If the same words had come from any other man,

Airi would have dismissed them as mere flirtation.

But they came from Roy, the boy next door…

The frail girl’s eyes trembled slightly, shimmering with a trace of luminous emotion.

“……”

She stayed silent—speaking now would only embarrass her.

Her body had already betrayed her will, leaning toward the boy.

Her hand lost all strength to resist.

It lay limp in Roy’s palm.

*Do as you please…*

Airi squeezed her eyes shut, her breath quickening.

She made a silent vow:

*I’d never, ever betray Sister…*

Besides, she couldn’t imagine what charm she held to attract someone as striking as Roy.

Compared to Sister,

she was neither tall nor curvy.

Gloomy by nature, even her hair seemed dull.

Awkward at conversation, prone to saying clumsy things that angered others.

And her disability… she was only a burden!

*Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if I just disappeared?*

“Mm…”

A gentle touch brushed her cheek—

like a warm breeze.

Roy’s fingertips.

“Your face is flushed. Fever?”

His gaze drifted to her slender neck, lingering on the pale shoulder exposed by her disheveled nightgown.

Porcelain-white and soft.

Her delicate collarbone stood out elegantly against her thin frame.

“You’re sweating too. That won’t do.”

“I’ll fetch a towel.”

“……”

The boy acted on instinct, doing what he thought right.

Airi, who’d resolved to stay cold toward him, found no words to stop him.

“After cleaning you up, I’ll feed you breakfast. Alright?”

“……!?”

Roy smiled faintly.

*Silence means consent.*

*Sister Elsa’s “Tips for Dealing with Airi” really work.*

He returned with a basin of warm water, a pink towel—Airi’s favorite—draped over his shoulder.

The water had been heated effortlessly by the young Demon King.

Ordinary households would need firewood for such warmth.

As a Radiant Church nun, Sister Aisha received a monthly allotment of magic stones:

glowing stones for lamps, heating stones to warm water instantly—

conveniences in this sword-and-sorcery world.

Some adventurers with magic talent captured light and fire elementals, crafting these stones to sell.

Roy set the basin beside Airi’s bed, his expression calm and earnest,

as if this were the most ordinary task.

Airi froze, utterly lost.

She shut her eyes tight.

Her small chest rose and fell rapidly.

Roy’s gentle voice reached her ears,

along with the soft splash of a wrung-out towel.

“Relax, Airi.”

“I’ll blindfold myself.”

“…Blindfold?”

“Mm. At the inn, female guests sometimes insisted I bathe them.

I couldn’t refuse… but I couldn’t look either. This was the only way.”

As he spoke, Roy untied his shirt’s necktie.

He unfolded it, spread it across his palms,

then tied it securely behind his head—

smooth, practiced movements that left no room for doubt.

“There. All set~”

Blindfolded, he tilted his head toward her with a smile.

Airi’s eyes fluttered open just in time to see it.

A sensation struck her—

a certain spot in her heart pierced clean through.

Ripples spread to every corner of her body.

Even her mind trembled.

A thrilling tremor of longing.

“……”

Her cheeks burned hotter than ever.

For the first time, she let herself stare openly at the boy.

Soon, it wasn’t her choice to keep looking—

Roy’s allure held her gaze captive.

Only when her azure eyes stung from dryness did she blink quickly away.

She had to admit:

Blindfolded to deny desire,

the boy radiated temptation instead.

Like—a *“Succubus”*!

Naturally, irresistibly alluring.

Airi pressed her thighs together unconsciously.

“Then I’ll begin.”

“Miss Airi, forgive my boldness~”

His voice washed over her like warm water,

enveloping her in comfort.

“……”

Guided by instinct, Roy located the basin, towel, and Airi.

He lifted the quilt covering her slowly.

Beneath her nightgown, her skin glowed pale and smooth.

Slender, willowy—

delicate as a blossom by the water’s edge.

Airi instinctively covered her chest,

then remembered Roy couldn’t see.

Her hands fell limply to her sides.

“Thank you…”

Her voice was soft, her eyes dewy.

In this moment, she refused to dwell on Roy and Sister—

on whether they shared *that* bond.

She only knew she couldn’t—*wouldn’t*—reject his care.

Or his gentleness.

Roy’s shy smile bloomed like spring itself before her.

He started with her arms, dabbing warm cloth over her skin with meticulous care.

Then her shoulders—requiring him to slip the nightgown strap down.

Surprisingly, before Roy could ask,

Airi gritted her teeth.

With her free hand, she slid the thin white strap off her shoulder.

Her snow-pale shoulder lay bare before him.

But the blindfold hid all but a shadowy outline.

*It’s fine.*

*After all… the next parts are far more intimate.*

She’d accept his care without reservation.

“Ah…!”

“Th-there… gently…”

“S-sorry, does it hurt?”

“No…”

Airi shook her head, cheeks crimson.

The rest died in her throat, too shameful to voice.

Not from pain.

Quite the opposite—

*It felt… too good…*