It didn’t take long to find Senior Elsi.
The cause was a sudden thunderclap that reverberated through the back yard.
Boom, Boom, Boom!
The consecutive lightning strikes startled the servants so much that they peered out of the windows. Senior Elsi, in her anger, had her usual habit of not checking her surroundings.
Sure enough, as I approached the back yard, a few trees had already fallen, emanating a burnt smell.
Anyway, the back yard had long been neglected and had turned into a small thicket.
Senior Elsi must have known this and felled the trees, but it was against etiquette to create such an uproar in the early morning.
Still, thanks to Senior Elsi’s restraint, not many people noticed the noise.
I signaled to the servants peering out the windows to ignore it and placed a finger to my lips.
If there were any who had awoken, this was a sign to help them calm down appropriately.
The reliable servants who had worked at Percus Manor for a long time understood me without words and nodded.
With that, there was no longer any need for concern. The servants would handle it themselves.
My only worry, as usual, was Senior Elsi.
Senior Elsi stood at the center of the chaos she had created.
The crackling electrical charge was still coursing through the ground. The fallen trees and scorched weeds had taken on an ashen hue, creating a desolate atmosphere.
The acrid smell reached my nostrils.
It felt like my sense of smell could be overwhelmed.
Since lightning had struck, Senior Elsi’s ears must have been ringing by now.
Still, it seemed as if her anger had not subsided.
The maiden then lifted her head and let out a roar.
“Aaaargh! Stop it with the engagement, engagement, engagement! You d*mn bastards, first you treat me like dirt, and now you’re so worried that you’re trying to marry me off? Just you wait, you old geezers, I’ll make you regret this later…”
Though Mr. Raymond seemed to be in his prime, calling him “old geezer”…
Senior Elsi’s mouth was sharp, very sharp.
It wasn’t just in front of me that she behaved this way—her attitude was always consistent.
She was brash, spoke harshly, lacked consideration for others, and was still savage.
At least, that was how she appeared on the surface.
However, after spending a lot of time with her, I had come to see another side of her.
Senior Elsi was actually very emotional.
Even when she cursed, there was rarely much sincerity behind it.
Even now, while she was cursing Mr. Raymond, it was unlikely that this was her true intention.
But it was clear that the actions of Mr. Raymond and the “old geezers” had indeed angered her.
I cautiously called out to her.
“…Senior Elsi?”
Senior Elsi couldn’t immediately recognize my voice.
With her ears ringing and the acrid smoke stinging her eyes and nose, it was difficult to clearly perceive her surroundings unless she focused deliberately.
So, without hesitation, she let out a curse.
“Huh? I’m in a foul mood to d*e for, and which little punk is….”
The fierce-eyed Senior Elsi froze as she turned and met my gaze.
After that, Senior Elsi went through several stages.
First, she remained dumbfounded, staring at me with her mouth agape,
then snapped out of it and adjusted her clothing,
and soon approached me with a wide smile.
It was as if her previous behavior was but a lie. Senior Elsi had thrown herself into my arms affectionately.
“…Master!”
I couldn’t help but smile wryly at her dramatic change.
“Only moments ago, you clearly said ‘some little punk’…”
“T-t-that’s impossible!”
Senior Elsi hurriedly denied my words.
She seemed very flustered, shaking her head violently while growling, her raised fist trembling as if ready to punish someone.
“Who dares to call you, Master, such a thing? If such someone exists, I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry! H-hehe…”
As she laughed awkwardly, she began to glance at me surreptitiously.
Her strong desire to cover up her mistake was evident.
Since I had no intention of teasing her further, I stroked her head to convey that she should relax. At once, Senior Elsi became as docile as a lamb.
A sleepy expression that exuded unprecedented satisfaction came over her face.
Senior Elsi only acted so affectionately when she was touched by me.
“H-hehe… M-Master…”
If Senior Elsi were a puppy, she would probably have lain down, ears flattened, groaning adoringly by now.
I asked her with a wry smile.
“Why are you so angry?”
“T-t-that…”
Even while her head was being stroked, a faint resistance was detectable in Senior Elsi.
She showed reluctance to explain the circumstances.
Under normal circumstances, I would respect Senior Elsi’s wish. Everyone has secrets they don’t want to talk about, after all.
But weren’t we a community of fate now?
Even while she maintained a sleepy expression, Senior Elsi slightly wrinkled her brow.
As I pondered on how to handle the situation, I decided to employ a new method.
“…Ah.”
The moment I removed my hand that had been stroking her hair, Senior Elsi’s expression became instantly forlorn.
She looked up at me with yearning eyes.
But my resolve was firm.
Just as she was about to lose hope, I decided to try a new “reward” I had been wanting to experiment with.
My fingertip gently grazed the underside of Senior Elsi’s chin.
Surprised by the sudden contact, she inhaled sharply while looking at me dazedly.
I couldn’t yet tell if my new trial had been successful or not.
I then more actively caressed her soft skin, scratching gently from her chin down to her neck, and around her collarbone.
Only then did a meaningful reaction begin to return from Senior Elsi.
“Huh, hah? Hmm, hmm…”
Her breathing began to quicken, accompanied by strange sounds.
Her eyes clouded with confusion as they encountered a sensation she had never felt before. Regardless, I was thoroughly enjoying the sensation of her skin.
“Hmm… M-Master… Hmm…”
At first flustered, Senior Elsi quickly adapted, and her voice emanated sweetness.
On the contrary, she gripped my arm tightly with both hands as if to ask me not to stop.
Taking on a defensive pose by instinctively scooting her bottom backward, she soon began to pant with her head hanging low.
I was inwardly quite satisfied.
Although it was a new attempt and I had worried, it seemed to please Senior Elsi.
It was then that I stopped my hand.
Still holding my arm and breathing heavily, she looked up at me with a puzzled expression.
The desire in her blue eyes was almost palpable.
Finally, I delivered the line I had been preparing.
“Senior Elsi, why did you quarrel with Mr. Raymond?”
“T-t-that…”
Senior Elsi hesitated even at the end.
It was that much of a story she wanted to hide.
Of course, while I was on a roll, there was no way I’d let her off the hook.
I lightly grazed her chin one more time. Just enough to bring back the memory of the previous sensation.
At this, Senior Elsi closed her eyes tightly and let out a whimpering groan. Her breathing picked up again.
The strength in her grip on my arm increased.
Senior Elsi bowed her head again.
“If you don’t talk, I won’t do it anymore.”
“T-t-that…”
With a grimace, she looked up at me, but my resolve was firm.
As I made a move to withdraw my hand, Senior Elsi’s expression turned even more anxious.
With my hand halfway withdrawn, I made my final offer.
“…What will you do?”
Her pupils moved actively.
To the right, and then to the left.
For a while, Senior Elsi’s torment was evident in her shifting gaze. But the answer she finally gave me was only one.
In a breathless voice, she closed her eyes and shouted.
“Alright, I’ll tell you! I’ll say anything… please, just keep going… Hmm?”
I decided to grant Senior Elsi’s wish.
And so, Senior Elsi ended up panting under my ministrations for quite a while. In the last moments, she shivered and collapsed when she lost strength in her legs.
With her eyes unfocused, I hesitated and asked her one last question.
“…Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes, yes… M-my lord… please keep doing it forever… stroke, stroke…”
It seemed even her tongue had lost its strength.
Only then did I smile contentedly and nod.
Since Senior Elsi was happy, I too was happy.
Now it was time to hear the secret Senior Elsi had kept hidden.
