Had he been more clear headed, he might have noticed the shift in her behavior. After reveling in the comfort of her presence, a long-dormant desire resurfaced, pulling him under its spell. When the blissful moment finally passed, the woman nestled beside him spoke softly.
“Sleep well, Rezette.” Her touch, as she lightly brushed his chest, was feather-light, a mother soothing a restless child. Her murmured words about hoping his fatigue would lessen were like a comforting lullaby.
Rezette inhaled her calming scent deeply and mumbled in response. “Stay inside the castle for the next few days, Elise.”
Elise, though she could have questioned his sudden request, simply nodded. “Alright.”
That was all it took. A touch, a whisper, and his anxieties dissolved, as if by magic. This beautiful woman was still here. Even if Sameshita reappeared, she was his, and nothing could change that.
A wave of contentment washed over Rezette, a feeling akin to the yearning of his naive youth. He recognized it a moment too late, a bittersweet echo of a time before burdens and responsibilities.
Back then, the simplest things held boundless joy – a sliver of sunlight, a cherished toy, or the company of Galeus, the only human who visited him regularly. Each day felt like a gift, overflowing with innocent happiness.
As he held the woman close and drifted towards sleep, Rezette experienced a sense of fulfillment he thought forever out of reach. The self-doubt that usually gnawed at him was strangely absent, replaced by a quiet serenity.
“…I love you…”
He drifted off, never imagining that her whispered words, spoken amidst the night’s contentment, would become a cruel reminder of her absence.
***
A few hours later, Rezette stirred awake. He instinctively reached out, only to find the space beside him empty. A primal instinct flared within him, a sense of something wrong.
Unlike their usual routine, Elise wasn’t there. He threw back the covers, a growing unease settling in his stomach.
The expected knock from the maid, who should have returned by now, remained unnervingly silent.
The sweetness that lingered from the night, a faint echo on his tongue, was abruptly gone. Now, only a chilling emptiness remained.
Elise, who usually enjoyed a quiet top floor with only one maid, was nowhere to be found. Her maid hadn’t responded to Rezette’s calls either.
A thought flickered in his mind. Perhaps she’s taking a bath? When Elise felt drained, she sometimes retreated to a cleansing soak, her voice barely a whisper when she requested it.
Rezette didn’t always rush to fulfill those requests. He found her disheveled state, marked by sweat and exertion, oddly arousing. He’d delay, holding her close until her exhaustion outweighed her desire for the bath. Yesterday had been different, he’d stayed by her side, forgoing the usual routine.
“I need to wash…” she’d murmured.
“Later,” he’d replied, “when you wake up. Just a little while longer.”
“…Very well,” she’d sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. “As you wish.”
The afterglow of intimacy lingered as Rezette held the woman close. The night blurred into a memory – the sweet fragrance of a flower mingling with the remnants of their exertion. Exhaustion finally claimed him, and sleep came quickly.
It wasn’t surprising, then, that Elise might be awake before him, seeking a soothing bath. A pang of concern shot through Rezette. Baths were a regular part of Elise’s routine, changing into fresh clothes before sleep.
Rezette hastily threw on his robe and rushed to the adjoining bathroom. “Elise?” he called out, flinging open the door.
But instead of steam and the gentle sounds of splashing water, the room was bone dry. The grand bathtub sat empty, its polished surface reflecting a chilling emptiness. Back in the bedroom, the expansive living area wore a veil of silence. The silver-haired woman was absent; no sign of her graced the sofa, the table, not even the armchair by the fireplace.
A cold dread clenched Rezette’s heart. Gone. But where? And why would she vanish without a word? Unease twisted in his gut, the silence heavy with unanswered questions.
