The Monster's Room - Chapter 21
“……!”
Her body was suddenly lifted upwards. The knight, holding Marie securely in front of him, wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her from falling. Marie couldn’t help but be astonished by the firm grip of his arm.
“I-I’ve never ridden a horse before…!”
Clang!
The horse, with Marie still on its back, started to move.
Marie was terrified. The view was too high, and without a neck, there were no reins to control the horse! She desperately clung to the knight’s arm around her waist with every step the horse took, fearing she might fall otherwise.
Swoosh.
Once again, a cool breeze brushed over the top of her head. It was clear now. This anomalous entity was laughing at her terrified reaction.
“Is this funny to you?”
Even when Marie made a sharp, frustrated sound, the knight showed no reaction. He simply slowed the horse’s pace, making it walk slowly. Although this improvement made things a bit better, Marie remained uneasy. Her hand, searching for something to hold onto, found a handle.
The handle was something that hadn’t been there before. She noticed the saddle she was riding on was subtly changing to make her more comfortable.
“……Thank you.”
Swoosh.
The knight’s laughter brushed over her head once again.
There was something. This anomalous entity seemed to be more human-like than expected. Marie felt her tense shoulders relaxing as she tried to adjust her posture.
The knight helped with that. By simply placing a hand or gently tapping her legs with his knees from behind, Marie managed to find a relatively comfortable position.
Clang.
“What?”
Suddenly, the horse picked up speed, but Marie wasn’t as frightened as before. Perhaps because she was sure she wouldn’t fall. Gripping the handle tightly, she experienced the ride like a horseback adventure.
When they completed a lap around the vast space, Marie admitted to herself that she was enjoying it. Despite the enclosed space, the breeze brushing her cheeks while the headless horse galloped was quite refreshing. Moreover, her bottom and inner thighs, which could have been painfully jolted, felt comfortable instead.
The Iron Horse Knight was entirely made of iron. Yet, it never caused Marie any harm. The shocks were absorbed, and its sharp surfaces felt as soft as tanned leather against her skin. As a result, Marie enjoyed the horseback ride comfortably, laughing out loud without realizing it.
A cool breath seemed to settle over her head and shoulders, as if echoing her laughter.
The knight made three laps around the area before coming to a halt.
“Haha. Ha.”
It was fun. Marie adjusted her breath, leaning on the handle as she tried to steady herself. The knight’s hand gently rested over hers.
Swish. Swish.
The once sharp and intricate armor seemed to retreat as if alive.
What was revealed beneath the armor was unusual. The knight’s skin was not only pale but also had a bluish tint. The blackened nails added to the oddity. It looked as though hands emerging from a grave would be like this, but the palm, covered by the knight’s hand, was warm, adding to her confusion.
Swish. Swish.
Meanwhile, the armor continued to peel away, exposing the knight’s forearm and bare chest. Marie realized that the knight was removing the armor from the parts of his body that were in contact with her. She could predict what would come next.
“……”
This shouldn’t have been so predictable. How did it come to this? Swallowing a wry smile, Marie focused on the knight’s exposed skin. His scarred body was different from the dancers’.
First of all, the frame was large.
The knight’s body was big, thick, and fierce, asserting its difference from the dancers. Marie, mesmerized by the knight’s scarred hands and forearms, reached out to touch them.
Swish.
This was the sound of the knight laughing. He touched Marie’s hand, pressing and examining it with clear intent, as if assessing her physical strength before having s-x.
Huff.
But he seemed to sigh, perhaps finding her more delicate than expected. Marie couldn’t help but laugh. It was amusing that a monster would have such common sense, but a sigh?
As Marie continued laughing, the knight wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“Haha, n-no, if you touch me like that…”
A large hand grasped her chest.
Marie exhaled a heated breath as the knight’s hands roamed over her chest.
The knight did not rush. He slid his hand inside Marie’s clothing, savoring the softness of her b*****s, and rubbed her n–ples between his fingers. With her body slick from the sweat of riding, he skillfully caressed her, reigniting the heat.
* * *
When Marie first learned badminton as a child, it was dull. Both she and her older brother Eric were inexperienced; neither was particularly skilled. It’s no surprise that when people who can’t play gather, the activity quickly becomes boring.
The siblings only truly began to enjoy badminton thanks to their uncle Andrew, who happened to visit. He casually tossed the shuttlecock for them, leaving them to simply hit it.
“Everyone starts out clumsy,” he had said, appearing quite composed at the time. “You get the hang of it, and as you practice, it becomes easier. And once it’s easier…”
The white feathered shuttlecock was tossed into the air.
Marie swung her racket and managed to keep it in play, while Eric, though still awkward, managed a decent hit.
“It becomes fun.”
