"One, two, three… three pairs of clothes for each should be fine, right?" Esdeath asked, looking over the folded clothes laid neatly on the luggage.
She was inside their so called home, busy packing for their trip. Her long hair was tied in a braid behind her with two fang of hair coming out of her forehead on each side, and she wore a simple grey dress that gave her a soft, homely look— She almost looked like a calm housewife preparing for a family outing.
Lortell, meanwhile, was sitting comfortably on the sofa, sipping from a tall glass of mango juice that Esdeath had made for her earlier. She took her time, savoring every sweet, fruity sip. "We're only going for two days," she said, her voice relaxed and teasing. "No need to overthink it. We can just buy whatever we need there."
Esdeath frowned slightly without turning around. "We can't waste half our time shopping," she replied. "It's better to prepare now so we can enjoy every moment when we get there." Her tone was serious.
Across the room, Selene was running around like an excited child. "Beach! Aquarium! Sea food!" she shouted over and over, circling from room to room with a huge grin on her face.
Lortell smiled watching her, then finished the last sip of juice and set the empty glass on the small table. She stood up and stretched, then walked over to where Esdeath was still folding and packing clothes with precise, soldier-like neatness.
"Which beach are we going to again?" Esdeath asked, folding a white dress carefully and placing it on top of the pile.
"Marina Beach," Lortell said casually. Then, with a little smirk, she added, "Also… it's a nude beach."
Esdeath froze mid-fold. "A… nude beach?" she repeated slowly, her red eyes blinking in surprise. Her gaze immediately drifted toward Selene, who was still spinning around excitedly, completely unaware of their conversation.
Lortell chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Don't worry," she said in a reassuring but amused tone. "It has separate sections. And even in the nude area, not everyone goes nude—it's too embarrassing for most people. Hardly any couples go there."
Lortell continued, walking around her slowly like a cat toying with her prey. "I heard not many people visit that beach lately," she said with a sly smile. "That's why I booked it. We'll have the whole place almost to ourselves. Just imagine—quiet waves, warm sun, no crowds. Perfect, isn't it?"
Esdeath nodded softly, her lips curving into a small smile. "That does sound peaceful."
Lortell leaned closer from behind, her breath brushing lightly against Esdeath's ear. Her hand slid over Esdeath's fingers resting on the suitcase. "And whenever Selene's busy building sandcastles…" she whispered in a low, teasing tone, "we can sneak away to the nude section for a little private moment of our own. Doesn't that sound… exciting?"
Esdeath's cheeks instantly turned red. She jerked slightly and gently pushed Lortell back with her shoulder. "Stop teasing me all the time!" she said, her voice half-flustered, half-scolding.
Lortell laughed quietly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Okay, okay…" she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. Then she leaned forward again, pointing at her own lips playfully. "Just give me one kiss, and I promise I'll behave."
Esdeath looked at her for a few seconds, her lips pressing into a thin line. She knew Lortell wouldn't drop it unless she gave in. With a soft sigh, she finally stood on her toes and streched herself to the limits to barely match Lortell's height——and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before immediately stepping back.
"Wait… that's it?" Lortell pouted. "It didn't even last a second!"
"That's all for now," Esdeath said quickly, pretending to focus on the suitcase again. "We're already running late!"
****
At the same time, in Maruti's apartment, a huge argument was going on between Kailith and Maruti. After what had happened a few weeks ago, and how Ethan and his team had fled somewhere unknown, Maruti's mother, Brenna, had started living with Maruti in her apartment. Seeing this, Kailith, Ravenna, and Alice also moved into Maruti's room to live there.
It was already a problem for Maruti because there was only one bed for five people. But Kailith, Alice, Ravenna, and Brenna were actually quite satisfied with this. Being with Maruti in one bed was more important to them than having comfortable space.
But the current argument wasn't over the bed sharing. It was something else entirely.
Brenna was out to buy some pairs of bikinis for the beach with Ravenna and Alice. That only left Kailith and Maruti alone in the room.
"A nude beach?" Maruti said with a bored expression, not even looking at Kailith. "I already have a certain idea why you are going there, so I'm not going!"
"Urgh... not this again!" Kailith said desperately, her voice tight with frustration. "Didn't we already mention it on our first date that we would go to that beach someday?"
"What 'first date'? You should have asked me first!" Maruti replied nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.
"If you refuse, then I'll tell Mother about it," Kailith said, her voice turning serious and cold. "And not to forget, we made an agreement that we would go on a date at least three times a week."
"We have yet to go on any date for the past few weeks," Kailith continued, her voice rising. "I didn't say anything because of all the chaos that happened, but now it is time!"
She then looked Maruti right in the eyes. "You are not going back on your words, are you?" she asked, as if Maruti was someone who always kept her promises.
Maruti's lips twitched, feeling slightly angry. "Blackmailing me, aren't you?" she stared at Kailith without blinking.
"What matters is that you are coming with us. So get ready," Kailith replied, a triumphant look on her face.
Maruti sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping. "I'm ready. Let's just go!"
"No, wear the stockings. It's important!" Kailith argued, her voice firm.
"Yes... yes..." Maruti didn't protest against it. She kindly accepted her defeat. She walked into her room to wear one of the pairs of stockings given to her by Kailith. It was a pair of fishnet thigh-high stockings.
"They are all getting more and more dominant and obsessed," Maruti thought to herself, shaking her head. "Just when am I going to become an S-rank?"
For now, it was more practical to just agree to their demands, especially Kailith's.
"Here. Happy?" Maruti came out of the room and showed herself to Kailith, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Perfect!" Kailith opened her arms and hugged Maruti tightly, her face full of satisfaction.
Soon enough, Brenna, Alice, and Ravenna came back from shopping. After that, they finally left the house to go for their little tour.
As they came out of their building area to go towards the railway station to take a train for Marina beach, the air was filled with excitement.
By steam railway, the Marina beach was not far away—half an hour or forty-five minutes at best. Not to forget, the railway station was not far away either. They could just walk there rather than taking any transport. It was truly good for a short vacation.
Thus, it didn't take too long for them to reach the railway station. The steam engines stood on the tracks, some making hissing sounds before finally launching off. As they walked towards their destined train, they ended up bumping into very familiar faces.
"Fable?" Maruti asked, looking at Esdeath, with Lortell and Selene behind her. All three were wearing casual thin clothes, perfect for a beach vacation.
"You are going somewhere too?" Esdeath asked back, just as surprised to see them.
"Aunt!" Selene said cheerfully, waving her hand with a big, happy smile.
Maruti waved back with a polite smile and then looked at Esdeath. "Yes, at the nud— I mean, Marina beach!" Maruti replied, catching herself just in time.
"We are going there too! Let's just go together!" Esdeath said with a bright smile. She then looked back at Lortell. "You don't have any problem with this, right?" she asked.
"Nope, not at all. Esdeath's friends are my friends!" Lortell replied casually, her voice deep and relaxed.
"Hello, princess," Lortell said, turning her gaze to Ravenna. "I hope you won't have any problem with us!"
Lortell was the one who had killed Ravenna's entire family, after all. Although Ravenna was against her family, there was still a possibility that she might hate Lortell in secret.
"No, it would actually be more fun with all of us," Ravenna replied, shaking her head with a small smile.
"It's decided then, let's go!" Lortell said, taking the lead.
Everyone followed behind her. Esdeath held Selene's hand tightly the whole time so she wouldn't run off anywhere. They walked to their destined train and walked inside one by one.
Lortell was really having a hard time there. Being over 215cm tall, the ceiling was too short for her. She had to bend her back to walk inside all the time.
"I'm gonna have some back pain later!" Lortell sighed, finally arriving at her seat and sitting down with a groan of relief.
Lortell was in the middle. Esdeath sat on her right side, in the corner by the window, while Selene sat on her left. One seat had enough space for only four people to sit. Thus, in front of them, Maruti, Kailith, Brenna, and Alice sat quietly. As for Ravenna, she sat beside Selene.
They were waiting for the train to start moving, but it seemed like the train was running late. There was literally nothing else to do.
Lortell took out a stack of cigarettes and gave one to Esdeath to pass the time. Then she handed the pack towards Maruti.
"I don't smoke!" Maruti politely refused.
"I don't either!" Alice said with a small shake of her head.
"I'll take one," Kailith answered, reaching for it.
Brenna also refused, while Ravenna also took one.
Lortell casually took out a lighter from her packet. The lighter didn't look ordinary either. It had small, detailed carvings and designs on it, definitely from some fancy brand. She took it closer to her cigarette and pulled the trigger.
But the lighter didn't light up. She tried again, but only a flicker of fire came out. The moment she did the third try and failed this time either.
"Here!"
"Here!"
"Take mine!"
At once, multiple people sitting on other seats stood up and were about to give their own lighter towards Lortell to light her cigarette, their voices syncing in unison.
But before they could get any closer, the lighter finally blew up and lit her cigarette.
She looked at the individuals who were now standing awkwardly and smiled gently. "No worry, gentlemens, there's no need!" she said in her idol-like voice, sweet and clear.
All the passengers looked at each other awkwardly and immediately sat back on their seats, some of them blushing.
"What just happened?" Maruti was slightly overwhelmed by the situation, although she roughly understood what had just happened.
"A true beauty indeed," Kailith thought to herself, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and jealousy. "Even though I'm now a fallen dragon, in raw beauty, she still surpasses me. All the passengers are already enchanted by her!"
"No wonder I was feeling like everyone was looking at me," Ravenna thought to herself, a small, knowing smile on her face. "They were actually looking at Lortell."