Tang Ayeon's house was nicer than I'd expected. Even if it's just for one person, I didn't think it'd be this big.
"Well, you need a lot of facilities for training. Poison research, practice…"
Now I got why she said she didn't use it often. Even I'd feel overwhelmed living alone in a place this huge.
"You locked all the doors, right?"
"…Yes."
After confirming every door in the house was shut, I placed my hand on the hood of my cloak.
Thump thump.
My heart started racing at the thought of showing someone my face after hiding it under this cloak for so long. Master told me to keep it covered—would it really be okay to ignore that? The question kept nagging at me.
This was my last chance to decide.
Lower the hood and reveal my face—
Rustle rustle.
I decided to trust Tang Ayeon and show her.
Slide.
The hood, which had somehow kept my face obscured, came down, losing its effect, and my face was exposed to the open air.
Tang Ayeon froze solid the moment she saw it.
"…There, done?"
Personally, I didn't want to keep it out for long. I'll admit it's handsome and cute, but it didn't quite fit a grown adult's body and face. In a brutal world of blood and steel like this, I knew what could happen if I looked too soft—I couldn't afford to flaunt a frail appearance.
"Ah…"
"Why're you staring like that? First time seeing a face?"
I sighed inwardly at her dazed expression and reached for my hood again.
"I kept my promise, so I'm heading out. I want to taste that liquor soon."
Ignoring her lack of response, I turned toward the door—
Thud!
…Huh?
It took me a second to process what happened. My view shifted abruptly—I was looking at the floor now, with pain shooting through my knees and stomach, and a weight pressing on my back.
"Miss…?"
It didn't take long to realize Tang Ayeon had tackled me down.
"W-What's this all of a sudden—"
"…Why are you trying to run away?"
"Run away? What are you talking about—"
"You were going to leave. Alone."
Something was off about Tang Ayeon. This wasn't the gentle woman I knew.
"You teased me so much… got me all worked up… and now you're just going to ditch me? What about me, huh?"
When I turned my head to meet her eyes, I saw the flames of desire blazing in them. A fierce, explosive fire, like a bomb she'd been suppressing had finally gone off.
That's when I realized what kind of desire she was harboring.
Lust…
Her ragged breathing, her hands roaming over my body through my clothes, and those eyes burning like a volcano—
I was a herbivore frozen before a predator, unable to react.
Even so, my mouth opened—probably my instincts warning me. This was bad.
"What teasing did I do…?"
"You asked me to watch over you all day. Showed me a body you don't show anyone else. Said I'm the only one for you. Said you love me. You said it all yourself."
"That… that was a joke!"
"A joke?? A joke????"
"Eek…"
Her face suddenly loomed closer.
"Do you have any idea? How my heart reacts to every single word you say? How my head spins? It's torture. Every day's a struggle to control myself when I hear those tempting words from that sly tongue of yours. And you call it a joke?"
"M-Miss… you seem really worked up—calm down a bit—"
"Do I look like I can calm down? Just today, how much did you tease me? You kept refusing to show your face, then said you'd do it if I took you somewhere private—how is that not teasing?"
My face went pale. I never imagined my words and actions came off like that.
"You teased me like that, and with a body and face like this… how am I supposed to hold back…?"
Her hand caressed my face. The heat of her desire seeped through my skin, giving me chills.
"…W-Wait a sec. I've got something to say."
I couldn't let this happen. Look at those lust-filled eyes. This wasn't something I could handle in just one night. And if she went through with it today? If she did it once, what's stopping her from doing it again?
…I've got to stop this somehow.
Even if her emotions were exploding now, who knows what'd happen after? Worst case, I might never escape her grip.
I racked my brain and finally blurted out the one thing I thought might work—
"Actually, I've already got a woman I'm seeing, so doing this…"
Not realizing it was the worst move I could've made.
When he lowered that strange cloak and revealed his face, it was beyond words. If I had to borrow some I knew—
A beauty to topple kingdoms.
That phrase didn't do it justice. If the imperial court were full of women, this man's looks could've shaken the nation—no doubt about it.
So it's not my fault I can't control myself right now. After all that teasing, seeing a face like this—even a Taoist monk honing their discipline couldn't resist, I'd bet.
It's all his fault. He's the bad one for tempting me. He's the bad one for looking this seductive.
"Haa… haa…"
I never imagined my first time would be me taking someone. At this point, I'm not sure I even qualify as the aggressor, but I didn't want to give him a bad experience.
I'd said I'd make him regret being born a man, but that was half a joke—
It'd probably be the first time for both of us, and I didn't want to taint it with something awful from the start.
Just in case(?) something like this happened, I'd been carrying a certain drug. With this, we could both enjoy the pleasure without any burden—
That's what I'd thought.
"Actually, I've already got a woman I'm seeing, so doing this…"
Snap.
Until I heard that.
"…Ha."
He already has a woman?
Now, of all times?
"Haha…"
After all that teasing. After making my heart race. After shyly showing me that face.
"Hahahaha…!"
Now?
"Don't joke about this."
●
Who are you waiting for?
I'm right here.
I'm thinking of you this much—why?
Why!!
"…Haha…"
It's okay.
You didn't do anything wrong.
You're just hurting a little right now.
I'll fix you.
Click.
Sleep it off, and everything will be fixed by morning.
I'll make sure you never think of that woman again.
Oh, it's not "fixing"—it's "healing," right?
No, "fixing" is the word.