Chapter 35
“Cassius, it seems your adorable disciple has come up with quite a decent idea.”
“Shut it…”
Cassius clenched his teeth and shot Eki a sharp glare. Startled by the sudden look, she quickly turned her eyes elsewhere and pretended not to notice him.
She didn’t know why, but she felt as if she had just done something terrible to him.
“And what exactly are you planning to do with this so-called ‘substitute’ of yours?”
“Huh?”
“I mean your desire, damn it.”
He raked his hand through his hair in frustration and continued.
“How are you planning to satisfy your urges?”
Eki’s cheeks flushed bright red. The way he said it sounded lewd, though that probably wasn’t his intent. She hurried to answer.
“J-Just… by appreciating them.”
“……”
“Master, what on earth were you thinking?”
Even though she had a weakness for beautiful faces, she wasn’t the type to casually get physical with anyone. The world was dangerous enough as it was. She couldn’t just throw herself at someone because of mere desire.
‘But… would I even be able to find someone as perfect as Master?’
No, surely there must be. There couldn’t possibly be no one in the entire Gailard Kingdom who looked as good as Cassius. If she didn’t restrict herself by gender, she might even find one or two.
…Probably.
“But what if your reactions only happen because it’s Cassius?”
Ikelid’s amused voice cut through her thoughts. His tone was teasing, but his words struck right at her unease.
At that, both Eki and Cassius stiffened slightly. Though Cassius wore an irritated frown, there was a faint tension beneath it when he replied.
“What are you talking about?”
“Just what I said. What if Miss Eki’s desires are only triggered by you?”
“……”
Cassius went silent again. Eki spoke up quickly.
“T-That couldn’t be, right? I mean, I’m kind of a face person, so as long as they’re good-looking, I’ll be fine.”
“Hmm. Really? Are you sure?”
“…Yes.”
It was a lie. She wasn’t sure at all.
‘If they’re less attractive than Master… I might not be satisfied.’
After all, she had spent seven long years with Cassius, fighting and learning side by side. She’d resented him more often than she’d liked him, but he was still the man whose beauty alone made her daily life bearable. After becoming used to that face, could anyone else possibly compare?
“Hmm…”
Ikelid stroked his smooth chin thoughtfully, then stepped toward Eki. Cassius, momentarily lost in thought, snapped back to his senses and raised an arm to block him, but Ikelid merely shrugged.
“I’m not going to do anything improper. I’ll just have to find someone Eki can be satisfied with.”
“Someone Eki can be satisfied with?”
Cassius’s tone dropped several degrees lower.
Eki could tell his irritation had passed ninety. She silently bet one of the beauty posters in his bedroom on it.
“Exactly. And as it happens, I have the perfect potion for that.”
Ikelid reached into the pocket of his satin trousers and took out a tiny vial no bigger than his pinky. Inside it shimmered a mysterious violet liquid, rippling like waves of light.
“Just drink it. Then you’ll be able to see the person who fits your ideal image.”
“There’s really a potion like that?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am? The master of potioncraft, the savior of the Dark Age, the highest official of the Gailard Mage Association.”
He said it so proudly that he probably didn’t even notice how childish it sounded as he teased Cassius.
Eki narrowed her eyes and examined the potion carefully, then accepted it with both hands. Whether or not he was close with her Master, Ikelid was still the Association Head, and his skill in alchemy was undeniable.
But Cassius quickly stopped her.
“Eki, don’t drink that.”
“What?”
“Just look at his face. You can tell it’s something suspicious.”
“But he said it’s a potion to help me find my ideal person.”
“That’s exactly why I don’t trust it. And besides, why would you even need to find…”
Cassius’s voice trailed off. Then he scowled.
“Forget it. Do whatever you want.”
With that, he trudged over to the sofa in the corner of the lab and sat down heavily, irritation written all over his face.
‘Is he unhappy with the Association Head’s solution?’
He’d been acting annoyed ever since it was mentioned, so the reason was obvious. But she couldn’t quite understand why.
‘…Is Master unhappy with the Association Head’s solution? …Or does he hate the idea of me releasing my lust with another man?’
The thought came so naturally that Eki’s face turned crimson in an instant.
Blushing, she opened the vial and drank it all in one gulp.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.