Chapter 87. Enchanting Hot Springs
Tap—tap—tap.
In the quiet courtyard, the crisp sound of bare feet stepping on the damp flagstones rang out, snapping the drowsy, groggy Xander—who had been out of sorts from being alone—back to alertness.
He opened his eyes and lifted his head.
What entered his sight was a leg reaching out from the absolute territory.
The thigh was round and full, the calf taut and slender, and further down was that graceful, delicate foot.
The smooth back of the foot was beautiful like jade, gleaming with an alluring luster.
Her dainty toes curled slightly, lightly tapping the water's surface and sending out ripples.
The small movement seemed like a probe.
After testing the temperature, the entire leg stepped in, and the sound of water flowing gushed by his ear.
This foot shape…
"Bronya?"
She did not answer immediately.
With one hand gathering the long hair that Seele had combed smooth, and the other holding up the thin towel at her chest, Bronya stretched and slowly sat down beside him.
Her fair, fragrant shoulder leaned against him as she pleased, and he wrapped his arm around that soft, slender waist, feeling its warm delicacy.
"Mm~ Surprised?"
The warm spring water enveloping her body and the support at her side relaxed Bronya both physically and mentally.
She let out a breath, rested her head on Xander's shoulder, and her voice carried a trace of laughter.
"A little, I guess. I thought the one coming would be Seele."
He spoke his mind bluntly and, as expected, earned an enchanting, coquettish side-eye.
Her raised arm splashed a sheet of water.
Bronya tapped him in playful reproach, but instead of withdrawing, she set that arm across him. Her fingertips traced light circles on his chest, little tingles pricking at Xander's heart, making the arm with which he held Bronya patted him reproachfully but didn't pull her hand back afterward.
Instead, she let it rest on him, her fingertips lightly tracing circles on his chest. The faint, tingling sensation stirred Rain's heart, causing the hand wrapped around Bronya to slowly creep toward higher ground.
The sudden stimulation made Bronya's breathing quicken slightly. She pressed herself closer against her lover, squeezing more of her soft fullness against Rain's body.
"Seele always sneaks off first. Can't I take the lead just once?"
Sneak off?
There's no such thing as sneaking off. It's just Seele feeling sorry for her brother, that's all.
Muttering that to himself in his heart, Xander said with a smile, "Oh? Do tell."
At that, Bronya smiled smugly and recounted her series of maneuvers just now, lingering on the dazed look on Seele's face.
Her clear laughter echoed above the hot spring.
Xander laughed as well.
He hugged Bronya a little tighter and kissed her on the cheek.
"Doing this, aren't you afraid that the moment we finish soaking, Seele will come settle the score with you?"
"Afraid of Seele?"
As if she had heard a joke, Bronya returned a few pecks to his chin with a smile, then leaned to his ear and whispered, "In that case, let's sandwich Seele in the middle tonight. Will she still have time to be angry?"
Her sultry murmur brought a supreme temptation.
Xander couldn't help picturing the scene at night.
He coughed twice, his expression turning a bit unnatural, and said slowly, "Then that should be fine."
...
At dusk, the adorable, eye-catching girls gathered in the lobby, all looking at the fashionably late Bronya and Xander.
Having just soaked in the springs, both of their faces still carried a faint flush.
Bronya especially—spirits high and aura radiant—made the girls a bit awestruck.
Kiana sidled up, eyes teasing, and arched a brow at Bronya.
"Yo, remember to be safe."
Bronya was not like Seele, who would shyly hide at the slightest teasing from someone familiar.
She met Kiana's gaze without fear, flicked the smooth hair draped down her back, and replied with a smile, "Relax. No one's going to be calling you 'auntie' for a few years yet."
"Alright, alright, but skip the 'auntie.' 'Big sis' I can accept."
Giving her a big thumbs-up, Kiana then nudged Xander's waist with her elbow, making him grin wryly.
To be honest, being watched by this many pretty girls was pretty stressful.
Seele's openly resentful stare in particular made his back feel like it was pricked with needles.
Pushing Bronya forward to let the two sisters face off first, Xander went over to the smiling Kaguya, patted her little head, and asked with a laugh, "How was it?"
"Very comfortable!"
Nuzzling into her husband's palm, Kaguya was plainly in a fine mood.
"Soaking in a hot spring like this and chatting with friends—this concubine is already very satisfied."
"As long as you're happy."
As the words fell, Xander saw Kaguya lean in a little and tug lightly at the hem of his clothes while lifting her face to look into his eyes.
In a small voice she said, "However, this concubine hopes that next time we can go together, husband."
Well now, so you do mind after all.
"Of course, no problem."
He made the promise with a smile and quickly earned a sweet smile in return.
"Bronya-sis, was the hot spring nice?"
Seele smiled, her voice betraying no joy or anger.
Bronya raised a brow and replied casually, "Very nice, thanks to you washing and combing my hair, Seele. Otherwise, we might have had to wait quite a while longer~"
"I-Is that so?"
Seele's expression was already starting to crack, but Bronya added, "You know how slow Xander is. He always ends up wasting a lot of time. Thanks to your help, Seele—much appreciated."
"... You're welcome."
Though she didn't quite follow the sisters' exchange, Mei keenly sensed that something was off.
She hurried to stand between Seele and Bronya, smiling as she stepped in to make peace.
"Everyone must be hungry, right? I've already reserved a nearby restaurant. How about we all go have dinner first?"
"Sure."
"Seele… has no problem with that, either."
Bronya kept smiling as ever.
Seele puckered her lips, not daring to complain, and could only swallow the grievance.
Then she trotted over to her brother's side in two or three steps and clung tightly to his arm.
Only then did she dare to cast a "fierce" glare at her own sister.
"You really are such an embarrassment, you big dummy."
Inside the mental world, Veliona had already covered her eyes.
She really couldn't bear to watch.
It was just too embarrassing—so embarrassing that even she didn't have the face to stand up for Seele.
Hearing that, Seele felt even more aggrieved.
Bronya didn't mind in the slightest.
Still smiling, she was already picturing what kind of expression Seele would be wearing tonight.
Dinner was quite lavish.
After all, with rich-lady Mei treating, she certainly wouldn't shortchange her friends.
When it got a bit later, the group set out again.
The New Year's festival was just about to begin.
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