“That’s right, a room styled precisely like this was actually crafted as a subtle tribute to that person, you know!” Huey murmured with an air of profound mystery. “My, oh my who could it possibly be? Naturally, none other than the Grand Archangel himself.”
With his eyes curving into sweet crescent moons and his tail swaying left and right, the platinum-gold little heart tip looked right at home against the pristine backdrop of the white-themed room.
“I believe I mentioned this previously: that very lord experienced love at first sight with a charming succubus amidst the dark elven floral sea. Perhaps, when the time comes, you might just catch a glimpse of the Grand Archangel residing right here in this very suite with his succubus!”
Huey delivered the assertion with unshakeable conviction, as though he had witnessed the scenario with his own eyes.
Xavier the literal, actual Grand Archangel emerged carrying two plates, offering a helpless, amused shake of his head at the declaration.
To a certain extent, Huey’s commentary couldn’t strictly be classified as false advertising. After all, the Grand Archangel was indeed currently cohabitating with a succubus within this exact chamber.
“Come dine.” Glancing briefly toward the broadcasting orb hovering before Huey, Xavier deposited the dishes onto the table and beckoned the young demon over.
“Coming~” Responding with a sweet chime, Huey pivoted back toward the lens. “My lord is calling me for dinner; we’ll resume the live stream after we’ve finished eating.”
“Mhm…” Musing for a brief moment, Huey continued, “Actually, let’s simply resume the stream this evening. I’ve heard the night scenery at the hot springs here is exceptionally breathtaking I’ll take you all along for a live broadcast of our hot spring dip tonight.”
Savoring the luxurious plushness beneath him, Huey smiled softly, resolving to first indulge in a pleasant afternoon nap alongside the lord.
Sticking to simple preparations, Xavier simply seared a cut of Dada boar chop, paired it with fresh greens, and sliced up a fresh piece of sweetfruit specifically for Huey.
With thoughtful consideration, Xavier had already carved Huey’s portion of the meat chop into bite-sized, accessible segments.
“Delicious!” Popping a piece of pork into his mouth, Huey chewed with puffed-out cheeks, narrowing his eyes in pure, blissful appreciation. “The lord’s culinary skills are simply the best this is the most exquisite meal I’ve ever tasted.”
Chuckling softly, Xavier demurred, “I merely seared a pork chop; if the flavor is exceptional, the credit belongs entirely to the quality of the meat.”
“You’re being far too modest, my lord.” Popping several more pieces in rapid succession, Huey transformed instantly into a contented little hamster.
Noticing that Xavier’s plate contained nothing save for fresh green leaves, Huey tilted his head in bewilderment. “My lord, why aren’t you eating any meat? Are those Liches truly that tight-fisted, supplying only a single cut of pork?”
Heaven bear witness the Liches had uncharacteristically thrown open their coffers this time, stocking the kitchens with overflowing piles of premium ingredients.
“No,” Xavier shook his head. “I simply prefer partaking in greens.”
Huey’s gaze drifted down to Xavier’s hands holding the silver cutlery: slender, powerful fingers pressing gracefully against the fork to guide a vibrant green leaf toward those thin lips, executing every movement with an effortless, mesmerizing elegance.
Strange… Huey couldn’t recall ever witnessing the lord consuming meat…
Dismissing the thought the instant his eyes drifted back up to gaze upon Xavier’s breathtaking face, all lingering doubts vanished into thin air.
How could a man possessing such striking features possibly do any wrong? Resting his chin in his hands, the little succubus let out a soft, devoted sigh.
Such an intense, smoldering gaze was impossible for even Xavier to ignore indefinitely. Setting down his cutlery and letting out a quiet sigh, he lifted his eyes to lock gazes with the daydreaming little succubus, coaxing gently, “If you continue staring without eating, your food will grow cold.”
Mastering the art of emotional manipulation without a teacher, the handsome Grand Archangel assumed an expression of mild, melancholic vulnerability and murmured, “Besides… this is the very first time I have ever prepared a meal for another.”
!?
“I’ll eat! I’m eating right now!” Instantly captivated by the emotional bait, Huey frantically shoved food into his mouth and predictably, choked on a bite…
Cough, cough, cough. As the little succubus hacked away, his tail jittered rhythmically in time with his coughs, looking thoroughly tragic.
A quiet internal sigh escaped Xavier as he rose from his seat, moving behind Huey to stroke his back with practiced, gentle pressure.
“Slow down. No one is competing with you.”
Bathed in the man’s soothing ministrations, Huey felt his delicate face burn a fierce, scorching crimson whether from the choking fit or sheer embarrassment remained debatable. At that moment, pressing an ice block forged by a frost demon against his cheeks would likely have caused it to sizzle and melt instantly.
I cannot let a man this gentle slip through my fingers! Clenching his fists internally, Huey locked in his resolve: I am definitely confessing my love to the lord on the seventh day!
Following the meal, Huey stubbornly insisted on dragging Xavier back to bed for an afternoon siesta.
“I want my lord to tell me a story to help me sleep ” Tucked cozily within the man’s warm embrace, Huey rested his waist against the firm arm wrapping around him while his own tail coiled affectionately upward, fully executing the art of pushing boundaries.
Hesitating briefly, Xavier recalled that A Century of Raising a Little Angel contained numerous bedtime stories traditionally utilized for lulling young angels to slumber, making it a viable repository for a tale.
“Very well.” Reaching out to stroke the fluffy raven locks, Xavier instructed, “Close your eyes.”
The man’s deep, steady voice resonated through the chamber, accompanied by the slow, rhythmic cadence of the little succubus’s even breathing.
“…And ultimately, Desail successfully rescued the continent, ushering in an era of light and hope for the world.” As Xavier’s voice trailed off into silence, the young succubus in his arms had already ceased moving, appearing fast asleep.
Curving his lips into a smile, Xavier pulled the little succubus slightly closer against his chest, preparing to drift off himself when a sleepy, mumbled objection suddenly murmured from the chest against him.
“So… why did it have to bring light and hope to the world?” Without even cracking an eye open, Huey slurred out his complaint like a sleepy child. “Shouldn’t it bring darkness instead? We’re currently staying inside a Heaven-themed room, yet you’re reciting a bedtime story straight out of Heaven’s curriculum.”
Wrinkling his petite nose in mild distaste, the little succubus grumbled, “If my older sisters had ever read me a story like that when I was little, I would have thrown a tantrum and bounced right off the bed!”
Amused and exasperated, Xavier realized that the narratives contained within A Century of Raising a Little Angel were naturally biased toward light and radiance. It simply hadn’t occurred to him that such tales clashed fundamentally with the Underworld’s cultural aesthetic.
“Would you prefer I recount a different one?” Xavier accommodated obligingly.
“Never mind.” Keeping his eyes firmly shut, Huey instinctively executed a precise maneuver, looping both arms tightly around the man’s neck and pressing his form in unyielding, seamless intimacy. “If it’s coming from you, my lord, any story makes for a wonderful bedtime tale.”
Flattered and warmed by the sweet-talking little succubus, the Grand Archangel felt a tender ache bloom in his chest. Pressing a light kiss against the young demon’s brow, he murmured in a husky undertone, “Good child.”
The little succubus of the Underworld proved infinitely more endearing than those mischievous, unruly little angels up in Heaven; an inexperienced guardian like Xavier found himself harboring a near-overwhelming impulse to bundle him up and spirit him straight back to the celestial planes.
…No, let us proceed at a measured pace. Gently patting the young demon’s back, Xavier’s dark-golden eyes darkened with profound, fathomless affection. A little succubus who has spent three centuries navigating the Underworld will likely require a protracted transition period to adapt to the radiance of light.
Huey’s afternoon slumber proved exceptionally restorative. When he finally fluttered his eyes open, the sky outside had already shaded into dusk.
“My lord…” Shifting inside Xavier’s embrace, Huey looked up to find the man still holding an open volume filled with unreadable, archaic glyphs. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Weren’t you intending to visit the hot springs once night fell?” Closing the book and removing his wire-rimmed spectacles, Xavier gazed down with absolute gentleness at the sleep-tangled little succubus. “The sun hasn’t completely dipped below the horizon yet, so I planned on letting you rest a bit longer.”
Promptly sitting bolt upright, Huey piped up, “No time to waste! I’ve heard lingering in the hot springs while sipping wine and sampling fresh fruit is the ultimate luxury.”
“There is no rush.” Standing up, Xavier effortlessly swept the small succubus into his arms and set him gently onto his feet, ensuring his delicate toes slipped comfortably into a pair of plush house slippers.
“Go wash up.”
Trailing closely behind Xavier like an attached shadow, Huey chattered incessantly as they prepped, demanding this item be packed and expressing eagerness for that luxury.
Whatever he requested, Xavier methodically accommodated.
“And wine! Don’t forget the wine!” Standing on tiptoes to peer over Xavier’s shoulder, Huey urged, “Skip the milk and fruit juice this time pack the wine. Soaking in a hot spring without wine is an absolute crime.”
Pausing midway toward the milk pitcher, Xavier yielded to the request, swapping it out for a selection of fine vintage bottles which he stashed securely inside his storage ring alongside a carton of milk just in case.
The Wandering Springs.
Judging purely by the nomenclature, the venue lacked any veneer of orthodox respectability. Arriving at the location confirmed those suspicions instantly.
Evidently, the Liches had drawn heavy inspiration from succubus establishments: the sprawling wooden bathhouses were draped lavishly in flowing pink and crimson translucent gauze, fluttering seductively in the evening breeze to create an atmosphere thick with ambiguous allure.
“What do you think? The hot spring ambiance is quite charming, wouldn’t you say?” Facing his broadcasting orb, Huey delivered a cheerful, professional commentary while offering a panoramic sweep of the bathhouse grounds.
“The springs here are actually entirely open-air; this front pavilion serves strictly as the changing and cleansing chamber, and only past this threshold will you reach the spring pools themselves.”
Guiding the floating orb indoors, Huey ensured every corner of the antechamber was comprehensively documented.
“Of course, should guests prefer an indoor soaking experience, that option is fully supported. Simply unlatch this side door, and you’ll be instantaneously teleported into a private, isolated indoor spring chamber. The same spatial mechanics apply to the outdoor pools complete privacy, ensuring zero interruptions to your romantic two-person getaway!”
Flashing open the side door to the indoor facility, Huey panned the lens across the interior.
“As for the indoor option, its primary advantage…”
Swiveling the camera abruptly, a massive, sumptuously oversized bed dominated the background of the frame.
Hopping lightly onto the mattress, Huey bounced a couple of times to test the give. “It possesses incredible bounce, making it exceptionally well-suited for…”
Swallowing the remainder of the sentence with a sly, knowing grin, the cunning little succubus pivoted smoothly: “…making it exceptionally well-suited for guests to experience firsthand.”
“However compared to the indoor setup, my personal preference leans heavily toward the outdoor hot springs.” Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, Huey leaned in close until his pretty face filled the entire monitor. “Quietly between us, the outdoor baths are breathtakingly romantic. Once I’ve changed into proper attire, I’ll take you all out to witness it!”
Extending a hand to swipe the recording orb off, Huey ignored the flood of frantic questions scrolling through the chat, turning off the feed with ruthless efficiency.
“There.” Pivoting toward Xavier, who had been standing patiently off to the side, Huey chirped, “Let’s go change and get into the hot springs~”
The changing rooms were segregated into private compartments, stocked generously with an assortment of garments the majority of which leaned toward an aggressively minimal yardage of fabric.
As a succubus possessing an impeccably calibrated aesthetic, Huey homed in on his target outfit almost instantly.
Holding up the shockingly scant collection of fabric, the wicked little succubus tilted his head, flashing a cunning, triumphant smile while his tail wagged behind him in high spirits.
Hmph, I am guaranteed to be the most gorgeous, adorable, and mesmerizing succubus in the entire world in the lord’s eyes tonight!