The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 4.2

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Rosette woke early in the morning. When she opened her eyes, Evan was embracing her from behind. Feeling Evan’s body temperature, memories from the previous night passed through her mind one by one.

After being carried back to the room on Evan’s back, Rosette barely managed to bathe before collapsing into bed. Then she began to feel truly ill from nightfall. Evan had treated all the large and small scratches from coral and seashells, but the problem was the internal injuries. Her esophagus and throat were hurt from vomiting seawater and stomach acid. The inside of her throat stung like when she had a throat cold, and her chest felt hot with concentrated heat near her heart. Seeing Rosette suffering while clutching her chest, Evan looked troubled before kissing her. The more Evan gave of himself, the more Rosette’s pain gradually subsided. Rosette craved Evan ravenously, like a starving young beast. She clearly remembered Evan saying, “Rosette, a little slower.” Then she fell asleep again, almost fainting. When she woke up, Evan was wiping her body with a towel. Far from being embarrassed, she only remembered complaining about the rough texture of the towel. And after he changed her clothes, she snuggled contentedly before falling asleep again. Rosette’s face turned bright red with belated shame.

“Haah…”

While covering her face, she heard a knock from outside. She thought it might be Levit, but it wasn’t time for breakfast yet. Evan, awakened by the sound, got up.

“Rest a bit more, Rosette.”

Evan put on his top and went outside. She heard the latch open and Evan talking to someone outside. Wondering what was happening so early in the morning, she hugged her pillow while looking toward the door when Evan turned around and said:

“Rose, I think you should come see.”

“Okay. Who is it?”

Rosette got up and slipped her feet into her slippers. She felt sharp muscle pain from her Achilles tendon through her calves, thighs, and b******s. Thanks to Evan’s kisses, it was only this bad; otherwise, she would have been bedridden for a while.

Rosette put on her robe and went outside to find an older woman in formal attire despite the early hour. She looked to be in her late 40s, perhaps three or four years older than Yvonne.

“Are you Rose?”

“Yes, but what’s this about…?”

“Viscountess Yvonne asked me to deliver this to you.”

Saying this, the woman handed over a box. It was clearly an expensive jewelry box. Taking it reflexively, Rosette felt its substantial weight.

“The Viscountess wishes to conclude this matter quietly.”

“…Does she think I would spread rumors?”

Rosette spoke, unable to hide her displeasure. In aristocratic society, attempted suicide carried a stigma that followed one until the act was successful. There was ample reason for someone to come so rudely early in the morning to silence her. Despite understanding this, she felt freshly angered.

After risking her life to save her, she was asked why she had saved her at all. If not for Evan, they both would have died. Shouldn’t an apology and thanks come before silencing? Rosette handed the jewelry box back to the woman.

“Tell her not to worry. I had no intention of talking about it even without this.”

The woman who received the jewelry box back looked troubled.

“For the sake of the Viscountess’s feelings, couldn’t you accept it?”

“I’m glad. I wanted to make her uncomfortable.”

“….”

“But I truly have no intention of spreading rumors. So you don’t need to worry.”

After a long silence, the woman opened her mouth.

“The person you saved is my employer, but also a friend of forty years.”

“….”

“Thank you for saving our lady. May God’s blessings be abundant in your brave life ahead.”

The woman bowed deeply to Rosette in gratitude. When the woman, old enough to be her mother, bent her waist so low, Rosette felt somewhat embarrassed despite her anger. She quietly watched the woman’s retreating figure before closing the door.

“Ugh, my robe is still wet. How unpleasant.”

The robe that had been soaked in seawater was dry on the outside but still damp inside. Rosette hung the robe on a hanger and then sat on the bed. Evan poured water and handed it to her. While drinking the water and staring intently at Evan’s face, Rosette exclaimed.

“Ah! I should have asked her to remove the malicious rumors she spread about you.”

“What rumors?”

“The ones that prevented you from working.”

“Ah, that. It’s fine now. It seems I’ll have work for quite a while.”

“Really? You can continue working?”

“Besides furniture securing, they’re going to do major inspections of the first, second, and third class sections. They asked me to keep working, so I agreed.”

“Well, I heard that interior renovations in first class were completely banned because of this incident.”

After the rooms were damaged by the storm, notices were posted on the ship stating that both those who changed interiors and those who helped them would be punished. Although punishment was already mentioned before, the fine had quadrupled. If caught once, it would cost nearly a year’s salary, so they would likely be cautious for a while.

Still, quite a few nobles were injured during this storm, and even those who weren’t had the rare experience of furniture flying around their homes, so room renovations might come to a complete end.

“Isn’t the work too hard?”

“This much is nothing. My strength is my asset, I’m fine.”

“If it gets too difficult, quit. I can support us once we get off the ship.”

“That’s reassuring, Rosette.”

Evan said with a bright smile.

“…I should have at least looked at what kind of jewel it was.”

Rosette clicked her tongue regretfully. She had returned it in a moment of anger. She didn’t regret it, but her heart ached a little.

“That woman wouldn’t have sent something cheap out of pride. We could have lived on it for months after reaching land, maybe even a year…”

“Should I call her back?”

“…No. I have my pride, too.”

Despite her words, Rosette seemed quite regretful, hugging a pillow and thumping the bed with her feet. Images of jewels circulated in her mind. The box had been heavy even without considering its weight, so perhaps it was a bracelet or necklace? Were the embedded stones sapphires? Rubies? No, it would have been peridot. She said they became wealthy because of a peridot mine. Suddenly, she felt even more regretful. She was thinking about pretending to give in and accepting it next time they met when Evan stroked her hair.

“What, what?”

Startled, Rosette turned around warily, and Evan said nonchalantly.

“Nothing, just that your hair seems quite long. Shouldn’t we dye and cut it soon?”

“Ah… Yes, we should.”

Rosette blushed while touching her considerably grown hair. When she glanced up at Evan, he looked as calm as ever.

“What?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Rosette turned her head away abruptly. She even pulled the blanket over herself, fearing he might hear her pounding heart. Not only had they seen each other naked, but Evan had even licked and bitten her body. Of course, it was part of the treatment. And just last night, when he only needed to transfer saliva, he had kissed her. Just like lovers would. After much hesitation, Rosette opened her mouth.

“…Evan.”

“Yes?”

“Am I precious to you?”

“Of course you are precious.”

Unlike before, when a single word about being precious would make her happy all day, her mood sank even further. The word “precious” has many meanings. Rosette cherished her parents, Becky, and Evan. But deep inside, her feelings for each were different. These weren’t feelings that could be lumped together under the single word “precious.”

In what way does Evan consider me precious? And I…?

It was still too difficult to understand. Rosette, whose head was aching from overthinking, decided to stop her thoughts. Just then, there was a knock from outside. Levit announced from the door that breakfast had arrived. Rosette erased her complicated expression before greeting Levit.