Chapter 11
A silence descended.
Benya didn't respond. He simply stared at me; his captivating sky-blue eyes fixed in a vacant gaze.
Like the time we lay in that dark, dusty library one day, and he gazed into my eyes with such a melancholic expression.
No matter what anyone says, he remained that boy from back then in my eyes, the one who was much weaker and frailer than the man he is now.
He was that boy who managed to make me laugh even in moments of despair and frustration, who fearlessly confronted adults much bigger than him to protect me.
Though those days irreparably scarred our souls, even if they left us with the enduring ache of losing someone dear to us...
Inside the tower, I found the fated connection I had dreamt of for so long. The eternal soulmate I had been searching for since the beginning of my previous life.
Meeting his gaze, I smiled brightly and spoke from the depths of my heart.
“I love you, Benya. Regardless of whoever or whatever you are, I have no regrets about knowing you.”
Silence enveloped us, and only silence continued to ensue.
Benya appeared frozen, incapable of uttering a word, making me feel a touch of awkwardness.
No, when I confess like this, shouldn't there be some kind of reaction? Could it be that he doesn't trust my feelings? Say something, snake eyes!
Finally, a mix of embarrassment and frustration prompted me to scratch my head and shift my body slightly.
“Well, it's my own perspective, but…”
At that moment, the guy who had been as rigid as a statue abruptly grabbed my shoulder and pulled me closer. And then...
"Is that true...?”
"What do you mean?"
“Is what you said about your feelings for me genuine? Is it sincere, regardless of who I am?”
This cheeky guy!
Needless to say, I shot him a glare that could have killed him if it could at that instant.
However, the earnestness in his eyes as he looked at me with a touch of nervousness while gripping my shoulder was so palpable, so desperate, that I managed to smile at him while reigning in my temper.
“You always said you believed in me. Would you believe me if I said that even after knowing you for all these years, I still miss you as much as ever? What if I admitted that during my days in the hotel's office, struggling with those mind-numbing numbers, I secretly hoped to see you appear like you used to? And when I'm drifting off to sleep, don’t you think that maybe I'm secretly listening for your return? Would you believe me if I confessed that my heart races every time I hear your voice on the way to the dining room in the morning, otherwise I'm on the verge of tears?”
“…”
“The only place I ever want to be is right beside you, whether it's in hell or heaven.”
After revealing my feelings in such an explicit manner, if he still questioned the authenticity of my words… I am feeling a knife-sharp frustration inside me intensify.
Meeting his gaze head-on, my gaze piercing, his light blue eyes widened like ripples on a pond. Slowly, a bright smile formed on his lips—a sweet, melancholic smile that seemed to care little for the world.
“... Me too. I feel the same way.”
Relief flooded over me. Unable to contain my laughter, I grasped Benya's shoulder and buried my face in it. His rough hands tenderly brushed my hair.
A shiver shot down my spine as his warm lips pressed gently against my forehead, leaving behind a searing sensation. And then...
What happened next? My head tilted back.
It was impossible to determine who initiated the kiss or whose tongue darted forward first.
What was certain was that when I regained my senses, we were locked in a passionate embrace, kissing each other as if we were starved, growing more and more intense as we surrendered to the moment.
At one point, my legs instinctively wrapped tightly around his waist as he lifted me up.
I couldn't recall when or how I ended up on the bed, completely overtaken by an irresistible passion.
There, we shared an experience that would remain etched in our memories until the end of our days. It was likely the kind of first experience most people hope for.
We reverted to our childhood selves, playfully undoing each other's buttons and knots one by one, giggling as if engaged in an amusing game of house.
Before I could fully remove my dress, Benya pulled the straps of my corselet and expertly untied it. A refreshing sensation of liberation spread across my tight chest and abdomen.
“You're not exactly an expert at this.”
“Should I have practiced beforehand?”
The mischievous glint in his eyes lingered as he momentarily focused on my exposed chest.
With audacity, he reached out his hand and cupped it, skillfully manipulating my nipples with his fingers, almost as if giving them a massage. My nipples quickly responded, hardening under his touch.
"Haaa…”
I clung tightly to his head as Benya buried his face in my chest, treating my nipples with a gentleness akin to nurturing.
His warm, moist tongue tantalized my throbbing, sensitive nipples, drawing them into his mouth. A pleasurable shiver ran down my spine, causing my head to tilt back in delight.
The sensation was a peculiar blend of strangeness, novelty, and intimacy... It was as if I could cry from the intensity of the experience, yet all I could do was laugh.
My hand affectionately caressed this silver-haired man. I wanted to offer him my heart in this manner for the rest of my life if he so wished.
Finally, Benya raised his head, overflowing with a stream of compliments like, "Do you realize how much you resemble a goddess?" In the midst of it all, it was humorous to observe the fervor in his eyes.
I giggled and playfully tugged at his half-unbuttoned shirt, evoking a sigh from him as his shifting muscles were revealed.
Correspondingly, sighs escaped me as I traced my fingers over these rippling, sculpted muscles. I yearned to touch those abs someday, but for now!
“You're the one who's truly irresistible…”
“No, that would be you.”
His muscular bare chest pressed against mine, and at that very instant, a firm, eager sensation grazed my lower abdomen.
Our breathing quickened and became tremulous, mirroring the heightened tension between us. The symphony of our heartbeats intertwined and harmonized.
Our gazes were locked, saying more than words ever could. There was no need for further conversation.
Tentatively, I reached out and grasped the impressive presence between his legs, eliciting a smile from me.
Before long, a calloused hand ventured between my legs. My underwear was discarded.
As his substantial fingers navigated through my soft curls and intimate folds, stroking my entrance, an electric thrill coursed through me, prompting me to bite his shoulder in an exhilarating jolt.
My nether regions were tingling with sensation, and I couldn't help but feel a persistent urge to release.
Benya gradually delved deeper, his ardor marked by fervent kisses on my face, neck, and chest.
It was the first time for both of us and although there was a certain clumsiness and discomfort, the overwhelming happiness and ecstasy drowned out any lingering pain.
At that moment, the memories of the bell tower and everyone else faded into insignificance.
Had this been our original dynamic?
Had we discovered the untamed ecstasy that seemed to be reserved solely for us, indulging tirelessly throughout the night, as if we had been alone from the very beginning?
* * *
"Wendy!"
"Arf arf arf!"
The crisp morning air caressed my cheeks as I stepped out onto the patio to enjoy the sight of the slowly brightening yard.
There, a golden puppy romped around, grazing on the exquisite grass. It was being followed by a figure that seemed to be a mix of bear, human, and dog.
“… Oh?"
“S-Sasha?”
A brief silence settled over us.
Alfonsina, looking a bit like me, stood there with a slightly dazed expression, and Lethias, who had seemingly devoted his morning to the dogs, rushed over and started speaking without much preamble.
“Oh, Sasha, don't misunderstand. Alsie got pretty drunk last night. If she had gone home in that state, the Count would've been quite upset…”
“T-that's right. I was too drunk to go home... My grandmother is at home... I thought it would be okay to stay at my friend's place for the night since Sasha is my friend…”
“Yes, you two are friends, hahaha. Sasha, I'm grateful to have you…”
What on earth were they talking about?Since when has this been my place? And why were their faces turning such vivid shades of red?
It seemed like we weren't the only couple who experienced something eventful last night...
I turned my head slightly, coughing to mask my awkwardness. My face, too, was surely a shade of red.
The two engaged lovebirds, interpreting my reaction as they saw fit, blushed even deeper and cleared their throats.
“S-Sasha. Please don't get the wrong idea...”
“Ahem, yes, I don't misunderstand. If she's not feeling well, she's welcome to stay at her fiancé's place. After all, she'll be the Madame of the house soon enough, won't she? Isn't that right, Oppa?"
“Oh, absolutely, you always say the right things, hahaha!”
As the three of us exchanged awkward laughter, the Chief Aide, looking rather frazzled and disheveled, blinked rapidly as if he were suddenly hit by a flash of insight.
His mouth, with its scruffy beard, twisted into an agitated expression, and a mutter of disapproval slipped out.
“Someone around here is being exploited as a workforce and can't even catch a break to a date…”
"Hmm? What did you say?"
“… Miss Sasha, hear me out. Do you have any idea how much effort I had to put in last night to prevent His Excellency from surreptitiously downing a whole bottle of whiskey I don't even know where he got it from?”
“Oh my goodness, what?"
“No, w-wait, when did I do that?! Where are you getting this from?! I was just planning on having a single drink, not finishing a whole bottle?!”
“What's the difference between a glass and a bottle?! After witnessing Prince Parke going wild...”
“How can you compare me to him?! I was merely trying to boost my spirits a bit, to muster up some courage…”
Ah, is that what he meant? What kind of courage was he trying to muster that he was willing to break his hard-earned sobriety streak?
My word, it might be All Saint’s Day, but the happenings didn't seem all that saintly...
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