Time of the Blind Beast - Chapter 25

“What are you talking about? Lemons? Where?”

“Where else? Inside a woman’s body. To avoid any troublesome situations from unwanted pregnancies, they say he inserted them there.”

“Wow, that’s truly shocking…”

“But it must be effective. Otherwise, the Valdemaira family would be overflowing with illegitimate children by now. Despite rumors of their promiscuity, you never hear about illegitimate children, do you?”

Some older students briefly discussed Akenaus’s scandalous personal life. However, their focus quickly shifted back to Ezekiel. After all, they had never seen Akenaus in person, and his sordid reputation paled compared to the interest and admiration they felt for the man who had saved them.

“So? Is Major Ezekiel like that too?”

“How would we know? But honestly… I’ve never thought about this kind of thing before, but after meeting him… If he wanted me even once, I think I’d just close my eyes and go for it. And what’s wrong with that? Having a chance with such a handsome and accomplished man, even for a single night, isn’t that worth it? I’d live the rest of my life cherishing that memory.”

“Listen to her! She’s lost it!”

“Why? I agree. A man like that should spread his genes for the sake of future generations. Seriously, is there no way to get a job at the Valdemaira estate?”

“I don’t know. But there must be dozens of people working in a mansion as large as the Valdemaira’s. To stand out among them, you’d have to be incredibly beautiful.”

“Wouldn’t someone like her have a chance?”

The students, gathered in their dormitory room, suddenly pointed at Rose, who was sitting alone at her desk, studying. Rose looked up, startled.

“What’s the point? She’s so indifferent. Mention a man, and she’s as shy as they come. Look at her, still quietly studying on her own.”

“Seriously. If I had her face, I would’ve run straight out of the school gates that day. Who knows? Maybe he’d fall in love with me at first sight.”

“How can she keep turning pages in the middle of this?”

Playful remarks flew toward Rose, who had kept herself out of the conversation. Rose hesitated for a moment before quietly closing her book. She had stayed engrossed in her studies because joining in the conversation with her younger peers felt oddly embarrassing. Yet, despite her efforts to focus, she hadn’t solved a single problem since Ezekiel’s name was first mentioned.

Besides, Ezekiel of the House of Valdemaira—he was someone she could never dare to look at.

Though people often commented on her beauty, Rose had always thought of herself as modestly attractive at best. Having never stepped outside the confines of her small town or school, she felt like a frog in a well. She knew her place all too well. She wasn’t the kind of extraordinary beauty who could change her life with her looks alone.

Moreover, if rarity mattered, Ezekiel—young, handsome, and blessed with status, fame, and wealth—was far rarer than she. A man with no shortcomings would naturally find a woman who matched his perfection.

Rose smiled awkwardly and offered an excuse.

“It’s not like something so far-fetched would ever happen to me.”

“We know that too. But this is just imagination, isn’t it? What’s the harm? It doesn’t cost money, nor is it a crime.”

“Exactly. When else would we get a chance to feel excited? We may call this a school, but our lives here are no different from a convent.”

“Didn’t you feel anything when you saw him? Didn’t your heart race? Didn’t you want to kiss him?”

…She couldn’t deny it.

Her heart had surely raced. She must have imagined kissing him. She must have wondered and envied the extraordinary woman who might one day discuss marriage with such a man. She must have lamented her humble status.

“Choose. Will three people die, or will one person die?”

Before imagination turned into guilt and self-censorship, she had undoubtedly felt that way.

Lowering her gaze, Rose brushed her lips with her fingers. It still felt as though the warmth of his touch lingered on the inside of her plump lower lip.

The inner lip wasn’t like a hand or shoulder, something easily brushed against by accident. When his lips had touched her tender, hidden inner lip, imbued with a warmth and texture different from her own, at that very moment…

Her heart trembled.

It was hot and dizzying.

It felt as though she might melt, as though she was being burned, as though it was an unreachable illusion, and as though her heart ached with a piercing pain.

The man, who seemed to be savoring her as he gently and slowly touched the surface of her lips, suddenly slipped into the slightly parted gap. It was as if he wanted to devour her in one breath, stealing every bit of air from her lungs. There was no time to worry about her inexperience. Compared to his relentless entangling and exploring tongue, her shallow, gasping breaths were feeble at best, barely managing a faint, trembling exhale.

His breath radiated heat, and the tongue probing her was just as warm. Only then did she recall his condition.

She had nearly forgotten—he was still a patient in need of rest.

Quickly, she tapped his shoulder and whispered softly.

“Major, you don’t seem fully recovered. You still have a fever…”

Her voice revealed her concern, and he chuckled softly in reply.

“This fever isn’t from being sick.”

Just as she thought he was giving her a moment to breathe, he resumed his fervent kiss, his lips sliding against hers with sensual persistence.

Was this what a kiss was like?

Was it always such a deep, sticky exchange? It was nothing like the vague ideas she had formed in her mind. It felt like standing in the eye of a storm. Her mind was dizzy with immersion.

She couldn’t stop the moans slipping from her lips, and it seemed he wasn’t faring much better. His low breaths tickled her ears.

She had never imagined she would kiss someone, let alone that it would be this man. It was overwhelming, but the sweetness was intoxicating.

Perhaps that was why.

Realization struck her suddenly, as if doused in cold water. Her conscience whispered a stern rebuke.

Get a hold of yourself. Don’t forget what you’ve done.

The moment was fleeting, but it chilled her blood. Her chest sank. It would have been easier if her feelings were as simple as “I like it” or “I don’t like it.” Instead, a sharp self-reproach cut deeply into her heart.

She couldn’t make sense of it. She couldn’t forgive herself for enjoying it. She tried to pull away, but his hand, cradling the back of her head, left no room for escape.

“Don’t run away.”

It was just one sentence. Compared to the tone he used with other servants, it wasn’t particularly commanding. It might even have sounded soft…

But to Rose, everything he said was a command. It was a shackle bound by guilt. If he wanted something, she had no right to refuse.

So she obeyed. She cautiously parted her lips and let him claim the fragile depths of her being.

For a long while, he kissed, rubbed, and sucked at her lips. Whenever the chaotic sensations began to blur her thoughts, she clung to her memories to stay grounded. By the time he finally let go, her lips felt too sore to touch.

Rose dropped the hand she had used to brush her lips.

It felt like stepping into a bottomless swamp, knowing it would swallow her whole.

***

Although there had been a few crises, he gradually improved. The firmly closed bedroom door finally opened, and on the day Rose relayed Ezekiel’s request for bathwater to be prepared, Madam Serva was on the verge of tears.

“You’ve been through so much, Rose.”

“He’s not fully recovered yet. He still has a bit of a fever and could suddenly worsen again, so he needs more rest. The Major also thinks it’s too early to contact Dr. Brehman.”

Ezekiel never revealed minor symptoms he experienced unless they became visibly apparent. He was a man long accustomed to enduring pain. So Rose could only observe him closely and estimate his condition.

From what she saw, symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and tinnitus still lingered. Compared to the severe withdrawal symptoms, these seemed trivial, so he likely ignored them. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that he was so used to pain, she couldn’t tell.

“Still, the fact that he endured up to now is remarkable. Every time I heard something breaking or crashing in the room, my heart sank… Truly, if not for you, Rose, this would have been so much harder. I had no idea it would be such a grueling ordeal. I should have listened to you earlier.”

Madam Serva seemed regretful for dismissing Rose’s earlier warnings about Laudanum and wine. She gently stroked Rose’s face and hands.

“Just looking at you, I can see how hard it’s been. You’ve grown so thin, and all these bruises… Oh dear.”

Rose modestly deflected the praise.

“The Major suffered much more. He’s been hurt far worse.”

“That may be true, but you can’t compare a seasoned soldier to a delicate young woman. He’s used to injuries.”

Madam Serva shook her head.

“You saw those scars, didn’t you? If he had cared for his wounds properly, they wouldn’t have scarred so badly. He must have neglected treatment while constantly leading from the frontlines. It’s obvious. But he’s strong, so as long as he gets through this phase, he’ll recover quickly.”

She patted Rose’s shoulder.

“External wounds are easier to deal with, but the aftermath of something like this… it’s truly soul-draining. But thanks to you, he’s passed the worst of it. It’s not something just anyone could do.”

Rose responded with a vague smile.

“You saved him, Rose. It’s clear you and the Major share an extraordinary connection. He happened to pass through Cielsa just in time to save your school, and you arrived at this mansion at precisely the right moment.”