Master, I Swear I Didn’t Mean To! - Chapter 84

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As soon as her eyes flashed open, the first thing she saw was the ceiling of Cassius’s bedroom, covered in magic circles.

Eki pushed herself up, groggy, and looked around. She was lying on Cassius’s bed, tucked neatly under the blankets. As she yawned widely and rubbed her eyes, a low, gloomy voice sounded beside her.

“Looks like you slept well.”

“Kyaah! You scared me!”

Cassius was holding the book he had grabbed at random the night before like a prop. Naturally, the page he was on was the same as right before Eki had passed out.

“If you’re awake, wash up and get ready to head out.”

“W-Wait. You stayed like that all night?”

“I told you I don’t sleep.”

Cassius looked terrible. Eki, worrying about him, glanced at the clock and clutched her head.

“What is this. Ten o’clock?!”

“Quite the impressive sleep-in.”

“No, you could’ve woken me up…”

Normally she should have been awake two or three hours earlier. But her alarm was in her own room, so she had slept straight through.

As she scrambled out of bed, the loose robe she had slept in fell open, revealing her pale chest and her thighs and calves. Eki yelped and grabbed the front of her robe shut, but Cassius had already seen everything and dropped his book.

Their gazes met. Cassius’s pale green eyes were blown wide, then he jerked his head away and shoved the book back onto the shelf.

He tried to walk out of the room, but the chain yanked his arm tight with a loud clank, and he muttered a curse under his breath.

“Hurry and get ready. We’re late.”

“Ah, okay. I’ll wash my face first…”

She had bathed twice the night before, so she’d just wash up lightly today. Eki hurried into the bathroom, cleaned up, combed her hair, and summoned her clothes.

Then last night’s memory struck her.

‘Wait. Didn’t I kiss Master?’

She had been half-asleep, but the memory was vivid. Throwing herself boldly at him, and Cassius blushing shyly…

She peeked at him. As expected, her master was pretending nothing had happened, yet he couldn’t look directly at her face.

Eki quickly dressed while Cassius faced away, then carefully approached him.

“Master.”

“Are you done?”

“Why did you use a sleep spell on me last night?”

“……”

“Was it because you were embarrassed?”

The small tip of his ear, peeking through his soft white hair, flushed bright red. A blatant confession.

Eki’s own feelings were complicated. She had shown him her naked body, he had pushed her away, and if he had rejected a kiss too, she would have been crushed.

Mustering courage, Eki grabbed the sleeve of his robe. Cassius stiffened and turned to her.

“You know… shouldn’t we talk about this properly again—”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I already made myself clear. Even if you do that, I won’t care. I’m your master and you’re my disciple.”

The courage she had finally managed to gather collapsed instantly. What filled that space instead was irritation at her master’s flustered, almost lovestruck expression.

“That? Are you talking about the kiss?”

“Whether it’s a kiss or anything else.”

“That’s not fair. You even saw me naked yesterday!”

“T-That wasn’t intentional! It was the luck potion!”

“Puh-lease. If it were the luck potion, I should have seen your naked body, not the other way around!”

“‘Puh-lease’? Is that how you speak to your master?”

“I’ve already said plenty of things I shouldn’t have!”

“Don’t get so arrogant. If you’re ready for work, go do what you were told.”

Honestly. Even if they desired each other, Cassius was still her master and her superior. If he issued an order like that, she had no choice but to accept it.

Eki’s golden irises blazed like the midsummer sun. Acting on impulse, she grabbed Cassius by the collar and yanked him down.

“……!”

Their lips smacked together, then separated. Eki inhaled sharply and said provocatively.

“You said you wouldn’t care, right? Can you still say that after this?”

Cassius couldn’t say anything. He only stared at her blankly.

Fueled by his silence, she squeezed her eyes shut and kissed him again. This time longer, and gently, licking his lips once before she pulled away. Her breath escaped in a hot rush, and she looked up at him with trembling shoulders.

“……”

He had turned into a statue.

“Master?”

The point where their lips had touched felt slick from Cassius’s breath. She rubbed the spot and called to him. He flinched as if the spell had broken and staggered back.

“Y-You… what are you…”

“Did you hate it?”

“Never do that again.”

“If you say you don’t want it, I won’t.”

Cassius fell silent again. His face turned tomato-red and he repeatedly scrubbed his face with both hands. Then he darted for the door, nearly tripping over himself.

“We’re going to the workshop. The Association’s orders need to be filled.”

“Our work isn’t urgent though.”

“Just come out.”

His ragged breathing was dangerous. Cassius gritted his teeth and stormed down the hall. Eki was yanked after him with a startled yelp by the chain. His steps slowed slightly, but he still stomped around, unable to hide his blazing embarrassment.

As she hurried after him, Eki thought.

So Master’s weak point is kissing.

‘Whatever that conscience or whatever it is… I’ll destroy it with this.’

Completely unaware of Cassius’s circumstances, Eki glared at his back with wicked determination.