Chapter 48
Ethan’s hot lips pressed deeply down onto mine.
As if to show my shock, I widened my eyes and looked at him.
But he only gazed down at me with eyes narrowed thinly.
Startled by the sudden kiss, my body flinched.
That movement seemed to stimulate Ethan instead. He brushed against my lips even more insistently.
His lips carried a heat far more intense than I had imagined.
The sensation that surged through me was incomparably stronger and deeper than when he had bitten my finger earlier.
It felt so overwhelming that it threatened to melt my already weakened body completely.
“Ugh…”
When his slightly damp lips touched mine, a sharp sting flared again from the wound that had only just stopped bleeding.
As I lightly furrowed my brow and let out a low moan, he curved the corners of his eyes and smiled instead.
Then he lifted one hand and gently rubbed at the skin beneath my tightly drawn eyes.
A dizzying, almost overwhelming sensation wrapped around my entire body.
Soon after, I felt my body stiffen in inexplicable confusion.
And it wasn’t because of the sudden situation…
What on earth is Ethan thinking?
The emotions I felt from him were deeply unfamiliar.
Rather than pushing me aggressively as he usually did… it felt as if he were desperately clinging to me.
As though he wanted to release the desire ruling him—
or as though he were frantically trying to escape from it.
“Mm…”
Maybe that was why.
Even as Ethan pressed me fiercely, I couldn’t bring myself to resist even once, and I was swept along by him.
Even then, I couldn’t ignore the faint trembling coming from the hand gripping my cheek.
What does Ethan actually want?
For the first time, I found myself curious about his true intentions.
I knew I shouldn’t expect anything rational from Ethan when he was intoxicated by demonic power.
But was it really just my imagination that I had sensed a trace of reason within his desire?
There’s one thing you can do. Something only you can do.
Right. I didn’t know what Ethan wanted from me.
But at this moment… I found myself wanting to go along with what he wanted.
After all, Ethan had risked his own body and life for my sake.
So… maybe I could do at least this much for him.
Just as I was about to quietly let go of my fragile reason and fall completely into him—
Fshhh—
A blue light bloomed near my neck.
The familiar glow flared brightly for an instant, then quickly faded.
But that alone was enough.
Ah—ah… what was I just thinking?!
Only then did I barely manage to grab hold of my fading reason.
I didn’t know what had happened.
There’s one thing you can do. Something only you can do.
What is it?
Are you really curious? What do you think I want?
I still want to know. What I can do for you.
I had been waiting for Ethan’s answer.
I had only been waiting for him to tell me that I wasn’t powerless.
But when I came to my senses, Ethan was kissing me.
And that wasn’t all.
As if I’d truly been enchanted by his alluring voice, I’d even thought it would be fine to be obediently devoured by him.
…This is dangerous.
Even as we kissed, Ethan never took his eyes off me—and that made everything feel dangerous.
Like something truly terrible would happen if I didn’t pull back now.
Yet contrary to my thoughts, I couldn’t easily push Ethan away.
Because the way he moved toward me looked like…
he was reaching out, asking to be saved.
Like he was desperately trying not to let go of me.
Beside Ethan, who had lost his reason, the only thing I could do… was endure him.
Still, fear was unavoidable.
“Ugh… ngh…”
Not knowing where to put my trembling hands, I desperately clutched at his collar.
It was the only thing I managed to do by my own will, even after surrendering all my reason to Ethan’s dizzying temptation.
Yet even after that, Ethan didn’t let me go easily.
My legs shook helplessly as he stirred me to the point of delirium.
If he hadn’t quickly grabbed my waist, I would’ve collapsed disgracefully onto the ground.
…Ethan. Ethan.
I called out to him desperately, if only in my heart, but my voice never reached him.
I didn’t know how much time had passed like that.
“Mm…”
My breathing gradually grew ragged, my vision blurred.
I couldn’t even think rationally anymore—my body just trembled.
Perhaps he noticed.
Ethan, who had been gripping me roughly, suddenly froze.
It was hard to believe this was the same man who had looked ready to devour me moments ago.
But before I could even fully process that—
I reached my limit and squeezed my eyes shut.
That was when—
“Haa…”
Ethan suddenly released my lips.
“Hah… haa…”
Only after he finally let go of me did I manage to breathe again.
The moment I was free of him, my legs nearly gave out.
But thanks to his hand still gripping my waist, I barely managed to stay upright.
“Haa… Ethan…?”
Even as I was shaken by his sudden kiss, I couldn’t come to my senses because of the strange lingering sensation.
The dizzying feeling from the moment he had shamelessly swallowed my lips was still vivid.
Ethan kissed me?!
I didn’t want to admit it.
There was no way that could be true.
I wanted to think that—but…
No way! I was shaken by Ethan?!
…I had no choice but to admit that, for a moment, my heart really had wavered.
Who?
Me.
Toward whom?
Ethan Clovis.
That’s ridiculous!
Toward that foul-tempered mad dog whose only skill was making threatening ultimatums?!
Unable to hide my shock, I raised a hand and lightly covered my lips.
They felt swollen and slightly damp from all the biting and sucking, and I shook my head back and forth.
If that was the case, there was only one conclusion.
Right. This is Ethan’s fault!
He showed an uncharacteristically weak side, that’s why! That’s why my kind, gentle heart wavered!
Absolutely… I wasn’t shaken by Ethan. That’s how it is.
Only after reaching that conveniently convincing conclusion was I able to look straight at him again.
When I finally steadied my breathing and looked up at Ethan, his lips were tightly pressed together.
“Hah… Ethan, are you okay?”
“…What?”
“Have you come to your senses now?”
Ignoring my still-trembling body, I asked as calmly as I could.
If I wavered here too, we might both fall apart.
I tried my best to act normal—but Ethan seemed to take it differently.
Because his eyes sharpened dangerously.
“Hah. Even in a situation like this, that’s all you have to say…”
He trailed off, frustrated, and dragged a hand down his face.
Curious about what he had swallowed back, I silently watched him.
But when he lowered his hand and lifted his head, his expression was cold and rigid.
Without changing that expression, Ethan pushed me out of his arms.
Only then did his gaze return to something familiar.
Had he really lost his reason earlier?
With a slightly puzzled expression, I kept my eyes on him.
But before I could ask anything, he pushed me away and widened the distance.
“Ah—!”
Caught off guard, I staggered and nearly fell.
But this time, Ethan didn’t grab me.
“You saw it, right?”
“……”
“If you know how dangerous this situation is, then back off.”
“……”
“If I’d lost my reason just a little more—”
The confident Ethan I knew was nowhere to be found.
Instead, standing before me was a man who seemed so afraid that he couldn’t even say what was on his mind.
Once again, Ethan swallowed the rest of his words.
But this time, I thought I understood what he was trying to say.
As if confirming my guess, he forcefully averted his gaze, belatedly regaining his reason.
After being pushed away, I barely managed to steady my faintly trembling hands.
Do you know how dangerous this is?
Just looking at you is enough to drive me insane, Eunice.
Even without him saying it, I understood just how dangerous this situation was.
It was a different kind of danger than facing a pack of magical beasts.
And just as Ethan said, running away obediently would have been the wisest choice.
“…I can’t back away.”
But for that very reason, I knew I couldn’t leave Ethan behind and run.
Seeing me act against his will again, Ethan furrowed his brow.
To be honest… I was still afraid of him.
More precisely… I was afraid that the man before me wasn’t the Ethan who always kept a proper line.
So I tried to brush it off playfully, hoping to let it pass.
But even that seemed to have its limits.
I realized I couldn’t keep avoiding this so gently.
I stepped closer, narrowing the distance Ethan had tried so hard to create.
“When you’re suffering alone like this, how am I supposed to run away by myself?”
My voice trembled as it reached him.
Noticing that, Ethan’s eyes wavered slightly.
He knew it too.
Just as I couldn’t abandon him and run, he couldn’t let me go either.
Knowing that, he was still forcing himself to push me away.
And knowing that—there was no way I could leave him behind.
“Do you know why I’m trying this desperately for you right now?”
“……”
“I’m holding your hand for my own sake. You said you’d inflict unbearable pain if I ran away from you.”
“…Eunice, you—”
“I’m the person who values my own life the most in this world.”
Perhaps realizing how out of place that sounded in such a dire situation, Ethan’s gaze turned even fiercer.
But this time, I didn’t back down either.
“You said you’d use me.”
“……”
“If you’re going to use me, then do it properly. Don’t push me away with this so-called consideration that doesn’t suit you.”
“……”
“If you want to laugh and call me foolish, go ahead. I’ll allow it—for now.”
I forced a light smile, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere.
But Ethan didn’t respond. He stood stiff and rigid.
Watching him, I stepped closer again, closing the distance he had created.
Only then did he finally react.
“I told you not to come any closer!”
“And I told you I can’t back away!”
Normally, I might have shrunk back at his cold rebuke.
But right now, I was just as reckless as he was, and I defied him instead.
For the first time, I not only boldly talked back to Ethan—
I grabbed his stiff shoulders firmly with both hands.
Contrary to how he seemed ready to shake me off, Ethan let himself be held.
“What are you planning to do alone in this state?!”
“……”
“Stop being so stubborn! Trying to scare me when you’re this shaken doesn’t work at all!”
I pressed him fiercely, leaning my face closer to his.
My expression, straining with effort, probably didn’t look very nice.
But no one here had the luxury to care about appearances.
“For now, leave yourself to me, Ethan.”
I’ll save you.
…Just like you saved me.
