Lys shook his head, snapping back to the moment as Sara tugged on his sleeve again. "Sorry, what? Yeah, I'm fine. Just... got lost in thought for a sec."
Sara narrowed her eyes at him, but there was a playful glint in them. "Uh-huh. Thoughts about Bertha, I bet. You were staring after her like she was a fresh cake."
He laughed softly, keeping his arm around her waist as they strolled down the hall. The house felt even quieter now. No other servants were around.
"Okay, you caught me. Quick question, does Bertha live here? Like, in the house full-time?"
Sara nodded, glancing up at him with a small smile. "Yeah, she does. She's got a room in the servants' quarters downstairs. Been with me for two years, helps me run the place when I'm busy with village and land stuff. Why? Planning to drop by for tea or something?"
Lys hesitated for a beat, his fingers drumming lightly on her hip. He kept his tone casual, but there was that mischievous edge creeping in. "Well... what if I said I was a little interested in her? Would that make you mad?"
Sara stopped walking, turning to face him with her hands on her hips. She rolled her eyes a bit, but it wasn't angry, just exasperated, like dealing with a kid who kept sneaking cookies. "Mad? Lys, come on. If you want that, what can I do? It's not like I own you."
She paused, her expression softening as she glanced down the hall where Bertha had gone. "Besides, Bertha's a sweet woman. Loyal, hardworking, plus she's always got my back. I don't dislike the idea if it's her, not some random girl off the streets who'd cause trouble. Just... be nice about it, okay? She's shy, not used to attention like that."
He grinned, pulling her closer again, his hand sliding down to give her ass a quick, affectionate squeeze. "See? That's why you're the best. No drama, just straight talk." His voice dropped lower, that wicked spark lighting up his eyes.
"But if you're okay with it... you might have to help me out with something."
Sara raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms but not pulling away. "Help? What kind of help are we talking about here? If it's something sneaky, I'm not sure I'm in."
"Oh, nothing too bad," Lys said, his tone teasing as he nudged her toward the stairs leading to the servants' quarters. "Come on, let's take a little walk. Trust me."
She sighed but followed, her steps light and curious despite the eye-roll. "Fine, but if this blows up in your face, don't say I didn't warn you. Bertha's like family to me, I don't want her feeling weird."
-----
They headed down the dimly lit corridor to the maid chambers, a simple area with a few doors branching off for sleeping quarters and a shared washroom. The air down here was warmer, carrying the faint scent of soap and fresh linens. It was quiet; most of the other servants were probably out finishing chores or in the kitchen.
As they turned the corner, they spotted Bertha slipping into the washroom at the end of the hall. She had set her basket down outside the door and was untying her apron, humming softly to herself, clearly heading in for a quick wash.
Sara slowed her steps, whispering to Lys. "Okay, we're here. Now what? You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, right? Like, spying on her or something?"
Lys giggled under his breath, a low, mischievous sound as he grabbed her hand and pulled her along quietly. "Yes, exactly. Come on, it'll be fun. Just a little peek, completely harmless."
Sara shook her head, but she didn't stop him, her own curiosity mixing with a hint of amusement. "You're terrible, you know that? If we get caught, I'm blaming you."
They crept closer, sticking to the shadows along the wall. The washroom door was ajar, just a crack, probably because Bertha hadn't bothered to shut it fully. Steam was already starting to waft out, along with the sound of running water from a basin.
Lys leaned in close to Sara's ear, his voice a silent whisper. "Why's she washing herself with the door open like that? Couldn't even push it a little to close it?"
Sara spoke, whispering back as she peeked over his shoulder. "What are you talking about? Is there any reason to? No men are in this house; it's all we women down here. So of course, we don't worry about that stuff."
She paused, then added with a teasing nudge to his side, "Oh, wait, I forgot. Now there is one. A hungry, starving beast who might devour anyone who looks attractive to him."
Lys stifled a laugh, his eyes glued to the crack in the door. "Hey, keep your voice low. Shh, you might get us caught. Let's see what happens."
Both of them slowly inched closer to the washroom door, their footsteps hushed on the creaky wooden floor.
Lys led the way, his heart pounding with excitement, while Sara trailed just behind, her hand lightly on his back like she was ready to bolt at any second. The crack in the door was narrow, but as they neared, a sliver of light spilled out, casting a soft glow in the dim hall.
Through it, they caught a shadowy glimpse of Bertha inside. She was undressing now, her back to the door, slowly peeling off her sweat-dampened maid-uniform. The fabric slipped down her shoulders, revealing the smooth curve of her back and the top of her full, round ass.
Lys's eyes widened, and he hunched over more to get a better look, leaning forward like a kid peeking at a forbidden treat. "Oh man, jackpot," he whispered, his voice barely audible but buzzing with mischief.
But in his eagerness, he shifted too far, and Sara, who was crouched right behind him, lost her balance. She slipped down with a soft thud, her knee hitting the floor. "Oof!" she yelped, the sound escaping before she could clamp a hand over her mouth.
Inside the washroom, Bertha froze, her head snapping toward the door. "Who's there? Is someone out there?" Her voice was sharp, laced with alarm, as she clutched her discarded clothes to her chest.
Sara's eyes went wide in panic. "Shit!" she hissed under her breath. Before Bertha could step out to check, Sara shoved Lys hard after getting behind him, using him as a human shield to buy herself time.
"Sorry! I'm her master, I can't get caught while peeking at her naked body," she whispered frantically, then bolted down the hall like a rabbit, her footsteps pattering away in a flash.
Lys stumbled forward from the push, catching himself just as the door swung open wider. "Hey, wait…Sara!" he muttered, shocked at how quickly she'd ditched him. One second she was there, the next she was gone, leaving him to face the music alone.
"Damn, she's fast when she wants to be," he thought, half-amused, half-annoyed. But then his eyes locked on Bertha, and all thoughts of Sara vanished.
There she stood, completely naked, her hands fumbling to cover herself but doing a poor job. Water droplets from the basin glistened on her skin, trailing down her full breasts, which heaved with her rapid breaths. Her nipples, pink and perky from the cool air, stood out against her freckled chest. Her wide hips and thick thighs framed a neatly trimmed bush above her pussy, lips slightly parted in surprise, hinting at the wetness from her quick wash. Bertha's face was a deep crimson, her eyes wide as saucers, as if she were frozen in place.
"Master L-Lys? What are you…oh god..!" Bertha squeaked, finally snapping out of it and trying to cross her arms over her chest while turning sideways. But it only gave him a better view of her round and jiggly ass, with a faint birthmark around her backside waist.
Just then, the system pinged in his vision, a white screen flashing triumphantly.
<< Quest Complete: "Voyeur's Delight" >>
<
Lys stood there, frozen before the naked Bertha, not knowing what to do now, or how he'd get out of this situation, now that he had been caught red-handed by her.