Hayasaka reheated the late-night snacks.
After finishing his meal, Roy returned to his room, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed to the bathroom.
Inside the bathroom.
Roy took off his clothes and stood in front of the mirror, removing his glasses.
He wasn't nearsighted, so taking them off didn't affect his vision.
The reflection in the mirror showed a young man with delicate, finely sculpted features—handsome, with clear brows and bright eyes—but his body was as thin as a lamppost, alarmingly slender.
Along with his frame, numerous scars covered his body.
A rough count revealed dozens of them, large and small, scattered across his skin.
These weren't haphazard marks like a child's scribbles but deliberate patterns, as if etched with some kind of purpose.
Bang!
Roy suddenly punched the mirror.
The glass shattered with a sharp crack.
In the broken shards, his reflection glared back—eyes filled with a violent aura, crimson pupils so dark they seemed soaked in blood, giving off an impression of savagery.
"Lord Roy, is everything alright?"
Hayasaka's voice came from outside the bathroom.
"Nothing happened."
Hayasaka fell silent, bowed slightly, and retreated.
She was, without a doubt, a professional maid. In all her days at Roy's home, she had never once overstepped. Every word she spoke seemed carefully weighed, and she never pried into unnecessary matters.
Inside the bathroom, Roy crouched down and traced a rune on the shattered glass. The fragments immediately reversed their trajectory, as if time itself had rewound, quickly reforming into an unbroken mirror.
Roy shook his head.
His mind felt heavy, a dull ache pulsing faintly in his forehead.
"Am I just tired? Or is the curse about to flare up again…"
He massaged his temples.
He had used his Mystic Eyes quite a few times tonight. It wouldn't be strange if the curse erupted at any moment.
Better finish washing up quickly and get out.
He'd spend the night in Utaha's room.
Roy sat under the showerhead and began scrubbing himself.
Less than two minutes later—
Swish!
The sound of the sliding door opening softly reached his ears.
After a brief pause, it happened again.
Roy turned his head.
Just in time to see the pink-haired girl slowly closing the bathroom door behind her.
She wore nothing but a towel, barely covering the essentials. Everything above her chest and below her thighs was exposed—pale skin, deep curves, and the soft fullness of her legs all imprinting themselves into Roy's vision.
Ichika?
What was she doing here?
The moment Ichika turned around, she met Roy's gaze.
Without his glasses, Roy's eyes were sharp, almost piercing.
But thanks to the slight weariness in his expression, he looked far less cold than usual when bare-eyed.
Even so, Ichika was startled.
Instinctively, she reached to adjust the towel around her chest—but then her hand froze mid-motion.
Biting her pink lips, she instead tugged the towel downward, revealing even more of herself.
"Lord Roy, your arm must be bothering you… Let me wash your back for you… May I?"
Ichika watched him nervously.
She knew Roy's personality turned colder when he removed his glasses—she'd just never seen it firsthand before.
She had staked her pride and dignity on this, mustering courage she might not have again for years, just to sneak in like this.
Roy glanced down at his right arm.
It had only just been reattached, the joint still wrapped in bandages.
It was inconvenient to use.
But more importantly—
Was Ichika really only here to wash his back?
"Come here."
Roy tilted his chin slightly, signalling her forward.
"Yes."
Ichika exhaled in relief, gathered her courage, and stepped behind him. Taking the offered towel, she began scrubbing his back.
As she worked, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart.
Then—
She let the towel drop to the floor.
Pressing her bare body against his, she began using herself as the "towel" instead.
"This… cleans better."
Whether she was trying to convince Roy or herself, Ichika muttered the words under her breath.
Roy didn't respond, but the sensation against his back made his eyes darken, his breathing growing slightly ragged.
"Lord Roy… it's time to wash… the front now…"
Ichika's trembling voice reached him.
Roy turned around.
Ichika straddled his legs, moving in front of him, and pressed herself against his chest.
Roy's gaze fell on her face.
Up close, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glistening, her lashes fluttering like a nervous fawn's as she looked up at him.
"Where… would you like me to wash, Lord Roy?"
Leaning in, she whispered into his ear, her soft tone inexplicably laced with a hint of seduction.
"Every inch, of course."
Roy grinned.
A different kind of malice—distinct from the kind he wore when killing—flashed across his face.
With his explicit permission, Ichika finally let go of her inhibitions. Her slender, lotus-white arms wrapped around his neck as she began "cleaning" him with every method at her disposal.
...
Roy's grin widened at her obedience, his dark eyes glinting with something far more dangerous than amusement. The water around them rippled as Ichika pressed closer, her fingers trailing down his chest with deliberate slowness. Her touch was featherlight, teasing, as if she were mapping the hard planes of his body—every scar, every ridge of muscle.
But Roy was not a patient man.
Before she could continue her careful ministrations, his hand shot out, fingers tangling in her damp hair. A sharp tug forced her head back, exposing the delicate column of her throat. A gasp escaped her lips, her body arching instinctively against his.
"You're taking too long," he murmured, voice low and rough.
Ichika's breath hitched as his other hand slid down her side, gripping her waist hard enough to leave marks. The sting of his hold sent a thrill through her, her pulse fluttering like a trapped bird beneath her skin.
"S-sorry, Lord Roy," she whispered, though the tremor in her voice wasn't entirely from fear.
Roy's lips curled. "Then make up for it."
With that, he pulled her fully against him, erasing the last bit of space between them. The heat of his body seared into hers, the water doing nothing to cool the feverish tension coiling between them. Ichika's hands, which had been so careful before, now clung to his shoulders, her nails digging in as he claimed her mouth in a bruising kiss.
There was nothing gentle about it.
His tongue invaded, dominating, forcing a moan from her throat as he tasted her. She could feel the sharp edge of his teeth, the way he nipped at her lower lip just to hear her whimper. His grip on her hair tightened, keeping her in place as he deepened the kiss, stealing her breath until she was dizzy with it.
When he finally pulled away, Ichika's lips were swollen, her chest heaving. Roy's gaze raked over her, satisfaction flickering in his eyes at the sight of her dishevelment.
"Better," he mused, though his voice was thick with something far darker than approval.
His hands slid lower, cupping the curve of her backside, squeezing possessively. Ichika gasped as he lifted her effortlessly, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. The sudden shift sent water sloshing over the edge of the bath, but neither of them cared.
Roy's mouth found her neck, teeth scraping over the sensitive skin before sucking hard enough to leave a mark. Ichika's fingers twisted in his hair, her hips rolling against him in a silent plea. The friction drew a ragged groan from him, his grip tightening almost painfully.
"You're playing with fire, little girl," he growled against her skin.
Ichika shivered, but there was no hesitation in her next words. "Then burn me, Lord Roy."
A sharp exhale escaped him, his control fraying. In one swift motion, he carried her out of the bath, water cascading off their bodies as he pinned her against the nearest wall. The cold stone against her back was a stark contrast to the heat of his body pressing into hers.
Roy didn't give her time to adjust. His hand slid between her thighs, fingers slipping through her slick folds with a rough, almost clinical precision. Ichika cried out, her head falling back as he stroked her, his touch relentless.
"You're already so wet," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. "Were you thinking about this the whole time?"
Ichika couldn't answer, her words dissolving into a moan as his fingers curled inside her, hitting a spot that made her thighs tremble. His thumb circled her clit, applying just enough pressure to tease but not enough to grant release.
"Roy—!" His name tore from her lips, half-plea, half-protest.
He chuckled darkly. "Beg properly, and maybe I'll let you come."
Ichika's nails scraped down his back, her hips bucking against his hand. "Please… please, Lord Roy—"
Before she could finish, Roy withdrew his fingers, ignoring her whimper of protest. In one brutal thrust, he buried himself inside her, the stretch bordering on painful. Ichika's breath left her in a sharp cry, her body clamping around him as she struggled to adjust.
Roy didn't give her the chance.
His hands gripped her hips, fingers digging into her flesh as he set a punishing pace, each thrust driving the air from her lungs. The slap of skin against skin echoed in the steamy room, mingling with her gasps and his ragged breaths.
"Look at me," he ordered, voice rough with restraint.
Ichika forced her eyes open, meeting his darkened gaze. The intensity there—raw, unfiltered hunger—sent another wave of heat through her.
Roy leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a mockery of a kiss. "You're mine," he growled between thrusts. "Say it."
Ichika's mind was hazy with pleasure, but she didn't hesitate. "Yours… only yours—"
A groan ripped from his throat, his hips snapping forward with renewed force. The pleasure built to a fever pitch, coiling tight in her belly until she was teetering on the edge.
Roy's hand slid between them, his thumb pressing down on her clit in tight circles. That was all it took.
Ichika shattered with a cry, her body convulsing around him as waves of pleasure crashed over her. Roy followed moments later, his release spilling into her with a guttural groan, his forehead dropping to her shoulder as he rode out the aftershocks.
For a long moment, the only sound was their ragged breathing. Then, slowly, Roy pulled back, his gaze sweeping over her disheveled form with something akin to smug satisfaction.
"Cleanliness is important," he murmured, tracing a finger down her flushed chest. "But I think we might need another bath."
Ichika, still trembling, could only laugh breathlessly in agreement.
***
Once everything had settled—
The outer bathroom door opened quietly as Ichika peeked her head out, her ears still slightly flushed at the corners. After glancing around to confirm no one was there, she stealthily slipped out.
"What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind, startling her.
"Miss Hayasaka..."
Ichika turned to find Hayasaka standing precisely in her blind spot and couldn't help but twitch her lips.
"Ah, it's nothing! I just came to take a bath..."
A bright, enthusiastic smile spread across Ichika's face.
Yet her gaze never quite met Hayasaka's.
Those sapphire-blue eyes of Hayasaka's seemed almost capable of seeing through everything.
"Is that so? Lord Roy hasn't come out yet. It'd be best if you didn't go in."
"Ahaha, I just found that out too. I definitely won't next time."
Ichika let out a dry laugh and quickly brushed past Hayasaka to leave.
Thankfully, she had changed her clothes before stepping out.
Internally, Ichika sighed in relief.
Behind her, Hayasaka watched her retreating figure, her gaze lingering on Ichika's slightly unnatural gait. Her eyes lowered slightly, lost in thought.
How proactive.
Well, she does have a sister to protect. It makes sense she'd move this fast.
I wonder how Utaha would react if she found out about this?
I'm a little curious.
Click!
The bathroom door slid open again.
Roy stepped out, his expression as calm as ever, cheeks flushed from the hot bath, steam still rising from his body.
"Hayasaka, what are you doing here?"
"Just passing by."
Hayasaka bowed slightly.
She glanced up as if casually.
Roy wasn't wearing his glasses.
Her heart tensed.
"I really was just passing through. Didn't see anything unusual."
Roy neither confirmed nor denied it, putting his glasses back on.
The sharp, icy aura around him melted away like snow.
"You've been working hard too. This house is quite big—sometimes you don't need to take care of every little detail."
With a smile, he offered Hayasaka a word of consideration before walking away.
***
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