Chapter 56
‘…But I can’t just go to her right now.’
It was far too late in the evening. No matter how much of a temperamental and infamous master he might be, even he couldn’t show up at his disciple’s quarters at this hour.
Cassius turned around and headed for his bed.
If he could at least draw a magic circle, that might calm this irritating restlessness. But since Ikelid had reduced the order quantity, there was less work to occupy him, and now nothing could hold his attention.
‘Might as well sleep.’
With that thought, Cassius loosened his waistband.
Because of Eki’s luck potion, he’d been forcing himself to wear a tank top and cotton pants every night, but they were uncomfortable. For hundreds of years, he’d only ever worn long, one-piece robes from ancient times, so modern clothing didn’t suit him at all.
He lifted his shirt to change… When suddenly, bang! The door burst open. Cassius flinched and turned sharply.
“Eki?”
“Ah. Master!”
She froze, her fist still raised midair to knock.
Eki’s eyes darted over Cassius’s smooth chest, the beautifully defined muscles of his abdomen, and the waistband of his trousers where his underwear peeked out. Then she jumped in alarm.
“S-Sorry! I was just about to knock, but the door suddenly opened on its own—!”
“Close it. Now!”
“Y-Yes!”
Eki hastily slammed the door shut.
Cassius’s earlobes burned red as if scorched by fire. He rubbed the spot on his chest where her gaze had lingered and ground his teeth. What an impertinent disciple.
But then… the door hinges creaked again, and the door cracked open. Eki peeked her head back in.
“But Master, I’ve already seen your… thing. Why can’t I watch you change clothes?”
“Eki Provanet!”
“Sorry!”
Thud! The door shut again.
Cassius changed clothes faster than he ever had in his entire life. Then, once he was fully dressed, he allowed Eki back into the room, certainly not out of any ulterior motive. He only wanted to find out what on earth had brought her here at such a late hour.
‘She’s never come to my room before.’
Cassius only ever summoned Eki after work hours when it was an absolute emergency. And even then, never past 7 p.m.
Eki, on the other hand, had never once come to see him on her own. Usually, if something serious enough happened to require her seeking him out—like a magical creature rampaging in the basement—he would have already noticed and gone to handle it himself.
So this was her first time stepping into his private room. Her eyes sparkled as she looked around at the web of magic circles carved and drawn across the walls and floor.
“Wow. You have so many fascinating magic circles here.”
“Most of them are ancient formations.”
“I’ve never even seen these in the royal library.”
“That’s because they’re usually classified as forbidden texts there.”
“Wooow.”
Eki’s golden eyes glittered brightly. Round and luminous, they shone like stars catching the moonlight, and Cassius found himself unable to look away.
Then he caught a faint whiff of alcohol. She’d been drinking.
She’d drunk and then come into a man’s room at night?
‘She has no sense of caution.’
Of course, he was her master of seven years. …Or rather, had been her master. Recently, he hadn’t just exposed his desire for her, he’d also climaxed in her hand… over and over again…
Cassius forced himself to push that thought away and got straight to the point.
“Why did you come to my room?”
“Well, um…”
Eki hesitated, her expression faintly awkward. Her soft cheeks were flushed a coral pink, and she smiled a little as if embarrassed. Her hand brushed down the slender curve of her neck, delicate and smooth like that of a deer.
Cassius took in every small, flustered movement before quickly averting his eyes, pretending indifference. Beneath his chest, his heartbeat made its presence known. He clenched his jaw.
“Master.”
“…What.”
“Shouldn’t we… continue from last time?”
“Continue?”
“Yes, continue.”
Cassius’s brow furrowed slightly. He was wearing only a thin robe at the moment, and he instinctively checked that nothing below the waist was reacting before asking again.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“If you’re okay with it…”
Eki fidgeted, then stood up. She stepped closer to where Cassius sat on the sofa, twisting her fingers nervously.
“I want to… move things forward. Between us.”
At those words, Cassius’s pale green eyes widened in shock.
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