Grabbing like a pet that had slipped its leash, Lucy dragged through the hallways with practiced ease. The servants whispered as usual, their voices low but never subtle enough to escape my hearing. But I had grown used to the gossip. I wasn't embarrassed anymore.
Without a mont's hesitation, she threw into the bath and began stripping down. Her hands were swift, her deanor calm—like she had done this a thousand tis. I didn't protest since this is the third ti she done this.
I didn't really care what she did anymore. Instead, I picked up the book she'd given earlier that morning, eager to study while she washed .
She began washing my body with slow, deliberate movents. Her hands had always been Tempting, but now they felt different—warr, almost trembling. My focus wavered as I read. Her touch was more intimate this ti, tempting in a way I couldn't describe.
"W-What are you doing? That feels... strange," I muttered without lifting my eyes from the book, though half my attention was already slipping.
She gulped. Her gaze swept over , taking in everything. I didn't see it, but I felt it—the way her touch paused, lingered. Her thoughts spiraled.
He's really this innocent? How can soone look like that and still be so... pure? She was captivated—by my body, by my face, by the way I didn't even flinch. Temptation clawed at her, and then—she gave in.
Her hand wandered lower.
Then, suddenly, her expression shifted. Her fingers froze mid-motion. A faint gasp left her lips, and her face paled, eyes wide with shock.
Th-This... she faltered.
A soft moan slipped from my lips, making her heart race. Her thoughts reeled.
No way... she had assud, foolishly, that I would be small—because I was small. But she was dead wrong. An Excalibur... was hidden beneath. Thick, long, and veiled by how it rose, it had escaped her notice—until now. She had only intended to tease , a small punishnt for earlier antics. But this... this shook her.
Her breath turned ragged. Desire laced her thoughts, but I remained oblivious. I kept reading, my curiosity focused solely on the pages in front of . I didn't hate what she was doing... but I didn't like it either. I just didn't react.
The three low-tier spells she gave were simple yet powerful:
Iron Veins – To harden and strengthen the body.
Cellular Knit – To accelerate wound healing.
Vital Bloom – To gradually increase regeneration speed when resting.
They were all designed to help my body recover, grow, and endure.
My lips curved into a soft smile. I appreciated her gifts more than I could say.
Then ca the two mid-tier spells. The first was:
Shadow Sentinel – It allowed to summon two shadows, each with half my physical strength and the sa spells as .
The second mid-tier spell—one she hadn't nad in the book—activated only when I reached a certain level of mana control:
i would na a new spell since I'll be combining two spell
Twin Exorcists – If cast while in my Exorcist form, it would summon two shadows that also held that form. But the cost was overwhelming. With my current mana, I wouldn't last a minute.
Lucy was still flustered but continued washing . Since she had already cleaned herself, she ford a barrier around her body to avoid getting wet. It gave her ti to recover, to compose herself.
Minutes passed. She focused only on her task. If she had gone further, if I had disliked it even slightly, there would have been a mark on her forehead. That was the risk. But I hadn't stopped her. That ant... either I truly didn't understand, or... I liked it.
She smirked at that thought.
She made up her mind—to touch just enough. Enough to leave wanting. To make crave her. She gulped as the mory of the mont replayed in her head.
I, on the other hand, remained glued to the book. She couldn't see my expression, and part of her desperately wanted to. But seeing so focused, she decided not to interrupt—not yet. A mischievous smile spread across her lips.
After over thirty minutes, she finally dried off. In that ti, I had fully grasped how to use the three low-tier spells. I nodded to myself, satisfied.
But as I stood up, I realized sothing terrible—I was still in the humiliating maid outfit.
I sighed.
I'd have to wear this in front of so many people again. But I didn't let it bother too much. I buried myself in the book again, determined to lose myself in study.
Lucy, composed once more, lifted into her arms. We didn't walk this ti. Before I realized it, I was in bed—pressed tightly against her as if I were her favorite plush toy.
My body stiffened as her warm, curvy form enveloped mine. Her touch radiated heat. She wrapped herself around like a blanket, breathing softly against my ear.
"Majesty? Aren't you... a bit too close today?" I asked, my voice a low mutter.
She smiled and flicked my forehead. "Shut it. Just stay like that. I'm ready to sleep."
Her voice was warm, playful, and intimate.
I didn't argue. I turned back to the book.
But then—I felt sothing. Sothing different. A subtle change in myself. My hand moved instinctively, gripping her shoulder.
Annoyed, she opened her eyes and pinched my cheeks hard. I didn't complain. I just endured it.
Finally, she exhaled and asked, "What is it?"
I looked at her curiously. "Why did it feel like my body changed again after entering Two Star? It's like... a new layer ford."
She nodded, finally understanding. "Like I said before—each Star stage has three layers: early, mid, and peak. You're in the early layer now. You'll need to break through the fourth layer to reach mid-stage."
"With your talent, don't worry. You'll grow fast."
I nodded, reassured.
But deep inside, a storm was building. Sixty years. That's all I had. That's the limit. Before the catastrophe arrives.
I had to get stronger. I had to go beyond Eight Star—no matter what it cost.
I thought back to the dream. The visions I'd seen. If what that being told was true... then everything I'm doing now is part of a plan—one designed to crush my hope.
They showed a glimpse of the future not to prepare , but to drown in despair.
But Lucy...
Because of her, my life had beco bearable. Because of her, my burdens were lighter.
If more people stood by my side like she did... I could survive this. I could win.
I rembered what I saw in the vision—beings who could injure even Great Kingdoms. Beings who fought like devils, yet wore faces of angels. I saw millions of them slaughtering without rcy.
Despair clung to like a second skin. Goosebumps ran along my arms.
Lucy noticed the shift. Her embrace tightened. Wordlessly, she comforted .
I smiled bitterly.
I had to protect her.
Even when she was cold. Even when she barked orders and treated like a stuff toy she helped when no one else would. She bought when I was worthless. She lifted when I had nothing.
And suddenly—it all clicked.
The being I t never wanted to help . It only wanted to break . To show doom and make surrender.
But I won't.
Because Lucy gave a reason to fight.
And if I gather those strong enough—if I carry their hopes too—I will protect this world.
I will save humanity.
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