Ariel’s eyes slowly traced Lionel’s neck before darting to the floor as if it burned. Only the quiet crackling of the candle filled the room. Though it wasn’t cold, goosebumps kept rising on her exposed arm. Ariel spoke with a feeling of drying blood.

“Um, I’m really sorry to bother you when you’re tired.”

Ariel opened and closed her mouth several times before clenching her fist as if making a decision. Since she was already here, she thought she might as well say something.

“Can I ask you one favor, Lionel?”

“…What is it?”

Lionel, who would usually refuse outright, asked calmly. His gaze lingered on Ariel’s shoulder that he had touched earlier.

The shoulder he had just twisted. It was a slow, yet somehow peculiar gaze. At the same time, there was a warm light that seemed to emanate from it. Feeling strangely ticklish, Ariel fidgeted with her fingers.

“I failed to join the subjugation team again this time.”

“…That’s expected. You have almost no holy power, Ariel.”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Lionel’s drunken, relaxed gaze finally landed on Ariel’s face. His slightly parted red lips looked sensual. Ariel took a deep breath and spoke.

“Holy power… it can be transferred, right?”

“……”

“Could you share some of your holy power with me, Lionel?”

After she managed to say it, silence fell again. The warm room now felt outright hot. Various emotions flickered in Lionel’s lilac eyes, and when he blinked and lowered his head, he spoke.

“Are you asking to touch bare skin?”

“Yes. Just once! Just enough to join the subjugation team!”

“I refuse.”

The answer came immediately. Although she had somewhat expected it, Ariel didn’t give up.

“Just once is enough. If it’s too much, we can just hold hands…”

“…It’s inappropriate.”

His refusal made her throat dry. Thinking this might be her only chance made it even worse. Ariel involuntarily blurted out something she didn’t mean.

“I can’t go to someone else…”

The moment Ariel said that,

“Ah!”

A hot hand tightly gripped her wrist. Ariel flinched in surprise, and so did Lionel, who had grabbed her wrist.

“……”

An awkward and stiff silence settled between them again. The tension felt like it could snap at any moment, pressing down on the back of Ariel’s neck. The heat from their touching wrists was overwhelmingly hot.

“…Li-Lionel.”

Gathering her courage from the touch, Ariel slowly reached out to Lionel. The moment her fingertips brushed his chin,

“…No one else.”

“What? But…”

“Absolutely no one else. It’s late now…”

Lionel, speaking in a somewhat thick voice, withdrew his body slightly and turned his gaze to the door. Ariel quickly noticed his intention. He was trying to send her out of the room.

‘Not yet!’

As anxiety gripped her, Ariel lunged at the sofa where Lionel was sitting before he could fully stand up. She sat on his lap, facing him.

“……!”

It wasn’t a big deal. To Ariel, this was a familiar tactic she had used since childhood. Whenever she clung to him like this, Lionel would freeze and couldn’t move or run away. She hadn’t used it much since they were kids, but she didn’t expect to use it again now.

Just like back then, Lionel froze and frowned.

“Ariel.”

“Then you should help me!”

“That’s…”

“You said no one else can do it, but you won’t help me either. That’s unfair!”

As her suppressed voice burst out, Ariel pressed her body down harder. Their bodies were now even closer.

Creak.

She thought she heard the sound of teeth grinding. She could feel Lionel’s rock-hard thighs and groin against her soft bottom. Lionel clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, unable to decide what to do.

“Get up.”

“N-No.”

“If you don’t get up now.”

His voice trembled slightly. Lionel took a deep breath.

“…I don’t know what might happen.”

Was he implying he might resort to violence, like when he twisted her shoulder? It was a rather intimidating statement, but she didn’t feel like getting up. The strong smell of wine stimulated Ariel’s senses. She could feel Lionel’s breath near her ear.

Feeling this, Ariel’s thighs trembled slightly. When Lionel tried to stand up again, Ariel pressed down with all her weight and shouted.

“No! I won’t get up!”

“Ariel.”

“You have the most powerful holy power. Just a little, just a tiny bit!”

Ariel pressed her body against his as she spoke. Though she mentioned others, she had no intention of going to anyone else.

“Ugh.”

Lionel groaned softly. Her soft, plump chest pressed against his broad, firm chest. Unlike other times, Lionel’s bare chest felt the full impact of Ariel’s rounded flesh due to his loosened attire.

Ariel felt it too, but it was too late to be embarrassed. They were at least engaged, so this level of contact was fine.

‘Yes. This much is okay.’

Ariel’s fingers trembled slightly as she rolled her eyes, then slowly lowered her hand, trying to remove Lionel’s glove. Lionel frowned and withdrew his fingertips, reminding her of the first time he had pushed her hand away.

‘…Please, don’t push me away, Lionel.’

Ariel looked at Lionel’s deepening frown without letting go of his hand.

‘You don’t really hate me, right?’

The moment she asked herself this,

“…Haa.”

Lionel, realizing he couldn’t push her away without touching her, sighed. Ariel finally managed to remove his glove and intertwined her fingers with his.

“What about just holding hands? We’ve held hands often since we were kids. It’s not that embarrassing…”

“It’s more accurate to say I was ‘dragged around’ rather than you ‘holding hands.'”

As she tightly laced their fingers together, Lionel’s frown deepened. Ariel felt the texture of his firm knuckles while admiring his beautiful, frowning face. His always dry, large hand was now inexplicably damp. Feeling this, the tension heightened.

“Just help me once.”

Her voice trailed off almost to a whisper. She became increasingly aware of their touching bodies. Scenes from the romance novel quickly flashed through her mind and faded. Lionel, still frowning, licked his lips and replied.

“Whether it’s difficult or not, it won’t work. You have too little holy power to begin with…”

“I heard it can grow with consistent training.”

“Consistent.”

“Yes, consistent…”

She was about to say that helping her once would be enough for now when,

“You want to keep doing this with me consistently.”

Lionel’s grip tightened. Ariel was at a loss for words. His statement weighed heavily on her heart.

The scent of wine intensified. Lionel, clutching his forehead as if he had a headache, opened and closed his lips several times.

“I…”

Lionel shook his head as if he was trying to gather his thoughts.

“…It’s difficult right now.”

“Lionel!”

“Don’t go to anyone else. I’ll find an opportunity next time…”

“When is next time? You’re going on another subjugation in a few days, aren’t you?”

Even if he said they’d do it next time, she didn’t know when he’d return from the subjugation. Ariel’s heart was burning with anxiety. Every day was crucial for her.

“I’ll make time soon… Hup!”

At that moment, Ariel covered Lionel’s mouth with her own. Realizing what she had done a beat too late,

‘Did I just…’

Had she kissed Lionel?

By the time she realized, their soft, sensitive flesh was already touching. Lionel’s face froze in shock. The breath mingling between their parted lips smelled strongly of alcohol. Ariel felt as if she were getting drunk herself. Suddenly, an unfounded courage surged within her.

‘In dreams and romance novels, they…’

Ariel tried to replicate what she had only done theoretically and in dreams.

Carefully, she slid her tongue into Lionel’s mouth, causing his lilac eyes to widen, scattering the candlelight. Up close, his eyes were even more beautiful.

‘Ah.’

She couldn’t help but marvel as she began to nibble and suck on Lionel’s tongue. It was an awkward and stiff beginner’s attempt, knowing only the theory and not the practice, but Lionel made no move to push her away. The wet sounds of their lips continued awkwardly but steadily.

“Hmph.”

After a while, her jaw began to ache. Ariel pulled away from Lionel, feeling breathless. Lionel’s fingertips twitched as he briefly held her waist, then quickly let go in surprise.

“Was it good, Lionel?”

Whether it was from the transferred drunkenness or lack of breath, Ariel’s face was hot and her vision spun. Lionel, too, had a dazed expression for a moment before suddenly standing up at her question. His neck was entirely red.