Accel14
patreon
Dryadic Dragon Chapter 8: Shower Time
🕑 Added 2025-05-31 04:07:31 +0000 UTCChapter 8: Shower Time
AN: Sorry for the delay in upload, I've been feeling a little under the weather lately.
===
After experiencing a memorable, morning with Martha, I returned to the manor in order to look for Thora so I could begin studying with her. The one aspect about myself that I’m most eager to reform.
“Young Lord.”
“Gah!” I flinched, leaping backwards like a cat that had just been sprayed with water. Thora’s sudden appearance nearly caused my heart to nearly burst out of my chest. “Thora! You really need to stop doing that!” I latched onto a nearby piece of furniture to steady my breath.
“Doing what? Young Lord.” Thora innocently tilted her head, as adorable as it was, the gesture couldn’t masquerade the mischievous shine I could see brimming within her pupils.
I narrowed my eyes at her with a judgmental gaze. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”
“I haven’t the faintest clue as to what you’re implying, Young Lord. Could this be another one of your frantic imaginative observations regarding me? If so, I’d be happy to brew a blend of soothing herbal tea to help calm your nerves.” Her response was immediate, and her demeanor was haughty as ever.
This woman might have a career as a competitive gaslighter. However, I’d be lying if I said her attitude didn’t have its own bizarre charm to it.
“Speaking of observations, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” My expression tightened as I adopted a more somber demeanor. “Have you noticed anything off with my Mother lately?”
She widened her eyes, conveying a sense of surprise. Or perhaps, feigning one.
“Young Lord?”
A disappointed sigh escaped my breath. I stepped forward somewhat stiffly, my eyes perfectly level with hers.
“Allow me to rephrase. Thora, what’s going on with my Mother? I can tell that something’s up between her and Father, and while I may not be capable of reading him like an open book. This morning, it became evident to me that whatever’s going on is affecting her mentally.”
I lifted up my shirt halfway, revealing a small portion of the legion of deep, ghastly wounds that had been inflicted on me courtesy of Lady Buné. The amount and severity of which were all more than usual, much more.
Of course, I was currently attempting to heal them all with my Dryadic Blessing, but since my proficiency with the skill was lacking in contrast to Martha’s, it was taking a bit longer than I’d like it to.
“Young Lord, I—” I noticed a flicker of hesitation, my hopes that I’d get a helpful answer rising.
“What are you two loitering around for?” A gruff voice looming around the corner interrupted us, the origin of which was immediately recognizable to me.
“I could ask you the same question, Father.” I replied unenthusiastically, inwardly wondering how he managed to appear out of thin air much like Thora.
Shouldn’t my Senjutsu be able to detect them beforehand? Or do these two just have some hidden technique they’re keeping from me?
“You’re supposed to be studying.” His eyes drifted over to Thora as he crossed his arms. “Not loitering around making idle chit-chat.”
From his tone alone, I could tell that he had heard everything. Not that I care, if the issue already exists—then putting it out in the open won’t change anything. As a matter of fact, I’m hoping it’ll make them pay more attention to what’s going on.
Even if I have to chip at them little by little, that’s fine with me. I won’t be able to figure out what’s really happening between them if I’m not willing to do a bit of risk-taking.
“Forgive me, My Lord.” She performed an apologetic bow, one which caused my hands to reflexively tense. “We’ll get to work immediately.”
“Why are you apologizing on my behalf?” Almost instinctively, I raised my voice and stepped in front of Thora.
Formalities be damned, this whole interaction feels wrong to me.
“Young Lord—!”
“Don’t worry,” Sebastian’s voice intervened before she could voice her concern. His ice-cold slit pupils staring me down and causing my posture to falter under his overbearing intimidation factor, still, I found the strength to remain firm. “Martha already seems to have done enough scolding for the both of us. Wouldn’t you agree? Alduin.”
I couldn’t help but snicker. “Yeah, but I bet you’ll be on the receiving end of her scolding soon enough. Sebastian.”
My memories made me believe that he was by far the strongest in this family, and speaking in terms of raw destructive power, that’s probably true.
However, after witnessing her insane technical ability courtesy of her altered temper. I can’t help but wonder who’d actually emerge the victor in a fight between them?
“Excuse me?” He seemed taken aback by my gall.
“Oh please. Don’t pretend like you don’t know how she’s been feeling as of late.” My smile widened as I turned my back to him, motioning for Thora to follow me to the library so we could begin our study session. “I don’t know what you did, but I suggest you hurry up and apologize to her before this all blows up in your face.”
I didn’t hear another word from him as I walked away, but I could tell that my words had an effect on him thanks to Senjutsu’s ability to read other people's auras—and consequently, their emotions.
Whether those emotions will lead to any meaningful development for this new family of mine? Well, that remains to be seen.
“That was most unwise, Young Lord.” Thora sighed in disquietude, glancing at me as if I had just poked a bear. Which for all intents and purposes, wasn’t too far off from the truth. “You should know better than to provoke Lord Buné.”
“You say that as if I’m going to limit myself to mere provocations.” I shot her a knowing grin, which only seemed to heighten her concern. “He made my Mom sad, isn’t that a good enough reason to have a go at him?”
Again, I could feel Thora beginning to hesitate. Only this time, Sebastian wasn’t here to interrupt her.
“Young Lord, I’m afraid the situation isn’t that black and white.”
I came to an immediate halt, leaning down and planting my face only a few millimetres away from hers’.
“So you do know something after all.” My hypothesis about Thora’s position in the family being more than just that of the Head Maid is starting to prove true. There’s no way a normal servant would be more informed about the ongoing relationship between House Buné’s Lady and Lord than its own Heir.
“Once again, I’m highly advising you to refrain from getting in between the personal dealings of the Lord and Lady. I say this solely for your own sake, Young Lord.” I watched her lips quiver before she continued. “However, if you truly are insistent on pursuing the matter. Then I will not be able to assist you, you’ll have to continue on your own—and at your own risk.”
Sigh. How am I supposed to interrogate you when you look at me like that?
“Very well.” I reeled back, softening my posture.
“Young Lord?” The haste with which I agreed seemed to catch her by surprise.
“If it’s something you can’t do, then that’s it. There’s nothing more to be said.” I sheepishly scratched the back of my neck. “I am eager to get to the bottom of what’s going on with my family, but I’d rather not do so at your expense. You’ve been with me since I was born anyway, so you’re practically a part of this family as well.”
“Pffffft!” To my bewilderment, Thora started to giggle out of nowhere, her palm covering her mouth like a proper noblewoman.
“Oh my, I had no idea House Buné’s ever poised and stern Head Maid was capable of making such an expression.” I couldn’t help but feel something warm well up within me as I watched her. “Was there something funny about what I said?” My tone made it clear that I wasn’t bothered in the slightest, merely intrigued.
“No, believe me Young Lord, it's nothing.” She took a breath to recompose herself. “It’s just—I wasn’t expecting to hear words like that from you of all people, Young Lord. You’ve changed.”
“In a good way?” I tilted my head.
“No, in a way that’s only bound to get you in more trouble.” She said plainly.
“Fair enough,” I shrugged and sighed. “Now then, I best get studying before the old man throws another temper tantrum. I wouldn’t want his blood pressure to get too high after all.”
“Before that, I think you may wish to take a shower first.” She pointed at the assortment of dirt, soil, and bits of pieces of outdoor debris scattered all over me.
“Good idea.” I nodded while pressing my lips together.
As peculiar as this family is, I can’t help but relish in its extravagance. Our bathroom literally has an entire hot spring installed in it for crying out loud!
One that Martha modified with her botanical knowledge to achieve the same effect as a medicinal bath. Which should help my body recover from all the damage and exhaustion she just inflicted upon me a little better.
It’s strange. I can’t really grasp my own emotions when I look at my Father and Mother. I always feel conflicted between pity and spite when I’m in their presence. It’s an ever-fluctuating sensation, and I don’t have a concrete explanation as to why I feel that way.
Oh well, the investigation I’ve committed myself to should reveal the answer in due time.
One by one, I started to undo my attire—noticing that most of my wounds had almost entirely closed up. Sheesh, if I had a human body I’d need to let them sit for at least a month before they sealed. Actually, scratch that, if I were human I probably wouldn’t have survived even a minute against Martha.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
As per usual, I immediately recognized Thora’s rhythmic knocking.
“Yes?”
“Young Lord, I’ve brought a fresh change of clothes for you.”
Ah, I suppose changing back into my dirtied tracksuit wouldn’t be very mannerly of me.
“You can come and leave it in the shower area. I’m going to take a dip in the spring for a little while.”
“Understood.”
I felt a noticeably devilish grin overcome me as the door opened and the sound of Thora’s footsteps drew closer and closer.
Man, I’ve really changed in the short amount of time since I possessed this body haven’t I?
“Enjoying the view?” I teased while running my fingers through my soggy hair.
She huffed. “Young Lord, I wish you’d refrain from such nonsense, it’s unbecoming of someone in your position.” Her demeanor grew increasingly confident. “Besides, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“Oh my, then I imagine you wouldn’t have an issue coming over here and helping me wash? I’m having a little trouble reaching my back.” That’s a blatant lie. I have more than enough muscle flexibility to do so.
“Hmph. You act as if I haven’t done so before.”
True, but I was only about half your height back then. My current appearance definitely makes a difference, whether you want to admit that or not.
She crouched behind me and abruptly stopped and stared, probably because there’s still a few open wounds on my back.
“Fret not, I don’t mind a little roughness.” I reassured her, my tone purposefully suggestive. I think a little bit of pain here and there is more than worth the reward in this instance.
“You should save such language for your fiancée, Young Lord.”
My eyebrows lifted in surprise. “My fiancée? I wasn’t aware I had one. Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
“You may not have one now, but you will in the future. Probably in the near future taking your age into consideration, as Heir you know perfectly well that you have a responsibility to sire children of your own.” She continued, my mind unable to tell whether she was being disingenuous or not because of her iron-clad composure. “Even if done in jest, making such comments towards a servant will undoubtedly be frowned upon.”
Upon hearing her remark, a frown befell me. One part of her statement stirred a deep sense of displeasure within me.
“Young Lord?” She flinched as I grabbed onto her wrist completely out of the blue.
“Is that what you think this all is? A jest?” I felt my upper eyelids drop in dissatisfaction, my hand gently sliding down from her wrist towards her hand. “Do you truly believe that I don’t feel anything in this situation? Or that I’d be acting the same way as I am now if someone other than you were standing in your place?”
Stunned silence befell her momentarily. “Young Lord, that’s not what I meant…”
“That’s exactly what you meant, Thora.” I bit down on my lower lip, internally forcing myself not to do anything drastic. “But… I am willing to forgive the wound you’ve inflicted on my maidenly heart on one condition.”
“...Yes?”
“Come soak in the hot spring with me,” my grip on her hand tightened ever so slightly. “It'd be problematic if someone wasn’t there to stop me from taking too long, wouldn’t it? I could end up costing us valuable studying time after all.”
Phew. I just about managed to stop myself from doing something even bolder, granted—what I just asked her to do is still fairly audacious. On the bright side, she’ll definitely have to take me a little more seriously from now on.
“Very well,” she swallowed a nervous gulp. “However… I hope you aren’t expecting anything scandalous to occur, for your sake.”
“I’m hurt that you think I’d ever try to force you to do something of the sort.” I proceeded to bring my mouth right up to her ear, my voice lowering to a low, lascivious whisper. “Unless you wanted something like that to happen, in that case, I wouldn’t hesitate to give myself to you. Thora.”
“Young Lord!”
It looks like I finally managed to make her blush.
Progress is progress.
Comments
Ashenz
Take care of yourself first man. Can easily wait a few extra days, you already upload quite fast :) As always nice chapter!
Hiraeths
I don’t know if Thora is an oc or pulled from another series, but I’d kill everyone in this fanfic and then you if she doesn’t get pinned down. Anyway, loved the interaction with the dad. Can’t help but dislike him even when he wasn’t doing anything too bad now, though, lol. Hope you feel better. Can’t wait for the next chapter
