The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 1.15

“It will be difficult. Wouldn’t it be better to take Becky? Isn’t she someone who prioritizes you? You could at least give her a hint…”

“That’s exactly why I can’t. If she finds out, she’ll definitely try to follow me. If she knows but doesn’t stop me, she’ll receive severe punishment. It’s better if she doesn’t know at all.”

“You could just take her with you.”

At Roxana’s words, Rosette considered briefly before shaking her head.

“After returning home, there’s a limit to how much I can protect her, even if I try. Look at Evan. Even though he’s a divine beast, they locked him up because they thought he might interfere with me.”

“True, your mother does adore you terribly.”

“…Yes.”

“But aren’t you worried about me helping you so directly?”

“That’s why I chose you. The Marquis is still influential, and in the worst case, you can escape to the magic tower.”

“Right, right. What are friends for? Since I dislike the magic tower, I’ll enjoy the Marquis’s power thanks to you.”

“…I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to compensate you properly.”

Seeing Rosette’s expression suddenly darken, Roxana seemed to realize her mistake and began explaining the items.

“Ahem, now I’ll explain. This is a robe. Try to wear it as much as possible. Commoners don’t have good nutrition, so they’ll quickly notice you’re different from them. You could become a target.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And this is a dagger. Always carry it with you since you never know what might happen.”

“Yes, and is this the ticket?”

“Yes. Departure is at dawn tomorrow. You need to leave tonight at the latest. I wanted to get first class, but second class was the best I could do.”

“That’s fine. I’m grateful you got anything at all.”

“It’s an intercontinental voyage, so you’ll be sailing for over two months. Be prepared for the hardship.”

“I am prepared.”

“And this is hair dye. You’ll be on the ship for over two months, so your hair will probably grow out quite a bit. So I just brought red. What color is Evan’s hair?”

“Blonde. Similar to the color of his fur, blonde.”

“I thought so. Then this dye would be better. It’s brown.”

Roxana picked up one of several hair dyes and said.

“It looks a bit dark now, but it changes when applied to hair. Don’t pour too much though, just enough so that liquid doesn’t drip on the floor is sufficient.”

“Yes, yes.”

Seeing Rosette nodding eagerly, Roxana sighed.

“I am a bit worried. Someone who has never traveled before sailing for two months.”

“If I go by land, I’ll be discovered quickly. No matter how I think about it, the ship is better.”

“Yes, it can’t be helped. Watch out for pirates and sea monsters.”

“I will. I’ll carefully avoid them.”

“As if you can avoid them just by being careful.”

Roxana said with a smile curling the corners of her lips. Then suddenly, she hugged Rosette tightly.

“I’ll miss you.”

At Roxana’s embrace, Rosette’s eyes widened before she hugged her back.

“I’ll miss you too, very much.”

They embraced for a long time, then awkwardly separated after a while.

“By the way, you can forget everything else, but don’t forget this.”

Roxana pointed to two thin metal plates. The palm-sized plates were densely engraved with characters.

“Thank you. It must have been difficult to get them in such a short time.”

“My years of confinement in the magic tower were worth it. Magicians can make most identification documents.”

In the Tessaret Empire, magicians were rare. In an empire with millions of inhabitants, there weren’t even 500 magicians. That’s why even commoners or lowborn people with magical talent received better treatment than most nobles. Roxana, too, received more precious treatment as the magician Roxana than as the daughter of a Marquis.

“What are you planning to do now? Do you have a plan?”

“Yes. What I’m going to do is…”

***

‘That portrait’s side door, Evan is there.’

After midnight, Rosette walked down the quiet corridor. The elongated cylindrical beige vase, the portrait of the bald man, everything was just as Roxana had described. Rosette stopped shortly after turning the corner.

So this is where Evan is.

A knight guarding the door where Evan was located noticed Rosette’s presence and bowed.

“My lady, what brings you here at night?”

“I’m a bit injured. I need Evan, is he inside?”

Rosette spoke indifferently, as if she needed Evan as a tool. The knight asked Rosette in confusion.

“I heard there was something the mistress gave you.”

It was indeed Sarhen. Her meticulousness was good as a lord’s wife, but as a daughter, it was sometimes irritating. Rosette clicked her tongue inwardly and spoke.

“I’ve already used it all. But I don’t want to wake my mother at this hour. I’ll just get treatment quickly and come out.”

The knight seemed hesitant. It appeared he had been ordered not to let Rosette in.

“Then let’s go in together.”

“What? Why?”

“The mistress ordered that you two shouldn’t be left alone.”

“But…”

Rosette fidgeted and then hung her head low. Her neck bones, which had become more prominent from recent weight loss, looked pitiful. The knight hurriedly asked.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“…I injured a part that’s embarrassing to mention to a man. I can’t show it either.”

At Rosette’s answer, almost sobbing in a small voice, the knight was visibly flustered. He seemed to feel guilty for making his lord’s daughter say such things.

“Well, should I call for a maid then?”

“I was going to bring one, but there was no one outside. And now blood keeps flowing, so I’m feeling dizzy.”

Rosette’s face was indeed pale. The knight anxiously looked at her and finally took out the key.

“You must treat the wound and come out immediately. If the mistress finds out, she will be very angry.”

“Of course I will. Thank you so much.”

Rosette gratefully grabbed the knight’s hand. The knight’s cheekbones turned bright red.

“I-it’s nothing.”

They said he wasn’t imprisoned, but with guards posted, it seemed they had thoroughly confined him. As soon as the door opened, Rosette slipped inside. Click. The sound of the door closing again was heard.

It was dark inside with only a few candles lit. Rosette looked around, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

“Rosette?”

A voice both familiar and unfamiliar called out. Her heart swelled at the sound of her name. Rosette called the cherished name with a moist voice.

“…Evan.”

Contrary to her expectation that he would be sleeping at this late hour, Evan was awake. Rosette bit her lip at the sight of Evan sitting alone at the table.

“Why are you here like this?”

Rosette took a step toward Evan. There was longing in her for the unfamiliar form. Rosette felt the urge to run to Evan and hug him tightly. Having been together for over ten years, the time without him felt unbearably lonely.

The clouds that had been covering the moonlight disappeared, and the bright full moon illuminated the room. Evan’s figure, sitting alone at the table eating cake, was illuminated by the moonlight.

“…Evan?”

“Yes, Rosette.”

“Are you eating cake?”

“…Yes!”

Evan was wearing pajamas and leisurely sitting at the table, eating cake. The emotional reunion was instantly shattered. Rosette spoke coldly with a stiff face.

“You seem to be doing quite well.”

His cheeks had become plump from eating well, visible even in the darkness. It felt a bit unfair considering how worried she had been about him.

“Evan, we need to leave.”

“Wh-where?”

She took the fork from Evan, who was mumbling with cake in his mouth.

“Stop eating cake for a moment!”

“I will.”

Evan promptly answered and licked his lips.

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“It must have been hard for you all this time.”

“Yes. It’s frustrating not being able to go out. But Rosette, I haven’t finished learning yet…”