Please Bully Me, Miss Villainess!

Chapter 166 : Swirling Mist

"So, what did you come for this time?"

"Actually, there's nothing in particular. I simply came to check on you while passing by."

"In that case... if you had mentioned it in a letter, we could have returned at any time."

"Young Miss."

After putting down her teacup, Linda's face suddenly turned serious,

"It seems you still don't have enough awareness..."

"...What awareness?"

Yvonne indeed didn't know what kind of awareness she needed to have.

There was no help for it; these people always spoke in roundabout ways.

If possible, she wished these nobles would speak more plainly.

Fortunately, Linda was an understanding maid. She changed to a way Yvonne could easily understand:

"You are now the head of the Smollett family—the family head cannot easily disclose their itinerary."

"...Is that so?"

Linda emphasized once again the importance of concealing one's own information as the family head, and told Yvonne to pay more attention to those around her.

"I hope you won't easily trust those around you, including me."

After all, there are demons in this world who can change their appearance, like Fiel's type. If it were a higher-ranked demon, they would have already blended in seamlessly.

If information about an important figure leaving their safe territory were to be intercepted by others, it would undoubtedly cause trouble for the person in question.

Yvonne remembered that when her father was about to travel in her childhood, she wouldn't know about it more than a day in advance.

At that time, she didn't quite understand and always felt that her father was suddenly leaving. She had even thrown tantrums because of it. But now, it seemed to make some sense.

However... for Linda to speak to her in such a lecturing tone, could it be that she wants to...

Yvonne had a bad feeling.

"It seems you still have much to learn. Let me guide you a bit these next few days."

"Wait a minute?! Linda, is this why you came here?"

Yvonne let out a protesting wail. She was already being squeezed by work, and now her already scarce time would be further compressed.

"Not at all, this is an additional plan... Hm? Young Miss... why do you look like you want to run away?"

Holding down the shoulders of the Young Miss who wanted to escape, Linda's face showed a smile that made Yvonne feel scared.

"Don't worry, Young Miss. I'll still leave time for you to be lovey-dovey with Miss Elsa."

"Well, thank you so much for that!!"

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

Steam rose in wispy tendrils, enveloping the bathhouse in an ambiguous white mist. It was so thick one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.

Miss Parcy's cleaning magic is truly amazing! Who would have thought it could be made so clean in such a short time.

The water in the bath was flowing, with fire spirit stones installed on the pipes to heat the water. A magic array engraved on the side bore a formula for heating temperature. Anyone with a basic understanding of magical structures could use magic to adjust the temperature according to their wishes. It was a design with a very fantasy-like style.

The large bathhouse in a noble's home was naturally much more luxurious than the one at the church in Capella. The goddess statue holding a water jug on her shoulder was the source of the hot water, carved from a single piece of white jade, exquisitely beautiful.

"Bebe, do you like taking baths too?"

"Hoo~"

Splashing in the water, the little one made happy sounds in response.

It seems she likes it very much.

Although Elsa had heard before that due to having fur, most beastfolk don't like to come into contact with water, which gives other races an impression that they are 'dirty'.

But it seems their own Bebe doesn't mind.

Worried about drowning, Bebe was currently being supported from below by Elsa's water magic, properly moving all four limbs.

This should be... the dog paddle?

The bathhouse pool was still very deep for children, and for the tiny Bebe, it was like a large swimming pool.

However, no matter what, it's so good that this child is so energetic now...

Elsa could still clearly remember when she first saw this child, that fragile appearance on the verge of death. After deciding to adopt her, she worried every day whether they could raise her well.

Now seeing their child looking so healthy and lively, as a parent, there was nothing to do but feel relieved.

"Wupu pu pu pu—"

Bebe mischievously buried her black little nose in the water, blowing bubbles, looking very happy playing.

"Wait, wait... A little lady shouldn't do that, okay?"

Feeling both amused and helpless, Elsa used water flow to lift Bebe from below, wanting to make her stop.

Moreover, this is very dangerous. What if she accidentally chokes on water?

"Wupu?"

The child blinked her innocent eyes, seeming to ask what she had done wrong.

Interrupting an activity that a child with an exploratory nature is very interested in is also a cruel thing.

Is there anything that could divert her attention a little...

Elsa turned her head, suddenly having an inspiration.

Let's use that! This trick that works every time—

Elsa clapped her hands, and the wind elements flowing in the air brought her a towel.

"Watch this—"

She wet the towel and wrapped air inside, then let this plump, bouncy little package float on the water's surface.

"Look~ It's a little water jellyfish that makes bubbles—"

"Wuooh~~"

Showing an expression of 'how amazing', she also began to play with the towel imitating Elsa.

Although they had bought a lot of toys, she seemed to prefer simple tricks like this.

"That's really amazing, Mama Elsa."

"Did you escape from Linda?"

"She at least leaves me time for bathing..."

Covering what should be covered with a towel, in this misty scene, the effect of half-concealment with the pipa was even more alluring.

"You're quite good at comforting children..."

Yvonne had tied up her hair including her bangs on top of her head, rarely exposing her forehead, and also immersed her body in the pool behind Elsa.

Yvonne was the type who was at a loss with children, not knowing how to comfort or amuse them, so most of the time she watched Elsa take care of Bebe.

"After all, I was the one who decided to take care of this child."

Saying this, Elsa patted Bebe's head.

Having made a promise, one must fulfill it.

"Wu..."

Elsa noticed the small body in her arms becoming somewhat limp.

"Ah, sorry... Are you feeling a bit dizzy from soaking too long?"

Children shouldn't soak for too long, especially a child like Bebe with a somewhat weak constitution. After washing and drying, she already seemed very sleepy, the type that might fall asleep at any moment with her head drooping.

"Alright, we've washed clean and smell nice... Is it time to sleep now?"

Patting Bebe's back while saying this, Elsa used the call bell to summon Parcy, asking her to take Bebe back to the room first.

"Why are you staring at me like that..."

"This expression is great, you know? It feels very maternal."

Hearing this description, Elsa's expression suddenly became somewhat complex.

"Let me say this first... I'm still very young!"

"Yes, yes... Our Elsa is still just a child herself."

Yvonne said with a smile, supporting her shoulders and letting her lean against herself.

The part of her that wants to be spoiled, let me accept it.

Fingers intertwined underwater.

It was actually just ordinary hand-holding between lovers.

But if one pays too much attention to it, it feels like things might get a bit dangerous.

Because it would remind one of the things these hands have done to oneself, the things one has been loved by these hands.

"Hehe..."

"What are you laughing at now!"

"You were definitely thinking about naughty things just now, weren't you?"

"............"

Elsa remained silent with a red face.

Is it really that obvious?

However, although they were just holding hands, being able to feel the other's mood, physical contact is such a magical thing.

"I won't get angry... But I haven't finished today's work yet, so I'll probably be very late."

She sighed,

"You and Bebe sleep first, don't wait for me."

"Evie... Don't force yourself."

"I won't..."

As she said this, she gripped Elsa's hand firmly.

To respond to her better, Elsa gripped back.

They already had enough tacit understanding between them, so some things didn't need many words.

Just holding hands like this could convey their feelings to each other.

"Do you want to soak a bit longer then?"

The hand holding her showed no sign of letting go.

Elsa felt she should leave too, but if Bebe wakes up later and finds she's not by her side, she would surely cry non-stop.

Ah...

It seemed one could hear her silent sigh in this quiet space.

"...I really don't want to leave..."

"Did you say your true feelings out loud?"

"What does it matter..."

Because she would accept it.

The honest part, the part unwilling to show... She would accept all of me.

"Oh right... Today I tried making honey cakes with Bebe."

Elsa began vividly describing to Evie what happened during the day.

"And then, were they good?"

"We added some strange ingredients, so in the end they were completely inedible..."

There was no profound meaning, just casual chatting,

But just listening to this made one feel relaxed in body and mind.

It was as if the fatigue of the entire day had been washed away,

Just hearing her describe the process was enough to inexplicably feel a scent of honey wafting around.

Surrounded by warmth, Yvonne closed her eyes, savoring this flavor in a trance.

The sound of water became pleasant white noise, further amplifying the drowsiness.

Finally, gradually, the arms holding her slid down,

"Evie... Evie? Mm... Did you fall asleep...?"

Calling softly, Elsa found that no matter how she called, she couldn't wake her.

...

You said you weren't forcing yourself... But you're so tired you fell asleep in a place like this...

Helplessly, she could only fetch a bath towel and cover Yvonne's body with it.

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

It feels like... I had a very comfortable dream.

I haven't slept so deeply in a long time.

When I woke up, Bebe was sleeping soundly on my belly.

Light was already coming through the window outside; it must be dawn now.

Not good—

"I didn't finish processing those application forms yesterday—"

If they're not sent out at this time, it will be overtime—

"It's okay to sleep a bit more..."

Wearing slippers, Elsa came in yawning, looking like she hadn't slept all night for some reason.

"What Evie needed to do... I've already handled it all... Phew..."

She collapsed beside me with dark circles under her eyes.

"...Did you not sleep at all?"

"Hehe... I also made a bit of an effort..."

Because she had been accompanying Yvonne in her work before, Elsa roughly knew what needed to be done and how to do it.

However, because she wasn't proficient enough yet, work that Yvonne could finish in two hours probably took her three hours.

"I'll help out in the future too... This way Evie won't have to work so hard... Phew..."

After saying this, she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. It seems she was really very tired.

"...You overdid it, you fool."