The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 1.6
“My life will continue like this, like a fish in a bowl……!”
Rosette sobbed and muttered. If she cried too loudly, a maid would come. Fortunately, Rosette was accustomed to suppressing her crying. The occasional sounds that escaped despite her efforts to hold back were quite sorrowful.
“Whine……”
Evan whimpered softly beside her. His wet nose nudged her as if telling her to lift her head. But Rosette continued to lie face down, crying.
Yes, nothing would change. She hated that. The fact that nothing changes. Why, having been born human, must she live like a ghost unable to leave the house?
In truth, there was no place she really wanted to go. She just wanted to leave this place, even for a moment. Wouldn’t something be different then? Even if nothing changed, when she suddenly felt like dying while at home, couldn’t she live by taking out and consuming those memories little by little?
But she failed. By the people who loved Rosette and whom Rosette loved. She was promised a honeymoon, but whether she could go was uncertain.
Even if she went, after returning from something that could hardly be called a trip or travel, she would again be confined here, living while suppressing everything as she had lived until now. With a husband who called it a blessing.
If they were bad people, it would be understandable, but the fact that everyone oppressing her were all people who loved her was what suffocated Rosette.
“Huuung……”
All because they love her. Because she’s too precious. Because they’re thinking of her.
Because they want what’s best for her.
And so, Rosette Alpaine’s life was withering away inside a wide cage.
Even the small dreams she had cherished, shattered to pieces on her eighteenth birthday.
***
‘Heavy.’
It must be Evan again. Rosette thought drowsily. Unlike Rosette, who had gentle sleeping habits, Evan was the type to roll his whole body while sleeping. Since Evan always enjoyed sleeping in Rosette’s bed, in the morning, he would lie on top of her or rest his head on her neck, taking all sorts of extraordinary positions. Fortunately, despite his large size, his weight was strangely light, so there were no cases of being crushed to death, but today was different.
‘Why is it so heavy today?’
Today was extreme, even for him. How much did you eat after I passed out yesterday? Rosette groaned, trying to push away whatever was sitting on top of her.
“Um…… move aside…… you’re too heavy.”
“……Mmm. No.”
Evan groaned as if he didn’t want to. Rosette let out a big sigh.
“What do you mean no……? Did you just say ‘no,’ Evan?”
Surprised, Rosette opened her eyes wide. But what was this? What was on top of her wasn’t Evan. It clearly had hair identical to Evan’s fur, but what was on top of her was definitely a person. An adult man at that.
Rosette gaped at the man riding on top of her. The man was even completely naked! Just realizing that fact made her feel like all the fine hairs on her body were standing on end.
What is this absurd situation?
Rosette jumped up and threw the man out of the bed. Like a piece of paper blown by the wind, the man fell under the bed with a thud. With a loud sound, the man groaned.
“Ugh, Rosette. That hurts……”
The man frowned and then opened his eyes. Glass-bead-like blue eyes stared straight at Rosette. The man’s appearance in the sunlight was similar to a prince statue cast in gold.
Why on earth was such a handsome man lying in her bed? As Rosette carefully examined the man’s face, she thought his features resembled someone very much. Especially those eyes, like sapphires embedded directly.
‘No way.’
He was a splendid man by anyone’s standards, but it was a minus that Rosette didn’t know him, and it was also a minus that he was naked. Rosette pinched her cheek, wondering if this situation might be a dream. It hurt.
“It’s not a dream……”
Rosette looked around. Familiar bed and familiar objects. This was definitely her room. Then had the deranged Rosette woken up and found a man to make her night pleasant?
With a stiffly frozen face, Rosette was thinking all sorts of things when the man got up, and she tensed her body rigidly. The man rubbed his eyes, whining and said.
“I want to sleep more.”
Saying that, the mountain-sized man burrowed right into Rosette. It was a posture almost like pouncing on her. Rosette was too shocked to even open her mouth. That’s when it happened. The maid came in with washing water.
“My lady, are you awake……”
Judy, the maid who unintentionally spoke informally, froze as she witnessed the scandalous scene on the bed.
“So, Judy. This is a misunderstanding.”
“Oh my……”
Not knowing how to handle this situation, Judy covered her mouth with both hands. At the same time, the basin she was holding fell to the floor. Splash! The water thoroughly soaked Judy’s shoes and the floor, and as if it woke up Judy’s senses, her covered mouth opened.
“Kyaaaaaaah-!”
A loud scream echoed throughout the mansion.
Ah, it’s over.
Rosette clutched her forehead. Now, everyone in the mansion would come running to see this scene. As she pressed her temples against the sudden migraine, the man looked at her.
“Rosette, are you hurting somewhere?”
“You know… my name?”
“How could I not know Rosette’s name?”
The man smiled freshly, showing teeth so bright her heart could melt. Her heart trembled helplessly at that smile, and Rosette forgot to ask how he knew her. She really wondered if she had a sleepwalking disorder and had gone outside to snatch a man she liked. Though she knew it was absurd, the man’s face was so plausible that Rosette leaned toward that hypothesis.
The man rolled around in bed under the blanket as if he were cold. Rosette looked down at him dejectedly as he rolled around in the sunlight.
This man she had never seen before acted as if all situations were familiar. The way he told Rosette he wanted to sleep more or his poses rolling around in bed seemed somehow familiar…
‘It’s like he’s lived in this house for 10 years.’
For a moment, another hypothesis flashed through Rosette’s mind, but she immediately shook her head.
‘That’s impossible.’
But her mouth blurted out the answer to the hypothesis.
“…Evan?”
The man nodded his head, lifting his heavy eyelids with difficulty. His eyelashes were quite long as they went up and down.
“Yes, Rosette. I want to sleep more……”
Rosette felt like a bell was ringing in her head. Now that she heard the answer, she understood. That gentle face, acting as if nothing was wrong, was definitely Evan. Rosette asked with an expression of disbelief.
“…Is it really Evan?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Huh. Rosette inhaled sharply. Evan? Really Evan?
“You… could transform into a human?”
“I am……”
“Rosette! What’s happening!”
“My lady! Are you alright!”
“What’s wrong, my lady!”
At Judy’s scream, many people began rushing toward Rosette’s room. Rosette jumped up and shouted at Judy, who still hadn’t regained her senses.
“Judy! Close the door!”
“What?! Yes!”
Thanks to Judy’s quick movement, the door was closed before everyone could see the scene inside the room. Bang! Someone knocked on the door violently.
“Rosette! Rosette, what’s happening! Please open the door!”
It was Count Benedict’s voice. Benedict’s voice was filled with desperate worry and urgency. Rosette was slightly moved, forgetting the situation.
“The door is locked! Break it down!”
“Yes!”
Cancel, cancel.
“Don’t break it!”
Rosette jumped up and shouted loudly. Only then did the commotion outside stop.
