The Kiss That Shatters
That night, smack, slurp…
"Mm, mmm…."
Hildegard's hands clumsily roamed Leo's shoulders and chest. Leo gently cupped her chin and waist, pulling her close until their chests and stomachs pressed together, warm heat flowing between them. He explored her lips softly, not thrusting his tongue in right away but savoring her upper and lower lips with slow, deliberate sucks. Hildegard tensed rigidly but yielded her lips innocently, accepting the trembling sensations fully. The first kiss she'd ever experienced led her to an ecstasy unlike anything she'd known. Dizzy from the unfamiliar sensation, a sweet warmth melted in one corner of her heart.
Leo gulped, leaning into her, tilting his head this way and that to taste her lips from every angle. Their noses bumped and rubbed. Bridge against bridge, they mashed together. Breaths tangled and mingled.
Then Leo's tongue slipped into Hildegard's mouth. It gently parted her lips and coiled around her hiding tongue. Hildegard didn't know what to do with herself. A white flash exploded in her mind. Thoughtless, she surrendered everything to the man she loved. Their saliva mixed through their tongues, hot and sticky. Her mouth filled with it. Tense, she opened her throat and swallowed Leo's saliva. Hildegard felt hazy, her mind going white as her heart pounded wildly. She could no longer control herself. Her wandering hand pulled at the back of Leo's neck. Accepting her touch, he leaned over her like a predator. His tongue delved deeper, thicker into her mouth. Thud. Her hairpiece fell to the floor. But it drew no attention from the pair. Slurp, suck… The raw sounds of mixing saliva. Hot breaths entwining. The rustle of clothes as their bodies rubbed together. As if no one else existed in the world, they poured all their focus into each other. So they didn't notice.
"…."
That Elizabeth was watching them with hollow eyes.
Very long ago—five years back, when she was just ten—Elizabeth had a terrible nightmare. The memory was foggy like mist, both because it was so long ago and because she was so young, but she remembered the core of it. One day, Dad died, and she laughed through his funeral, oblivious to the truth. She didn't know why she'd dreamed that. But.
That dream was so vivid it left an indelible stain on her memory, as real as reality itself. Recalling the atmosphere, the sorrow, the emptiness still gave her chills. Whenever chills like that hit, she'd cling to Dad for comfort. Dad dying? Impossible. Not when he was right here beside her.
"Dad, you love me the most in the world, right?"
"Of course."
"Then never leave me. Promise?"
His hand stroking her hair as if to say not to worry. His warm, affectionate gaze looking down. His gentle voice. All directed at no one but her. At Elizabeth Valentine alone. Things arranged just for her. They were her rights. Things she deserved to have and hold. Rights absolute, not to be yielded to anyone.
That was how it should have been— slurp, sigh.
"……."
Returning from school, Elizabeth witnessed an unbelievable sight. Dad kissing a woman. Dad holding her chin and waist. Lustful eyes gazing down at her. Panting breaths escaping him. Dad's touch. Dad's gaze. Dad's voice.
Her rights were being violated.
Elizabeth had never received a kiss from Dad like that. She'd pecked him first plenty of times, but never something so deep and intense. Pwah…
After savoring each other's lips for so long, the pair paused briefly. A thread of saliva connected them. Dad looked down at the flushed woman. Unquenched heat lingered in his blue eyes. His hands stayed on her chin and waist. An ominous premonition crawled up Elizabeth's spine.
Stop.
Their lips met again. They rubbed fiercely as if devouring each other, tongues twisting roughly.
Stop.
Elizabeth stood frozen in place. Her breathing grew ragged. But Dad didn't notice her arrival. Despite his sharp senses, he was so lost in Hildegard—even with his daughter so close—that he couldn't detect her. As if she was the only one in the world.
Stop. Stop and look at me.
The words wouldn't come out loud, echoing only in her heart. But Dad never looked her way. Elizabeth endured an eternity like that. How much time passed? Finally, Dad pulled his lips away.
"…Leo."
Hildegard called Dad's name with misty, dazed eyes, her voice faintly wet as if summoning the love of her life.
"If not for that damn premarital chastity of yours."
Dad chuckled playfully, thumbing the saliva from her lips where he'd held her chin so long. Then he licked it off his finger.
"…Dirty."
"Dirty? Tastes good, though?"
"……."
Hildegard's face ripened beet-red as she bowed her head deeply. Dad smirked, picking up her fallen hairpiece from the floor.
"……."
"……."
Then their eyes met—hers and Elizabeth's. Those blue eyes like her own clouded with embarrassment. But that was it. No torment or sadness like hers. Just surprise at the unexpected situation.
"See you, Hildegard."
"…Yes."
Leo didn't tell Hildegard about Elizabeth's presence. He calmly brushed the dust from the hairpiece and placed it back on her head before sending her off. Hildegard's home was in the opposite direction from where Elizabeth stood. She left without ever noticing her. And now, only father and daughter remained.
"You're back?"
"……."
Leo called out to his daughter with forced warmth. But Elizabeth stood rooted, staring at him. Those blue eyes were the coldest, most solemn in the world—like gazing into an endless abyss.
…Of all people, caught by my daughter.
Leo tensed slightly as he approached. She watched him without a twitch, eyes unblinking, pupils rolling to follow him. When he placed a hand on her shoulder, she finally spoke.
"Feel good?"
"…."
Her gaze on his moist lips, she continued.
"Did it feel good?"
In that moment, Elizabeth stripped all emotion from her voice. Any more, and she might do something irreversible. She wanted to devour those lips right then. Clean the shine of another woman's saliva. Restraining that urge, she asked.
"…Well, yeah. It felt good."
Leo answered honestly. His expression even looked refreshed. Getting caught kissing her by Elizabeth was unexpected, but not bad. It was something they'd face eventually.
"You did it at this hour on purpose?"
"…."
"So I'd see that scene? Right at this time?"
Leo shook his head.
"Misunderstanding. I know it's a shock. Something came up, that's all. Sorry, Ellie. No intent like that. Just happened."
Leo bent slightly to meet her eyes, patting her shoulder. Dad's gentle comfort. His touch, gaze, voice—hers again. But Elizabeth's mood didn't improve. It was affection for his daughter, not a woman. Not thick and hot like with Hildegard moments ago. In the end, the affection she'd receive her whole life was just pure fatherly love for his daughter. A resolve hardened in Elizabeth's depths.
"Grab something to eat?"
"No."
"Want Dad to make a sandwich?"
"I'm good. Tired today—heading to bed early."
"…Yeah, must be worn out. Good night."
Leo showered. After brushing his teeth, he looked in the mirror. A black-haired man with blue eyes stared back. Leo dispelled the color-altering magic. The blue drained from his eyes, replaced by deep black. Just from wall eyes to black, his aura shifted completely. This was his true face.
"…."
Leo gripped the sink with both hands, head bowed. Mirrors showed the soul straight on. He gazed into it. Today had been happy. Kissing his beloved. Pure bliss. Leo wondered if he deserved such happiness… recalling what he'd done five years ago. Forcing a girl's memories to change, manipulating her life. Memory magic didn't just alter memories. It reshaped the life Elizabeth would live ahead—molded to his taste. He rationalized it as necessary, unavoidable, but guilt wouldn't fade. It bound him tighter with time. He wasn't her real dad. Elizabeth—no, Julia—wasn't his child. He was a usurper who'd stolen another's place.
"…Sorry."
Time passed. One year… three… five. In the blink of an eye, so much time gone. College graduation wasn't far. Yet he couldn't decide. What to do? Live like this forever? Was it right to remain her fake dad eternally?
"…I don't know."
Like five years ago, he postponed the choice. Even if it became a huge problem later, he had no choice but to delay.
He used magic to dry his hair with wind. Slipping on a light shirt, he entered the master bedroom. Since puberty, he and Elizabeth had separate rooms. Click.
"…Ellie?"
Elizabeth, who should have been in her own room, sat cross-legged on Leo's bed. As if waiting, she closed her book with a snap and set it aside. Then said casually,
"Wanted to sleep with Dad."
"With Dad?"
"…Don't you want to?"
Her hesitant reply drew pitiful kitten eyes from her—wide orbs, drooping lids. Leo shook his head.
"No, no. It's been ages—let's do it."
"Yay."
Leo lay down and turned to her. Elizabeth burrowed into his arms, nuzzling. How long since he'd held her like this? Her body was still small, like five years ago. Hugging Hildegard made it starkly clear. Elizabeth whispered, arms around his neck,
"See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, sweetie."
Leo stroked her hair and fell asleep.
In the dark early dawn, when all slept. Swish. Elizabeth's blue eyes quietly opened.