IMCUV 27

Chapter : 27

Nox turned his head to look back at Deina.

She was crouched on the fallen leaves, shivering violently from the cold.

Watching her for a moment, he tightened his grip on the flint in his hand.

A sharp cracking sound echoed as the stones struck together, but no spark appeared. Nox exhaled in frustration and tried again.

“…Haa.”

But perhaps because his palms were growing damp with sweat, no matter how many times he struck the stones, no flame appeared.

As his anxiety deepened, the fear he’d been desperately trying to suppress began to rise within him.

He stopped for a moment and lifted his gaze toward the darkness of the cave.

What if the fire suddenly spreads across the floor and walls? What if the smoke fills the whole place—and we can’t get out?

Worthless, terrifying thoughts crowded his mind.

No.

Nox shook his head hard and began striking the flint again, faster this time. But the stone, now slick with sweat, refused to produce even the faintest spark.

He tried again and again, until the once-sharp edges dulled and rounded from repeated blows—no fire, not even smoke.

Damn it…

Clenching his jaw, he hurled the stone toward the opposite wall. It struck with a dull thud and fell to the ground.

Running a hand through his hair in frustration, Nox rose to his feet.

Deina’s body temperature was dropping quickly. It didn’t matter if he suffered through the night, but he couldn’t let her freeze in this cold cave.

He quickly walked toward her.

“My lady.”

Deina slowly lifted her head.

When he placed a hand on her arm without thinking, her wet clothing felt icy to the touch.

“You should take off the wet clothes first. If you keep them on, your body temperature will drop even faster.”

“Ah…”

Murmuring faintly, Deina raised her trembling hands to the soaked buttons of her cardigan.

Nox quickly turned his back to her.

Something heavy dropped to the floor with a dull sound.

Now dressed only in a thin silk slip, Deina hunched her shoulders against the cold air and looked at Nox’s back.

Then she turned her eyes toward the pile of firewood in the center of the cave—and the flint lying nearby. Understanding everything at once, she stood up.

“Your Grace, let me try lighting the fire.”

Hearing her bare footsteps behind him, Nox raised a hand to cover his face in dismay.

“…Forgive me, my lady.”

“No! It’s actually very difficult for an ordinary person to make a fire with natural stones. If you had a magic stone of fire, you’d have used that instead, wouldn’t you?”

She spoke lightly as she walked forward. Picking up the flint from the ground, Deina examined it briefly and then returned to the firewood.

Seeing her slender arms, her delicate neck, and the faint outline of her body through the thin fabric, Nox immediately turned his body the other way again.

“…”

“Hmm, you chose a good one—the shape is perfect.”

Kneeling before the firewood, Deina gripped the flint firmly in both hands and struck it hard.

A bright spark leapt instantly.

Oh, just a little more—

“Come on!”

She furrowed her brows, pursed her lips, and struck again several times. A thin wisp of smoke began to rise. Quickly, she brought it to the woodpile, rubbing and blowing gently with practiced care.

After all, she had worked as a maid for over two harsh winters in Wizberry—a region infamous for its long, brutal cold.

Lighting a fire with a small piece of flint was nothing to her.

“There!”

Soon, a tiny flame flickered to life. It spread across the dry firewood, growing steadily until it became a strong, bright blaze.

Deina smiled brightly and held her palms toward the warmth.

“Your Grace! Come sit over—”

Ah.

She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Nox’s stiff back. The firelight cast his trembling shadow against the cave wall.

Deina bit her lip, feeling awkward.

What should I do…?

In this kind of cold, not sitting by the fire was simply impossible. It wasn’t just about comfort—it was about survival.

But Nox suffered from a severe phobia of fire.

And this was no tame hearth; it was a raw, open flame in the middle of the cave—far more terrifying for him.

“Your Grace…”

Deina rose slowly and approached him.

He still had one hand covering his face and didn’t move an inch.

When she placed a hand on his shoulder, she felt a faint tremor.

“I’m fine,” he said, his voice shaking.

Anyone could tell he wasn’t fine at all.

Gently stroking his shoulder, Deina spoke softly.

“Why don’t you come a little closer? It’s too cold over here. Shall we go together?”

“No… I’ll stay… here…”

“Then at least don’t just stand there. Try sitting down for a bit. You don’t have to be so tense.”

At her gentle tone, Nox slowly lowered the hand covering his face.

He turned toward her, forcing the corners of his mouth upward—but fear filled his eyes.

“Ha… How pathetic. I must look so pitiful in front of you, my lady.”

Deina quickly shook her head.

“No, I think you’re very brave. If there were a frog behind me right now, I’d probably scream and run out of this cave.”

At her words, Nox let out a faint sound that was almost a laugh.

But then, his gaze flickered toward the walls where his shadow danced wildly in the firelight—and he flinched, sucking in a sharp breath.

“Slowly. Take it slow.”

Deina reached out and held his hand.

It was damp with nervous sweat.

Nox gripped her hand tightly, breathing in rough, uneven bursts as she led him to sit beside her.

Once he was seated, he lowered his head with a deep sigh.

“You did it! Doesn’t that feel better?”

He didn’t answer—only tried to control his trembling breath.

But then, without warning, the memories crashed over him.

“Mother!”
“Young master, you can’t go in there!”
“Father! Father’s still inside!”
“What are you doing? Stop him!”

The sound of burning wood.
The howling of dangerous wind.
The deafening collapse of everything around him… horrific noises filled his head all at once.

“Bring more water!”
“Ahh! The pillar fell—the entrance is blocked!”
“The Duke and Duchess are still—!”

Nox clamped both hands over his ears.

“Ugh…”

“Your Grace.”

Deina gently placed her own cold hands over his.

“It’s all right. I can control this little fire completely.”

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper—but somehow, it drowned out every terrible sound in his mind.

In the sudden quiet that followed, Nox slowly lifted his head.

He couldn’t show her weakness any longer.

Even now, he had to overcome this damned fear—had to stand before her without shame.

He forced himself to turn his head toward the fire.

“…”

Realizing what he was trying to do, Deina gently turned his face back toward her.

“Your Grace, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“…No. I want to.”

In his low, steady gaze, she could see his determination.

Of course—this moment must have been harder on him than anyone could imagine.

Taking a quiet breath, Deina said softly,

“Then look at me. Don’t look at the fire itself—just look at its reflection in my eyes.”

Held by her touch, Nox stared into Deina’s pale green eyes. In their calm depths, his racing heart began to slow.

As he exhaled shakily and narrowed his eyes, he saw it—the small, graceful reflection of the red flame, swaying softly in her gaze.

Watching that, Nox murmured before he realized he was speaking:

“It looks like a flower.”

He cupped her chin gently and drew her closer.

“…A beautiful flower.”