New Home

"Aiyo, my poor shoulders." Lucien groaned exaggeratedly and motioned towards his shoulders, indicating to Charlotte that they were sore and in need of a massage.

"Why do I get the feeling that I was being tricked? I feel like the reason you invited me in was just because you were in need of a masseur." Charlotte said suspiciously but still massaged Lucien's shoulders compliantly.

She still felt guilty over the fact that Davion had injured him so severely. As a result, she couldn't bring herself to refuse his request.

"That's just an assumption on your part," Lucien calmly replied, dismissing her suspicion, as he continued to enjoy her massage. "Mmm, perfect, a little harder, please."

Charlotte huffed but continued to apply more pressure with her fingers.

"By the way, you really hide yourself deep, huh? I never thought you'd be that strong. You even defeated Davion, the member of the Knight Temple." Charlotte remarked.

"Did I manage to impress you with my performance?" Lucien asked cooly. Although she couldn't see his expression, Charlotte was certain that Lucien was smirking in a self-congratulatory manner.

Charlotte snorted dismissively. "Impressed? As if! Your poor skills still have a long way to go. I could deal with him in a matter of seconds."

"You're just bluffing." Lucien scoffed, not believing her words.

"Should we prove it right now?"

"Uh... ouch, my shoulders are hurting again." Lucien skillfully avoids her suggestion.

...

The journey was relatively smooth, and Lucien noticed that he seemed to recover faster when he was in the company of a beautiful woman.

Maybe this was why VIP patients in hospitals were often attended to by attractive nurses. Perhaps there was some truth to the notion that a person's recovery could be positively influenced by the presence of a beautiful woman.

He recalled hearing about studies that suggested that being surrounded by aesthetically pleasing environments and individuals could have a significant impact on a person's mental and physical well-being. Perhaps it was a subconscious effect, but it was one of the factors that couldn't be ignored.

The carriage made its way towards Devereux's Estate, passing through the streets until it reached a massive gate guarded by sentries. Upon spotting the insignia on the carriage, the guards swiftly opened the gate and allowed the carriage to pass through.

As the carriage made its way through the estate's gates, Lucien couldn't help but marvel at the sight that greeted him. The sprawling grounds were meticulously manicured, with lush gardens and trees as far as the eye could see. A massive fountain stood at the center of it all, its cascading water a testament to Devereux's immense wealth and extravagance.

Although he had memories of this place from the original Lucien, seeing it in person was an entirely different experience.

"Why are you acting as if it's your first time seeing your own home?" Charlotte commented from the side. She had been watching Lucien attentively and noticed he behaved unnaturally when they entered the estate.

Lucien was momentarily caught off guard by Charlotte's question. Still, he quickly regained his composure and responded with a quick-witted remark. "I'm the kind of person who never fails to appreciate beauty as if it's the first time I'm seeing it," he said with a charming smile. "That's why I'm always captivated by your beauty."

There was a pin-drop silence following Lucien's declaration. Charlotte's finger movement paused before she lightly pinched his shoulders. "W-what nonsense are you spouting? You do know that flattering me won't get you anything?! Hmph!"

Although she sounded furious, she was actually smiling ear-to-ear. However, she couldn't stand his cheekiness and decided to act as if she didn't like it, but secretly, she found it charming.

Lucien, being well-versed in the culture of anime and manga, recognized that Charlotte was simply exhibiting her "tsundere" tendencies, and her words meant nothing.

He casually pulled Charlotte to his front and made her sit on his lap.

"Ehh?!" Charlotte let out a surprised yelp as Lucien pulled her onto his lap. Confronted with his intense gaze, she grew nervous and stammered, "W-what are you doing?!"

"Appreciating the beauty much closer," Lucien smirked and began staring down at Charlotte with his heated gaze. His eyes are automatically fixed on the bulge on her chest that appears full and round.

'Since my life limit has been reset, should I seize the opportunity that's presented before me and make the most of it?' Lucien contemplated.

"Didn't our agreement only involve me being with your friend?" Charlotte stuttered, her voice becoming increasingly quiet. "Is this what a friend is supposed to do?"

"Well, in my world, there's something I believe called friends with benefits."

"Huh?" Before Charlotte could ask what he meant, Lucien's lips were on hers.

As Lucien's lips touched hers, Charlotte's mind went blank. She could feel the heat rising up in her cheeks as his hands slowly wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. At first, she tried to resist his advances, but as she felt his soft lips pressing against hers with increasing urgency, her resolve began to falter.

As if sensing her hesitation, Lucien gently parted his lips, coaxing her into responding. "Open your mouth, sweetheart."

Charlotte found herself responding instinctively, opening her mouth to let him explore her depths. As their tongues met, a surge of electricity passed through her body, causing her to let out a soft moan. "Ah..."

Their bodies pressed closer together, and Charlotte could feel Lucien's desire growing stronger. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in even closer as they deepened the kiss.

*Knock*

*Knock*

Their moment was abruptly interrupted by knocks on the door. Charlotte quickly pushed Lucien away and scrambled to the farthest seat from him, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she tried to regain her composure.

Lucien was left hanging from his pent-up desire, feeling both amused and irritated at the interruption. He let out a slightly annoyed sigh as he answered the knock on the door. "What's up?" he asked, his tone curt and impatient.

The driver seemed unaware of the shift in Lucien's demeanour and replied with polite professionalism. "We have arrived, young master."

"Okay, just a moment," Lucien replied before taking a seat beside Charlotte and letting out a sigh. "That guy's such a killjoy," he grumbled.

Charlotte rolled her eyes at his comment and proceeded to pinch Lucien's thigh, scolding him. "You're such a pervert! How did I even go along with your indecent act? I can't believe myself!"

"That means your body can't help but respond to my irresistible charm," Lucien answered with confidence, adding a playful wink at the end.

"Anyway, I'll ask the driver to take you home," Lucien offered, to which Charlotte gladly agreed. "That sounds good," she replied with a grateful smile.

After a moment of silence, Charlotte spoke up. "Lucien, I have something to tell you. I'll be transferring to a different school tomorrow."

"Huh? Different school? Why so sudden?" Lucien's heart sank at the news. Though he wouldn't say he was in love with Charlotte, he had grown quite fond of her and had grown comfortable around her. He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as he heard her announcement.

Charlotte smiled in amusement as she watched Lucien's expression turn somewhat downcast. "Pfft! What's with the long face? I'm just transferring to the School of Sorcery and won't be at Liberal Arts anymore. In essence, I'll still be at Rivenhall Institute."

Lucien paused for a moment to process her words, then let out a relieved sigh. "Ah, so it's like that. Why didn't you tell me that earlier?"

"It's quite entertaining to see you looking so crestfallen," Charlotte chuckled softly.

Lucien shook his head in disbelief and played with the strand of her hair absentmindedly. "I guess I'll transfer schools too, but I'll be going to the Academy Of Knights."

[First Challenge]

[Seduce the Paladin, Emilia Leonhart, and steal her from her current boyfriend.]

[Time limit: 14 days]

[Reward: ???]

[Punishment: Annihilation]

Given her title as a Paladin, Emilia Leonhart is most likely a member of the Knight Temple. This was the main reason why Lucien was contemplating transferring schools in the first place.

"Have you finally decided not to play it low-key anymore?" Charlotte teased, remembering how Lucien used to boast about his extensive underground network and how he came to know about many secrets, including her defects.

Next, there was the incident of Lucien fighting against Davion. From Charlotte's perspective, it seemed like Lucien was actually much stronger than he let on and had been pretending to be weak and a good-for-nothing noble brat. It was only recently that he decided to come clean about it and reveal his true self.

Lucien was caught off guard when Charlotte brought up his earlier lie. Still, he knew denying it would seem unnatural, so he hummed in agreement instead.

They conversed for a while until Charlotte caught sight of the sun beginning to set.

"I think it's time for me to go now. If we keep talking, it will be dark by the time I get home," Charlotte pointed out.

Lucien was also worried about Charlotte's safety. He knew that there were no CCTV cameras or street lamps in medieval times, and there were no police officers actively patrolling the area.

Therefore, he intended to quickly send her off after giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"What's that for?" Charlotte snapped, but her eyes were gentle.

"A farewell gift?" Lucien snickered before kissing her lips once again. This time, their lips met with more urgency, and soon their tongues were dancing together in a fiery embrace.

They continued like this for a while, lost in each other's passion, until Charlotte tapped Lucien's shoulder, gasping for air. He pulled away, looking at her with a mixture of desire and concern, realizing that he had lost track of time.

"Are you really going to send me home or not...?" Charlotte asked between breaths.

Lucien playfully retorted, "You can't blame me for falling for those seductive eyes of yours," before giving her a few quick pecks on the lips to satisfy his desire.

After devouring Charlotte's lips like a hungry wolf, he finally decided to have enough and reluctantly pulled away. With a sense of unwillingness, he bid her farewell and began to exit the carriage.

As he stepped out of the carriage, Lucien quickly spotted the driver and asked, "Do you know the location of the Martinez Estate?"

"I do, young master. We, the drivers of nobles, are trained to memorize the locations of all the other nobles' estates," the driver replied respectfully.

"Then, I will leave Charlotte in your care. Please ensure that she arrives home safely. It may be dark by the time you reach there, so perhaps you could bring a few knights with you for extra security," Lucien instructed the driver.

"As you wish, young master," replied the driver, before heading off to gather some knights. He returned within a minute, accompanied by several heavily armed knights on horseback.

"Is there anything else you need, young master?" The driver inquired.

Lucien shook his head in response. He was satisfied with the appearance and readiness of the knights. He believed that if they were to be ambushed by bandits, the knights would be able to handle it without any issue.

"Then, we'll be going off, young master."

Lucien nodded in agreement with the driver's words and turned to see Charlotte's face pressed against the window. He couldn't help but smile and wave at her, and she waved back with a shy smile on her face.

He remained in the same position, watching the carriage until it disappeared from his line of vision.

As he began to turn around to enter his home, a teasing female voice abruptly echoed from behind him.

"A new woman, step brother?"