Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Chapter 2

The mansion that Headmaster Stratello had set up for them was the same one that Sylvia and the other members of the Sorceress Council had used during the Sorceress' Knight's Tournament. Built with plain columns, flying buttresses, and a red-tiled roof, the mansion somehow appeared ostentatious without being overly gaudy. What's more, while the inside wasn't what Caspian would have called lavish, it was still nice.

Caspian and Elincia were sharing a room. While not as large as the one he slept at in Sylvia's mansion, it was more than large enough to accommodate two people. As he looked around at the soft carpet, large bed, and array of furniture, he felt it was more than enough for them. In fact, compared to sleeping inside of Erica's carriage like they had been doing the past two weeks, this was heaven.

"Ele?" he called out.

"Hm?" Elincia was sitting on the bed, in the process of removing her boots, but she stopped and looked up when I called her name.

"I'm about to take a shower." Caspian hesitated, took a deep breath, and then squared his shoulders. "Would you... like to join me?"

Elincia froze, her eyes growing wide as her cheeks and ears became a vibrant red. Caspian shuffled on his feet and looked away as she continued to stare at him. Was he being too forward? Should he not have asked that? It was true that they had sex, but that had only been one time. Maybe she wasn't ready for this level of intimacy?

"Is that... really okay?" asked Elincia. "I-I mean... can I take a shower with you?"

Caspian couldn't look Elincia in the eyes. His own cheeks were beginning to feel hot. "I'm the one who offered, didn't I? Doesn't that mean it's okay?"

"Oh... yeah, I guess you did."

The two of them stood in awkward silence for what felt like hours, though in truth it was probably only a few minutes.

Caspian coughed into his hand. "W-well, let's go inside."

"M-mmm!"

Elincia merely nodded as she stood up and began walking toward the bathing room. Sadly, she'd forgotten that she had undone the laces of her left boot and ended up tripping when she stepped on them. She released a loud cry as she fell forward, but Caspian quickly moved over and intercepted the girl before she could meet with a painful landing.

"You okay?" asked Caspian.

"Y-yes." Elincia nodded into his chest. "I'm okay."

"Sit back down," Caspian instructed. "I'll get those boots off for you."

"O-okay."

Elincia sat back on the bed as Caspian knelt before her. Her ears were bright red as he grabbed her already undone boot and slipped it off her foot. Despite the embarrassment she felt permeating through their bond, she also couldn't stop from sighing in relief as her sock was also removed. She wiggled her toes and relished in the freedom she felt.

"Your feet kinda smell," Caspian muttered.

"T-that's a terrible thing to say!"

"Sorry." He grabbed her other boot, undid the laces, and slid it off her foot. "I know it's because we haven't had a chance to take a bath. I probably smell worse."

"Er... well, maybe a little..."

Caspian gave an embarrassed laugh, which caused Elincia to crack a smile. During this time, he peeled off her remaining sock and set it aside. As Elincia began wiggling her toes like a child relishing in the feel of sand on the beach, Caspian stood up and began removing his own boots and socks. Just as he expected, they smelled rank. He'd been wearing these for over two weeks, fought and bled and this clothing, and traveled the spirits knew how many kilometers. It was only natural they would smell awful.