"Hah..."
In a room at The Reverie Hotel, Lumina lay sprawled across Herta's lap. Her breathing gradually evened out, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Her face was serene, like a Sleeping Beauty in repose.
"Asleep?" Herta murmured in disbelief, observing Lumina's peaceful slumber. "Is it really... that comfortable?"
Herta couldn't comprehend it. According to her calculations and understanding of human physiology, a human thigh couldn't possibly be more comfortable than a pillow.
After all, modern pillows were no longer the crude implements of ancient times. They were crafted from premium materials sourced from renowned star systems, infused with subtle soul-soothing properties—far superior to anything a mere "thigh pillow" could offer.
While this logic held true in theory, Herta clearly hadn't grasped the profound significance of a "beautiful girl's lap pillow" in Lumina's heart. It surpassed, even dwarfed, all other conventional pillows in her affections.
"Well, whatever. I never could figure out what this girl's brain is made of anyway."
After pondering the matter briefly without finding an answer, Herta abandoned the attempt entirely.
Watching Lumina's calm, peaceful sleeping face, Herta gently brushed aside a few strands of hair that had fallen across her cheek, revealing the face that could captivate every member of the Saintess Support Club.
This one... is barely a match for me in looks, maybe a 50/50 split?
Herta hummed softly, gazing at Lumina's sleeping face, and reached out to gently stroke her cheek. Feeling the jade-like smoothness beneath her fingers, a faint blush crept onto Herta's face.
As Herta continued to caress Lumina's eyelashes, nose, and even the corner of her lips, the blush spread uncontrollably from her already crimson cheeks to her entire body. Her ears and neck were gradually engulfed by the crimson tide.
At that moment, Madam Herta looked like a plump, rosy red apple, so tempting that one might instinctively want to take a bite.
Realizing the implications of her actions and current state, Madam Herta didn't withdraw her hand. Her fingers gradually traced the curve of Lumina's lips, inch by inch.
"!"
The moment her finger brushed Lumina's lips, Herta recoiled as if startled, withdrawing her hand immediately.
Under the room's soft light, her finger shimmered faintly. Herta pressed her delicate pink lips tightly together, as if restraining herself.
Her gaze shifted to Lumina, and she switched hands, gently stroking Lumina's sleeping face.
Herta lowered her head, her fingers lightly pinching the corner of Lumina's mouth, her eyes fixed on Lumina's unguarded face resting on her lap.
Herta made no further move, simply gazing at Lumina.
After a long moment, as if steeling herself, Herta gradually leaned down, her hand still pinching Lumina's lip as she moved closer.
The distance between them was minimal—barely half a body's length. A slight bend and tilt of her head would bring her cheek to brush against Lumina's.
Yet to Herta, this span, which should have taken only a second or two to cross, felt as vast as the distance from the Space Station to Penacony.
Ha... ha...
The room was utterly silent, broken only by Lumina's steady breathing and Herta's heavy panting. The two sounds intertwined, as if composing a duet together.
Huff...
As their faces drew closer, Herta felt the warmth radiating from Lumina's cheek and the hot breath escaping her lips...
Herta's body stiffened, her head frozen in mid-air, neither retreating nor advancing.
Just one 'Mama' for a lifetime of lap pillows? What a rip-off...
I'll just take a little something else. That's fair, right?
Herta tried to reassure herself, but her head remained suspended, making no move.
Just once. Once would be enough...
One 'Mama,' once... and you get a lifetime of lap pillows from me? Little Lumina, you're one lucky girl...
Madam Herta mentally reassured herself again, and this time, the reassurance seemed to take hold.
After a moment's hesitation, her gaze fixed on Lumina's breathtakingly beautiful face, Herta lowered her head further.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Excuse me... Is anyone here?"
Just as Madam Herta's cheek was about to touch Lumina's, a knock echoed through the room, immediately followed by a familiar voice.
"!"
Herta's body jolted as if caught in an illicit affair. She quickly withdrew her face, her cheeks burning crimson, her entire body feeling as if it were submerged in molten lava. Her toes curled against the floor, a mix of embarrassment, regret, and other emotions flashing across her face.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Hmm? No one here?"
The persistent knocking continued, accompanied by a puzzled, questioning voice that instantly snapped Herta back to her senses.
What storms hadn't Madam Herta weathered? Though her mind still raced with thoughts, the intruder's interruption had already faded much of the blush from her cheeks.
This must be that Nihility Emanator...
Gazing at Lumina sleeping peacefully on her lap, Herta correctly guessed the identity of the knocker.
At this hour, with everyone trapped within Ena's Dream, only Acheron, as the Nihility Emanator, could move freely through The Reverie Hotel.
"Phew... I guess you did me a favor this time, Acheron."
Though Acheron's intervention had interrupted what Herta was about to do, Herta wasn't angry; on the contrary, she felt almost relieved.
If Acheron hadn't intervened, Herta couldn't even imagine what she might have done to Lumina, who was lying defenselessly on her lap, fast asleep.
It's better Lumina doesn't know, Herta thought. If she ever found out what I was planning... would she be angry? Would she hate me for it?
After all, what she had been thinking of doing, and the actions she had prepared to take, were indeed quite excessive...
Madam Herta thought to herself, a strange sense of relief washing over her.
She gently pinched Lumina's cheek, savoring the soft touch. A tremor ran through her heart. Taking a deep breath, she slowly, deliberately, and softly rose, gently transferring Lumina's head from her lap to the sofa. Then, Herta stood up and went to open the door.
"Let's talk outside. Lumina's asleep," Herta whispered, keeping her voice low as she explained Lumina's condition to Acheron. She gestured for them to speak outside, so as not to disturb Lumina's sleep.
"Mm."
Seeing Lumina asleep on the sofa in the room, Acheron nodded lightly, making no sound.
Thump...
Herta gently closed the door as she left the room, careful not to make any noise that might disturb Lumina's sleep.
"...Herta, just now..."
The moment the door clicked shut, Lumina, who had been sleeping peacefully on the sofa, suddenly opened her eyes. Her expression was complex as she stared at the tightly shut door.
Just now... unless I'm imagining things, Herta was about to kiss me, wasn't she...?
Was she going to kiss my cheek, or...
Lumina slowly sat up from the sofa, reaching up to touch her lips where Herta had touched them moments before. A blush gradually crept upward from her neck, staining her cheeks and ears crimson. In mere seconds, she transformed from a "little white person" into a "little red person."
"No... no way. I... I must be overthinking things..."
As an Emanator, how could Lumina possibly misunderstand Herta's actions?
It wasn't just what Herta had done later; Lumina had noticed everything from the start—every subtle movement and fleeting expression.
That's why Lumina was hesitant to believe what her heart was telling her, yet the lingering warmth on her lips and cheeks insisted otherwise.
There was a nearly 90% chance that what she suspected was true...
Thinking about everything Herta had just done to her, Lumina's face flushed even deeper, as if steam were rising from her head.
[ Yo yo yo! High-attack, zero-defense Little Lumina finally crashed and burned after flitting through the garden of flowers! ]
After its long silence, the System suddenly popped up to gloat and enjoy the show.
Seeing the once-arrogant Lumina reduced to this state, the System couldn't help but smirk.
[ Pathetic, Lumina! Why don't you just give in to Herta already? ]
"Shut up! This is a genuine affection. Girlfriends kissing each other's cheeks is totally normal, okay?"
Lumina's mental fortitude was truly remarkable. Her head, which had been glowing red and practically steaming just moments ago, gradually returned to normal within seconds.
Taking a deep breath to suppress her turbulent emotions, Lumina gazed through the room with a complicated expression at Madam Herta, who was discussing something with Acheron.
[ "Forget it. Let's just pretend none of this happened." ]
[ "At least Herta didn't actually touch..." ]