I Healed the Cold Dark Goddess’s Loneliness, and Now She Won’t Let Me Go! - Chapter 21

Returning to the upper level of the temple, I run straight toward Lady Reine. True to my promise, I came back early. Since there’s no day or night here, it’s hard to tell, but it feels like the time of day just before the sun begins to set.

“Lady Reine, I’ve returned!”

Spending time in the village is fun, but I really do feel most at ease when I come back to Lady Reine’s side. As if to communicate that feeling, I throw my arms around her. Thinking about it now, I’m being incredibly fearless for someone dealing with a Goddess.

“Welcome back, Haruno.”

“I’m home!”

But I’ve finally learned that being reserved only has the opposite effect on Lady Reine. On top of that, she seems to get even more unstable after I go out or rather, after I see Mina-chan so I’m just going full-throttle now. I’ve realized that being unashamedly clingy is the fastest way to fulfill my role of easing her anxieties. Wait, is this just making me sound like I’m looking for an excuse to be spoiled?!

“Um, Lady Reine, were you okay? Were you lonely?”

Embarrassed by my own thoughts, I blurted that out in a moment of madness. I wonder how she’ll respond. I look up from her arms and gaze into her eyes. Those purple pupils reflect me with unwavering directness.

“The time when I am not touching Haruno is always lonely.”

“I-I see…”

Taking a powerful counter-hit, I look away. I don’t know if Lady Reine’s “embarrassment trigger” is just different from mine or if she’s simply lost all her filters, but she says these things so easily.

“However, Haruno kept her promise and returned early today. That makes me happy.”

“O-of course. It was a promise, after all!”

I tighten my grip, hugging her harder. I bury my face in her chest to hide how red it’s getting. Her body temperature isn’t exactly warm, but the fact that I find it comforting makes me feel strangely happy.

After we stayed like that for a while, Lady Reine suddenly spoke.

“Come to think of it, you were speaking with Mina again today.”

“……Y-yes.”

My body stiffens with a start. I should have known she’d see everything. I guess she didn’t like it after all. But I want to talk to Mina-chan, so I have to get her to forgive me somehow…!

“That was… quite a pleasant experience.”

“Huh?”

An incredibly stupid sound escapes me at her unexpected words. Lady Reine who usually gets so moody when I talk to Mina-chan found it pleasant? While I was wondering what on earth she meant, she loosened her embrace.

“Haruno, show me your neck.”

“Eh? Ah, okay…”

I tilt my head as instructed, and her cold fingers stroke my skin. The marks where she strangled me yesterday are still there, though they’re starting to fade.

“These marks are proof of my mistake, but at the same time, they feel like proof that Haruno has accepted me.”

“I… I see…”

“And I was able to flaunt that to Mina. Watching her become distraught was quite pleasant.”

“……”

I think “distraught” is a bit much; she was just worried about me… True, Mina-chan’s face completely changed when she saw the marks on my neck. Her expression clouded over every time I told her not to worry… In short, did these marks satisfy her possessiveness?

“I was able to show her that Haruno belongs to me. That the bond between Haruno and me is already beyond her reach. It made me happy.”

Lady Reine’s voice sounded somewhat satisfied. While I felt a bit conflicted, I decided that if she was happy, then it was fine.

“Yes! Next time, perhaps I shall carve a mark into Haruno that isn’t born of pain and error, but one filled with good memories.”

“M-marking…? That sounds a bit…”

“Carving a mark” basically means writing “Property of Lady Reine” on my body, doesn’t it? Like a name tag on a schoolkid’s backpack though come to think of it, I am her property. I guess I can’t complain…?

“For example, what if I deliberately carved a portion of my power into the shape of a crest? A beautiful proof to show that Haruno belongs to me.”

Lady Reine says this with a dead-serious face. She’s for real! This Goddess is seriously considering branding me.

“A… a crest? What kind…?”

“Let’s see… a pattern depicting the moon and stars might be nice. On Haruno’s wrist… or perhaps near her collarbone…”

“Wait, Lady Reine… ngh.”

The way she traces my skin while considering where to put the mark makes me think of something I shouldn’t, and a small sound escapes my lips.

“A-ah, um! Wait a second…!”

“Is there a problem?”

“A problem… well, it’s just…”

I’m at a loss for words when I see her eyes full of expectation. It’s not that I hate the idea. If anything, I’m happy she cares that much. But I need to prepare myself. Yes, I need time.

“Um, I’d like to save that for… well, a more important occasion. It’s something that stays forever, so I want you to take your time and think about what kind of design to use if that’s okay with my selfishness.”

I’m in a position where I basically have no right of refusal, but if it’s something that’s going to stay on my body, I want it to be something I won’t regret. So, I didn’t want her to just carve it on a whim today.

“…I see. You are right! Let us save that occasion for a special milestone.”

“! Thank you, Lady Reine!”

“Until then, I shall restrain myself with this.”

“…Eh?”

Before I could react, Lady Reine dropped a kiss on me. With a clear hickey left on my collarbone, my face turned bright red once again. Though at the time, I had no idea this was destined to become our little ritual every time I went out.