Chapter 26
Without discarding the handkerchief he’d used to wipe them both, Hitaon folded it and put it in his pocket, answering casually.
“Then just think about it. Everyone has desires.”
“The problem is whether it ends with just thinking.”
“Then do it.”
“What if it happens in front of other people?”
“Then hold it in and do it later. That’ll be even more exciting.”
“…That would be even more dangerous than now.”
“Certainly. It seems we need to expand our locations.”
‘I hear Sissley isn’t using the shed, so it’s become a junk storage room. Maybe we should use that…’ As he murmured, listing the underground wine cellar, the annex attic from his childhood, and other places, he noticed her gaze and asked.
“What?”
“I feel strange.”
“About what?”
“The fact that I’m doing this with the young master.”
“Is that so?”
“Don’t you, young master?”
“Not particularly.”
“……”
“Maybe because it’s a scene I’ve often seen in my dreams?”
As if the situation were genuinely familiar to him, he rose naturally and approached the bookshelf.
“You have a lot of books.”
“I ended up with this many from bringing things here and there.”
“What kind of books do you like best?”
“It changes with the seasons.”
“Is that so? Tell me all of them.”
“In spring, 『The Cherry Blossom Desert』. In summer, 『The Shadow’s Confession』. In autumn…”
“So right now, since it’s summer.”
Tracing the spines lined up with his fingertip, he pulled out one volume. Probably 『The Shadow’s Confession』. He came back with it and leaned against her, lying at an angle.
“Is it good?”
“It’s not the content—I like the sentences in that book.”
“What kind of sentences?”
He read the passage she came over and pointed to.
“‘To the sun I admire. I wanted to burn countless times, but in the end, I am merely a shadow burned away by your dazzling light.’… You like sentences like this?”
“Don’t you think it has a certain feeling?”
“It’s abstract.”
“I thought that was why I liked it.”
“Does my opinion matter? If you like it, that’s what counts.”
Hitaon stroked her cheek as she smiled softly, then turned to the front of the book. After reading a few lines, something seemed to catch his interest—he lowered the book and asked.
“What was the book you said you liked in spring?”
“『The Cherry Blossom Desert』.”
“Is that a story about cherry blossoms blooming in a desert? Is that geographically possible?”
If she liked abstract things, he seemed to prefer the tangible. How transparent his guess was. She answered yes, then quietly moved and rested her head on his thigh. Hitaon’s question continued.
“Do you want to go to the desert?”
“There are many places I want to see. The desert, the sea, waterfalls… I’ve never once left the capital.”
“Nothing particularly special about them. They’re just places where people live, where creatures make their homes.”
“Still.”
“If we ever get the chance later, let’s go.”
Speaking of the future as casually as if discussing a meal—ordinary, yet it struck deep. Luirene felt a dazzling ripple spread through her chest and smiled faintly.
“Tired? Your eyes are closing.”
“A little…”
“Well. You did something you’re not used to.”
At his words recalling their earlier act, her cheeks flushed for no reason. Luirene rubbed her face and sat up, then coughed lightly. Her throat was dry from swallowing her moans all night. Hitaon noticed and moved to pour her water, but the pitcher was empty.
“Wait. I’ll bring some water.”
“It’s fine. What if someone sees you…”
“It’s late. At this hour, there won’t be any servants around.”
He kissed her cheek, rose, and dressed. After pressing his lips gently against her calf that had slipped out from under the blanket, he left the room.
The hallway was silent. Perhaps because her room was in a corner, it was dark as well. He was about to take one of the lamps hanging on the wall.
“…Young master?”
Beyond the faint light, the Nanny appeared, holding a portable lamp. The soft glow licked at the dismay blooming across her face.
“Nanny.”
“When did you return to the mansion? No, more importantly… just now, did you come out of that room?”
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