Pen and Paper Translations

After walking for quite a while, the entrance to the atelier appeared. When Mason stepped lightly aside and opened the door, a hall as spacious as the scenery itself came into view. In the sunlit interior stood a potted monstera. At the table set in front of it, Matthew sat with his long legs stretched and crossed, looking at him.

Judging by the table being right by the window, he had probably seen everything Riu had done. That made Riu feel embarrassed all over again.

“Welcome, Riu.”

With a gentle voice, Matthew rose from his seat. His outfit was as relaxed as Riu’s. Wearing a white dress shirt and brown-toned trousers, Matthew rubbed the watch on his wrist as he approached.

“Good work, Mason.”

“Yes, young master. Then please have a pleasant time.”

“Right.”

With that, Mason took his leave. Once even Mason was gone, Riu was left to face time alone with Matthew—just the two of them.

Given the situation, the air was awkward, and Riu lifted a hand and offered a greeting. Even to him it felt hopelessly awkward.

“Hi?”

“Thanks for coming all this way. Let’s head in.”

No sooner had Riu stepped inside than the wind swung the door shut. At the loud bang that came at the same time, Riu flinched in surprise. As he steadied his breath against the needless chill running through him, Matthew was smiling as if to ask whether something was wrong.

Smiling as though he had no ulterior motives, Matthew lightly rubbed his watch. Telling himself it was just in his head, Riu shook his own. In that instant, a small, odd gleam slid through Matthew’s green eyes.

“I’m really glad you came, Riu.”

“I promised I would…”

“Yeah, that’s right. Seems my worries were needless after all. I was thinking what I should do if you didn’t come.”

Still smiling at the corners of his mouth, he came up to Riu and gripped his shoulder.

A scent that suited the hot summer—Matthew’s—brushed the tip of his nose. It was a smell he’d grown used to, and for a moment Riu felt his racing heart settle down calmly. That inexplicable sense of comfort seemed to soften even his tension.

“Shall we move to the terrace?”

“The terrace?”

Riu tilted his head a little. As if finding the gesture cute, Matthew gave his cheek a light tap.

“Yeah. You’re going to love it.”

With a whisper, Matthew interlaced their fingers. Like a snake’s motion, his fingers slid deftly between Riu’s, and he clasped Riu’s hand tight. Riu tried to pull free from the locked fingers, but the more he did, the tighter Matthew’s grip grew.

With no choice, Riu followed behind Matthew, walking across the middle of the hall. As they walked, Matthew’s pace gradually slowed. They must have reached the terrace.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Riu peered around from behind Matthew’s back. At the wide-open vista, his mouth fell open. The terrace, enormous in proportion to the building, was more than he’d imagined.

To deck out a terrace on this scale, you’d need wealth to rival the imperial family. An atelier more luxurious than most noble mansions… it was grand for a count’s house. At this unexpected place, Riu felt his shoulders hunch for some reason.

“I hope it suits your taste. How is it?”

“Ah… it’s really wonderful.”

It was undeniable. Against a blue sky, white clouds lay like waves. The deep green vista below was breathtakingly beautiful, and the landscaping, carved from wood, was a rare sight you didn’t often see. The only pity for Riu was not having paper and brush at hand right this moment.

Matthew gazed fixedly at Riu, who was brimming with delight. With eyes shining and a smile on his face, Riu looked as if the scent of flowers might spill from him at any moment. After watching him for a while, Matthew let out a quick, small laugh and asked,

“Shall I give you this atelier?”

“…Huh?”

“I told you. If it’s what you want, I can give you anything.”

Even for a count’s family, this wasn’t a building one could hand over easily. Wondering if he was joking, Riu looked at Matthew, but his eyes were serious.

At the look that suggested he could make this manor Riu’s at once, Riu couldn’t hide his fluster. To be honest, Matthew’s words felt burdensome to Riu, and they pricked his pride.

But before that, Riu believed kindness was something that arose when someone had some other ulterior motive. No one had ever approached him simply to do him a kindness, so he reflexively shook his head and politely refused. With a gaze so straight it was proper, Riu looked squarely at Matthew.

“I’m fine.”

“What a pity. If you’d said you wanted it, I really was going to give it to you.”

His face was full of genuine regret, as if he meant it. From the look of things, Matthew seemed to want to trade this building for a night together. He didn’t seem to know that hurt all the more.

Riu dropped his gaze to his toes with a bitter look. Even this building he stood in only highlighted that Matthew was someone who shouldn’t be able to be with him. His shoes looked especially worn today, which only made him feel more gloomy.

Feeling embarrassed for no good reason, Riu fidgeted with his toes. Matthew closed the distance then stopped with a tap as the tip of his shoe bumped Riu’s.

“If you want to come, you can come anytime.”

“…”

“This is a space only I use, so if you want, you can even stay here.”

Looking at tips of their shoes touching, Riu bit the tender inside of his cheek. But this, too, was the last of it. Thinking that after today he wouldn’t have to think about such things anymore, he forced a smile to his lips and lifted his head.

Feigning okay with a straight, proper smile, Riu nodded. Perhaps liking the positive answer, Matthew’s face brightened noticeably. He filled his eyes—deep green like the view—with Riu.

“Let’s eat.”

“Sorry. I’m not really hungry…”

It was a roundabout lie; he felt like if he ate now, he’d get indigestion. But Matthew didn’t seem pleased. Honestly, Riu only meant to get it over with and go home, so even this little time felt like a waste. He wished they’d just head for the bed already, but Matthew didn’t seem to have that in mind.

Even at Riu’s demurral, Matthew drew up his sculpted lips. In contrast, his eyes, cooled to a chill, carried a peculiar pressure. Matthew lightly took hold of Riu’s wrist. It seemed like a day his wrist was getting grabbed a lot.

“I’m sorry, Riu, but I can’t do that.”

“Why…?”

At Matthew’s firm tone, Riu asked back. Bringing his face close as if to say it was obvious, Matthew said,

“You need to eat plenty so you won’t have a hard time.”

With that, Matthew led Riu to where the food had been set out. As if caging him in his arms, he seated Riu between his legs and pressed a fork into his hand. When Riu only blinked vacantly at the fork he’d been forced to take, Matthew’s gentle voice flowed at his ear.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I prepared a little of everything. I hope it suits your taste.”

“This is too much…”

“Make sure you eat a lot.”

Though he framed it as encouragement, Matthew took Riu’s hand holding the fork. He pricked a tomato and brought it to Riu’s lips; Riu leaned his head back a little. A bit dazed, he nonetheless, at Matthew’s look, accepted the tomato and chewed.

Watching him steadily, Matthew, as soon as the food was gone, speared a piece of meat and brought it to Riu’s mouth. He felt like livestock being fattened, but he ate that too.

After repeating like that and clearing the dishes, he was fairly full. Feeling he couldn’t possibly eat any more, Riu turned his head and looked at Matthew.

“B-because I’m full.”

“Are you going to stop eating?”

At the low whisper of a voice, Riu’s lashes trembled finely. Matthew’s voice somehow seemed soaked in sensuality. It felt like the moment had finally come, and Riu rolled his lips in and let them go. At his small “Mm,” Matthew at last, as if to say well done, picked up a glass of water and held it out.

“Drink some water too. You’ll get indigestion.”

“…Th-thanks.”

With an awkward smile, Riu took the proffered glass in both hands. He didn’t actually feel like drinking, but the mood made it seem he should accept whatever he was given.

When Riu silently emptied the whole cup and set it down, Matthew, as if he’d been waiting, took out a napkin and wiped his lips.

At Matthew’s behavior, changed to the point of being burdensome, gratitude gave way to fear in Riu. It overlapped a little too much with those fairy tales where they fatten you up before eating you. He felt a cold sweat start.

“I like watching you eat well.”

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Mm. I’m going to eat you.”

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T/N: I understand, Matthew. You clearly have the patience of a saint because clearly you could’ve eaten poor Riu many moons ago.