Chapter 41
At that moment, Roni felt the soft thing pressed against her lips suddenly cool. Since she had been battling the heat, the chill was more than welcome.
She opened her mouth and bit down on it eagerly. It was soft, like chilled pudding.
Allen’s body, trained through magic, had a unique trait—it would instinctively cool itself when exposed to perceived danger. Normally, it was meant to help him keep a cool head, but under the influence of alcohol, that ability had dulled. As his heart pounded wildly, his body sensed the danger and cooled itself down.
Because of this, the heat that had been tormenting Roni earlier suddenly found relief against that soft, cool sensation on her lips. It felt like salvation, and so she stubbornly clung to the lips that tried to pull away.
As Roni bit and licked at him on her own, Allen’s stiff lips parted slightly. A strong scent of whiskey flowed from between them.
Nibbling on his lower lip, Roni suddenly felt something even colder between his parted lips—his tongue. She pounced on it persistently.
“Hhht.”
A shallow moan slipped from Allen’s throat before he realized it. Roni licked and sucked at his tongue, her breaths coming fast and hot.
Allen couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Roni… kissing him? And so aggressively?
Hesitant at first, Allen cupped Roni’s cheeks and bit down gently on her upper lip that had boldly invaded his mouth.
The tender sensation made him shiver. Unable to restrain his emotions any longer, he chased the sweetness within her mouth, clinging desperately to her lips.
Her soft lips squirmed and kneaded his as if exploring, as though they had always been one.
When their lips finally parted, Allen looked at Roni with a flushed, dazed expression—like a man who had just received the very gift he had longed for. He seemed overwhelmed that something he had so desperately wanted had willingly come into his arms.
“Roni…”
But Roni, staring blankly at him holding her face, looked clueless—like she didn’t even realize they had just kissed.
She didn’t even think the lips she had been biting and sucking were his.
Allen, however, was already intoxicated by her kiss. This had clearly been something Roni initiated.
The sight of Roni gasping, licking her lips, was enough to tempt him again. He leaned closer, wanting to claim her lips once more.
His hazy eyes met hers. She, too, looked back at him. Pulling her close, he was just about to kiss her again when her words froze him.
“Allen… where did that cold pudding go…?”
Roni was so drunk she had lost all sense. Forgetting what she had just done, she looked around, searching for the pudding that had cooled her mouth moments before.
Panting and scanning the room for pudding might normally have looked cute, but Allen’s face turned to one of disappointment.
He stared at her blankly, like someone doused with cold water. Then suddenly, he burst out laughing like a madman.
Roni tilted her head, confused by his strange laughter. When Allen finally stopped and wiped his face with both hands, he muttered bitterly to himself.
Of course. There was no way Roni had really kissed him of her own will.
Even so, the memory of her lips against his still burned vividly, making his face flush again. His body cooled, and he realized with a mix of irony and sorrow—the “cold pudding” she had been looking for was him.
“Hah… really… ha ha…”
Allen couldn’t control his expression anymore. He laughed, clutched his chest, breathed heavily—completely unguarded.
His heart pounded violently. Roni, forgetting her pudding search, stared at him blankly, only for her expression to suddenly harden.
But Allen had no room to notice. He was still reeling from the sensation of her lips on his, his head dizzy.
It was dangerous. She had kissed him without knowing, and here he was, the only one left painfully conscious of it.
The intoxicated Allen, filled with the urge to devour her lips again, forced himself to cool down.
When Roni had leaned into him before, he had felt like the happiest man alive—as though he had the whole world. But once he realized she hadn’t meant it, that bliss turned into bitter disappointment.
Suppressing his overflowing desire, Allen pulled away.
“You’re drunk. Stop and go to sleep.”
“Yeah. I’m drunk.”
Roni suddenly declared proudly, clutching him again. Allen tilted his head at her oddly stern expression.
She wasn’t letting him go. She looked like she had something important to say.
Allen tried to keep some distance, worried she’d hear his pounding heart.
He had already completely lost control of himself. When she leaned closer, Allen squeezed his eyes shut like he couldn’t take it anymore.
He counted silently, trying to regain reason. If he kept looking into her deep eyes, he feared he’d be swept away.
Roni wasn’t in her right mind. That meant he had to be the one to stay sane.
But then she frowned, glanced at her own clothes, and asked:
“Are my clothes really that bad to look at?”
“…What?”
Allen opened his eyes, bewildered. His heart was still hammering.
“You said they didn’t suit me—so much that you didn’t want anyone else to see me in them!” Roni shouted angrily.
Allen sighed, finally realizing what she was upset about—the pink dress she had ranted about earlier. With his composure already ruined, he snapped irritably:
“…Hah. You idiot. Want me to be honest?”
“What do you mean, honest? If you’re any more honest, I’ll die of embarrassment…”
Roni’s face hardened again as the memory came back. Allen sighed once more, baffled by her strange expressions.
He never understood why she sometimes lacked confidence about herself. In a gentle voice, he told her:
“It suits you.”
“…What?”
“It suits you so well that I don’t want anyone else to see. Hah… damn it, why are you doing this to me?”
Running a hand through his hair in frustration, Allen groaned. She had toyed with him, but here he was, the only one caught up in such thoughts—it felt unfair.
He wanted nothing more than to kiss those lips again, to shut her up.
Roni, surprised by his blunt honesty, blushed furiously. Clutching her chest, she murmured:
“Hah, this can’t be good for my heart. Something’s wrong with me…”
“…What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Since when?” Allen asked in alarm, grabbing her.
But Roni only stared at him blankly. She had felt this pounding for a while now. Was it from the alcohol—or from Allen?
Maybe it was just the mood. Unable to withstand the intoxication anymore, she collapsed against his shoulder and muttered:
“Allen, don’t hate me. It’s too sad to be hated by my favorite…”
Allen froze. …Favorite?
He had no idea what that meant.
While he was lost in thought, Roni drifted into sleep. Allen laid her down properly, staring at her peaceful face with a complicated heart. She had stirred up his mind and fallen asleep like nothing happened. With a wry smile, he pinched her cheek lightly.
“How could I ever hate you…”
Roni frowned at the pinch, rubbing her cheek, but relaxed when he soothed her with a gentle caress.
She had never been someone he could hate.
Thinking of how she had clung to his lips earlier and whined about her clothes, Allen chuckled softly.
How could he possibly escape someone this endearing?
He gazed at her sleeping lips.
Those lips had come to him first. His gaze lingered, his head still light with drink.
“You’re the one who grabbed me again,” he whispered firmly, pressing his lips against her forehead.
His expression wavered with intensity as he looked at her. As if making an oath, he said again:
“I’ll never let you go.”
He kissed the bridge of her nose this time, his gaze darker and more intent than usual.
His lips hovered just above hers, then moved to kiss her right cheek instead, as though promising, next time.
Satisfied, Allen smiled faintly as his fingers brushed her lips.
“Even if you regret it, it’s too late now, Roni. From now on, I’ll do as I please.”
