The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 2.12

Perhaps trying to fill her emptiness with people, Yvonne held tea parties almost every day. Rather than people seeking genuine friendship, most were trying to get even the smallest benefit from the peridot mine trend that was sweeping the country. Their story must have spread at these gatherings, because people were now refusing to give them jobs. It was truly frustrating that someone so vile had the power to make others miserable. Rosette was furious and wrote every day. Some of it was her anger being channeled into writing, and some of it was because she had nothing else to do since she couldn’t find work anywhere. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“It’s Levit.”

“Come in!”

Evan opened the door, and Levit slipped in carrying a tray.

“There’s a lot of bread today?”

Rosette asked, looking at the mountain of bread piled up. Levit grinned and said.

“Today, something must have gone wrong because they made bread twice,” he said. “They told me to take the previous batch freely, so I brought plenty. I thought you might be starving.”

“You’re right, Levit. Can I kiss your cheek?”

“No.”

Evan stopped Rosette, who was trying to hug Levit. Evan had become notably more jealous lately. Levit’s shoulders relaxed, perhaps having been slightly tense about bringing bread that had no commercial value. After placing the breakfast tray on the table, all three grabbed bread without hesitation.

“Thank you, Levit.”

“I’ll enjoy this.”

Levit’s cheeks flushed shyly at Rosette and Evan’s thanks.

“It was just leftover bread anyway. By the way, there’s still no news about the pickpocket.”

Levit was the ship’s information hub. Despite his young and cute appearance, people would discuss various secrets in his presence, and Levit listened carefully, delivering necessary information where needed.

“If there was a transaction, we would know immediately, but I think they’re planning to sell after getting off the ship, fearing they might get caught. I’m sorry.”

Levit wore a genuinely apologetic expression.

“Levit, what are you sorry for? Without you, we would have starved long ago. Or jumped into the sea because of seasickness.”

After several days living on the ship, they had adapted enough to manage without motion sickness medicine. They were told that after living on a ship for so long, they might experience land sickness when disembarking. Just thinking about how terrible land sickness might be made Rosette dizzy already.

“By the way, Levit. Are you busy now?”

“No, I’m free.”

Levit said while chewing bread. He quite enjoyed meeting with them. Two young, handsome people who weren’t quite at the boundary of adulthood in his mind. They clearly had secrets but treated him comfortably while never revealing anything. Certain it was something important, Levit never tried to pry or ruin their meetings by being too curious. Conversations with them were fresh and enjoyable, and he knew they were good people. Rosette asked with sparkling eyes.

“Then would you like to read my writing?”

“…Writing?”

Levit spoke with slight intimidation at the mention of writing. Rosette occasionally showed her noble background by assuming everyone she met could read and had studied regular subjects. When she realized she had made such an inconsiderate remark, she would be startled and apologize, but even that aspect was cute and somewhat impressive to young Levit.

“I’m sorry, I can’t read.”

“That’s right. I’m sorry. I completely forgot.”

Rosette dropped the bread she was eating and apologized in embarrassment. Levit smiled to show it was okay.

“Then what should we do…”

“You could read it to him, Rose.”

Evan remarked casually after finishing his third piece of bread. Rosette and Levit looked at Evan simultaneously. Rosette clapped her hands and said.

“That’s right, I could read it to you.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Please read it.”

Levit said with sparkling eyes. Whenever he brought breakfast, Rosette was always up early, scribbling something. He hoped things would work out well for her since she was putting in so much effort. Levit looked at Rosette with anticipation. After clearing her throat, Rosette began reading with a slightly trembling voice.

“…knelt before the tombstone, pounding the ground with regret. But cruel fate had already separated the two. The end.”

Having read a considerable amount, her voice cracked at the end. Rosette put the paper down on the table and looked at them both with a slightly nervous expression.

“So, what do you think?”

“Well…”

Evan and Levit simultaneously wore troubled expressions. They didn’t want to disappoint Rosette who was clearly full of expectation. Finally, Levit took the bullet.

“It’s not interesting.”

“What?”

Rosette asked in surprise. Levit continued with a devastated feeling.

“It’s… not interesting. From the beginning to the middle-end, it’s too boring, and the ending is empty.”

Rosette was completely hurt by this negative review she’d never heard before. She stammered out excuses.

“B-but Becky said it was interesting…”

“I don’t know who Becky is, but isn’t she someone who needs to make a good impression on you?”

Rosette flinched and shook her head.

“No, she doesn’t need to make a good impression…”

Or does she? Since she’s employed in the household, she probably needs to make a good impression. Becky was Rosette’s only reader. Since childhood, Rosette had put her heart and soul into writing something that would satisfy her sole reader. But what Rosette didn’t know was that Becky’s taste was somewhat unconventional. Becky liked writing filled with elaborate rhetoric, and the ending always had to be tragic. It was the writing style popular during Becky’s youth. Thanks to this, Rosette developed a somewhat outdated writing style for her age. Rosette asked Evan with her last hope.

“Evanium, what do you think?”

“It seems… fine? Especially the tragic ending part was impressive.”

Evan, you understand me! Rosette’s expression immediately brightened.

“Yes, everyone can have different opinions.”

Rosette was happy with what she perceived as praise, not noticing that Evan had never actually said it was interesting. Levit glared at Evan with a look of betrayal. Evan pretended not to notice and avoided his gaze. Levit, who had become the lone critic, gaped in disbelief. Having come this far, Levit decided to fully embrace the villain role and spoke up.

“Besides, stories must always end happily! What’s with the tragedy?”

“Y-you don’t understand literature. Many literary works end in tragedy.”

Levit decided to point out each problem with the work. Rosette stammered excuses, stinging from the attack.

“You’re right, I don’t understand literature. But I can still judge whether something is interesting or not.”

“Is it… that boring?”

Rosette asked in a voice that sounded close to tears. Levit sighed, looking at her.

“First, there’s no excitement. The sentences are so long and flowery that it’s irritating, but there’s no actual story. What does the woman do? She just bakes bread and sweets all day, never meets a man, and it ends.”

“Well, I was hungry, so I included descriptions of food for vicarious satisfaction…”

“From the middle, I thought it was a cookbook. There are two whole pages just describing how to make pound cake.”

“But… she’s making it while thinking about the male protagonist. It’s a relatively important scene.”

“What’s the point of just thinking all the time? They should meet. Meet and, you know, kiss a little, touch a little. Haven’t you ever been in a relationship?”

“….”

Rosette avoided his gaze, feeling exposed. Levit narrowed his eyes, looking at her.

“I see, you haven’t. How can you write a romance novel without ever having been in a relationship?”