Chapter 85: Uriel Wayne Daina Alfred
……
Having arrived on the fourth floor of the main building ahead of Ferzen, Uriel lingered in the bathroom, washing her hands to buy a little time.
Then, as his footsteps echoed from the quiet hallway beyond, she shook the water from her hands and stepped out naturally.
Thud.
Ferzen paused for a moment. Glancing at her briefly, he resumed walking, and Uriel followed behind.
As she'd noticed before, he had a solidly built frame that seemed out of place for a black mage—unnecessarily sturdy.
Looking at it now brought back memories of that day, when that very body had pinned her down, groping and licking her own. Uriel's face flushed red.
"Your wife…… isn't with you today. What happened?"
Just before Ferzen grasped the doorknob, Uriel couldn't hold back her curiosity and tossed the question at him as he moved to enter the office.
He met her eyes briefly, as if it were nothing, and replied curtly……
"She's unwell, so I told her to rest."
With that simple answer, he vanished inside.
'Unwell……'
When she had been sick last time, hadn't he nursed her even after his duty shift ended?
Imagining that pitiful woman suffering alone at home, Uriel felt a faint surge of superiority.
'Pathetic……'
Then, belatedly scolding herself, she let out a sigh.
They said nothing made a person uglier than envy and jealousy.
Shaking her head, Uriel began preparing for her morning lecture.
"Come to think of it……"
Didn't that person have a morning lecture today as well?
* * * *
Noon.
Finishing her lecture and stepping out of the classroom, Uriel paused in front of her office and glanced toward Room 404.
She tried the doorknob surreptitiously……
Click!
It was locked.
"……"
Well, of course. If his wife was sick, he'd probably gone home after finishing his business.
Why had she harbored such pointless expectations? Uriel lowered her hand, entered her office, set down her materials, and headed out for lunch.
As she made for the main gate, though she knew it was foolish, she pressed her forehead and sighed…… before turning toward the parking lot behind.
"……"
And there, Uriel spotted it.
The carriage emblazoned with the Brutein crest.
If it wasn't at the office but in the parking lot……
Sure enough, he'd gone out to eat.
Uriel quickened her pace slightly.
The noble students attending lectures in Building A were also on lunch break, so the streets lined with restaurants were even more crowded than usual.
Finding which of the countless eateries Ferzen had chosen seemed objectively difficult……
But narrowing it down was child's play for Uriel.
She knew his tastes—his palate—better than anyone.
Thus, standing before the restaurant most famous for its goat meat main courses, Uriel cautiously pushed open the door.
Elegant interior, sparse seating.
"……"
Uriel confirmed Ferzen's back as he ate.
"I'm sorry, but all seats are currently full……"
"That man."
"Pardon?"
"Ask…… if he'd mind sharing."
The waiter, bowing at the waist, followed Uriel's pointing finger.
"Ah…… A friend of yours? Understood. Please wait a moment."
Table-sharing was common here, so the waiter smiled brightly and approached Ferzen, who was quietly eating, bowing slightly.
He set down his knife and glanced back. As his eyes met hers, Uriel flinched involuntarily and averted her gaze.
When the waiter returned……
Uriel realized her palms were sweaty.
If he refused, so be it. Why get worked up over something like this?
"Ma'am."
"What…… did he say?"
"He graciously agreed."
"He did……?"
She smoothed her sweaty fist awkwardly and walked slowly to Ferzen's table, taking a seat.
He stared at her blankly without a word, pausing as he sliced his meat with the knife, and asked in his usual flat tone.
"Weren't you here to eat? Order something."
"I was…… still deciding on the menu."
"I see."
Ferzen smirked at her response.
Their tastes aligned perfectly, and she knew this place's specialty.
Claiming to deliberate over the menu was laughable.
"Why are you laughing? It's annoying……"
Even as she snapped irritably, she ordered the same as him in the end.
With no real retort, Uriel just gulped down her ice water.
"By the way, your lecture should have ended at 11……"
"I have leftover work related to final exams."
"……"
"If nothing else comes up, I'll give you a ride back in the carriage. The remaining tasks will take about 30 minutes after lunch."
Uriel propped her chin on her hand, feigning indifference at his words.
'Ah……'
Then she recalled how, during their first joint duty, he'd disliked this habit, and quietly lowered her hand.
As Ferzen's furrowed brow relaxed, Uriel grumbled inwardly.
'Your preferences……'
Did he even realize how much she was catering to them?
"……I won't refuse. Finish your meal. I won't bother you with chit-chat."
Hobbies, cultural pursuits—they matched in everything, enough to sustain conversation easily, but Uriel chose to let him eat in peace.
About ten minutes passed.
The guests at the next table left, and the appetizers arrived: a salad with a light tang to whet the appetite.
She demurely speared it with her fork and ate……
"Ah……"
Uriel frowned upon spotting Gerard entering with his friends from the entrance beyond.
'Of all times……'
She hoped to avoid them, but with the only empty seats right beside them, a encounter was inevitable.
And sure enough……
"Uh…… h-hello…… Professor Ferzen. Professor Uriel."
His friends spotted her and Ferzen first, offering the world's most awkward greeting cautiously.
Instead of sitting, they hovered, glancing back at Gerard—the de facto leader—with uneasy looks.
"……"
Gerard's face crumpled like he'd bitten into shit.
"Enjoy your meal."
Ferzen, unperturbed, continued eating steadily.
This situation—sandwiched between the two men—left Uriel uncomfortable.
Setting aside Ferzen's involvement, surely he'd at least told his friends about their engagement.
It must sting his pride, his dignity shattered like this.
"Let's eat somewhere else."
As expected, after a brief silence, Gerard sent his friends out and approached, speaking with veiled anger.
"Didn't you tell me there's no point in advancing our private relationship? So is this…… your tacit admission that I'll lose? I didn't know you liked goat meat, Professor. You even shared that with Professor Ferzen."
Uriel didn't outright deny his words.
Whatever card he played—even if it was a hundred—Ferzen would just add ten more, and her grandfather would……
"Gerard Ren Millane Aslan."
"……"
"Don't be childish."
Finishing the last bite neatly, Ferzen wiped his lips with a napkin and addressed Gerard impassively.
"Childish, you say……"
"Do you think it's not? And to correct one thing in your words: I have no need to learn Uriel's preferences."
"……"
As those signature oppressive red eyes fixed on him, Gerard nearly turned away but clenched his fist and stared back defiantly.
"Her favorite dish is goat. Fruits are all that aren't overly sweet. Books: everything by Cervantes. Instrument: violin. Play: perhaps The Dawn."
"So you've already investigated everything."
Ferzen laughed at Gerard's retort.
A genuine, almost uncontrollable laugh that he barely suppressed.
"They're all my favorites."
"……"
"And Uriel likes what I like. I don't need to know her. She exists for me."
Hearing this, Gerard recalled a remark Uriel had made that he hadn't understood at the time, and turned to her.
She quietly bowed her head.
Silent affirmation.
"You once said you wanted to treat me to a meal. No need to puzzle over what to tell the head chef anymore, Gerard."
Biting his lip at Ferzen's mocking tone, Gerard……
"Enjoy your meal. I'll be going."
……turned on his heel roughly, fist still clenched.
Glancing at his retreating back, Uriel pressed her forehead.
"You're plenty childish yourself……"
"Was anything I said wrong?"
"No, but……"
"Uriel."
"What."
"When the food arrives, don't rest your breasts on the table. It's vulgar."
"……"
"You have some odd habits."
At Ferzen's remark, Uriel flinched and gently lifted her ample chest from the table.
"Humans always seek comfort……"
"I won't mind at home, so don't do it out."
"……"
"Main course is here. Eat. By the time you're done, I'll have finished my work. I'll come fetch you then."
"Do whatever……"
Uriel didn't stop Ferzen as he rose.
Gazing at the seat he'd left empty, she ate alone and stood about 40 minutes later.
"The gentleman who agreed to share has already paid."
"Such a pointless gesture……"
The money she had now was his anyway.
"It was delicious."
"Thank you. Please come again."
Pocketing the money she'd pulled out, Uriel stepped into the street and looked around.
Not far off, just as he'd said, the Brutein-crested carriage waited by the roadside.
Approaching and peering in, the window lowered to reveal Ferzen reading, his red eyes glancing down at her.
"Get in."
"Don't nag."
"I haven't nagged."
"……"
Uriel shut her mouth sullenly and opened the carriage door, climbing in.
Inside the smoothly departing carriage, she grasped the hem near her chest and fluttered it lightly.
In hot, humid weather, sweat often pooled under her breasts, making it stuffy without ventilation—and worst, it caused skin issues if left.
But each time she did, she noticed Ferzen's nose twitching as if inhaling her scent deeply. An odd feeling stirred in Uriel.
She hadn't meant to seduce him or anything.
As he finally looked up from his book, she stopped fluttering and stammered.
"I-it's…… hot……"
"I said nothing."
"If I smelled sweaty…… sorry."
Ferzen regarded her impassively for a moment, then returned to his book and murmured softly.
"Don't worry."
"……"
"No sweat smell. Your scent was sweetly cloying, as always."
"Wh-what? That's perverted."
"What can I do about the breeze?"
"Breathe through your mouth……"
"I've never said I disliked it."
"Ju-just…… read your book."
"Very well."
His posture was impeccably upright, reading without a hint of disarray—almost uncomfortably proper. Uriel turned to the window.
Yet her hand kept fluttering the hem.
Despite the open windows, the spacious carriage filled with her sweet, peachy body fragrance.
Like spring itself.
When they arrived at the modest house he'd temporarily arranged for her, Ferzen looked down and called her name in his characteristic voice.
"Uriel."
"……"
"Next time, I'll take you with me."
Take her with him.
Mulling it over, Uriel replied.
"Watch your words. You'll be…… escorting me."
Waiting was utterly tedious for her.
That retort stemmed from frustration and a desire for reassurance, so Ferzen offered no rebuttal, just a faint smile as he departed.
"Annoying……"
Why did a man who rarely smiled do so now?
"……"
As the carriage faded from view, Uriel entered the house and undressed.
Cool relief.
Sure enough, sweat had pooled heavily under her breasts.
Lifting the discarded clothes to her nose……
'It…… smells like sweat……'
Uriel quietly blushed.