287 How It Would Feel Like To...
'The map doesn't indicate anything about the Border between Sloth and Lust. Troublesome.'
His hand, almost absent-mindedly, continued stroking her hair as he stared at the sky above.
'Once we enter Lust, it's highly likely that the Demon Lord Of Lust will feel my presence, just like the Demon Lord Of Sloth did. If that's the case then... Should I cross first? Or should I leave them to cross and then join them? No, that wouldn't work. That Commander was sent for me, so unless there is communication between the Demon Lords, they shouldn't expect me. Would they communicate? I doubt it. Even Raven and Nia who are on the same side weren't communicating properly. And we're talking about Demon Lords here. Enemies. Or at least rivals, I guess. Two Lords whose Territories neighbor one another...'
The white-scaled Monster sighed.
'The Demon Lord Of Sloth expressed interest in me pretty quickly. It's possible that, unlike him, the Demon Lord Of Lust won't care about me. That would be for the best. Still, the Demon Lord Of Lust might send Underlings to get me. If they're not waiting for me right away, then crossing after or before Elisa and Krista wouldn't change a thing. In the first place, it must be thanks to his eyes that the Commander could find me. Maybe the Demon Lord Of Lust won't be as lucky. Lucky to have someone with a similar ability. But in any case...' Mark lowered his gaze towards the Princess peacefully sleeping on top of him. 'I'm more likely to survive, more likely to win, with them on my side.'
Even though it meant putting them in danger.
'I'll win and Devour stronger Monsters. That's what I should be doing with Elisa. That's... What I should be using her for. The three of us fight, and I Devour. Devour... Until I have the strength to fight alone.'
Mark felt a sudden tingle.
The sleeping Princess moved her head, and he could feel her breath on his chest.
Each breath. In and out. In and out.
He immediately became acutely aware of her.
Of her body pressed against his.
Of her breathing.
Of her hands which lay on his chest.
Of her heart beating inside her chest as it rested on his.
Of her breasts pressed against him.
Mark's left hand stopped stroking her hair.
It lay instead on her head, unmoving.
His right hand slowly moved. Slowly, towards her hand.
Under the gentle moonlight, he lay his hand on hers.
The sleeping Princess softly grasped his index finger.
Softly and lightly.
Mark could tell that he could escape from her grasp. That he could move his hand away with ease.
She held his index finger so lightly that, despite the finger being grasped, it wasn't trapped.
He could pull it back freely were the urge to do so arise.
Because -that- is how Elisa was.
Light and free.
Soft and gentle.
Carefree and uplifting.
Compassionate and loving.
The kind of love that doesn't turn into a prison.
The kind of love that doesn't aim to catch and trap with its webs.
The kind of love that doesn't expect.
The kind of love which wouldn't turn to hatred were it to be disappointed.
Light and compassionate.
Forever hopeful, despite everything she had gone through.
Despite-
Mark held her hand as he gazed at her slender fingers.
His gaze moved from her fingers to her wrist. From her wrist to her arm. From her arm to her shoulder. From her shoulder to her face. From her face to her back. From her back to her hips. From her hips to her legs.
He held her hand a bit more firmly and, through her sleep, she smiled slightly.
Mark wanted to be there for her.
Despite everything she had-
He wanted to be with her.
Despite everything she had-
He wanted to make her smile more.
Despite everything she had-
He wanted to make her smile more widely.
Despite everything she had-
He wanted to make her laugh more often.
Despite everything she had-
He wanted her to laugh even more whole-heartedly than was already the case.
You even made me play tag with Krista and the others-
Ridiculous-
How ridiculous was that-
So ridiculous but... I really needed that-
He wanted her to laugh more.
He wanted her to smile more brightly.
He wanted her to have more light-hearted fun.
He wanted her to be happy.
Despite everything, he wanted her to be happy.
Despite everything, he wanted her to smile.
So what if it meant staying in the Elven Forest?
So what if it meant changing myself for her?
So what if it meant answering her when I wasn't sure?
So what... If it helps her smile? If it means her happiness?
Mark, of course, wasn't sure that these things were true.
He wasn't sure whether they were, or if his feeling were exaggerating the picture.
But it didn't matter.
If it meant protecting the smile that hides countless past atrocities-
No.
Not the smile which hides them. The smile which triumphs over them.
If it meant protecting that smile then-
Mark's heart started beating faster.
He wanted to be with her.
He wanted to know more about her.
He wanted to see more of her.
He wanted to spend more time with her. To talk to her more.
Mark wondered how it would feel to be more truthful with her.
How it would feel to talk more openly.
How touching her body would feel.
How telling her these things would feel.
How kissing her neck would feel.
How being with her in the Elven Forest would feel.
How her flesh would taste.
How it would feel to-
STOMP-
Mark's body froze.
He pulled his left hand away from her head, and his other hand away from hers. He tilted his head to the side, and the Moonlit Feline pulled its paws away from his cheek.
"Thanks... For being here..." Mark whispered.
He brought a hand to Krista's neck and stroke the side of the neck with a curled index finger.
"You always know when my mind goes to a bad place, huh?"
Purrr-
"Thanks... For protecting me." The white-scaled Monster's gaze went back to the sky above. "And for standing between me and Elisa that day."
Purrr-
