Chapter : 28
I knocked, but there was no sound from inside.
I gently opened the door. The curtains were drawn back, letting the moonlight into the room, and lying on the bed was only Sirinyu.
In the quiet room, Sirinyu’s labored breathing could be heard. Earlier, it seemed like his condition had improved a little, but it appeared to have worsened again.
I approached the bed and sat down. Even if Han were to take a short nap beside me, I wanted to watch over him through the night.
Placing a wet towel on Sirinyu’s forehead, I looked at his hands resting on the bed. When I held his hands, which had grown hot from the fever, the trembling at his fingertips ceased.
Watching his chest rise and fall slowly, I rested my face against his arm and, while looking at him, drifted off to sleep.
Sirinyu, feverish and in a daze, tried to shake off his hazy mind. He knew this wasn’t reality, but the line of monsters in front of him was so familiar that his hand gripped the sword automatically.
“Kyaah!”
At the scream of the monsters, he felt as if this were real. His body moved before he could even think. The sword, as if fused with his hand, cut through the air.
The monsters he killed didn’t even turn to smoke; behind him, a mountain of monsters had already piled up.
Not a single monster remained, and before Sirinyu stood a massive figure. He didn’t need to confirm who it was. No ordinary monster could exude such a sinister aura.
“The Demon King…”
It was something that was bound to happen someday. Sirinyu gripped his sword more firmly.
Smoke rose from the sword, accompanied by a low growl. The Demon King, as if made entirely from fear itself, stared at Sirinyu with eyes shrouded in ominous light.
But Sirinyu was not afraid at all. He had trained tirelessly for this day. And he had the Eye. If he could defeat the Demon King, it didn’t matter what would happen after using it.
The long hours of suffering were coming to an end. He felt as if he had forgotten something, but it didn’t matter.
Just as Sirinyu was about to launch himself forward, he noticed a small back in front of him.
“Selene…?”
Until now, his heart had been calm, unfeeling, even in the presence of the enemy who had killed his parents and tried to kill him. But now, at the thought that Selene could be touched by the Demon King, his heart felt like it would burst. Why was she there? He wanted to hide her behind him immediately.
But the sword in his hand suddenly became heavy. It was as if it had been stuck to the ground—it wouldn’t move.
“…!”
He wanted to urgently tell Selene to step aside, but his mouth refused to obey.
Just as he was about to put down the sword and rush toward her, Selene turned to face him.
She smiled and spoke, tears spilling from her grayish eyes.
“It’s okay. From now on, everything will be okay.”
Before Sirinyu could stop her, Selene ran toward the Demon King.
“Stop…!”
A bright light flared, and he came to his senses.
Sirinyu woke up, drenched in sweat. The painful ache in his eyes had vanished.
Looking at the hands that had felt so heavy in his dream, Selene was asleep, holding his hand.
Even in his haze, he remembered the comforting feeling of being cared for by someone.
And that someone was Selene.
‘Is this also a side effect of the contract?’
Sirinyu tilted his head for a moment. Among the side effects, he didn’t recall any sensation of a tickling feeling in the heart.
Although this unfamiliar sensation was unpleasant, he didn’t feel like pulling away from Selene’s hand. Seeing a hand half the size of his holding his so tightly felt strange.
He realized it had been the first time someone had ever held his hand like that when his eyes were hurting.
His chest churned with emotion.
Looking at Selene, who was quietly snoring with her eyes tightly shut, he felt her foolishly endearing.
He wanted to stroke her tousled sand-colored hair and pinch her hidden white cheeks.
Her curled-up, uncomfortable sleeping posture made him want to lift her onto the bed.
Sirinyu shook his head. Carefully withdrawing his hand, he reached for Selene’s messy hair and then retracted it, heading straight for the bathroom.
He had overslept. Upon waking, I was startled to see the empty bed with Sirinyu gone.
‘Could it be…’
Had his symptoms worsened overnight and he been taken away?
I sprang up and looked around. The blanket was still crumpled as if someone had just gotten out.
With a click, the bathroom door opened.
Turning around, I saw Sirinyu in a shower gown, shaking his wet hair as he walked out.
“You’re feeling better?”
Relief flooded me, and I spoke happily. Sirinyu, however, looked at me with an indifferent expression.
“So, do I not look better?”
Oh, that cheeky attitude is back. Cute. He really must be okay now…
“That’s a relief. I’ll return to my room then.”
I bowed and started to leave, but Sirinyu’s voice stopped me.
“Meal time will be soon. Let’s eat together.”
I turned, eyes wide.
Since coming here, I had never eaten with Sirinyu. I smiled and agreed happily.
Returning to my room, I ignored Yurie glaring at me with her torn eyes and headed to the bathroom. My dress, still in shambles from yesterday’s chaos, was reflected in the mirror.
Even though I hadn’t returned yet, the bathwater had been warmed. Determined to apologize to Yurie later, I sank into the warm water and stretched.
“Ah… this feels so good!”
Guided to the dining hall, I saw Sirinyu sitting at the long table. Sitting in the chair brought by the butler, he rested his chin on the table and looked at me.
“Why?”
“It suits you.”
He pointed at me with his chin.
I looked down at the dress I was wearing. I had wanted to wear the dress I brought, but Yurie had insisted, so I wore one of the dresses Sirinyu had sent.
The light purple dress with a high collar was embroidered with gold. I smiled at Sirinyu.
“Thank you for the gift.”
Sirinyu smiled faintly. As I admired him, the food was brought over.
I smiled to myself, thinking we had grown closer. Sirinyu glanced at me and raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Just because.”
While lightly slicing meat with his knife, he continued.
“When this is over, you’ll return to the capital immediately, right?”
“Yes? Of course.”
“I have a mansion in the capital.”
I paused with a mouthful of meat. I knew that nobles usually had a main estate in their lands and a separate mansion in the capital.
Sirinyu was a Duke, so our family would have a capital mansion as well… I nodded.
“Yes… is it as big as this one?”
“Yes. And it’s not too far from the Weden Count’s capital mansion.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. So occasionally….”
I paused my fork to listen, but suddenly a loud voice called out.
“Celly!”
Turning, I saw Arcas walking toward us. My eyes widened.
‘Oh no.’
I had completely forgotten Arcas was here. I had only recently met my favorite, and yet I had forgotten family… or maybe it’s natural to forget family when you’re chasing your favorite?
Either way, Arcas would be upset if he realized this. I deliberately spoke cheerfully.
“Brother! Haven’t eaten yet?”
“Yeah. Didn’t hear it was meal time.”
He smiled, but something about it seemed forced. Didn’t hear it was meal time?
I looked at Sirinyu, who just shrugged at me.
Place settings were ready across from me, but Arcas sat next to me, turning toward me.
“Shall I cut it for you?”
“No.”
“Why? I’ll do it.”
Sirinyu watched both of us intently. I turned back to him.
“What were you saying earlier? About a mansion?”
Arcas raised his eyebrows.
“Mansion? Where?”
Sirinyu set down his knife and fork and lifted his wine glass. With eyes lowered, he looked at Arcas coldly.
“Say nothing.”
“Oh, I see.”
The pleasant mood vanished, and the dining hall grew cold. I kept my head down, slicing the meat and eating.
After the meal, I told Sirinyu about the contents of the ancient book I had partially deciphered.
Because the book was a property of the Lifrix family, Arcas couldn’t hear, so he stayed in the parlor. Sirinyu, upon hearing my report, spoke in a low voice.
“Are you sure this information is correct?”
