Chapter 70: That Would Ruin Their Fun
[Library]
Gareth sat in the aisle, his back resting against one shelf while his feet were propped against the opposite one.
He covered his mouth to stop it from gaping. His cheeks burned, his entire face flushed in a way his hand could never hide. His throat bobbed as he read the lewd book in his hands, one that described in vivid detail how the great demon lord ravaged seven women at once.
"How come there’s no warning in here?" he stuttered, his throat dry enough to force him to clear it.
Gareth drew a deep breath, flustered by what he was reading. Not that he hadn’t expected something explicit, but he certainly hadn’t expected a scene involving multiple partners.
"And to think this character isn’t even the main character," he murmured, clearing his throat again. His hand trembled as he flipped the page, unsure why he was even reading it in the first place.
This book barely had a plot. It was nothing but explicit scenes one after another. Yet somehow, he couldn’t stop reading. Was it curiosity about how far the book would go? Or was he testing how much he could endure before concluding the author was completely unhinged?
Just as the demon lord was being pleasured by his seven female servants, a voice echoed from the end of the shelf.
"What are you reading nowadays?"
Gareth flinched and instantly snapped the book shut, hiding it like a murder weapon. His reaction made her brows draw together.
"Uh, it’s—it’s nothing!" he stuttered, heart hammering in his chest as he shoved the book under his shirt. Only afterward did he realize it was Lynsandra. His reaction had been pure instinct. Whoever saw this book would surely label him a degenerate.
"It’s nothing, Luna," he added quickly, scrambling to his feet. He hid the book behind him, his entire body tense.
Lynsandra narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, leaning against the shelf.
"You look red as an apple," she pointed out, the corners of her lips curling. "Are you reading..."
Gareth held his breath, eyes widening as he braced himself for her to say the title aloud. But to his surprise, she merely chuckled and pushed herself off the shelf.
"Never mind that," she said, walking away. "Gary, most of the books in here are things I’ve read from childhood until now. That means whatever you’re reading, I’ve read it too."
She paused and glanced back at him with a smirk. "So don’t be shy. I won’t judge you."
Her attempt at reassurance did absolutely nothing to reassure him. If anything, it made him burn hotter.
Gareth winced, lowering his head and squeezing his eyes shut, wishing the ground would swallow him whole. He should’ve read this in his room.
As he wallowed in shame, Lynsandra’s voice echoed again.
"Come here."
Gareth straightened instantly. His brows knit together before he walked toward her. There, he found her half-sprawled across the table in a lazy manner—a sight he wasn’t used to. Lynsandra was always upright and composed, whether standing, walking, sitting, or even reading.
"Lu—Luna?" he asked carefully. "Are you... alright?"
She arched a brow at him. "I’m bored."
"Oh." He nodded awkwardly and slid into the chair across from her. His mouth opened, then closed. His voice refused to cooperate.
She folded her arms beneath her head and stared out the window, eyes open but distant.
"Cassian and Minnie were conducting an experiment in the backyard," she hummed after several minutes of silence. "There was this big drum. They poured something into it, and slowly, something started spilling out like clouds. It just kept overflowing."
She paused, recalling their excited cheers and how much fun it looked.
"I wonder what it was," she murmured.
Gareth studied her as he listened. She didn’t seem to be talking to him so much as thinking aloud.
"You... don’t know elephant toothpaste?"
She blinked and looked up at him. "Elephant toothpaste?" she repeated thoughtfully. "Do elephants use toothpaste?"
"No..." he answered weakly, almost incredulous. "That’s what the experiment is called."
"Really?"
He nodded, even though he hadn’t seen it himself. Minnie had invited him earlier, but he had politely declined. It hadn’t interested him, and judging from the way Cassian glared daggers at him, his presence wouldn’t have been welcome anyway.
"So that’s what it’s called," she mumbled with a faint chuckle, eyes drifting back to the window. "Elephant toothpaste. It was gigantic."
Gareth fell silent, unsure why she had summoned him. She wasn’t teasing him or reading, just lying there lazily.
"Just stay there," she hummed without looking at him. "If someone comes, tell them we’re on a date and not to disturb us."
"A date?"
"Mhm. Let’s have one now." She closed her eyes. "They won’t bother us if you say that. Not even Cassian. It’s in the rules to respect my decision about who I spend my time with."
Gareth smiled awkwardly, wondering if he even had the nerve to say that to the others. Still, he doubted anyone would come. The library was practically his territory at this point.
He stayed quiet, the book still resting on his lap. His gaze, however, remained fixed on her relaxed posture. As he stared, he couldn’t help but think about her unfamiliarity with such a simple experiment and why she had even mentioned it.
A crease formed between his brows, and before he realized it, he blurted, "Luna, are you sleeping?"
The moment the words reached his ears, he bit his tongue and covered his mouth.
"Why?" she replied lazily, eyes still closed.
"Uh, nothi—"
"If you’re going to disturb my sleep, make sure it’s worth it unless you want your head separated from your shoulders."
"I’m sorry!" he panicked, only to hear her chuckle.
Lynsandra opened one eye. "I wouldn’t do that to you, silly."
Gareth took a steadying breath, feeling like he might develop stage fright around her.
"So?" she adjusted herself slightly. "What was it?"
He almost said nothing, but since he had already disturbed her...
"I was just wondering how you didn’t know what the experiment was called," he admitted. "Have you never... done that before?"
"Would I wonder about it if I had?"
Fair point.
Gareth cleared his throat. "Really?"
"I don’t have friends to do those kinds of things with," she hummed softly, eyes half-open.
"But you could join Cassian and Minnie."
She didn’t answer immediately. After a moment, she closed her eyes again.
"That would ruin their fun."
