Chapter 70

“Mm.”

A small moan escaped between her lips.

That single sound seemed to fuel Costance’s actions even further, as he pulled her waist into his arms.

Her legs lifted into the air, and her waist was raised high. Holding her tightly, Costance placed her on the table, sitting her down so he could kiss her more comfortably. He grabbed her arms and guided them around his neck.

Benny swallowed her breath and accepted him. He briefly pulled back to look down at her, only to lean in again, giving her no room to recover as he kissed her once more.

“Haah…”

Another moan slipped through her lips. Supporting her by the hips, Costance slowly carried her toward the bed.

“Meow.”

It was then that Irini, who had been lying on the floor, meowed under Costance. When they both looked down, they saw the cat rubbing its head against his leg.

Both Benny and Costance snapped back to reality at the same time.

“…Damn it. This wasn’t what I intended.”

Costance muttered, avoiding her gaze. After setting her down on the bed, he let out a deep sigh.

“What’s your answer?”

“…For now, I understand.”

Her words left Costance wide-eyed. Before he could get excited and hug her, she slipped under the blanket and lay down.

“Benny.”

“I haven’t made up my mind yet. I’m saying I’ll think about it.”

“I understand.”

He moved his hand to pull the blanket up to her neck. In the process, her skin brushed against his hand.

“Ah.”

She immediately pulled her body back.

“…”

Costance looked at her with an awkward expression.

“S-sorry. I’ll do it myself.”

Feeling embarrassed, she snatched the blanket from his hand and pulled it up to her neck. Unable to face him, she turned her back to him, and shortly after, Costance stepped away from the bed.

“Sleep well, Benny.”

Costance turned off the light and stepped aside, giving her space.

***

“Father, do you like math?”

The young girl asked. Nergal, who had been eating the dessert she brought him, nodded his head.

“And you?”

“I like it too. The answers are clear. But I don’t like humanities.”

“Hmm. Neither do I.”

At Nergal’s response, the girl grinned. For a week now, such small conversations had passed between the father and daughter.

“…”

That didn’t mean the two had completely grown close.

It was still awkward when they were alone, and they often ran out of things to say. But the girl considered this a “getting closer” phase.

“What do you like about math? A few days ago, Brother Alres taught me about calculus for the first time. It was hard.”

“I like calculus.”

“What about probability?”

“That too.”

The conversations usually consisted of the girl asking questions and Nergal answering them.

“What do you like?”

But today, for the first time, Nergal asked the girl a question.

Startled by the unexpected question, the girl looked at Nergal as if she had seen a ghost. Nergal tilted his head, not understanding her reaction.

“…I-I guess maybe amusement parks.”

“Amusement parks?”

Nergal repeated. Before coming to the laboratory, when she lived in a hotel, the girl often saw promotional flyers for amusement parks on the lobby bulletin board.

The flyers showed people with joyful faces, cute animals, grand buildings, and palaces that looked like something out of a fairy tale.

“There was a big amusement park near the hotel. I never got to go, though.”

Everyone who came from there carried bright smiles and the sweet scent of popcorn into the hotel.

“There aren’t any amusement parks near the laboratory, are there?”

“No.”

Nergal’s precise answer slowly erased the smile from the girl’s face.

“…I see.”

“Do you want to go?”

Nergal asked. The girl hesitated for a moment before nodding her head.

“Yes…”

“Then go.”

“But you need permission to leave the laboratory. And I can’t go alone. I need a guardian.”

“A guardian?”

“An adult. Like you, Father.”

The girl glanced at Nergal.

“I see.”

“Father… can’t you go with me?”

When Nergal didn’t give her the answer she wanted, the girl asked directly.

“No, I can’t.”

“…What about Brother Tiago or Sister Rene?”

“They could go.”

“Really?”

The girl’s face lit up with joy, and Nergal’s expression subtly changed. He noticed the blush on her cheeks and moved his stiff lips.

“Do you want to go that badly?”

The girl hesitated to answer.

“If you don’t answer, I won’t know.”

“I want to go.”

Seizing the opportunity, the girl answered quickly.

“I see.”

“Father?”

Nergal straightened his back. “The researchers will be back soon,” he said, and the girl’s expression darkened slightly.

The conversation ended there.

It had been a long time since she dreamed of her father.

In the dream, her father’s appearance was neat, and he seemed to glow as if bathed in light. Perhaps his face was a little different from how it actually was.

Looking around, she realized it was dawn. Yet, there was a faint light coming from the dining table.

“…”

Turning her head, she saw Costance sitting at the table with a single candle lit, deep in thought.

“Oh, Benny.”

Costance lifted his head, having noticed her presence.

“…Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I just couldn’t sleep. Did the light wake you?”

Costance pushed his chair back and stood up.

“No. I just slept too much.”

“You can rest some more.”

“When will you sleep, Costance?”

“I will sleep soon.”

Contrary to his words, Costance’s eyes were wide awake. Benny looked around the small cabin. Irini was asleep under a cushion, but there wasn’t a proper place for Costance to rest.

“Benny?”

“Sleep on the bed.”

“No.”

Costance hurriedly grabbed her arm and pressed her shoulder.

“I’m fine.”

His firm voice made her stop moving.

“Don’t get up, Benny.”

“…I just want to wash up.”

“Oh.”

Only then did Costance release her. Getting up from the bed, she glanced at the neatly arranged toothbrush, soap, and towel. Costance returned to the table, resuming what he had been doing.

She quietly entered the bathroom. As expected, the face in the mirror was a mess, pale and gaunt. To think she had faced Costance in such a state.

Feeling momentarily embarrassed, she picked up the showerhead and began washing herself. At that moment, this narrow, quiet bathroom felt like her utopia. She had missed this so much. She relished the clean water and pleasant scent as she thoroughly washed and scrubbed herself.

When she came out after her shower, Costance was still in the same spot.

“Did you finish your shower?”

“…Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Costance responded with a small smile instead of words. His bright eyes contrasted with the dark circles beneath them. This time, she grabbed his arm.

“Benny?”

“Sleep. On the bed.”

“I’m fine.”

Once again, he yielded to her.

His stubbornness frustrated her, and she swallowed the words she wanted to say. Instead, she decided to be a little more cunning.

“…Let’s go together.”

Her words left Costance wide-eyed.

“Benny?”

“Let’s go together. To the Papal States.”

Costance held his breath for a moment. Gradually, his focus returned, and his expression lit up with joy. His lips, which had been still, slowly parted.

“Benny.”

Unable to hide his delight, he called her name. Seeing him so happy made her chest ache. In truth, she hadn’t planned to stay with Costance.

If Costance were to face danger because of her, or even a hint of it, she would… She would push him away and escape on her own.

She would abandon him.

“So sleep here. Now.”

“H-but I…”

For some reason, Costance hesitated to move.

“I can’t sleep peacefully with you next to me.”

Time seemed to freeze.

Silence fell, and both of them stopped moving. The tension between them felt strange and precarious.

Clatter.

The sound that broke the stillness came from Costance’s chair falling over as he abruptly stood up.

“Ugh.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Like someone who had never known love and yearned for it desperately, his actions were urgent and fervent.

“Mm.”

“Haa… Benny.”

Costance looked at her with tearful eyes. When his hand touched her cheek, the one surprised wasn’t her but Costance himself. With wide eyes, he hugged her tightly and laid her down on the bed.

“Ah.”

He undressed himself, then started kissing her forehead and slowly moved downward. Shivering, she squeezed her eyes shut, but his words made her open them again and let out a gasp.

“Don’t close your eyes.”

His hand slipped under her clothes. The sensation of skin against skin made her head spin. Costance touched and felt every part of her. There wasn’t a single spot his hands or lips didn’t explore.

“I’ve wanted to do this with you for so long.”

After thoroughly exploring her, Costance finally spoke.

“If you keep closing your eyes, I’ll tease you.”

“Y-you’re mean.”

“You’re the mean one. Truly… Damn it.”

His voice cracked. Still on top of her, he grabbed her hand and placed it on his cheek.

“Truly, truly…”

Costance rubbed his cheek against her hand.

“Costance.”

“Do you understand my feelings now?”

“…Costance.”

“I love you.”