doing my best to hide my embarrassment, I started unwrapping the cloth covering me, one layer at a time.

Then, two beautiful naked figures emerged in the bathroom.

Hera, upon seeing my bare body, reached her hand toward my abdomen.

"Wow… you have abs like Athena?"

"Hm?"

Hera carefully placed her hand on her own stomach.

With a curious expression, she gently touched my abdomen, feeling it lightly.

Her delicate touch sent my heart racing wildly, and a subtle pleasure began to stir in my stomach.

"…What are you doing?"

A voice that could sound cold escaped my lips, betraying my surprise.

"S-sorry… I was just amazed by your abs…"

Hera apologized, withdrawing her hand from my stomach.

For some reason, I felt a slight pang of disappointment.

"Sh-shall we wash up, then?"

As Hera carefully turned the handle, a warm stream of water started to flow from above.

Amid the rising steam, Hera washed herself completely exposed, without a trace of defensiveness.

'…Is Hera really unfazed?'

I couldn't even look at her bare body directly, yet she was humming a tune, scrubbing herself casually.

As if my naked body didn't matter to her at all.

A faint feeling of frustration began to well up inside me.

The master was deeply troubled, yet the slave dared to remain so nonchalant.

Suddenly overtaken by a surge of emotion, I strode over to her.

'Dare she… dare she… sway that behind so casually!'

I approached Hera, who was defenselessly washing up from behind.

Raising one hand high—

Smack!

"H-Huh?!"

I struck Hera's backside firmly.

The sensation of my hand hitting her bare skin.

Why did the feel of her firm backside against my hand evoke pleasure?

"H-Hah… Athena, what…?"

Hera looked at me, her hands covering her backside.

Between her fingers, my red handprint was visible on her pale skin.

Seeing her like this, a surge of guilt and wickedness began to rise within me.

"A-Athena…?"

Involuntarily, my gaze lowered to her secret area.

The treasure I had long awaited, craved.

It looked as sweet as the golden apple the gods fought over.

My mind began to drift.

Her seduction was breaking my restraint.

'I have to hold back. I must endure.'

I had worked hard to gain her trust.

I couldn't lose it now by giving in to impulse.

Just one step remained, from family to lover.

All I needed was a bit more patience.

But when I saw Hera's tearful, reddened face as she looked at me—

Something snapped within me.

"…."

"Alright."

Thinking about it, she was the one seducing me.

So even if I were to force myself on her, it wouldn't be my fault.

If one were to look at her with that gaze, naked as she was, anyone would find themselves drawn to her.

It was her fault.

Behaving like this, like a vixen—she wouldn't have any excuse even if she were ravaged completely.

I'd held back until now. Perhaps it was time I tasted that enticing fruit.

With my reason slipping away, I slowly approached her.

'This is your fault, Hera.'

'I should extend the inn stay by another week. No, maybe a month.'

I found myself right in front of her before I knew it.

But, whether it was fortunate or not—

Just as I reached out to place my hand on Hera's chest, which was looking at me with a puzzled expression,

Wobble—

Grab—

"M-Mari?!"

"Kyuu!"

A sudden interruption—a blue lizard had appeared.

With that cursed creature's appearance, Hera turned her gaze away from me.

"Hehe… Shall I wash Mari?"

"Kyuu! Kyuu!"

"Mm… Come sit on my lap."

"Kyuu!"

They looked like a parent and child, appearing warm and content together.

Watching them, I could only stand there with my hand outstretched, utterly dumbfounded.

"…Athena, go wash up quickly."

With a brusque tone, Hera spoke, seeming irritated as if annoyed by the sudden smack on her behind.

The atmosphere cooled, and my reason gradually returned.

"…Ha."

'…That was close.'

It had truly been dangerous just now.

Had that lizard not appeared, I might have violated Hera right here.

If that had happened, love could never have existed between us again.

I glanced at the lizard smiling brightly on Hera's lap.

It was an irritating sight, but, just for now, I felt a sense of gratitude toward her.

'…Surely, she didn't interrupt on purpose, did she?'

The thought briefly crossed my mind but quickly faded.

Time passed, and I managed to finish bathing without incident, walking a tightrope against Hera's temptations.

At one point, when Hera offered to wash me, I almost lost my reason again.

***

"Phew… I feel refreshed…"

"Kyuu…"

Lying on the bed with Mari, I felt the drowsiness beginning to settle in.

Athena, too, looked worn out, her eyes heavy with fatigue.

"It's the last day…"

A quiet voice escaped my lips.

After one more night's sleep, we'd have to return to the mansion.

No more of this easy-going time together.

Athena let out a sigh and dropped down beside me.

"Don't want to go back to the mansion?"

Her words made me shudder, as if she'd read my mind.

"…Just a little…"

With a soft, melancholy gaze, Athena gently patted my head.

"…It'll be alright now."

"Hmm?"

"There won't be any more suffering at the mansion."

I wonder if Athena knows how much I struggled there.

Well, considering how many times I cried in her arms, it would be strange if she didn't know.

'…I hope so.'

I didn't want to swim in the swamp of self-loathing anymore.

The feeling of hating myself was beyond bad; it was horrifying.

I turned my head toward Athena, who lay beside me with her eyes closed.

…It's okay.

Unlike before, I now have a family that's precious to me.

I trust Athena.

No matter what happens, I know she'll stand by my side.

I won't live subdued as I did in the past.

My precious family. Athena. And Mari, who seems suspiciously fond of me.

And though a bit quirky, Sephir, who always radiates a bright energy.

Thinking of them, the worries in my mind began to lighten.

I gently stroked Mari's head as she slept soundly in my arms, then looked at Athena and smiled softly.

"Goodnight, Athena."

My precious family.