Marim's Naked Confession
Hm... what the hell?
I walked over slowly and stood by the bed. After staring down at it for a moment, I roughly yanked back the covers.
Crouched beneath them was Marim. Why the hell is she here... and where the fuck are her clothes?
Her bare shoulders and waist were ridiculously slender, her breasts small enough to fit in one hand. But her ass and thighs were firm and toned from all that running around. No, this wasn't the time to be checking her out.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Aish...! That's all you have to say after all this...?"
Marim squeezed out the words in a trembling voice.
"What the hell are you doing for real? And why aren't you wearing any clothes? Wrong room?"
No need to ask twice—I grabbed one of her long ears and tugged.
"Get up. Get up. Get out of my room right now."
"Ow. Ow! Ow! That hurts, cut it out!"
Marim swatted at my wrist and let out a yelp of annoyance. I let go of her ear and put my hands on my hips.
"Crawl out on all fours then."
"No way."
"Why not?"
"'Cause... I didn't come to the wrong room."
She covered her chest and crotch, looking a bit deflated.
"If you've got something to say, put some clothes on first. Did you blink into the bathhouse or what?"
"Over there. My clothes."
I glanced where she pointed—a few pieces of clothing draped over a chair. So she'd come into my room, stripped, and hidden under the covers.
"Put 'em on."
"No."
"Why are you doing this?"
Marim looked at me, then dropped her gaze and mumbled something.
"What? Speak up. Say it clearly."
"You know everything..."
"Know what?"
"Why you took in my siblings."
"To use you all. You know that, so get lost."
But Marim didn't get out of bed.
"I know it's not that."
"Not what?"
"I know you're not just using us and being this nice for no reason."
Her green eyes met mine again.
"You say that, but you're doing it 'cause you feel sorry for us, right?"
"Hm. Well. Maybe. So?"
"And when I got caught stealing..."
Our first meeting hadn't been pleasant. Marim had drifted from Lenditofte to Rosens picking pockets, stayed at our inn, then tried robbing the front desk while prowling the city. But she got snared by the Beldra's Curse Rope I'd set up as theft protection and was caught red-handed. Her wrist got sliced by Idi’s curse shards, reattached by Celereja’s holy healing, she got an earful... and after threats about killing her siblings, I finally hired her on.
Looking back... it was pretty harsh. I owed her an apology, not gratitude. Was she sneaking in here to say thanks?
"So what do you wanna say?"
"I've been thinking hard these past few days. I got all this but have nothing to give back. Don't I owe you something?"
"Don't get ideas above your station."
"Shut up and listen! Keep interrupting and I won't say it!"
"Fine, fine."
Marim cleared her throat and went on.
"I asked the others. What you like. They all said money. But I don't have any."
Damn... my girls saw me as a money-grubbing miser, huh?
"Kept thinking, then it hit me. Something else you like besides money."
"What?"
"Women."
"Pfft..."
I couldn't help a disbelieving chuckle, and Marim furrowed her brows, a bit pissed.
"I know I'm not busty like the others, or even that pretty. Just a worthless little thing."
I stayed quiet, and she hung her head in shame.
"But... I'm still a woman... so maybe I can repay you this way..."
"You just wanna say thanks?"
She nodded slowly.
"Then just say it. No need for this."
"But I don't know how to just take. People who can't reciprocate can't just say thanks and call it done. I gotta give back something equal to settle my heart."
"I get it. But really, it's fine. Me seeing your feelings is enough."
But she shook her head.
"I know everything. Della, Idi, Pelle, Francois—all slept with you. Kosa's too new, Aterugar's still a kid, so excluding them."
"And?"
"I don't get it. Why leave me out? Don't know the exact reason, but it's made me anxious. Everyone else is that close to you, but not me. Feels like I'll get chased back to Lenditofte's barren woods someday."
"Won't happen, Marim. Why would I kick you out?"
"'Cause you don't trust people easily."
She gave a sad smile, slowly scratching her red hair.
"You're my favorite person in the world."
Her voice dropped low, unlike her usual self.
"I know you talk rough but look out for me. Treat a dirty, lazy half-elf the same as the others. You're kind, gentle, caring."
"Thanks for seeing me that way."
"So I'm happy from waking up to bedtime. Joyful all day. But lying down to sleep, weird thoughts creep in."
Still scratching her head, she smiled.
"What if you kick me out tomorrow? Report my crimes to the guards? Skip next month's pay?"
She looked up at me with pitiful eyes, pleading for understanding.
"I know you're too good for that, but my life's been that way, so those bad thoughts linger. Anxious, distrustful, miserable."
She'd always been so upbeat, I'd never guessed... but who really knows another's heart?
"And learning the others hooked up with you but not me? Made it worse. Why not me? Prepping to ditch me easier?"
"Didn't mean it like that."
"I know, I know..."
Marim trailed off, tears starting to flow.
"I know... but the doubts keep coming... this happiness I can't handle... what if it's suddenly snatched away..."
"Nonsense. Won't happen."
"Acting bright on the outside... but so anxious inside... even on deliveries... suddenly, against my will... better to run than get taken..."
I'd been listening casually, but her voice felt off. Like old Idi or Celereja—familiar yet strange. But she wasn't gloomy... always bright, cheeky, bouncy half-elf. Why this weird vibe from her?
"Just bolt down this path... pretend I chose it... to escape... feels easier..."
Her hands began to tremble faintly.
"Boss... tell me..."
Shaking hard now, she forced out words.
"Why keep me around...? 'Cause I'm fast for deliveries? Or just pitying a poor wretch? I need to know... why you're keeping me... to feel safe..."
That hit me—her mental state wasn't right. Given her life, it'd be weirder if it was. Harsh world, no allies, siblings depending on her alone. How could anyone stay sane under that pressure?
Shit... why hadn't I noticed till now? She was this far gone...
"Marim."
I knelt on one knee, gripping her shoulders.
"Listen up. Two reasons I'm keeping you."
"What...?"
"First, your blink ability's perfect for deliveries."
She nodded through tears.
"Second, I decided to take responsibility for you."
"Responsibility... for me...?"
"Yeah. Like you fed your siblings, I gotta handle you and the other staff's lives. At least while you're working for me."
"Why...?"
"'Cause our relationship ain't some normal contract."
Her jewel-green eyes blinked up at me.
"You and the others rely on me, partly or fully. Sure, it started as 'this one's useful for the inn.' But that's just the spark."
I squeezed her shoulders.
"If I pull you in, I own the consequences. Otherwise, would I pay a half-elf the same wage, commute to Lenditofte monthly, light your shack's fire? Or beat down those humans for your siblings' money?"
She just nodded, silent.
"So don't worry, Marim. No need. You think I'd take your siblings in then suddenly flip?"
"No..."
"See? You know it. Your anxiety's from your past life. Can't accept the change, can't trust the future. Right?"
"Yeah..."
"Wanna live like before?"
"No..."
"Unhappy now?"
"No..."
"Think I'll ditch you?"
"No..."
"Don't wanna go back, happy now, sure I won't dump you—then no anxiety. Yeah?"
"Yeah..."
"Good. So no need to strip and wait in my bed."
"Okay..."
"Now get up. Get dressed."
Marim staggered up and shuffled weakly to the chair. While she dressed, I turned away and stared out the window.
Poor half-elf... how had she held it together this long in such a fragile state? Hiding it perfectly from everyone... a normal person would've given up, sunk into apathy.
Her extra sass—was that just self-defense, holding herself together?
Footsteps approached from behind—Marim, fully clothed.
"Boss... I'm dressed."
"Then go sleep. Work tomorrow."
But she didn't leave. Hesitating, she hugged me from behind.