In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 17

My whole body felt stiff.
But that wasn’t why I woke up.
Rustle, rustle.
There was a gentle hand stroking my head.
“Mmm.”
Pushing open my heavy eyelids, I saw the familiar cabin scenery that I had grown accustomed to over the past few days.
A pillow fallen to the bottom of the bed, a silk cover pushed down to my feet, and Perez’s eyes looking down at me.
His captivating blond hair was gone, replaced by his original black hair.
Last night, we had washed off the hair dye that had colored each other’s hair while bathing together.
It was a somewhat impulsive act, like when I first changed my hair color, but seeing his familiar black hair as soon as I opened my eyes made me realize it was a good decision.
Especially since my hair was long, it took quite a while, but Perez carefully and thoroughly washed off the black dye.
And then.
And then…
“Beast.”
I narrowed my eyes at Perez and said.
Perez, who had been desiring me, could only be described by this word.
Everything began that night, the very night of the fireworks.
He had been so cautious and hesitant outside the cabin door.
But the moment he took my hand and entered the cabin, he transformed.
Like… a hunting dog whose leash had been cut.
No, I suppose I was the one who unleashed him.
“How many days has it been already?”
I patted my aching lower back, which felt like a mass of muscle, and buried my face in the pillow.
Like being drunk on strong liquor, I traced back the scattered memories.
The night, which began with the sound of fireworks popping outside, finally ended after seeing the dawn stars.
And when the morning sun rose, I woke up to a hand wiping my body, and once more.
And then, when the sun was dimly setting, I barely opened my eyes, ate the meal he brought, and once again.
And again…
My face flushed as I recalled the past few days, where I barely had time to put on clothes.
“Perez.”
“Yes, Tia.”
He answered very gently.
Brushing back my hair that had fallen forward.
But I wouldn’t be fooled now.
His neat appearance, with his shirt buttons fastened all the way up to his neck, was as tidy as someone who had just returned from work.
But Perez approaching, unbuttoning that shirt, was now so familiar that…
“You, you know. Are you always so good at things that involve your body?”
“Hmm.”
Perez smiled faintly.
It was a smile that seemed shy at first glance, but no.
That face, subtly pulling up the corners of his lips, was rather…
“Tia.”
His rough, long fingers brushed past my ear and greedily swept back my hair.
“I’ve waited a long time.”
His half-whispering voice had a somewhat sticky quality to it.
“That’s why. That’s why…”
His voice grew softer, and his tilted face drew closer.
I watched him with half-dazed eyes again.
Ah, his face is really pretty…
“Whoa there!”
Wow, seriously!
I almost fell for it again!
I hastily raised a finger and covered his lips.
“No.”
But Perez was not a man to retreat so easily.
He cupped my finger, which was blocking his advance with his large hand, and kissed it.
A warm, lingering sensation spread through my fingertips, as if I had been electrocuted.
“Just once.”
He whined.
“Tia, just one more time…”
It was a sweet plea that made me feel like I’d be the worst person in the world if I didn’t grant it.
“Hmm? This time, I’ll take care of everything…”
Sh-should I?
He’s begging so desperately.
It wouldn’t be so bad to accept just one more time…
“N-no!”
But I managed to squeeze my eyes shut.
That cunning Perez!
I almost fell for it again.
“I really can’t! I’m too tired! And you!”
I shouted, opening my eyes as wide as possible, with utmost seriousness.
“You’re strong and last long!”
I can’t handle that!
I’ll just pass out again.
“Ah.”
A gloomy shade spread through Perez’s ruby-like eyes at my firm refusal.
…Should I have accepted after all?
Just as my heart was momentarily weakening.
Smooch.
With a tiny, somewhat embarrassed sound, a petal-like kiss landed on my forehead.
“Alright, Tia. Then get up and eat something.”
He said, his face now back to its usual neat appearance.
“You haven’t eaten anything since dinner last night.”
“Whose fault is that?”
Whose fault was it that he pounced on me when cream from the meal got on my mouth?
“Yes, then I shall serve you.”
Perez smiled and said, then picked me up, still wrapped in the white sheet.
He then walked briskly, as if I weighed nothing, and set me down in front of the table by the window.
A splendid meal of bread, meat, fruit, and tea awaited me.
“When did you get all this?”
“Hmm. About an hour ago?”
I knew I smelled something good.
“So you were doing that for an hour?”
When I opened my eyes, Perez was watching me sleep.
“You should have woken me instead of waiting.”
I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Watching you sleep, Tia, was so delightful that I lost track of time.”
“What, what are you talking about?”
“Sorry, you must have been hungry. I’ll wake you up earlier next time, Tia.”
“More than me, you…”
I paused, about to speak without thinking.
“No, what I mean is, Perez, you must have been more tired…”
Never mind.
I clamped my mouth shut and looked away.
Perez’s low chuckle brushed past my ears, which were surely red.
“Eat a lot, Tia.”
This time, Perez kissed my cheek and said.
It was a remark that felt like he intended to fatten me up and devour me.
I glared at him once and picked up my fork.
But despite how appetizing the food looked, I had no appetite.
I just picked at some fruit, drank a few sips of warm tea, and put it down.
“You don’t want to eat more?”
“I’ll just rest a little longer like this.”
I leaned my head against the back of the chair and replied.
My desire for sleep had overcome my appetite.
Through my slowly blinking vision, I saw Perez meeting my gaze.
“Perez.”
“Yes, Tia.”
“When we arrive in Luman, yawn, there’s somewhere we need to go together…”
Despite the short sentence, the overwhelming sleepiness made it hard to continue.
Perez stroked my cheek, as if telling me to sleep peacefully, and said,
“Alright, I understand.”
Suddenly, I wondered.
So I must have voiced it.
Why doesn’t he ask?
What?
Where are we going?
You promised. To go anywhere together.
Ah, so that’s why.
Yes. That’s why.
It seemed like such a conversation had taken place.
How much time had passed?
“Tia.”
I opened my eyes again at the voice calling my name, now more familiar than anyone else’s.
The cabin looked a little brighter.
But that was all.
Nothing had changed from when I closed my eyes.
Not even Perez, who was still sitting beside me, looking at me gently.
“How long did I sleep?”
“About two hours?”
“…You were doing that for two hours again?”
“Yes.”
“Perez, you’re a serious case.”
Perez shrugged and chuckled softly at my disgusted expression.
“I know.”
“…Unbelievable.”
“Are you still very tired?”
“No, much better than before.”
“Then would you like to look out the window, Tia?”
Perez quickly got up and walked to the window.
And he pulled open the curtains that had been covering the window.
“Wow.”
Sunlight poured in.
I pulled up the sheet and approached, as if enchanted.
Beneath the high sun, the deep blue water shimmered.
And in the distance, land was visible.
A land where low, white buildings filled the high mountain slopes.
“It’s Luman.”
With Perez’s voice kissing my head, the cruise ship arrived at its destination.