25 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition)
Chapter 25
"What are you talking about? Lemon? Where?"
"Where else? Inside a woman's body. They say they inserted it because it's a troublesome matter if just anyone gets pregnant."
"Wow, that's truly shocking..."
"But it seems to be effective. If not, the Valdemara family would be overflowing with illegitimate children by now. Rumors of them being wild circulate, but there are no rumors of illegitimate children, right?"
The students, who were of a certain age, briefly discussed Achenaus's promiscuous private life as well. However, before a few words could be exchanged, the focus of their interest shifted back to Ezekiel. It was natural for them to feel interest and favor towards Ezekiel, who had saved them, rather than Achenaus, whom they had never seen and about whom many unpleasant rumors circulated.
"So? Does Ezekiel feel the same way?"
"How would we know? But I... I've never thought like this before, but after seeing him. Honestly, if he ever wanted me just once, I think I'd just close my eyes and go along with it. And what's wrong with sleeping with a man as handsome and accomplished as him when the opportunity arises? He's a man I could never dream of marrying anyway, so I'd rather experience him for one night and live off that memory for the rest of my life."
"Look at her talk! She's crazy, crazy."
"Why? I agree. A man like that should spread his lineage widely for the sake of future generations. Is there really no way to get a job at the Valdemara mansion?"
"Hmm. But doesn't a large mansion like Valdemara have dozens of staff? How beautiful do you have to be to stand out among them all?"
"Wouldn't someone like that be possible?"
The students, who had been chattering away gathered in their dormitory room, suddenly pointed to Rose, who was sitting alone at her desk studying.
Rose looked up in surprise.
"What's the point? She's not interested at all. She gets really shy when men are mentioned. Look, she's still diligently studying alone."
"Exactly. If I had that face, I would have run out the school gate that very day. Who knows? Maybe he'd fall for me at first sight."
"How can the pages of a book be turning in the midst of all this?"
A playful scolding was directed at Rose, who wasn't joining the conversation.
Rose hesitated for a moment before slowly closing her book. She had opened it because she felt awkward being caught up in the younger girls' excitement, but her efforts to concentrate were in vain; she hadn't solved a single problem since the man's name was seriously mentioned.
Moreover, Ezekiel of the Valdemara family—he was someone she couldn't even dare to look at.
She had often heard people say she was pretty and attractive, so she thought she wasn't bad-looking, but she was merely a frog in a well, having never ventured beyond her familiar neighborhood or school. Rose knew her place very well. She wasn't like the legendary beauties of history whose beauty alone elevated their status and changed their lives.
Furthermore, in terms of rarity, Ezekiel, who was young, handsome, and possessed status, reputation, and wealth, was far rarer than her, who had neither money nor status. A man who lacked nothing would meet a woman who lacked nothing.
Rose smiled awkwardly and made an excuse.
"It's not like something so absurd would ever happen to me."
"We all know that. But this is just imagination. What's wrong with it? Does imagining cost money, or will someone arrest you for committing a crime?"
"Right. When else will we get to feel excited if not for opportunities like this? It's called a school, but our lives are no different from a convent."
"Don't you feel anything after seeing him? Doesn't your heart race, don't you want to kiss him?"
...She couldn't deny it.
Her heart had surely raced. She had surely imagined kissing him. She had surely wondered, with envy, what kind of woman would discuss marriage with such a man. And then, she had surely regretted her own humble status.
"Choose. Will three people die, or will one person die?"
That was before even imagination became a sin, before she started censoring herself.
Rose lowered her eyes and gently traced her lips. She could still feel his warmth lingering on the flesh of her slightly swollen lower lip.
The inside of her lips was not a place easily brushed against by accident, like hands or shoulders. The moment his lips touched her tender, secret inner lips, and his different body heat and texture seeped in...
Her chest trembled.
It was hot and distant.
It felt like melting, like burning, like a fantasy impossibly far away, and like her heart was aching.
The man, who seemed to be tasting her by gently touching the surface of her lips, slipped through the slightly parted gap. He seemed to want to swallow her whole, drawing all her breath away. She didn't even have time to worry about her own awkwardness. Compared to his persistent tongue, which tangled and licked, her breathing was shallow, barely gasping for air.
She felt the heat from his breath. His tongue, exploring inside her, was also hot. Only then did she reconsider his condition.
She had almost forgotten. He was still a patient who needed recovery.
She quickly patted his shoulder and whispered, "Major, you don't seem to have recovered. You still have a fever..."
At her worried voice, he chuckled and replied, "It's probably not a fever that arose from that."
He seemed to give her a moment to breathe, but then he pressed his lips against hers again, wetly.
Was this what kissing was like?
Was this such a deep and sticky communion? It was completely different from what she had vaguely imagined. It felt like standing in the middle of a raging storm. Her mind was clouded by the deep immersion.
She had no way to control the moans that kept escaping. It seemed he was in a similar state. His low breaths tickled her ears.
She had never thought she would kiss someone, and even less that the person would be him. It was overwhelming, but even that overwhelming feeling was so sweet.
Perhaps that was why.
The realization came suddenly. The stern reproach of her conscience touched her ears.
Snap out of it. Don't forget what you've done.
It was a fleeting moment. She felt her blood turn cold. Her heart plummeted. It would have been better if it were an emotion that could be easily divided into 'good' or 'bad.' A chilling self-reproach cut deep into her heart.
She couldn't find her footing. She couldn't accept that she had found it sweet. She pulled away belatedly, trying to distance herself. But the hand that had been supporting the back of her head didn't allow even the slightest deviation.
"Don't run away."
It was just one sentence. Compared to his usual tone when addressing other employees, it wasn't a strong command. Or perhaps, it was surprisingly gentle...
But for Rose, all his words were commands. They were chains etched by guilt. If he wanted it, she had no right to refuse.
So, she complied as she heard. She carefully opened her lips, allowing him to take her tender inner flesh to his heart's content.
He rubbed, massaged, and sucked her lips for a long time. As her senses blurred with the chaotic sensations, she desperately tried to recall memories to maintain a clear consciousness. When she was finally released, her lips were so numb that it was difficult to touch them.
Rose lowered the hand that had been caressing her lips.
It felt like stepping into a bottomless swamp, even though she knew it was one.
Although there were a few difficult moments, he gradually improved. The day the bedroom door, which had been firmly shut, finally opened, and Rose conveyed Ezekiel's request for bathwater to the outside, Madam Serva even teared up.
"You've been through a lot, Rose."
"He hasn't fully recovered yet. He still has a fever, and he could suddenly worsen again, so he needs more rest. Major doesn't think it's time to contact Doctor Briman yet."
Ezekiel didn't reveal his minor ailments unless they were outwardly apparent. He was a man accustomed to enduring considerable hardship. Therefore, Rose could only observe him closely and guess his condition. In her view, symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and tinnitus seemed to persist. However, compared to the severe withdrawal symptoms, this was minor enough that he was likely ignoring it. It was hard to tell if it was fortunate or unfortunate that he was accustomed to pain and discomfort.
"Still, it's something that he's endured this far. Every time there was a loud crashing and breaking sound from his room, my heart pounded... It would have been difficult if it weren't for you, Rose. I never expected it to be such a painful time. I should have listened to Rose's words sooner."
Madam Serva seemed to regret dismissing Rose's advice from before, when she had warned about Rhodanum and the wine. She repeatedly touched Rose's face and the back of her hand.
"Just looking at your face, I can tell how hard it's been. You've become so gaunt. And why are there bruises all over... Oh my."
Rose replied modestly, "Major suffered much more. He was injured far more."
"Even so, can you compare a soldier who served as an officer to a delicate young lady's body? He doesn't bat an eye at ordinary wounds."
Madam Serva shook her head.
"Rose, you saw those scars too. If the medicine had been applied well and the treatment received properly, the scars wouldn't be this bad. He treated them carelessly and always charged to the front lines, which is how he ended up like this. It's obvious. And our master is so robust that once he gets past this period, his recovery will be quick."
She patted Rose's shoulder.
"It's better to have ordinary external wounds; we all know that the after-effects that drain a person's lifeblood are incurable. But thanks to you, Rose, who stood by him steadfastly, Master has overcome the most difficult hurdle. It's easy to say, but not everyone can do it."
Rose brushed it off with a vague smile.
"Rose saved Master. It's clear that Rose and Master have an unusual connection. Because Master passed by Cielsa, Rose's school was safe, and Rose came to this mansion at just the right time, didn't she?"
