The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 3.2

“I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.”

“Are you here to buy a notebook?”

“Yes. But I’m not sure which one to get.”

Didn’t she say that one was good? Rosette thought, looking at the notebook beside her.

“What will you be using it for?”

“Purpose? I’m just planning to teach some children.”

“You must be quite knowledgeable if you’re teaching someone.”

“It’s just teaching them how to write, nothing special.”

Rosette swallowed dryly while dismissing the compliment. She had inadvertently revealed too much information. This woman was skilled at extracting information from people. Rosette resolved not to give any more information.

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Claire.”

Claire said, extending her hand. Rosette made an expression that seemed both like crying and smiling. She had just resolved not to give any more information, yet here she was about to give more.

“My name is…”

“I know. It’s Rose, right?”

Claire said with a bright smile. Momentarily captivated by the beautiful smile, Rosette murmured.

“Yes, that’s right. How did you…”

Rosette was about to ask how she knew, but then remembered writing her name on the statement when she reported the lost wallet. She also recalled how many documents Claire had in front of her at that time. There were dozens of documents stacked as tall as a person both in front and behind her, yet she remembered Rosette’s name from just one statement among them. Rosette resolved never to give this person any more information.

“For teaching children, this notebook is good. And this pencil is nice.”

Claire smoothly recommended a notebook and a pencil. Even to Rosette, the items seemed to be of good quality for their price range. As she was gathering a couple of notebooks and pencils, Evan approached with a bright smile.

“Rosette, can I get this?”

In Evan’s hands were snacks and candies. They were splotchy in color, seemingly from using cheap dyes. Rosette’s brow furrowed.

“Those look really low quality. I’ll buy you something else.”

“But these look delicious.”

“Those are really delicious. They might not look great, but they’re strangely addictive. I came to buy those too.”

Claire naturally joined their conversation, showing the cane-shaped candies in her basket. Evan looked at Claire with round eyes. Rosette felt they needed to leave quickly before Evan revealed any information. She grabbed Evan’s hand and said.

“I’ll buy them for you. Let’s go.”

Fearing he might say something, Rosette practically dragged Evan along. Then, thinking it would be impolite not to say goodbye, she turned and said.

“Thank you for the recommendations. See you next time.”

Though leaving so quickly might have seemed rude, Claire smiled without showing any displeasure. Then she quietly spoke.

“There have been frequent disappearances lately. Please be careful, miss.”

“…Pardon?”

Claire moved closer to Rosette and whispered.

“I’ve heard d***s are being traded on the ship. So be careful.”

“Ah…”

Surprised by this unexpected information, Rosette stood dazed, looking at Claire.

“You don’t need to worry too much. That’s why we’re here, to deal with such things. Still, it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

“Yes… thank you.”

Perhaps thinking Rosette looked frightened, Claire made an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, you remind me of my younger sister, so I ended up talking too much.”

“It’s fine. Thank you for telling me. We’ll be going now.”

Rosette hastily concluded and left. Claire could have followed her to the checkout counter to tease her more, but decided against it, thinking Rosette might dislike her for it. After some time, Claire paid for her cane candy and removed the wrapper. The sweet taste of cheap candy filled her mouth. Crunch—she bit into the candy without even sucking on it and thought.

“So, which noble family’s daughter could she be?”

Claire walked down the corridor, mentally scanning through the family trees of the Tessaret Empire.

***

Rosette was walking in darkness. On a path where nothing was visible, Rosette kept drifting away. Voices of people echoed loudly around her.

‘What could you possibly do?’

‘You just need to stay still. We’ll take care of the rest.’

‘You’re lucky. Everyone would envy a life like yours.’

‘But the life I want to live is…’

Rosette shouted with a voice that wouldn’t come out.

‘So what are you doing now?’

‘You’re making someone suffer who shouldn’t have to.’

‘You can’t do anything. You’ll only get hurt, so stay locked up inside the house.’

‘Being able to maintain your status despite not being able to bear children—isn’t that a great privilege?’

Rosette couldn’t bear it anymore. She covered her ears and ran forward. The path in the darkness was treacherous. Her hair became disheveled, and her legs were scratched all over with blood seeping out. Eventually, Rosette tripped over a stone and fell. Blood flowed freely from her knees. The redness was vivid even in the darkness. Rosette wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to stop the bleeding. But the blood wouldn’t stop. Rosette reached out her blood-stained hand to someone. Almost like seeking salvation.

Someone, please. Someone, please help me.

Something gripped Rosette’s hand. At the same time, her consciousness was pulled up to the surface.

“Rosette, are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?”

The voice of someone worried about her. Drenched in cold sweat, Rosette embraced Evan. Responding to her desperate gesture, Evan wrapped his strong arms around Rosette and patted her.

“It’s okay, Rosette. It’s okay…”

Under Evan’s comfort and patting, Rosette gradually found stability. She breathed slowly and assessed her condition. Her whole body ached dully, and her head was spinning. Rosette knew this sensation all too well, to the point of loathing it. It was a symptom that appeared when excessive bleeding occurred somewhere in her body.

“My head, it’s dizzy…”

At Rosette’s words, Evan turned on the light and examined various parts of her body.

“I don’t see any visible wounds, but it seems the bleeding is continuing from the bruises.”

Evan said with a worried voice.

“What should we do…”

She felt dizzy. It seemed she might lose consciousness at any moment. Looking down at Rosette’s bruised thigh, Evan spoke with a determined, firm voice.

“Rosette, there are three options.”

“…Huh?”

Rosette barely held onto her consciousness and looked up at Evan. Pushing back her wet hair, Evan said.

“The first option is for me to lick the bruised areas. However, it will take a long time, and you might get worse during that time.”

“Mmm…”

“The second is… for you to drink my saliva.”

Her clouded mind briefly returned. Rosette looked at Evan with wet eyes and asked.

“…Saliva?”

“Yes. Saliva.”

Evan asked in a pleading tone.

“Would that be okay?”

Rosette nodded weakly.

“Yes…”

Rosette placed her hands around Evan’s neck. Hot heat rose in the darkness. Rosette thought that perhaps, deep down, she had been hoping for this unavoidable situation.

***

Rosette woke up only when morning came. The unbearable pain from last night had completely disappeared. When she tried to get up, something blocked her. Looking back, she saw Evan holding her, his upper body bare.

“….”

Rosette blushed, recalling the events of the night. Turning her thigh while lying down, she saw that the bruises had almost disappeared, leaving only a faint yellow tint. It seemed the kiss really had an effect. Rosette touched her lips while watching Evan sleeping with even breaths. She remembered last night’s kiss. The kiss was sticky and passionate, yet simultaneously dry. Evan hadn’t touched anywhere else except her cheeks and lips. Though the kiss alone was more than enough to overflow with pleasure, she also felt something was lacking.

“….”

Rosette quietly caressed Evan’s hand and compared it with her own. A large hand with obvious differences in size and thickness. Rosette newly realized that Evan had become human. At the same time, guilt rushed in. It felt like she had hastily kissed Evan without knowing who he really was. Although it was part of the treatment, Rosette had clearly wanted Evan.

How could this be possible? Just a few months ago, Evan was definitely a dog. Of course, he wasn’t just any dog. He was larger than most adult men, and though he couldn’t speak, communication was possible. But the Evan then and the Evan now were different. The current Evan seemed to be… merely imitating the old Evan, different from who he used to be.

But to kiss Evan without hesitation, even in such an urgent situation. Rosette disliked being attracted to Evan without knowing exactly who he was.

“Who are you, Evan?”