The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 1.19

Having completed all preparations, Rosette stared at her reflection in the mirror. A woman with unevenly red-dyed short hair wearing a robe was staring back at her.

Crooked bangs and an even messier back. Cheeks flushed pink with excitement and tension. With dye stains not completely wiped off her face, hands, and various parts of her neck, she looked somewhat like a scruffy commoner girl.

But Rosette liked her current appearance. Unlike before, when she looked so fragile that she seemed unable to hold even a parasol by herself, now she looked free and energetic, as though she could run vigorously under the sun.

Evan’s appearance was similar. His distinct features couldn’t be disguised, but with his hair dyed brown and cut haphazardly as if nibbled by mice, he looked somewhat foolish, which made him appear more ordinary.

Knock, knock.

At the sound from outside the door, Evan and Rosette looked at each other simultaneously.

‘ They’ve come to give us our change…’

Before she could finish saying, “Are they here?” Evan placed his hand over Rosette’s lips. Startled by the sudden physical contact, Rosette closed her mouth and blinked.

They quietly pressed their ears to the door. The people outside were speaking in hushed voices.

“Did they really come in here?”

“Yes, that’s right. I saw them clearly with my own eyes.”

“…!”

Rosette covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. The voice belonged to someone she knew well. Count family’s knight commander, Tollebanian Gertrud. He was standing just on the other side of the door from Rosette.

How on earth did he find us here so quickly?

As soon as she heard his voice, Rosette looked for an escape route. Window and door. The door wouldn’t work since Tollebanian was there, so the only answer was the window. Rosette carefully peeked through the crack in the door. She caught a glimpse of Tollebanian bringing his face to the door crack. Rosette pressed herself against the door and held her breath.

The door crack is wide enough to see inside from outside, what kind of backward inn is this!

Rosette screamed inwardly and urgently gestured to Evan.

‘Evan, put out the candle.’

After pointing to the candle and flapping her hand, Evan fortunately carried out the action faithfully. The candle flame wavered under Evan’s breath. The room was plunged into darkness so complete that even smoke couldn’t be seen. The smell of the extinguished candle filled the room.

“The light is out.”

“Perhaps they’re already doing something. It’s about that time, after all.”

The boy snickered as he spoke. Though invisible, it was clear he was enjoying himself. The air beyond the door instantly turned cold.

“…Gack!”

“Say that again. What did you say?”

Tollebanian was rigid even with Rosette, but he was even more merciless with others. He wouldn’t let someone who insulted the daughter of the family he served go unpunished. The boy might lose an arm.

However, Rosette didn’t feel particularly sorry for the boy. He had been rude. If Rosette’s guard knight had been present, he might have become furious enough to challenge the boy to a duel. For Rosette, who wasn’t immune to commoners’ speech, Tollebanian’s actions seemed perfectly reasonable.

“P-please spare me…”

“You must have considered the consequences when you decided to run your mouth.”

“Urgh…”

While the boy and Tollebanian were arguing, Rosette tiptoed with Evan toward the window. Creak. The unoiled hinges made a noise. A chill ran up her spine. Rosette opened the window slightly and checked outside.

Rosette turned pale. Tollebanian hadn’t come alone. People with swords were positioned throughout the inn, monitoring the surroundings. Familiar silhouettes could be glimpsed here and there.

What should they do?

Rosette habitually bit the inside of her cheek and then looked at Evan. Come to think of it, Evan had jumped about 2 meters earlier. With hope, Rosette whispered quietly to Evan.

“Evan.”

“Yes?”

“Is there any chance you can fly?”

“Rosette, haven’t you read too many fairy tales?”

Evan looked at Rosette as if she were pathetic. Rosette felt somewhat wronged.

Transforming from a dog to a human is possible, but growing wings on a person’s back isn’t? What’s so strange about a divine beast having wings!

Wisely choosing not to express her grievance immediately, Rosette instead sought Evan’s opinion.

“We need to get out of here now, but Tollebanian is outside the door and the Count’s knights are outside the inn. What… should we do?”

At Rosette’s question, Evan stuck his head slightly out the window and looked around. Fortunately, the trees in the backyard were tall and densely grown, making it difficult for the knights to see them if they poked their heads out. After surveying the surroundings with a serious expression, Evan said.

“Then we can go up, right?”

“Up, up?”

Rosette asked in confusion. Evan pointed upward to show her. Looking up, there was a shabby ladder next to the window that connected to the roof. Judging by the paint and brush nearby, it seemed someone had been painting the roof and hadn’t put away the ladder. Rosette looked at the spaces between roofs with deeply sunken eyes. The buildings were packed closely together, suggesting they could head toward the harbor by crossing the rooftops.

“Evan, you’re truly a genius.”

“Well, it’s nothing much.”

Evan wiggled his bottom slightly at Rosette’s praise. If he had a tail, it would have been spinning vigorously.

“Evan, can you climb up with the bag?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll go up first.”

Evan slung the bag over one shoulder with a confident expression. He climbed out the window with his long legs, then jumped up with a thud and grabbed the ladder. His movements were agile enough to qualify for a circus performance. Having easily climbed onto the roof, Evan grinned down at Rosette with childlike enthusiasm.

“Well done, Evan.”

“Hurry up and climb, Rosette.”

“…I’ll try my best to climb.”

Rosette nodded and pulled over a chair. Her body was already complaining that it had completed several days’ worth of labor, but Rosette ignored it completely. It seemed Tollebanian had finished dealing with the boy, as it had become quiet outside. Time was of the essence.

Rosette climbed onto the chair and over the windowsill. She grabbed the upper part of the window with her hands and twisted her body to face the room. Her movements were much more cautious and slower than Evan’s, enough to make an observer yawn, but it was the best Rosette could do. With trembling hands, she grasped the ladder.

“…Ouch.”

“Rosette, are you okay?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine.”

She felt a stinging sensation at her fingertips. The rough wood grain of the unsanded ladder seemed to have pricked Rosette’s fingers. They say life is hard once you leave home, and it truly was a series of hardships. Rosette gritted her teeth and climbed up the ladder.

The ladder, crudely woven from wood, occasionally swayed in the wind. Each time, her knees weakened.

“E-Evan. Don’t let go of the ladder, ever.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let go even if I die.”

Why was the wind so strong today of all days? If she hadn’t cut her hair, her cheeks would have been slapped by it dozens of times. Rosette thought that the protagonists in adventure novels probably didn’t always have such a good time. As she struggled to climb up due to the wide spacing between rungs, Tollebanian’s voice was heard from outside the door.

“My lady, please come out now. I know you’re in there. You were by the door earlier.”

Tollebanian spoke in a gentle, persuasive tone. Rosette flinched and hiccupped softly.

“Aren’t you a person who knows pride, my lady? The Count and Countess are very worried about you.”

“……”

“I’ll count to three. Please come out by then. Three.”

CRASH!

Simultaneously with Tollebanian counting to three, there was the sound of the shabby door breaking.

You said you’d count to three!

Feeling betrayed, Rosette screamed inwardly. Thump, thump, the sound of Tollebanian’s footsteps approaching the window could be heard. Just two steps to the roof. Rosette hurriedly put her foot on the ladder.

However, her quick movement became her undoing. Slip, her foot slid and Rosette’s body cut through the air.

“……!”

Rosette let out a silent scream.

What would happen if she fell from the second floor? The conversation she had with Roxana came to mind. Stories about someone who became paralyzed after falling from a wall, someone who died with a broken neck after falling from the second floor……

“……”

Only such unlucky stories came to mind, making her feel bad.

At that moment, Evan’s lightning-fast hand grabbed Rosette’s wrist. Rosette’s falling body floated up into the air with a strong force.

“Gasp, huff.”

With a clatter, Rosette landed in Evan’s arms. In Evan’s embrace, there was a faint smell of sweat mixed with grass. Through his robe, she could hear Evan’s heartbeat. Evan’s pupils were fully dilated. His eyes, filled with Rosette, shone a deep blue. After embracing Rosette, Evan sighed deeply.

“You scared me……”

“S-sorry.”

“Can you stand up?”

“Yes.”

Rosette wobbled as she got to her feet. The steep slope made it difficult to maintain balance. From the rooftop, the location of the harbor was clearly visible. Rosette pointed to a massive ship that could easily accommodate about 300 people and said.

“That ship should be the one we’re taking.”

“So we need to go there, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The white-painted ship was shining brightly despite it being nighttime. Evan carefully surveyed the path from under his feet to the harbor.

“Let’s go, Rosette.”

Evan interlaced his fingers with Rosette’s and began running like the wind. Rosette spread one arm to maintain balance while following Evan. The wind fully penetrated Rosette’s chest. Her hair, still damp from the dye, occasionally tickled her cheeks. The clouds that had filled the sky disappeared beyond the mountains, and the clear, high sky was filled with the moon and stars. From afar came the sound of a ship’s horn.