Chapter 20
Even though the Crown Prince and Gerard didn’t get along, that was a personal matter.
Officially, Noah was acting on behalf of the Emperor, and Gerard had no legitimate reason to object to him meeting Eloise, the head of the Magi Administration’s Forecast Team.
“We may have to meet again if work requires it.”
“And if there’s no such need?”
“There could be, couldn’t there?”
A crease formed between Gerard’s brows.
This time, his emotions were obvious enough that Eloise noticed immediately.
“Do you want to meet the Crown Prince often?”
The question sounded strange.
As if Eloise personally wanted the Crown Prince.
Eloise recoiled in disgust and denied it outright.
“No!”
“Then that’s enough.”
Seeing Gerard smile faintly, Eloise set the teacup down.
It was lemon tea, filled to the brim in a mug—his favorite.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Even though she hadn’t asked before serving it, Gerard accepted the tea without complaint.
He silently stared at the steam rising from Eloise’s cup, then snapped his fingers.
With a soft plop, a single, round piece of ice dropped into her tea.
Eloise’s eyes sparkled.
“Huh? How did you know? I like putting one ice cube into hot tea.”
Gerard shrugged.
Holding her mug, Eloise smiled.
It was impossible, but her heart fluttered as if he remembered their past life together.
She hoped he didn’t remember the pain of the past, yet at the same time wished he remembered the good moments.
Even if it’s just a coincidence, that’s fine.
The two of them enjoyed a peaceful moment in the warm morning sunlight.
After a short while, Eloise broke the calm.
“By the way, Gerard… what was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Business… right. I do need a reason.”
Gerard set down his cup and moved closer, sitting beside her.
“We agreed to check yesterday.”
“Ah… our healing compatibility?”
Remembering last night’s conversation—and the note left on the bedside table that morning—Eloise stiffened.
Here? Now?
In broad daylight, in an office?
Heat rushed to her face. Flustered, she parted her lips several times before finally asking,
“Isn’t this… not the right place?”
“What does the place matter?”
Gerard smiled lazily as he closed the distance between them.
His scent invaded Eloise’s senses, making her dizzy.
Her eyelashes trembled.
He lifted a hand near her flushed cheek and asked,
“May I begin?”
She had already decided not to postpone it again.
A thin “Yes” slipped through Eloise’s lips.
The moment she answered, he firmly grasped her small hand.
Eloise brightened and asked,
“Just holding hands?”
“Shall we do more?”
“No. This is enough.”
She smiled in relief.
But her relief came too soon.
***
“Ah… Gerard.”
Eloise let out a strained sound, nearly collapsing into his arms. She barely managed to steady herself by gripping the sofa.
“Is it difficult?”
“N-No. Not exactly…”
Five minutes had passed since they started checking their healing compatibility.
To obtain accurate results, such tests were supposed to take at least thirty minutes.
Which meant they still had twenty-five minutes left, holding hands like this.
At first, Eloise thought it would be nothing.
It wasn’t even a kiss—just holding hands.
She had planned to give him one hand and browse an office furniture catalog with the other.
But once the healing began, everything changed.
His hand moved slowly.
Limited to her hand—at most, the inside of her wrist—his long, beautiful fingers with thick knuckles explored freely.
“Explore” was too gentle a word.
He roamed over her hand, exploiting it.
Eloise’s body and mind were helplessly swayed by his touch.
“Eloise, tell me anytime if it’s too much. I’m—hah—extremely satisfied.”
Gerard exhaled languidly as he brushed the inside of her wrist.
“Hh…”
At last, Eloise leaned her forehead against his shoulder.
A satisfied sound escaped above her head, and his touch grew more persistent.
Still resting her forehead against him, Eloise breathed unevenly.
His touch slipping between her fingers was slow and gentle, yet it felt like being pierced by a red-hot spear.
Overwhelmed, Eloise tried to pull her hand back.
Instead, Gerard tightened his grip.
In that instant, a large portion of her healing power was drawn into him.
“Hh.”
As Eloise’s breath stopped, Gerard let out a satisfied sigh.
That sweet sound tickled her ear.
Eloise clenched his arm tightly with her other hand.
“This… isn’t ending anytime soon, is it?”
When she barely managed to ask, Gerard pressed their palms together and rubbed them.
The slow movement resembled the way his hips moved when he was deep inside her, making Eloise’s ears burn red.
“That’s right.”
His answer came a beat late.
Healing power and miasma gradually mixed more densely.
The more they blended, the more sensitive Eloise became, and the more vividly she felt his touch.
“Eloise, breathe.”
At some point, she had been clinging to him without even breathing properly.
“Your body is hot.”
Gerard placed a hand on the nape of her neck, warmth spreading instantly.
His large hand supported the back of her neck.
“Tell me if it’s too much.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Eloise exhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
This is so unprofessional.
She scolded herself.
The one who should be receiving care wasn’t her—it was Gerard.
As far as Eloise knew, before their contract, Gerard had never received proper healing.
He had managed his miasma with unverified medication, and even that wasn’t reliable.
Under such conditions, it was natural that he’d be inexperienced at controlling miasma during healing.
That didn’t only affect Eloise.
If the healing mechanism went wrong, the mage could fall into shock.
Which meant Eloise, with her experience from a previous life, should have been guiding him.
But instead, the opposite was happening.
Gerard not only controlled his miasma remarkably well—he was leading the healing process.
A question briefly crossed her mind, but every time her focus wavered, his hand traced the hollow of her palm, cutting her thoughts short.
Look at me. Focus here.
His touch was a desperate plea.
…I’m healing. I need to focus on Gerard.
Trying to regain clarity, Eloise pushed him away slightly and lifted her head.
Their gazes locked like chains.
His golden eyes were larger and clearer than ever, greed rippling behind the thin membrane of his irises.
Eloise froze. Gerard stopped moving.
His hand rested over the pulse on the inside of her wrist, concentrating on its steady rhythm.
It was his consideration—waiting for her to grow accustomed to the process.
Even so, he let out rough, intermittent breaths.
Endurance didn’t come easily to him.
Eloise bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.
I can’t be the only one being protected.
She reminded herself of her responsibility as a healer.
“I’m fine.”
I’ll accept anything. So do what you want.
Resolving herself, Eloise slowly closed her eyes.
“It will be over soon.”
As if waiting for that answer, Gerard gently pressed his forehead to hers.
Then he moved again.
He softly brushed the back of her hand, then gripped it firmly.
Once more, sharp miasma surged through her palm.
That energy gently stirred the inside of her body.
In response, the healing power hidden within her bloomed like flower buds, wrapping around the miasma.
As the two energies explored and intertwined repeatedly, the miasma gradually thinned—then disappeared.
“Ah!”
Unable to contain it, Eloise cried out in overwhelming satisfaction.
During healing, the healer also experienced emotional fulfillment and dizzying pleasure.
Eloise’s muscles slowly relaxed, and Gerard’s touch grew bolder.
His fingertips stroked the tender skin between her fingers. His long fingers slid in, filling the gaps.
Each time he tightened his grip, something deep inside her trembled.
A shiver ran through where they touched.
The sound of breathing so close, the heat passing between their hands, and the flow of healing power made the air grow heavier and denser.
