Chapter 325 - Seduction
A large smile appeared on Theo's face.
''Iris,'' he replied.
The hands covering his eyes instantly disappeared.
''That quickly?'' Iris chuckled softly behind him.
Theo turned around, his mouth opening.
But whatever response he was about to give immediately disappeared.
Iris stood in the water behind him, wearing a simple black swimsuit.
She shyly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
'I always knew she was beautiful,' he thought as his eyes wandered down. 'But seeing her like this…'
Iris immediately noticed.
A faint redness appeared on her cheeks as she crossed her arms.
''Theo,'' she said quietly. ''My eyes are up here.''
Theo smiled shamelessly.
''I know,'' he replied. ''But I've already observed those many times.''
Iris's face immediately grew even redder.
''You…''
She stared at him for a moment before lightly hitting his shoulder.
''Idiot.''
Theo couldn't help but laugh.
The two continued speaking for another minute or two before Iris finally leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss.
''I should probably go cultivate,'' she said, reluctantly pulling away. ''I really need this opportunity to keep up with you.''
Theo chuckled lightly.
''Don't think too much about that,'' he replied. ''Just make the best of it.''
Iris nodded before giving him one last smile.
''See you later.''
With that, she turned around and began swimming back towards the others.
Theo watched her leave for a moment, a small smile still lingering on his face.
'She's definitely getting more comfortable,' he thought. 'It might be time to take it to the next step soon…'
He was about to turn around and head back towards Feng when a voice suddenly rang out directly behind him.
''She certainly is beautiful.''
''Fuck!''
Theo nearly jumped out of the water.
He spun around, finding Lucienne standing only a few feet away.
''What the fuck?!'' he said. ''How long have you been standing there?!''
A hint of amusement flashed through Lucienne's eyes.
''Long enough,'' she replied, twirling her silver hair around her finger.
Only then did Theo finally realize.
For once, Lucienne's church robes were completely gone.
Her beautiful, hourglass-like figure was put on full display in a tight, dark blue swimsuit.
Even her long silver hair flowed freely down her back, only ending near her waist.
Lucienne didn't lose out to Iris in either beauty or her… assets.
Yet, strangely enough, the veil covering most of her face remained firmly in place.
Theo's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
Lucienne grinned beneath her veil.
''See something you like?'' she asked sweetly.
Theo snapped out of his daze and locked eyes with her.
''Don't start.''
A soft giggle rang out beneath her veil.
''What?'' Lucienne asked innocently. ''I was only asking.''
Theo nodded slowly.
''Sure you were,'' he replied.
Lucienne took a step closer, her voice lowering slightly.
''You seemed much more… willing to look a moment ago,'' she said, twirling her hair.
Theo's eyes narrowed slightly.
''Lucienne.''
''Theo,'' she replied innocently.
Theo stared at her for a moment before letting out a sigh.
''What do you want?'' he asked, dragging a hand across his face.
Instead of answering, Lucienne took another step closer.
But this time, Theo took a step back.
''Aw,'' she said, feigning disappointment. ''I simply wanted to spend some time with you… you know, talk about some things…''
Theo's eyes narrowed even further.
''You do realize my girlfriend was standing here less than a minute ago, right?''
Lucienne nodded casually.
A hint of amusement flickered through her eyes only a second later.
''Of course,'' she replied, her voice growing softer. ''I think the two of you are adorable together.''
Theo stared at her for a second longer.
''Then what the hell are you doing?''
Lucienne didn't answer.
Instead, she moved forward again, closing the distance Theo had just created between them.
''I couldn't help but notice you've been taking things rather… slow,'' she said, leaning closer. ''But I'm not that kind of woman.''
Before Theo could respond, Lucienne leaned beside his face.
Her voice dropped to a whisper beside his ear.
''You could have a feel… or even a taste right now if you wanted.''
''You'd be the very first to touch and even taint a saintess. Isn't that something…?''
Theo remained completely silent.
Without hesitation, he firmly pushed her back.
Any amusement that had previously been on his face was completely gone.
''This shit stops now,'' he said coldly. ''I love Iris. She's my girlfriend, and I'll never replace her.''
His expression hardened.
''In fact, if you try to pull this shit again, I'll leave you behind in here without hesitation.''
Lucienne pulled back, placing a hand against her chest as if genuinely hurt.
''Why are you so harsh?'' she muttered, even faking a small sniffle.
Theo didn't respond.
He simply stared at her coldly.
The fake hurt disappeared from Lucienne's face almost instantly.
Her eyes curved sweetly once more, as though the previous few seconds had never happened.
''How unfortunate,'' she said softly. ''I wasn't even trying to replace her…''
She waited a second.
But Theo's expression didn't change.
Lucienne let out a soft sigh before casually walking past him.
''I'm not going to give up just yet,'' she whispered. ''Even if you leave me behind, I'll just find you again.''
Without waiting for a response, she continued walking.
Theo turned towards her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her leave.
'What the hell is wrong with her?' he thought. 'Is she crazy in the head or something?'
He genuinely couldn't understand what was going through her.
Shaking his head, Theo finally turned away.
Unbeknownst to him, however, a pair of eyes had been watching them from across the lake.
Iris sat quietly in the water, her gaze following Lucienne as she walked away.
And she'd heard everything.
For a moment, a warm feeling spread through Iris's chest.
'He really didn't hesitate at all…'
Even with Lucienne practically throwing herself at him, Theo had rejected her without a second thought.
A genuine, warm smile appeared on Iris's face.
But it quickly faded as her gaze shifted towards Lucienne.
'She really isn't going to stop, though,' she thought. 'I've seen those eyes many times in the mirror…'
An uncomfortable feeling immediately spread through her chest.
'What can I even do against that? Compared to her, I am just…'