She twisted her body slightly, but strong arms wrapped around her instead. She stared into his golden eyes.

“It’s okay to take it slow.”

Zephion whispered again, his fingers toying lightly with Reina’s earlobe. It was such a small touch, yet why did it feel more intoxicating—more *rotic—than anything else?

Everything about him felt strange and unfamiliar. His warmth, his body—everything. After a long moment of hesitation, she parted her lips and let her tongue slowly trace along his.

‘Just once.’

If she gave him this, surely he’d realize a kiss wasn’t such a big deal—surely he wouldn’t ask again.

But then, a low chuckle brushed against her ear. The arms around her waist tightened, pulling her closer.

When had he become such a man?

The weight of his chest pressed against hers, firm and unyielding, every contour of solid muscle making her acutely aware of how much he’d grown.

Reina slowly pushed her tongue between Zephion’s lips.

“Hmm.”

Her fingertips tingled at his satisfying m*an. She slowly traced her fingers over his neat teeth and licked the inside of his mouth.

She felt a little guilty. It felt as though she were doing something wrong with a child.

“No, a child is right.”

Even as an adult, all of this is new to her, so she experiences it in the same way as a child would. She slowly wrapped her tongue around his, which waited quietly for her.

“Haa, ah.”

Zephion let out a low, shuddering sigh, tilting his head back further as he responded with almost startling intensity to her movements.

She tried to calm the insistent sweep of his tongue, gently guiding it as their mouths moved together, their flesh brushing in a slow, tentative rhythm.

It felt as though they were both teaching and learning at once, exploring each hesitant touch. Reina, suddenly realizing how focused she had become, opened her eyes wide in shock.

And there she was—reflected wholly in his golden eyes, filled with nothing but her, as if he had been watching her alone all this time.

She couldn’t tell how long they had been like this—minutes, hours? It felt at once like the briefest instant and an endless eternity.

“Now…”

She began, but Zephion cut in with a quiet murmur.

“My turn.”

When she tried to turn away, his large hand gently cradled her cheek, guiding her back to him.
Their lips—already warm, already damp—met once more.

Just as she had shown him, his tongue traced the shape of her mouth before slipping deeper, gliding over her teeth and along the tender curve inside her cheek.

“Ah…”

A soft sound slipped from her as she squeezed her eyes shut. Every sensation seemed to sharpen—the way his tongue circled, coaxed, exploring her as though desperate to learn everything about her.

Her hand, trembling where it rested on his shoulder, betrayed the storm inside her.

Each time she tried to pull away, his hand held her fast, drawing her back into a kiss that was slow, searching, relentless. Her thoughts tangled in the haze, dissolving beneath the heat of it.

She had never imagined a kiss could feel this electrifying—so overwhelming it rivaled everything she’d ever known.

Was it because the one kissing her was Zephion? Or was it simply the wonder of sharing someone’s very first kiss?

The movement of his tongue swirling inside her mouth grew more skillful with every passing moment. Each time he delved deep enough to steal her breath, he exhaled a rush of hot air, leaving her gasping.
Even Reina, despite herself, was flushed and burning from the heat he stirred within her.

“Haa, ha…….”

After struggling helplessly, her groans muffled between their lips, Reina finally managed to break free.
She stared blankly at Zephion, her mind utterly void of thought.

She could only feel the slow, deliberate stroke of his strong thumb against her damp lips. Her tongue, the inside of her mouth—both felt strangely cool.

No… it wasn’t cold. It was that she was burning, consumed entirely by the heat of her own excitement.

“Do a little more.”

Zephion whispered softly and lightly pressed her lips together, spreading them apart. His red tongue slowly entered inside.

“Ah…….”

Reina moaned softly and hugged the man’s back.

***

“Reina.”

“……Yeah.”

She replied slowly, still in a bit of a daze. Her lips, mouth, and tongue all throbbed faintly from kissing all night long.

‘You’d think it wasn’t even his first kiss.’

No—it was his first kiss. Reina let out a quiet laugh.

Despite having kissed her endlessly, Zephion was still gently brushing her lips with his fingertips, as if it hadn’t been enough.

“Marry me.”

That snapped her back to reality.

“What?”

“Marry me, Reina. I told you—I’d take responsibility.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why is it ridiculous? I’m an adult now. I can get married, and I can take care of you.”

“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

“I won’t regret it.”

Reina shoved him away, her movements rough.

“I might not have much to give you right now, but I’ll find something—anything.”

“Pipi…”

“That’s why… marry me.”

He stood up from the sofa. As soon as she reached for her cane, Zephion grabbed it and threw it aside.

“Zephion!”

“Let’s leave this place. Whether we leave and get married, or get married and then leave—I don’t care.”

“I have no intention of marrying you!”

“Then what, you’re just going to live like this forever?!”

He shouted, voice trembling with anger.

“How long are you going to keep spreading your legs for Kaelid?!”

At those words, Reina couldn’t hold back—she slapped him hard across the face. But Zephion barely flinched. He clenched his jaw and met her glare head-on, almost as if daring her.

“What? Did I look too stupid to figure it out?”

“Stop.”

“Or is it because you still see me as some innocent little boy?”

“I said stop.”

“Stop.”

“You probably never once thought about how it feels… watching the woman I love fall into another man’s arms every single day.”

His fists clenched tightly.

“I told you I’d protect you. I’ll cherish you more than that man ever could. I’ll love you the way you deserve. So please… marry me.”

“Don’t say such… ridiculous things.”

Her voice trembled faintly.

“I don’t care where we go—as long as it’s not here. Anywhere, as long as we’re away from this place.”

‘Who was the one who ruined her only chance to escape?’

He had taken that path from her, shut every door—and now he was saying anywhere but here?

“You don’t even have to marry me. Just… leave this place. I’ll take responsibility.”

 “I don’t care if you don’t love me. Just… don’t stay here anymore!”

“Pipi…”

“I’ll protect you. I’m stronger than Yuta now. So please…”

“It’s not something I can just walk away from.”

She said bitterly, pushing away the boy clinging to her like a child.

“You don’t know how it feels… every time that man comes to me.”

If despair had a voice, surely it would sound like his.

She looked down at him as he sank to his knees, clinging to her—refusing to let her go. Wasn’t this unfair? He made it impossible for her to move, and now he was the one begging?

“Do you love him?”

“…Of course not.”

“Then why can’t you leave?”

She slowly ran her fingers through his dark hair.

“We’d be running for the rest of our lives.”

“I don’t care.”

“One day, you’ll hate me.”

“You know that’s not true. You know it better than anyone.”

His arms tightened around her waist. The lips that had kissed her so desperately now trembled with tears.

“Please… I’m begging you.”

Zephion looked up at her with tear-filled eyes, silent and pleading.

“It’s okay if you don’t love me. You don’t have to marry me. Just… leave this place. Anywhere. Just… don’t go back to him anymore.”

“Pipi…”

Reina brushed her fingers gently over his tear-soaked lashes. A droplet fell, leaving a faint mark on the hem of her skirt.

“I’ll protect you. I won’t let him touch you ever again.”

His cheeks, once flushed with passion, were now red with quiet sobs.

“This… is what you wanted to do once you became an adult?”

“Yes.”

“To throw everything away and run?”

Zephion nodded.

“I hate feeling this helpless. I’m not a child anymore.”

“Even if you’re legally an adult, nothing’s changed between yesterday and today. All that’s different… is that you’ve aged by one more year.”

“But you kept saying it—when you’re an adult, once you’re older! Every time! You said it over and over again!”

Reina turned her gaze toward the ceiling.

‘How easy it would be… if she could really leave everything behind and run away with him, just like he said.’

There was a time when she had dreamed of that, too.

“I waited until I became an adult… so why are you saying nothing has changed?”

Hot tears soaked her palm.

‘Can I really tell him the truth?’

Could she do something that would undoubtedly wound him—this boy who was clinging to her so desperately?

She wasn’t sure anymore.

A part of her thought: Maybe it’s okay to bury everything and just live like this. She wouldn’t be able to leave—but at the very least, Zephion could live happily, never knowing hatred.

But she also knew it was already too late.

“Reina…”

Even as an adult, he still seemed like a child.

To Reina, who had never once laid her emotions so bare, the way he exposed his own heart so completely felt unbearably raw.

She lowered her head and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead as he cried.

“Reina… please…”

However, she gave no answer to his desperate plea.