Ch.60Debutante (2)

The lingering thoughts made the conversation in the greenhouse echo emptily in my ears. I was simply content watching the white sisters chatting happily in the greenhouse.

Still, my energy to actively participate in conversation had long since disappeared.

Miren remained behind when we left the Chester estate. She said she would visit a dress shop with the Chester siblings to prepare for her debutante.

While Enella would tear up whenever she saw me, Arnel poorly concealed his joy whenever he saw Miren.

It was late afternoon when we finished our conversation and left the estate. In the carriage racing across the twilight-covered land, Irefi, who sat opposite me, suddenly moved to sit beside me.

She awkwardly opened her mouth.

“Nepy.”

“Yes?”

“You were acting very strange today. You know that, right?”

“Actually, my condition…”

Irefi cut me off, showing her unwillingness to even listen.

“There’s no way you’re unwell. Nepy, you’re immortal.”

“Ugh.”

“Shall I guess?”

“What?”

While I was puzzled, she gently cupped my cheeks with her delicate hands. My head was guided by Irefi’s will, bringing us closer until I melted into her blue eyes.

If Irefi applied even the slightest pressure, our noses would inevitably touch.

I felt bewildered by this unexpectedly seductive situation. Perhaps the setting sun shining through the window cast us into a dreamlike state.

No. In our quiet world, it might have been the sunset reflected in her blue lakes that stirred me.

I didn’t want this. I didn’t particularly want to focus on it. Unwelcome emotions flooded in, tormenting my mind.

I desperately hoped that the reddening sunset would hide my heated eyes.

Despite my wishes, Irefi fearlessly probed my inner thoughts.

“You’re worried about something, aren’t you?”

“Me? About what?”

“I don’t know.”

“…”

It was typical of Irefi’s bold attitude. But her admission of ignorance didn’t mean she was giving up.

“Since I don’t know, I want to find out. You once confessed to me that you’re actually just an ordinary, weak human who somehow ended up in Netionpis’s body.”

“That’s right.”

“Back then, I was under a misconception. I thought that even though Nepy might be less powerful and knowledgeable than me… in the end, you were an all-capable person who solved everything. I already told you, didn’t I? You’re my savior. I might have even seen you as something of an idol.”

“Irefi… I…”

“But now it’s different. You’re still my savior, but… I’ve realized you’re an ordinary person who worries and gets hurt just like any other human.”

Her hands, which had been resting on my cheeks, slowly moved down to stroke my nape. Then, crossing to form a loop, her hands pulled at my neck.

I naturally fell into Irefi’s embrace, feeling the softness of her cheek against my ear. Behind my view of nothing but pure white straight hair, she spoke.

“And one more thing. Actually, Nepy, you’re still hiding various feelings, aren’t you? You might not realize it, but since that night, you’ve never truly opened up about your innermost thoughts. It’s as if you’ve decided no one could possibly understand your situation, so you put up walls. Yet you’re quick to listen to others’ troubles and solve them. What a remarkable busybody you are.”

“Ah.”

I groaned, caught off guard. Moreover, I was amazed at how precisely Irefi criticized my negligence. Behind our seemingly peaceful daily life, she had been accurately understanding me all along.

“What can I do? I fell for that remarkable busybody.”

“…”

I was a fool without an answer. While outwardly treating Irefi as a beloved partner, I hadn’t considered her an equal person inside.

I wanted to know her better, yet selfishly maintained a relationship where I didn’t teach her about myself.

What excuse could I make?

That I loved Irefi too much to involve her in my emotional drain?

Or that I didn’t want her to waste passion on feelings she couldn’t possibly understand?

How pathetic.

I had disregarded Irefi. Because Irefi is Irefi. Simply because she is Irefi. Because she’s Irefi who would stay by my side no matter what I did… because she just needed to be there…

Just because I thought that was natural.

I thought it was a one-sided relationship where I would help her. I believed that since it had always been that way, it would continue to be so. I thought that now that we were lovers, I just needed to be more devoted.

What a delusion.

A relationship formed through love isn’t a one-sided exchange. From the moment we became lovers, we were no longer separate individuals but a pair, walking a path of mutual respect.

Irefi is no longer someone to protect. She was a person I could rely on, my one and only true ally.

I realized this obvious truth far too late. That made me sorry and, at the same time, so moved that tears flowed.

“Ha… haha. What have I been doing?”

“Nepy can be quite foolish too.”

One of Irefi’s hands released its hold on my neck. The sensation of her patting my back resonated deep in my heart.

“You just need to be honest like that night you confessed to me. I’m Nepy’s lover, so even if the world turns against you, I’ll always be on your side. That’s what I wish to be. Won’t you finally allow me that?”

Irefi’s sincere plea seemed to caress my exposed vulnerable essence. Her intention to approach carefully, worried about hurting that essence, was touching.

All I could do in response to such undeserved kindness was apologize repeatedly.

“I’m sorry… Irefi. I’m truly sorry. I, I was wrong. I was selfish. I didn’t know how to be considerate. I guess I was clumsy because it’s my first time. I… I was arrogant.”

“No. It’s probably also because I didn’t give you enough confidence to rely on me. So let’s try to work on it together, starting now.”

“…Yes. Thank you, Irefi. Thank you… so much… so very much…”

I cried uncontrollably in this unexpected situation. It was the first outpouring of pent-up emotions since escaping the Great Cavern.

Irefi said nothing. Without rushing or even offering comfort, she simply remained there silently. She just gently patted my back, waiting for her turn.

Her consideration was so sweet and joyful that it made me even more emotional. I was grateful that it was Irefi embracing me. I felt blessed that my future companion would be Irefi.

Even as numb emotions filled the space, the carriage steadily continued on its way.

How much time had passed? I could only guess that I had cried quite a lot.

She spoke up.

“Actually, I was going to wait a bit longer, but I’ll just follow my heart and say it.”

Again, her touch guided me to meet her eyes. Irefi smiled brightly and whispered sweetly.

“I really do prefer seeing Nepy smile rather than cry.”

“Me too, Irefi.”

“So I won’t press you about your worries right now. Tell me whenever you feel ready to be honest. But… please don’t make me wait too long?”

“I’m sorry for giving you such an uncomfortable feeling.”

“At times like this, express gratitude rather than apology. We’re in a relationship where that’s okay, aren’t we?”

Irefi’s palm overlapped my motionless hand. The warmth of life seeping in tenderly was comforting.

“I’m so fortunate… that it’s you… that you’re the one by my side… Thank you, Irefi.”

“I should be the one saying that.”

A faint white light seemed to emanate from Irefi’s beaming smile. Of course, I knew this was just my imagination born from tender emotions. From the moment we boarded the carriage until now, she had been bathed in the sunset’s glow.

Her skin white as jade, her eyes like blue lakes, and her lips like distilled cherry blossoms… all tinged by the sunset, creating a fantastical hue.

As I stared entranced as if wandering through a dream, a shadow suddenly fell across my vision.

Her hair swayed like a curtain, obscuring the scenery. Her tilting head gradually closed the distance, overlapping at an angle.

As my eyes filled entirely with Irefi, our lips met. Her soft tongue visited the inside like unlocking a lock, pushing forcefully.

“Mmm… ah…”

“Mm.”

Like an impolite uninvited guest, her tongue clung persistently to the host, expressing affection. She thoroughly ravished her counterpart who had lost all means to respond from surprise.

“Haa… uh… mm…”

Irefi’s kiss was long. Her desire, always pure and prim, seemed as if it had been stored in her lips and tongue all along. While surrendering to excitement, she was lovely as she traced my mucous membrane like a snake hunting its prey. It was even ecstatic to monopolize her unsuspected greed and desire.

“Whew.”

Irefi smiled broadly after ending the long kiss. Just as the elastic saliva was about to stretch like silk thread, her tongue licked the corner of my mouth.

I could only stare blankly at her as she licked her own lips as if cleansing her mouth.

Irefi was not one to miss my apparent surprise.

“You looked like you wanted to do this.”

“Ah…”

I could only groan at the astonishing response. At first, I was dumbfounded by the reason I couldn’t have guessed. But looking back carefully, the footprints of desire I had left were clear. They must have been traces captured by Irefi’s observant eyes.

My face burned as if on fire. My hand, which tried to fan myself, couldn’t move as if turned to stone. I feared Irefi would mock my unseemly behavior if caught.

My only option was to hope the fading sunset would hide my redness.

“Nepy.”

“Y-yes?”

“When we return to the manor, will you help me choose?”

“Choose what?”

I grasp my mental strings that had slipped out of control at Irefi’s unexpected proposal.

“Actually, I’ve called a dressmaker to the manor. We need to purchase outfits for Miren’s debutante.”

“Ah. I should have been more attentive, but I can’t be upset about this.”

“Do I seem that petty to you?”

“I mean it’s entirely my fault.”

“I’m joking. Since I’ve only been wearing uniforms all this time, it’s natural that you wouldn’t pay attention to clothing. But… now I can finally show you.”

“You don’t mean…?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. On the day I was invited to make my social debut, didn’t you want to see me in a dress?”

“What? When did I ever!?”

“Oh, was I wrong?”

“Well… I can’t say I wasn’t interested at all… but I didn’t particularly care back then… No, but now I’m very interested… Wait, what am I saying?”

“Sigh. I guess I was the only one foolishly looking forward to it. Fine. I’ll just choose something appropriate with the madame. Nepy, you can go ahead and sleep or do whatever you want.”

Irefi’s declaration struck me like a bolt from the blue. The desperate person always loses. And I was certainly a loser who could never aspire to be a winner.

As a loser, I flattered the winner, Irefi, with all my might.

“I love you very much, Irefi.”

“Yes. I love you too, Nepy.”

Irefi’s stiff tone reminded me of a cold stone statue.

But the chilly atmosphere lasted only a moment.

Our eyes met in our reflections in the darkened window. The unexpected eye contact was both embarrassing and awkward. A strange atmosphere that was difficult to describe verbally gradually eroded the space.

It was inevitable that we would burst into pleasant laughter, neither starting first.

“Really, Irefi. I’m so fortunate it’s you.”

“Honestly… you’re impossible.”

The distance to the manor wasn’t far. Knowing this or not, the two figures gradually overlapped, becoming one again.

The carriage ran through the quietly settled darkness. It headed toward the manor as if chasing the fully set sun.

It was a carriage carrying two people who had become fools.