Chapter 181:  Tina is truly an Angel

A Week Had Passed Since Then.

Mardian’s recovery was noticeably smooth specifically after she began drinking that special water.

“Thank you again today.”

“Hehe, anytime.”

Her complexion had brightened, and the gauntness of her body was gradually filling out. The dark circles under her eyes had also lightened.

I consulted with the attending physician, who confirmed that her health had improved beyond comparison. He remarked that it’s rare for an alcoholic patient to recover this quickly, and he seemed genuinely surprised.

It must be the result of all my efforts to keep alcohol away from her. Though, to be honest, it’s more likely due to the effects of the holy water she drinks daily.

“Tina…”

Mardian quietly leaned in and nestled into my arms.

I opened my arms to embrace her, gently stroking her head with one hand and softly patting her back with the other. Such actions had become natural between us.

While Mardian’s physical health had improved, unfortunately, her mental state hadn’t fully recovered.

Once, when I briefly stepped away, she had a seizure. She was still overly dependent on me.

“Mardian, don’t you have any other wishes?”

Of the five wishes I had granted her, Mardian had already used two.

“…I do.”

“Please tell me.”

“I want to sleep together.”

Her voice was small. Mardian shyly avoided my gaze.

A request to sleep together. If it were the old Mardian, I might have interpreted it differently, but now, it was clear. This was just a pure desire. Mardian was simply asking to sleep together.

“Yes, let’s sleep together from tonight.”

There was no reason to refuse. If Mardian wanted something, I was willing to grant it.

“Thank you, Tina.”

Mardian’s eyes brightened even more.

Just watching her improve day by day was enough for me.

After chatting about various things, before we knew it, it was late at night.

I, in my pajamas, gently sat on the edge of Mardian’s bed.

She, also in a light silk nightgown, approached and settled beside me.

As naturally as always, we held hands and slowly intertwined our fingers. Through the gaps, I could feel Mardian’s warmth.

With a faint smile, we slipped under the covers together.

“Good night, Mardian.”

“…You too.”

I gently stroked Mardian’s platinum hair.

Soon, her eyelids slowly lowered, hiding her red pupils.

“Good night.”

About an hour later, the sound of quiet breathing began to come regularly.

I carefully got out of bed, leaving the peacefully sleeping Mardián behind.

Of course, the place I headed to was the bathroom.

Due to my physical characteristic of having much more water in my body than most people, it was uncomfortable if I didn’t visit the bathroom before going to sleep.

Even if I had gone earlier, there were often times when I had to get up again in the middle of the night.

At first, it was bothersome, but it had become a familiar part of my routine.

After finishing my business in the bathroom, I walked back the same way.

Passing through the hallway, I briefly looked at the round moon in the sky outside the window.

‘…I miss them.’

The mother I love most in the world, and then the precious Lillian and Viviana. It has already been a month since I last saw them.

We still exchange letters occasionally. But no matter how much effort I put into writing, it couldn’t replace seeing them face to face.

The Goddess might also be waiting for me. I had asked Lilian to send my regards, but I didn’t know how long that would be allowed.

However, I had decided to stay in Märchen city until Mardián regained her happiness.

No matter what happened, I had sworn to stay by her side until the end for her happiness.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized I had already arrived in front of Mardián’s bedroom.

I carefully opened the door and entered. Mardián was still deep in sleep.

I quietly lay down beside her.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and waited for sleep, as fatigue slowly began to envelop my body.

‘…Nia must be fine too.’

I thought of the wild and restless young girl.

Slowly, I let my consciousness sink beneath the surface of sleep.

***

When I opened my eyes again, faint morning light was filtering in.

It was 7 AM. A slightly early time to wake up.

Half-conscious, I raised my body and rubbed my eyes. Looking beside me, Mardián was still deeply asleep.

‘…Bathroom.’

As always, I felt a familiar signal in my lower abdomen.

Moreover, it felt like the signals came more often now than when I was in the Empire.

When I was at the mansion, my mother used to gently press my stomach, and I could fully relieve myself, but now I couldn’t do that.

Flinch—

With a small spasm, my back involuntarily arched.

My body was urging me to stop holding it in and go to the bathroom.

I sighed softly and pulled off the blanket.

Just as I was about to get up from the bed, it happened.

“Yik?”

A pale hand tightly gripped my wrist.

When did she wake up? Mardián was silently looking at me with calm eyes.

“Where are you going?”

“Ah, are you awake?”

It seemed that I had unintentionally woken her up.

I gave a faint smile and gently patted her head.

“I’ll just go to the bathroom and then make breakfast for you.”

“……”

Without answering, Mardián just stared at me.

It was a different kind of gaze than usual. I felt confused by her eyes.

“Mardián?”

“…Actually, I know.”

“Yes?”

“I know what the water you’re making me drink is.”

“?”

For a moment, I blinked, not understanding her words.

“You go to the bathroom too often. So, I secretly followed you a few times.”

“……Eh?”

My mind slowly started processing the situation. At the same time, my heart was pounding like crazy, and my face burned hot.

“Tina, are you… maybe an angel?”

“T-That’s not—”

“If you’re not an angel, then that water can’t possibly taste that good…”

Mardián’s words made my face turn bright red.

I was caught.

The water Mardián drank every morning, afternoon, and evening. I had been found out about where it came from.

“M-Mardián… it’s just, um…”

I tried to keep my composure, but my mind had already gone blank.

What excuse should I make? No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t come up with anything.

‘I want to die…!’

My face was burning so hot that I wanted to jump out the window.

The only relief was that Mardián didn’t seem particularly angry.

“You were going to the bathroom, right?”

She asked in a calm voice.

Her serious gaze seemed to pierce through me. I couldn’t bring myself to meet her eyes, so I lowered my head deeply.

“I-I’m sorry. I… I can explain everything. Actually, it’s…”

I think I should come clean now.

Even if it’s already too late.

“Don’t go.”

There was no chance to confess the truth. Mardian grabbed my hand and pulled me forcefully back onto the bed.

“Stay with me.”

My body was gently laid back down.

For some reason today, Mardian’s gaze seemed especially desperate.

“I-I’ll stay. I’m just going to the bathroom for a second, so don’t worry.”

Was it just my imagination? Mardian’s eyes kept drifting toward my stomach.

Under that gaze, shame once again flushed my face red.

Flustered, I waved my hands and continued speaking.

“I can explain. So, actually, there’s a mark on my stomach—”

“You have to drink it.”

As if my explanation didn’t matter at all, Mardian cut me off with a firm voice.

“…Huh?”

I blinked a few times in confusion.

Mardian brushed her tousled hair behind her ear.

Then, without warning, she pressed down on my shoulders, laying me flat on the bed, and pulled the covers up to just below my face.

“Mardian…?”

“I’ll help you.”

With a bewitching smile, she burrowed under the blanket.

Before I could even process what was happening, a cold hand gently rested on my lower body.

“H-Huh?!”

Rustle—

The blanket shifted slightly.

Something clung to my lower half. At the same time, an electric thrill surged from my abdomen, spreading through my entire body in an instant.

Startled by the unexpected sensation, my back arched violently, but Mardian’s hands held me firmly in place, preventing me from moving.

“Ah?! Hah?! W-Wait…!”

My body trembled as if convulsing. I tried desperately to push Mardian away, but she showed no intention of coming out from under the covers.

“Ah…! Ah…! Ahn…! M-Mardian…! T-That’s…!”

The physiological signals grew even more intense.

At the same time, the strength in my waist gradually weakened.

If this continued, I was surely going to make an irreversible mistake.

But frustratingly, my body couldn’t break free from Mardian.

“Ah…! Hng…!”

Twitch— Twitch—

Under the blanket covering me, Mardian’s silhouette moved softly.

Every time she moved, my body trembled uncontrollably.

“Ah, s-stop…! Ah, hah…!”

No matter how much I tried to push Mardian’s head away, she only clung tighter.”

“Ah…! Mardian… I, I can’t… take it anymore…!”

As if responding to my trembling voice, Mardian’s arms tightened even more firmly around my waist.

The relentless waves of sensation coursing through my lower half quickly pushed my body to its limit.

The voice of reason—telling me this shouldn’t be happening—grew fainter, leaving only a primal urge to relieve myself.

“Ngh…! M-Mardian… P-please… press my lower belly…”

No answer came.

Instead, several slender fingers began insistently pressing against my bare stomach.

And with that pressure on my abdomen—the last remnants of strength in my lower body gave way completely.

“A-ah…! I-I’m…!”

Something clung to me even more tightly down there.

And then… a strange sound echoed through the room.

“Ah… ngh… hnn…!”

My hips trembled uncontrollably. The frustration I had only ever dealt with alone was now being completely released—thanks to Mardian’s help.

“Ah… ugh… haah… hng…”

My body shivered violently.

Only hot breaths escaped between my lips—I couldn’t even form words.

Just as the trembling in my waist began to slowly subside…

The sheets rustled slightly, and finally, Mardian’s face reappeared before me.

Gulp—

She swallowed slowly, then flashed me a bewitching smile.

I could only stare back at her, my face burning bright red.

“Tina… you really are an angel.”

Mardian lightly wiped her lips with her thumb.

Even that simple motion looked unbearably sensual.

“Don’t go to the bathroom from now on… Stay with me instead.”

A desperate whisper followed.

Only then could I finally meet Mardian’s gaze properly.

Glittering, moist red lips… and above them, eyes filled with nothing but affection.