Chapter 7.1 – And Then… That’s How It Was

“Marchento!”

A few days later, on the first-floor lobby of the academy’s main building, Luel’s friends, who hadn’t seen him around the campus for a while, excitedly rushed toward him.

“Where’ve you been all this time?”

“Were you sick?”

“What’s with the administrative office?”

“Were you going for a confession or something?”

“Well…”

Luel’s lips twitched into a faint smile.

Where had he been? Busy spending time with Dania, of course.

As memories of the blissful past few days flooded his mind, Luel felt his chest—not to mention other parts of him—swell with satisfaction.

“Look at this guy’s face. It’s annoying me.”

“Did your family strike gold or something?”

“Marchento’s family wouldn’t be excited over gold. It’d have to be a diamond mine at least.”

As his friends speculated, unable to decipher the meaning behind his slightly flushed expression, someone brought up another topic.

“By the way, Lancaster hasn’t been around either these past few days. Was she sick too?”

Lambert, who had never even spoken to Dania but secretly thought she was as cute as a hamster, tilted his head curiously.

Now that they thought about it, both of them had been absent at the same time… As suspicion flickered in their narrowed eyes, an administrative staff member called out to Luel.

“Marchento! Please come in! You need to fill out the donation form and then head to the chapel.”

“Donation form? Chapel?”

“You’re not… no way…”

For someone not particularly devout to suddenly visit the administrative office and the chapel, there was usually only one reason.

“Now, of all times?”

“Why would our resident saint suddenly…”

“Don’t tell me…”

“Is it really…?”

Their eyes narrowed further.

For five years, no matter how wild their parties got, Luel Marchento had never once crossed the line. And now, he was finally about to receive the purity blessing?

The reason why he had remained abstinent was well-known among his friends, so if he was now going out of his way to undergo contraceptive magic…

“You thief!”

The first to voice their suspicions was Bertling, another one of Dania’s admirers.

“How could you lay a hand on that small, sweet girl?”

How could he not? There were too many reasons.

Even as Bertling’s sharp jabs landed on his shoulders and arms, Luel couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face.

Her skin was so soft, her body so warm, and her taste so addictive. He had spent the past few days savoring every inch of her, yet he couldn’t wait to indulge again. The thought of receiving the blessing and then being able to enjoy her freely made his heart—not to mention other parts of him—race with anticipation.

Suppressing his excitement, Luel tried to maintain a composed expression. He didn’t want his friends to start imagining things about Dania, but his happiness was impossible to conceal.

“Well, see you in Langsen later!”

With a playful wink, Luel disappeared into the chapel, leaving his friends glaring at his smug retreating figure.

“Is he saying we’re invited if he sets a date?”

“That jerk followed Lancaster here for her studies, and now he’s ditching us in an instant.”

“So, he doesn’t even need to graduate anymore?”

“Wait, if they’re setting a date, what about Lancaster? Is she giving up on her exams?”

“Why would Lancaster throw away her dreams for Marchento…?”

***

“Dani!”

As Dania exited the Theology building after her study session with Mikhail, Luel, who had been loitering near the entrance and attracting plenty of attention, suddenly grabbed her in a back hug.

What’s going on with them?

They know each other?

Why are they so close?

Is this how people from Langsen greet each other?

While the academy students knew that Luel Marchento, the popular figure, and Dania Lancaster, the model Theology student, were both from Langsen, they hadn’t realized the two were this familiar with each other. The murmurs around them grew louder.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home?”

“I missed you, so I came to pick you up. Let me carry that.”

Ignoring the stares, Luel pressed kisses to the top of her head and her cheek, making it clear for everyone to see. He easily took her heavy Theology books into one hand, while the other hand intertwined with hers.

Any pretense of restraint had long since vanished. He was doing everything he had wanted to do.

“Hey, this is the academy…”

“So what?”

“This isn’t even your department’s building. Stop it, okay?”

“Mm!”

Dania’s flustered words were cut off by Luel’s brief kiss.

Did you see that? Did you see that? 

The crowd, stunned by the unexpected pairing, gawked in disbelief.

But Luel didn’t care. It was as if he was making up for all the times he had held back, showing the world just how smitten he was with Dania. He couldn’t stop smiling, his gaze never leaving her face. He treated her with such care, as though she were a delicate treasure.

“Dani.”

“Yeah?”

“Just holding your hand is driving me crazy.”

“…”

He didn’t specify what part of him was affected, but the meaning was clear. Dania’s face turned bright red, both from embarrassment and irritation at his shamelessness.

“Why are your hands so small that they squeeze mine like this?”

“Be quiet, Luel Marchento.”

Her voice, strained through gritted teeth, trembled slightly, as though she were on the verge of tears. The sound reminded Luel of their moments together in bed, and he couldn’t help but feel a stirring below.

“Let’s hurry home, okay?”

“…”

***

“Ah, slow… slower, ah…!”

“Damn, even the way you moan… it’s driving me insane.”

Thud, thud. The sound of the console table near the entrance bumping against the wall and floor echoed through Luel’s apartment.

His hurried movements left no room for subtlety. With his pants barely pulled down, Luel thrust into Dania, who was perched on the edge of the console.

Dania wasn’t much better off. Her underwear hung loosely around her ankles, caught on her shoes, as she accepted his movements beneath her skirt. Her bare hips rested precariously on the edge of the console, which creaked with every push of Luel’s hips.

“Ha, Dani, you were turned on outside too, weren’t you?”

“No… ah, no!”

“Then why are you so wet…?”

The wet sounds of their union grew louder as Luel deliberately moved harder, a teasing smile on his lips.

It wasn’t her fault. After everything they had done, even a slightly lingering kiss was enough to make her body react instinctively.

Swallowing her retort, Dania gripped the edge of the console, barely managing to endure Luel’s relentless pace.

It had only been four days since their first time. And three days since Dania had moved into Luel’s apartment.

Three days ago, after Dania had barely managed to endure Luel’s relentless advances for the fourth time and had fallen into an exhausted sleep, she awoke late in the morning. There was an unfamiliar note slipped under her door.  

Lancaster, are you okay? You seemed to be in pain last night. If you need any medicine, let me know. I can go to the infirmary for you. 

It was a note from Michella, who lived on the same dormitory floor. The moment Dania read it, she couldn’t tell if her face had turned bright red or deathly pale from embarrassment.  

Had my voice been that loud despite trying so hard to muffle it…?  

On the other hand, even though Luel had made the entire room shake with his movements during their most intense moments, there was no mention of that in the note.  

Perhaps the innocent and devout image she had cultivated over the past five years had worked in her favor. Prejudice was a powerful thing.  

Should I feel relieved about this? Or should I be mortified? 

Overwhelmed by shame, Dania found herself wishing she could disappear into the embrace of the Holy Spirit.  

〈Why, Dani?〉  

At some point, Luel, who had been curled up on her single bed and had fallen asleep with her, had woken up and was now leaning against her back. To her dismay, his bare lower body was once again showing signs of excitement, but she forced herself not to pay attention to it.  

〈You’re really driving me crazy!〉  

Dania’s harmless little fist weakly pounded against Luel’s firm chest. Though it didn’t hurt him in the slightest, he pretended to wince in pain as his large hand gently wrapped around her small one.  

〈Dani, you seemed so exhausted yesterday, but now you’re full of energy again?〉  

The reason why Dania was hitting him wasn’t important to Luel at the moment. Having tasted her properly for the first time the day before, nothing was more important to him than experiencing that pleasure again.  

But Dania wasn’t about to let it slide this time. After much effort, she managed to convince him to agree to her moving out.  

Her reason was simple: she was too embarrassed to face the other students on their dormitory floor.  

Even without this incident, staying at Luel’s place wouldn’t have been a big deal. But after this, it felt even less of a concern.  

Luel, of course, had no reason to refuse. The idea of being able to spend every night and morning with Dania filled him with joy.  

Instead of mornings spent imagining Dania alone to calm his desires, he could now wake up with her in his arms. Instead of wasting time at parties with friends he didn’t care about, he could spend his nights watching Dania pour her heart into her studies.  

In truth, Dania’s decision to move into his place was less about stopping him and more about offering him a bigger incentive to calm down.