Chapter 35
“You’re taking the first time like this?”
After leaving Eloz by the pond, Renard searched for a large oak tree.
He had heard a rumor that a street vendor who sold highly effective magic potions set up shop near that tree.
“Are you Lillian?”
Hearing someone call her name, Lillian looked up at Renard.
Her face immediately turned red.
Is this what it feels like to fall in love at first sight? she thought.
“How do you know my name?” Lillian asked.
But instead of answering, Renard immediately explained why he had come to find her.
“There’s someone who definitely has magical power, but that ability doesn’t show itself. From what I can tell, it seems like someone intentionally put that power to sleep… Do you happen to have a potion that can awaken it?”
“In that case, this potion should work. Magical power is usually suppressed with a magic potion, so it can also be released with one— Ah! Sir…!”
Lillian gasped in shock.
Renard had opened the bottle she handed him to smell it—and had actually drunk some of it.
In truth, Renard had never intended to give the potion to Eloz.
He only thought he might buy it just in case it became necessary later.
But he couldn’t ignore the safety of something Eloz might possibly drink.
If there was a problem with the potion, it should show up here, where the seller herself could deal with it.
Seeing Lillian’s shocked expression, Renard thought it had been a good idea to test it first.
Then the next moment—
A scorching heat wrapped around his entire body.
It felt as if he had suddenly been set on fire from head to toe.
“…!”
Renard clutched the stall as intense pain struck him, then collapsed to the ground.
Several potion bottles fell and shattered, and the sound drew people’s attention toward him.
Soon a small crowd gathered around the fallen man.
“Sir! Are you alright?! This potion awakens dormant magical power—someone who already has strong magic should never drink it!”
Lillian stamped her feet in panic.
Someone from the crowd tried to calm her down.
“Miss, get a grip. Don’t you have a sedative? If his magic is running wild, you should calm it with that.”
“Ah! Right!”
Lillian quickly bent down beneath the stall.
When she stood up again, she was holding a bottle filled with a clear turquoise liquid.
She took the liquid into her mouth and sat beside Renard.
Then she gently lifted his head onto her lap.
She intended to feed the sedative directly to him.
Meanwhile, Renard, who had briefly lost consciousness, barely managed to open his eyes.
His eyelids were stiff and heavy, constantly threatening to close again.
Through his blurred vision, he saw the potion seller approaching him with her eyes tightly shut.
What situation is this…?
Is she… trying to kiss me?
Renard did not like that idea.
In fact, he hated it.
He had never kissed a woman before.
Even when his fingers had been covered in wounds during his life, he had protected that much.
And my first time is going to happen like this?
At that moment, he saw Eloz nearby with her eyes tightly shut.
A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
Even if you don’t like me… aren’t you going to stop this? Isn’t that a bit irresponsible?
A bitter smile curled at his lips.
Enduring the tearing pain throughout his body, Renard forced himself up.
Then he grabbed Eloz’s wrist—so slender it felt like it would break if he squeezed too hard.
Strangely, the pain eased a little.
Startled, Eloz opened her eyes.
“Rena—”
Before she could finish, Renard pulled her toward him.
His burning hand cupped her face.
Then her lips touched his.
Renard’s eyes narrowed in bliss.
His entire body relaxed instantly.
It felt even better than before he had drunk the potion.
He should have stopped there.
If the reason he desired Eloz’s body was only because of nightmares—
or simply physical pain—
then he should have stopped.
Now he was overflowing with energy from the awakened magic.
But Renard couldn’t stop.
A feeling he had long been uncertain about suddenly became clear.
It wasn’t that touching Eloz was acceptable because she was Eloz.
It was because she was Eloz
that he wanted to touch her.
As far as he was allowed.
As far as he could reach.
Renard wanted to touch her.
He wanted to put everything he could into her.
His instincts took over as his tongue slipped between her lips.
And at that very moment—
Renard remembered that he had drunk a potion meant to awaken dormant magic.
Some of it must still remain on his tongue.
His eyes widened in alarm.
Just then, Eloz collapsed into his arms.
Renard’s face turned paler than the blue dawn sky just beginning to brighten.
“Whether a god exists or not, if you do… please wake Rose. If she wakes, I’ll believe you exist. And if you don’t want to just wake her… then take me instead. Just please… wake Rose…”
Murmur, murmur.
Someone’s continuous whisper flowed like a gentle melody.
I slowly lifted my heavy eyelids.
My vision was blurry.
I could vaguely see someone holding my hand tightly with both of theirs, pressing their forehead against it.
As I blinked my dry eyes to focus, that figure suddenly leaned close to me.
“Rose! Are you awake?!”
Renard’s reddish-brown eyes sparkled in the light.
“What… happened to me?” I asked.
When I tried to sit up, Renard quickly supported me and helped me lean against the headboard.
“Stay still. Your temperature…”
After confirming I was alright, Renard finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
Then he returned to his usual respectful tone.
“You fainted. After I… kissed you. I believe it was because of the potion I drank just before that. I apologize, Your Grace.”
A potion?
I had no idea what potion he meant.
But the woman by the pond had said that if physical contact went too far, it could cause pain.
So perhaps I fainted not because of the potion but because our lips touched.
My dormant magic must have tried to awaken.
Triggered by Renard, who acted as a catalyst.
Could it have already awakened?
“How do you feel now? Your fever didn’t go down all night.”
Looking closely, Renard seemed much more exhausted than usual.
Dark shadows lay beneath his eyes.
Strangely, it made him look even more attractive.
When I closed my eyes briefly to check my condition, Renard placed his hand on my forehead.
The moment he did, my entire body felt at ease.
Since it felt good, I stayed still.
But Renard suddenly pulled his hand away in surprise.
“I’m sorry. I meant not to touch you carelessly anymore, but… I did it without thinking.”
It seemed my fainting after the kiss had shocked him greatly.
“You still have a slight fever. Does anything else hurt?”
Renard asked, examining me carefully without touching.
I wish he would put his hand on my forehead again…
Without it, my body somehow felt uncomfortable again.
“Well… I’m not sure. I might have a fever, or maybe not…”
I tried placing my own hand on my forehead instead.
But the moment my hand got close—
“Ah…!”
Suddenly a surge of heat erupted.
In my vision, bright red flames flickered.
Startled, Renard quickly pulled my hand away from my forehead.
Could it be…
Did flames just come from my hand?
Renard’s mouth hung slightly open as he saw the same thing.
“It seems that the old woman’s words were true—that I’m both your sedative and your enhancer.”
“She wasn’t an old woman. She was just an older lady.”
“…Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Be polite to women, Renard.”
Renard and I were in the kitchen making a strawberry cream cake together.
All the servants had been sent to the annex for a large cleaning, giving us time alone.
During that time, I told him about what the woman had said—about him being my enhancer and sedative.
Of course, I left out the part about bedroom compatibility.
I didn’t think it was necessary.
Anyway, I accepted the fact that I was a witch more easily than expected.
I had sensed it long ago.
And Renard himself was a magician.
Perhaps that sense of similarity made it easier.
Having him beside me gave me strength.
Carefully, I brought my hands together and formed a small ball of fire.
A flame the size of a snowball danced above my palm.
It was fascinating.
“Do you think I could bake a cake with this?”
“You may be the only person who would use such a special talent to bake a cake.”
“A special talent…”
I liked the way Renard saw it.
Because outside these walls, such an ability would only be a reason to have my head cut off.
Once again I felt grateful that Renard was beside me.
Just then, as I watched the little flame, Renard suddenly pulled me into his arms.
“—!”
My eyes widened in surprise.
The fire I couldn’t control touched his chest.
And the next moment—
I immediately understood why Renard had embraced me.
