Lingering Roses and Trembling Restraints
The moment I stepped out of the greenhouse, my legs gave out beneath me.
“Haa…”
I collapsed onto a nearby bench for a quick rest.
The rose scent still clinging to my nostrils was fading bit by bit.
The fragrance deep in my lungs was washed away by the cool breeze.
But the tight grip of the pink ribbon around my wrist remained vividly clear.
She's fucking insane, for real.
Lilliana's gaze wouldn't leave my mind.
I lifted my wrist.
A gaudy pink lace draped over the crude black bracelet.
Yeah, better not untie it.
Lilliana's warning hadn't been a joke.
If I undid it and she found out, I didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
Besides, there was no real reason to remove it.
It was a bit tight, but I could bear it.
“Hoo.”
For now, I'd just leave it on.
I hauled my heavy body up.
Tension all morning while trimming roses had left my whole body aching.
With today's duties done, all I wanted was to hurry back to the dorm and crash.
I was trudging out of the forest path when—
“There you are.”
A familiar, stiff voice blocked my way.
I looked up to see Esilla standing in the tree shadows, arms crossed.
“Esilla?”
She was still in her impeccable uniform.
Perfect posture, icy expression.
“I've been waiting.”
“You don't mean you've been here the whole time?”
“Didn't I say I'd stay nearby? I'm on duty.”
“Oh.”
Right, she had.
She'd said she'd stick around in case something came up.
I answered awkwardly.
“Sorry. Slipped my mind. Nothing happened, so no need to call you.”
“Nothing… happened?”
Esilla stepped closer.
Her green eyes scanned me up and down.
A persistent gaze, like she was searching for any trace.
“Yeah. Just helped with some rose trimming and…”
“I see.”
Esilla didn't press further.
Instead, she furrowed her brow and waved a hand in front of her nose.
“It's overpowering.”
“What is?”
“The smell.”
Her expression hardened more.
“It's wafting off your entire body… that rose scent. It's giving me a headache.”
“Ah…”
Locked in the greenhouse like that, of course it soaked in.
Especially with Lilliana pressed right up against me all day.
“A shower should fix it. Heading back to the dorm to wash up.”
I brushed it off casually and tried to pass her.
Thud.
But Esilla blocked my path again.
“Hold on.”
“What now.”
“The restraint collar. Time to put it back on.”
She pulled a gleaming silver mana restraint from her pocket.
“Oh, right. Yeah, gotta wear this again.”
I nodded obediently and turned, lifting my hair.
My pale nape exposed, defenseless.
Esilla approached from behind.
Her footsteps stopped, and I felt her hot presence at my back.
The cold metal touched my neck.
But the click of the lock never came.
“…”
The presence behind me froze.
There should have been a click as it locked.
No matter how long I waited, it didn't happen.
“Esilla?”
Even after I called, the presence stayed silent for a while.
Time seemed stopped with the cold metal against my nape.
Her irregular breaths tickled the back of my neck.
A silence like hesitation—or suppression.
I felt her hand trembling faintly through the metal on my skin.
She leaned in close, holding the lock near my nape.
“Haa…”
A long, hot sigh scattered across my skin.
Finally, she shoved the restraint in roughly, as if crushing her urge.
Click.
The sharp metallic sound rang out as it locked.
“Ugh…”
The sudden tightness drew an involuntary groan from me.
Tighter than usual.
Esilla hurriedly stepped back.
“All set.”
Her voice was a bit huskier than normal.
“I'm leaving now.”
Without looking at my face, she turned and scurried away.
Only her flushed ear tips betrayed her agitation.
I stared blankly at her retreating figure, then fiddled with the collar around my neck.
The cold metal sobered my mind.
…What the hell was that?
No matter how I thought about it, no answer came.
Overworked and dizzy, maybe.
Not even hot enough for heatstroke.
Whatever it was, I shook off the weird vibe with a deep sigh and trudged toward the dorm.
///
I returned to the dorm utterly wrecked.
C Dorm was still its dingy, decrepit self.
Creeeak, creeeak.
The old wooden floors groaned the whole way up the stairs.
The sound felt like it was coming from my own body, drawing a wry chuckle.
Hours of tense standing in the greenhouse had my legs wobbling—I could barely walk.
“Room 305… 305…”
I stood before Room 305, my door.
Fumbling in my pocket for the key—but it wasn't there.
“Huh?”
Did I lose it already?
Only two days since I got it. Where could it have gone?
I hadn't even stopped at many places.
Just in case, I tried the handle.
Click.
Luckily, it wasn't locked.
I pushed the door open, and the familiar sight greeted me.
A cramped room, but tidier than when I'd first arrived.
And at the desk, the orange-haired back of Aria scribbling away intently.
So focused she hadn't noticed me open the door.
Studying even during lunch. Impressive.
“I'm ba—”
My greeting died weakly.
I just flopped straight onto the bed.
Thud.
The hard mattress jolted through my body, but even that felt welcoming.
“Eek?!”
The sudden noise made Aria jump and whip around.
“L-Lady Elise?!”
She nearly dropped her pen, scrambling up from her chair and rushing over.
“Wh-when did you get back? More importantly, are you okay?!”
Worry flooded her voice.
Face buried in the pillow, I just waved a hand.
“No… just… tired.”
“Tired?! Your face is so pale! You're sweating cold…”
Aria gingerly touched my forehead.
“No fever… Are you hurt? Should I get the infirmary…?”
“I'm fine…”
I mumbled in reply.
Mental fatigue had pushed my body past its limits.
“St-still, you look so worn out… Is there anything I can do?”
Aria fidgeted anxiously.
I turned my head slightly to look at her.
Those wide, frightened eyes—full of genuine concern.
Her harmless vibe eased my mind a little.
“Water.”
“Pardon?”
“Water. My throat's killing me.”
At my words, Aria yelped, “Oh! One sec!” and dashed to grab the pitcher, pouring a cup.
It clinked noisily.
She handed it to me.
I barely propped myself up and gulped it down.
The cold water sliding down my throat woke me up a bit.
“Haa…”
I set the empty cup down with a long exhale.
Finally felt alive.
“More?”
Aria eyed the cup.
“Nah, good.”
I flopped back down.
A stained ceiling spot came into view.
My body felt like wet cotton, heavy; my head buzzed with tinnitus.
Then, Aria—standing awkwardly—sniffed cautiously.
“Um… Lady Elise.”
“What.”
“You smell… really strongly of flowers.”
She wrinkled her nose a bit.
“Like roses… Did you put on perfume or something?”
“Perfume? Nah.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
Perfume? More like marinated in it.
With Lilliana glued to me all day, her scent mixed with the greenhouse roses had seeped into my skin like it was mine.
“Overpowering, right? My head's pounding too.”
“N-no! Not overpowering… um… it's just kinda… sexy?”
“What?”
My eyes snapped open.
What the hell did she just say?
Aria flinched, clapping a hand over her mouth.
“S-sorry! I misspoke! I mean… it smells so good…!”
Her face beet red, fumbling excuses.
I chuckled and closed my eyes again.
“Whatever. I wanna shower, but I can't even lift a finger.”
“Th-then…”
Aria hesitated, then ventured carefully.
“Shall I… wipe you down?”