I pushed open the heavy bathroom door, the smirk still on my lips.
Reginald stood just outside, a fresh towel draped over his arm, expression perfectly neutral.
Inside the spacious marble bathing chamber, two maids waited side by side in crisp black-and-white uniforms. One held a large bottle of scented shampoo, the other a thick bar of soap. The moment they saw me—still completely naked, cock heavy and glistening—they bowed deeply, the fabric of their dresses tightening across their chests.
"Young Master," they greeted in perfect unison.
I nodded once and stepped into the large marble pool. The icy water reached my waist at once, biting into skin and muscle like a thousand frozen needles. I always bathed in freezing water. It sharpened the mind, hardened the body, and forged the endurance I would need for the training that still lay ahead.
One maid immediately lifted a heavy wooden bucket of ice-cold water and poured it over my head and shoulders in a shocking cascade. The second joined her. By the time they had emptied ten buckets, both girls' hands were bright red and trembling, fingers nearly numb. Their sleeves and bodices were soaked through, the thin fabric clinging transparently to every curve.
I ruffled my wet hair, water streaming down my chest, and said casually, "I think I'll take five more buckets today."
The corners of both mouths twitched. Their pale faces tightened.
I turned to face them fully, voice firm.
"Starting tomorrow, increase it by five extra buckets every morning."
They nodded, lips pressed thin, bodies shivering from more than the cold.
I rose from the pool. Icy water cascaded down my naked body in long, glistening rivulets. Still dripping and chilled to the bone, I stepped out and walked straight toward the nearest maid, stopping only inches away.
She swallowed, eyes flickering briefly downward before snapping back to my face. I took her freezing, numb hand into both of mine, warming it with my own heat, and looked into her eyes with a soft, sincere expression.
"I'm sorry about this," I said quietly. "It seems I'm hurting my own people."
Her eyes widened.
"N-No, Young Master!" she answered quickly, voice shaky from cold and emotion. "We are the ones who should apologize. It's because we're too weak that we can't even bathe you properly. We understand you're only pushing yourself this hard for your training…"
I shook my head, still cradling her trembling hand.
"Even so… seeing you two hurt yourselves for my sake makes my heart ache a little."
Both maids stared at me with glossy eyes, cheeks flushing deeper despite the cold.
"Young Master…" they whispered in unison.
I smiled, then leaned in until my lips brushed the first maid's ear.
"Let me warm you up."
What followed was raw and intense, sharpened by the cold.
I pulled her into the pool with me, pressing her back against the marble edge as my cock slid between her trembling thighs. She gasped at the brutal contrast—ice-cold water and sudden heat. I took her hard, each thrust sending ripples across the surface, the wet sound of skin echoing off the marble walls. The second maid watched with wide eyes, fingers unconsciously pressing against her own thighs, her soaked uniform doing nothing to hide her growing arousal.
Then I switched. I bent the second maid over the edge and took her from behind, her broken cries echoing through the chamber as icy water splashed with every thrust. Both of them quickly became shivering, moaning messes, clinging to me as cold and pleasure warred inside their bodies.
When I was close, I buried myself to the hilt inside the first maid. Her body clenched around me in rhythmic spasms as I spilled deep inside her. The moment I finished, the bathroom door creaked open.
Lady Isolde Ravencrest stepped inside and froze mid-step.
Her silver-grey eyes widened. Elegant composure shattered. Her breathing turned ragged as she unconsciously pressed her thighs together. The delicate rustle of sheer black stockings cut through the silence.
I smiled lazily from the center of the pool, still buried inside the first maid, and released her soaked hair. She slumped forward and toppled headfirst into the icy water with a splash.
The moment she fell, my cock slipped free with a wet sound. Thick ropes of seed began to leak from her, clouding the clear water in slow, creamy swirls.
I glanced sideways. The second maid was slumped against the wall, legs still open, my release dripping steadily onto the marble floor.
Lady Isolde's gaze snapped back to mine.
A soft, broken breath escaped her crimson lips.
"Elias von Arcturus…" she said, voice low and almost melancholic, "are you truly filling this emptiness inside you by having sex like this?"
My dark eyes flickered for the briefest second—a crack in the mask. Then it slid back into place. I shook my head slowly, letting the last drops of icy water fall from my hair.
I rose from the pool and walked straight toward her until we were nearly chest to chest. My still-slick cock pressed firmly against the silk of her robe, leaving a warm, glistening streak across the expensive fabric.
"Ah, don't worry, Grandmother," I said softly, voice calm and confident. "I'm perfectly fine."
I looked into her shocked silver eyes and added with a small, wicked smile,
"Now… shall we begin your tea ceremony?"
While she stood frozen, lips parted and clearly at a loss for words, I simply walked past her and stepped out of the bathroom.
Reginald was waiting right outside, holding a large soft towel. I took it without a word and began drying my still-dripping body.
A few moments later, Lady Isolde finally emerged, her elegant steps slightly unsteady.
Still casually toweling myself off, I spoke to my butler in a quiet voice.
"Reginald, give those two maids premium healing potions for their hands and add extra gold coins to their salary this month."
Hearing the order, Lady Isolde let out a quiet sigh of visible relief.
I ignored the reaction and opened my walk-in closet. The moment I saw the stiff, extravagant noble clothing hanging there, my fists clenched until the knuckles whitened.
In a low mutter meant only for Reginald, I asked, "This is not my preference at all… What happened to my cute skeleton knight t-shirt? And where are my casual night pants?"
The old butler cleared his throat awkwardly.
"The First Wife of the family believes such… cute clothing is no longer suitable for the fifth young master of House von Arcturus."
I muttered under my breath, "That bitch…"
The instant the words left my mouth, Lady Isolde Ravencrest cleared her throat politely.
The room grew thick with sudden tension.
A few heavy seconds passed.
Then I flashed a bright, charming smile and turned toward her.
"Ah, my bad," I said smoothly, voice light. "My first stepmother's taste is truly excellent. I have no problem wearing this at all."
The tension dissolved.
I cheerfully picked up the luxurious clothes and began putting them on, humming a carefree tune as I dressed.