HSDOE 68

Chapter 68

 Three Minutes

“…Hit me. Quickly.”

Rescal whispered to Lasilia with his lips pressed against the towel’s edge.

Because their lips were touching, the command to hit became an impossibly sweet request.

“If you let go of the towel, I don’t think I need to hit you.”

Lasilia whispered back, causing Rescal to shudder slightly.

“I think I’ll need to hit you to let go.”

“No, I can let go.”

“…How do you know that?”

Lasilia knew because she could always get her way with him.

“Your Majesty has never failed to listen to me.”

“…”

Rescal breathed deeply, his lips still touching hers. His fingers, gripping the towel, twitched as if struggling to release it.

However, Rescal couldn’t bring himself to let go.

“Take it off yourself. I think my hands have gone stiff.”

His voice sounded so sulky that Lasilia silently laughed.

“Very well. Don’t strain your hands.”

“I understand… Just asking, but if I asked for more than this, would you get angry?”

“I wouldn’t get angry, but I would be disappointed.”

“Because I didn’t keep my promise?”

“Because that’s how it would feel.”

“…Then…”

The hand he had said had gone stiff was now released by him. For some reason, he suddenly wanted to kiss her.

“We should finish the bath now. It’s getting cold.”

But if they did that, they’d never leave this place.

Shaking off the lingering feeling, Lasilia stood up first, surprised at how difficult it was to rise.

‘Is this what they meant by discomfort? Maybe it’s just exaggeration.’

It might be an exaggeration… or not.

Either way, Rescal had kept her laughing since earlier.

“I’ll wait. …Close the door.”

“You need to change into a robe too, Your Majesty. You’re soaked.”

The word “soaked” felt a little embarrassing. It was the moisture transferred from the wet towel, so her chest area was mostly damp.

“Ah… I can’t go to the bed like this. You’ll be uncomfortable.”

Rescal quickly stood up.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Before that, I’ll escort you first. You should go into the bathroom.”

Lasilia laughed unconsciously again.

“Is escorting necessary?”

“I can’t leave first.”

It was a little hard to understand, but Rescal looked so resolute that Lasilia nodded.

“Then, I will.”

Lasilia stepped into the bathroom.

“Wait.”

Rescal, who had been holding the door as if about to close it, kissed her shoulder through her wet hair.

“It’s fine now. I’ll be back soon.”

Thud.

Finally, the door closed.

Lasilia returned to the tub, wiping the soap off with the now-cold water.

After drying with the new towel Rescal brought, she put on her pajamas. The strange sensation on her shoulder remained until she was done.

Rescal Was Three Minutes Late

If the Imperial Palace were just a bit closer, Rescal wouldn’t have been late.

But he was three minutes late, and three minutes were just enough time for Lasilia to pick up a book that caught her eye by chance.

“Still…”

Lasilia became absorbed in the book.

The writings left by her first partner were full of symbols and abbreviations, making it look like a complex mess of codes. But strangely, when she looked at it, she could almost understand it. Overlapping circles represented water, and inverted triangles represented fire.

“…Should I read more?”

Rescal asked, cautiously, from behind Lasilia.

“Yes. Just a little longer.”

“How much longer?”

“Just a little.”

“You said that earlier.”

“Just a little.”

“So, earlier…”

“…”

The sound of pages turning was the only answer.

Rescal sighed quietly, but Lasilia didn’t hear it.

“I’ll wait. …It’s fine. We’re in the same room.”

“Yes.”

It was clear from her tone that Lasilia wasn’t paying much attention.

Rescal, his lips twitching, changed his expression and added quietly.

“If you feel sorry for making me wait too long, it’s fine. If you kiss me, I’ll forget about it.”

“…Okay…”

Rescal grinned.

“It’s a promise.”

Lasilia nodded vaguely as she turned the page of the book.

Rescal sat across from her, admiring her face as she focused on the book.

Just watching her was enough fun. He would happily wait for her to finish the book. He knew Lasilia wasn’t the type to ignore a promise.

“…”

However, at some point, while flipping the pages, Lasilia closed her eyes without warning.

“Is this how you fall asleep?”

Rescal muttered in disbelief, but quickly rushed over, catching her body before she dropped the book.

Her energy drained, her body leaned into him, and Rescal gently pushed her tousled hair back from her face.

“That’s ridiculous… but cute.”

Rescal smiled as he shook his head.

Having fixed her hair, he lifted her into his arms.

Every time he carried her, he was surprised by how light her body was. But then again, Rescal had never carried anyone else, so he couldn’t compare.

“Is it okay, even though you’re this light?”

Rescal was serious.

“What if you vanish?”

That primal demon instinct stirred inside him, wanting to hold onto her tightly.

Trying not to wake her, he carefully moved toward the bed, laying her down and pulling the blankets up to her chin.

Her breathing was calm.

Rescal lay down beside her, his eyes fixed on her sleeping face, feeling deeply satisfied.

No. Not yet.

The demon’s voice, devoid of human highs and lows, sent chills through the air. But once you get used to it, it became something else entirely. The evenness of the voice made it feel like he would always be the same.

Why wasn’t it yet? He could do it.

On the other hand, his own voice sounded a little whiny.

• To handle a human heart, you need to see it all the way to the deepest bottom. I don’t think you want to do that.

It seemed absurd, and a laugh slipped out.

Don’t you think it’s too late to say that now?

I already learned to read human hearts. You, me, and no one else wanted this, but it happened.

• That’s why I’m so sad.

Stop. Don’t blame everything on me.

You gave me your heart. As long as it’s with me, I won’t be hurt. What else do you want to do?

He had no hesitation in giving. Even if it meant offering up the rest of his heart, he would do it.

So, it didn’t feel right for him to be sad.

You gave it to me.

So, I won’t see it as misfortune.

It’s my power. With that power, I will still trust humans. I will love them.

There’s no reason for you to be sad.

He gently stroked the scaly face, and the demon recoiled slightly.

• Be careful. Don’t cut your hand.

This much is fine.

The long process of mastering blood was just beginning.

For him to become entirely human, they still needed to spend a long time together.

But, I’m fine with that.

The longer we spend together, the more attached you’ll become to me.

Changing your heart will be as hard as the time I’ve endured.

He pulled the demon’s face closer, pressing his cold, stiff lips to hers, whispering.

Just wait. I’ll handle this power properly.

It’s all for you.

The dream ended as Lasilia woke up.

She opened her eyes feeling a mix of longing and regret.

The morning air was warm.

It wasn’t because the season was unusually warm, but because the emperor was sleeping beside her.

“Ah…”

She was under the blankets, while the emperor was outside them.

He lay with his hands neatly across his chest, eyes closed.

It was a bit surprising.

Given what she knew of him, she expected him to be in the same bed. If she had woken up to meet his gaze, it wouldn’t have been shocking.

But Rescal seemed to have intentionally kept some distance, as if trying not to touch her.

‘Or maybe… he’s pretending to sleep now that I’ve woken up.’

Having once pretended to sleep after waking up, Lasilia checked his breath. His breathing was steady and unchanged, confirming that he was genuinely asleep.

“Hm…”

This time, she gently tickled the tip of his nose with her fingernail.

At first, his nose twitched, then he sneezed and opened his eyes.

“Ah…?”

He looked slightly dazed, as if he had just woken up.

‘Oh no… he was really asleep.’

She suddenly felt sorry.

It was true that he had made sure not to touch the blankets to avoid disturbing her.

‘That’s really unexpected.’

Even though he often made strange requests and acted in ways she couldn’t understand, it always felt like he was making an effort. And when he couldn’t fulfill his odd demands, he seemed to give up on them.

‘He’s being careful. Because he’s waiting for something.’

And somehow, Lasilia felt herself becoming softer toward him.

She gently pressed down on Rescal’s shoulder.

“I think I woke you. Go back to sleep.”

Lasilia lifted the blanket for him.

Still not fully standing, Rescal asked, his voice calm.

“…What about you?”

“I’m done sleeping.”

“Then I’ll get up.”

Rescal sat up, his eyes a bit darker than usual.

“Did you not get enough sleep?”

“…Maybe. One day is fine.”

“Did you sleep late?”

“Mm.”

Rescal nodded.

“Then sleep some more. An hour wouldn’t interfere with your work.”

It was a bit earlier than usual.

“No. I don’t want to delay anymore.”

Rescal stubbornly refused, looking tired. If it were earlier, Lasilia would’ve brushed it off, but now, she was more concerned.

Maybe it was because of the demon dream. It was hard not to associate the demon in the dream with Rescal.

“You should sleep a little more.”

“No. I don’t want to delay any further.”

“What do you mean?”

“A kiss. You promised to kiss me when I finished reading the book.”

“…What?”

Lasilia had no recollection of this.

“When did I do that?”

“Yesterday. While reading the book. …Don’t deny it. I remember it clearly.”

“…”

If Lasilia hadn’t seen how Rescal had been sleeping, she wouldn’t have believed him.

Now she understood how he treated her. He wasn’t lying.

“I understand. I’ll kiss you after I wash up.”

Lasilia said as she got up, and to her surprise, Rescal was shocked.

“…So easily? I thought you’d deny it at least once.”

“I believe you’re not lying.”

“It’s not a lie. I really promised.”

“Then I’ll believe you.”

Lasilia nodded lightly and got up.

Before she left, Rescal urgently grabbed her sleeve.

“But why do you need to wash before kissing me?”