Chapter 6.
"How is it?" Effie affectionately watches Lucien as he enjoys the meal she prepared, her chin resting on her hands.
Since hearing the saying, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," she had set out to cook something delicious to win Lucien's affection.
Though she could whip up something with her available ingredients, there was nothing substantial at hand, so she opted instead to sit beside Lucien and enjoy the sight of him relishing her creation.
Lucien, aware of Effie's gaze, turns to her with a smile and remarks, "It's so well made that I can't help but feel a bit envious of Adam for getting such great food every day."
Effie responds unexpectedly, "You could have it every day if you'd like." Anyway, her husband rarely had time to enjoy the meals she cooked since he was too busy tending to the battalion commander.
Pausing mid-bite, Lucien glances at Effie, attempting to interpret her expression. "If that were the case, it would mean the world to me, almost like achieving knighthood. But I wouldn't want to put you in a difficult position, and you can't come every day to help me like this."
How endearing of him to say that; if only that inconsiderate guy had been more like him, Effie thought. Feeling a rush of warmth, she blushed at his compliment.
A small voice in the back of her mind warned her that she shouldn't be here, as the situation could escalate, yet that voice was faint compared to her stronger desire to be appreciated, to bask in the affection of a man who valued her.
'Well, since I've come this far, I might as well not hold back,' she concluded, realizing that her relationship with her husband would not change despite her past efforts. She decided to take a step she had contemplated earlier – specifically, since first meeting Lucien during his training.
"There's a way for me to visit every day; but for that to happen, you'll need to become stronger and gain favor with the Crowfield family through significant contributions." Though she would prefer to abandon her husband and live with Lucien, she knew that such a choice would unfairly complicate Lucien's life, which she couldn't bear.
Lucien looked at Effie, confused. "What do my strength and the Crowfield family's favor have to do with your ability to come here?" He was struggling to grasp her intention.
Seeing his bewilderment made Effie smile. 'You're more naive than I realized.' Instead of directly answering, she said, "My dear Lucien, once you grow stronger, everything will become clear."
This prompted Lucien to ponder, even though his goal was to become more powerful and refine his swordsmanship. Yet, as Aunt Diana had pointed out at the Apothecary, his skills were almost nonexistent, barely enough for him to be accepted into the Crowfield family's battalion as a Level 1 swordsman.
Noticing Lucien's worried expression, Effie stood from her chair, moved behind him, and playfully placed her ample bosom on his head, reassuring him, "Don't worry, have you forgotten? I was also a Level 3 Swordsman."
Lucien looked up, his face flushed, taken aback by this revelation; he hadn't known she was a Level 3 swordsman. This was exciting, given her attraction towards him – perhaps her experience could be beneficial. But then he wondered if there were many other things about Effie he didn't know.
However, with Effie's bosom surrounding his head in such a manner, it would be foolish of him to divert his attention elsewhere. What did it mean for her to say she was a swordsman?
Gently placing the wooden spoon he held at the edge of his plate, he tilted his head upwards, causing Effie's breasts to press against his face, obscuring his view. "Does this mean you'll help me with my swordsmanship?" Lucien asked, interpreting her words as an offer to personally teach him.
'If that's true,' he mused, 'this could be my opportunity.' With Effie's guidance, he might finally break free from the limits of his own perceived lack of talent and fulfill his predecessor's aspirations.
With only Effie's soft curves in his line of sight, all Lucien could see were her parted lips. After holding back for so long, Effie leaned in, mere inches from his lips, releasing a warm breath over them: "Of course, I will. Just make sure to rest today because I won't be easy on you when training begins."
As her lips nearly grazed his, Lucien felt his heart race.
He had never experienced such teasing, yet he simply smiled, relishing the warmth of her body, and said, "I'll endure any training as long as you teach me, Master Effie."
"Good. I like that title. Now that you're my student, you deserve a reward." She suddenly pulled away and kissed him gently on the cheek, her ears turning red as she headed for the door. Before leaving, she added, "I'll let you know where to go for training tomorrow, so be ready, my adorable disciple."
As Effie exited, Lucien could do nothing but smile and murmur to himself, "What a wonderful woman she is."