Chapter 176 (1): Never Gamble or Do Drugs

Wayne grabbed Filomina’s ankle with one hand while applying night cream with the other, his fingertips gliding from her calf to her knee, rubbing her stiff muscles. Then he applied some cream to her thigh.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Filomina maintained her smile as if this were nothing new to her, but the hands pressing on the hem of her robe and her stiff muscles betrayed her feelings.

So she’s all talk!

Wayne smothered a mocking snort. She dared to attempt seduction when she was this inexperienced? She was clearly courting the death of her shame; he would kindly do the killing today.

“Nice legs!” Wayne said out loud, launching into a detailed comment about Filomina’s beautiful legs. Her skin was smooth, fair, and bouncy, and the shapes of her legs were slim and shapely yet long and elegant. Under the light, they seemed to glow like a fine piece of art.

He spoke loudly, being as shameless and perverted as possible, even punctuating his comment with a gulp. It didn’t seem like acting at all.

Done with one leg, Wayne rubbed circles into her skin one last time before stopping to let the moment stretch. Tilting his head, he glanced at where the hem of her robe draped over her body.

He let go of that leg and smiled at Filomina. Just when she thought she could catch a break, he suddenly grabbed her other leg and pulled her foot to his chest.

“Ah!” Filomina cried out in shock, her heart racing and her face flushed. Even her breathing had quickened.

“What’s wrong, High Reverend?” Wayne smirked. Rather than applying night cream immediately, he waited for her response.

You sure you’re strong enough to keep going?

He taunted with his gaze.

Oh, you'd better keep going!

Filomina stared back. If she gave up now, all her effort would be for nothing. Moreover, Wayne’s taunt irritated her.

You’re just doing manual labor for me, essentially a tool, servant, and errand boy. What gives you the right to look down on me?

“Softer. You’re hurting me.”

“Oh, is that so? I thought the High Reverend was feeling shy.” Wayne made a face of realization, apologizing for his roughness. “Right. Given your age and your impressive status, you must have seen it all. Of course you wouldn’t be shy when I haven’t done anything.”

He continued to rub cream into her skin. “You should take better care of yourself, High Reverend. Look at your legs. The muscles are as hard as stones. Don’t let the stress of work overwhelm you, or you’ll age quickly.”

Then he rambled on and on about women whose bodies were in shape but deteriorated by stress on the inside; the exhaustion and lifelessness would make the muscles weak and the skin loose and wrinkly. He greatly exaggerated the concerns like a commercial for skincare products.

He could tell how much Filomina cared about her looks. Anything related to aging would be a critical hit against her.

As expected, Filomina immediately fell for it. “You spoke like you knew women well.”

Or it could be her attempt to change the subject and shift her attention from Wayne’s magical hands.

“I do know women very well,” Wayne said confidently, propping her calf with his palm and massaging her stiff muscles. “I’ll even be so bold as to say that if I claim to know women the second best in Londan, no one will dare to claim the first place. You’re free to ask around for confirmation.”

That bad?

Filomina reflexively pulled her leg back. If that was the case, she wasn’t going to play the game.

Wayne tightened his grip around her ankle, raising an eyebrow. “I’m a fashion designer for women’s clothing. Do you know stockings? It’s the best-selling women’s product in Londan. That’s my design.”

Filomina took a moment to respond in surprise, “

You

?”

She knew about stockings. Two days ago, when she was resting in Palis, she had seen the stockings sold under the brand Silvia Valentine. It was love at first sight, but the demand far surpassed the supply, and she couldn’t secure a pair even though she was willing to pay a high price. She was then told that the stockings were imported from the other side of the ocean, the city of Londan in Windsor.

She had planned to buy a few pairs once she reached Londan. Who would’ve thought that she would meet the designer, and he was currently stroking her legs?

“I asked you a question. Stop touching me!”

“Apologies. It feels so good that I get addicted.” Wayne didn’t even try to hide his depraved side. It wasn’t necessary, and he had already touched her plenty. Besides, Filomina wasn’t a first love who warranted the effort to put on an act.

Only earnest feelings would be reciprocated. The woman was after something, so he wasn’t going to treat her with sincerity.

“Go back to stockings. Where did you get the inspiration from? Is there any unreleased product?” Filomina pressed eagerly.

Wayne’s inspiration was a nice pair of legs that he saw on the train. Since those legs belonged to his master, he couldn’t really bring the moment up. He started a different conversation, “There are many products that haven’t entered the market, such as women’s undergarments...”

He glanced at the hem of her bathrobe and snorted. “You’ve got a terrible one on, neither beautiful nor practical. Your fashion sense is lackluster.”

Filomina seethed. After a moment of consideration, she tucked her bathrobe tighter around herself and retorted, “Then bring me your designs. I’ll see how beautiful and practical they are.”

“I can’t!” Wayne shook his head. “The products haven’t officially launched. If the designs are leaked because I show them to you, I’ll have to pay the company a large sum in compensation.”

“So there’s none?” Filomina retorted.

“I don’t have anything new for you, but I do have an old design.” He pulled a pack of stockings out of his pants pocket and opened it, putting the pair on Filomina.

Why do you carry stockings around?

Wayne had obviously come prepared. Filomina was just about to make a comment when she realized how scandalous their posture was. The little pervert was more or less lying on top of her. Her shame overwhelmed her aversion to losing, and she pushed the pervert off to stand up from the sofa.

She smoothed the stockings and twirled around. “How is it? Do I look good?”

The shapes are even better now... Would!

Wayne’s mouth felt parched. He had to admit that Filomina was incredibly captivating with flawless looks and figure. She would stand out even among beautiful women.

“I’m asking you a question. Stop staring!”

Filomina smirked, pleased with his involuntary ogling. She knew it. If she seduced him personally, he would fall head over heels easily.

You’re not his match, Kristen. There’s no role for you to play here.

“You look nice, but the stockings don’t go well with the bathrobe, so the overall effect is compromised. From the perspective of a fashion designer, I suggest you take off the bathrobe,” Wayne said seriously. He was a professional, so she should listen to him.

Filomina rolled her eyes and said irritably, “How about the women’s undergarments you designed? Bring them over tomorrow, or I’ll tell the Ministry of Magic that you haven’t been doing your job of showing me proper hospitality. I only see the lack of respect you have for the Church of Moonlight.”

Damn it, power is too useful!

It was Wayne’s turn to roll his eyes. “Outside of undergarments, I’ve also designed many other garments for different seasons. I’m confident that every piece will set a fashion trend.”

Then bring them!

Filomina was almost drooling at this point, making her even more displeased with his insistence on leaving her hanging.

“I can’t. There are at least three closets' worth of clothes. It’s too much of a hassle to bring everything.”

“Then I’ll head to your place.”

Wayne was speechless. He thought he had overestimated the woman’s obsession with beauty, but it seemed that he had underestimated it.

Realizing that she had shown an unflattering side, Filomina put her poker face back on and said calmly, “Bring ten over every day. As long as you show me enough goodwill, I’ll work with you and refrain from complaining to the Ministry of Magic.”

“One piece every day.”

“Are you trying to buy time?”

“No. But while I have the products, the sizes won’t fit you. The models of the company don’t have legs as long as yours or a waist as slim as yours...” He trailed off, glancing at Filomina’s chest.

In other words, she had such a good figure that they didn’t have anything that would fit her.

Being flattered by a regular person and by a professional were completely different. Filomina was over the moon. She urged Wayne to stop standing around and go back to make the clothes already.

“Are you not keeping me tonight?”

“The clothes are more important,” Filomina said. Wayne was right. The Ministry of Magic would only suspect them if they acted distant; even a child would know that he wouldn’t be able to take it physically if he stayed the night every day.

“Fine. Tomorrow, I’ll bring you one, but I’ll have to measure you.” Wayne rubbed his hands together, apologizing for not bringing a measuring tape. It wouldn’t be a problem, though. As a professional designer, his hands were the most accurate measuring instrument.

Filomina huffed. No mage would need to use their hands to measure anything; their eyes should be keen enough. Wayne was clearly trying to take advantage of her. Still, she didn’t turn him down. She spread her arms without hesitation and told Wayne to hurry.

He was only going to measure her. It wasn’t a big deal since he had seen everything back in Luzerbourg. She would consider this part of the plan.

Five minutes later, Wayne stared at his hands blankly. Just like that? He was once again reminded of how much sway a savior could have on their damsel in distress. No wonder the rich scions in stories always hired street thugs to harass the women they desired. It was too effective.

He would play the hero next time, too!