Cornelia's Night (5.2K) (Continued)

Cornelia sighed and looked up at the dazzling and beautiful night sky above.

Actually, although she soaked in the hot spring in the evening, she didn't enjoy it as much because she had to take care of other people.

Besides having developed a habit of taking care of others over the years, she essentially prefers quiet moments like this...

No, if she could, she would much rather spend this time with the person she likes.

For example, being with the Yotsuba Clan- sama or something...

Thinking of this, her face inexplicably flushed.

But just then, the sound of a door being pushed open came from behind.

Huh? Will anyone still come at this hour...?

Hearing the noise, the girl turned around and couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"Four four four four Yotsuba-sama?!!!"

Cornelia saw Yotsuba Mahiro, who was wearing a bath towel, walk in.

When Mahiro walked in and saw Cornelia there, he casually greeted her.

"Oh? Cornelia? What a coincidence, you're here for a hot spring so late too?"

"Hmm... because there are very few people at this time... no, Yotsuba Clan- sama, this is the women's bath!"

"Huh... aren't they supposed to be interchangeable?" Mahiro blinked, looking confused.

"There's a big 'woman' sign on the door!"

"Oh, maybe I misread it."

Seeing Cornelia's astonishment, Mahiro's words remained unspoken. He shrugged indifferently and then, under Cornelia's gaze, slowly stepped into the hot spring.

"Phew, that feels so good."

"Yotsuba Clan... I don't really care, but if other people come in and see you, they'll think you're a pervert!"

Cornelia tugged at the towel covering her chest and whispered words of persuasion.

I'm so happy to be able to soak in the hot spring with the Yotsuba Clan- sama!

But...

Could it be that my wish was heard by the heavens and thus granted?

Cornelia's mind was in a mess, and the steam made her completely at a loss for words.

"Don't worry, how could anyone come so late?"

Mahiro waved his hand dismissively.

He observed that the hot spring had very few guests; including them, there were only about a dozen people in total.

And at this time of day, who would have nothing better to do than come to a hot spring instead of sleeping?

He wouldn't have chosen this time to soak in the hot springs if he hadn't happened to see Cornelia coming out of her room when he got up in the middle of the night.

"Ugh..."

Hearing him say that, Cornelia gave up her last struggle.

Since even Yotsuba Clan- sama doesn't care, why should she care so much?

Besides, isn't soaking in a hot spring with the Yotsuba Clan- sama something she's always dreamed of?!

With this thought in mind, Cornelia's body gradually relaxed, along with the hand that was clutching the towel to her chest.

The bath towel slowly unfurled in the hot spring water, revealing Cornelia's voluptuous and tall body to Yotsuba Mahiro.

"Whoosh~"

Mahiro whistled lightly and said with a grin, "I didn't expect you to have developed so well. You're much better than you were a few years ago. I remember you were quite thin back then."

"Isn't that because you took good care of me?"

Cornelia felt as if her face was burning when she heard his teasing.

However, upon hearing him mention the past, Cornelia couldn't help but slowly curl up her legs and hug them, gazing up at the starry sky and softly sighing:

"Yotsuba Clan, actually, I and many others are very grateful to you. Thank you for taking us out of the Assassination Department back then; otherwise, I don't know what I would be like now..."

"Thanks... I remember back then little Pony really hated me, that look in her eyes... tsk tsk tsk, she practically wanted to kill me."

"Hehe, I remember too. But please forgive Pony, Yotsuba Clan. She's just a simple-minded idiot."

Ultimately, they were all sold to the empire for various reasons and abandoned by their own parents.

And when they felt most helpless, Gozuki, who called himself "Father," appeared.

Pony, who had shown them some kindness, accepted it and regarded Lord Gozuki as her biological father.

Unexpectedly, Gozuki had only been with them for a few years, and hadn't even taught them many things, when he died at the hands of Mahiro.

After some twists and turns, Mahiro became their instructor again, making them all feel unprecedented warmth and kindness, and even accepting everything about them.

Regardless of good or evil, they never abandoned them; instead, they taught them little by little and took meticulous care of their lives.

I have helped them grow to where they are today and have become their support.

Looking back, Cornelia realized that the experience was quite dramatic.

Perhaps this is just fate...

Thinking of the girl here, his gaze towards Mahiro was filled with even more respect and affection.

However, just as they were reminiscing about the past, the locker room door was pushed open once again.

Splash--

A young girl walked in, wearing only a thin bath towel that covered her shapely and tall figure.

But when Cornelia saw the girl's face, she recognized her immediately—it was the black-haired girl she had seen at the hotel entrance earlier!

At the same time.

Taeko arrived at the hot spring and was about to go into the water when she saw Yotsuba Mahiro soaking in the pool.

So she withdrew her jade-like foot, stepping onto the warm stone floor, and bowed slightly to him, saying:

"Sorry, I went to the wrong pool."

After saying that, Taeko turned and left without pausing for a moment.

But a moment later, she returned.

Yotsuba Mahiro into Yotsuba Mahiro's eyes with those calm, still eyes, he asked:

"Excuse me, this is clearly the women's pool, why are there men here?"

This kid seems a bit airheaded...

Mahiro twitched his lips, thinking to himself, but just as he was about to speak, Cornelia anxiously defended him:

"Sorry! Actually, he's my boyfriend. He drank a little too much at dinner, so he accidentally ended up in the women's pool to soak in the hot spring with me!"

Cornelia felt her heart pounding wildly, almost as if it were about to leap out of her chest!

After all, this was the first time she had ever lied, and it happened right in front of the Yotsuba Clan- sama—she had accidentally blurted out her true feelings!

"Boy friend?"

Taeko blinked, then turned her gaze back to Mahiro, her expression now more questioning.

Cornelia, meanwhile, nervously pursed her lips.

She's very worried now. What if Lady Yotsuba Clan doesn't like the lie she made up?

What if Yotsuba Clan- sama rejects it?

She prayed, like a prisoner awaiting final judgment, that Yotsuba Mahiro wouldn't refute her lies.

Yes, he's my boyfriend.

Mahiro smiled and nodded.

Cornelia breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her face had turned crimson.

Ugh... what am I even saying...?

"Hmm... I see. Would you mind if I joined you?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Taeko thanked him, completely unconcerned about his male identity, and stepped into the hot water, slowly settling into the spring.

That's interesting...

Mahiro at the girl with some curiosity.

"Um... I'm so sorry for causing you trouble."

Cornelia cautiously approached, and Mahiro apologized to the girl.

But Taeko shook her head and said, "It's alright. After all, this hotel already has mixed-gender baths, so there's no problem using it as a mixed-gender bath."

"Hey-hey."

Cornelia smiled shyly. "It's fate that we met. Hello, my name is Cornelia, and I'm currently traveling with my boyfriend and companions."

"My name is Taeko, and I'm also traveling, but I'm traveling around the world with my grandmother to broaden my horizons."

"Huh? Really?! Taeko, you're amazing!"

Is it because Cornelia is strong-willed, or because the two were originally attracted to each other?

Anyway, the two quickly became close friends who could talk about anything, and even felt a sense of mutual appreciation and regret for not having met sooner.

Of course, this "openness to everything" did not include any truth, and Cornelia was well aware of this, so she kept fabricating experiences and lies for herself.

Throughout this process, Mahiro remained silent, simply observing Taeko in quiet contemplation.

It was discovered that Taeko's expression remained completely unchanged throughout, maintaining an expression as calm as still water.

It wasn't an act; she genuinely didn't care.

As expected of an assassin from the Oarburgh Assassination Group...

However, such casual conversations eventually come to an end. After chatting for about an hour, Cornelia said her goodbye.

With Yotsuba Mahiro around, it's still a bit inconvenient.

If he weren't there, the two of them would probably chat until morning.

"Um, Yotsuba Clan- sama..."

In the empty corridor, the bright moonlight bathed the floor, and Cornelia, who was following behind, suddenly called out to him.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Mahiro around, curiously looking at the girl behind him.

Her face was slightly flushed, and she stammered a little.

"Um, um... I'm sorry, I just said you were my boyfriend in the hot spring."

"It's alright, I understand, it's for concealing my identity. In fact, having a gentle and considerate girlfriend like Cornelia would be a blessing."

He reached out and touched Cornelia's head. Her blonde hair felt smooth and silky after being washed.

"If you have nothing else to do, go to sleep. Breakfast is in a few hours."

After saying that, Mahiro turned around, but this time, as soon as he took a step, he suddenly felt a warmth coming from behind, and a pair of slender arms tightly hugged his waist.

"Cornelia?"

"Yotsuba Clan, I like you... Even if it's just a fake girlfriend, can I fulfill my duties as a girlfriend tonight?"

Cornelia buried her head behind him, her voice muffled.

Cornelia released him only when he turned around, and looked up at him.

Those bright eyes were overflowing with emotion, and those pure pupils were even more endearing.

Having just soaked in the hot springs, Cornelia was only wearing a thin yukata.

The thin, damp fabric clung tightly to her voluptuous, curvaceous figure.