The bath door opened. Amid the drifting white steam, the woman stood half-wrapped in a towel. Her graceful body was faintly visible, long well-proportioned legs drawn slightly together, the outline of her chest barely discernible. The soft rise and fall of her pale skin with each breath added a hazy, unspoken allure.
Otto lowered his gaze.
—and then noticed a pair of delicate feet. The skin was smooth and fair, faint blue veins just visible beneath. Her small toes curled tightly, shifting back and forth with nervousness; the translucent nails caught the light, reflecting a soft sheen.
Right, focus.
He had to admit—it was beautiful. The half-hidden allure mixed with the freshness of someone just out of the bath could stir desire in any ordinary man.
He was no exception.
But compared to simple attraction, what filled Otto's eyes more was calculation.
Natural beauty, formidable strength, invaluable blood, ties to countless key figures—no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't let her slip away.
A large part of his future plans rested on her.
He could replace her with someone else, perhaps—but who would be more loyal than a Schariac, and so capable besides?
He licked his lips, closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again. When he looked at Cecilia, his expression was calm, his gaze unreadable.
With danger still hanging overhead, he needed absolute rationality.
Any fleeting pleasure could become a black hole swallowing long-term gain.
He had never been a man ruled by desire.
"Brother…"
Cecilia stood there wrapped in the towel, wanting to step closer yet hesitating.
"These are your clothes," Otto said evenly, stepping forward and handing her the garments Amber had prepared. "Change into them, then I'll take you out to see the world beyond."
"Okay."
She walked over obediently and took them.
Otto turned toward the window, looking out across Schicksal's sprawling facilities. His gaze drifted for a moment, then steadied again.
To wield such power required matching discipline.
That included patience while plans unfolded.
"I—I'm done, Brother."
He turned back. Cecilia now wore a nun's uniform, wrapped from neck to hem. The fabric concealed her soft curves, though her chest still rose prominently beneath it.
Her hair, however, remained slightly tangled, falling in soft disarray.
So he stepped forward, took her hand gently, and guided her to the vanity.
"Let me comb your hair, Cecilia."
"Brother…"
She hesitated. It felt improper to let him do such a thing, yet somewhere inside she felt a quiet anticipation.
Conflict showed on her face before she finally shook her head.
"You don't have to…"
"I'd like to, my dear Cecilia."
Polite words aside, Otto had no intention of missing a chance to deepen her trust. He picked up a wooden comb and let her long hair fall loose.
Fresh from the bath, it still carried the faint scent of shampoo. The white strands gleamed like silk, catching flecks of silver in the sunlight.
He combed slowly through the soft lengths, guiding her head gently back so her blue eyes met his, then smoothing the hair by her ears.
Cecilia sat quietly, letting him move her as he wished, her head resting lightly against him as she watched him work.
The softness in her gaze made Otto's brow tighten for a brief instant. He quickly shifted her line of sight toward the mirror instead.
Someone who had lived too long in darkness could grow dizzy staring directly into sunlight.
Since transmigrating, he had lived in constant tension—calculating how to play Otto, how to plan, how to survive. During the twenty days he'd spent in the timeline, he had slept less than ten hours in total.
For a fleeting moment, the exhaustion and scheming behind his eyes reflected in the pure, unguarded gaze of the woman before him, leaving him slightly unsettled.
He couldn't allow himself to sink into that gentleness.
Otto Apocalypse could admire the light, imitate the light—but never belong to it.
His future path would not end with mere survival.
As Overseer of Schicksal, he would have to maneuver Anti-Entropy, World Serpent, St. Freya—human factions hostile to him—while also playing a grand game against the Honkai itself.
There was no future for him bathed in simple warmth.
Faced with eyes so pure they felt almost cleansing, the only thing he could do was retreat inward, then tighten his grip on the power in his hands.
Still… even if he could not face the light directly, perhaps he could rest for a moment at its edge.
Catching a little warmth behind the radiance wasn't forbidden.
His thoughts eased, and he focused on combing her hair.
Soft afternoon light filled the room. Their breathing gradually fell into the same rhythm, as if one unconsciously matched the other.
Only the quiet sound of breath remained, along with the soft rasp of the comb through hair.
Her hair was unbelievably soft beneath his fingers, carrying a gentle fragrance.
The comb slid downward strand by strand, occasionally catching on a knot. Otto simply lifted the lock and smoothed it free, adjusting the angle until it flowed again.
His gaze lingered in that silver cascade, movements careful and gentle.
Cecilia closed her eyes, savoring the stillness. A faint blush colored her cheeks, a sweet smile forming.
This wasn't the first time she'd been so close to Otto—but every time made her heart beat faster.
She didn't know why. She only knew she liked the feeling.
Leaning against him.
Being protected.
It wasn't just familiarity.
There was also… attachment.
Whenever she rested against him, the fear from her lost memories seemed to vanish instantly, along with confusion and loneliness.
This feeling of being cared for seemed rare.
So rare she felt it had hardly existed even before she lost her memories.
So rare she felt there couldn't have been many people like him in her life.
But she didn't dislike it.
On the contrary… she cherished it almost obsessively.
The Saint counted time by the quiet flutter in her chest, accompanying the gentle motion of the hand combing her hair with emotions no one else could perceive.
In this moment, time felt warm, and the world was at peace.
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
• 10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
• 100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ You can read 50+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1