<Episode 18>
“Isn’t the carriage enough?”
Melody turned back toward the house, but Deonis climbed into the carriage without hesitation.
She had thought it was spacious enough for five or six people, but as soon as he sat inside, the space suddenly felt cramped.
“Is it still uncomfortable getting treatment from Sir Rohan?”
“I’m not the uncomfortable one. Rohan is afraid of mages.”
His red eyes fixed on her, as if to confirm something.
“But you’re not afraid of me.”
Was that true? She had been scared at first—but not anymore. Now she just… felt a little sorry for him.
“My heart beats faster sometimes. But it’s different.”
“You know I can hear it, right?”
“You can hear my heartbeat?”
“When it’s quiet.”
And it had been quiet ever since they got in. Her heart had sped up every time she looked at his face… Had he noticed? Melody took a deep breath.
“It’s just the carriage height making me short of breath. That’s why my heart’s beating.”
“Should I tell them to lift you into the carriage next time?”
“No, please don’t!”
She was already in a tough spot at the mansion—any more attention would be a disaster. But strangely, Deonis frowned.
“Actually, maybe lifting you isn’t a good idea. I can’t let just anyone touch my magic tool maker. I’ll have them build a carriage with adjustable height.”
“Wait—is the one developing that carriage… me?”
“You just focus on the magic-nullifying device. You’re not the only magic tool maker in the capital.”
“I’m right here! Why would you use someone else’s tools when you have me?! If you’re paying someone else, just give me the money—I’ll make it better!”
Melody puffed up, clearly annoyed at the idea of losing work (and pay). Deonis chuckled crookedly.
“So you want me to only use your magic tools?”
“That’s the whole reason I’m here.”
“Then I guess after the magic-nullifying device, you’ll have to design a new carriage too.”
“Deal.”
“Can I add that to your contract? You can name your bonus.”
“Of course.”
But as soon as she said it, something felt… off.
“Wait, wait. If we’re changing the contract, we need to talk about the length again—”
Before she could finish, Deonis suddenly took off his outer coat.
His broad shoulders showed clearly under his thin shirt. Well-defined abs, a solid chest, veined arms, his Adam’s apple, sharp jawline— her eyes slowly moved up until they locked with his fiery red gaze.
Melody flinched.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“I have to take it off to get treated.”
“To… what?”
He tilted his head toward the bandages in her hands.
“Oh, treatment.”
Melody forced herself to calm down. She had to treat him and get out of this very small space. As she shifted forward, Deonis tapped the carriage wall— and it began to move with a gentle rumble.
“Wait, we can’t leave yet! You’re supposed to get out after treatment!”
“We’re already headed out.”
“But if we go past the mansion grounds, you’ll be in pain!”
“It’s nothing new.”
He spoke so casually. Melody frowned and picked up the ointment.
“Fine, I’ll treat you.”
She inched forward. A rough mix of earth and musk reached her nose.
Her eyes kept drifting to his bare chest and sculpted abs, but she forced herself to focus on the cut across his shoulder.
It ran from his shoulder to his arm, long and sharp.
‘Stay calm. It’s just a treatment.’
But his breath brushed her neck—and it made her tense. She couldn’t even see how much ointment she’d used.
His warm breath tickled her hair and made her shiver.
She hurried to finish— but just then, the carriage bounced slightly, and her hand landed straight on his chest.
The heat, the firm feel of his muscles—it all hit her at once. Her face turned bright red.
“I-I’m sorry!”
She tried to pull her hand away, but Deonis, wearing gloves, caught her hand.
Her palm was still resting on him.
“It’s okay. You can touch me.”
He held her hand tightly and looked at her with burning eyes. His tousled moonlit hair, his sharp features—it looked like he was holding something back.
A phrase like that—so easy to misunderstand.
Who said things like that while getting treated?
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Melody quickly wrapped the bandages. Every time her fingers brushed his skin, they twitched.
It was a strange feeling. The Deonis from the novel never let anyone get close to him. Maybe the wound was bothering him so much that he had no choice…
Still, it felt odd.
She finished just before they left the estate grounds. Deonis pulled his shirt back on and frowned, staring out the window. The pain must’ve started.
“Here—try this.”
Melody pulled out a green slime-like tool from her pocket and offered it to him.
It looked like a squishy green dumpling.
Deonis gave a small laugh—then took it, removed his glove, and squished it gently.
It changed shape in his hand like dough.
“I made it stronger this time. It shouldn’t pop like before. It can handle some pressure, but don’t squeeze it too hard, okay? Do you like it?”
“No.”
“Then give it back.”
“It’s better than nothing.”
She noticed the bandage on his arm had loosened. The wound from before had already mostly healed.
“Your last injury’s almost gone.”
“Thanks to you.”
Deonis smiled.
That small smile somehow made it impossible for Melody to look away.
The carriage stopped at the town square. Deonis stepped out with Melody and looked around.
“This your home?”
“No, it’s a little further in.”
“Then let’s go there.”
“You can’t reach it by carriage.”
Melody lowered her head. She didn’t want to show him her home. It was her most precious place.
She had grown to… almost like Deonis.
But she still couldn’t trust him completely—not when their relationship had started because she was a mage.
She didn’t want to risk him damaging her special space.
“Goodbye. I hope everything you came for goes well.”
“I’ll walk you there.”
“I can go alone.”
“What if something happens? You’re my magic tool maker.”
He followed behind her with a very strange argument.
“Nothing will happen. Go back. Even if I do die, it won’t be today.”
“Then I have to go with you.”
“Why are you suddenly insisting on coming?”
“Because you care about me.”
What did that have to do with anything?
Melody stared at him with suspicion.
Deonis added softly:
“I’m curious about you.”
So that was it. Kindness without a reason always felt suspicious.
He had probably never learned how to trust people, having lived his whole life hated for being a mage.
“Then ask me directly.”
“Where do you live?”
“Except that one.”
“Why won’t you let me walk you?”
“…You wrote in the contract that you wouldn’t interfere in my personal life.”
“Ah. The contract…”
He muttered, almost like spitting the word out—then continued.
Ha, you got her, so let her do it, plus she knows what she wants~