The moment Argen’s bedroom door closed, Valen’s demeanour changed abruptly.
He urgently cupped both of Argen’s cheeks and pressed his lips against hers.
Even when she said she needed to wash, Valen replied, “It’s fine,” and kissed along her neckline.
The constant smacking sounds and the rustling, tearing of fabric completely overwhelmed Argen’s senses.
Argen was swept up by Valen, compelled to experience climax after climax until dawn broke.
Each time she regained consciousness after losing herself to exhaustion, her body was swaying, or she felt the phallus buried inside her pulsing and ejaculating.
Her eyes stung from the tears she’d shed in torrents, and her vision wavered like heat haze rising.
Exhausted, Argen let her limbs, damp with bodily fluids, go limp.
On top of her body, too weak to move a finger, Valen’s sweat-glistening, robust frame panted heavily.
The dripping, twitching glans jabbed into her flat belly.
Argen unconsciously grabbed whatever was within reach and pulled it over her face.
It was the blanket.
Words to stop him were useless, and pushing him away was futile, so this was her way of expressing her will.
A low chuckle erupted above her covered face.
“Sleep.
I’ll wash you.”
No Name now attended to Argen’s bath with more skill and finesse than anyone who had ever done so before.
His touch was so delicate, as if he could read the mind of the one being bathed, ensuring not a hint of discomfort.
Her heavy head never dropped suddenly, always supported by firm hands or chest.
The refreshing acupressure while washing her hair and the gentle rubbing of her skin were all deeply satisfying.
So, sometimes, she seriously considered knocking on No Name’s bedroom door with the bath basket.
She gave up, knowing he’d surely dislike it.
Even though she loved being bathed by him, right now everything felt like a bother.
Her exhaustion had reached its peak.
All she wanted was for no one to lay a finger on her.
Just as Valen was about to lift her up, Argen frowned beneath the covers and let out a groan.
She felt the hand reaching for her pause.
“Don’t you want to bath?”
“Later.
I’ll… take care of it myself…” She mustered every last ounce of strength to reply.
To him, it must have sounded like nothing more than a mumble.
Fortunately, the meaning seemed to get through, and Valen didn’t touch her anymore.
That didn’t mean he left the bedroom, though.
She could feel his subtle, watchful gaze, but Argen wasn’t sensitive enough for even that to bother her.
“…Don’t raise your voice.
You’ll wake your superior.”
“Stop bothering Argen and get lost already!”
“Who was it that washed her and put her to bed all night?”
“You, you heartless bastard!
Taste your words before spitting them out!” (T/N Think before you speak)
“I told you not to raise your voice.”
When did I fall asleep?
Her mind, which had been heavy and sinking, gradually rose as she heard someone whispering and arguing about her.
Just as consciousness was about to fully surface, a warm hand patted her stomach.
Should she lie a little longer?
But what time is it now?
Behind her comfortably closed eyelids, a fierce internal battle raged.
In the end, the responsibility to start the day’s work edged out the overwhelming fatigue.
Argen forced open eyelids heavy as iron weights.
Thud.
Simultaneously, he heard Nadol closing the door behind him.
After yawning so wide her jaw ached, she turned her head and saw the figure of No Name.
He was wearing only black pants, thrown on carelessly.
With each movement, his bare back swayed sensually.
Feeling the gaze, No Name turned around.
Their eyes met, and he raised one eyebrow in surprise.
“You’re up early.”
He handed the water cup he’d been about to bring to his lips to Argen.
Argen didn’t feel thirsty, but under the gaze of No Name, who seemed intent on watching until she drank, she had no choice but to take a sip.
“This should be enough.”
“Someone might think a bird pecked it out with its beak.”
“I’m not thirsty.”
“After crying so much yesterday, you’re not thirsty?” Valen insisted she drink half a cup, saying she was too sleepy to feel hungry or thirsty.
Then he drank what Argen left and poured himself another full cup.
“Are you going back to sleep?” He asked, sitting beside Argen.
Argen blinked quietly, leaning her back against the headboard.
Could she sleep more?
Given enough time, she could sleep straight through the entire day.
But seeing that Nadol had come and gone from the bedroom, it was already past the hour she should have woken up.
“I guess I should get up.”
“You’d think that you were going to die.” Valen chuckled softly and sat up.
After pulling back the curtains and opening the window, sunlight shattered across Argen’s face.
The chill air touching her skin washed away some of her drowsiness.
Argen pressed her fingers firmly against her eyes for a moment before releasing them and looking at Valen.
“Why are you dressed like that?” Usually, No Name’s day began earlier and ended later than Argen’s.
They had slept together in her bedroom many times after copulating, but No Name always tidied himself up and erased the traces of the night before, neatly arranging his clothes, before Argen woke up.
He had never been like this before—his pants hanging precariously around his hips, his upper body completely bare, not a single thread covering him.
Plus, his hair was tousled, giving him a disheveled look.
Like a cat just woken from sleep.
Their gazes locked for a long moment.
He lowered his head, scanned his own reflection, then rubbed the back of his neck.
“…I overslept.
Why?”
So he sleeps in too.
“You look comfortable.
Good.”
“It doesn’t happen often.
I was flustered this morning too.
You won’t see me like this again.” He hastily offered excuses.
Though no one had blamed him.
Argen couldn’t understand Valen’s sudden attitude.
Then something suddenly occurred to her.
Could it be?
“I have no intention of scolding you just because you slept in a bit.”
There were numerous marks on his body, proof that his life hadn’t been smooth sailing.
Nadol said that among the countless scars covering No Name’s body, some looked over ten years old, while many others were fresh, acquired within the last few years.
His life hadn’t been paved with silk; he’d been exposed to all manner of hardships since childhood.
On top of that, he carried himself with an aloof detachment, as if losing an arm meant nothing.
He seemed accustomed to being treated as expendable in brutal situations.
Nadol often said he must belong to a despised lower class.
Finn countered that claim, exclaiming, “What kind of lowborn is so arrogant and insolent?!” Yet Argen listened to Nadol’s opinion.
Occasionally, when their eyes met, she sensed a profound stillness within those dark pupils.
Unlike the relentless vigilance he’d shown while in the demon realm, this was a gaze that held no expectation for the future.
It was the gaze of someone who had learned through repeated, futile disappointments.
For this reason, Argen concluded there was a possibility someone had tormented the lowly commoner, No Name, simply because he slept in late.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Then rest easy and sleep more.
I’ll lend you my bed.”
“……Forget it.”
It seemed No Name found even receiving someone’s kindness uncomfortable and awkward.
It was only natural, as he wasn’t used to it.
“I’ll try harder.” At this abrupt offer, Valen clicked his tongue sharply.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s none of my business, so don’t talk about effort or anything like that.
You seem fully awake now, so get up.
Let’s go eat breakfast.”Though he told her to get up, Valen personally lifted the blanket and scooped up Argen.
“……Are we having breakfast together?” Argen asked with a surprised expression.
“Is that not okay?”
“It’s not that.
I just deliberately avoided coming during your meal times because I knew you disliked eating with me.”
Without further explanation, Valen helped Argen wash and change clothes.
When Valen and Argen entered the dining hall together, Finn’s expression twisted in bewilderment.
Finn, who had planned to enjoy a cozy breakfast sharing a table alone with Argen, now needlessly tormented the chickpeas with his fork.
As the clatter of Finn’s cutlery echoed repeatedly, Valen finally snatched his plate and threw it out the window.