Chapter 16
Seeing how far the demonic energy had spread across Gerard’s chest, Eloise was deeply shaken.
She wasn’t thinking clearly.
The desperation and sorrow embedded in her touch made Gerard forget that he should push her away. He could only stare at her blankly.
Eloise even began to cry.
For a moment, she was dragged back into the memories of her death.
The horrific scene inside the Purple Hole.
Gerard is on the verge of madness, consumed by demonic energy.
A situation that felt like the end of the world itself.
And death.
Something she never wanted to see again. Never wanted to experience it again.
“Please… work. P-please work…”
She wanted to heal Gerard.
She wanted him to stop hurting.
She was desperate.
“Why isn’t it working…! At this rate, Gerard—Gerard will die!”
Even though she knew her ability wouldn’t awaken for another year, she clung to him.
“Eloise, stop.”
Coming to his senses too late, Gerard grabbed her hands.
The coldness of his skin made Eloise flinch.
Their eyes met.
Cold skin, but burning gazes tangled together.
“Hhk—”
Something surged violently inside Eloise.
The demonic energy that had invaded her without warning rampaged inside her body—and then stole something away.
Sweat poured down her body, and her head felt like it was boiling.
Ah—this is…!
Eloise grabbed Gerard’s shoulder tightly.
Panting, she barely managed to open her eyes.
“The healing… it’s working, right?”
I’m healing you.
Her eyes trembled with joy.
Gerard clenched his teeth.
Then everything went dark.
***
Drip. Drip.
The sound of water falling made Eloise’s eyelids flutter.
A moment later, she opened her eyes.
A spacious room. A warm scent. A soft bed.
She immediately knew where she was.
Just looking at the massive red gem embedded in the bedpost was enough.
Only one person on the continent could afford to use a gem that large just to heat a bedroom.
“Gerard?”
Eloise sat up and looked around.
But there was no response.
She climbed out of bed.
Though her head still felt hazy, the moments right before she collapsed were vividly clear.
I awakened as a healer.
Gerard must have noticed.
After all, he had greedily absorbed her healing power.
She didn’t have the luxury of simply being shocked at how early her awakening was compared to her previous life.
She needed to find Gerard, check his condition, and make him keep this a secret.
“Gerard? Where are you?”
Eloise searched through his residence, knocking on doors.
***
Cold water poured down over Gerard’s head.
It streamed over his broad shoulders and taut muscles, dripping onto the floor.
He stood with one hand braced against the wall, lost in deep thought.
He had hoped the cascading water would wash away his distractions—cool the burning desire raging inside him—but it was useless.
Even trying to drown out sound with water failed.
The more he tried, the clearer the sounds outside became, as if mocking him.
The soft footsteps of Eloise walking around in search of him.
Her clear voice was growing closer.
This is bad timing.
He glanced down briefly and frowned—
Just as a knock sounded.
Knock, knock.
“Gerard? Are you in there? Gerard? Not here? That’s strange… I can hear water…”
She had found him after all.
In the end, Gerard shut off the water.
He couldn’t let Eloise, still unwell herself, keep wandering around.
Wrapping a large towel loosely around his waist, he opened the door.
When Eloise saw him, her face lit up.
“So you were here; I was looking everywhere—guh!”
She covered her mouth and stumbled back.
With each step he took, water droplets he hadn’t fully dried slid down his well-defined muscles and dripped onto the floor.
Eloise’s gaze followed the droplets.
Then stopped.
Her eyes landed on the firm muscles and tendons running over his ankle, just above his heel.
Her throat suddenly felt dry, and she hurriedly looked up.
Oh no.
She lightly bit her lower lip.
Looking up was a mistake.
This time, her eyes were captured by his smooth waistline, perfectly balanced back, and broad shoulders.
When he turned, his densely packed muscles flexed subtly, rippling like waves.
Eloise stared, entranced by the power in his body.
“Did you—”
Gerard’s low voice snapped her back to reality.
Her shoulders jolted as if she’d just woken from sleep.
“Find me?”
He approached, pushing back the wet hair stuck to his forehead.
The loosely tied towel swayed precariously with each step.
Eloise’s eyes darted everywhere.
“Y-yes. I did.”
“What do you need?”
As his sculpted chest came right up in front of her, Eloise hurriedly dropped her gaze.
“Eloise, tell me why you’re here. We can’t just stand like this.”
“Right.”
She had planned to ask him to keep her healer awakening secret.
But she hadn’t expected to face him half-naked, and the words wouldn’t come.
Given the topic, she wanted him dressed.
Talking like this felt… too intimate. Too embarrassing.
As her thoughts spiraled in that direction, Eloise suddenly widened her eyes.
Then, as if she’d never been embarrassed at all, she grabbed Gerard’s arm and pulled him closer.
Her eyes turned sharp as a hawk’s as she thoroughly examined his upper body.
“Turn around for a second. Lift your arms.”
She even gave him instructions.
Guessing what she was doing, Gerard complied.
Eloise’s eyes slowly widened.
“It’s gone…?”
Without realizing it, she reached out and touched his chest.
“That’s a bit—”
Gerard, who had stood still the entire time, frowned slightly and grabbed her wrist, pulling it away.
“Ah!”
His grip was a little rough, and Eloise let out an involuntary sound.
“I’m sorry.”
Gerard immediately apologized and released her wrist.
Then he stepped back—like someone avoiding a pervert.
Eloise hurriedly waved her hands.
“I didn’t touch you on purpose! I mean, I did—but not like that! Anyway, it’s gone, right?”
Struggling to regain composure, Eloise pointed at his abs.
Just earlier, demonic corruption had covered everything from his abs to his collarbones through his wet shirt.
Now it was completely gone.
“Yes. It’s gone. Thanks to you. Don’t be surprised when I say this—you healed me. And for the record, there was no allergic reaction.”
Eloise nodded slowly.
Only then did she realize how abnormal her calm reaction was.
Pretending to be surprised now would just be ridiculous.
She cleared her throat.
“So… does that mean I became a healer?”
“As expected, you’re not surprised. Like someone who already knows.”
“What?”
His words made her heart drop.
“Why are you reacting like that? You worked in healer management. You know how this works. That’s what I meant.”
“Oh—right! I do. I used to imagine it sometimes. What it would be like if I became a healer. I guess it really happened. Haha… ha… hah…”
Her nervous laughter faded as she watched his expression.
Living with secrets was exhausting.
She was drenched in cold sweat, while he remained calm.
Crossing his arms, he looked down at her.
“Are you going to register as a healer?”
In the past, Gerard had urged her to register properly so she could receive fair treatment.
But Eloise, knowing the strict control healers lived under, had refused.
Instead, they had formed a secret contract.
And yet, when it mattered most, I couldn’t help him. I was always late.
Maybe this time, she should register officially.
Wouldn’t that help Gerard more?
