Beast Castle

“Episode 48”

Clothar, who thought he was clearing empty plates, was standing there. His gaze was icy cold as he stared.

“What are you thinking?”

“Huh? I wasn’t thinking about anything.”

“I called you several times.”

Did he? Ray felt guilty for unintentionally ignoring him.

“Sorry. I feel a bit sluggish after eating.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.”

He reached his finger to Ray’s neck. The coldness of his nails pressed against Ray’s delicate skin. Shuddering at the chilly sensation, Ray buried himself under the blanket.

“Not feeling unwell,” he said.

“The progress is fast…”

Progress? When Ray looked up with a puzzled expression, Clothar took out a bottle from his pocket. Ray had never heard any explanation about this medicine, which she never missed taking for even a single day.

Once she asked if it was medicine for her health as she passed by, and he just laughed and said it was something similar. At first, she felt hesitant, but as time went on, she didn’t think much of it. Ray was too lazy to bother about anything. Since there was nothing wrong with her body, suspecting the medicine was the same as suspecting him. She decided not to think about it anymore.

As she opened the lid of the medicine without hesitation, a faint smell entered Ray’s nostrils. Compared to the bland taste she first experienced, the medicine now brought an unbearable sweetness as she continued to swallow it. Now, Ray was even eager to regain her lost appetite.

However, Clothar always gave her the medicine after every meal. Ray, who found waiting difficult, would sleep until the next mealtime, and when she woke up, the meal and medicine were neatly prepared.

“Clothar, I’m thirsty.”

“Cold?”

“Yeah.”

Clothar turned away without seeing her swallow the medicine. Ray had complete trust in him when it came to the medicine.

Ray managed to roll her tongue.

“I’ll make sure you’re not lonely.”

“Really?”

Clothar smiled as if he found it amusing rather than touching. Then he reached out towards the window. “Then you should drink it.”

The pillow where Ray had hidden the medicine wriggled. As it trembled, the medicine bottle emerged. Rolling out with a clatter, the medicine bottle flew through the air like a tamed bird.

Seeing the medicine bottle in his hand, Ray bit her lip. She had known from the beginning.

“I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

Ray desperately grabbed Clothar’s hand. “I just…”

She couldn’t bring herself to voice it. She didn’t want to be misunderstood as having a mental illness on top of being a busy wife who ate and slept. What excuse would be good? Anxiously searching for an explanation, Ray was led by the comforting embrace of Clothar’s arms.

“You didn’t want to eat it?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s delicious. And it’s for my health…”

Ray nestled into Clothar’s neck and nuzzled him. A sweet scent emanated from him. It was so tempting that she wanted to inhale it all. Even though it wasn’t the right time, Ray swallowed her saliva incessantly.

“Hmm.”

Ray felt Clothar’s hand sweep down her back. Her body, which had become more sensitive recently, relaxed just by his touch. Nothing mattered except for his fingers near her ears.

“Yeah… hmm.”

After a while, Clothar told her to take the medicine and gently pushed Ray onto the bed. Her mind, which had been so tangled just a moment ago, turned blank as if covered in snow. She wouldn’t remember anything, as if she wouldn’t be able to think of anything.

And thus, in the end, only one person would remain.