Chapter 136
【 Resort Floris 】
“Hmmm… Uuuuum. Mmm.”
“Sis, I mean… I don’t think we really need to go as far as formalwear…”
The day after we arrived at the Varbellos Family mansion,
I was out shopping with Lisa in one of the capital’s clothing stores.
Well, to be exact, it was more like ‘dressing up Gideon’ than shopping.
“Let’s buy this one too. I’m sure there’ll be a time you’ll need it.”
Lisa handed me a formal suit she had been holding.
“Try it on. If the size fits, we’ll buy this one as well.”
“Isn’t this too much, though? You already bought a ton of casual clothes earlier, and if we get this too…”
“It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of money.”
“…Yeah, that’s true. You do have a lot of money.”
I let out a wry laugh and went into the fitting room to try on the suit.
When I came out fully dressed, Lisa nodded again in satisfaction.
Her face clearly said she was pleased.
“As expected, you look good in anything. Then let’s buy this one… and a few more with different styles.”
“More? Do we really need that many suits?”
“There’ll be plenty of occasions where you’ll need appropriate formalwear. Seriously. Just trust me on this.”
“…Alright.”
Lisa had lived her whole life as the Lady of House Balmuth.
She knew these things far better than I did, so I simply went along with it.
“But Gideon, I’m not just saying this. If you get engaged to me, we’ll probably be invited to all sorts of places. Of course, we won’t attend every single one, but it’s better to prepare in advance.”
“Got it, sis. You definitely know better about this stuff than I do.”
Together, we picked out several more suits—
—or rather, Lisa picked them out for me.
I didn’t exactly have an eye for these kinds of clothes anyway.
“Alright, this one, this one… I want to buy this too, but honestly, it feels unnecessary.”
“Got it. Oh, and Lisa.”
“Yeah?”
“Is there an outfit you’d like to see me wear?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Lisa tilted her head in confusion.
I leaned in close and whispered into her ear with a faint smile.
“Exactly what it sounds like. Clothes that you’d want me to wear. Something that fits your taste—something you’d want me to wear just for you, when it’s only the two of us. If you have one like that, buy it too. I’ll wear it for you during our trip to the beach.”
“Oh… hmm… In that case… hmm.”
Honestly, I’d said it half-jokingly.
But surprisingly, Lisa looked genuinely deep in thought.
She was so serious about it that I almost felt bad for joking.
She stayed silent, lost in thought for a few minutes.
By the time I started feeling awkward from her intense focus—
“…I think we don’t need to buy one.”
“Really? That’s unexpected. You looked so serious; I thought you’d come up with something very specific.”
“I was just thinking about my preferences. What kind of outfit would make me happiest to see you in… and this is the conclusion I came to.”
This time, she leaned in close and whispered into my ear, wearing the same mischievous smile I had earlier.
“When I think about it, my taste isn’t about what you wear… but about you wearing nothing at all.”
“…Huh?”
“We’ll talk more about that… after we both graduate.”
Lisa giggled softly, clearly amused by my flustered face.
But regardless of her laughter, I could feel my cheeks burning.
“…That’s quite a… um, interesting taste.”
“I think so too. Ah, but I’m not sure if I can really wait until you graduate. I honestly don’t think I can.”
“If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking… please try to wait. I’m begging you.”
“…I’ll try my best. No promises, though.”
Lisa grinned mischievously and gently bit my neck—
lightly, affectionately.
“Mmhm. Anyway, Gideon, let’s finish buying these clothes and meet up with Nia. We’ll grab lunch with her, then go buy my swimsuit.”
“Gideon, seriously? This one?”
“Wh–what? Isn’t it pretty?”
“Mmm…”
The swimsuit I picked out.
Lisa looked at it as if she were deeply dissatisfied.
Nia, standing beside us, couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“Hahaha! Wow, Gideon! You’ve got surprisingly wholesome taste! Or do you just prefer modest styles?”
“…Th-that’s not it.”
“Pleading the fifth, huh? Well, I don’t mind, but do you think Lisa’s going to?”
Nia was clearly enjoying teasing me.
And, unfortunately, she wasn’t wrong.
One look at Lisa’s pouting face was enough proof.
“Um… Lisa, you don’t like it?”
“It’s not that I don’t like it. Honestly, this swimsuit is pretty. Really. But…”
Lisa suddenly stepped closer and pressed her body against mine—
close enough for me to feel her warmth.
Then she whispered softly.
“There are a lot of things I want to show you, but if you want me to wear something like this… I can’t show you any of them.”
“…You really want to show me that much?”
“Yeah. I want you to see all of me.”
I let out a small laugh as I looked down at her.
After spending so much time together, I’d learned quite a few things about Lisa—
and one thing was certain.
‘She craves affection… and honestly, she’s pretty physically passionate too.’
Maybe it was because of her vampire blood, or maybe it was just how Lisa was.
Either way, she often sought my body’s warmth—
not just my blood, but something more.
“Lisa.”
“Yeah?”
“You know you’re kind of a pervert, right?”
“…Me? You’re saying I’m a pervert?”
“Then you’re not?”
“……”
Lisa went silent, a genuinely thoughtful expression crossing her face.
She looked as if she were genuinely wondering whether she was really a pervert.
That expression was just too cute.
Before I knew it, I cupped her cheeks with both hands.
“Heh. What are you thinking about so seriously?”
“Do you really think I’m like that? If you don’t like that kind of thing, then…”
“I don’t hate it, Lisa. Actually, I really like that side of you.”
“Then… I’m glad.”
“Anyway, I think I understand what you want. So, let’s do this.”
I picked up another swimsuit hanging nearby.
Compared to the one I chose earlier, this one was much more revealing.
“When we’re at the beach, wear this one when it’s just the two of us.”
“When it’s just the two of us?”
“Yeah. Because I only want to see it myself.”
I lightly bit Lisa’s neck.
At our little display of affection, Lisa smiled and gently stroked my hair.
Then she glanced at the swimsuit I was holding.
“It’s the same color as my hair. And… compared to the one you first picked, it’s pretty risqué.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted, Lisa?”
“Yeah. But what I want to know is, do you want me to wear this too?”
“I’m still a guy, Lisa. I’ll hold myself back until graduation, but this much should be fine, right?”
“…Don’t hold back, Gideon. You don’t have to.”
With that, Lisa pulled my face toward hers—
so close that our noses and lips nearly touched.
“Whatever you do, I can take responsibility for it. So just do what you want with me.”
“Still, no means no, Lisa.”
I smiled, but my tone was firm.
“Just like how you worried about my future, I don’t want to interfere with yours either. So, at least after we both graduate and achieve our goals…”
“No, just after you graduate.”
“Alright. Judging by that look, I’m not going to win this argument.”
“But… I don’t know if I can really hold out until you graduate.”
With those words, Lisa pressed her lips softly against mine.
Just as I was about to react—
“You two do realize this is a public place, right? I get that things are heating up, but maybe tone it down a bit, huh?”
“Yes, Lady Nia.”
At Nia’s words, I immediately stepped away from Lisa.
Lisa, however, just looked at me longingly.
Seeing her like that, Nia sighed, half exasperated.
“You two are always so lovey-dovey. I swear, even ten years from now you’ll still be this disgustingly sweet.”
“Probably even twenty. My mom was like that too.”
“Ha, seriously. You say you’re nothing like Kafka, but moments like this prove you are.”
Nia chuckled, then spoke as if she’d just remembered something.
“You’re leaving for the beach tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, we’re planning to head out after breakfast.”
“Mind if I come along? I don’t really have anything to do during break anyway.”
“Sure, but go separately. This trip’s just for Gideon and me to spend time together.”
“That’s fine. But it’s okay if we meet up for meals or hang out a bit, right?”
“Of course. But are you seriously coming?”
“Yeah, probably. You two will leave tomorrow, and I’ll get ready and head out the next day.”
Lisa tilted her head at that.
“But the beach we’re going to is Floris. It’s a really famous resort, so I doubt there are any rooms left to book.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got my ways.”
Nia smiled meaningfully.
Lisa and I could only exchange puzzled looks.
That evening.
Sara, who was spending her vacation in Muktaba, received a call from Jason.
“What? The beach?”
Yeah. Floris. You know that famous resort? I’m planning to leave for it in two days—want to come?
“Isn’t that the resort at the western edge of the continent?”
It takes about six hours from Lysquare. The Empire’s capital is already near the western end of the continent, so it’s not that far…
“Hey, I’m in Muktaba! It’d take me at least two, no—three days to get there!”
Sara sounded exasperated, then asked curiously.
“But why are you suddenly going to Floris?”
Nia contacted me earlier. Apparently Gideon and Lisa Noona are leaving for there tomorrow, and she asked if I wanted to tag along.
“…So you decided to follow them?”
Well, it sounded fun. And even if we’re not spying on that couple, it’d still be nice to hang out together during break, don’t you think?
Sara sighed.
“By the way, Nia… you mean the student council president? From the Varbellos Family?”
Yeah, I know her a bit.
“Ha, you really do know everyone, don’t you?”
Sara gave him a disbelieving look.
But Jason went on, unfazed.
The only problem is that Floris is such a famous resort, it’s hard to get a room right now… but before I called you, I contacted Lady Layla. She said she’d love to join and even offered to handle the reservations herself. So if we use the royal family’s connections, there shouldn’t be any problem.
“What? Lady Layla’s coming too?”
Yeah. Me, Nia, Lady Layla, and probably Luke too? I was thinking of asking him later.
Sara thought for a moment, then nodded.
“If Lady Layla’s going, then I have no choice. I swore to protect her…”
You’re still hung up on that childhood vow?
“I owe Lady Layla my life. Of course I am.”
You really are too earnest for a student sometimes. Anyway, you’re coming, right?
“I’ll be quite a bit late, but yeah, I’ll go.”
Jason nodded, sounding pleased.
Great, great. I can’t wait to see the look on Lisa Noona’s face when we show up unannounced.
“Hmm… she’ll probably try to cut you in half with her greatsword.”
Haha, that’d be fun too.
“Ugh, you’re insane.”
Sara let out a dry laugh and looked at Jason through the Crystal Sphere.