Chapter 48
Even inside the carriage on the way back, silence lingered between the two.
Elion was the first to speak, looking at Rubiana, who sat gloomily staring out the window.
“If Omar knew how we exchanged mana, he never would’ve made such a suggestion. Using that method for a whole week? Absurd.”
“……I suppose so.”
“There’s not even any point reconsidering it. So don’t let it trouble you too much.”
Seeing Elion speak so firmly, Rubiana swallowed a sigh.
She couldn’t be as resolute as he was.
The best-case scenario kept knocking at her mind’s door.
‘If I received a large amount of mana for just a week like Omar suggested… then maybe… my body would return to normal, and I might finally be able to form a contract with a spirit?’
But it was only a scenario—nothing more.
She couldn’t be certain of anything.
Even Omar, said to be the greatest physician in the Empire, had admitted he wasn’t sure.
The odds were fifty-fifty.
‘Am I really… just going to give up on that fifty percent?’
Life wasn’t generous. There were things you had to give up.
But gaining mana from Elion to recover her health—that was something she absolutely could not give up.
‘Still… sleeping with Elion for an entire week straight… that’s impossible.’
Yes. Impossible. Absolutely not.
Rubiana shook her head.
Last night had been an accident.
Elion’s mana had suddenly become unstable, and he had desired her.
And, upon sensing his intense mana, Rubiana had desired him as well.
That lightning-like pull—once was enough.
Even if it was simply a physical act of exchanging mana, doing that kind of intimate skinship for an entire week was far beyond acceptable.
It crossed a line.
Elion was right.
If Omar knew that the method of excessive mana exchange involved such deep, private intimacy between a man and a woman, he never would’ve suggested it.
‘But… did Omar really not know?’
It had been Omar who immediately noticed the change in their mana.
Rubiana recalled the wide grin he wore throughout their consultation.
He might have known from the start. He might have known exactly what the two of them had done the previous night.
Wasn’t he also the one who originally suggested they “try a kiss”?
If Omar knew everything yet still recommended that method?
If, to him, it was nothing more than a treatment technique, something he could suggest without hesitation?
If, to him, it held no meaning beyond healing…
‘Then… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to try what he suggested?’
Rubiana cautiously studied Elion’s expression.
His arms were crossed and his eyes closed, but he didn’t seem to be asleep.
Swallowing dryly, she gathered her courage and spoke.
“Um… Your Highness?”
At her call, Elion lifted his eyelids.
Those blue eyes—deep as the ocean—silently asked, What is it?
“Do you think… it’s really impossible?”
At her question, one of Elion’s eyebrows twitched sharply, rising as if he didn’t understand what she meant.
Rubiana hesitated awkwardly before speaking again.
“It’s just… if enduring for a week could restore my body completely, then I’d like to try.”
“……”
Elion’s face slowly hardened as he realized exactly what she was saying.
An oppressive silence fell. Their eyes met—full of questions, conflict, and confusion, all tangled together.
‘Good grief… am I actually begging the villain to sleep with me…?’
Rubiana bit her molars together in mortified shame.
At last, Elion parted his lips.
“Lady Rubiana, this… isn’t something we should take lightly. Our relationship based on mana exchange will inevitably have to end someday.”
“……”
“Our connection is… a very limited, shallow one, formed only by a contract. So I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to become physically too close.”
Rubiana knew exactly what Elion was worried about.
But she didn’t want to give up a chance she could take now just because of a problem that hadn’t even happened yet.
Summoning the last of her courage, she asked again,
“If it means absolutely nothing besides exchanging mana? If spending just seven nights might let me become completely healthy?”
“It’s only a possibility, not a guarantee. And it would leave deep wounds—on both our honor and our will.”
Their gazes scattered and tangled again in midair.
That was as far as Rubiana could push herself.
She clenched her lower lip.
She bit down so hard that the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
She felt ashamed. Disgusting.
Like trash who would use any means necessary to achieve her goal.
In the end, she bowed her head deeply.
“……I understand. You’re right, Your Highness. I must’ve lost my mind. Forget I said anything.”
“……”
And that ended the conversation.
Until they arrived at the Payson estate, they both remained completely silent.
‘Pathetic, pathetic! So embarrassing! Ahhhh…!’
Back home, Rubiana used exhaustion as an excuse and went straight to bed.
She desperately wanted to hide.
She curled herself up like a shrimp under the blanket, then pummeled her pillow, then kicked the covers.
She prayed, ‘Please turn back time! Or erase my memory!’
Then immediately cursed Elion—‘It’s just exchanging mana, why is he acting like it’s so expensive?!’
She was furious and frustrated.
She wanted to evaporate into thin air.
She wanted to erase her very existence.
“Aaaaah… aaahhh!”
Shouting did nothing to help.
Rubiana suddenly sat up.
If she stayed like this, she felt like she’d go insane.
She was already mortified as it was—going insane would only make it worse.
That, she refused.
‘When your head is a mess, the best cure is to move your body.’
She immediately changed into her riding clothes.
She removed the communication bracelet from her wrist.
Her gaze turned cold as she looked at the bracelet tossed carelessly on the vanity.
‘Let’s take a break from each other.’
With a huff, she turned away and headed straight for the stable.
The servants were shocked when she said she was going riding again after having ridden that morning.
No one stopped her, but they followed her with worried eyes.
Rubiana mounted her horse easily and smiled.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back before sundown.”
“Please be careful, my lady.”
“Hyah!”
She kicked off and sped away.
The wind whipping past her felt refreshing.
Like her chest was clearing out.
‘Yes. This is it!’
The confusion from earlier, the embarrassment she felt before Elion—it all began to evaporate.
Before long, she reached the lakeside where she had been that morning with Stephanie.
Dismounting, she sat under a tree and caught her breath.
Staring at the calm lake calmed her mind as well.
‘Ah, this is nice.’
The moment that thought rose—
A sudden, brutal pain struck her abdomen.
“U-ugh… uuh!”
No, no—this was bad!
She panicked.
She couldn’t collapse here. Not alone. Not where no one would find her.
If she lost consciousness here, she might lie undiscovered for days—and die.
The fear of death sitting right beside her made her tremble.
‘Right! Communication! I have to call Elion!’
Rubiana quickly lifted her arm.
But there was no bracelet.
“……Huh?”
Did she lose it? Drop it somewhere?
‘Ah… I took it off on purpose…’
Realizing the ridiculousness of her situation, she let out a hollow, bitter laugh.
She had taken it off because she was annoyed at Elion—only to regret it more than anything.
‘If you’re going to regret taking it off, then you shouldn’t have! And if you’re going to take it off, then don’t regret it!’
She felt painfully stupid.
Meanwhile, the pain kept getting worse—twisting her insides violently.
‘Please… please…!’
She wished desperately for it to stop.
But once again, her wish didn’t come true.
The pain escalated further, and eventually—
She coughed up blood.
“U-ugh… aaah…!”
Her strength completely failed. Rubiana collapsed to the ground.
Her consciousness blurred, her vision darkening.
She tried to move, tried not to pass out, but her body wouldn’t obey.
Lying on the dirt, she stared helplessly up at the crimson sunset sky.
‘Seriously… this is too much. Damn it…’
Her slowly flickering eyes finally shut tight.
