NOVEL NEXT chapter 220
Chapter 220. Noah, the Growing Sense of an Old Father (11)
“Huh? Big Sister wants me to wear pantyhose to the bath?”
While Veronica was still in her room reading, wondering whether or not to muster the courage to invite Valentina to bathe with her,
Delia’s maid knocked and told her that Delia wanted her to put on pantyhose and go bathe together.
This made Veronica feel very strange.
Why wear pantyhose?
“Ah… I understand, I’ll go right away, please wait for me a moment.”
Even when Veronica asked the maid for the reason, the maid simply said that it was Delia’s request.
Although she didn’t know what her sister was thinking, Veronica, already used to obeying Delia’s orders, still got up and went to her wardrobe, specifically choosing to put on a pair of black pantyhose.
Actually, she had noticed that Valentina often wore black knee-high socks and pantyhose, so in order to improve their sisterly relationship, she secretly had the maid buy her a few pairs of the same style as Valentina, but in slightly smaller sizes.
Therefore, she wasn’t worried about how to deal with Delia’s sudden, rude request.
And so, the little princess, bewildered but still obedient, followed the maid into the changing room.
And then, she carefully entered the misty bath, having taken off her underwear and now only wearing pantyhose.
“…Wait a minute, Veronica, why are you wearing black? Didn’t I prepare a lot of different styles of white pantyhose for you?”
“Huh!?”
But as the little princess, holding a bath towel and slightly embarrassed, entered the bath, she was questioned by Delia, who was leaning on the edge of the tub, watching the entrance.
Delia was now glaring at her with an unpleasant expression, clearly dissatisfied with her attire.
Big Sister!? You didn’t say they had to be white!?
And you didn’t prepare any for me at all!
If she had the courage, Veronica would definitely retort to Delia like that.
Unfortunately, having lived under Delia’s control for so long, Veronica couldn’t say it. Instead, like a child who had done something wrong, she stood with her small jio, clad in black pantyhose, touching, her feet turned inward, her face full of fear.
–Veronica, why is she wearing black, could it be because Valentina wears black all the time!?
The reason for Delia’s anger was simple: she believed that ‘the goddess’ only liked white, and black was absolutely unacceptable.
She wasn’t worried about upsetting the goddess, but about the goddess being unhappy and not giving her benefits.
That’s why Delia was angry at her younger sister here.
Just as Delia was about to unleash a torrent of scolding on the little princess,
Noah, standing to the side, finally offered an explanation using golden text.
“Oh? Black is acceptable too? Heh, you should have said so earlier. I’ll wear black stockings next time.”
Seeing that the ‘Goddess’ had clarified that both black and white were fine, Delia’s elegant, princess-like smile returned.
“Come, Veronica, come in. Sit across from me. It’s been a while since we bathed together, hasn’t it? About three days or so?”
Now cheerful, Delia leaned over the edge of the bath, reaching a hand out to Veronica, acting like the perfect older sister, as if the one whose voice had just turned cold was someone else entirely.
“Y-yes, Sister.”
…Actually, it’s been a week, Sister.
Because she had been frightened and was looking down, the little princess hadn’t seen the golden text.
Hearing Delia say that, she just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking how good it was not to be scolded, and then began walking towards the bath again.
But walking on the slightly wet marble floor in just thin pantyhose, it was easy to slip.
“!?”
And indeed, Veronica’s foot slipped.
As she was falling, she saw the two usually expressionless maids with looks of panic, and her sister Delia, directly opposite, with a worried expression.
Hehe… My sister does care about me after all…
Before the pain in her back and the back of her head arrived, Veronica actually felt happy because she saw Delia’s worried face.
She suddenly felt like even falling wouldn’t hurt.
…Huh? It really doesn’t hurt?
When Veronica, who had closed her eyes and was waiting for the fall, opened them, she found herself floating in mid-air, as if being held by someone.
This extraordinary experience shocked not only her but also the other maids and even Delia.
“Hey, be more careful, little princess. You’re lucky I’m here to lend a hand, or you’d have fallen. Next time might be different, you know.”
The one currently in an unobserved state, holding the little princess in a princess carry, could only be Noah.
The little princess was light, indeed just a growing, chuuni (literal meaning) girl. Though, her development seemed pretty good.
Compared to Valentina, who was bigger in all aspects, Noah felt more like a worried dad taking care of his daughter.
Even so, he had to call himself a big brother, he wouldn’t back down on that.
After muttering to himself, something he knew no one would hear, Noah gently lowered the little princess’s feet to the ground.
Since everyone was looking in his direction, Noah had no choice but to continue explaining his actions using the ‘Goddess’s’ voice.
“G-God, Lord!?”
Only now noticing that a god was also present, the little princess covered her mouth in shock, staring in surprise at the air in front of her.
“What, you only just noticed that the Goddess is also here, Veronica? Really, how rude of you. Hurry, come join me in the bath, what are you standing there for?”
“Ah, yes!”
And at that moment, Delia, barely containing her displeasure, immediately urged her younger sister to come in.
—What a joke, her own sister gets to experience such a miracle, when she hasn’t even had the chance yet!
The reason for her discontent was, of course, that Veronica had experienced something before she herself had.
Didn’t this make it seem like Veronica was being taken care of more?
This was unacceptable to her, with her love of being the center of attention.
It was fortunate that her sister was still obedient. She quickly walked steadily to the edge of the bath, then extended one foot, and then slowly sat down.
If she didn’t listen, Delia might have actually lost it.
“S-sister, dear, the bath feels different from usual, is this also a blessing from the god?”
Feeling the pressure of the water around her, Veronica carefully looked at Delia, who was not far away, and asked this question.
If it was just the feeling of her tights on her lower body that was different, Veronica wouldn’t have asked, but she could also feel the warmth and comfort on her upper body, it felt like all her fatigue had disappeared.
Being as clever as she was, she naturally deduced that this was due to the blessing of the god who had saved her earlier.
“Of course, that’s why I told you to come in your tights, didn’t I? Tights are this goddess’s most beloved sacred object, remember to wear them with reverence, understand, Veronica?”
Seeing that her younger sister had finally quieted down and wasn’t causing any more trouble, Delia finally relaxed, explaining with a touch of smugness.
A goddess, huh… Come to think of it, I did hear a gentle voice earlier, as gentle as the voice that encouraged me when I tried to go see sister Valentina bathing.
…Hehe, the god is worrying about me again.
Feeling warmth spreading even in her heart, the little princess sunk her shoulders into the water, and a sweet smile of pure joy bloomed on her adorable face.