Saint's Prison - Chapter 30

Hymn of Happiness

My throat is parched. I take a breath to calm my feelings before I clench my fist and fix my gaze on Amal.

“Amal.”

“…Yes, Andy-sama.”

When I call her name, her eyes, red and bloodshot, turn towards me.

Like a loyal dog, the girl waits intently for my words.

“Amal, don’t cry anymore.”

Crimson eyes, translucent skin, pink lips.

No matter where I look, she’s beautiful—a perfect beauty promised to become a peerless woman in a few years.

Isn’t it already a miracle that such a girl adores someone like me?

I smile at her and wipe the tears from her eyes with my finger.

I stroke her cheek.

Let’s say it properly.

Let’s put it into words.

I was the one who was saved.

Since arriving here, many people have treated me as a foreigner and a stranger. But Amal, she became attached to me, always staying by my side.

Every time she smiled at me, crossed her arms with mine, hugged me, my feelings grew.

I wanted to spoil her, comfort her, protect her. And… love her.

After all, how could I not fall for a girl who is so devoted to someone like me?

Long ago, I stopped seeing her as a younger sister. I saw her as a woman.

But I was a coward, and deep down, I hadn’t prepared myself.

I wanted to return to Japan, and since Amal was younger, still a child, I kept deceiving myself.

But now, after all that’s happened, I’ve finally made up my mind.

It’s very late, I know. I’ve made you wait, made you cry so much, but now, it’s time for you, Amal.

“…Amal.”

“…Yes.”

I call her name again and slowly bring my face close to hers.

Amal catches her breath.

“Listen well because I’ll only say this once. Amal… I love you.”

A single tear rolls down from her crimson eyes.

***

“…I love you.”

After my confession, Amal froze, and then she fainted. No, I’m not kidding, really.

I lay her down on the bed. This girl, despite all her teasing and advances, seemed to have given up on being accepted.

Well, the root cause was me, not being fully invested. Either way, her mind must not have kept up with the information.

I look at her sleeping face.

She’s smiling, looking happy.

(…Her eyelashes are so long. The more I look, the more beautiful she is.)

Seeing her innocent sleeping face, I feel warm.

I poke her cheek with my index finger.

She furrows her brow, as if annoyed, and moves her mouth.

(Ah, no good, she’s too cute.)

I cover my face, enduring her cuteness.

Taking several deep breaths, I regain my composure. Then I look at Amal and smile.

Shall I sleep with her too?

I take off my jacket and change my pants.

I hang the clothes on a chair.

Careful not to make noise, I lie down beside Amal on the bed.

I pull the blanket up to our shoulders, so we don’t catch a cold, and join her under it.

Then, closing my eyes and feeling Amal’s warmth, I slowly drift off to sleep.

***

“Andy-sama.”

“Hmm, ah… Amal?”

I wake up at her call.

It’s pitch dark, and it seems to be already night.

It appears I slept for quite a while.

Amal is sitting up, seemingly hovering above me.

“Andy-sama, I had a very happy dream.”

“Ah… What kind of dream was it?”

I yawn and ask her.

Amal rests her body on my chest and buries her face in my neck.

She sniffs my scent and rubs her cheek against me.

“Andy-sama… you, to me…”

I stroke her head and whisper in her ear.

“…That wasn’t a dream.”

“――――――!?”

I hear Amal gasp.

“…It’s a lie. Such happiness, it must be a dream.”

“Sigh, Amal, look at me.”

Hesitantly, Amal lifts her face from my neck.

I stroke her head and trace her features.

From her head to her cheeks, I rub my hand, stopping at her chin.

Then I turn her face towards me.

A little forcefully, I press my lips to hers.

Amal shudders in surprise.

“Ah, Andy-sama… mmm, chu, nn…”

She seems confused but far from resisting, she wraps her hands around my neck and hugs me tightly.

Quickly, our lips join. We change angles, sucking, biting, licking, and rubbing our lips together.

Amal’s lips are soft and sweet. I could do this forever.

After many kisses, I feel Amal struggle to breathe and let out a strained sigh, so I separate our lips with a light gasp.

Then I whisper in her ear,

“You understand it’s not a dream, right?”

“Yes… Andy-sama, I’m so happy. I’m very happy. I never knew that a kiss could be so fulfilling.”

Amal answers with a dreamy voice. I laugh and hold her tight.

“Amal, we’ll be together forever.”

“Yes, Andy-sama!”

In the darkness, her delighted and lively voice rings out.

Amal gently grips my cheeks with her slender, soft hands.

Soon, I feel the moist touch of her lips on the tip of my nose.

A shy, soft smile comes to Amal’s face.

“…Ah, Andy-sama, my beloved one. My master. My light. No matter what happens from now on, I swear eternal love, to obey you, and to protect you.”

Amal rests her cheek on my chest and murmurs as if in prayer.