5. Chivalry

‘So warm.’

Spica burrowed into something toasty with her eyes closed.

‘When did I order a heater?’

She hated sleeping hot, but this felt pleasant, so it seemed like a dream. Well, if it were a heater, it would be hot rather than warm. It couldn’t smell this good either……

Then she heard low laughter from above her head. It seemed to be transmitted through her face pressed against the warm thing.

“You had this sleeping habit.”

A whispered question and the pressure of being held tightly.

Sleep fled completely.

‘Wait…… wait a minute. Why am I embracing Alkaid……’

The movements that had been rolling around behind her closed eyes from confusion stopped abruptly.

Why indeed? Memories from last night poured down like a waterfall reproachfully.

〈Relieving you from your heat cycle! I’ll help you!〉

〈Do you know how to do it?〉

〈Of course. ……In theory, at least.〉

From barging into Alkaid’s room recklessly to rattling off words that were tantamount to forcing him to like her, and.

〈Mmm, so hot…… good……〉

……Let’s stop remembering.

‘I must be crazy!’

Her face burned. Spica screamed inwardly with her eyes squeezed shut. How could a person do such things without even drinking?

‘No, I did have one drink…… but does that even count as alcohol? I wasn’t drunk at all!’

No matter how much Spica denied it, one drink was still considered alcohol.

‘First I should pretend to be dead…… no, pretend to sleep. Then escape when Alkaid briefly leaves.’

But there was something Spica overlooked. Since he was holding her tightly, her suddenly rising body temperature was also transmitted to Alkaid.

He stroked her disheveled hair and said.

“Did you sleep well?”

“……”

Don’t talk to me. Spica cried inwardly.

Oh dear, Alkaid clicked his tongue and muttered. When he lightly lifted Spica’s chin with his finger, the face that had been hidden in his embrace was revealed, showing her reddened forehead and cheeks.

It was a face he had watched all night until dawn broke. Though it was a short time, Alkaid learned several of Spica’s sleeping habits. Like her lips that parted slightly when she fell into deep sleep.

But now they were tightly shut like a clam with tension. Alkaid rubbed over them teasingly.

“I’d like to kiss you. Is that alright?”

“……”

Would she answer? Spica continued to maintain her pretense of sleeping, but Alkaid was one step ahead of her.

“If you don’t permit it, I’ll kiss you on my own.”

“……Whether I permit it or not, you’re going to kiss me anyway!”

It was absurd. Unable to endure any longer, she shouted and opened her eyes, and their lips overlapped.

“Mmph……”

His thick tongue skillfully parted her lips that hadn’t completely lost their swelling and entered. When their tongue tips touched and rubbed, Spica’s breathing trembled. In just one night, she had come to welcome the pleasure he gave.

But Alkaid didn’t continue the kiss deeply. He finished it briefly like giving a greeting and smiled while touching foreheads.

“This is how you wake Sleeping Beauty.”

Spica moved her lips then averted her gaze. If she continued making eye contact with Alkaid, she felt she would melt like ice cream under scorching sun.

‘He was originally kind, but now he’s really…… like someone determined to make my heart burst.’

Though Spica had confessed she liked him, they weren’t in a relationship that promised a future. Yet he treated her so affectionately just from spending one night together.

She liked Alkaid even more. No, honestly speaking, she wanted to completely possess him.

‘But…… won’t this person also try to leave someday like Lepus?’

Spica became frightened.

She feared the other person’s heart might change. And what was far more frightening than that was the beast-human characteristic — imprinting.

If an imprinting partner appeared, the beast-human would naturally choose their mate.

〈While anxiously wondering when and where an imprinting partner might pop up.〉

The curse she had thrown at Lepus in anger applied to Spica herself too.

Alkaid’s eyes narrowed then returned to normal from Spica’s momentarily revealed hollow expression.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“……Um, it’s been a while since I had a holiday. I was wondering what to do…… But Commander, where did you go and come back from?”

Spica asked, looking at Alkaid’s clothing that wasn’t sleepwear.

Though her evasiveness was obvious, instead of pressing her, Alkaid undid one more shirt button. Because it fit his body perfectly, just that made the shirt front open wide. When red marks were revealed between the gap, the sound of Spica’s heartbeat rising could be heard.

“I went to oversee the knight order’s training at dawn. I’m taking a brief rest now before the next schedule.”

“Oh, that’s right, the joint patrol starts today.”

His Highness the Crown Prince’s orders were absolute. Without needing the discussion that had dragged on for over a month, troops and funds were gathered in less than a day. Everyone tends to become cheerful and generous at banquets, so arranging such an occasion was intentional from the start.

“I’m glad I can watch you eat before leaving.”

“Eat?”

Alkaid who had risen from the bed brought the bed tray that had been placed on the desk.

When he opened the silver lid, a modestly prepared meal was revealed. Spica’s eyes widened.

“Wow! This is the first time I’ve eaten in bed since I was little.”

So that’s where the delicious smell was coming from. Spica who had been delightedly shrugging her shoulders soon pulled Alkaid’s elbow as he stood beside the bed and made him sit next to her.

“Let’s eat together.”

“Just watching you eat is enough for me……”

“Hey! You must be hungry after going to training since dawn, what are you saying.”

Spica stabbed a Scotch egg with her fork and offered it to Alkaid.

“Here. Eat it.”

“……You’re giving it to me?”

Alkaid’s expression that had seemed bewildered soon brightened completely. Having taken the peerless handsome man’s facial attack head-on, Spica unconsciously held up the fork with both hands.

“I, I’ll give it to you.”

“You don’t need to offer it like tribute.”

Oh. Spica laughed embarrassedly and removed one hand.

“Well, anyway. It tastes better when you eat together, right.”

“……Is that so.”

It was an awkward response that felt like he had never eaten with anyone before. Spica stared intently at his face then soon smiled brightly.

“We’re like newlyweds doing this. Right?”

“Cough!”

Alkaid coughed repeatedly. The unexpected words made a piece of egg get stuck in his throat.

‘Like newlyweds. Right? Like newlyweds. Right? Like newlyweds. Right? Like newlyweds. Right?’

Spica’s words echoed in his ears.

She handed Alkaid water and smiled even more brightly. She didn’t want to ruin the time she spent with him by being anxious about an uncertain future. She just wanted to fully enjoy this fluttery yet comfortable, fluffy feeling.

‘I can’t stop the anxiety that pops up suddenly, but when that time comes, there will be ways to overcome it then.’

However, happy times passed too quickly.

Since the meal was finished, she had to send Alkaid away, but she hated to let go of his hand because she felt regretful. Whether he felt the same, he held Spica for a long time before finally getting up from his seat.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. Oh, um……”

“Please speak.”

Alkaid waited, but Spica hesitated for a moment then smiled bashfully.

Though it bothered her that his speech had returned to formal language, now wasn’t the right time to ask about such things.

“Just, I was thinking it would be good if clues were found quickly. But don’t overdo it. Don’t get hurt, and be careful because there are tons of rats in the outskirts…… Um…… I think I’m nagging too much about useless things.”

“Not at all.”

Alkaid, who had kissed her prettily round forehead, opened the door.

“I’ll be careful. Please rest well.”

“Yes, see you later.”

Click. Spica’s figure waving her hand completely disappeared through the closing door gap.

The smile that had remained on Alkaid’s face disappeared likewise. He stood still with his hand on the doorknob and thought.

‘Should I…… lock it.’

The anxiety that had been writhing at the bottom since earlier crept up Alkaid’s legs and clung to him.

What was Spica thinking about. What was it that she didn’t tell him. Did she already want to escape. Would she run away even after knowing this wasn’t just enjoying sweet emotions temporarily but a relationship bound for life.

Anxiety was taking shape and whispering.

‘Think about Father. He smiled at Mother and made her let her guard down before fleeing.’

The result was that Father lost one foot.

‘If I melt the lock mechanism with aura, she won’t be able to get out.’

What Spica had given him was reality. Now he knew without having to confirm again.

Ironically, that made his anxiety grow even more. Because reality couldn’t be awakened from like a dream.

Alkaid’s eyes gleamed strangely. The doorknob infused with his power slowly began to heat up.

Then, from beyond the door came a small exclamation of “Waaah.” It was Spica’s voice, who had been holding her breath thinking Alkaid must have gone completely far by now, no, just a little more.

“I think I’m definitely dating Commander. I thought my heart would burst!”

The sound of hitting pillows and chattering soliloquy mixed together chaotically.

“Ah, I want to go with Commander too……”

Alkaid’s hand dropped from the doorknob with a thud.

Spica was naturally picturing being together with him.

“……”

The anxiety hadn’t disappeared.

But he didn’t want to confine such a person. Not right now.

Alkaid slowly turned around. Behind him, Spica’s murmuring became even quieter.

“I need to work harder. So I won’t be embarrassing to Alkaid.”

Alkaid smiled bitterly. Joy and dark emotions surged simultaneously.

From an ordinary human’s standards, a beast-human’s obsession would be at an absurd level. Among them, he knew well that he was even more twisted.

If he had been an ordinary human man instead of a beast-human, could he have given Spica normal love?

“……”

Alkaid looked up at the sky. Clouds hung thickly and gloomily. Like his guilt.

* * *

Though Alkaid had told her to rest well, Spica had no such intention.

“When Commander is personally going around the field, I should do something too.”

She couldn’t wield a sword to guard his back or run around following orders, but she could fulfill her role as an administrative adjutant. For example, handling unexpected paperwork from sudden operations would also be helpful.

Spica, who had been humming while taking her uniform from the wardrobe, stopped. Her gaze had touched the mirror. To be precise, her reflection in it.

“M, marks.”

Red marks were blooming on the lower part of her neck. She carefully pressed over them but it didn’t hurt.

“That’s a relief. Alkaid probably didn’t hurt either? I’m sorry for biting too much.”

Looking at it this way, it seemed like he had branded it as his own. When Spica’s thoughts reached that point, she blushed red up to her neck and hurriedly put on her clothes.

Alkaid’s traces were covered by her collar without needing to worry. Even so, it somehow felt like part of him remained by her side, so she bit her lips tightly and ran down the stairs.

A moderately cool breeze blew the moment she opened the front door and went out.

“There are many clouds today. There will be less sweat during training.”