Investing in the Three Villainesses Gives Me Infinite Returns

Fortunately, Elias’s Unbreakable Will proved useful once again, and the reaction he had been desperately trying to prevent never became anything more than a passing concern.

Natasha straightened herself after briefly glancing at his undergarment, and Elias immediately released the breath he had been holding.

She then patted the stool beside the tub, silently instructing him to sit.

Elias nodded and lowered himself onto it while Natasha picked up the wooden bathing mug, dipped it into the water, and poured it over his shoulders.

The water flowed down his back and chest, washing away the sweat and dust that had accumulated throughout the morning, and Elias found himself relaxing almost immediately.

There was nothing particularly strange about being bathed.

He had already become accustomed to being cared for by someone else because Monica required his assistance every day, and Natasha’s movements were no different from the ordinary routine he had already experienced countless times.

After wetting his body, Natasha picked up the cleaning cloth and began gently rubbing it across his back.

Her movements were slow and careful, and she worked methodically from his back to his shoulders before moving down his arms and along the sides of his abdomen. She then cleaned his abdomen and chest, followed by his neck, and eventually continued toward his thighs.

Elias remained mostly expressionless throughout the process, although his composure became considerably more difficult to maintain whenever her hands approached particularly sensitive areas such as his chest and thighs.

He quietly looked away and tried to focus on something else.

’Stay calm.’

Natasha, apparently unaware of the internal struggle taking place in his mind, simply continued bathing him with the same quiet determination.

Once she finished with the cloth, she poured another mug of water over him and placed the bathing mug aside before gently running her hand across his body.

Elias’s eyes widened slightly.

Unlike the rougher texture of the cloth, Natasha’s hand was soft and warm, and the slow movements of her fingers carried an unexpected sense of comfort. Her palm moved across his shoulders and chest before gradually traveling downward, and Elias found himself relaxing despite his earlier embarrassment.

A faint smile eventually appeared on his face.

’This feels... surprisingly good.’

Natasha’s hand moved toward his thighs, and Elias’s expression immediately became tense.

Then the red rising he had been worried about finally happened.

Feeling his body go stiff, her hand stopped.

Natasha looked over his shoulder, and her golden eyes settled onto the tent between his legs. Her gaze remained on it for several seconds before it slowly shifted toward Elias.

Elias met her eyes.

There was an awkward atmosphere between them, and although Natasha did not mind the reaction, he still felt compelled to explain.

[It is a natural reaction, my lady,] he said through Mental Whisper. [We should not give it more thought than necessary.]

Natasha stared at him for another moment before giving him a small nod.

She simply continued.

’That worked, huh...’ Elias thought with relief. ’At least I do not have to explain it.’

Natasha finished rubbing his body and then moved both hands toward his head.

The moment her fingers touched his hair, Elias’s shoulders relaxed.

She began massaging his scalp with gentle, practiced movements, and a quiet sound escaped his lips before he could stop himself.

”Oh...” Elias mumbled.

His eyes slowly became unfocused as the tension in his body disappeared.

’W-What is this?’

Natasha’s fingers continued moving through his hair, pressing against his scalp with just the right amount of pressure, and Elias felt as though something inside his mind had suddenly been released.

The countless thoughts that had been occupying him throughout the morning gradually became distant.

The five deaths in Kilmir, Berlic’s schemes, the problem of transporting Monica, the runesmith, their finances, and the journey east all seemed to disappear from his mind.

For the first time that morning, he was thinking about absolutely nothing.

’How is she so good at head massages?’

Natasha continued without noticing how thoroughly Elias had surrendered to the sensation.

His head slowly tilted backward as his eyes closed, and he felt as though he were floating in warm water rather than sitting on a wooden stool.

The pressure of his weight shifted backward.

Unfortunately, the stool was not nearly as stable, and it slipped.

A noise resounded, and Elias’s eyes snapped open as his body fell backward, but before he could react properly, he felt something soft and squishy in his palm.

His left hand instinctively grabbed onto whatever was closest while his head came to rest against another surprisingly soft and warm surface.

For several seconds, he wondered. ’What is this?’

Elias blinked, and then his eyes widened.

’Oh no.’

He immediately understood what had happened.

His hand was holding onto Natasha’s breast, while his head had fallen onto her lap.

[I did not mean to do this!] he quickly explained himself.

He immediately withdrew his hand, his face becoming flushed with embarrassment as he tried to push himself upright.

However, before he could rise, Natasha gently stopped him.

He froze and finally looked toward her.

Natasha’s golden eyes looked down with an expression he could not completely decipher because most of her face was partially hidden by the two peaks on her chest, and Elias quickly decided that looking anywhere except her eyes would only make the situation more awkward.

His head was resting against her thighs, and despite his embarrassment, he couldn’t deny that there was something strangely comforting about the position.

Natasha slightly leaned forward and gently patted his head.

For some reason, she wasn’t repulsed by what had happened; instead, it almost felt like she had discovered something that was hidden in her being from the beginning.

Elias stared at her in confusion.

She then raised one finger and moved it slowly across his chest, using the familiar method they had developed to communicate without her notebook.

Elias focused on the sensation and waited for her message.

[It is fine...]

[You can act... spoiled with me...]

She paused briefly before continuing.

[I want to take... care of you as well.]

Elias’s expression changed.

For a moment, he simply stared at her.

There was no teasing and embarrassment in her eyes, only pure warmth like a mother looking at her child.

[The Affection Rate is increasing!]

[Natasha Sephila’s Affection Rate: 19]

Elias dismissed the screen and focused on what was important.

He had never had the fortune of a mother, but as he stared into her eyes, his expression softened.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

[Thank you.]

Natasha smiled as well, and for several seconds, neither of them moved.

Then Elias slightly shifted and said while pushing himself upward, [Let’s finish this; I have some work that I need to take care of.]

Natasha frowned slightly at his words, clearly wishing she could feel the strange sense of fulfillment a bit longer, but after a brief hesitation, she nodded.