Chapter 41: Giving A Massage To Monica

Elias entered Monica’s room while carrying her securely in his arms, and after approaching the bed, he carefully lowered her onto the soft mattress before adjusting the blanket beneath her so that she could lie comfortably.

Once she was settled, he remained beside the bed with one hand resting against his chin while his eyes moved thoughtfully over her body.

Monica watched him for several seconds before asking, "What are you doing?"

"Wondering how to start," Elias muttered as he examined her carefully.

An amused smile appeared on Monica’s face, and she tilted her head slightly before saying, "To me, it seems like you are just finding reasons to ogle me."

Her smile widened.

"Pervert."

The accusation was rather ironic considering how she had spent the better part of the previous half hour watching him while he bathed, but Elias simply ignored the comment.

"Should I feed you first?" he asked instead.

Monica immediately shook her head and answered with a faint frown, "No. Feed me after you are done massaging me."

"Okay," Elias said with a nod before rolling up his sleeves.

He then reached down and carefully removed the blanket covering her body.

Monica’s pale skin immediately entered his vision, along with the dark, shadowy marks scattered across her body by the poison. Elias had already seen them countless times, but now that he was deliberately examining her to figure out how to massage her properly, every detail became much more noticeable.

A mischievous glint appeared in Monica’s eyes.

"What happened?" she asked.

Elias looked toward her face and coughed lightly.

"Nothing."

"Is that so?" she asked, her smile becoming more playful.

Elias looked away.

’Why did I promise this?’

He quietly questioned his own decision while keeping his legs a little closer together, hoping Monica wouldn’t notice anything unusual about his awkward posture.

She absolutely did not need to know.

Otherwise, she would probably tease him about it for the rest of his life.

Elias closed his eyes and took a slow breath.

’Think about something else.’

He tried to clear his mind before finally reaching toward her.

His hands instinctively settled against the sides of her waist.

Monica immediately yelped softly.

"Ah..."

Her expression changed almost instantly, and a sweet smile appeared on her face as she relaxed against the mattress.

Elias opened his eyes and stared at her reaction.

’Can I really hide anything from her?’

He pressed his hands a little more firmly against her waist, curious about whether the sensation would become stronger.

Monica’s eyes narrowed pleasantly.

"Do it slower," she murmured.

Elias raised an eyebrow before he adjusted his movements.

His fingers moved in slow circles along her waist, applying gentle pressure before releasing it and repeating the motion.

Monica’s shoulders gradually relaxed.

"Deeper," she mumbled.

Elias closed his eyes for a moment before he let out a sigh and increased the pressure slightly.

"Like this?"

"Yes..."

A soft smile appeared on Monica’s face.

’I love it when he touches my abdomen...’ she thought, although she immediately became embarrassed by the thought and tried to push it aside.

Elias continued downward from her abdomen before moving carefully toward her sides and upper arms.

At first, he had no idea what he was doing, but Masterful Hands seemed to guide his movements naturally. His fingers adjusted their pressure without conscious effort, while his wrists and palms moved in smooth patterns that seemed to become more natural with every passing moment.

Monica’s breathing gradually became calmer.

"Haa..."

Elias noticed the change and continued.

He moved from her abdomen toward her side, then carefully worked along her arms before returning toward her waist.

Whenever his hands passed over a particularly tense area, he adjusted his pressure until Monica’s muscles relaxed beneath his fingers.

"Ah... yes..." Monica whispered.

Elias glanced toward her.

She immediately opened one eye.

"What?"

"Nothing," Elias replied.

"Then stop looking at me like that."

"You are the one making strange noises."

Monica’s cheeks reddened.

"I cannot help it."

Elias chuckled softly and continued.

His hands moved toward her upper arm before reaching beneath it.

Monica suddenly stiffened.

"Wait!"

Elias immediately stopped.

"What happened?"

"Not my armpits!" she complained, her face turning red.

Elias stared at her for a moment before he smiled. "What about them?"

"Do not touch them," she said as she looked away.

He chuckled. "Alright."

He moved his hands away and continued along her arm instead.

Monica relaxed again.

’My master once told me that men are lustful creatures...’

She glanced toward Elias.

’Why is he not?!’

The thought confused her more than she wanted to admit.

Elias remained completely focused on the massage, seemingly unaware of the strange battle occurring inside her mind.

He continued from her arms toward her shoulders and then carefully worked along her back, supporting her body whenever he needed to change her position.

The faint tingling sensation followed every movement.

For someone who had spent years unable to properly experience physical contact, even something as simple as pressure against her shoulders felt extraordinary.

Monica closed her eyes.

She could feel his hands.

She could distinguish the warmth of his palms from the lingering ache of the poison, and for once, the pain wasn’t the only sensation occupying her body.

She smiled quietly.

Elias noticed.

"Does that feel good?"

"Very," Monica answered honestly.

He nodded and continued, a faint smile creasing his lips.

His hands eventually returned toward her waist before slowly moving downward, but when he reached closer to her thighs, Monica’s eyes widened.

"W-Wait—"

Elias immediately paused.

Monica’s expression remained flushed as she took several slow breaths, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensations.

Elias blinked down at her.

For several seconds, he simply watched her reaction while his expression became increasingly puzzled.

Then his head moved to her thighs, and he noticed a wet spot on the blanket.

He blinked and asked, "Did... did you cli—"

"Shut up and continue!" She hissed, her face red like a tomato and her eyes trembling from sheer embarrassment.

’She did...’ he remarked inwardly, and a faint smirk appeared on his face as he continued down her legs.

[Ding!]

[Affection Rate is increasing!]

[Monica Ragnar’s Affection Rate: 10]

[The host can now inspect Monica Ragnar’s Status.]