Chapter 294: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (87)
Chapter 294: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (87)
Her body, wound tight with tension, became even more sensitive to his touch.
It was the same for Elsie.
The girl stiffened with a flinch, reflexively pushing her hips back. It was because she remembered the wave of pleasure that had overwhelmed her last time.
Ian let out a sigh of relief at her reaction.
Elsie let out a feverish breath, her face clouded with a pained expression.
"S-stop it..."
Of course, it was nothing more than a faint protest.
To make matters worse, Ian silently pulled Elsie into his arms.
Elsie couldn't keep her wits about her as the man’s scent invaded her senses. A girl was, after all, a creature infinitely weak to love.
Under the influence of those fuzzy emotions, Elsie’s face finally softened.
She tried to knit her brows as if attempting to scowl, but it was a futile resistance. She couldn't hide the way the corners of her mouth twitched upward.
Ian let out a soft chuckle at the adorable sight.
"Listen to me until the end, Senior Elsie."
"B-but... ngh?!"
Elsie felt like she was going crazy.
She wanted to get angry about something, but the moment Ian’s whisper brushed against her ear, her heightened sense of touch sent a tingling thrill through her.
And that was just from hearing his voice.
That wasn't all.
She couldn't even gauge her own heart, which was softening of its own accord just by being held in Ian’s arms. In fact, she even began to think that a life surrendered to Ian wouldn't be so bad, as long as she could stay like this.
It was the kind of thought a victim of domestic violence might have.
Elsie knew this, too, but it was impossible to control the tickling impulse in her chest.
Ian continued to whisper into the girl’s ear.
"Who said anything about abandoning you, Senior? I’m just saying we should reduce useless misunderstandings."
"...U-useless misunderstandings?"
In the end, Elsie couldn't resist the temptation.
To think she would fall for him so easily after just a couple of sweet words.
Elsie thought it was a relief that her first love was Ian. If she had been enchanted by any other man, she might have been stripped of everything, down to her very soul.
Even though Elsie was already half-convinced before hearing the main point, she maintained a feigned air of anger.
The twitching corners of her mouth, contrasting with her sulky eyes, were quite a sight.
Ian nodded reliably.
As his hand brushed under her chin, Elsie let out a faint moan and instinctively buried her face in Ian’s chest.
"Yes, useless misunderstandings... because strange rumors might start for no reason."
"That’s..."
"You aren't my pet, Senior Elsie."
Elsie’s lips pouted out in dissatisfaction.
The way she glanced sideways at Ian’s face was unusual. It was a sign that the man’s words had hurt her feelings quite a bit.
Fearing Elsie might throw another tantrum, Ian quickly added more.
"You are an equal being to me, Senior. A comrade... no, a partner?"
Elsie’s heart, which had been on the verge of turning sour again, settled down.
While enjoying Ian’s touch, she fell into deep thought.
Elsie was satisfied with the 'pet' relationship. Not only could she rely on Ian indefinitely, but as long as she followed him, Ian would also try to protect her.
Above all, she liked that she could receive unstinting love.
Just like right now.
But then again, the nuance of 'partner' wasn't bad either. It was a word that strongly suggested walking side-by-side.
And so, Elsie’s deliberation grew quite long.
Not knowing which was better, Elsie tilted her head, unable to make a hasty decision. It was also due to her naturally greedy temperament.
Elsie wanted to be completely subordinate to Ian.
To the point where she could no longer escape.
Because the more she was, the more Ian wouldn't be able to escape from her either.
However, she also didn't want to give up on a future where they lived happily together as life partners.
If she remained a pet, she wouldn't be abandoned by Ian.
On the other hand, if she chose to be a partner, Ian wouldn't be able to treat her as just a cute existence.
He would have to treat her as an equal—in other words, as a woman.
As Elsie’s contemplation deepened...
Ian, as if the time had finally come to settle an old debt, clung to his persuasion even more desperately.
"Senior Elsie... think back to the days when you were so confident. There were many people who followed you back then."
Elsie seemed to agonize even more, groaning softly.
Ian continued, stroking the underside of Elsie’s chin.
"Back then, you were always proactive. That’s why I never had to doubt your sincerity... but lately, I feel like I’m forcing you into danger."
His voice was plain, but his words were filled with sincerity.
In an instant, Elsie’s heart wavered at his persuasion.
Ian was constantly worrying about her.
He was afraid that the reason Elsie risked her life was merely because of his orders. He was always fearful that he might fail to notice her true intentions.
How could her heart not be moved by such a delicate soul?
Even though the very person who had broken the once confident and independent Elsie with a hand axe was Ian himself.
Naturally, he hadn't forgotten that fact, and even now, he was fighting a painful battle with the voice of his conscience.
Of course, there was no way that pain would be visible to the eyes of a girl in love.
Eventually, it didn't take long for Elsie to come up with a brilliant idea.
Suddenly coming to her senses, a dry cough escaped her lips. Taking a couple of steps back to pull away from Ian’s embrace, the girl put her hands behind her back.
Her slightly flushed face looked demure.
"...Well, if you insist."
It was an answer given while slightly averting her gaze.
Only then could Ian breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, he was saying goodbye to that dreadful stigma.
"I look forward to working with you, Senior Elsie... I’ll respect your will as much as possible."
"Really? Then do me one favor."
It was a proposal thrown out as she abruptly took a step forward.
Ian looked bewildered for a moment, but soon nodded readily, as if deciding to go all the way.
He owed Elsie.
She was a comrade who had contributed to countless battles. Furthermore, she had a record of facing the Corpse Giant even though she had no connection to the Percus territory.
There was nothing he wouldn't grant her.
As soon as Ian expressed his agreement, Elsie immediately fired off a sentence. It was a calculated move to give him no room for rebuttal.
"I want to be your pet dog."
"Alright, if it's just that... wait, what?"
Ian could only let out a dumbfounded sound.
It was a request he had never imagined. It wouldn't have been strange for him to be completely speechless.
Seeing his bewildered face, Elsie covered her mouth and burst into giggles. The corners of her eyes curved into gentle arcs.
"I’m saying I’ll be your pet dog by my own will... So you don't have to worry anymore, right? Please give me lots of love from now on, Master. Woof!"
Elsie mimicked a puppy acting cute, holding out both hands.
At those words, spoken with a wink, Ian was lost for words for a long time.
This was nothing more than a repeating cycle.
Just as he opened his mouth to offer some kind of rebuttal...
"A-and also... there’s one more thing I want to say as a partner."
Elsie lowered her head, her face turning red again.
The way she idly traced the ground with the tip of her foot made her look incredibly shy.
Ian eventually closed his mouth again.
Come to think of it, Elsie was the one who had called him out. She must have had her own business, but the conversation had dragged on so long that he hadn't even been able to ask until now.
Just what did she want to say?
And didn't she say it was something she was telling him as a 'partner'?
If so, Ian had an obligation to respect Elsie’s will and listen. He had already declared that he would.
Ian’s golden pupils turned toward the girl.
The moment Elsie met those eyes, she felt countless memories sweep through her thoughts like a wave.
When she first saw them, she thought they were eyes that showed quite a bit of resolve.
Afterward, she mostly saw those eyes in her nightmares, and then, after somehow falling in love, she thought that consistently burning gold was truly magnificent.
Strong and reliable.
That was why her heart fluttered even more.
Elsie tried to moisten her parched lips with saliva. Her whole body was already trembling.
Her head was spinning, and her face was so heated she couldn't lift her head.
Nevertheless, she mustered her courage for one sentence.
"...Hey."
The girl, her eyes squeezed shut, lifted her head.
Taking a deep breath, she managed to calm her heart, and her eyes softly fluttered open.
They were clear, blue eyes.
Ian stared blankly at his own reflection filling them.
Even seeing them again, he couldn't help but think they were charming.
Then, the girl leaned her upper body slightly forward with her hands still behind her back, so she could meet the man’s eyes from a closer distance.
Her face held as many emotions as a flower bud about to bloom.
Only then could Elsie convey the sincerity she had kept tightly hidden.
"Do you... want to date me?"
With a voice that was a little shy and a little trembling.
Thus, the girl decided to hurl herself against her fate.
For Lainella's fate was decided by Lainella.