14 - Full of Ulterior Motives

I stood behind her chair, placing my hands on her shoulders. "Alright, time for some service."

I started kneading the knotted trapezius muscles. Her playfulness increasing is a good sign. For her to initiate this kind of role-play first. She was definitely much brighter than yesterday. If things kept going like this, the illness in her heart would heal in no time.

But then.

Hm? The shoulder under my fingertips felt rock-hard, rigid as stone. Was she tense? I chuckled, a mischievous urge kicking in. A plain massage was no fun. Smoothly, my thumb slid up from her shoulder, slyly tracing her nape.

The weakness I'd memoized in my brain: her ear.

I gently rubbed her earlobe with my fingers, starting to massage her ear. "Eek...!"

"!!!!"

The reaction was immediate. Her body shuddered like she'd been electrocuted. And in that instant—

Whoosh!

A powerful fragrance assaulted my nose. It wasn't her usual fresh lemon scent. This was thicker, denser, a head-spinning musk so sweet it was intoxicating. Like overripe fruit bursting and spilling its juices, pheromones were exploding from her body.

Ugh... this is...

Dangerous. My instincts screamed a warning, but my hands wouldn't stop. No, they delved deeper, entranced. I pinched the soft earlobe, stroked the heated helix.

"Hnn... mmmph..."

A muffled moan escaped her lips. That sound pulled my trigger. Her white nape flushed red in an instant, her back arching like a bow. Twitch, twitch. Her body trembled in rhythm with my touch.

"......"

I swallowed hard without thinking. My vision narrowed. All I could see was her flushed white nape and the heaving line of her collarbone with each ragged breath.

Slowly, my hand slid down from her ear, gliding along her neckline. So soft. And hot. My palm passed her collarbone, slipping toward that deeper, more intimate valley.

Just a little more. A bit lower, and I'd reach those heavy, plush mounds.

Right before instinct devoured reason—

Crazy, snap out of it!!

I jolted back, freezing my hand in midair. It hovered right above her breasts, trembling at a distance where brushing her collar would make contact. Glancing down, my pants... were grotesquely tented, like a circus big top.

I'm screwed. She'd notice 100%. Or maybe she already had. Sweating bullets, I yanked my hands back.

"Uh... Piarot senior?"

"Mmm... yeah... Evan..."

She turned her head, gazing up at me with hazy, unfocused eyes. Moisture beaded at the corners, her cheeks flushed pink. That defenseless expression was the final blow. I had no confidence in maintaining sanity if I stayed.

"I, uh, gotta hit the bathroom real quick..."

"Ah... y-yeah, got it."

The moment she replied, I bolted awkwardly, hunched over, straight to the bathroom.

Click!

Door shut, I panted at the mirror, staring at the beast staring back. "Huff... haa... that was close, for real."

I splashed cold water on my face, but the heat wouldn't subside. The feel of her under my fingers, that thick, seductive scent lingering... it was driving me insane.

Mmm... feels like déjà vu. With shaking hands, I undid my belt and dropped my underwear. That sticky spot was already hell.

Smooth...

"Haa......"

Piarot pressed her cheek to the cold ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠table, cooling the heat. That massage... too dangerous. The afterglow of pleasure felt like it would melt her brain. She shook her head vigorously, hiding her flushed face.

Get a grip, Piarot!

It wouldn't calm. Confusion and excitement pounded her heart. Normally, she'd shy away blushing, but today Evan silently accepted all her teasing. [Stand], [sit], [I love you], [massage shoulders]. Just like all the countless men she'd seen her whole life.

High-ranking nobles or strong-willed professors had resisted her charm, but no peer-age boy had ever escaped her power.

But he was different. From their first meeting, second too—he'd refused her requests and acted on his own will. So she'd trusted him. As the prince from the prophecy.

But... why now?

Just because he's kind? For my sake?

No, something was off today. His eyes were clear, but his actions too obedient. What if... her curse had strengthened unbeknownst to her, finally subduing even him?

I need to check.

Click. Right on cue, the bathroom door opened, and Evan emerged. Piarot called him with a resolute expression.

"Evan..."

"Yes, Piarot senior? More massage?"

He approached with a kind smile. Piarot swallowed dryly and threw out an absurd order.

"No... uh... sit on the floor like a dog!!"

"Huh? Like a dog?"

Evan's eyes widened. He tilted his head, then hesitantly got on all fours. "Uh... like this? Woof?"

"......"

Piarot frowned. Ambiguous. True charmed slaves drop reflexively on command. But Evan questioned 'Huh? Why?' with a hesitation delay.

Is he just playing along, or resisting but submitting?

"No... stand up."

"Okay."

He stood, brushing off dust casually.

"Hand!!"

"Pardon?"

"Hand!!"

"Ah! Easy. Here."

Clack. His warm hand rested on her palm. Ambiguous again. Piarot bit her lip. She needed a decisive blow. An order no one rational would accept as a joke.

She squeezed her eyes shut and yelled.

"K-Kiss me!!"

"......"

Silence. Heavy quiet filled the room.

Huh? If charmed, he'd have pounced by now. No movement. Piarot cracked one eye open. Evan stood there, arms crossed, looking down at her with utter bafflement.

"You're acting weird today, senior."

"!!!!!!!!!!!"

Joy flooded her face. As expected!! He's not charmed!! He's sane. He chose to refuse on his own will. Relief weakened her legs.

"Ah... n-no, just kidding. Haha... kisses are for people you like..."

She laughed awkwardly, trying to backpedal. But then.

Smoothly, Evan walked around behind her chair and placed his hands on her shoulders again.

"Heh... really just a joke?"

"Uh... y-yeah. Obviously."

His hot breath touched her nape. Evan leaned down, lips to her ear, whispering like a puff of wind.

"Too bad. Would've been nice if it was real..."

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Piarot's face exploded red. She jerked away, whipping her head around. "Wh-what...!"

Evan gazed at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her leisurely, smiling. Playful, but his eyes held a strangely serious glint. He didn't let her escape. Leaning on the table, he pushed his face close.

"Senior, one more time."

His face neared, inches from hers. Thump, thump, thump. Her heart hammered like it would shatter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her ribs.

"Was it really a joke?"

Piarot instinctively knew. This was do-or-die. She couldn't back down. Trembling, she looked up at him.

"Mmm... no..."

A tiny voice. "It was... real..."

The words barely left before Evan's face closed in. Piarot squeezed her eyes shut instinctively.

Warm, soft touch met her lips. Smack. Short and light kiss. Her mind went white-hot, ashing over. A frozen moment in time.

"Mmm..."

Lips parted, Evan's low voice rang in her ear.

"Piarot senior."

At his call, she slowly opened her eyes. Right before her, Evan looked at her with the gentlest gaze in the world.

"No guy visits a girl he doesn't like every day like this."

"Ah..."

"I... didn't come just with pure intentions. Full of ulterior motives."

Evan continued earnestly. "I like you, senior."

Those words twisted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her face with overwhelming emotion. Choking back tears, she yelled.

"I... I like you too!! I really like you, Evan!!"

"I... I like you too!! I really like you, Evan!!"

The icy clarity in my head evaporated instantly. The shame and excitement I'd forcibly suppressed crashed in like a tsunami.

Whoosh—! My face ignited. A confession too cringey for a sober mind. But too late to take back.

"Evan..."

She grabbed my clothes with damp eyes. "Hug me..."

The system window flashed red before my eyes, blaring warnings. I couldn't refuse. No, I didn't want to.

"......Okay."

I reached out trembling hands, cradling her small head. She burrowed into my arms, hugging my waist tight.

Fluffy. Her soft touch and sweet scent filled my lungs deep.

"Evan..."

"Yeah..."

"I like you..."

She nuzzled my chest, murmuring. My heart felt like bursting.

"I... like you too, senior."

"Evan..."

"Yes."

She looked up at me, expression shy and expectant. "Don't say senior... just my name."

"......"

"I want you to call me by name too. Like lovers."

Gulp. My throat bobbed hard. Lips shaking, I said her name. "Piarot... I like you."

"Yeah! Me too!"

She wriggled happily in my arms. I felt like I owned the world. I gently pulled her back, matching our eye levels.

"So, Piarot."

"Yeah?"

"Today makes day 1 for us?"

"Day 1???"

Her eyes widened, head tilting. "Ah... I mean, to commemorate becoming lovers, today is our first day dating. The start of anniversaries."

"Ah!!"

Her face lit up radiantly. She grabbed my hand, jumping with joy. "Yeah!! Today is day 1!! Absolutely day 1!!"

We gazed at each other, grinning like idiots.