CHAPTER 58: READY TO DO ANYTHING! (1)

«In three months, I’ve never seen you get as excited about anything as you did when you set that new arcade record today,» Aoshi comments with a puzzled little smile as he helps Eliss wash the dishes after dinner.

«I am the princess of the Kingdom of Ravessia, not some random brat — it would’ve been unthinkable for someone with my reflexes to lose to a simple human! And besides, just imagine the satisfaction: from now on, every time someone plays that game, they’ll see my name at the top of the leaderboard and think: damn, this girl is strong — I’ll never beat her score!» Eliss replies proudly. «Tomorrow we’re going back — I already told Ayane we’re crushing every record in that place, one by one.»

«A-Ayane suggested that?» Aoshi asks, a little hesitant.

«No, I asked her and she agreed — even though she didn’t look very convinced. She’s probably scared she’s found someone just as good as her at shooters,» Eliss smirks.

«I-I see...» Aoshi mutters.

Given the situation, it’s obvious Ayane had no choice but to go along with it — even though she knows that in just a few hours Eliss will be gone forever.

Only five hours left until midnight — the last five hours he’ll ever spend with her before Raelor takes her back to Elyndra...

Aoshi’s hands start trembling inside the thick kitchen gloves and— CRACK! The plate slips from his hands and shatters on the floor.

D-Damn it... I knew saying goodbye to her would be hard, but... I-I didn’t imagine it would hurt this much... I... I’m not ready to let her go...

And yet, I’ve known for three months that this day would come. I did everything I could not to get attached to her — to be prepared for the moment I’d have to say goodbye forever!

S-So where did I go wrong...? Where...?

Aoshi’s breathing grows shallow and heavy. He inhales and exhales slowly, desperately trying to regain even a shred of clarity and self-control, but it’s useless.

«Come on, that was the last plate we had — now we’ll have to buy new ones!» Eliss grumbles as she bends down to pick up the shards. «Aoshi, lately you’ve been really out of it, but today you’re even more spaced-out than usual. Don’t tell me it’s still because of that bitch who threw herself off the cliff, huh?! I swear, if you’re still acting weird because of that whole story, I’ll get really mad!»

«N-No, it’s not that... it’s just...» Aoshi hesitates. «...I just don’t feel well, that’s all. Probably a bit of seasonal flu... nothing to worry about...»

«And what were you waiting for to tell me?!» Eliss snaps back — worry hidden behind her irritation. «Alright then, when I get back from work I’ll stop by that 24/7 pharmacy downtown and get you something for the fever.»

«W-Work...?» Aoshi stammers, stunned. «B-But I asked you to take tonight off — why didn’t you?!»

«I did! And Mr. Tobita even approved it! But this morning he called saying there’s a guy who wants to celebrate his bachelor party at the Moonlight Club, and he told me that if I wasn’t there, he’d celebrate somewhere else! We’re talking about a ton of guests — which means a ton of extra money on my paycheck!

I was really looking forward to tonight too — that romantic walk you promised me — but unfortunately duty calls,» Eliss mutters with a small shrug. «On the bright side, he gave me the next two nights off as a bonus — so tomorrow night, I’m all yours. Promise,» she adds with a radiant smile.

«Y-Yeah... the next two nights...» Aoshi repeats, his voice heavy with melancholy.

T-This wasn’t part of the plan... shit! I-I mentally prepared myself to spend five more hours with her — not maybe half an hour before she has to leave for work. I-I want... I really want to tell her that her time here is almost up and that I want to spend every second I still have with her... but Raelor was clear — I can’t tell Eliss when her punishment ends. No matter what.

What a fucking mess...

«I-It doesn’t matter what Mr. Tobita wants!» Aoshi blurts out, his voice trembling. «Tell him you’re not feeling well — tell him you can’t go tonight!»

«As if I could do something like that half an hour before my shift starts! And you should be the first to know that — aren’t you supposed to be the expert at this job? If I bailed on him right now, he’d lose his mind, and you’d destroy the tiny chance you have of getting your job back!» Eliss retorts, unmoved.

«G-Getting my job back? What are you talking about?» Aoshi stammers, confused.

«Ever since he fired you, I’ve been doing everything I can to convince him to rehire you — and I’m this close to succeeding, believe me! If things go well tonight, he promised he’d seriously consider taking you back at the Moonlight Club. I think he’s realized that, despite everything, you were a great employee — and your absence is starting to weigh on them. None of the waiters there work even half as hard as you did! It’s just pride — he doesn’t have the guts to call you back and look like he needs you.

It was supposed to be a surprise — a gift for you — but you forced me to ruin everything... ugh...» Eliss grumbles, folding her arms, offended.

«I-I don’t care about that job anymore!» Aoshi cries out, eyes growing watery. «You said that when you leave, you’ll give me a mountain of gold, right?! So what the hell do I need a lousy part-time job for?! Actually, you quit too — stay here with me tonight! I’m begging you...»

«You’re really acting weird tonight...» Eliss mutters as she takes off the rubber gloves and drops them into the sink. «That gold I promised you is something we’ll talk about after I leave — certainly not now. And I never meant to turn you into some lazy freeloader — that’s why I wanted to tell you as late as possible. Come on, Aoshi, what kind of man would throw his whole life away based on a promise? What if I don’t go through with it?

What if, once I’m back to my senses, I change my mind — or my father forbids it? I told you I talked to Raelor and he agreed, but my father — the king — is the one who has the final say.»

She shakes her head, frustrated.

«There’s no way I’m taking responsibility for that!»

Then Eliss slips on her shoes and tucks her purse under her arm, ready to step out the front door.

«Se you later, Aosh— w-what...?»

Eliss freezes the instant Aoshi’s arms wrap tightly around her from behind, his grip firm around her waist as he pulls her close.

«W-What are you doing, Aoshi...?» she stammers, completely caught off guard.

«I-I won’t let you go, Eliss...» Aoshi murmurs, his voice steady but trembling underneath. His right hand — resting on her stomach — slowly slides upward, stopping just beneath her large breasts, while his left hand moves downward, coming to a halt right over her pubic area.

«A-Aoshi... I-I don’t understand... w-what’s gotten into you...?»

Eliss gasps, her breathing growing heavier, her cheeks flushing deeper with every second — his hands just a breath away from her chest and from her most intimate spot.

«A-Aoshi... i-if you touch me like that, I... I...»

But Aoshi doesn’t answer.

He swallows hard and takes a deep breath — summoning every ounce of courage he has left, eyes squeezed shut and jaw clenched.

I-I’ll do anything to keep her here as long as I can! E-Even... even if I have to go further than I ever have in these three months with her!

Even though a part of me has always wanted this, I always held myself back, tried to control these impulses — fuck... falling apart now that we’re so close to the end would be insane, but... i-if having sex with her is the only way to stop her from leaving and to spend the very last hours she has in this world with me... then so be it!