SWNOVELXO Chapter 270: Take it Back?
Marionette folded her arms, staring at her for a brief moment before unfolding them. She raised her hand and summoned the dark and jagged obsidian revolver.
She inspected its dimensions, scrutinising it and taking in every detail it had to offer.
She then remembered back to its description, tier and rank, while also its enchantments. She couldn't help but feel that the mystery behind the weapon's origin was too much.
She turned back to Lillian, staring at her silently and absorbing the sight of the beautiful girl and keeping the mental image of her stored inside her head before answering.
"It's a good weapon."
She then paused before adding, slowly closing her eyes.
"However... It isn't the greatest choice of weapon for me. It's too loud, too destructive."
Lillian's expression turned crooked as the corner of her lips twitched a bit.
"Not... A big fan of explosions, huh?"
"I... Wouldn't say I'm a big fan."
Marionette raised her free hand to her left ear, caressing it before muttering:
"They are quite noisy and loud. Not something I quite like to hear constantly when engaging in an activity that needs your constant attention."
Lillian's crooked expression frowned, saddening a bit at the fact that the woman before her didn't find her gift fit for her. She sighed and muttered:
"I see... I guess I'll take it back, then..."
The white-haired reached out towards the revolver, intending to retrieve it back to her possession. While she may feign sadness, she was a tad bit excited at the thought of having her favourite weapon in her hands.
But, as she was about to reach the handgun, she watched as the Assassin's hand, which was tightly clutched around the dark leather grip, slowly pulled it away from her with a confused expression.
"What are you doing?"
"... Huh?"
Lillian raised an eyebrow at her, equally as confused. Didn't this woman just say that this weapon wasn't fit for her? Why should she use something that would be detrimental to her performance?
"I thought you didn't like it."
"Says who?"
"... What? You, of course."
"I didn't say that."
Lillian was dumbfounded as she watched the Assassin pull away, hiding the revolver away from her as though she was stealing her child. Her face twitched as she slowly lowered her hand.
Was this woman gaslighting her now?
"Didn't you say it's not the greatest choice of weapon for you?"
"I did. But that doesn't immediately tie into me disliking it."
The Assassin wrapped the gun in her arms, pressing it against her chest as she kept it away from Lillian from stealing it away from her. This caused the girl to smile wryly at this.
She eventually sighed.
"So, I guess you do like it..."
Marionette tilted her head at what she heard. Her face warped into an adorably confused expression as she thought about how to respond to the girl.
"Of course. It's from you. That immediately makes it a prized possession."
She then smiled mischievously.
"Exactly like how you are my prized possession as well. My adorable rabbit..."
Lillian blushed slightly, huffing at her words before approaching the woman. Marionette stared curiously at the girl walking towards her before widening her eyes at what she did next.
Lillian shot her hand towards the woman's tie, grabbing it before pulling her in.
Marionette allowed Lillian to pull her down by the neck, causing her body to be bent down and her face hovering just above the girl, who grinned at her.
"Possession, huh? Did you also forget that you belong to me as well?"
She raised the back of her finger and brushed it against the bottom of the woman's chin before scratching it as though she was a cat.
Marionette, watching as she did this, unconsciously tilted her head slightly up, allowing Lillian's fingers more freedom, which brought a teasing light to the girl's eyes.
"See~... You act more like the pet here, you know~... How about I solidify this with a collar?"
As soon as she said this, the hand she had under the woman's chin was suddenly grabbed before being tangled by her fingers. Glancing at her hand, she looked towards the Assassin's face, finding her staring down at her.
She then quietly muttered:
"A collar...?"
Marionette unhurriedly stored her gun away and raised the back of her hand to the side of Lillian's neck, brushing against it gently in a tender manner as though she were handling a fragile object.
She stared at the girl's neck, feeling a slight shiver being sent across her body as she made soft contact with her skin.
"I feel as though it would fit better on you..."
The Assassin pulled back her hand to her own chin, stroking it with a thoughtful expression as she pondered more about the thought of a collar.
"Perhaps... I might need to get one for you to see. I'm sure that'll be interesting."
Lillian let out a cold chuckle.
"I guess... But by then, I would have already had one around your neck with a leash to keep you from getting lost."
Lillian raised her hand, grabbing the air as though she was holding an imaginary leash. This caused Marionette's eyes to widen slightly before...
"Pfft..."
... Giggling a bit.
Marionette held a hand over her mouth, letting out a small laugh at Lillian's bold statement.
After a few seconds, she eventually calmed down.
Lillian watched as the woman raised a hand to the top of her head, brushing her hair.
She then heard her say:
"You truly are wondrous to be around, Lillian... You really are unique."
"Heh. You bet your ass I am." Lillian tucked her hands into the pockets of her blazer before puffing out her chest in pride, "I'm the most unique and luckiest person you would ever meet. You can count on that."
Marionette's gaze softened.
"And I'm extremely lucky to have met you."
Lillian stiffened. She stared at the Assassin's face that stared back with an honest and loving look in her eyes, something that caused the girl to blush shyly before turning her face to the side.
Lillian scratched the back of her head awkwardly before quietly muttering:
"M-... Me too..."
As she muttered this, she turned her head back around. She stared up at Marionette's, intending to say something else, but then noticed something odd about her expression.
Marionette's eyes were trembling as she looked off to the side...