A Maid’s Discomfort and a Bolder Proposition

While Iqiyah, confined to her rooms, gazed wistfully out the window, praying for Seraphina Scarlett’s safety…

“Seraphina Scarlett… how is it? Is the bed comfortable enough?”

‘An ‘Mhm’ meaning… it’s still not comfortable enough? Then how about my arm instead?’

“If even my arm isn’t satisfactory, using my frontal armor isn’t out of the question…”

Meanwhile, Seraphina Scarlett was enjoying the personal ministrations of the third young lady of the Krieg family.

“What’s wrong, Seraphina Scarlett…?”

With her arms pressed together, hands cupped forward, Claire leaned in.

She showcased her “bulletproof plating,” quite literally throwing herself into Seraphina Scarlett’s embrace.

“Though it might not be ‘extra-large cup’ size… I’m still confident in my curves and softness, you know.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Claire.”

Despite Claire’s eager overtures, Seraphina Scarlett maintained her usual distance.

“However… it’s not necessary. For a mere maid, a pillow is quite comfortable enough.”

“Guh…!”

Hearing the words “mere maid,” Claire felt as though she had been struck by ten thousand critical blows.

In her initial fantasy, she should have been holding a trembling Seraphina Scarlett, who would be curled up in her arms.

She would then gently stroke Seraphina Scarlett’s head, comforting her wounded heart with the warmth and softness of her body.

The reality, however, was starkly different.

On the eight-meter-wide bed, adorned with red satin and blue silk, both women lay on their own pillows, gazing silently at the deep crimson dome above them, a silent understanding between them.

‘Poor Tom… oh no, poor Claire, being played right into Seraphina Scarlett’s hands.’

Given Seraphina Scarlett’s deliberate coldness and the intentionally emphasized social chasm between them, Claire acutely realized the magnitude of the disaster she had wrought.

She now had no chance of making the smooth entrance she had envisioned.

Her only opportunity now was…

“Se-Seraphina Scarlett, I’m sorry.”

To actively humble herself.

“Today… it was all my fault. I caused you such distress…”

Yet, actively humbling herself meant relinquishing the initiative entirely.

“I promise! Tomorrow! By tomorrow morning, I will make the culprit pay the price!”

“As long as I can salvage our friendship, anything within my power, I am willing to do it all!”

‘Oh dear… this scene seems familiar. I recall seeing something similar with Iqiyah.’

In Claire’s eyes, Seraphina Scarlett, on this side, still wore a slightly melancholic, forlorn expression.

On the other side, however, Seraphina Scarlett’s lips curled into an involuntary smile.

With the initiative now firmly in her grasp, the dynamics of offense and defense had completely shifted.

“Is that truly so, Miss Claire?”

Seraphina Scarlett cast a sidelong glance at Claire. “How much resolve did you truly possess when you uttered those words?”

“Eh? Th-this…”

Upon hearing this, Claire could no longer conceal the turmoil within her, and her face gradually turned pale.

“I… I…”

Seraphina Scarlett was forcing Claire to demonstrate her sincerity, pushing her into a completely frozen abyss of despair.

However… this depth was sufficient. Any deeper, and there was a risk of losing control.

‘The price had hit rock bottom; it was time to buy!’

“Haaah…”

Feigning an expression that said, ‘There’s truly no helping you,’ Seraphina Scarlett sighed deeply and turned towards Claire.

“You… do you truly see me as a friend?”

“Yes!” Eager to convey her sincerity, Claire immediately interjected before Seraphina Scarlett’s words had even fully faded. “Of course!”

Curling her body, Claire instinctively positioned herself lower than Seraphina Scarlett, gazing up into her vibrant red eyes.

“From the moment you saved me, I’ve always hoped you could be my best friend…”

With tears welling in the corners of her eyes, Claire’s voice trembled, choked by sobs in her throat and nasal passages.

‘Tsk, this girl…’

Gazing at Claire’s emerald eyes, moist and clear as a lake, Seraphina Scarlett felt a faint pang of conscience.

Yet, to give up now would mean suffering Claire’s fate, all her efforts for naught.

It was either all or nothing; she absolutely could not stop here!

“There’s truly no helping you…”

Gently turning, Seraphina Scarlett faced the almost-crying Claire directly, extending her arms as if inviting an embrace.

“I, too… I’ve always wanted us to be good friends.”

Seraphina Scarlett was perhaps unaware of how alluring she appeared at this moment.

In Claire’s eyes… this woman, who until just now had been as distant as a mountain peak, was finally willing to forgive the grave mistake she had made.

Not only that, but the small body sprawled on the bed, the subtly upturned, alluring shoulders, the ambiguously warm embrace at her hairline, and those faint eyes glinting with a suggestive red light…

“Why are you just standing there, dumbfounded?”

Claire, alternately ignored and then stared at, was utterly bewildered by Seraphina Scarlett’s actions, left only to gape in stupefaction.

Seraphina Scarlett, alternately averting her gaze and then fixing it on Claire, curved her lips.

“You only get this one chance, you know.”

‘She was almost like an adorable wife throwing a tantrum; still a little sulky, yet ultimately choosing to forgive you as before, opening her all-encompassing heart to you…’

“Whaaaah… Seraphina Scarlett!”

“Whoa!”

Seraphina Scarlett suddenly seemed to recoil, as if to flee, but Claire darted forward, instantly crashing into Seraphina Scarlett’s embrace.

“Wuwuwu… I’m so sorry, Seraphina Scarlett, I’ll never dare to again!”

“There, there, now, relax…”

Like a mother, Seraphina Scarlett’s hand gently caressed, stroking the soft golden hair of the “little puppy” in her arms again and again.

“Since you acknowledge your mistake and are willing to correct it, you are a good child.”

“Ughhh… Seraphina Scarlett… you’re so gentle…”

Taking advantage of the moment, Claire burrowed her head into Seraphina Scarlett’s embrace, leaning against the soft, low “hillocks” and rubbing greedily.

‘Yosh! It seems about half-tamed now.’

With the battle seemingly won, Seraphina Scarlett’s expression relaxed.

‘Now, all that remained was to subtly manipulate and periodically reinforce…’

‘Hm?’

Just as Seraphina Scarlett was basking in her triumph… a sudden electric current unexpectedly pierced her nerves from below, shooting up her spine directly to her brain, bringing with it a continuous, full-body tingle.

“Eek!”

“? Seraphina Scarlett? What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing! I’m fine!… Ngh!!!”

It wasn’t just one… like a floodgate opening from a reservoir, Seraphina Scarlett’s abdomen had become a veritable wholesale station for electric currents.

‘This area… could it be!?’

A sudden chill gripped Seraphina Scarlett’s heart.

A familiar pink glow emanated, illuminating the bedding and the skin where their bodies press together, creating an intensely suggestive ambiance.

‘This is… English magic!?’

“Seraphina Scarlett? Is there something in the blankets?”

Claire stared dumbfounded at the area beneath the blankets. Having just exerted herself to appease Seraphina Scarlett, Claire instantly lost her composure, reaching out to pull back the covers.

“Hey! Claire! Don’t just…”

Almost instinctively, Seraphina Scarlett immediately grabbed Claire’s hand, but it was too late.

“Th-this… is…?”

‘It’s over.’

Like an adolescent boy caught by his parents while making a “secret blend” pour-over coffee in his room, Seraphina Scarlett’s face instantly flushed crimson.

Thump-thump-thump… Seraphina Scarlett’s heart hammered like a four-stroke engine.

The intense throbbing from her heartbeat almost overshadowed the stimulation from the English magic, leaving Seraphina Scarlett’s mind in utter disarray.

Had anyone else witnessed this, Seraphina Scarlett might not have been so flustered.

But this was Claire… the very person she had just managed to “conquer.”

It was as if she’d been playing a game only to have the pause button pressed mid-way.

What Seraphina Scarlett lost at this moment was not merely the rhythm of controlling Claire, but also…

…the initiative she had so firmly held in her grasp.

“Hehehe, Seraphina Scarlett… you’re bolder than I imagined.”

Claire’s lips curved into a smile as she gave Seraphina Scarlett a meaningful look, raising her mirthful eyebrows.

“It’s vibrating so intensely, darling, would you like Big Sister to help you…?”

Raising her hand, Claire struck a standard violin-playing pose, as if to accompany her with a tune.

“Shhh, you can refuse, can’t you!?”

Before she could finish, a sudden pressure assailed Seraphina Scarlett’s lower abdomen, interrupting her words.

“At this very moment? Surely you jest?”

Claire’s lips curved into a suggestive smile as she subtly twisted her bent knees.

“An opportunity so conveniently delivered… I must seize it properly~”

“Mmmph…”

Initially, the friction brought only a faint warmth.

But very quickly, under the influence of the English magic, this warmth transformed into waves of electricity, making Seraphina Scarlett tremble uncontrollably.

“Oooooooh…”

She began to tremble.

“Rest assured, my dear little bat.”

Straddling the now-powerless bloodkin, Claire leaned down and cupped Seraphina Scarlett’s face, which had gone soft and pliant like melted ice cream.

“I’m famously gentle and endearing in the Krieg family, you know.”

‘Who would believe that…’

Even if she didn’t believe it, facing Claire, who was now fully in the mood, Seraphina Scarlett had no choice but to accept her fate.

After many days, she once again awakened the ‘female heart’ within her.

“So… just trust me and give yourself to me, darling.”