Chapter 25: Chapter 24

I had to try not to overreact to his buttoning. But it wasn’t easy. Because I was ticklish.

“Are you done?”

“No.”

Even if I hastily urged him, he was buttoning it up slowly. It was more irritating when he reached the waist up.

How much more did I have to endure?

I had to stay like that until he completely filled it up and took his hand off the dress.

“I’m done.”

“I see.”

As he fell off, I let go of my hair and put it behind my back.

“Look this way.”

“Okay.”

As Alexis instructed, I turned in the direction he indicated. Then he opened his eyes wide, his innocent, pure face donning a smile said incongruously,

“It would be a waste to break it.”

“What?”

“I will spare you when I destroy the lab.”

“Ah… th-thank you.”

“But I’m not going to keep you alive.”

“… I see.”

But his words didn’t bother me. He’ll die if Kalisten runs amok anyway.

“Still.”

“… .”

“If I keep wanting to see you, I might save you.”

“Right.”

I stared back into his eyes, thinking that I shouldn’t avoid his glaze. Because turning your back on a beast was death.

“I’ll make your hair suit you.”

“Oh.”

I was startled when he grabbed my hand and instinctually shook it off. Then he tilted his head and tried to catch my hand again. So this time I caught him first so I wouldn’t avoid him.

“Hahaha.”

“… .”

“Are you doing this because I’m going to kill you?”

“Ah… well… .”

“Weird, I don’t want to kill you when I hold your hand.”

He said something inexplicable and took me to the bed and sat me down. Then he came back behind my back, and it was more aggravating than before. My nerves were on edge and I felt like I was going to break out in a cold sweat.

“The scent from you.”

“What about it… ?”

“I think it’s coming from your hand.”

“I see.”

I clenched my wounded hand. So that he doesn’t smell anything.

He combed my hair again and started braiding it in small braids. Then he twisted them together and tied them in half.

“Do you want to look in the mirror?”

“… yes.”

He seemed eager to show me how well he did.

As I stood in front of the mirror, there was a woman I had never seen before.

It was a beautiful face like a masterpiece. Without a single unattractive corner. Moreover, when she was dressed up and properly groomed, her face was as beautiful and elegant as a deer.

So it felt more like someone else’s face.

“The hair is so pretty.”

“Right?!”

He seemed to like the compliment, beaming a smile with a misleading innocent face.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Come to think of it, I didn’t receive what the deputy chief was wearing around her neck and ears.”

“It’s probably expensive, so she won’t give it to you.”

“Do you like that too?”

“… Ah… well… .”

“Alright.”

He strode towards the door.

“You can’t go out without me here, so stay here.”

“What? Alec! Where are you going?”

“To get a necklace.”

“Now— wait a second… .!”

“I will be back.”

He closed the door and left. There was some relief in being left alone in the room.

I was so nervous that I seemed to have forgotten to breathe. My fists had been clenched so tightly that nail marks remained on my palms.

It must have happened when he buttoned the back.

The half-moon-shaped nail marks on the tender skin might have bled if they went a little deeper. Seeing what kind of scent he smelled from me, I wondered if there was more to it.

Maybe an ability?

It was said that even an A-grade showed insignificant abilities.

Could it be something that makes me a delicious prey?

“No… .”

Even though it was a very desperate thought, I couldn’t deny the possibility.

“Ugh… .”

There was a strange noise coming from the closet where Alexis pointed to where Kalisten was supposed to be.

Startled, I was frightened and my body stiffened by the sound.

“Ugh… .”

There was a moan as if they were in pain. Mindlessly I went and opened the closet door.

Then right there.

There was something enormous.