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Their conversation came to a smooth conclusion. It was only natural. One side had simply fled out of fear, while the other was in such a desperate situation that they couldn’t even consider the other’s circumstances.
After untangling the knotted thread of events, Rohan emerged from the room with Leriana, who wore a relieved expression.
“…You seem to be in a good mood?”
Rohan encountered Arpel, who had a peculiar atmosphere about him.
Although his face was as expressionless as usual, Rohan couldn’t help but notice a subtle hint of excitement. He couldn’t miss it. The countless hours they had spent together provided the answer.
“Yes.”
“…”
Even so, such a docile response was not common. Momentarily at a loss for words, Rohan quietly shifted his gaze. More precisely, he looked towards Casia, who had been alone with Arpel until just now.
His eyes narrowed as if trying to gauge what had happened here, but this didn’t provide much help to Rohan.
“…Sia? What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing…”
The situation on this side was equally strange. Leriana approached Casia and nudged her as she asked, but only received a dazed response.
Eventually, Rohan had to withdraw his gaze from Casia. He sensed that there was nothing to be gained at the moment, but… it was also to focus on Arpel, who had gently taken his hand from the opposite side.
“Hey, Rohan.”
He had the illusion that the eyes meeting his were sparkling. No, was it really an illusion? As he slowly took a breath and nodded, Arpel…
“Can you tell me you love me?”
…said something unexpected with an utterly indifferent face.
…Strange. It was indeed strange. It was something Rohan never imagined would come out of Arpel’s mouth, to the point where he wondered if he was dreaming.
Rohan could only blink stupidly for a while. After opening and closing his mouth several times, he finally managed to string some words together. With his mind still unable to fully grasp the situation, it was almost instinctive.
“…I love you.”
A bright smile immediately bloomed on Arpel’s face. As if he was immensely satisfied with obtaining the desired answer. The excitement Rohan had sensed when he first opened the door seemed to seep through occasionally. Naturally, Rohan’s gaze followed him, entranced. It was inevitable.
By this point, the will to delve into the reasons gradually faded. The one he loved dearly not only asked to be loved but also smiled brightly upon hearing the answer. Rohan didn’t have the confidence to be the type of person who would question the reasons while facing that expression.
Once again, Arpel’s lips parted. Just as Rohan found himself unconsciously anticipating the response and silently chuckled…
“How about a kiss?”
“Arpel!”
The two voices overlapped.
It felt as if the dreamlike, distant state of mind had suddenly crashed to the ground. Rohan, who had blinked a couple of times in silence, turned his head. Leriana, who had been talking with Casia far away as if she had business with Arpel, had suddenly approached right in front of them.
…Did she hear? He quickly scanned her face. Since their words overlapped exactly, she might not have heard.
As if trampling on such hopes, her face grew redder as time passed. It was such a stark change that it was impossible to ignore.
Arpel, who had turned to look at Leriana upon hearing her call his name, also witnessed this change.
“Leriana. Why…”
He was as calm as if it were unbelievable that he was the one who had just demanded a ‘kiss’ in front of everyone. He seemed unconcerned despite being the direct cause of her blushing.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he didn’t understand. Seeing as he was about to ask why she had called him.
Arpel’s question wasn’t fully delivered. The phrase “Leriana, why did you call me?” was cut short at “Why…”.
“No! It’s fine!”
It was because Leriana interrupted with a shout. With even her panting breath mixed in, Arpel could only blink in bewilderment. Before he could say anything, her words began to flow endlessly.
“Go ahead! Do as you please!!”
You can do something more intense, for as long as you want!!!
Her voice poured out, resolute to the point of being intense. With each word, her voice gradually grew louder as if emphasizing, while conversely, Leriana’s body slowly moved away.
It was only natural. Even at this moment, she was openly retreating one step, two steps at a time. Rohan didn’t hide his perplexed expression as he watched her gradually move away.
After safely finishing her last words, Leriana fled… only to return. She came back to retrieve Casia, who had frozen in place, unable to adapt to the scene unfolding before her eyes.
“I won’t interrupt~!”
The small figure that had quickly risen on tiptoes disappeared in an instant. Rohan couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched Leriana, who managed to wink at him one last time despite her reddened face. She sure had the nerve to tease while being so flustered.
With Leriana dragging Casia away, naturally, only Rohan and Arpel were left in the corridor. Arpel was the first to speak.
“We even got permission.”
“Haha.”
The moment he heard Arpel’s words, laughter flowed out helplessly. It might be called permission, but in reality, it was no different from a whisper urging them to kiss quickly.
Strangely excited, seemingly happy, more proactive… There were more than a few inexplicable things, but Rohan decided to simply accept it. Even this aspect was undeniably lovable.
He slowly reached out towards him. The work wasn’t all finished yet. They needed to visit the Nephia clergy, return to the mercenary guild again… The remaining tasks sprouted in his mind like bamboo shoots, but that was all.
‘If she encouraged it, she’ll surely take responsibility.’
Rohan unhesitatingly shifted the responsibility to Leriana.
Finally, Rohan’s hand touched Arpel’s cheek, gently tapping it. His murmuring voice was as gentle as a lullaby.
“You should close your eyes.”
The eyes resembling amethysts obediently disappeared from view. While strangely flushed, this passive attitude remained unchanged. Feeling like the corners of his mouth might twitch, instead of kissing him right away, Rohan fiddled with his lips using his thumb.
Every time his hand touched, a slight tremor ran through the jet-black eyelashes. It looked as if he was nervous, which felt subtly cute.
“…Hurry.”
The hand play that seemed to be ending but wasn’t, finally came to an end with a grumpy voice that leaked out. Rohan, who almost burst into laughter, managed to hold it back and only kissed him after taking a deep breath…
But he couldn’t hide the twitching corners of his mouth. Perhaps feeling it through the lips that were still only touching on the surface, Arpel’s eyes were already half-open. The moment their gazes met, Rohan smiled provocatively and tilted his head slightly.
Their lips fit together a little more snugly. As soon as he felt the hand gently cupping the back of his head, Arpel obediently parted his lips and unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut at the tongue that immediately pushed in.
Something so hot it felt like it might burn familiarly stirred inside his mouth. The heat that had been tickling around his stomach suddenly shot up to the top of his head.
Whether his body was pushed back, or if he unconsciously retreated, unable to withstand the sensations pouring down… When he came to his senses, his back was against the wall. His mind was hazy. The only thing he could recognize was that this moment felt quite stimulating.
Arpel’s hands gripping Rohan’s shoulders tightened. It was a desperate touch, as if not wanting to let go.
“…Hm.”
Strangely, he felt out of breath even though he didn’t need to breathe regularly. It was an experience he went through every time they kissed. Rohan, who seemed to sense this state with uncanny accuracy, briefly created a gap, and a faint breath resembling a moan escaped between Arpel’s lips.
Even in the midst of this, the hands embracing Rohan didn’t let go. The will to not want to end it like this was clear.
“Ah.”
Feeling Arpel’s touch, Rohan let out a small sigh. Soon, his face was filled with the deepest satisfaction. Whatever the reason, he couldn’t be more pleased with the desire Arpel was showing without hiding it.
The corners of his mouth, still tingling with residual heat, curved into a gentle arc. It was that smile that often captivated Arpel’s gaze.
***
“Leriana.”
“Arpel!”
Leriana quickly raised her head at the voice of the person she had been waiting for. The person with the same calm face as when she had hurriedly left earlier was there. And… she had to struggle to keep her gaze from darting towards his lips.
Even though she had carefully avoided looking, she felt as if she could see his slightly swollen lips right in front of her eyes. Why? Why indeed. She asked and answered herself internally. Rohan’s face appeared on the fluffy clouds forming in her mind.
With this, Leriana learned a new fact. Even a demon sword doesn’t heal wounds(?) immediately. Her eyes momentarily clouded, but she shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off unnecessary thoughts.
The reason she wanted to meet Arpel wasn’t for such trivial musings. So… she wanted to say things to Arpel that she hadn’t been able to say until now.
“You know, Arpel.”
She took a slow, deep breath. Looking at his unchanged expression somehow eased her tension a bit. He was such a constant presence. That’s why she liked him more, and that’s why…
“I’m really… sorry.”
She was sorry.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
