<Episode 72>

“What if a beast attacks us while we’re out here?”

“Is that something you should be worried about? Shouldn’t it be me instead?”

“Well, that’s true. Elkais, you’d be in more danger, I suppose.”

At Eveline’s words, Elkais couldn’t lift his head, embarrassed. Yet, he couldn’t look away from her either, and seeing him so flustered made Eveline feel strange.

“Is it because of the pheromones?”

“…Yeah.”

Eveline knew he was lying. And that lie gave her a sense of relief.

She was still aware of her reality—the possibility that she might have to kill him.

And that if it came to that, she might prefer to die by his hand instead.

But neither of them could bring themselves to harm the other. So, using the excuse of pheromones, she wanted to keep touching him. When she did, she felt reassured, and his presence brought her a sense of comfort and contentment.

“Elkais.”

“I’m sorry. It was a presumptuous request.”

Eveline sighed softly and leaned into his arms. Elkais held still for a moment, as if time had stopped for him, before he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“It’s because of the pheromones.”

He said it again, but Eveline couldn’t ignore the loud, erratic beating of his heart against her ear. The thumping, like a drum in her head, made her dizzy.

“If you want to bathe together, go fetch some yucca leaves.”

“Is it that plant over there?”

“Uh…? Wasn’t that not there earlier?”

“Was it?”

Elkais tried to recall, but as they had approached the lake, he had spent more time watching Eveline than being mindful of their surroundings. He couldn’t remember noticing it.

“I’m not sure.”

“Oh, I must have been mistaken. If it was there before, it should still be there now.”

Eveline tried to laugh off the strange unease she felt, even as it lingered. Elkais, seeing her smile, cut a yucca leaf with a knife and brought it over.

“I’d like to undress you, Eveline.”

“Shall we undress each other, then?”

“Alright.”

At Eveline’s words, Elkais slowly loosened his embrace. The scent of pheromones from her vibrant red hair and the flush on her face made him swallow hard.

“Ugh…”

He leaned forward, instinctively seeking her lips. Realizing what he was doing, he quickly pulled back.

“Sorry. You’re just so beautiful…”

“It’s alright. Elkais, you’re… very handsome too.”

Saying this only made Eveline blush more.

In the reflection of his crimson eyes, she could see herself making a strange expression.

“If I ever frighten you, tell me right away. I won’t do anything you don’t like.”

“I know, Elkais. I know the kind of person you are.”

She replied, gently stroking his cheek before wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.

However, as their kiss deepened, she pulled away.

“Hah.”

He exhaled a breath of relief, and she chuckled softly.

“You have good self-control. That was a test.”

“Yeah…”

She released her hold on him and moved her hands to his cravat. Her pale fingers carefully fumbled with it, loosening the knot.

For some reason, he found her hands endearing and wanted to nibble them again. When he brought her fingers to his mouth, holding them gently, the expression she made was…

“Ah…”

So intense.

“Does it tickle? Maybe because my pinky touched you.”

“No, it’s because I like it.”

He spoke with a sigh, and Eveline, looking flustered, replied with a soft “oh” before swiftly removing his vest.

She then reached for his shirt. She undid it so quickly that his toned, scarred chest was soon exposed to her eyes.

“You have so many scars.”

“Are they hideous?”

“No.”

To Eveline, the scars felt less like imperfections and more like a testament to his strength. His muscular build and scars suited him well, revealing the warrior within.

She feigned indifference as her hands moved to the waistband of his pants. In response, he hastily shrugged off the clothing hanging from his shoulders.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I meant for you to undress me, but I did it myself.”

He suddenly realized how she might have clung to him as she removed the shirt from his shoulders, and he grimaced, feeling a pang of regret.

“You’re quite impatient, my lord.”

“…Only when I’m with you.”

He said this and then waited patiently for her touch.

Eveline paused, her hands resting on his belt.

“Why are you hesitating?”

“I can’t undress this part,” Eveline said, her cheeks flushed.

Elkais let out a sudden laugh, and Eveline shot him a strange look, her face even more flushed.

“I’ll take off my pants myself.”

“Okay.”

Eveline turned her back to him as she spoke.

“May I undress you first?”

“Alright…”

Eveline kept her back turned. She was too embarrassed to face him while undressing.

“If you don’t like it, just say so. I won’t do anything you don’t want, Eveline,” he reassured her gently, wrapping his arms around her shoulders before slowly touching her negligee.

She felt the soft tickle as the straps of her negligee slipped loose.

She could hear his breathing close to her ear, his heartbeat heavy against her back, and the solid pressure of his chest against her shoulder blades made her tense up.

“I’ll have to lift this over your head. Is that okay?”

“Yes…”

With her permission, Elkais pulled the negligee over her head, revealing her slip and briefs beneath.

He moved his hands near her stomach, intending to remove her slip. He found her sensitivity to his touch endearing, and he couldn’t help but sigh in appreciation.

“It’s ticklish…”

“Your belly is just so adorable.”

Elkais gently stroked her soft belly with his palm, marveling at how her skin yielded under his touch, his hand almost encompassing her small frame.

And it was so soft.

“Hey…! That’s my belly button!”

“Even your belly button is cute, Eveline.”

He pressed his thumb against her belly button, causing Eveline to squirm in surprise. He tightened his hold, lifting her feet off the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“I thought you were trying to run away.”

“You said you wouldn’t do anything I didn’t want.”

“This wasn’t on purpose.”

“I know.”

As she caught her breath and spoke, he gently set her back down, then finished removing her slip. She could feel the bare skin of his chest more acutely now.

“Elkais, undress the rest of the way too. I don’t want to be the only one stripped down.”

“Alright.”

He took a step back and removed the rest of his clothes. Eveline, still turned away from him, could only see his shadow, which made her even more nervous.

When he approached again, clearly finished, she quickly shed her briefs and the holster with her gun, diving into the water.

“Ah…! It’s cold.”

The chill of the water felt like it was biting into her skin, even though it was summer.

“Jumping into cold water suddenly can be dangerous.”

He followed her into the water.

Eveline’s hair draped over her chest, but she still felt self-conscious.

“I want to wash you, Eveline.”

“Okay.”

She kept her eyes down, trying not to look at anything she shouldn’t, but in doing so, she accidentally caught a glimpse of something she shouldn’t have. She quickly shifted her gaze upward, only to meet his damp, shining eyes, leaving her unsure where to look.

“Elkais, are you embarrassed too?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure the attendants have seen you like this plenty of times.”

“They’ve never seen me completely undressed.”

“Oh.”

The contrast between her experiences and his made Eveline feel strange. She had been undressed in front of maids before, but this felt different.

It had been embarrassing then too, but not like this.

“Eveline,”

He gently clasped her hand and drew her closer. His hand seemed larger than ever that day.

“Ah…”

She closed her eyes tightly as he cupped her cheek and leaned in closer. But when their lips didn’t meet, she slowly opened her eyes.

“Elkais?”

“I won’t do anything that worries you. To me, you’re really…”

“…”

“Really precious, Eveline.”

He released his hold on her cheek as he spoke.

The water, reaching up to their waists, rippled gently with his movements, creating small waves that touched her chest, making her feel even more strange.

“Wash me, then.”

“…Alright.”

With that, he cupped water in his hands and let it flow over her head.

“Ah…!”

The sudden chill made Eveline yelp in surprise.

For some reason, Elkais seemed to take enjoyment from her reaction to the cold, which made her feel a bit annoyed.

“Aren’t you cold, Elkais?”

“I am. But right now, it feels a bit warm.”

He poured more water over her head.

“Ah…!”

Eveline shivered from the chill, hearing him chuckle again.

So, she decided to do the same, scooping water with her hands and aiming for his head.

“What are you doing?”

“Bend down a bit.”

“Alright.”

The height difference between them meant that even when she stretched up, she couldn’t quite reach his head. So, she asked him to lower himself.

As Eveline moved to pour water over his head, a mischievous thought crossed her mind.

“Eveline?”

Splash!

She shoved him, making him fall into the water. But as Elkais reached out, grabbing her shoulder, she fell in with him.

“Kyaa! It’s so cold!”

As Eveline floundered, startled by the cold, Elkais laughed and pulled her into a tighter embrace.