Lucy, Conditioned by the Succubus (3)
After lunch, Maru lounged in his room, staring at his own reflection in the mirror. His conflicted expression stared back at him, laid bare without a shred of concealment.
Should I just be honest with her?
Yesterday's events had haunted his mind all morning, refusing to let go. It had happened in the sickroom, when he and Audrite had shared that deep, lingering kiss. The moment their lips parted, she had slipped under the covers with a blissful look on her face and stretched out beside him. Her hair gave off a lovely scent. Maru wrapped one arm snugly around her, buried his nose in the crown of her head, and drank the fragrance in. There was something about a woman's scent that made a man's head spin. His mood had only grown better for it.
"Maru. I want to hear about your childhood. What country were you born in? How did you grow up? And what brought you all the way to our kingdom?"
Audrite had suddenly turned into a fountain of questions. It seemed the kiss had fanned her curiosity into flame—now she wanted to know everything about him. But Maru couldn't answer a single one.
"……"
Would I have to explain that I came from Earth? Then I'd have to get into the whole story of Belkhran, the Conqueror of the Stars—could I even tell Audrite about that? Should I tell her I'm a prince? What if she ends up liking my background instead of me? What if the same thing happens as with Kiera—a lover pushed aside while she drowns herself in her own dreams and ambitions?
And would I have to admit I was kicked out of the Hero's party? I'm done with those people. Digging that up would be a waste of breath.
Maru's head was nothing but a tangle of knots. He deliberated so long that Audrite finally threw back the covers and climbed out of the bed entirely. Then she blew up at him.
"You still think I'm beneath Edward, don't you? You and Edward share all your little secrets just fine! So what am I to you? Was I just an outlet for your lust? Something to brag about—ooh, I kissed a princess? If you're that desperate to satisfy yourself, go find a brothel! I bet that stiff, cramped crotch of yours would finally get some relief there!"
Maru glanced down at his lower half and hastily yanked the blanket up over himself.
"It's a misunderstanding. I didn't kiss you out of lust. If I'm going to explain who I am, I need time."
"Time? Hmph. What a convenient excuse. If you can't be honest with me now, you should have waited to kiss me! I am not a one-night toy. Make me cry, and I'll have you thrown in prison. Don't flatter yourself, either—you're someone who's going to leave anyway, so I have no illusions. We'll call the kiss a celebration of your recovery. A light greeting, nothing more. In other words, as of this moment I have still never kissed a man. Let's just forget it ever happened."
With those parting words, Audrite slammed the door behind her and stormed out.
Maru, still facing the mirror, let out a long, heavy sigh and raked a hand back through his hair.
Honestly, the kiss had been impulsive. She had cared for him so sincerely while he lay wounded in that sickroom, and she had been so terribly lovely, that his lips had simply moved on their own. She was the first woman since his mother to nurse him and worry over him when he was hurt. Even Kiera—his own ex-girlfriend—had never once done that.
The past.
It was back when he lay injured inside a tent. Lucy looked down at him and let out a snort of laughter.
"Hey Kiera, get a load of the mutt. His leg's so swollen he can't even walk."
Natalie snickered along with her. "What an idiot. Should've kept up with the group."
She smacked his bloated ankle with the flat of her palm, wringing a scream out of him.
Kiera was cold. She didn't so much as glance his way, busying herself with something else as she spoke.
"Is that so?"
That was the entirety of her reaction. Only when she was about to leave the tent did she finally look at him.
"Rough day?"
"N-no, it's fine. It'll heal soon enough. Don't worry about me."
"Right. Hang in there until the priest arrives."
"Yeah."
"Crying is for weak people."
Audrite and Kiera were polar opposites in every way. He found himself drawn to how gentle Audrite was. So this was what a woman was really like, he thought. Maybe Kiera had never actually been his girlfriend. Maybe he should rewrite his record from one girlfriend to zero. Their entire time together, he had been nothing more than a servant—carrying luggage, cooking meals, doing laundry. Nothing more, nothing less. It didn't count.
"I'll rest another ten minutes, then get back to work."
Maru turned away from the mirror and picked up the kettle. He was pouring water into an empty cup when a knock sounded at the door.
"One moment."
He gulped the water down quickly and opened the door. An unexpected figure stood in the hallway.
"…How have you been?"
Lucy waved a small, awkward hand, a strained smile on her face. Maru blinked at her calmly, though a flicker of irritation rose in his chest.
Why are you here? Hadn't they agreed to pretend they didn't know each other? What was she playing at?
He swallowed quietly.
"Is there something you need? Some inconvenience, perhaps?"
At Maru's dry question, Lucy lowered her eyes and answered in a small voice.
"N-no, nothing's wrong."
"Then may I ask what business brings you to my room?"
"Um, we're… we've known each other a long time, you know? You don't have to talk to me all formally."
"No. I will. If you have no business here, please leave. I have somewhere to be soon."
Lucy's head snapped up.
"Can't we just talk for a minute? Maru, please—even just a moment is fine. Okay?"
Somehow her expression looked downright desperate. Did she take the wrong medicine? What's gotten into her? Don't tell me… she's gotten herself into trouble doing something stupid, and now she's here to drag out the old-days card and beg for help. Maybe she wants me to pay off her debts. Or lend her travel money.
"I'm busy, so I'm going to close the door now. Have a good day."
"M-Maru!"
He ignored her call and shut the door in her face. Then he leaned his back against it and drew a long, slow breath.
"…Why the hell did you even come. Disgusting."
The past was nothing but an unpleasant memory. Every single person he'd known back then had been a piece of garbage, and he wanted nothing more to do with any of them.
"I regret it!"
Lucy's voice wavered, choked with tears, through the door. "I came here to apologize properly!"
"……"
That single word—apologize—shook something loose in his chest. Unbelievable. What is wrong with her? This isn't like her at all. And… what if someone sees her carrying on out there?
He opened the door again and asked, in a somewhat irritated voice:
"Did you lose at rock-paper-scissors?"
Lucy sniffled and stared at him, bewildered. "Huh? Rock-paper-scissors?"
"I'm asking if this is some kind of punishment game. To see how I'd react."
"No! Absolutely not! I didn't see Kiera or Natalie today at all! I swear it's true!"
She waved her hands in denial, eyes gone round and innocent as a child's, so Maru decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"What do you want? Why did you come?"
"T-to apologize…"
Lucy kept her eyes downcast, glancing at him nervously over and over. She looked so utterly deflated that he hardly recognized her. Did she go somewhere and get beaten up or something?
"This is going to be a long conversation, and… I'm sorry, but may I come inside?"
Maru glanced up and down the empty corridor, then looked back at her.
"The Hero party's mage hanging around my room—that's an odd look. We'll talk somewhere else."
Figuring it wouldn't hurt to at least hear her out, he walked with her toward the office. He had no intention of accepting her apology. Just as he had done with Yoris, he would state his position clearly and be done with it.
As Maru led Lucy down the third-floor corridor, someone was watching the two of them from a distance. It was Audrite. She had been walking along the third-floor hallway, which overlooked the first floor below, when she spotted Maru crossing the opposite corridor. She stopped without thinking and drifted toward the railing, gazing across at the pair for a moment. There was Maru—and trailing weakly behind him, a woman mage of the Hero's party.
"Could those two possibly have something to discuss, just the two of them? Don't they not know each other?"
"I wouldn't know, my lady. Perhaps it's business."
Baroness Osmond stepped up beside her, looking across the way with a serene smile.
"No doubt the mage is simply requesting whatever the event requires. Lord Maru is the master of ceremonies, after all."
"I suppose…"
Audrite said nothing more, her eyes fixed on Maru, until at last she turned away, brow furrowed with a restless frustration.
"Madam. Why is it that when a woman storms out, men never come after her?"
"In what sort of situation, my lady?"
"When two people are getting along wonderfully, and then suddenly an argument breaks out and the woman flounces off in a huff."
"Then I imagine the man was angry as well. Best not to dwell on it."
"So he was angry too, then…"
Audrite mulled it over before murmuring half to herself.
"I shouldn't have walked out. I was too hasty. I should have stayed and talked it through to the end…"
Baroness Osmond leaned in slyly and asked with feigned innocence, "Might you be speaking of yourself, my lady?"
"What?"
Audrite whirled around, flustered.
"Let's hurry along, shall we? I'm busy."
Meanwhile, Maru had reached the office and pushed the door open.
"I trust you enjoyed your lunch, my lord!"
Oliver, who had arrived ahead of them and was already hard at work, sprang to his feet and bowed. Maru waved a dismissive hand as he walked in.
"Go rest some more."
"I just rested, my lord! Must I rest again?"
"Come back in an hour."
While Oliver stood there scratching his head in confusion, Lucy slipped inside. The moment he laid eyes on her, Oliver's face lit up.
"Y-you're… Lady Lucy, the mage who travels with the Hero, aren't you…?"
"Stop gawking and get out."
"Y-yes, my lord! I shall return shortly! Please, enjoy your conversation, both of you!"
Oliver darted out and pulled the door shut behind him. Maru fixed Lucy with a grave expression as they sat down across from each other.
"Say whatever you came here to say. I'll listen."
"……"
Lucy hesitated, lips trembling, and gathered her thoughts.
Part of it is because the succubus ordered me to. But the truth is, ever since I arrived in this place, I've wanted to sit down and talk with Maru. I want to tell him everything with as few lies as I can manage. Every feeling I've had since he left—I'm going to pour it all out honestly. How I can't stand being around Kiera these days. How I've missed the food Maru used to make for us…