(unedited)

Looking back, it’s a cliff (2)

They stood on the balcony they had come to when they first arrived at the castle. Michael’s summoned beast was also sitting there, waiting for them. Rosetta climbed onto the summoned beast’s back with Michael’s help. Michael climbed behind Rosetta and pulled on the reins attached to the summoner’s head.

Booooo!

Rosetta flinched as the summoned beast let out a long wail. This one was different from the last one. It looked like a cross between a bird and a camel, with red feathers.

“It’s okay. He’s gentle.”

Rosetta was reassured by Michael’s arms wrapped tightly around her from behind. The summoner lifted its long neck and stood up. Rosetta frowned, feeling like she was riding a camel.

It would have been nice to ride the dragon as before, but she couldn’t ask him to switch to his old familiar after he’d already summoned him.

“Hold on tight.”

Michael whispered, still clinging to Rosetta. Rosetta nodded and took hold of Michael’s arm, which made him smile in delight, but Rosetta didn’t see, since she was looking straight ahead. Soon the summoned beast was flapping its huge wings and racing to the edge of the balcony.

‘Heok!’

It was supposed to resemble a camel, but its behavior was more like an ostrich. But with each flap of the creature’s wings, she could feel its body rising.

“Hik.”

The summoned beast’s body fell off the balcony, but the fall was very brief, and it quickly soared into the sky as its large wings moved.

“…It’s cute that Rosetta is trembling.”

Michael whispered as he stole a glance at Rosetta’s tightly closed eyes. When Rosetta opened her eyes and looked around, they were rising into the sky.

The summoned beast gained altitude without much flapping of its wings, as if it were riding an updraft.

“If you tease me, I’ll pinch you.”

Rosetta glanced at him, and Michael chuckled. 

“You’re cute when you’re sulky.”

Her head rested against his chest, since they were already cuddling so closely. Feeling him press his lips to her cheek as he lowered his head, Rosetta turned her attention to her surroundings.

Flying high in the sky, she could see the shield surrounding the island. Rosetta’s eyes widened as she saw countless small black dots floating beyond the shield. Michael whispered with an eerie smile.

“…You’d better keep your eyes closed from now on, it won’t take long, my love.”

What appeared to be a black dot was surely a demon. Rosetta was frightened, but she trusted Michael’s capabilities and closed her eyes. If the need arises, there’s a magic tool on her wrist….

‘Still, I don’t want to fall off the summoned beast’s back!’

? ? ? ?

Rosetta opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings as the summoned beast struggled to shake off the demon that was clinging to them, and she had the delusion that she was being dragged off and mauled by the demon. The creature’s wild cries had subsided.

By now, the black flames devoured the demons. They dropped to the ground in huddles like mosquitoes stung by a flamethrower.

The island’s defenses had been disarmed when they left the castle. The sight of the creature’s carcass falling onto the island worried Rosetta.

‘How are we going to clean that up later! Ah…. Will the puppets clean it up?’

If a shield had been created, the carcass would have been burned after it was crushed… but there was also the possibility of Rosetta accidentally falling through the shield and being covered in blood. As she thought about that, she shuddered with a chill.

‘This is why it’s not good to be stuck between two whales! I’m in the middle of Isabelle and Michael’s fight!’

It occurred to her that since she was an obscure supporting character, it was possible that she could fall off the summoned beast’s back during a fight and die in such a ridiculous way.

“Rosetta, keep your eyes closed.”

Unaware of Rosetta’s delusions, Michael assumed she was freaked out by the magic. Michael wrapped his arms around her waist, hugged her tightly; Rosetta looked at Michael.

“You’re not going to let go of me, are you? You’re going to hold on tight?”

“…….”

Michael’s heart sank at the plaintive look in Rosetta’s eyes. He wanted to comfort her so she wouldn’t be scared, but it was so cute to see her clinging to him.

“…Of course, I could hold you like this forever.”

‘I don’t need a lifetime.’

Rosetta gave him a cold stare, but Michael was blushing from ear to ear. He glanced around, but there were no more demons in sight.

‘Yeah…. He’s strong.’

Michael stared at the crown of her head, down her chin, debating whether or not to kiss her. If he tilted Rosetta’s body to the side, he could easily kiss her, but the way she looked scared…. He could almost hear her resentment.

‘Do I have to settle for this?’

Michael thought as he pressed his lips to Rosetta’s cheek and nibbled hard on her ear. Rosetta squirmed in his grip.

If they were on a horse, she wouldn’t have let him do it for fear of someone seeing them, but here they were on a summoned beast. They were flying high in the sky, so there was no way anyone would see this, but even so….

“Wait, don’t stick your tongue in there…. Hic, ugh….”

Rosetta pinched Michael’s arm at the feel of his tongue in her earlobe. Michael, who was a wizard and had a strong forearm, didn’t mind the tickle, and teased her tongue with more care.

“Ungh…. No…….”

She made a squeaky noise and winced at his teasing of her sensitive spot. Michael chuckled softly and whispered in a low voice. His voice, sweet as honey with desire, rumbled like a growl.

“You know I can’t leave you alone when you’re being so cute……. If you keep this up, I’m going to take you to the nearest bedroom as soon as we hit the ground.”

‘When did I…. ‘

His lips descended to nip at her earlobe and lick her cheek. She sighed as the hand that held her moved up to her breast.

The summoned beast was slowly lowering its altitude at Michael’s command. It was forbidden to ride it into the capital, so they’d set it down at an estate near the capital where they knew someone.

The houses of the city, a tiny dot in the distance, were getting close enough to make out the shapes of their roofs.

“No…. They’ll see us now, Michael….”

Rosetta gasped and pleaded, and Michael looked up ruefully, his hands sliding over the hem of her dress and down to her waist.

It was broad daylight, so the red-feathered summoned beast streaking across the sky was attracting a lot of attention. Rosetta was glad she’d stopped Michael when she saw the crowd gathering.

If all those people had seen what he was doing to her, she might have kicked him off the creature’s back in embarrassment. When the summoned beast landed on the ground, of course.

The Lord of the territory had already been contacted through another wizard, so he rejoiced in the opportunity to flaunt his relationship with the prince in public.

“Welcome, Prince!”

The lord shouted as the summoned beast disembarked in a clearing near the lord’s castle. Around the clearing were the knights who were to escort the duke and duchess. They were not the lord’s knights, but those sent by the emperor.

“Duke. Duchess.”

Michael dismounted from his summoned beast’s back, first Rosetta and then himself. The leader of the knights, William, bowed politely to the two of them. At his side, the pot-bellied lord hobbled over.

“Welcome!”

He reached for Michael’s hand, but William blocked it. The viscount turned his angry face toward William, but he softened when he met William’s icy gaze.

“Of course. You’re not supposed to touch royalty without permission…. I had forgotten that!’

The only connection he had with Michael was that his son worked for him. Only that connection had brought the prince to the estate, and he had to take advantage of the opportunity.

“I know you’re tired from your long journey, so I’ve prepared the best room in the castle for you, so come on in!”

But Michael was only asking for a place to land on the estate, not to stay the night. After all, it was a small town, five hours from the capital. A carriage ride would get them to the capital before evening, so there was no reason to stay here.

“The king has sent a carriage. He’s given us the fastest steeds, so you’ll be at Count Whirsen’s in four hours.”

William explained, then glanced at the viscount. The viscount looked puzzled. He knew the Emperor had sent a carriage, but he hadn’t realized they were supposed to take it right away.