Chapter 408: There’s Always Supplies Before a Big Battle
“Over there… is everything alright?”
“Hm…? It’s fine. At least today there won’t be any fighting yet. Once everything is arranged in a while, we’ll aim to end it quickly, and then, everything can be over.”
After taking a shower, Armand lazily curled up on the bed, covered with a simple blanket.
If it were the old Armand, he might have struggled with this kind of cold and dampness. But now, his body had recovered, and the weakness that made him afraid of the cold was gone. He no longer felt troubled by it and looked much more at ease.
Evelia lay beside him. The double bed seemed almost made for the two of them, just the right size. Thinking back to the time they had been apart, Evelia felt a bit reluctant and leaned closer to Armand.
“I see… Then… when this is all over, you can live with me forever, right?”
In the past, Evelia had worried, worried that her alchemically-made body might have a lifespan different from ordinary people, and that the frail Armand might “die young.” But now, Armand had become like her. In a way, neither of them were ordinary “humans” anymore, but neither of them minded that.
“Of course, Eve. Didn’t we already agree on this?”
Armand wrapped his arm around her, gently pressing her head onto his shoulder, his fingers running down her hair.
“So for now, save your energy. When everything’s over, we can go out and look around. You can’t stay trapped in a little world your whole life, you have to see the outside.”
“…Mm…”
For a moment, Evelia seemed to see that small room again, the one where the Second Prince had locked her away.
That darkness, and the light that only sometimes shone through the high window, had always been something she could see but never reach.
But now, when she reached out toward the light, it finally answered her.
“Alright, Eve. Rest well for now—”
“Mr. Armand.”
Just as Armand was about to pull the blanket up and take a nap with her, Evelia interrupted him. Then, as if asking for something, she moved even closer, her warm breath brushing against his neck.
She had just rested, not nearly enough time to be tired again. With her body’s energy having nowhere else to go, and Armand right here in her arms…
Well, wasn’t that just the perfect coincidence?
“Eve…? You’re…”
Armand turned his head and met Evelia’s burning gaze, the look in her eyes was like someone who had been waiting a long time.
“I… want to do something with you, Mr. Armand… something that uses a lot of energy.”
Gulp.
Armand swallowed without thinking.
Her voice, spoken so close to his ear, made it tingle. His heartbeat, which had been slowing as he drifted toward sleep, now pounded wildly again. Even Evelia beside him could clearly hear the thump-thump in his chest.
With a lover in the perfect “strike zone” teasing him like this, even the most self-controlled person would start to waver.
Evelia hadn’t seen Armand for more than half a month. Likewise, Armand hadn’t seen Evelia for just as long. When longing turned into desire, it was only natural for the blood to rush hot.
“Eve…”
His face, ears, and even his neck flushed like a shy young man’s, but his eyes still dodged hers, looking a little troubled.
“Eve… this is just an ordinary base dorm… the walls aren’t really soundproof…”
“It’s fine, Mr. Armand.”
As she said this, Evelia tilted her head slightly upward and gently took his earlobe into her mouth, breathing each word clearly into his ear.
“I can just stay this close to you and speak softly like this, so it’s fine… they won’t hear us.”
When she spoke the last word, Evelia didn’t forget to lightly brush the tip of her tongue against the hollow of Armand’s ear. Just like the “ASMR” she had always been so good at.
Right now, Armand could hardly stand this kind of teasing. His new body was far more sensitive than the one Evelia had “trained” before, and after so long without seeing her, his emotions were already on the verge of overflowing under her provocation.
“Eve… you…”
“Mr. Armand, don’t you miss me?”
“Hm?”
Hearing Evelia’s words, Armand struggled to pull together some clarity from the muddled thoughts caused by her “ASMR” to answer her.
“Of course I do… Eve, I’ve been thinking about you this whole half month.”
“Then… show it to me, alright?”
“Show? Show what…?”
It was obvious he already knew the answer.
“Of course, show me your longing… and your love for me.”
As she said this, Evelia turned over and straddled the lying Armand. One by one, she undid the buttons of his shirt, her slightly cool fingertips tracing along the lines of his muscles down to his stomach, finally stopping at his waistband.
“Is that okay?”
She spoke as if asking for permission, but in reality her fingers were already moving on their own, making Armand’s brows twitch.
“Mr. Armand… actually, I’ve wanted to try this for a long time.”
From her engraved storage, she took out a bottle of ketchup and pressed the cool surface against Armand’s flushed cheek. But the chill didn’t cool him down. Instead, it made his face even redder, almost matching the ketchup itself.
Maybe it was because of a certain special fondness, but just seeing Armand’s blushing face made Evelia’s mouth go dry. Although she usually ended up “losing” in the second half, in the opening stage she always managed to take the lead.
With a plop, Evelia flicked her pinky, middle, and thumb together, letting the still-cold ketchup drip onto Armand’s chest. Following the same path her fingers had traced earlier, she spread it down his body, coating him with her favorite ketchup, and paying special attention to certain… delicate places.
“…Hhh…”
The cold touch mixed with the slight sting made Armand shiver, and the ketchup spread along the curves of his body, wrapping him up like a gift on Christmas Eve, ready to have its ribbon pulled open.
Finally, Evelia drew a red heart on his chest with the ketchup, much like the “maid’s heart-shaped omelet rice” she once made with care.
“Hah…”
Evelia licked the remaining ketchup from her finger, letting the sweet-and-sour taste spread in her mouth. It was just ordinary ketchup, yet with that single taste, her heartbeat grew even faster.
“Mr. Armand… if it’s alright… then I’ll… begin.”
Their hearts pounded, and their breathing grew heavier. Evelia savored the sweetness of their reunion, the taste on her tongue spreading down her throat.
They tried their best not to make any noise, both of them holding back their emotions. But as things reached their peak, it didn’t take long, perhaps not long at all, before when roles reversed, Evelia couldn’t hold back anymore.
“~~~mm… ah… ❤!”
If Armand hadn’t quickly covered her mouth, they would surely have gotten strange looks from people the next morning.
Even so, Armand, as if to playfully get back at her for teasing him earlier, returned every bit of her mischief.
He gently bit her ear, and even without saying much, just the touch and sensation lingering there was enough to make Evelia’s mind go blank.
Seeing her adorable expression, Armand decided to let himself be a little shameless for now.
…A little noise is fine.
After all, everyone already knew they were a deeply-in-love couple reunited after a long time apart…