"You have a lot of questions."
He repeated what he had said earlier.
But today, I wasn't afraid at all. It didn't feel like he was going to cut my throat right here. Still, as I thought that, my lips went dry and my heart thumped… maybe I asked a stupid question. After all, the opponent was Raniero Actilus.
"…I'm just curious."
I whispered.
"I want to know."
He glanced down at the flowers before putting them in my ear. The flower wouldn't evoke any emotion in him, so it seemed to me that he wanted me to wear it.
"I guess you could see that."
I couldn't say anything.
It didn't matter, though, as Raniero continued his speech.
"You're exceptional. I remember everything, how you look when you're embarrassed, when you cry, or when you're afraid."
At that moment, I couldn't help but remember what he had said at the banquet, 'I see what you look like now.'
"But, I don't know much about smiling. I've seen it very rarely."
"That's why…"
I looked around.
'…To make me laugh.'
"You seem to like it, but you're not smiling?"
Disappointment mingled in his voice.
The next moment, I dropped the flower I was holding onto the floor, and instead, I grabbed his collar. Raniero condoned the most disrespectful behavior. However, rather than reprimanding me, he obediently bowed his head at me.
Soon, our lips interlocked.
His hands came up to my ears, and he covered his ears with his palms and pressed them. The sound of wet flesh rubbing echoed in my head too loudly. The kiss had always been on his initiative—either he kissed me first or he ordered me to kiss him.
…It was the first time I, of my own will, kissed him.
He seemed to notice that, too.
Our bodies clung to each other, and I lifted my heels and put my arms around his neck.
As his hand fell from my ear and loosened my coat, I took his hand but he shook his head. Raniero's expression frowned as if it were nonsense. Still, I caught my breath and clasped his hands as if restraining them.
"Angie."
He bent down further and bit my neck. The place where the breath touched was itchy and chilling.
"Angie."
The two calls made me cry a little.
This wasn't like him. If he wanted me to lay down and get on top of me, he could let go of my hand and knock me down instead of calling my name like this.
That was how he was.
Nonetheless, he didn't do anything like that. He was being patient since he brought me here because he wanted me to smile… because my feelings matter.
All of a sudden, Raniero brought my hand to his mouth. His lips, wet and slightly swollen from the kiss, touched the back of my hand again and again. With his lips on the back of my hand, he slightly lowered her eyes and gazed at me.
I let go of my clasped hands.
Then, he reached out and undid his tunic. I had no choice but to do it very slowly because my whole body was trembling.
As I stumbled over him, he hugged me and we fell down between the flowers. When I burrowed into his arms and kissed his exposed chest, the strong muscles contracted slightly. I could feel his body through his clothes as I felt the breathing above my head slightly lengthen.
It was time to give the long-awaited tyrant what he wanted. I gazed up at him and smiled slightly though it was a little awkward.
Raniero stared at me.
Embarrassed and ashamed, I burst into laughter. My face flushed red.
I don't know how many times I'd said this, but it was really strange. I knew he was a scary person, although I wasn't as scared as I was now.
He pulled me tight.
"Tell me more about what you like."
I climbed onto his thighs.
"Peace."
His eyebrows moved up, but I repeated without hesitation.
"I like peace."
"Peace is boring."
"Then… won't you give me that?"
I asked rather boldly.
Raniero silently buried his lips under my collarbone. I let out a thin sound and brushed his back. I could feel a tingling pain in the place where he put his lips.
"Anything else?"
He finally put off answering. Still, that alone was surprising.
I relaxed and laughed.
"Well… I think you probably know."
ﾟ· : * ✧ * :· ﾟ
The next day, while riding a horse, I found petals in my clothes. In the sunlight, it didn't shine like it did back then.
I lifted the slightly shrunken petals and gazed at them in the sunlight.
'…Maybe, I'm very simple and cunning.'
Perhaps…
Inside me, a little me whispered.
Perhaps, wouldn't it be okay as it is?
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