Moving to the right wing of the Heist estate turned out not to be an improvement in luxury, but a form of mental torture. My room, which is five times the size of my father's entire house, is connected directly to Elara's chambers via a massive set of double doors. And guess who holds the key? Not me.
"You promised to train me tonight, Alex," Elara's voice drifted from behind the door, followed by the sound of a turning lock.
I was sitting on a velvet sofa, trying to read a book on advanced Mana Veiling. I sighed, closing the book. "What kind of training now? You're already a genius, Lady Heist. You don't need my help to blow up that idiot prince."
The door swung open. Elara stepped in, and the book in my hand instantly hit the floor.
She had just finished bathing.
Her wet black hair was draped messily, dripping water onto her bare marble shoulders. Her body was wrapped only in a thin, white silk bathrobe. Incredibly thin. The magical lamplight in the room pierced through the fabric, revealing her perfect silhouette. The curve of her slender waist, the shadow of her firm breasts, and her long, damp legs.
The intoxicating scent of hot steam and rose perfume immediately filled the room, assaulting my senses.
"I don't want to blow Julian up. I want to be able to perform mana compression like you," Elara walked closer. Her robe parted slightly at the thigh with every step, exposing her pale skin glistening with leftover droplets.
I swallowed hard; my throat was suddenly bone-dry. Damn it, why does she have to look this beautiful? My sarcastic edge was completely paralyzed.
"Uhh... Lady Elara, could you... put on some proper clothes first? This... this is improper," I said, my voice stiff, eyes darting anywhere but her body. Don't look, don't look, don't look...
Elara let out a soft giggle, a sound of pure satisfaction at my reaction. She stopped right in front of me, her scent making my head spin.
"Why? Are you afraid of me, Alex?" Elara leaned down, her face level with mine. Her robe loosened at the chest, offering a view of her exquisite cleavage right before my eyes.
"I-I'm not afraid! I just... I respect your privacy!" I tried to back away, but the sofa hemmed me in. My face was flushed crimson all the way to my ears. Dammit, why is my heart racing like this?! I'm an OP knight, I should be able to handle this!
"Respect my privacy?" Elara placed her hand on my thigh, her cool fingers stroking my skin through the thin trousers I wore. Her touch sent a jolt of electricity through my entire body. "Then, as my personal assistant, your duty is to help me... dry my hair."
She handed me a small towel, then turned around and sat on the floor between my legs, leaning her back against the sofa.
I froze. Her position... it was dangerous. Her head was right below... Goddammit! This woman is playing with fire!
"Hurry, Alex. My hair is getting cold," she urged.
With trembling hands, I took the towel and began to dry her wet, silken hair. It was incredibly soft. As I dried it, her slender neck was exposed, so white and smooth. I could see the faint pulse of her vein.
Her scent grew stronger. My mind began to drift toward things a background character looking for a quiet life should never think about.
Suddenly, Elara looked up, staring at me from below. Her blue eyes glinted with a wicked light.
"You know, Alex..." She grabbed the hand holding the towel, brought it to her lips, and gently kissed my finger. Her warm tongue flicked against my fingertip. "Your mana... it tastes delicious. I can feel it surging inside you right now. So strong... so wild..."
I froze, my whole body tensing up. My mind was completely shattered. This wasn't an interrogation; this was a lethal seduction.
"M-Milady, please... stop," I rasped, barely a whisper.
Instead, Elara pulled my hand deeper, pressing it against her racing heart. I could feel the warmth of her skin and the wild thumping of her heart through the thin silk.
"Why should I stop?" Elara whispered, her voice thick with restrained lust. "Julian could never touch me like this. Only you, Alex. Only you are allowed."
She stood up, her robe sliding slightly off her shoulders, exposing her glistening bare skin. She crawled onto the sofa, pinning me down. The position was... Hell, she's literally straddling me.
Our faces were barely a centimeter apart. Her breath was ragged, her red lips slightly parted. I could see her pupils dilated with pure, yandere obsession.
"Tonight..." Elara whispered against my lips, "I don't want magic training. I want to practice... something else. Teach me, Alex. Teach me what it feels like to be loved by a man as strong as you."
She crashed her lips against mine in a brutal, passionate kiss. It wasn't a romantic kiss; it was a claim of ownership. Her tongue forced its way in, exploring my mouth greedily, exchanging heat and breath.
My hands, acting on their own, wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her closer. I could feel the softness of her body pressing against mine. The mental mana-handcuffs she had placed on me felt like they were tightening, but strangely... I didn't want to let go.
The outside world—the Prince, the academy, the game script—it all vanished. There was only me, Elara, the scent of roses, and a wild passion ready to explode in this Silver Tower chamber.
A quiet life? To hell with that. I had just found the most beautiful hell in this second life of mine.