DNCTFB 25

Episode 25 

She looked plain, but her face was quite beautiful. Though slim and delicate didn’t usually appeal to him, knowing she belonged to Deonis was enough to spark his interest.

“When is Deonis coming to the palace?”

“Next week.”

“I need to see his face.”

Ryan smiled in satisfaction as he sipped his wine.

Deonis sat at the workbench when Melody arrived, arms crossed in annoyance.

“You’re late. Said you’d come early.”

“I stopped by the temple first.”

“I know—there’s a terrible smell around you.”

Melody sniffed her clothes. Just the smell of earth.

“Missing the temple?”

“Going back only made me more sure I don’t want to.”

His frown softened slightly.

“Oh, by the way—I got some holy energy…”

She stopped there. Melody knew Deonis hated Awhin as much as she did. Although their mutual dislike was natural—knights versus mages—Deonis and Awhin despised each other more deeply.

Melody hadn’t told him about her deal with Awhin—fearful of how Deonis would react.

“Holy energy?”

He narrowed his eyes. Sensing trouble, she continued carefully:

“The priest who used holy energy uncovered corruption. He ended up in prison—maybe five years. He made killing tools; the materials were from the temple.”

“What did he do to earn your hatred?”

“He bullied me, took money, and even hurt my hand making strange tools. I still have the scar on my palm. I was terrified I’d never craft again.”

She showed him her scarred hand; his eyes followed the lines.

“Temple prison…” he muttered, tilting his head. The air grew cold; Melody shivered.

“I also met someone who liked my tool. If I’d known earlier, I’d have felt more rewarded at the temple. I was bored making the same thing each day.”

“He liked your tool? You?”

“Not me, the tool I made.”

“Ah.”

He asked casually, as if interested:

“Do your tools need incantations to work?”

“Yes. You can draw them by hand or speak them—I can find a simpler way if you wish.”

“Tongue and hands—and?”

He spoke softly, listing parts of the body used in toolcasting. Melody felt like her body was being dissected by his words.

“What was that priest’s name?”

“Ah, didn’t ask—I doubt I’ll see him again.”

“Good.”

Though her answer was calm, his expression showed his distrust. Melody swallowed and changed the subject:

“What brings you to my workshop?”

“To be treated.”

Before she could answer, Deonis began unbuttoning his shirt. Even though she hadn’t fully seen his body yet, it was impressive. She stared, and he chuckled.

“Do you like it?”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re staring hard.”

If only her feelings mattered—his body would stay pure forever. And if her tool to nullify magic was finished soon, maybe Riheylin would choose him… She shook her head internally.

But wait—the novel was R-rated! Her imagination ran wild with scenes of Awhin confessing to Riheylin naked… Melody shook away the blush and focused on Deonis’s scar. Something felt off.

‘Yesterday the scar was shorter.’

Running her fingers over it, she realised it was fresh—longer and deeper than before.

He must have wounded himself again. But why?

“My father once cut himself badly with an axe. He healed within a week. People with magic heal fast—you know that.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you hurt yourself?”

Melody looked at him intently, unsure how he’d reply.

“So that you would touch me.”

He looked at her quietly and began kneading her hand gently. Goosebumps appeared wherever his fingers brushed her skin. Her heart pounded.

“It felt warm…strange but warm.”

He let go after reaching her wrist. Melody was stunned—what did he mean?

Though it sounded like a confession, she reminded herself: he’d just discovered human touch felt warm. She felt pity for him.

“Stop hurting yourself.”

“If you say you’d touch me even without wounds…”

“Where?”

Her trembling hand moved toward his face—but stopped on his cheek. He lifted his eyelashes and gently smiled.

“Anywhere.”

Her heart dropped, but she shook her head. She rested her hand on his cheek.

“Promise.”

His long lashes fluttered, and his red eyes shone.

“I promise.”

They felt strangely passionate. It felt dangerous to her heart.

Melody stumbled into the garden corner, holding her trembling knees and gasping.

“What are you doing?”

Anna appeared, calm as always—only Melody seemed exhausted.

“I thought I’d get some air,” she panted.

She couldn’t focus on her work—memories of his flesh, his gaze, and his warm words haunted her head.

“I’ll just go to the backyard—I heard there’s a new guest.”

I haven’t been able to concentrate on my work for the past few days.

No matter what I did—whether my eyes were open or closed, even when I was in the middle of crafting a magic tool—my thoughts kept drifting back to that moment.

The moment I was gently wiping his wound.

The sunlight had been warm, Deonis’s eyes strangely soft and glistening, and my heart had been pounding like it wanted to escape.

I had promised myself not to misinterpret his words—when he said my touch felt strange. But I kept thinking about it.

What did he mean when he said I could touch him “anywhere”?

Why did I keep wondering about it for so long?

It was probably the novel’s fault.
Every time I tried to make sense of it, my thoughts wandered straight to the kinds of scenes that belonged in the bedroom.

And that only made things worse.

“Then… would you like to go to the backyard?” Anna asked casually. “There’s a new guest there.”

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

“Guest?”

Let me know if you’d like Episode 26 translated!