Chapter 48

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/

Volume 2 + Chapter 48: How’s This Bad?

The crystal chandelier cast a brilliant glow on the girl’s silky silver hair, which shone like the finest satin. 

Her snow-white skin contrasted with the glossy black stockings, complemented by her stunning beauty that outshone all others, creating an unparalleled scene.

If it were the Vanessa of her past life seeing this CG, she might have been deeply moved.

As for now, one could only say that this is probably the so-called “distance creates beauty.”

Besides, Vanessa also noticed a cabinet in the entrance hall specifically for storing items. 

Inside, neatly stacked were many disposable gloves, along with cleaning towels, alchemical potions for disinfection, and a trash bin filled with used disposable gloves.

It was clear that Aesphyra would take many disposable gloves from the cabinet every time she went out. 

Upon returning home, the first thing she did after taking off her shoes was to change her disposable gloves, throw them into the trash bin, disinfect with alchemical potion, and then wash her hands.

One could only say she was very meticulous.

After seeing the items in the cabinet, Vanessa understood that Aesphyra wasn’t lying when she said she had many spare sets of girls’ school uniforms at home. 

She had indeed prepared many identical uniforms, neatly folded in the cabinet. Every day she went out, she wore a different one, and the one she wore yesterday had already been sent to the laundry.

Vanessa knew Aesphyra had a cleanliness obsession, but she hadn’t realized it was this severe.

After inviting her to dinner that day, she must have also disinfected herself with alchemical potion when she got home.

“Is this perhaps not quite appropriate?” Vanessa suddenly spoke up.

“Hmm? What’s the matter?”

“Miss Aesphyra, you are so particular about cleanliness, yet I’m lying on the sofa you diligently maintain without taking off my shoes,” Vanessa said.

“Oh? Is that so? If Miss Vanessa feels embarrassed, I can help you take off your boots~” Aesphyra’s smile deepened sincerely.

“You’re not going to tease me, are you?” Seeing Aesphyra’s uncontrollable smile, Vanessa had a bad feeling.

“Of course not. Is that the image I have in Miss Vanessa’s mind?” Aesphyra walked over with a smile.

It felt like she had ulterior motives.

Vanessa’s armor could be manually removed or willed away, but she was currently in a state of exhaustion and couldn’t control her magic to remove it, so she had to accept help from others.

Lying on the sofa so ungracefully was already hard for Vanessa to accept, let alone still wearing her boots.

In fact, Vanessa also had a cleanliness obsession and was extremely reluctant to dirty very clean things, which made it even harder for her to accept.

“Then, Miss Aesphyra, could you please be a bit more proper and not do anything that might cause trouble?” Vanessa raised an eyebrow, still feeling that Aesphyra might pull some trick.

“What kind of person does Miss Vanessa think I am~? And since Miss Vanessa has said so.” Aesphyra agreed readily, though her smile remained.

It was really doubtful whether she had taken it seriously.

Then, Aesphyra lifted Vanessa’s slender ankle and began to remove her boots. Her actions were indeed very proper, her delicate hands only touched the boots throughout the process.

It was clear that Aesphyra had also worn boots before and knew the most efficient and quickest way to remove such high-heeled boots.

However,

Vanessa felt a tingling sensation as she watched Aesphyra’s expression while removing the boots.

Aesphyra’s actions were indeed proper, but her expression changed.

She watched intently, from barely concealed amusement to outright delight, even after the boots were off. She even licked her lips, as if she had peeled off the skin of a traditional dumpling and was craving the delicious, translucent rice inside.

At the same time.

‘Virtue + 300.’

‘Current Virtue: 4824.’

Why did virtue increase so much?? What was she imagining?!

This is really!

“Miss Aesphyra!…” Vanessa felt both embarrassed and angry.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Aesphyra tilted her head, looking puzzled. 

“Didn’t I follow Miss Vanessa’s instructions, properly helping you take off your boots without any extra moves?”

“…” Vanessa really couldn’t refute that. She had indeed only mentioned the actions, not the expressions. It would be too demanding to regulate expressions as well.

Looking at it this way, her reaction seemed inexplicably exaggerated??

No, it was clear Aesphyra’s expression that was the problem, right? And the increase in virtue completely betrayed her thoughts, didn’t it??

“By the way, Miss Vanessa, you seem particularly fond of this outfit. When I saw you in the secret realm last time, you were wearing the same thing. Is this your battle attire?” After placing Vanessa’s boots at the entrance, Aesphyra returned and asked.

“You could say that. Why do you ask?” Vanessa wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt Aesphyra had taken a bit longer at the entrance, though she didn’t pay much attention to such details.

“Nothing much, just curious if Miss Vanessa has many of these identical white dresses in her dorm.” Aesphyra also modified at Vanessa’s winged hairpin. “I must say, the style suits Miss Vanessa. Did you have it custom-made and then mass-produced?”

“No.” She didn’t have the spare money to custom-make such specialized battle attire. If it were Selina, she might have done so.

“Then, if you only have this one, Miss Vanessa must have been wearing it for a long time? Boots with white stockings must be quite stuffy. Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Aesphyra sat beside her, looking at Vanessa’s boots at the entrance, seemingly deep in thought.

What exactly was this rude woman implying??

Was she indirectly saying that Vanessa was unhygienic and didn’t care about personal cleanliness??

Vanessa took a deep breath, feeling her blood pressure rise again because of Aesphyra.

“Miss Aesphyra, what exactly are you trying to say? Asking a lady such a question, don’t you think you’re being quite impertinent?” Vanessa tried her best to keep her tone calm.

“Huh? But I just wanted to ask Miss Vanessa, this outfit is beautiful and suits your style, but wouldn’t you get tired of wearing it all the time? Don’t you want to change your style?” Aesphyra had an expression that said, “Isn’t that so?” Vanessa felt her polite smile was about to give way.

“No, I don’t.” Vanessa emphasized her words and then turned her head away, ignoring Aesphyra.

After resting for a while, at least now her neck can move.

“Pfft.” Seeing Vanessa like this, Aesphyra couldn’t hold back her laughter.

‘Virtue + 80.’

‘Current Virtue: 4904.’

She even laughed, clearly on purpose.

The increase in virtue showed she took pleasure in teasing Vanessa.

Clearly, this chosen heroine wanted to tease her.

“By the way, Miss Vanessa, has your life been quite decent lately?” Aesphyra asked out of the blue.

“Very decent. And if Miss Aesphyra weren’t so mischievous, I would have had a great day today.” Even with a hint of irritation in her words, Vanessa’s tone still carries the usual elegance ingrained in her.

“Is that so? That’s good. I thought so too, as I haven’t seen Miss Vanessa at that maid cafe for a while. I guess life is back on track.” Aesphyra propped her chin, smiling.

Aesphyra, this flat chested, really knew how to bring up uncomfortable topics.

She specifically mentioned the black history Vanessa was desperately trying to forget and erase from public memory.

She thought it was just an accident, and afterward, she could cleanly walk away without anyone knowing. Who knew Aesphyra would be such a variable??

If it wasn’t for Aesphyra, no one else would have known about it.

Vanessa turned her head away, not wanting to engage with Aesphyra anymore.

“By the way, it’s been a while. Are you hungry, Miss Vanessa?” Aesphyra removed out the window. The black fog had dissolved, and the remaining light signaled the end of the day.

Since the chaos caused by [Bronze Blood], it was unclear how much time had passed. 

After such a prolonged fight, everyone was tired. Even the summary meeting will have to wait for a day.

“Not hungry.” Vanessa pretended to look out the window, answering indifferently.

“Not hungry? You should eat a bit. I’m going to cook~”

“Not hungry.” Vanessa remains unmoved.

When Aesphyra went to the kitchen, Vanessa suddenly realized something.

Does Aesphyra even know how to cook??

And… was she really not hungry now?

Of course not. She had fought the fanatics for so long, forcefully breached the miasma barrier, and exhausted her mana and stamina with [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings]. Then she was possessed by her ancestor.

After all that, even an iron man would have melted, leaving her alone. How could she not be hungry?? The little she ate at the banquet was far from enough.

Earlier, her attention was all on Aesphyra. Now, reminded by Aesphyra, Vanessa realized she was hungry, very hungry.

Soon, the kitchen stove lit up, and the aroma of cooking wafted into the living room, reaching Vanessa’s nostrils. Her stomach betrayed her with some unseemly noises.

Mmm…

Later, she would have to watch Aesphyra eating at the dining table, pretending to be completely uninterested while looking out the window??

What kind of torture is this??

Vanessa bit her lip slightly but maintains an indifferent expression.

No, she didn’t want to be so humiliated in front of Aesphyra. She will endure it. Maybe it will pass. It was just one meal, right? Not eating wouldn’t kill her.

She was already resting at Aesphyra’s place. Asking for more would be too much.

Besides, who knew what Aesphyra’s cooking tasted like?

Without even looking, it must be bad.

Vanessa told herself this.

But, but the food smelled so good. It couldn’t be that bad, could it??

No, no, it could be one of those dishes that smell great but taste awful. Aroma doesn’t mean much.

Time passed, and the sound of the stove died down. Plates of appetizing, exquisitely prepared dishes were brought to the luxurious dining table in the living room.

Vanessa, as before, turned her head to the window, not even glancing at the dining table.

But not looking didn’t mean she couldn’t smell the food.

She had to hold her breath and close her eyes.

Yet, even so, her hunger couldn’t ignore the food on the table. She tried to calm her mind, but all she could think of was the array of delicacies.

This feeling was agonizing. It felt like a raging fire in her stomach. The food was right there, but she couldn’t touch it.

Just endure, endure, and it will pass. Once she regained her mobility and returned to her male form, she would feast.

Don’t feel it, don’t feel it.

By the way, how long has it been? Has Aesphyra finished eating? Has she cleared the table?

She must have. Vanessa said she wasn’t hungry, and wasn’t eating.

For some reason, Vanessa felt a pang in her heart.

It was her who said she wouldn’t eat.

Vanessa took a deep breath. For some reason, the previously faint aroma of food suddenly became stronger, as if it was right in front of her.

What’s going on??

Was she so hungry that she was hallucinating??

Vanessa opened her eyes in confusion. A plate of tempting tomato beef soup came into view. Just the crystal light reflecting off the fatty beef and tomato chunks made her mouth water.

When did this happen??

Vanessa slowly raised her gaze to the white porcelain plate, then to the sheer black stockings that were even more enticing than the dish.

While she had her eyes closed, the silver-haired girl had somehow sat down in front of her, with the dish on her lap.

Well, food on top of food.

The silver-haired girl propped her chin with her hand, smiling as she watched Vanessa silently.

Is this flat chested really a cat? How did she walk so silently??

Vanessa changed at the dining table and saw the food untouched.

Strange, she had heard the clinking of utensils against plates earlier.

Looking at Aesphyra, who was smiling and enjoying her expressions and reactions, Vanessa felt herself heating up.

The earlier sounds of utensils were clear Aesphyra’s deliberate ploy to mislead her. To observe her expressions and reactions, she had quietly approached, sat down, and watched her for a while without saying a word!