The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 3.4

***

“Phew, now it’s better.”

Rosette said while wiping away the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead.

“I didn’t know cleaning would take this long. If I had known, I would have cleaned earlier.”

“We couldn’t have known it would be like this. It’s okay.”

Ariel looked helplessly at Rosette, who was covered in soot. Rosette looked around and shrugged. Though it looked a bit messy with cleaning supplies scattered about, it was quite tidy now that the dust and trash had been cleared away. She also liked the spacious table in the center of the lounge.

“This should be good enough to teach others, too. If there are more people who want to learn, bring them along.”

At Rosette’s words, Levit and Ariel looked at each other in silence.

“Then I’ll ask my brother.”

“No need. Why would you bring that… troublemaker? He’ll just get in the way.”

Ariel said with a grimace. Rosette also didn’t have particularly fond memories of Levit’s brother, so she was somewhat grateful for Ariel’s comment.

“Rather than bringing people who aren’t interested in studying and muddying the waters, it’s better for us to learn quickly and succeed, then help those people later.”

“Ah, I see.”

Levit can’t even move. Since this was the first time seeing Levit like this, Rosette found it both cute and amusing and gave a slight smile.

“Before we start the lesson, I’m curious about something. What are your goals?”

“Goals…?”

“Yes, goals. They don’t have to be grand. Things you want to accomplish by learning this. For example, a small goal might be writing your name beautifully.”

Rosette pointed to the names written elegantly in cursive in front of their notebooks. Evan had written these. Thanks to that, Rosette had to make considerable effort to bring Ariel’s attention back from tracing the letters with an enraptured expression.

“I want to learn how to read and write so I can have a romance with a noble.”

“Huh?”

Rosette blinked at the unexpected answer. Ariel held her notebook to her chest and raised her chin. It could have seemed arrogant, but coming from a child with such a cute impression, it looked adorable instead.

“I’m pretty, you know. But I’ve heard that just being pretty isn’t enough to mingle with nobles. They say you need to learn reading, writing, and proper etiquette. Isn’t that right?”

“Well, I suppose that could be true.”

Rosette answered while hiding her bewilderment. She wasn’t sure whether she should reveal the harsh realities of the world to a child not yet sixteen, or tell her to hold onto romantic notions.

“So, Ariel, you want to marry a noble?”

At those words, Ariel stared at Rosette for a moment before shaking her head.

“I know that nobles want partners who bring wealth and honor to their family. I’d be satisfied with just the scraps that fall from romance.”

Ariel seemed to understand the nature of nobility better than expected. After contemplating, Rosette clasped her hands and said.

“I see. Then let’s work hard for those scraps.”

“Yes, for the scraps!”

“F-For the scraps!”

After their conversation ended, Rosette looked at Levit. He had been listening to their exchange with a peculiar expression.

“Do you think so too, guest?”

“You should call me teacher, not guest.”

Rosette gently corrected him. She knew it would be difficult to change overnight after calling her “guest” for so long, but Rosette wanted to be called “teacher.”

“I’m sorry, teacher. Teacher, do you also think nobles should only marry nobles?”

“Well…”

To be honest, she didn’t. If that was the life she wanted, she would have married Stefan long ago. She ran away from home because she disliked that idea. After contemplation, Rosette decided to mix in some honesty.

“Some people might think that way. But I think if you truly love someone, it doesn’t matter.”

Rosette genuinely believed this. It was also a value instilled by the adventure romance novels that occupied a third of her bookshelf. Levit’s expression brightened upon hearing Rosette’s answer. Ariel looked at Levit and clicked her tongue. Rosette let out a small laugh at her adult-like behavior. Levit cleared his throat and carefully shared his own opinion.

“My goal is to learn how to read and write so I can get a job at the Merchant Guild. They say if you cross the desert by ship, you can sell cheap items for very high prices. That way, I’m going to become a great merchant. I’ll earn lots and lots of money.”

Levit’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. Rosette found it enjoyable to glimpse someone else’s dream.

“Why don’t you continue?”

“Be quiet.”

Levit replied curtly to Ariel’s slightly mocking words. Ariel didn’t mind and just giggled.

“Then Evan, what’s your goal?”

Rosette asked, pretending to be casual. Evan, who had been reading a book borrowed from the library, answered without hesitation.

“My goal is to be with Rosette.”

Seeing Rosette flustered by the unexpected answer, Evan smiled brightly.

“For a very, very long time.”

***

Rosette entered the bakery in Shopping Area 23. The savory aroma of bread tickled her nose. All sorts of sweet and moist breads tormented Rosette’s gaze. However, without hesitation, she approached and selected one large rye bread and one olive focaccia. The rye bread was cheap and large, making it good for meals, and the olive focaccia was a bread that both Evan and Rosette enjoyed. Rosette placed the tray with bread on the counter and handed over 40 bronze. The employee looked down at the money, then wordlessly wrapped the bread in a large plastic bag and handed it to her.

“It was true after all.”

Rosette muttered in disbelief as she left the bakery. She recalled the conversation she had with Ariel during class the day before yesterday.

“Ah, I thought I’d seen the teacher somewhere before, and that was it.”

“Huh? Where?

“The bakery in the shopping area. Teacher, you were asking the price of bread at the counter.”

“Wow, you remember that? You really have a good memory.”

Rosette marveled, but Levit and Ariel wore awkward expressions.

“Well, that bakery always charges 10 bronze extra whenever someone asks about the price.”

“What?”

“That’s why I remember it. Because you looked like such an easy mark…”

“….”

Rosette was silent for a moment before telling Ariel that “easy mark” was not a nice term. And today, by simply handing over money without asking, she was able to buy bread for 20 bronze coins cheaper. Rosette looked at the bread with a dejected feeling.

Rosette truly had been an easy mark…

The extra bread money she’d paid until now must have amounted to at least 2 silver. She always bought bread from that bakery because it was inexpensive. Rosette thought about complaining, but stopped when she saw the bakery owner feeding cats. Though she tried to think of it as ‘just consider it paying for cat treats,’ she couldn’t help feeling a bit indignant.

Rosette pushed out her lower lip as she grabbed the doorknob of the staff lounge. But before she could turn it, the door suddenly flew open.

“……!”

Startled, Rosette took a step back and froze, while a man bowed to her apologetically.

“Oh, excuse me.”

Looking at the well-dressed man, Rosette felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

“I didn’t realize someone was outside. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

The man smiled faintly. When his eyes curved, Rosette felt even more familiar with him. She tilted her head and asked.

“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

Rosette regretted her words immediately. It sounded like a pickup line. She worried the man might misunderstand, but she noticed him looking at her robe.

“You’re right, we’ve met before. I helped you once.”

Rosette finally remembered where she had met the man. He was the one who had rescued her when she was being harassed by a bald man on the second-class terrace. Rosette’s face brightened with recognition.

“Ah, I remember now. I was too flustered then to properly thank you. I’m really grateful.”

“Haha, it’s fine. But why were you trying to enter this room?”

“Oh, well… I wanted to teach some children how to read and write, but I don’t have a suitable place. I was thinking of teaching here.”

Rosette looked up at the man with a somewhat tense expression. She had heard that nobody used this place, but was the man using it? She had cleaned it diligently, but what if he told her not to use it?

“Ah, so that’s why the room was cleaned. I was surprised by how clean it was. I thought a fairy had visited.”

Rosette chuckled at how naturally the grown man mentioned fairies.