56. Lips
“No.”
Diarin refused with the utmost firmness.
Ceres' lips curled.
“...Huh?”
Are you even going to be upset now?
Diarin burst out laughing in disbelief.
“Anyway, this won’t do. Something else.”
"Oh, you must be very picky, Miss. I guess you can't find anything that will satisfy you in this market."
But this time, the merchant started interfering.
Before Diarin could pretend not to hear and drag Ceres away, he pointed to another object and announced.
“Then how about this?”
What the merchant was pointing to was cosmetics.
It is something Diarin never touched in her entire life.
It is an object that cannot even be seen in a temple where adornment of one's appearance is strictly prohibited.
However, for noble ladies, it was more important to be admired by worshippers than to serve the gods well, so it was common for them to dress up in a subtle way to appear unadorned.
“This lip balm really makes you look lively the moment you apply it...! It’s a kissable glow...!”
“What is this?”
When Ceres showed curiosity, the merchant became more excited and talked.
“Oh, you’re a young master, so you don’t know much about women’s things! This is lip color.”
“Lips? Color? Why?”
"If you apply this to your lips, they'll turn redder and shinier, and you'll look several times prettier. All the girls who want to look good in your eyes are probably wearing this."
Ceres stared intently at Diarin's lips.
It was a bare lip with nothing applied.
Since she didn't have any cosmetics, she went out with a bare face today, too.
Ceres also liked the current color.
“It’s still pretty.”
“Oh my, oh my, oh my!”
“No.”
Diarin refused with the utmost firmness.
Ceres' lips curled.
“...Huh?”
Are you even going to be upset now?
Diarin burst out laughing in disbelief.
“Anyway, this won’t do. Something else.”
"Oh, you must be very picky, Miss. I guess you can't find anything that will satisfy you in this market."
But this time, the merchant started interfering.
Before Diarin could pretend not to hear and drag Ceres away, he pointed to another object and announced.
“Then how about this?”
What the merchant was pointing to was cosmetics.
It is something Diarin never touched in her entire life.
It is an object that cannot even be seen in a temple where adornment of one's appearance is strictly prohibited.
However, for noble ladies, it was more important to be admired by worshippers than to serve the gods well, so it was common for them to dress up in a subtle way to appear unadorned.
“This lip balm really makes you look lively the moment you apply it...! It’s a kissable glow...!”
“What is this?”
When Ceres showed curiosity, the merchant became more excited and talked.
“Oh, you’re a young master, so you don’t know much about women’s things! This is lip color.”
“Lips? Color? Why?”
"If you apply this to your lips, they'll turn redder and shinier, and you'll look several times prettier. All the girls who want to look good in your eyes are probably wearing this."
Ceres stared intently at Diarin's lips.
It was a bare lip with nothing applied.
Since she didn't have any cosmetics, she went out with a bare face today, too.
Diarin's lips were a much paler pink than rouge.
“It’s still pretty.”
“Oh my, oh my, oh my!”
The merchant grabbed his waist and laughed darkly.
Diarin just wanted to be embarrassed.
“Your lips are already pretty, but if you put this on, they’ll look even prettier!”
“I want to see it.”
"...No."
“I won’t give it to you. I’ll use mine and apply it to Diarin.”
This way, it doesn't even count as lending.
Somehow, he pretends not to know anything and secretly drives her into a corner.
Diarin gritted her teeth and glared.
“Ceres, what do you want to buy?”
"This."
“...”
She lost.
There is no longer any excuse to stop it.
“Yes, Cerea, Ceres... do whatever you want....”
Diarin, who had exhausted all her energy, slumped her shoulders listlessly.
“Then take a look at the color, young master!”
"Color?"
"Yes, the lotus root comes in a variety of colors! This is a basic dried rose color, this is a delicate cherry color, this is a moody brick color..."
“Hmm...”
Ceres was absorbed in an untimely lecture on color.
He shows a scary level of concentration when he focuses on something, but she never thought she would see him like this.
“If I apply this, it makes me shine more?”
"Yes, yes! It makes your lips sparkle like glass beads! Would you like this?"
“This color....”
Ceres's worries hit a snag.
The ones he liked in color were dull, and the ones with shine were colorless.
Ceres pondered seriously, as if making a decision to save the country.
“Why are you worrying so much? You can just buy both!”
“Is that so?”
"Of course! Since you're going to buy something anyway, it's better to buy something you really like than to pretend you didn't buy it and end up wasting money on it!"
Ceres seemed to largely agree with the merchant's words.
Don't just let it slide like this, again.
She guesses she has to teach him how not to be fooled.
She left it to its own devices, but ended up interfering again.
Diarin couldn't just sit by and watch him become a fool right before her eyes.
"Wait a minute. Buying useless things is a waste of money. And you need to make sure you have enough money to buy them, right?"
“?”
When he bought the scarf, he didn't even ask the price.
Ceres suddenly handed over all the money he had, and the merchant took it to mean that he could take it as he pleased.
Fortunately, the scarf was cheaper than the money Diarin had given him.
But the money he earned from dancing wasn't much.
It was clear that it wouldn't even come close to being enough to buy two lipsticks.
“Everything has a different price. If you don’t have enough money, you can’t buy it.”
"...Ah."
Ceres raised his head again at the new knowledge he had learned.
But he couldn't give up right away.
He showed the money in his hand to the merchant.
“Can’t I buy it?”
“Oh, let’s see....”
The merchant was also confused at this point.
He thought he could live his life to his heart's content without worrying about money since he looked like a nobleman, but it seems he had a set budget.
The money Ceres offered was, as Diarin had expected, woefully inadequate.
“With this....”
“Can’t I buy it?”
“...”
Ceres stared at the merchant.
If words were engraved in his eyes, Ceres's eyes now flowed like a dictionary's worth. They were filled with just one sentence: "Can't I buy it?"
Sweat broke out on the merchant's back.
I should say you can't afford it... I really should...
Those eyes.
If I don't buy it, I'll kill you. If I don't buy it, I'll be very sad. I'll be disappointed. My whole day might be ruined...
It was a look in his eyes that made it seem like he could hear sounds even though he couldn't hear them.
Moreover, the owner of those eyes is a handsome young master who makes you feel lucky just by meeting him.
Today will be a good day, the merchant snapped.
“Hey, I’ll give it to you even if it costs me a loss, yes? Take it!”
“?!”
Diarin's eyes almost popped out as she watched it.
Why is the world suddenly so kind?!
If you were going to be so kind, you should have been kind a long time ago!
Before the kid becomes like that!
She guesses this is how she can be compensated for the hardships she endured in life.
Diarin looked up at the sky once again.
...Does God really exist?
Even though she believed in divine power, she was skeptical about the existence of God. But today, for some reason, she felt like she was in touch with God.
“Diarin.”
Ceres looked triumphant.
He faces Diarin, holding two lipsticks in his hand, and his shoulders seem to shrug for some reason.
“Oh, yes, I’ll apply it.”
It's not like the chief priest is watching over her.
Since she's not wearing a priest's uniform anyway, what's the big deal about putting on some lip gloss?
Diarin decided to take it easy.
“Give it to me.”
"No."
"...huh?"
But Ceres did not hand over the lipstick to Diarin.
Diarin blinked at the unexpected rejection.
'Huh? I... wasn't... huh?'
She never thought of that.
'You're applying it to Diarin?'
Could it be that you changed your mind and are planning to give it to someone in the mansion?
Then what happens to all the excitement I've had so far?
Her eyes burned with embarrassment.
The rejection she received from Ceres was unfamiliar.
But Diarin knew how to skillfully hide her feelings.
“Or, well, there’s nothing we can do. Let’s go, quickly.”
“No. Diarin’s lipstick.”
Even though she believed in divine power, she was skeptical about the existence of God. But today, for some reason, she felt like she was in touch with God.
“Diarin.”
Ceres looked triumphant.
He faces Diarin, holding two lipsticks in his hand, and his shoulders seem to shrug for some reason.
“Oh, yes, I’ll apply it.”
It's not like the chief priest is watching over her.
Since she's not wearing a priest's uniform anyway, what's the big deal about putting on some lip gloss?
Diarin decided to take it easy.
“Give it to me.”
"No."
"...huh?"
But Ceres did not hand over the lipstick to Diarin.
Diarin blinked at the unexpected rejection.
'Huh? I... wasn't... huh?'
She never thought of that.
'You're applying it to Diarin?'
Could it be that you changed your mind and are planning to give it to someone in the mansion?
Then what happens to all the excitement I've had so far?
Her eyes burned with embarrassment.
The rejection she received from Ceres was unfamiliar.
But Diarin knew how to skillfully hide her feelings.
“Or, well, there’s nothing we can do. Let’s go, quickly.”
“No. Diarin’s lipstick.”
“Now what!”
"Lips."
Just as she was about to shout loudly, Ceres's finger touched Diarin's lips.
“...?”
Her mouth closed on its own.
It was the fingertips covered in lotus oil.
Ceres began to apply lotion, carefully caressing Diarin's lips with his fingertips.
Slowly and delicately, as if checking each and every wrinkle on the lips.
Just like a child discovers the world by touching everything with their hands, one by one.
As if touching the most precious thing in the world.
They stood to one side, but they were in the middle of a street where people were passing by.
She felt the glances of people passing by.
Still, Diarin couldn't move.
It was a precarious touch, as if Ceres' world would collapse if avoided.
Even the touch of breath on her hand felt treacherous, so she held her breath.
Ceres only looked at Diarin's lips.
I looked at Diarin's lips with more passionate concentration than when I chose Yeonji.
My lips were hot.
My throat felt like it was burning.
My mouth is dry.
I wanted to moisten my lips with my tongue, but I couldn't.
Ceres's fingers pressed a little harder against her lips.
Her lips parted slightly, revealing her white teeth through a small gap.
Ceres' gaze didn't miss even that.
Look, and look again.
Like licking.
Ceres, who had carefully applied red lipstick, applied a dazzling shine like dew.
The merchant even gave detailed instructions on how to apply it.
Ceres, who immediately understands and follows along well after learning anything, even applied the lipstick very well.
Apply the red lipstick thoroughly and forcefully, and the shiny lipstick lightly and gently.
The fingertips that were barely touching were more difficult to bear than the fingertips that were pressing hard.
'Ah...'
She felt ticklish and thirsty.
Diarin followed Ceres' gaze as he looked at her, though it was slightly averted.
Her eyes were fixed on the sparkling black eyes as if she were entranced.
That moment.
Ceres raised his gaze with a twinkle.
Their eyes met.
Diarin inhaled without realizing it.
Ceres was bending down close to Diarin's face, concentrating on her lips.
'...Ah.'
Only then did Diarin realize what kind of posture it was.
Kiss.
It was exactly the position you were in when you kissed.
Diarin's eyes shook.
Even her own shaking eyes were reflected in Ceres's eyes.
She felt trapped, unable to even turn her eyes.
Then Ceres opened his mouth.
"...Pretty."
Maybe a smile.
She thinks he smiled very slightly.
The smile passed so briefly that it felt like an illusion.
It was such a brief moment that she wasn't even sure if she had seen it.
Even so, Diarin was lost in the fleeting smile.
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