92 Chapter 6 (2/2)
These looks were brief, as the maids quickly averted their eyes when behind him stomped three other people. Their sight caused my mouth to drop even more. They were three women, all of above average beauty. The woman in front wore armor like the man but had long blond hair that was tied up in a ponytail. The woman behind her wore a long black dress that displayed a fair amount of cleavage. The last girl wore a white robe with a hood up in an attempt to hide her features, although it only served to frame an incredibly beautiful face.
Although I didn't really know how beautiful I had become since I'd become a seductress, all three of these women could be considered knockout beauties. They were each as beautiful as Jenai or Min in their own particular way. As they reached the common room, the three women each grabbed a piece of the guy, one holding each arm and the white cloaked shy one holding the back of his cloak. They looked like they were afraid he would scamper away at any moment. As he joyfully looked around the room as if he didn't notice three beautiful women cramped around him, the women stared down every maid or female patron who even glanced his direction.
I didn't need to be a seductress to understand the dynamics of this group. Those women were, for one reason or another, absolutely in love with the boy, and there seemed to be a fierce competition going on. That's when I realized that both girls holding either arm were glaring directly at me. Wow, ladies, he may be a little cute but I'm not about to step into your little snake pit and get-
”Hey! Jerard! I have someone here I'd like you to meet.” Failing to read the climate at all, the innkeeper waved the boy over, inviting his snake pit to me.
When the boy called Jerard's eyes landed on me, they widened for a second and then he gave me an even wider smile and started heading over. Rather than fake, he wore a smile that looking refreshingly honest. Even I found myself thinking he seemed like a good guy without knowing a single thing about him. He moved forward without prompting the women holding on to him, and it almost appeared like he was a dog dragging three women who were desperately pulling back on his leash. The image was too perfect, and I couldn't help but let a gentle laugh come out. All three women immediately stiffened, giving me completely unearned hostile looks.
”Your team, I presume?” I responded, trying to hide my smile.
”Wha.. ah…” He looked to his side blinking as if he had forgotten he wasn't alone. ”Ah, yes. My team…”
The girl in armor pinched him although he seemed to ignore this as he looked back at me.
”This young gentleman is Jerard. He just reached second class and is a bit of a local hero.”
Jerard seemed to blush at the innkeeper's words, looking down shyly.
”The girl wearing armor is his companion, Daria. Behind him is a white mage they saved and joined them a few months ago, Mia. And this woman is…” The innkeeper's introduction was polite but with a slight edge as she gave off their names.
”I'm Rosetta.” The black-dressed woman pushed forward, putting herself in front of Jerard and pushing out her cleavage like it was a weapon aimed at me. ”And, you are?”
She spoke with an odd air of superiority, her nose up in the air like she was above everyone else in the room. It was an act, of course. As someone who had spent months living amongst the nobility, her behavior only contained a pale imitation of nobility. She was likely the daughter of a first-generation Knight if even that. I'd dined with Kings and princes; this behavior was so vanilla that she seemed almost cute.
Unable to stop myself, I pulled out the art of manipulation, bringing out the mask of a princess I hadn't worn in many months. I let out a throaty laugh that seemed to ring throughout the common room, drawing every eye in my direction.
”My, my… what an adorable child. You may call me Aria. I am but a humble alchemist.”
I gave the group a courtesy very much unlike a humble alchemist's daughter. In fact, despite the fact I wore simple traveling garbs that wouldn't be considered remotely seductive, my body emitted elegance and beauty with every tick and motion. The part of a princess came as natural to me as being a seductress.
When I raised my head, three women were staring at me wide-eyed with open mouths, and the guy's eyes practically contained stars of wonder, like he was watching some kind of show.
”I'm sorry. Sometimes, I can come on too strong,” I toned back the manipulation a bit, using one hand to brush my hair out of my face and the other to lightly touch Jerard's hand. ”Forgive me?”
One of the women, although I didn't know which, made an unintentional gasp, and then the thought suddenly came to me before anyone could respond and I couldn't help but speak.
”Ah, that's right. You all came down together. So, you shared a room last night?”
The implication of my innocent words seemed to cut through the group like a knife through butter.
”Ah! No!” Jerard was the first to recover. ”I stayed in my own room, and the ladies slept in another. I'd never do something so…”
He seemed to lose his words as I gave him a gentle smile.Wait, Jerard was by himself last night, and the three girls were by themselves. In fact, now that I noticed it, all three women seemed to have bags under their eyes, while Jerard seemed perfectly fine. Boys will be boys, Jerard probably took care of things himself and then had a pleasant dream… but what of the women?
Their refusal to meet each other's eyes, and the fact they positioned themselves so all three of them had Jerard in front of them took on a whole new meaning. Oh, yes. These girls certainly enjoyed a pink moon last night.
”Puh!” I couldn't stop myself from letting out a laugh before covering my mouth.
All three women were in love with Jerard, yet they had spent last night rubbing up against each other for sexual relief. They seemed to realize the look I was giving them and connected it with what I was thinking, and all three women went rigid again, lowering their eyes in extreme embarrassment. Jerard himself only looked on innocently with a cocked head.
It was satisfying in some ways, but I really did need something from this group, so I couldn't push things too far. I decided to let it go.
”In all seriousness, could we sit down for a bit? I was hoping you could help me.”