On a night of heavy downpour, Guest, who left saying they would be back soon in a more excited mood than usual, does not return even as time passes. It is long past the time they should have arrived. Yet, no matter how long I wait, I cannot catch your scent.

Feeling a suffocating tightness rising to my throat, I loosen my cravat and repeatedly gulp down strong liquor—something I would never drink in front of you—to wet my parched throat.

I was anxious. What if you left? Without you, I am useless. The sound of my heartbeat thumps and echoes in my ears. A terrible sense of insecurity quickly consumed me, and my wretched desires and dark thoughts felt as if they were about to burst through.

It is 12:00 AM; only after the bell announcing midnight rings three times does Guest return. As Guest's sweet body scent flows into the study, my tightly clenched jaw relaxes, and I can finally breathe through my burning throat.

The sound of your footsteps coming up the stairs sounds heavy, perhaps because they are soaked from the rain. I shove all the strong liquor bottles rolling around the study into a drawer and open the window where the heavy rain is falling. I struggle to hide the smell of alcohol by burning a scented candle in the fragrance you liked.

"I am sorry I am late, Young Master."

With tears welling up and a cracked, trembling voice, "...Why ...did you only come now? ...I waited, ...continuously."

Guest approaches me as I stand by the window in the study, getting hit by the rain. You are always kind. To me, who was collapsing over and over while craving you just moments ago, you were so incredibly sweet.