Chapter 6 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

By the time the rain stopped, the sun had set and it was dark, but I was a strong and powerful mage who wasnundefinedt afraid of night roads.

I stopped by a clothing store to buy a few outfits for Ruwellin, and also bought some snacks from a stall.

Munching on a waffle generously filled with whipped cream, I leisurely walked back, and by the time I arrived at the villa, the surroundings were completely pitch black.

undefinedI should take a bath and go to sleep soon.undefined

What a tumultuous day it had been...

undefinedI wonder if Ruwellin is... fast asleep by now?undefined

For a moment, I unconsciously wondered what his sleeping face looked like, but quickly shook off the thought.

It was best not to have such curiosity. For many, many reasons!

undefinedI ended up kissing him this time, but there wonundefinedt be a next time, really.undefined

Really, from now on, I absolutely had to refrain from any physical contact with him. What if I ended up falling for him? Iundefinedd had my fill of male lead obsession in my past life! Let the past favorite remain the past favorite. I didnundefinedt want to suffer from lovesickness...

undefinedLetundefineds take a bath quickly. A bath will calm me down.undefined

I undressed completely, down to my underwear, put on a bathrobe, and entered the bathroom. I started running hot water, thinking Iundefinedd go to the kitchen to get a glass of milk. But then...

"......?!"

"Ah..."

As soon as I entered the bathroom, I came face to face with that man.

For some reason, the bathroom was filled with a cold chill, and he was standing there naked, water dripping from his hair.

I stood frozen, my mouth opening and closing helplessly. W-what are you doing here!

undefinedWhy are you in the bathroom? Werenundefinedt you sleeping?undefined

Ruwellin smiled sheepishly and approached me. Still wearing nothing at all.

undefinedCrazy!undefined

I yelped in shock and jumped back, almost slipping and falling. Ruwellin quickly came over and caught me. The temperature of his large hand on my shoulder was cold.

...Surely he hadnundefinedt taken a cold shower...

undefinedNo, heundefineds suffering from a high fever, is he insane?undefined

As I was dumbfounded, he smiled softly and said.

"I woke up... and couldnundefinedt fall back asleep, so I washed up. Iundefinedm sorry for using the bathroom without permission."

A faint scent of soap wafted from him. A dazzlingly handsome man carrying a pleasant scent—it was dizzying just to look at. I quickly pulled my hand away and stepped back. My face was burning hot.

"I-itundefineds fine that you used the bathroom. But... did you wash with cold water?"

"Ah... yes. I needed to cool down a bit."

"......"

The nuance of his answer was strangely odd. I tried not to think deeply about it and stammered out my next words.

"P-please put some clothes on first. And Iundefinedm about to take a bath now, so..."

"Ah, I see. Alright then, Iundefinedll leave."

He nodded very gentlemanly, then passed by me and walked toward the door.

I stood there, frozen, utterly bewildered by the situation. But then, suddenly, Ruwellin stopped and asked from behind me.

"If you need any help..."

"...Huh? No!!"

Startled, I answered loudly. My voice echoed through the bathroom. Ruwellin smiled nonchalantly and turned his back.

Click. The bathroom door closed behind him.

"......"

Staring blankly at the closed door, I sank to the floor right there.

Did he just ask if I needed help...? What on earth did that mean? Was he offering to assist me with my bath?

undefinedIs that really the male lead? Could he be a magical beast disguised as the male lead?undefined

I was so confused I couldnundefinedt think straight. I couldnundefinedt even remember how I managed to draw my bathwater, wash myself, and get out.

As I emerged from the bathroom, drying my hair with a damp towel, a man was sitting in the living room waiting for me.

That man was, of course, Ruwellin Rashiane. Right now, in this villa, it was just the two of us.

Just the two of us...

As I realized that anew, a tightening tension gripped my heart, and I couldnundefinedt breathe.

Clenching my trembling hands into fists, I tried to pass by without acknowledging him. I felt like I needed to go to the kitchen and drink a glass of cold water.

I had no idea why my stomach kept burning hot every time I saw that man. And I didnundefinedt want to know. Finding out felt far too dangerous.

So I hurried toward the kitchen as if running away, but I heard footsteps following behind me. A leisurely, predatory pace, like a beast calmly stalking its captured prey.

undefinedWhat! Why are you following me!undefined

At this point, I felt like crying. Just being in the same space as that man made it hard to breathe and my heart race, but being this close was utterly fatal.

Was Ruwellin Rashiane trying to make me faint with his overwhelming beauty? Why did I have to pick up such a dangerous man and suffer like this?

With trembling hands, I picked up the kettle to pour water, but then I lost my grip.

The kettle slipped from my hand and plummeted toward the floor, but then a large hand snatched it out of the air with unbelievable speed.

Staring wide-eyed at that hand, I slowly raised my gaze to its owner.

Ruwellin Rashiane was smiling a radiant, sun-like smile.

That smile alone made me feel like I might faint.

How on earth did the heroine spend nights with such a man? And she didnundefinedt even fall for Ruwellin at first sight. I felt like I was going crazy, on the verge of falling for him right now!

undefinedThe existence called the heroine is... much more remarkable than I thought...undefined

As I marveled anew at the heroineundefineds extraordinariness, Ruwellin set the kettle down on the table and spoke to me.

"Are you thirsty?"

"Huh? Ah, yes..."

Because of you... I swallowed those words silently.

Oblivious to my burning insides, Ruwellin smiled brightly, prettily, and spoke pleasantly.

"Could I have a glass as well?"

"O-of course. Just a moment, I need to get a cup—"

"No."

"......?"

As I fumbled to get a cup, Ruwellin suddenly and gently took my hand.

"You go first. Iundefinedll use it after you."

"...Huh?"

"This cup."

He pointed to the cup that had been filled with water for me. I stared blankly at the cup, then at his clear, fair face.

undefined...Is he serious?undefined

His fever seemed to have gone down, and he appeared to be in his right mind... or not?

Feeling confused, I looked at him, then slowly picked up the cup. I planned to drink quickly and then wash it for him.

undefinedI think the male lead has gone crazy. He must have lost his mind due to the side effects of the Mana Rampage.undefined

I was utterly perplexed about what to do now that, unexpectedly, the male lead had gone mad.

The Hill and Rashiane families did not get along. They never had. And now, I, the daughter of the Hill family, had undefinedaccidentallyundefined picked up the Duke of Rashiane and undefinedaccidentallyundefined suppressed his Mana Rampage, but the Duke had gone mad... How would the Rashiane family interpret this, even if my own family didnundefinedt know?

undefinedThis is a disaster... I think I need to keep hiding the male lead.undefined

I had planned to contact the Rashiane Duchy at dawn, but it seemed I needed to observe Ruwellinundefineds condition a little longer.

I gulped down the water. Pouring cold water onto my burning insides made me feel somewhat alive.

As I approached the sink to wash the cup, a large hand suddenly snatched it away. I stopped, eyes wide.

Dazedly looking up at the owner of the hand that had stolen the cup, he smiled brightly and said.

"Thank you."

"......?"

For a moment, I didnundefinedt understand what was happening. I just stood there frozen, watching in shock as Ruwellin Rashiane very naturally poured water into undefinedthatundefined cup and brought it to his lips.

Oh no, why did he have to reuse the cup I had just used?!

Ruwellin paused, about to put the cup to his lips, then hesitated. He turned the cup around, checking something. Then, seemingly satisfied, he smiled and finally pressed his lips to it, drinking very slowly.

Gulp, gulp...

I watched his Adamundefineds apple move with an indescribable feeling.

His extremely masculine yet elegant and beautiful neckline, his Adamundefineds apple that protruded like a peach seed.

A trickle of water ran down his chin, slid down his neck, and disappeared into the chest of the bathrobe he was wearing.

I stared blankly at that utterly obscene sight.

undefinedCome to think of it, that robe...undefined

Itundefineds Adrianundefineds...

"......"

Brother, Iundefinedm sorry...

It looks a little short on Ruwellin. I guess heundefineds taller than my brother.

undefinedI thought he was about 185 centimeters, but maybe 2 or 3 centimeters taller?undefined

...Anyway, that wasnundefinedt the important thing. The problem was that the spot where Ruwellin put his lips seemed to be exactly where my lips had touched.

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like he had deliberately found that spot to drink from!

undefinedIs he insane...?undefined

Moreover, he did it right in front of me, as if to show off. He didnundefinedt even seem to want to hide it.

What on earth was his reason for acting like that?

"Iundefinedve finished with the cup."

"...Ah, yes."

"Iundefinedll wash it."

"Go ahead."

I stared blankly at him as he spoke calmly. He approached the sink with a pleased expression, washed the cup, and placed it on the drying rack. Then he turned to look at me with an impossibly clear face and smiled.

"Thanks to you, Roz, Iundefinedm feeling much better."

"Is that so? Iundefinedm glad."

"Yes, thank you."

Avoiding him as he closed the distance, I tiptoed backward. ...Why was I running away? No, why did this man keep approaching me! Couldnundefinedt we stay at least two steps apart? Why are you doing this to me?

"Ah...!"

Continuing to back away, I eventually tripped over my own feet and started to fall backward.

Damn, I knew this would happen someday.

Bracing myself for a cracked skull, I squeezed my eyes shut, but something solid and soft wrapped around my shoulders and waist. It was a personundefineds arm. And in this villa, there was only one person who could catch me like this.

I slowly opened my eyes. And met the gaze of those dazzling, maddening emerald eyes. Yet again, this cliché. He was so close I could feel his breath.

"......"

"Are you alright?"

Am I alright...?

I couldnundefinedt tear my eyes away from the manundefineds face asking me that question, from his eyes as fresh as summer leaves, from his pale, straight lips.

I was not alright at all.

Because of you, I am not alright at all.

My heart raced like crazy. I felt like tears might prick at my eyes from sheer frustration, and then a surge of emotion welled up inside me.

I was overcome. Ruwellin Rashiane... whether he was doing this on purpose or just oblivious, did he even realize how uncomfortable and difficult our relationship was because of the families we belonged to?

And besides, this man was someone elseundefineds man, so why did he keep shaking me like this? What did he hope to achieve?

"......!"

I grabbed him tightly by the collar. Ruwellinundefineds eyes widened, and he flinched. Overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion, I impulsively smashed my lips against his.

And then, I completely lost my mind.

It was just a clash of lips, but as if he had been waiting for it, his hot breath pushed into my mouth.

Before I could even feel a flicker of embarrassment, a dizzying sensation unlike our first kiss washed over me.

The man was rough. As if something had thoroughly provoked him.