Ch.360Chapter 360: Epilogue – Evening (4)

After bowing to Alcor, I left the dining hall and headed toward the guest room.

It was the same path I had taken yesterday.

However, even though it was a familiar route, I couldn’t help but draw more attention than yesterday.

Yesterday, I had also taken Shizu from the dining hall to the guest room.

Back then, at least she could maintain her balance enough to actively lean into me, so there was no discomfort in moving.

Today, unlike yesterday, I was carrying Shizu in what one might call a “princess carry,” which drew even more attention from the already curious onlookers.

A bitter smile formed on my lips as I wondered if this was really just the result of a difference in posture.

And as if that bitter smile was a signal…

*Murmuring noises*

The whispers of people focusing their gazes on Shizu and me spread to my ears.

As many different reactions as there were people present reached me in the form of murmurs.

Some showed ordinary reactions, seemingly understanding my intentions toward Shizu, though without much emotion.

Others envied the sight of me carrying Shizu in my arms.

Most of these were men. They probably envied me for carrying such a beautiful woman in my arms.

And then there were other envious murmurs with a different tone.

These came from women who were now pestering their partners to carry them the same way.

It was a sight worthy of envy even if she had been carried normally.

“Hehe…”

Shizu’s extremely happy expression as she nestled in my arms seemed to ignite something in the women’s hearts.

Perhaps seeing Shizu’s happy face made them want to turn their vague imagination of being carried by their lovers into reality.

And the results of Shizu and me igniting people’s hearts manifested in various ways around us.

Some willingly offered their arms at their lover’s request.

Others suddenly grabbed their waists, pretending to be patients.

…I couldn’t help but think, if you can’t do it, just admit it instead of making such excuses to save face as a man.

“Hah…”

A genuine laugh, far from my earlier bitter sentiment, escaped my lips.

It was a laugh of appreciation for how this seemingly insignificant action had prompted so many people around us to mimic similar behaviors, creating a warm atmosphere.

Because of this, despite the burden of all the stares, my steps became stronger and more confident.

Let them look if they want. Who wouldn’t do this when someone they care about can’t properly support themselves?

Besides…

“Cal smells… so nice…”

A sweet voice flowed from Shizu’s lips as she obediently accepted my hold, and then…

*Smooch!*

Her lips lightly touched my cheek, and at the same time…

It was only natural that strength returned to my steps, which had been somewhat weakened despite continuing forward.

It was a moment of happiness beyond what I deserved.

Yes, this is good. I like this.

Everything, including this path I was walking while fully enjoying the night’s tranquility that had settled as the commotion diminished somewhat.

It was simply good.

And as I savored this pleasant situation, I could feel that carrying Shizu this way made my heart, if not my body, more comfortable.

Yesterday, she had been able to maintain her balance somewhat, actively leaning into me and seeking my embrace. Today, apart from her arms around my neck, there was no movement, which seemed to allow my body and mind to accept her more comfortably.

…Though there were occasional surprise attacks when she would suddenly kiss my cheek or tighten her arms around my neck, trying to reduce the distance between us.

But such unexpected situations were always welcome, so they weren’t really worth worrying about.

However, as I continued walking without hesitation, another thought began to take root in my mind.

They say when the body is idle, the mind becomes busy.

That certainly applied to me right now.

Well, it wasn’t such a grand thought.

I was just wondering what I should do with Shizu once we entered the room.

Should I put her to bed right away? But she was still conscious enough to act spoiled with me, so it wouldn’t be easy to brush her off.

Then, should I wait until she sobered up before putting her to bed? That seemed like the most logical approach.

“Mmm…”

Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Shizu carefully wrapped her arms around my neck and tried to nuzzle her cheek against mine with innocent behavior, suggesting it would take quite a long time for her to sober up.

I had experienced this often in the North.

During the Subjugation Festival period, when we would go up to Night Haven, and toward the end of the day at the Imperial Knights’ gatherings where everyone would drink freely.

Shizu, who would become incapacitated after just one glass of strong liquor and try to reduce the distance between us, looked no different then than she did now.

Based on past patterns, it would take at least an hour after entering the guest room for the alcohol to wear off.

And during that time, she would certainly try all sorts of behaviors to close the distance between us.

Normally, I would just smile and indulge her affectionate drunken behavior.

But suddenly, last night’s events flashed through my mind, causing my steps to falter.

The experience of making love with nothing between us.

I hesitated at the thought that if I entered that room, Shizu might want to continue what had happened yesterday.

If we hadn’t experienced it before, everything would be limited to what we had experienced.

But once you’ve experienced something, especially something significant that caused such waves between us, wouldn’t things naturally progress toward doing it again?

“…”

That thought crossed my mind as I continued walking, though with less vigor than when I first set out.

And as that thought naturally arose…

“Hah…”

I let out a faint sigh and stopped trying to connect other thoughts.

“Hehe…”

All I could do was carefully hold Shizu in my arms as she pressed herself more explicitly against me with a bright laugh.

Ah, whatever. No matter how deeply I think about it while walking, I won’t find an answer.

For now, I should just focus on getting her to the room.

With that thought in mind, I quickened my pace, leaving the murmurs behind.

Perhaps because I was walking faster and could no longer hear the murmurs.

Apart from the night’s tranquility dominating my senses…

*Thump-thump*

As we got closer to the guest room, my heart began to race strangely intensely.

Starting from the moment the entrance to the guest room came into view.

Shizu’s arms wrapped around mine more explicitly.

And as they did, her scent, reminiscent of golden osmanthus, intensified and invaded my sense of smell.

As if to signal that once we entered, something would begin.

#

I’m now looking up at the ceiling.

Lying on the floor.

It happened in an instant.

While I was carrying Shizu, who was too drunk to support herself properly, in my arms toward the guest room.

She, who had been smiling happily without struggling in my arms.

As soon as we entered the guest room, she woke up from her apparent stupor and laid me on the floor in less time than it takes to blink.

At that moment, I realized.

All this time, Shizu had been exaggerating her drunkenness, making me believe she was more intoxicated than she actually was.

I wanted to let out an admiring sigh at her meticulous planning, having pretended to be drunk all this time just to set up this moment.

“…”

But strangely, I didn’t want to disrupt the atmosphere forming in this moment by sighing, so I remained silent.

All I could do was blink my eyes, not understanding the situation despite experiencing it firsthand, and all I could hear was…

“Cal…”

The warm, affectionate voice of Shizu, who was now on top of me.

It was still the same pleasant voice that warmed my heart whenever and wherever I heard it.

But given our position, a natural embarrassment arose that made it difficult to remain like this.

Because of her half-body pressing so gently and kindly against mine…

A physiological response that would naturally occur in any man was beginning to manifest.

I tried to get up, feeling embarrassed by my body’s attempt to respond to the soft curves of Shizu’s body pressing against me.

“Yap!”

With a light exclamation, Shizu pressed her upper body completely against mine, and contrary to my will, my body met the floor again.

Even with this close contact, I could easily get up if I wanted to, but…

For some reason, I didn’t want to. Or more accurately, I couldn’t.

Why?

Because everything about Shizu, who was clinging to me so intimately, had numbed my senses.

The sensation of her curved body, whose softness couldn’t be fully described by words, now completely touched my upper body, unlike before.

“Cal…”

Her voice, calmer than when she had been acting cute with me in the dining hall despite being drunk, penetrated my ears more sweetly than ever before.

As a result, my entire body was paralyzed, unable to move.

Even in this situation, I could have gotten up and escaped this embarrassing situation if I had wanted to.

But when I met Shizu’s affectionate gaze looking down at me…

“…”

I remained still, not wanting to forcibly rise and break the current atmosphere.

And as if taking my stillness as a signal…

“Cal…”

Once again softly calling my name, Shizu’s lips folded over mine.

Her lips, which naturally overlapped with mine without any resistance, conveyed the deep aroma of coffee.