An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge - Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Punishing the voyeur knight [2]**

Arthur didn’t respond right away. He just held her there, letting the silence stretch between them, making her feel how utterly powerless she was.

Then, in a tone that left no room for disobedience, he murmured, “Keep your hands down.”

Althea hesitated—but only for a moment.

Slowly, trembling, she placed her palms back onto the bed, fingers curling into the sheets. Fresh tears welled in her eyes.

Maybe she deserved this.

Althea placed her trembling fingertips back on the sheets, fresh tears clinging to her lashes. Shame burned through her, but a deeper part of her whispered that maybe—just maybe—she deserved this.

Arthur smirked, taking his time as he hooked his thumbs into her waistband and peeled the black satin down, inch by inch. The smooth fabric slid over her thighs, pooling at her knees, leaving her completely exposed. He hummed in appreciation, his eyes drinking in the sight of her bare, flushed skin.

“You’re playing a real dangerous game, here.”

Althea bit her lip, her breath hitching as she instinctively lifted her hips to help him strip her. The realization made her stomach twist. Why did I just do that?

She felt the weight of his gaze, the heat of it crawling up her spine. Her body tensed, shifting involuntarily as though she could somehow escape his scrutiny.

“Game?” she whispered, voice unsteady.

Arthur didn’t answer. Instead, his hand drew back—

SMACK!

The sharp crack of skin meeting skin echoed through the room.

Althea jolted, her body jerking forward, but Arthur’s grip kept her firmly in place.

Again.

And again.

Each merciless strike sent a fresh jolt of heat surging through her, painting her pale cheeks a deeper shade of red.

Arthur watched, utterly enthralled, as the soft flesh of her ass bounced beneath his palm, the sting of his strikes spreading into a delicious, simmering burn.

“I’m surprised,” he mused, his tone laced with amusement. “For someone so proud, you sure adapt quickly.”

Althea clenched her jaw, swallowing down the pathetic sound that threatened to escape her lips. The punishment was working—her ass throbbed with every slap, the heat sinking deep into her skin.

But that wasn’t the problem.

The problem was the other ache building between her legs.

Her breath came in shallow, ragged pants. She squeezed her thighs together, desperate to will away the shameful wetness gathering there.

This isn’t happening.

Arthur is punishing me.

So why the hell am I getting off on it?

Arthur flexed his fingers, shaking out the sting in his palm, and for a moment, silence filled the room.

Althea exhaled shakily, relief washing over her as she reached back, fingertips grazing her burning skin—

Only for Arthur to swat her hand away with a sharp tsk.

“Not so fast.”

She stiffened as he adjusted his position, his body shifting above hers.

And that’s when he caught it.

That unmistakable scent.

Arthur froze for a beat, inhaling deeply, and a slow, wicked grin curled at his lips.

Subtle at first, but unmistakable.

His movements stilled. His brain clicked into a primal mode, instincts sharpening like a predator catching the scent of wounded prey.

Perhaps, under normal circumstances, he would have been amused. But this?

After being cockblocked by her?

After spending the last hour dealing with distractions while he was already on edge?

This was just fuel to the fire.

A slow smirk spread across his face. “Tell me,” Arthur drawled, his voice dark with satisfaction. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”

Althea tensed. Her fingers curled into the sheets, her body caught in a war between fight and surrender.

“It’s not like tha—”

SMACK!

The sharp slap cut off her stalling, making her jolt forward with a gasp.

Arthur chuckled, running his palm over the heat blooming on her skin. “Have you ever been touched by a man before? Or by anyone at all?”

Althea swallowed hard. She could feel her heart hammering against her ribs. “N-No… sir… I haven’t been touched by anyone,” she stammered, voice barely above a whisper.

That answer made something in Arthur snap.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

The rapid-fire blows sent fresh waves of pain rolling through her. Althea whimpered, her breath coming out in short, shaky gasps.

Arthur tilted his head, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. “Then you must be quite frustrated.”

Althea bit her lip, her resolve crumbling under his relentless interrogation. Then, before she could stop herself—

“Yes!” she blurted out. “I always felt jealous watching couples make out… but at least I wasn’t alone. The Saintess was with me. But then… she found someone too.”

Arthur’s eyebrows rose slightly. So that’s it. The ever-proud, self-righteous knight was hiding a pit of loneliness under that hard exterior.

“I see.”

Althea barely had time to process his reaction before his palm struck again, his punishment resuming with white-hot fury.

She groaned, her body twitching with every impact. The stinging pain on her ass mingled with the low, burning ache pooling between her thighs.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Her fingers clutched at the sheets, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

The worst part?

She didn’t hate it.

If anything, she could feel her body responding in ways that made her want to crawl into a hole and never come out.

Am I a masochist or something?

It was the only logical explanation.

Either that…

Or she had completely lost her mind.

Arthur observed her carefully.

Every strike had left a mark—pink splotches blooming across her pale skin, heat radiating beneath his palm. Yet, despite the obvious pain, she did something unexpected.

She pushed her hips up.

As if begging for more.

Arthur stilled, letting his palm settle against her burning flesh, idly rubbing slow, teasing circles.

Althea tensed, trying to suppress a whimper at the unexpected gentleness. The contrast between the sting and his soothing touch was unbearable.

She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip, refusing to acknowledge the effect he had on her. But then—

A ragged exhale slipped from her lips.

Arthur smirked. “Had enough yet, Hart?”

Althea’s eyes flickered open. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “Yes, Sir?”

Arthur arched a brow. “You don’t sound very sure.” His fingers traced over the welts he had left. Soft. Supple. Responsive.

Althea hesitated. Is this a trick?

Arthur’s smirk deepened. “Perhaps we’re not finished here.”

Her breath caught. She couldn’t read his game. “I guess that’s up to you.”

Arthur let out a low chuckle, dragging his nails lightly down her skin, feeling her twitch beneath him. “I have to wonder… how much of a punishment this truly is for you. You do realize you’re not supposed to enjoy this, right?”

Althea stiffened. “I’m not!” she blurted, far too quickly.

Arthur tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. “Don’t lie to me.”

Althea opened her mouth, but—

“Unless my sense of smell deceives me, you’ve been enjoying this quite a bit.”

Her entire body seized.

Oh, fuck.

She hadn’t even considered that.

Heat surged up her neck. She felt it burn in her cheeks, her ears. What the hell is he, part bloodhound?!

Arthur let the silence stretch between them, reveling in her torment.

“Ah, yes,” he mused. “I can see those little gears turning in your head. Scrambling for an excuse. A way to justify what your body has already given away.”

Althea’s fingers curled into the sheets, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please…”

Arthur leaned in. Close enough for his breath to tickle her ear.

“How about you answer me honestly, just once?”

His tone dipped lower, richer, dripping with amusement.

“Have you enjoyed being across my knee?”

Althea swallowed hard, every muscle in her body screaming in protest.

But the truth clawed its way out.

A whisper.

A confession.

“Yes.”