Chapter 10: Annie Leonhart Throws a Straight Ball!
Inside the bathroom, a soft, light mist of water vapor filled the air, mixed with the fragrance of bath products.
Water gurgled out from the faucet, hitting the surface of the water in the bathtub, creating a pleasant splashing sound.
Billowing steam rose in the space, covering the bathroom mirror with a hazy fog, blurring the reflection within.
The wall tiles gleamed warmly, and the heat of the water made the entire space cozy and relaxing.
Light filtered through the translucent window curtain, creating soft halos and adding a touch of peace and tranquility.
The bathroom became a hot spring-like sanctuary, allowing him to forget the worries and fatigue of daily life.
There was nothing more relaxing than a bath after a busy day; Luke, having finished a day of studying and working, firmly believed this.
He immersed himself in the warm embrace of the water, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let his muscles gradually release their tension under the water's buoyancy.
In this quiet space, anyone could freely let their thoughts wander, undisturbed by the outside world.
Creak.
Luke looked up.
It was Annie walking in.
He leaned against the edge of the bathtub, sending her a questioning look.
"What's wrong?"
Annie Leonhart took off her hair tie, letting her full head of dazzling blonde hair cascade down her shoulders like a waterfall following gravity.
She answered in the voice that was almost always incredibly calm:
"Doing some work a maid needs to do, like helping the Master bathe."
Luke paused for a moment, looking up as Annie slowly undid her bindings.
Droplets of water condensed from the ceiling mist landed on her beautiful collarbones, tracing down the curves towards the tempting cleavage.
Annie Leonhart placed her hands on her fair, swan-like neck, gently smoothing her hair following its growth direction.
Her graceful figure shimmered under the warm yellow light.
His heart traitorously skipped a beat.
"I'm coming in." Annie Leonhart walked to the side of the tub. Her delicate feet pushed her toes into the hot water, slowly testing the temperature.
Ripples spread across the water's surface as Annie Leonhart's straight, slender legs slowly submerged.
Her delicate fingers scooped up hot water, splashing it onto her body, making her skin seem even more radiant.
"The water isn't that hot today," Annie relaxed, gently exhaling the breath she'd been holding.
Her flushed face and moist lips looked somewhat intoxicated.
"Mm," Luke answered, burying half his head in the water and blowing bubbles.
Seeing Annie's blush, he felt as if he were drunk too.
Annie slowly submerged her body into the water, letting out a long, contented sigh as well.
But she hadn't forgotten her purpose for coming in.
She turned her head towards Luke and picked up a scrubbing towel from the nearby shelf.
"Turn around."
"Mm." Luke turned around, pressing his hands on the edge of the tub.
Although Annie had helped wash his body before, recently it had always been Mikasa accompanying him.
Bathing together again after so long made his heart pound uncontrollably.
Luke closed his eyes, like fish on a cutting board, waiting for Annie's action.
Annie pressed the pads of her fingers onto his back, a few fingers gently gripping his shoulder.
Her other hand, holding the scrubbing towel, swept across his back, neither too lightly nor too heavily.
"Hoo."
A familiar sensation washed over his body.
Luke breathed out comfortably.
The rough texture felt very good; the slight pain made his tense back muscles loosen up.
Compared to the weak and ineffective bath brush, he still preferred this slightly more violent scrubbing towel.
Annie skillfully maneuvered her arm, leaving red marks across his back.
He didn't feel much pain; instead, it felt rather comfortable.
Annie's grasp of his tolerance threshold was practically perfect.
When Annie's arm left his body, Luke comfortably moved his shoulders, but his nose caught a strange fragrance.
He felt something soft against his back. Annie rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Me too."
Her cryptic words made Luke utterly confused.
He turned his head sideways to look at the blushing blonde girl. "What?"
"After dinner just now, the question you asked me..." Annie Leonhart said softly.
The scrubbing towel rubbed against his front, but due to the position, the scrubbing lacked some force this time.
He didn't care about that anymore, though, only listening as Annie continued:
"The love letters and stuff, I threw them all away... The confessions and stuff, I rejected them too."
"Mm, I thought so," Luke swallowed dryly, trying to push down the impulse rising within him.
"Not only that..." Annie Leonhart's fragrant breath tickled his ear, carrying charm, her voice carrying charm as well: "Just like that gloomy girl, I'm also only thinking about you..."
Luke's body was clearly soaking in warm water, yet for some reason, a shiver ran through him, like an electric shock making him tingle all over.
"At all times."
Soft breath blew into his sensitive ear.
...
After the clouds scattered and the rain cleared. (Idiom implying intimacy occurred)
[Note: Should I write lemons? I haven't decided whether to write it or not... Comment your opinions.]
In the bedroom.
Luke looked at his Constitution attribute, which had dropped from 10 points back down to 9, and felt like crying but had no tears.
This was the consequence of excessively indulging in temptation.
This was the punishment for acting on impulse.
I've been wounded by bedroom affairs, becoming so frail.
Starting today, I will exercise.
Luke firmed his resolve.
Annie looked at her lover beside the bed, contemplating life.
This was nothing strange; during his 'sage time', he would always just stare blankly at one spot, thinking about who knows what.
Wiping her body with a tissue, she asked, "I'll turn off the lights and rest now?"
"Grab me some water while you're at it, I have no strength left."
"Mm."
Annie's finger pressed the light switch.
The room instantly darkened, leaving only the glow of the streetlights outside and the cold moonlight and starlight filtering in.
"Water."
Luke took the cup and thirstily replenished his fluids.
Closing his eyes, as usual, he began to scan his mission progress.
[Occupation Mission (Exorcist)]: Kick these ghosts' butts. Help others with supernatural problems: 9/10.
[Occupation Mission (Student)]: Study hard, improve daily – the duty of every student. Complete homework assignments: 40/50.
[Occupation Mission (Transmigrator)]: Change the life trajectory of world characters: 0/3.
[Life Mission]: Labor creates life's value. Earn 500,000 yen through work: 25000/500,000.
However, a thought flashed through his mind.
He called out to the blonde girl, who had closed her eyes to rest, "Annie, don't sleep yet, do me a favor."
"Hmm?" Annie slowly opened her eyes, her blue pupils looking at him quizzically.
Luke first transferred 500,000 yen to Annie's account.
"You do this... Give me a job or a task, and after I complete it, you transfer the 500,000 yen back to me from this account." Luke explained his plan to her.
"Ah." The exhausted Annie stared straight at him.
Although she didn't know what crazy idea he was having now, she just agreed faintly.
"Issue a job, right?"
"Right, right."
So Annie closed her eyes again. "Let's sleep."
"..."
Luke could only try to bargain with his maid again. "Can we change it to something else?"
Annie took a deep breath but still spoke faintly, "Go play with Mikasa..."
"Forget it, let's just sleep." Luke pulled the covers over himself.
Having you girls around is truly a blessing.
...
---
Read More With Pictures (10+ Chapters In Advance):
p@treon.com/U22
Replace '@' with 'a' on your web browser.