As Vian had said, it really did start raining.
Elia quickly pulled Kiz back into the castle to take shelter. Neither of them minded the rain much, but getting completely soaked still felt unpleasant.
The rain didn’t last long, however, and soon stopped.
Kiz, who hadn’t had enough of the garden, dragged Elia back outside again.
Now Elia sat on a stone bench in the garden, looking up at the moon, while Kiz sat beside her, idly playing with her nails.
Suddenly, Kiz stretched her legs out and rested them on Elia’s knees.
Elia immediately took her small feet and gently kneaded them.
Once upon a time, when she touched the little princess’s jade-like feet, she would have been met with glaring eyes or an upset face. Now, she could squeeze them however she pleased. She had to admit, the little princess’s feet were incredibly soft and felt wonderful in her hands.
So Elia pressed a kiss to the top of Kiz’s foot.
This made Kiz’s toes curl instantly. “W-What are you doing?!”
“Kissing you. What, is that not allowed?” Elia asked with a smile.
“Hmph, pervert…” Kiz blushed and pulled her feet back.
“But I’m a pervert who belongs only to you~”
“Stop talking nonsense! Keep massaging them!” Kiz stretched her feet out again.
Elia laughed and continued to knead them…
Kiz leaned back against the stone bench, closing her eyes, so comfortable she was almost falling asleep.
“Hey, Kiz, have you ever thought about the future?” Elia suddenly asked softly.
Kiz opened her eyes. “What future?”
“I mean… after everything is over… Lillian is back, the Holy Grail Order is gone, and the Wolf Organization has been wiped out… what do you want to do then?”
Kiz thought about it carefully, then said, “Be with you.”
“Oh? And then?”
“Then… play with you every day.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s… enough… Yeah, that’s enough…” She said it as if trying to convince Elia, and also herself.
“So what about you? What do you want to do then?”
“Hmm… the same as you.”
“Play with me every day?”
“No… I want you to…” Elia leaned close to Kiz’s ear and whispered something, making the little princess’s face instantly turn bright red.
Then Kiz suddenly let a single tear slip.
“Huh? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Elia asked hurriedly.
“You… you’re too sly, Elia… How am I supposed to hold back the overwhelming desire inside me?! I’ll hurt you! Do you know how hard I’ve been fighting the urge to drain you dry?! Do you know how much I want to carve my mark into every part of your body?! Do you know I even have the twisted desire to tear you apart piece by piece and devour you?! I… I’ve really been holding back all this time!”
Kiz practically yelled the last part.
“So what?” Elia replied calmly.
“W-What did you say?” Kiz’s eyes went wide.
“I said, so what.” Elia leaned close to Kiz’s face. “Don’t you understand? I like you! I love you, Kiz! Even if you were a demon, no matter what you turn me into, I won’t give up on you! I’ll accept everything! If you want to turn me into a specimen, then I’ll be a specimen! If you want to carve marks, then carve them! If you want to tear me apart and eat me, then come and tear me apart! Come and chew! Do you understand now?! Kiz Kamalila!”
“I… you… I…” Kiz was stunned speechless.
“And do you think I’m some kind of masochist pervert?! It’s because of the love between us that I go along with all those obviously twisted things you want to do every day! Those are acts of love! Expressions of love! I’ll say this one last time, Kiz: I like you! It has nothing to do with the contract, and nothing to do with my own desires! It’s purely because I like you as a person! Understand?!” Elia shouted at Kiz.
After that, the two were silent for a long time… Although Kiz didn’t say anything, Elia knew that what she had just said had truly reached the little princess’s heart. Otherwise, Kiz would have argued back long ago.
“Hey… what about now? Do you want me to bite you right now?” Kiz suddenly asked, almost involuntarily.
Elia didn’t think twice and nodded. “Go ahead.”
Then Kiz’s fingers slid from her cheek down to her neck, lightly tracing the skin… She could feel Elia’s pulse racing.
“Here? In the garden?” Kiz asked again.
“No. Let’s go back to the room first,” Elia said firmly.
“Alright. Let’s go back.” Kiz took Elia’s hand and stood up.
On the way, Elia showed a satisfied smile. What she had whispered into Kiz’s ear was: “I want to truly cross that boundary with you.”
The door closed behind them.
Then Kiz pushed Elia to the edge of the bed and made her sit down.
Under the moonlight, Elia’s golden hair gleamed like flowing light, and her blue eyes seemed bottomless… She looked up at Kiz in front of her, a faint smile curving at the corners of her lips.
“What are you looking at?” she asked softly.
“You.” Kiz reached out and gently touched her face.
Elia took her hand and pressed a kiss to it.
“You’re beautiful too~”
The next second, Kiz bent down and pressed her forehead against Elia’s. “Elia, I’ve decided…”
Elia lifted her head and looked into the blood-red eyes so close to hers.
“Alright… you can…” Elia nodded lightly.
Then Kiz quickly lowered her head and kissed Elia’s lips.
Elia closed her eyes and responded.
In the moments that followed, the two fell onto the bed… Moonlight shone on their intertwined white and golden hair, and on the flames burning in each other’s eyes.
Outside the window, the moon slowly moved from the window toward the horizon. The flowers in the garden swayed gently in the night breeze, and the chirping of insects rose and fell.
Tonight was destined to be long.
…
By the time dawn approached, it started raining again… Fine raindrops tapped against the window with a rustling sound.
Kiz opened her eyes to the sound of rain. Elia was already asleep beside her.
Then Kiz leaned down and gently kissed Elia on the lips.
“You’re finally mine… completely,” she whispered.
…
Morning sunlight painted a golden line across the floor through the curtains.
Elia opened her eyes. “Did you watch me all night again?”
“Mm. I was afraid you might run away right in front of me~” Kiz said with a smile.
“I won’t run… I can’t run anymore.”
“Tired out by me?”
Elia pinched her nose. “What are you so proud of?”
“Of course I’m proud…” Kiz rolled over and straddled her, looking down from above. “Who was it that begged for mercy first last night?”
Elia raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Did I beg for mercy? I don’t remember… How about… you show me again? What do you think?”
Hearing this, Kiz lowered her head and bit Elia’s ear, mumbling indistinctly, “Alright… then I’ll show you again…”