Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 573: Just Trimming Hooves, That's All
Steven's utterly unromantic response was, in fact, exactly what Centaurea had expected. She knew he wasn't the type to act casually like that—what she said earlier was just her way of teasing him a little.
It's not like she was that easy either. Even being lovestruck had its limits, okay?
"You're really bad at reading the mood, you know. Even if you want to refuse, you could at least phrase it a bit more gently next time."
She lightly kicked him with her small foot wrapped in white stockings, bare of any shoes. She understood his reasoning, sure—but using "come eat" as an excuse? It sounded way too much like that classic line: your mom's calling you home for dinner.
The slightly ambiguous, almost intimate atmosphere they had built instantly turned awkward. Even her drowsiness faded away, leaving her no choice but to jab back at the one who ruined it.
"Not really. What I meant is—you need to eat your fill before you've got the energy to do anything else. There's a saying, right? 'When you're well-fed, other desires follow.'"
Her little feet tapped against his thigh with barely any force. She wasn't even wearing shoes—if anything, that soft, fleeting contact felt more like a tease than a kick.
Steven wasn't about to miss an opportunity like that.
He reached out and caught her restless foot in his hand, a faint smile forming as he replied.
"You saying stuff like that really ruins your image in my mind. …Wait, scratch that—you never really had much of an image to begin with."
Centaurea rolled her eyes. She tried to pull her foot back, but when she realized he had no intention of letting go, she could only blush faintly and mutter under her breath, pretending nothing had happened as she leaned back against the window again.
Thinking about it, ever since she met Steven, he had never really been the "reliable" type. He was always either doing something unexpected or on his way to doing something even more unexpected. And yet, because of that, he brought her surprise after surprise.
Even now, the fact that she could breathe freely in a land so different from Kazimierz, living a life she had never even dared to imagine… it was all thanks to him.
It was precisely this mixture of curiosity toward him and the feelings born from everything he had done that formed her affection. She understood that clearly—which was why she dared to act as boldly as she had earlier.
"Well, exactly. Just think of me as a normal guy. When your girlfriend is this pretty, how could I possibly hold back? You should understand that."
Deliberately, he ran his fingers lightly over what he held in his hand—something that felt less like a limb and more like a soft, marshmallow-like treat wrapped in silk.
As he leisurely enjoyed the smooth, warm sensation, he continued chatting with her.
No wonder there were so many people obsessed with legs and feet. Steven used to think that no matter how nice they looked, they'd probably be… less than pleasant up close.
But now that he had experienced it firsthand, he had to admit—there was a reason so many people liked it.
"I understand you my foot! Keep that up and I'll really kick you, got it? Now spill it—where did you go all afternoon? Don't tell me you were like back on Rhodes Island, lying in the garden watching ants move all day again?"
Blushing, Centaurea tried once more to sneak in a stronger kick and pull her foot free. But when she realized there was no escaping the grip of this absurdly strong guy, she had no choice but to change the subject.
Was he actually going to take things seriously? She wasn't even mentally prepared yet—there was no way she'd let him get his way that easily.
Besides, she was genuinely curious about what he'd been up to all afternoon. If she hadn't been so sleepy earlier, she definitely would've followed him out to see the excitement for herself.
"And you've got the nerve to talk about me? Whose idea was it to come to Lungmen in the first place? And then someone shows up and immediately crashes like a little pig, sleeping like the world's sweetest angel. If I'd dared wake her, it would've felt like committing a crime. What was I supposed to do? I had no choice but to go kill time on my own."
As he spoke, Steven's hands had already unconsciously shifted into something resembling a massage technique, gently working over the small feet in his grasp. For a moment, he felt like one of those craftsmen who trimmed hooves—except instead of tools, he was using his hands.
Not that this particular "hoof" needed any fixing. It was already perfect. Holding it like this felt more like appreciating a piece of art.
Of course… if he were shameless enough, he could always switch to a different "tool." Though at that point, his little white horse would probably be so embarrassed she'd want to bury herself underground.
Still, this pace was just right. These things needed to progress step by step. He had plenty of time ahead to slowly "take care" of this adorable little horse.
"Well, what can I say? Ever since all those troubles were resolved, I realized my desire for freedom wasn't as strong as I thought. Eating and then sleeping all day? It's actually pretty comfortable."
Under Steven's steady "massage," Centaurea gradually relaxed. She had to admit—his technique was surprisingly good. The initial embarrassment and resistance faded away, replaced by a quiet sense of ease. Casually, she picked up the dinner he had brought and took a few small bites.
She wasn't lying. Ever since her burdens had been lifted, she'd found herself growing lazier by the day. Maybe it was the aftereffect of working herself to the bone for so long—but right now, nothing felt better than lying around comfortably, thinking about absolutely nothing.
Well… maybe one thing could make it even better.
Like having someone chat with her while giving her a massage, just like this.
Stretching her foot slightly, she met Steven's somewhat indulgent gaze. For some reason, even the simple meal in her hands started to taste unexpectedly delicious.
"Of course… if someone were willing to share those amazing adventures he's been through, I'd probably be even happier. Just depends on whether he's willing to grant me this tiny wish."
As if struck by an idea, Centaurea flashed him a charming smile. She might not have the energy to go on adventures herself anymore—but listening to Steven tell his stories? That sounded like a pretty good alternative.
"Your imagination's even better than mine. Aren't you worried you'll end up putting on weight living like that? When your figure starts going, don't say I didn't warn you."
Steven chuckled, not rejecting her request at all. Sharing his experiences was something he actually enjoyed—he had no reason to refuse.
In fact, he'd always wanted moments like this: sitting together, talking about whatever came to mind. He just hadn't had the right person before.
"If I really gain weight, someone will take care of me anyway. And honestly, that 'someone' would probably panic even more than I would."
"…Though before that—don't you think your 'massage' is getting a bit too high up?"
She glanced down at Steven's wandering hand, which had crept dangerously close to her thigh. With a faint blush, she lightly tapped it with her chopsticks.
"Nonsense," Steven replied without missing a beat, completely unfazed.
"I'm just trimming hooves, that's all! Don't go slandering me!"
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 617: A Bold Guess[1]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Thatsnakegirl/posts/arknightcraft-160680628