Chapter 15 : On the brink (2)

“──What the actual hell.” Dante scowled, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation. ‘This crazy lizard’s losing it again.’

“Stop spouting nonsense and go to sleep. Seriously, what are you even talking about?” What did she mean by “which son of a b*tch”?

“Don’t play dumb! You reek of another woman! What is this sweet scent?!”

“How would you even know, you crazy lizard?! Are you a dog now?! With a super-powered nose?!”

“Stop changing the subject, you mutt!” Olivia’s red eyes blazed as she grabbed him by the collar and shook him. “Who is she?! Which goddamn b*tch dared to touch you?!”

“I… Keck… I have no idea… ! Keck, keck!” ‘I can’t breathe!’

Dangling helplessly in the air, Dante flailed, finally managing to choke out a sentence.

“Wait! I remember now! At the village… the fruit vendor…!”

“The fruit vendor?! Did… did she touch you? Is that it?!”

“She… she sprayed me with… perfume…! Keck… Keuh…”

“…Perfume?”

Thud.

“Gasp! Huff… huff…” Olivia released him. He crumpled to the floor, gasping for air, then pulled a small bottle from his pocket.

“Huff… The fruit vendor… he made a new perfume with fruit extracts from his orchard… and… gave me a sample…” He’d sprayed some on his clothes before returning to the castle.

“…” Olivia narrowed her eyes, studying his face, then opened the bottle and sniffed. It was the same scent clinging to Dante’s clothes. Her expression had already softened slightly when he’d referred to the vendor as “he.” Still suspicious, she glared at him.

“…Are you sure? You didn’t sneak off and hug some other woman?”

“Of course not! Why would I know any other women?!”

‘My mom’s dead, and Yeonhwa… well, she’s a fox.’ ‘I said I didn’t know any other human women. I didn’t say anything about female animals.’

“Please,” he pleaded, “just stop with the crazy accusations.”

A small smile finally played on Olivia’s lips. “…Hmm, right. You wouldn’t know any other… women.”

‘The only woman who’s ever been close to you… is me.’

──Only me.

Still fuming, she spread her massive wings, enveloping Dante in their dark embrace.

‘…Did I manage to convince her…?’ Dante swallowed nervously, trying to appear calm, despite the tension coiling in his gut.

Just as the wings completely enclosed him…

Lick.

“…!? Eek!?” He flinched, a soft, wet sensation against his neck.

“W-wait! What are you──?!”

Lick, lick.

Like a cat grooming itself, or a dog showing affection, Olivia licked his neck, her red eyes gleaming.

“S-stop! Please…!” It was like a lioness marking her territory. He shuddered, unable to escape, his wrists trapped in her grasp.

“Nnngh…!”

Finally satisfied, she folded her wings, licking her lips.

“I did nothing wrong. It’s your fault for making me feel like that.”

“That makes absolutely no se──”

“Don’t.” Olivia cut him off, placing a hand over his mouth. “Don’t wear that perfume again.” She couldn’t stand the thought of any scent other than her own clinging to him.

“Or next time, there will be consequences. Understand?” When she held him, the presence of another scent, of anything but him, drove her mad. She had to cleanse him, to make him hers again.

She kissed his forehead.

“I love you so damn much, you mutt.”

“…Crazy lizard,” he muttered, his face pale.

‘…I think I survived this one…’ His neck stung.