Chapter 60. Goddess giggled.

Chapter 60: 60. Goddess giggled.

Did Rue just call me by my name? I thought she never would. But then, I’d pushed her to the edge. Suddenly I studied her from a new angle. Her red eyes were sharp, still holding the tears but not weak, compelled by those very poignant emotions.

But this wasn’t about her sudden change. It was about her future. So I put forward more sensible conditions, and she made counterarguments.

This continued for a painfully long time. By full measure, I was getting annoyed with her.

"It’s only been a few days. How are you this attached to me?"

Rue had no intention of backing down, her furrowed brows suggesting she was equally angry.

"You’re attached to me as well. You cried on my breasts in your sleep, mumbling about your former partner, Remmy." She pressed a finger against my chest, stunning me quite a bit.

I shook my head from side to side, refusing to talk about Remmy, stepping out of bed in the heat of the debate.

"You don’t get it. You only love me because I’m the only one you’ve been with. You haven’t seen the real world yet."

My point made Rue pull back, her mouth opening, and then within a second she stepped forward, closer than before.

"Let me remind you, I was abused and sold to a brothel by my parents. Then I somehow saved my brothel sisters and didn’t take customers for months, while the owner was trying to sell me off to a group of bandits..."

She paused, giving me room as she realized she’d come across too hard, but at the right time.

"I’ve been through that. So when you say I haven’t seen the world... I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about."

Rue said nothing afterward, letting the silence speak for itself. She did something that’s very hard for me to do on my own: she stopped my thoughts.

Was she winning the argument? I mean, I couldn’t possibly understand the life of an abused child and a prostitute. It sounded horrifying.

But no, I couldn’t let her waste her life on me. Thinking that, I gathered my writing skills, which are nonexistent, to come up with a comeback.

"Yes. If you shift your viewpoint, you’ll find that you’ve only experienced bad things." I closed my eyes and lifted a finger, proud of what I was about to say.

"If you go out into the world, you’ll see there are plenty of good things as well, and the only thing stopping you is your role as my maid."

I opened my eyes to see her thinking, holding her chin. There! I’d been quite the gentleman, not my cup of tea, but it helped me win, so I wasn’t complaining.

"I see what you mean. Hmm." She gave it another thought.

"So you think you’re suppressing my life and potential?"

Joy sparked inside me and I was able to breathe easily. Finally, she understood. I nodded yes immediately.

"And staying by your side is useless. You want me to find a better life."

My joy skyrocketed into open space as her eyes widened at the possibilities. Then they narrowed completely.

"Well, by your logic, my life would be far better if I stayed with you. You’re the best man I’ve found out here." She said it, and my rocket of joy sank into the deep sea.

"No, no, no, no." I started stretching my head in frustration. How had she circled back?

"Elias, do you really think I’d find a better man than you?"

Rue’s cheeks showed a shade of red, one hand behind her back and one hand on her cheek.

"The problem is that you only see me as a maid, or a slave you saved. But never as a girl who loves you."

I turned my head away, this was all nonsense now. There was nothing left to debate. But she had other plans.

"And the more I try to understand you, the more I love you." Something made her giggle.

"Even now, you’re being a better man. You love a woman enough to let her go? Which girl wouldn’t find that attractive?"

I turned again, this time with her completely out of my vision, afraid of what her words might do to me.

She caught me completely off guard, slipping up behind me to pull me into a warm, silent embrace from behind. But being the stubborn man that I am, I covered my ears.

"When I was crying, no one was there. And it was the same for you." She shifted her hand to my chest, nuzzling into my back.

"When you were crying, I saw myself in you. So I want to be the one to wipe your tears. That’s what makes me happy."

Her voice still reached me. Why was it moving me? You mean I won a debate against Mandrisska but I’m about to lose to Rue?

"If you don’t like my role, then change it. Let me be your wife."

My jaw tightened, and I pushed Rue away, leaving her grasp. Now, facing her, I could see a girl who loved me. But my love would destroy her, so the answer was still no.

"I’m your master, right? I command you to get the hell out of this room. Go do your normal chores."

I said it plainly. Her head dropped, she held herself, retreating. Her hands turned into tight fists, then she released them. She didn’t say a word.

Her footsteps echoed without weight as Rue left the room. The door settled into its socket, allowing me to calm down.

I won the debate.

She doesn’t understand it now, but surely she will in the future. Besides, if I threw her into the world, she’d end up somewhere bad. Maybe I should start teaching her reading, writing, finances. Once she’s capable enough, I can let her go.

? Just admit that you haven’t grasped the actual meaning of a nice guy. You say you want to be selfish, but it’s very specific. That’s why you’re my favorite. ?

Getting a compliment didn’t move me, not after the fight with Rue. I sat back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

? However... ? Lilathea’s voice deepened, with fury rising at each syllable. Was I the reason behind her temper? My hands found nothing to grab onto as I panicked.

? Didn’t I say to keep Rue in your harem? How dare you disobey me? ?

Her voice suddenly became the worst prophecy from the skies. The room lost its light and the world shrank down, as I clutched a pillow for dear life.

"I... I..."

? Ha ha ha. Just look at your face. Got you! ?

The light came back, the world feeling as open as before. Now I was finding out how much my heartbeat had risen in a few seconds. Good to know it was slowing down.

? But seriously, did you have to reject her proposal? In any case, she shouldn’t be out of your sight. Whatever you do with her, please don’t leave her alone. ?

Lilathea explained. I, half horrified, had many questions. Why did the goddess of lust want me to keep an eye on a brothel slave girl so badly?

"You know you can tell me the reasons, if you want better results from me? Besides, I know nothing of this world, so everything is confusing as hell."

I complained, and Lilathea didn’t give me an answer right away. For a moment I thought she’d vanished without telling me and I was talking to myself.

? Well, I can’t tell you her secret. But I think it’s about time you saw the bigger picture of your transmigration. And our contract. ?

Then I was pulled into another space, the view changing like a scene in a movie without me ever blinking.

I found myself in a place with no buildings, just an endless floor of white tiles with golden borders. The sky seemed white, or there was no sky at all.

? Mark~ ?

Lilathea’s fruity voice came from behind. The voice traveled and lingered, moving left, then right, then above and below. But she wasn’t in any direction.

? Be patient. I’m here~ ?

The voice came from behind me again. But this time I didn’t move when the voice traveled.

Then I saw them.

"A pair of COSMIC SIZED BREASTS!!!"

A pair of literal holy breasts was in front of me. Part of a lady’s body, fading into the white fog several blocks away.

Was this Lilathea? My eyes followed the barely visible body. It was wrapped in several cosmic-sized pieces of gold jewelry, pearls, and gems, covering only her private parts and some skin.

Overall, she looked like an eternal beauty in a dream, one who could even bear the fruit of lust at the heart of time itself.

Even though I could see the face, I knew I shouldn’t look. But my eyes were glued to what I could see right now.

This was Lilathea? The goddess of lust?

? What you see right now is me. But... ?

She giggled, taking her time, enjoying every second of me.

? But reduced to what a mortal mind can comprehend. If I were to appear in front of you in my true form, it would drive you insane. ?

I let my laugh catch a few breaths before I realized my nostrils were bleeding. I touched my nose and was able to see the blood.

? Now then, let’s get to business. Or play, in my book. ?