Chapter 126: Kneeling Apology
As the saying goes, a man's knees are worth their weight in gold.
But for Aeron at this moment, that saying felt particularly hollow and powerless.
Because this time, he had actually done it.
And he had done something big.
"...I'm sorry."
Three simple words, yet requiring immense resolve—Aeron had lost count of how many times he had uttered them tonight.
If only someone could break this suffocating silence, but unfortunately, both Cartethyia and Roccia were asleep.
As for Abby... she hadn't shown up since earlier, probably also fast asleep inside Rover's soundmark.
Unlike Aeron, who was kneeling on the floor in utter embarrassment, Rover was curled up on the sofa, hugging a cushion to partially hide her face. Her golden pupils shifted to the side.
The fingers peeking out from behind the cushion had a slight post-bath flush...
Wait, what the hell am I looking at!!!!!!!!!!!
And since when do you make expressions like that??? More importantly, why are you even in my house!!!
And—
Aeron looked up at Rover again. Honestly, having grown accustomed to her mysteriously designed traveler outfit (seriously, whose traveler outfit looks like that???), seeing her in different clothes felt strangely unfamiliar.
Her healthy thighs stood out vividly against the light green shorts, and the beige loose-knit sweater didn't fully cover her upper body, instead revealing her shoulders, collarbone, and the lines of her neck.
And of course, the absolutely essential cat-ear-like hair accessory.
But none of that was the point.
Since when did we have clothes like this in the house????
Aeron was starting to suspect that this mansion might still have some hidden, unexplored little rooms. It seemed he would have to take Little Carte on a thorough exploration later.
Rover, who had remained silent all this while, perhaps sensing Aeron's gaze, finally spoke up awkwardly:
"This... was given to me by Cantarella."
As she said this, her eyes, which had been averted, finally met Aeron's.
Seeing Aeron in this state, she didn't even know what prompted her to casually add:
"...Does it look good?"
Aeron was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
It looks good! Really good! As expected of the master's taste—if only she could redesign her own clothes too!
But now was definitely not the time for this!
Rover said the clothes were given by the master.
Which meant—
"Cantarella gave me the key... she said if I ever needed a place to stay in Ragunna, I could come here. And tonight just happened to..."
Almost as if reading his mind, Rover directly answered the question Aeron was still pondering.
Oh, so that's what happened, Aeron thought.
"Goddammit, why does everyone in Ragunna treat me like a pushover?!"
Why does everyone in Ragunna keep messing with me like I'm some kind of fool?!
Aeron clutched his head and let out yet another cry of despair—who knew how many times it had been tonight.
Meanwhile, Rover, curled up on the sofa, loosened her arms around the pillow and peeked over it with her eyes.
Cantarella was right—Aeron's flustered appearance… was indeed much more pleasant to look at than his usual "everything is under control" demeanor.
"She also said… it's quieter here."
"What the hell, coming alone to a quiet mansion in the middle of the night? Are you the protagonist of some third-rate indie horror game?"
"It's fine, I'm strong."
Damn, she really is. Being able to fight is truly something.
Aeron took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to clear his chaotic mind.
In any case, he definitely needed to go see the head of the household, but certainly not now.
As for what to do now…
Aeron had no idea.
"…"
The living room fell silent once again, and the atmosphere between Aeron and Rover remained palpably tense.
The reason was simple: even though both of them were trying their best to ignore what had just happened inadvertently… it wasn't something that could be easily overlooked.
Because Aeron had really…
…touched her.
For real, without any barriers, and it was even his own hand that had reached out.
Though it might sound perverse to say this, at this very moment, Aeron's right hand still seemed to retain the soft sensation.
When Aeron looked up at Rover again, the moment their eyes met, Rover immediately averted her gaze.
…This won't do.
If he didn't resolve this issue, he might as well forget about making a living in Solaris from now on.
If, by any chance, the people from Black Shores or even those from Lahai-Roi found out…
At best, after his personal information was made public, he might wake up every morning to find free fruit left at his doorstep.
At worst… he might end up being chased down by some pink-haired girl piloting a giant robot.
Maybe… he should test the waters first?
"…"
"!"
As soon as Aeron opened his mouth, Rover's entire body trembled. She tightened her grip on the pillow, and the blush on the tips of her ears seemed to spread to her cheeks.
To elicit such a reaction from the Savior with just two words—Aeron could die without regrets.
After all, the fact that she hadn't immediately obliterated him with the Law of Annihilation was already a great mercy.
"Anyway, please be magnanimous and forget everything that just happened! I'll do anything!"
Aeron used what might have been the most sincere tone of his life. As long as he could turn this page, he'd even be willing to chat with Leviathan for another five bucks.
On the sofa, Rover, still hugging the pillow, peeked over its edge with her golden eyes. The earlier embarrassment and panic had subsided somewhat, replaced by a more subtle emotion.
"…Anything?"
"Wherever the sword points, my heart shall follow."
Rover buried her chin deeper into the soft pillow, leaving only her eyes visible as she gazed at Aeron, a flicker of something he couldn't quite decipher in her expression.
Come to think of it, she had heard from Cantarella before about how to handle Aeron in situations like this.
"What if I say you should take responsibility?"
"Then—just slice me to death with your sword."
This reaction was within expectations.
"So, this is exactly where you fall short."
"Your criticism doesn't wound me as much as you think."
Although Rover's earlier remark was just a spur-of-the-moment thought, at least the awkward tension between them had eased somewhat.
Asking Cantarella how to deal with Aeron earlier was definitely the right move.
"...Fine, I forgive you. You didn't mean it anyway... and you didn't see much."
"Great!"
But in truth, Aeron had not only seen everything and touched it but also remembered it clearly in his mind. However, that fact could be buried with him in his grave.
Either way, the crisis was finally resolved, and this heart-pounding side story should come to an end here.
Next, it was time to end this torment and return to continue another kind of torment—
"...Hiss."
But the numbness in his knees halted his movement. His expression twisted slightly, and he nearly lost his balance and sat back down.
...Damn it, this is so embarrassing.
Rover lifted her head fully from behind the pillow, watching his pained expression. A flicker of almost imperceptible amusement flashed in her golden eyes. She set the pillow aside, wrapped her arms around her bent knees, and curled up in the corner of the sofa, tilting her head to look at him.
"So," she began, her voice regaining its usual clarity, though perhaps because she had just bathed or because of the earlier incident, there was a hint of softness in her tone. "What were you doing just now?"
Hearing this, Aeron suddenly paused, his gaze darkening.
"...Why do you ask?"
In an instant, thoughts related to Ciaccona flooded Aeron's mind again. The earlier awkwardness and surprise vanished completely, and his tone returned to its usual brusqueness.
"Curiosity," Rover replied matter-of-factly, resting her chin on her knees. "Consider it... giving me a reason to forget about it?"
"I was performing a mysterious nighttime ritual, attempting to summon an ancient god to grant me the power to completely erase the memory from earlier."
Aeron's words were neither polite nor expressive. "Satisfied with that answer?"
"Not satisfied," Rover shook her head, her hair accessory swaying gently with the motion. "I want to know."
"..."
This was exactly why Aeron disliked getting involved with her.
No wonder she could be a protagonist—she wouldn't let even something like this slide easily.
"Even if I said 'no,' you'd find another reason to follow along, wouldn't you?"
"You understand perfectly."
Rover nodded slightly, the corners of her lips curling upward.
She lowered her legs from the sofa, her pale feet stepping onto the soft carpet as she stood up. The beige knit sweater slipped slightly off her shoulder, revealing more of her elegantly shaped collarbone, though she didn't seem to mind.
"Since there's still time before dawn, why not keep me company to pass the time?"
Rover reached out toward Aeron, but he ignored her, forcing himself to stand despite the lingering numbness.
"You really overestimate me."
Since there was no stopping her anyway, he might as well take her along. After all, he still had to race against time.
Rover followed quietly half a step behind him, watching his limping figure and the unruly black hair that had become even more disheveled from staying up late and the earlier chaos.
The clothes Cantarella had given her were soft and comfortable to wear.
The mansion was quiet as dawn approached.
And this person walking ahead...
"...Interesting."