Lima stood waist-deep in the lake, the water glistening under the soft light as she focused intently on Clive. Her mature form was rather commanding, quite unlike her usual playful self. "Master," Lima said, her voice calm but authoritative, "I'm going to teach you how to swim properly. Don't fight the water—let it carry you. I'll be holding you up, so don't panic."
Clive blinked up at her, a bit taken aback by the shift in her personality. Lima sounded almost like the swordsman coach the king had given him to train his swordsmanship. She was firm, yet gentle, her hands keeping his body afloat. "I-I'm trying!" Clive stammered, feeling her hands firmly under his body, keeping him afloat. His arms flailed awkwardly in the water as he attempted to follow her instructions.
"Relax, Master." Lima commanded with a slight chuckle, steadying him with ease. "You have to keep your arms straight and strong, like this." She demonstrated the proper strokes with her own arms while keeping Clive securely balanced. "Now, kick your legs slowly."
Clive couldn't help but feel like a small child being guided by his mother even though he was her "Master". Despite the initial embarrassment, he found himself responding to her instructions and trusting her entirely. "Good! That's how you should do it~" Lima praised as Clive's kicks grew more consistent. "Isn't it easy? Just keep moving your arms and legs together.."
Clive glanced back at her briefly, still a bit flustered by the whole situation. His eyes immediately locked onto her wet breasts, which were almost bare due to her micro bikini. As he kicked, they would jiggle ever so slightly. For some reason, this helped Clive get the rhythm of swimming perfectly.
Lima smiled down at him, the sternness in her voice softening slightly. "Oh? You learn quickly! That's my master for you!"
With her guidance, Clive slowly started moving through the water. Noticing this, Lima let go of him and set him off. "Miss Lima look!" he yelled, "I did it! I can swi—fskadjhfkjn" Instead of finishing his sentence, Clive started splashing around and descending into the water.
"M-Master!" Lima then rushed up to the drowning Clive and lifted him up out of the water, carrying him by placing her arms under his armpits. "Careful!" Lima then squeezed Clive into her body, almost suffocating him like back in the dungeon. "D-Don't scare me like that!"
"S-Sorry!" A heavily breathing Clive apologized.
"Ugh…" Lima groaned. "Come, let us finish so I can go catch some fish for dinner!"
***
Arianna sat on the soft grass by the lake, with Clive settled onto her lap, his small form nestled against her. She gently worked the elvish soap into a rich lather between her hands, its pleasant scent of wildflowers and sweet herbs wafting into the air around them. The soft mist rolling off the lakeshore added to the serene atmosphere. Arianna hummed quietly as she rubbed the lather into Clive's hair, her touch gentle yet thorough.
Clive tried to keep his composure, but the sensation of Arianna's soft body pressing against his back was making it difficult. He could feel the softness of her breasts against him, and her calm, steady breathing only made him more aware of how close they were. She still wore her bikini, but he still felt her warmth. He had agreed to let Arianna bathe along with him, but he didn't expect this level of intimacy! "T-T-This is… f-f-fine…" Clive stammered, his face beet red as Arianna's fingers worked through his hair, sending tingles down his spine.
"You're so tense, Little Clive," Arianna said with a giggle, her melodic voice both soothing and teasing. She continued scrubbing, her hands moving from his hair to his shoulders, lathering the soap across his skin in gentle circles. "It's just me~"
Clive trembled slightly as her fingers traced over him, and he bit his lip, trying to distract himself from the warmth of her breath brushing against his ear. He focused instead on the scent of the soap, which was surprisingly pleasant. But just as he began to relax, Arianna's hands traveled lower, gliding over his torso and down towards his waist…and into his shorts. "Let's make sure we get you all cleaned up," Arianna said playfully.
Clive's eyes shot wide open as he felt her hands begin to reach more intimate areas. His body jolted in shock. "M-Miss A-Arianna?!" he yelped, turning red.
Arianna immediately withdrew her hands, realizing what had happened. She gasped and covered her mouth, blushing herself as she started laughing softly. "I didn't mean to surprise you like that~" She stifled her giggles as she patted his head in apology. "You're so adorable when you get flustered."
Clive, still stunned, couldn't find the words to respond, though his heart was racing. Arianna simply continued cleaning down there, her fingers caressing and scrubbing all around the area. Once she cupped her hands to go underneath his little friend, Clive could barely handle it. "Eep!"
Hearing this, Arianna pulled back and wrapped her arms around his torso, hugged her body towards hers. "I promise, I'll be more careful," Arianna whispered, still smiling as she returned to scrubbing him gently, but now far more mindful of her hands' placement.
"Are you two done?" yelled a voice from the shore. "Dinner is ready!" The two looked to see that Tipha and Lima had finished cooking the fish they had caught earlier. Arianna then let go, and indicated that they should wash up and get dressed.
***
Under the serene light of the moon, their camp by the lake was bathed in a soft glow. The fire had long since dwindled to embers, and the night calm save for the gentle sounds of the water lapping against the shore. Tipha lay beneath a blanket, gazing at the starry sky while trying to find sleep. Nearby, Clive fidgeted restlessly in his own bedding, tossing and turning as his thoughts kept him awake.
Noticing his quiet struggle, Tipha sighed softly and turned her head towards him. "Can't sleep?" she asked, her voice low and gentle, though touched with a hint of impatience.
Clive looked over at her sheepishly, unsure of what to say. He couldn't explain it, but something about the night was making it difficult to settle his mind. He looked over at Arianna and Lima, who were sound asleep in their bedding and hay pile respectively. Tipha, however, recognized the signs—something must be tugging on his mind. She opened up her blanket with a subtle gesture and sighed again. "Come here," she said. "Just for tonight."
"Miss Tipha?!" Clive hesitated, blinking at her offer. "I-I don't know...it's—"
"You're not going to get any sleep lying there like that," she replied flatly, rolling her eyes. "Just come here already."
"O-Ok…" Reluctantly, Clive scooted over, slipping beneath the blanket with her. He kept a noticeable distance at first, his small frame stiff as he tried to stay as far from Tipha as possible without being impolite. She realized that she had a sweet vanilla perfume on, and felt attracted to her like a bee is to a flower. He tried his best to reject those thoughts. The warmth of her body beside him, however, made him feel safe and slowly, his tense posture began to ease.
Getting a sense of his body closer to hers, he realized how small and delicate Clive was. No wonder he wanted bodyguards. She lay on her back and closed her eyes, thinking that would be the end of it. But as time passed, Clive found himself drifting closer in his half-conscious state. Inch by inch, he unconsciously shuffled towards Tipha, seeking comfort in his sleep. Eventually, he pressed himself against her side, his small hands clutching the fabric of her gown as he nestled his face into her chest.
Tipha opened her eyes in mild annoyance, feeling him squirm against her. "Oh, for..." she muttered under her breath, about to nudge him away. But then she paused, noticing the peaceful expression on his face as he relaxed completely against her. His soft breathing slowed, and he settled comfortably in her arms, as if her presence had finally calmed him enough to sleep.
She was irritated with the fact that her breasts were being used as a pillow, but also a surprising sense of contentment. She sighed, accepting the situation. Tipha carefully adjusted her arms around him, making sure he was snug but comfortable. She looked down at his peaceful face, smushed into her bosom, and couldn't help but smile just a little. "You better not make a habit of this," she whispered, though the tone was soft this time. "Sleep tight…Seventh Prince."