Madam Sicilia

Despite exuding the air of a wealthy woman, her figure was not like that of a normal woman; she remained as graceful as a young girl.

She took Maria's hand and slowly walked into the car.

Although the thugs around were puzzled, they only hesitated for a few seconds before obediently moving their unconscious comrades into other cars and driving off again...

Following the car, Maria quickly arrived at the other person's house...

More precisely, it refers to the other party's family territory.

It was a large estate that had been built up together.

The imposing main building faces the entrance, and there are many houses on the side for guests or other family members to stay in.

Contrary to Maria's expectations, the noblewoman did not take her to any secluded corner, but instead led her directly to the third floor of the main building.

Here, a bright red carpet covers the entire floor, exquisite and ornate vases adorn the room with many plants that Maria did not know, warm yellow lights sway in the room, and the beautiful stone tabletops are as smooth as mirrors.

Compared to the perpetually gray world outside, this place is almost excessively vibrant.

What puzzled Maria was that this place didn't seem like a proper conversation venue; rather, it felt like someone's private hut.

"Surprised?"

The noblewoman chased away the family members who had come to protect her, then casually walked to the side, disregarding Maria, and directly took off her clothes in front of a full-length mirror.

Her smooth skin remained moisturized, and her graceful figure swayed with a touch of allure.

There was also a patch of bluish skin on her chest.

The situation was indeed critical, and Maria had no other choice but to kick him away.

The lady could understand such behavior, but she still couldn't help but complain a little.

Is this a bit too violent for someone who has given birth?

"I don't like formal banquets... My invitation is just for a private dinner."

As she spoke casually, the woman turned and picked up a bathrobe that the maids had prepared beforehand, extending her hand to Maria.

"The weather in Columbia isn't great today... Perhaps a shower before we get to know each other better?"

As she spoke, her bright eyes remained as composed as ever.

Faced with this unpredictable yet clearly powerful woman, Maria hesitated for a few seconds before turning around and taking the other woman's hand in her arms.

"Certainly."

"Hmph~"

Faced with Maria's obvious desire to take the initiative, the noblewoman did not resist but instead yielded to her.

The beautiful women entered the bathroom.

The spacious bathroom was much more comfortable than the bathroom at Hoshiguma's house in Lungmen. They even had space to build a Gulo- style bath on the third floor.

Guided by the woman, Maria also removed her clothes and, without any fear, joined her in the warm bath. The two of them soaked in the warm water, close together.

"With that hat off, your appearance is even more stunning than your demeanor."

The noblewoman gazed at Maria, marveling at her beauty.

"To be honest, I still don't know your name."

After a few moments of relaxation, the noblewoman turned slightly and leaned against the edge of the bathtub. Her soft, slightly drooping breasts cleverly concealed the most eye-catching red within the water, yet the curves created by the angled opening still drew the eye.

Of course, for Maria, that was all there was to it.

Without its own big...

"Maria."

"Maria?" The noblewoman smiled, her eyes narrowing. "It doesn't sound like Columbia name, nor does it sound like a Siracusa name."

"According to your customs, I should come from a country called Victoria... Of course, I've never been there."

"Victoria? I've never been there either."

The lady spoke languidly, her calm and relaxed tone making it hard to believe she was already married.

But her composed demeanor revealed her mature aura.

"Then, Miss Maria, why have you come to Columbia? This is not a good place, or perhaps you are just passing through and could leave at any time?"

Both are true.

"You can't have both of these problems!"

"But that's the truth, I haven't decided where I want to go yet... If I had to say, I'd like to go to a country called Bolivar."

"Glass Val?"

The noblewoman squinted at Maria beside her, then suddenly smiled and shook her head.

"You really are a mystery to me... Perhaps if I were younger, I might have fallen for a mysterious girl like you, but unfortunately, I'm no longer young."

Although it was just a tentative remark, she still couldn't help but exhale.

Clearly, just as the child within a man always resides, women of all ages also care about their age.

Although she remains exquisitely beautiful, she is no longer the young, charming woman she once was.

Maria then turned her head to look at the other person.

After a long silence, she slowly lifted the other person's fair fingers from the water.

Amidst their astonished gazes, he gently kissed her.

"A woman's charm is never limited by age... Madam."

In the depths of those grey eyes, his gaze never wavered.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Madam Sicily

I haven't felt this way in many years.

It was the feeling of my heart starting to beat again.

The once mature and composed noblewoman appeared like a shy girl from the countryside to the banquet hall in the presence of the even more elegant Maria.

Her face flushed, and she withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted, staring blankly at the woman in front of her whose expression remained completely unchanged.

She couldn't understand why the woman in front of her could so easily display such a captivating and ambiguous demeanor.

In Columbia, she met countless people.

Men, women.

Gentleman, beggar.

Dancer, prostitute.

She has met countless people with different attitudes and has had various connections and exchanges with them.

But no one, no one at all, has ever been as composed and stable as Maria.

Their self-praise is for various purposes, and their words are full of caution... Everyone is worried about something while vaguely expecting something, so their words are full of embellishment and falsehood.

But... Maria is different.

She was so confident and composed that she didn't care about anything in the world, so much so that any words she wanted to say came from the bottom of her heart.

There was no extraneous emotion attached to it.

A simple sentence made the lady feel that her defenses had been breached.

But soon she found herself unable to look at Maria.

She was the one who invited the other person to bathe together, and she was the one who felt that since they were all the same sex, there was no need to be shy. But in the end, it was still her who revealed her weakness and shyness.

After taking several deep breaths, she finally raised her head as if from a distance, looking at the other person and at their calm, expressionless face.

After hesitating for a moment, she gently leaned forward.

Their bodies pressed together without any obstruction, their soft surfaces rubbing against each other, and a delicate kiss slowly landed on Maria's cheek.

She intended to use this method to assert her authority and show the other person that she was their elder and wouldn't be defeated by such petty tricks.

But in the end, every inch of her skin seemed to become addicted to that slightly cool touch.

Slender fingers traced her spine, bringing an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

She pursed her lips, and finally, taking advantage of Maria's inattention, slowly got up and left the bath.

"I've finished washing. I'll have someone arrange your clothes later."

The noblewoman spoke softly, rose, and left.

She didn't want to admit that she was becoming somewhat infatuated with this feeling.

Maria watched the other person leave, draped in a bath towel, before turning her head back.

"Doll, I think there's something wrong with the method you suggested."

She spoke softly, her calm voice filled with doubt.

Clearly, Maria's actions just now were not her original intention; her thoughts were truly very simple.

Since the other person has invited me to take a bath, I'll go in, relax together, and maybe we can chat a bit and get to know each other better.

But the Doll felt that it should take the initiative at this time and try to extract some intelligence from them.

As for how to take the initiative... neither of them had any ideas.

Finally, the Doll asked the system, whose order was 'Master of Building Relationships,' Little Regret advice, suggesting that Maria could use more physical contact with the other person when praising them verbally... This would help everyone get closer.

And Maria did just that.

The problem is that although she did as instructed, the outcome was something she couldn't quite understand.

The other person didn't say anything, just gave me a kiss on the cheek, and then left.

What does this mean?

Or is it that the custom of kissing someone on the cheek in this world is different from what you understand it to be, and that there's some other meaning behind it?

Unfortunately, Maria couldn't figure it out, so she had to ask her external relationship processor again.

After a moment of silence, the Doll spoke quietly.

Do you like this bath?

"... I don't particularly like it, but it definitely helps me relax a lot."

"..."

"What's wrong, Doll?"

"It's nothing, you sentimental Hunter. I'll build you a bath in the Hunter's Cabin too..."

"... Thanks?"

Maria was a little confused.

The Doll's attitude had always been like this, so obscure that she couldn't understand it.

The only certainty is that the Doll will never betray itself.

So, after hearing the Doll's inexplicable question and answer, Maria didn't say much. She hesitated for a moment before getting up from the bath and slowly wiping her body.

And in the cubicle outside the bathhouse, just as she had said, the noblewoman had indeed prepared a set of clothes for Maria.

It was a beautiful dress, not flashy, and didn't reveal too much skin. The only drawback was that it might restrict movement a little.

But for Maria, this was no big deal.

No matter what, she was still Cainhurst. Even if she hated this identity more than she hated Yharnam, those habits cultivated since childhood had accompanied her through countless days and nights.

It's just a dress; it's easy to pull it off.

Maria quickly changed her clothes and left the room.

Her gentle and graceful demeanor made the noblewoman, whose emotions had finally calmed down, widen her eyes even more.

Is that strange?