“Yes.”
“Give it here. I’ll do it.”
“I’ll do it for you.”
“It’s fine, so just give it. It’s more comfortable if I do it.”
Since he was a guy with surprisingly delicate aspects, he would definitely try to stir inside with his fingers, saying he’d remove what remained inside. Then the aftermath was obvious without watching. Instead of fingers, something else would enter and the same process would repeat once more.
After roughly cleaning up, Roman lightly perched on the edge of the desk. After finishing the deed, he desperately craved a cigarette. But unfortunately, there were no cigarettes in the office. Isabel detested them, and since it was a space others frequently came and went through, it wouldn’t be good to have the smell linger.
When a cold breeze suddenly entered, he saw the window that had been opened wide. Diego, who had returned with a towel from somewhere, began wiping the walls and floor. Roman belatedly realized the reason and clicked his tongue inwardly. From next time, no matter how urgent, it seemed he should avoid doing it in the office.
Diego stood up as if he had finished to some degree. Though it was nothing new, his physical condition alone was truly gifted. Even accounting for sitting perched on the desk, their eye levels differed by almost two hand spans or more. No wonder people who didn’t know him well would mistake him for a dominant trait.
At a thought that suddenly occurred, Roman opened his mouth.
“She must have taken quite a liking to you.”
“Pardon?”
“The young viscountess.”
As if belatedly realizing what he meant, he answered with a rarely embarrassed expression.
“No. It’s probably because I have to escort her home anyway.”
Well, was that really so?
Going somewhere with someone where many people gathered had great significance. Even more so if it was a place where nobles gathered.
If it was the Rood family, they would have money overflowing, and if they set their mind to it, they could immediately find a dominant Benic who specialized in escort. Yet the fact that she made such a request to a commoner man performing her guard duties, and moreover to a Benic of regular trait, could only be thought of as having some personal interest mixed in.
But Diego didn’t seem to know this fact. They said he had rarely faced women, so whether it was because of that, or whether he didn’t notice because it wasn’t a direct expression, he couldn’t tell, but from Roman’s position, it was very fortunate. Even if they were just in a relationship to relieve each other’s sexual frustration, the situation of a third party suddenly trying to intrude couldn’t be welcome.
Diego was a much better partner than expected. Regular traits usually had a dull blood taste, but perhaps because he was someone who managed himself so thoroughly, the compatibility was quite good. Moreover, he had an appearance that matched his taste enough to break the iron rule of ‘don’t touch guild members’ for the first time, and his sex techniques were also good. Decisively, he was even tight-lipped, so he couldn’t be more perfect.
‘But escorting another person…’
Breaking the brief silence, Roman continued.
“You said you were in a mercenary group before?”
“Yes.”
“Then you have no experience escorting.”
Diego, who realized what Roman was trying to say, took the initiative one step ahead.
“I’m concerned about that point too. I’ll tell her right away tomorrow to find someone else.”
“…No, it’s fine to do it.”
Unlike the somewhat grandiose name, escort work was unexpectedly not difficult. Since there were guild members with dominant traits, if he learned from them, he could pick it up quickly. To be honest, he didn’t like Diego escorting another person, but he couldn’t deprive him of work he was fully capable of doing just because he personally didn’t like it.
One thing that bothered him was that there was a practice nobles implicitly followed, and Diego probably didn’t know about it. Roman, who had organized his thoughts, met Diego’s gaze again.
“If you accept the request, they’ll probably say they’ll prepare various things for you… That’s usually what they say to lovers, so it’s better to refuse.”
“Understood.”
“Do you have clothes suitable for wearing to a ball?”
The nuance seemed a bit strange after he asked. He tried to add a word belatedly, but this time too, Diego answered first.
“No.”
It was a calm voice. Since he didn’t look particularly offended either, Roman quietly swallowed the words he had been about to say. There was no need to ramble on with excuse-like words when the other party didn’t particularly care.
“Did you say it’s in two days?”
“Yes.”
“Then… since we’re already late, invest about thirty more minutes in me.”
Roman, who had stood up, took out a crystal orb that had been in the safe. Since it was late, they might have closed, so he planned to contact them in advance before going.
A short while later, Roman and Diego led their respective horses toward the guild’s back door. Watching Roman walking a couple steps ahead, Diego asked.
“Will you be alright?”
“With what?”
“…Won’t riding be difficult?”
“That doesn’t seem like something the person who went all the way should say.”
Looking at the man rubbing his chin with a troubled expression, Roman smiled slightly.
“I’ll just go slowly.”
“This should make it a bit better.”
Diego took off the vest he was wearing and draped it over the saddle. Though it was thin and wouldn’t have much effect, having even one more layer would be better than nothing.
“Rather…”
“Yes?”
“No. Nothing.”
Roman didn’t refuse Diego’s kindness and mounted his horse as is. The thought of bringing a cushion crossed his mind briefly, but that would only reveal that that place was uncomfortable.
Though there was a lingering foreign sensation that felt slightly awkward, there was no major hindrance to moving. The darkened streets were quiet. The square where countless people came and went during the day was enveloped in quiet stillness at night, with only occasional people hurrying past.
Still, not all streets were like that. Along the main road, there were a few shops with lights on here and there, and among them were restaurants.
“Did you eat dinner?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then let’s eat something before we go. I haven’t eaten yet either.”
Soon the two of them opened the restaurant door side by side and entered. Despite it being quite late, there were quite a few people in the restaurant enjoying dinner with drinks. As they settled into a corner spot, a young man with a youthful air approached to take their order.
“What do you want to eat?”
Diego answered without even looking at the menu.
“I’ll have the meat stew.”
“Will that be enough?”
Amusement was embedded in Roman’s voice. When the three of them had dinner together with Emily a few days ago, Diego had boasted a considerable appetite. To maintain that kind of build, he would naturally need to eat that much, but ordering just one bowl of meat stew clearly wouldn’t even touch his hunger.
“Don’t you like braised lamb? It’s the specialty that sells best here.”
“That’s fine.”
“Any foods you avoid?”
“Not particularly. But…”
But?
When he asked with his eyes, Diego answered after a brief pause.
“…I don’t really like peas.”
Roman ended up laughing again. He could have just given an appropriate response and moved on, but the way he confessed honestly while feeling embarrassed seemed just like him.
Moreover, the fact that the food he avoided happened to be peas, smaller than his thumbnail, even made him think it was cute. Roman soon ordered various menu items, and plates emitting delicious aromas filled the table.
While leisurely enjoying the meal, Roman asked something that suddenly came to mind.
“Did you hear anything from Emily?”
“Pardon?”
“About the job I introduced.”
If things went as planned, Emily would have visited Count Frang’s residence last weekend. If it was his mother, she really would have met Emily in person, but he wasn’t too worried. It would be half formality, and being someone with an eye for people, he was confident she would quickly recognize Emily’s true worth.
As expected, Diego gave an answer not much different from his guess.
“Yes. They must have taken a liking to Emily there, as she’s been going excitedly every morning.”
“That’s good. Emily will do well.”
“Thank you for finding her a good position.”
At the unexpected words, Roman’s eyes widened slightly before he let out a chuckle.
“I thought you’d dislike it, saying I did something unnecessary.”
“…At first I didn’t feel good about it, but now I’m thinking positively.”
