Chapter 65 …
“…….”
“If you fall for me completely and then try to back off, that would be a problem.”
“I never said I would fall for you!”
When Prea looked unfairly indignant, Milian spoke gently.
“But the truth is, I’ve completely fallen for you. So now, I don’t want to be the only one caught up in this.”
“What?”
“I want you to be crazy about me, just like I am about you. No, I’m going to make you that way… So, Prea.”
Milian’s lips gently landed on the tip of Prea’s nose and then lifted away.
“Try to pull away from me if you can. I’ve already cleared any reason for hesitation thanks to someone recently. From now on, I’ll do my best to seduce you.”
“W-What?”
Prea stammered, bewildered.
This was not the time to think about being hungry or full.
He was a predator who ignored all other prey and focused only on what he could not reach.
No, he was a steadfast predator who had prepared for years just for that one prey.
And that prey had clumsily walked straight to the predator’s feet, not realizing the danger.
The prey that provokes the predator can only end up being devoured.
Prea thought she could avoid it, that she could act as if nothing happened—but it was a kiss that could not be undone, no matter what.
She had no confidence at all that she could break free from Milian. Every move he made was a stimulus, a temptation.
Her face blazed as if on fire. Milian watched her, a playful smile curling on his lips.
“See? I told you, you like me.”
Prea didn’t even remember how she got home. She collapsed onto her bed, her mind blank.
Milian had shown no hesitation. With just three attempts, he seemed confident he could completely win her over.
By trying to avoid him, she had only provoked him and strengthened his resolve.
In the three encounters, Prea had no confidence she could protect herself. She couldn’t resist Milian openly using his charms and trying to seduce her.
The memory of his lips on the tip of her nose was still vivid. She wanted to erase the mischievous part of her brain that regretted it only touched her nose instead of her lips.
“How pathetic… so pathetic.”
At that moment, Toto suddenly spoke. Manifested in a tiny form, Toto clicked his tongue in disapproval at Prea.
She found it strange that he appeared in such a small form, but didn’t bother to ask. What bothered her more was that he had apparently eavesdropped through the wind.
“Why were you eavesdropping?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, I just… heard it. I didn’t want to hear that cringy stuff either.”
Toto made a gagging gesture.
Because he was bound to her piercing, he couldn’t leave her side.
Unlike ordinary spirits, who appear only when summoned, Toto was essentially always on standby.
“Do you know, Toto? Do you know how long Milian has liked me?”
Prea asked, glancing at him. Since he always followed her, she figured he would know Milian’s feelings better than anyone else.
Toto looked bewildered.
“If I knew, I’d be a Spirit of Love, not a Spirit of Wind. I just noticed at some point that he liked you. The fastest way to know is to ask him yourself.”
“How can I even ask that?”
Prea buried her face in the pillow and mumbled, as Toto settled beside her pillow.
“At least it doesn’t seem shallow. He’s been hiding these feelings for quite some time.”
“I don’t know, Toto. What should I do?”
Toto seemed to think deeply, then asked as if urging her to speak her mind:
“What’s stopping you?”
“Stopping me?”
“Yeah. From the looks of it, you like him too. There must be a decisive reason why you can’t accept it.”
Prea stared quietly at Toto, who was now acting like a counselor. Several reasons came to mind, but the biggest obstacle was still Emily.
“I’m scared… that Mom will be unhappy because of me.”
“I don’t understand why you being happy with him would make Emily unhappy.”
“Think about it. Mom loved Duke Edmore and even remarried for him. If we, who are legally siblings, say we’re in love, she’ll surely collapse. That’s basically telling our parents to divorce!”
Prea spoke passionately.
Even though Milian had left the family, he would eventually return. And the person most suitable for Edmore was still Milian.
The only way she and Milian could be together in this situation would be if her parents divorced.
Even if they divorced, the marriage would be fraught with scandal. Either way, the family’s reputation was at risk.
Toto seemed to think carefully, then drew a clear conclusion.
“Then this might be your chance.”
“Chance?”
“Just like he said, open your heart and approach him during three encounters. Then figure it out—being with him, would that make you happier than continuing this pretend-family arrangement?”
“……”
“It’s not too late to decide after three meetings, Prea.”
Toto placed his thick front paw on her shoulder in a serious manner, speaking with the weight of his long years.
“As a spirit, let me say this: I can’t stand humans playing family games. Honestly, whether Duke Edmore is your adoptive father or stepfather, he’s still a father, right? Your body’s just going to rot when you die, so live however you want while you’re alive.”
“Rot when I die… How can you say that, you nihilist!”
Prea glared at Toto in anger.
Toto snorted.
“I mean don’t do something you’ll regret just because you’re worried about your mother. Even if you don’t worry, she’s managing just fine herself.”
“What do you mean by that? Managing herself?”
Toto let out a lazy laugh, then his eyes glinted.
“Ah, whatever. I’m not your messenger to report everything I hear. Whether you date Milian or… do whatever else, it’s none of my business. Figure out how to get out of this frustrating mess yourself!”
Toto grabbed the piercing on Prea’s ear and shouted while dangling.
“You… despicable spirit!”
Smack.
Prea, understanding him, pushed him away, her face bright red.
Toto bounced out the window.
“Ahh!”
He screamed, pounding the window in frustration because Prea had hastily locked it.
She scowled at him, then turned her back and lay down on the bed.
Toto, seeing Prea react like a sensitive teenage girl, stuck out his tongue.
He could have left his manifestation, but since Prea was so angry, he decided to wait silently until she fell asleep.
It had been over twenty days since Mujeeri started working at Meshar. Almost a month. The period that seemed long passed surprisingly quickly.
Mujeeri silently swept the Meshar office.
Although doing chores felt undignified for a noble, it was better than groveling or flattering Sub-Lady Rachel. He tried to rationalize this to himself.
In fact, when Prea said she was leaving for her trip, Mujeeri had felt it was perfect timing to avoid the office altogether.
If only that persistent, mean secretary hadn’t been around, he could have gone the whole trip without returning.
After about ten days of skipping work, Bishop suddenly started coming to the Cohen household to fetch Mujeeri.
Every attempt to bribe Bishop or beg for leniency failed. He couldn’t figure out what she wanted, so he had no choice but to return to Meshar.
Moreover, since he had confessed the full length of his absence to Prea, the period was even pushed back—an aggravating fact.
As Mujeeri grew accustomed to sweeping the office, Bishop casually remarked:
“I noticed you were quietly cleaning all the unused corners.”
“Let’s just let that slide!”
“Should I tell the boss?”
“Yes, go ahead, tell her!”
Mujeeri pouted at Bishop’s merciless comment.
As he grumbled but finished the sweeping diligently, Bishop smirked. After several strict reminders, he thought it was admirable that Mujeeri did everything expected of him, even while grumbling.
Of course, she still remained cautious—he was a magician, after all.
Before Prea left for her trip, she had shown him a contract and made it clear he must fully repay his debt in one month.
It was shocking that Prea had dueled a magician, but he never imagined he would end up working under one.
Bishop looked at Mujeeri with a cheerful face, recalling how he had tried to manipulate her at first, and chuckled.
Being lower in rank, he probably intended to assert dominance, but she wasn’t one to comply easily.
Bishop had voluntarily abandoned his family.
He was tired of politics in the noble society, and he thought his parents, who intended to sell him to a magician, were not human.
Honestly, when Mujeeri first arrived, his typical noble behavior had been off-putting.
Of course, he wasn’t particularly likable even now, but after living together for a few days, she realized he was just a foolish noble.
“Good morning!”
Prea entered the office, her face bright and fresh.
