“What is it?”
The cautious voice stirred something deep inside him.
Back when he had served as an Imperial Guard knight, this woman had ordered him around with the slightest tilt of her chin. Hadn't he, for the first time in his life, learned what exhaustion felt like from indulging her endless unreasonable demands, childish sulking, and spiteful whims that served no discernible purpose?
He didn't like seeing the woman who had always made outrageous requests with shameless confidence hesitate over something as trivial as food.
Enclosing her hand, curled tightly like the shell of a snail, within his own, he spoke firmly.
“Please tell me anything you want. Whatever it is, I will obtain it, no matter what it takes.”
“Then... I want apricots too. Fresh ones, not dried. And candied violets and citron. I don't want them stale. I like them crisp.”
As though she had been waiting for him to ask, she chattered away.
Watching her beg for sweets with eyes sparkling like a child's made his stomach itch as though he had swallowed a handful of feathers.
She had always frowned at lavish feasts as though someone had placed garbage before her. How many times had he suppressed the urge to force open those stubbornly sealed lips and feed her against her will?
All at once, he realized that for a very long time, he had wanted to see her eat until she was full.
Back then, he had believed he was merely irritated by her ridiculous pickiness with food.
But in truth, he had simply been worried sick.
“And what else?”
As he gently urged her on while brushing his fingertips over her fever-warm cheeks, the blush staining her face deepened.
Her moist eyes wandered uncertainly before she awkwardly opened her mouth.
“You know... that drink we had during the eastern tour. The one made by fermenting goat's milk... I want that too.”
Compared to everything she had asked for before, it was an utterly insignificant request.
For a brief moment he frowned, dissatisfied that she was struggling to ask for something so humble that even commoners drank regularly. Then he remembered that he had personally fed her that drink before and quietly swallowed.
The memory of her tiny tongue wrapping around him like sticky honey flashed through his mind, and his lower abdomen hardened like stone.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly rose to his feet.
If he lingered any longer, he felt he might force something upon her that she did not want.
“That drink can be prepared immediately. I'll have a maid bring it. Please drink as much as you wish.”
“You bring it yourself.”
The hand that had been defensively curled against herself suddenly caught hold of the hem of his clothes.
Varkas, who had been about to turn away, stopped and looked down at her.
Her voice became so quiet it was almost impossible to hear.
“Not now... later, this evening.”
For an instant, a sensation akin to dizziness swept over him.
He slowly closed his eyes before opening them again. Fortunately, when he answered, his voice remained calm.
“Understood. I'll bring it to you myself.”
The woman gazing up at him with clear eyes slowly nodded before releasing the fabric she had been clutching.
“Good. Then you can go now.”
She gave an imperious tilt of her head.
Unable to resist the impulse sweeping through him, Varkas finally reached out and caught the back of her neck.
Her startled eyes widened, then softened in an instant.
Staring into pupils as deep and clinging as a bottomless swamp, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth.
Her burning flesh clung to him.
No matter how many times he tasted her, the sensation never grew dull. It felt as though his insides were melting into something soft.
Gripping her small chin, he repeatedly pushed his tongue deep inside and withdrew it again, as though mimicking the act of penetration.
He continued until his mind nearly gave out, repeating the motion over and over, and only after his body had become unbearably hot did he finally manage to pull away.
The eyes that met his beneath the brilliant light resembled pure gemstones untouched by the slightest impurity.
As he remained lost within those strangely deep blue irises, the woman, breathing in short gasps, pushed against his shoulder.
“You should go now. You said you were going to the military office in one shichen.”
He turned his gaze toward the window.
It didn't feel as though much time had passed, yet if he lingered here any longer, he doubted he would ever be able to leave.
Swallowing a sigh, Varkas reluctantly stood.
“Then please get some rest.”
“...See you later.”
Resting her face against her knees, she murmured in a hoarse voice.