Chapter 12 - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Sometimes there are moments like that.

Moments when you wake up with your heart pounding uneasily.

undefinedWhat is it...?undefined

I threw off the blanket and sat up, blinking blankly. It wasnundefinedt even dawn yet, just a dark night. Maybe an hour or two after falling asleep.

undefinedWhy is my heart pounding like this?undefined

Had I had a nightmare I couldnundefinedt remember? Sitting still with my hand on my chest, I suddenly felt a sense of foreboding and got out of bed.

Opening the door and stepping into the hallway, my feet naturally headed toward the first floor where Ruwellin was.

As I descended each step, my heartundefineds pounding seemed to intensify. Finally reaching the bedroom where Ruwellin slept, I hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened the door.

Just in case, I intended to check quietly, without waking him, if he was sleeping well.

But the sight that soon entered my vision, and the moans I heard, made me freeze in shock.

"Ugh, hueuk..."

"...Duke?"

Calling him with a trembling voice, I stood rooted to the spot for a moment, then hurried to his side.

"Duke! Are you alright?!"

"...Ro, z..."

Turning to look at me, he called my name, as if struggling to get it out. His green eyes were clouded with heat. His face was twisted in pain, and tears were streaming down his cheeks, still wet with tear tracks.

"D-duke..."

"Roz... It hurts, I think Iundefinedm dying."

Ruwellin pleaded in a pained voice. Even at a glance, he was in a very serious condition.

Cold sweat poured from him, his eyes were red from crying. His body trembled, his breathing was intermittent, and his fever was so hot it felt like red-hot iron.

I was suddenly terrified. What if something happened to him like this? So scared, my hand on his shoulder trembled.

undefinedIf things go wrong, he could really die.undefined

In the original story, too, Ruwellin had a relationship with Sierra when he was on the brink of death. He barely survived by a hairundefineds breadth.

undefinedIf I donundefinedt help him...undefined

He might truly lose his life.

undefinedI need to do... something.undefined

With trembling hands, I cupped his cheeks and hesitated for a moment. But then, gathering my courage, I gently pressed my lips to his. In that state, I waited for his mana to flow into me.

Not long after, the mana that had been overflowing and rampaging inside him began to flow into me.

Stroking his cheeks, I tried to absorb more mana. At the same time, I slowly released his mana, which had begun to pool inside me, outward. In a crisis like this, it was important to soothe the mana carefully rather than rush.

How long did I continue absorbing and releasing mana like that? Ruwellin gradually calmed down.

I gently parted my lips and checked his complexion. He still looked pained, but comparatively more comfortable than before.

"Duke..."

As I stroked his sweat-soaked cheek and spoke sympathetically, Ruwellin slowly opened his eyes and looked at me blankly.

"Duke, are you feeling a bit better?"

"...You seem to know."

"Huh?"

"About why I suffer like this."

"......!"

His words hit home. I was flustered but tried not to show it.

I hadnundefinedt thought of it. The fact that Ruwellin Rashiane had never told me about his Mana Rampage.

undefinedHe only said he was in pain, that he needed saving.undefined

...The fact that the Duke of Rashiane suffered from Mana Rampage was almost a secret. Very few people knew.

The cause of his Mana Rampage was the divine power flowing within him. Ruwellin Rashiane was a rare case of possessing both divine power and mana.

But divine power and mana are conflicting forces. The two forces constantly clashed inside him without mixing, and eventually, the more violent mana would begin to rampage.

That was Ruwellin Rashianeundefineds Mana Rampage.

undefinedAnd the heroine, Sierra, could absorb mana and convert it into divine power.undefined

With that ability, Sierra suppressed his Mana Rampage by absorbing his mana and converting it into divine power.

But I couldnundefinedt use that method. Because I wasnundefinedt a divine power user. So I couldnundefinedt undefinedcompletelyundefined heal Ruwellin. I could only suppress his mana whenever it rampaged.

undefinedSierra gradually converts Ruwellinundefineds immense mana into divine power, turning him into a complete divine power user...undefined

But I canundefinedt do that.

So I could never be the same as her.

Sighing, I brushed back Ruwellinundefineds disheveled hair. I had just thought of an excuse. About how I knew he suffered from Mana Rampage.

"Iundefinedm a mage... I can tell by the symptoms."

"Not every mage would notice as quickly as you, would they?"

"Thatundefineds true, but Iundefinedm a fairly talented mage, so I could tell without difficulty."

"Is that so?"

"...Yes, it is."

Seeing him press the matter, he must be feeling much better. I realized anew how suspicious I must have looked in his eyes.

Hoping my wildly pounding heart would calm down, I tried to get off the bed, but Ruwellin grabbed me. Or rather, he tried to. Before he could grab me, I quickly twisted my body and dodged.

Was I getting trained because Iundefinedd been in situations like this often...? Ruwellin looked at me with a blank expression. Avoiding his gaze, I spoke.

"Iundefinedll stand here and watch over you to see if youundefinedre alright. Sleep soundly."

"...Youundefinedll watch over me all night? Standing there?"

"Is that not okay?"

"Why go that far? Roz, you are a mage of the Magic Tower and the daughter of the Hill family."

"I..."

I stammered, not knowing what to say. Ruwellin was unusually sharp today. As if trying to dig into me.

undefinedAs expected, heundefineds a dangerous person.undefined

The tension that had loosened from my growing fondness for him tightened again. Choosing my words carefully, I answered.

"Because a personundefineds life is more important than the fact that Iundefinedm the daughter of the Hill family and youundefinedre the Duke of Rashiane."

"......"

"If I didnundefinedt help you... you might die."

At those words, Ruwellin smiled faintly. A smile that was hard to read.

He slowly sat up, reached out his hand toward me, and said.

"Then... you have to keep helping me. Donundefinedt you?"

Again, he smiled with his eyes, as if seducing me.

"B-but..."

I stammered, then continued.

"You look fine now, though."

"How could that be... Something like a kiss couldnundefinedt make me better that quickly."

Ruwellin answered with a shameless face. His hand, reaching toward me, wavered as if urging me to take it.

Naturally, I hesitated. Because if I took that hand and went to his side... I had a feeling something irreversible would happen, and my heart trembled.

"Iundefinedll just... stand here and watch over you, Duke. I wonundefinedt leave, so donundefinedt worry."

"...Then if I start hurting again, will you kiss me?"

His gaze was fixed on me, unwavering. He was like a beast, constantly watching for a chance to catch me.

Feeling somehow like prey, I faltered. I had no choice but to be cautious. But.

undefinedI know myself well.undefined

If the wall I was building around my heart right now came crashing down from a single shock...

Then, it might really be irreversible.

"Roz."

Ruwellin called my name and asked again.

"If Iundefinedm in too much pain and distress, will you kiss me?"

"......"

After a momentundefineds hesitation, I sighed softly and answered.

"...Yes."

A kiss... should be fine.

Ruwellin leaned his upper body toward me and fired off questions.

"Then, what about hugging?"

"...Hugging... is fine..."

Before I could even finish nodding, another question came.

"What about me touching you?"

"To-... Huh? You?"

Where, where? As I hesitated warily, Ruwellin answered with an impossibly bright smile.

"Everywhere Iundefinedm dying to touch you."

...What did he say?

Confused, wondering what I had just heard, I blinked rapidly.

No matter how I thought about it, it was a sentence I couldnundefinedt believe had come out of Ruwellin Rashianeundefineds mouth.

undefinedEverywhere heundefineds dying to touch...undefined

Where, exactly, was that? Why was he dying to? Flustered, I hesitated and took another step back. The emerald eyes gazing intently at me were profoundly deep, impossible to fathom.

"Roz, if you donundefinedt like it, I wonundefinedt touch you, but— ugh...!"

Ruwellin suddenly doubled over, clutching his chest. Startled, I flinched, then hurried to his side.

"D-duke, are you alright?"

"Ha..."

He exhaled heavily and slowly released his pained expression. Soon, he raised his head, his eyes full of fragility.

And for some reason... he also looked afraid.

"Roz... if you donundefinedt help me... Iundefinedll die."

At those words, I gasped, my breath trembling. Ruwellin smiled a resigned smile and spoke.

"Of course... dying in your arms wouldnundefinedt be so bad."

"...Huh?"

"But still, Iundefinedm afraid of dying."

Ruwellin slowly reached out his hand toward me. Even though it was close enough to grab, his hand merely hovered near my arm, almost touching but not quite.

"I want to live. I have too many regrets to die. But most regrettably..."

"......"

"...Is that I would forever lose the chance to get closer to you."

At those words, I paused.

A chance to get closer to me.

That Ruwellin Rashiane had been hoping for that...?

It was something I couldnundefinedt understand with the common sense I had believed in, so I was truly confused.

undefinedEven if heundefineds not in his right mind...undefined

Not knowing what to answer, I hesitated, then suddenly thought of a certain possibility.

Thinking it over, it was quite persuasive. Stammering, I asked in a timid voice.

"Did you... enjoy kissing me that much?"

At that, Ruwellinundefineds eyes widened. He paused, looking at me, then laughed helplessly and answered.

"Yes, I enjoyed it so much. So much that I feel Iundefinedll never experience such ecstasy again."

"I-is that so..."

I nodded, blushing slightly. Hearing his answer, I felt I could be certain. It seemed we were quite physically compatible.

undefinedThen itundefineds understandable that he wants to get closer to me...undefined

Choosing a marriage partner isnundefinedt that difficult, but finding someone youundefinedre physically compatible with is said to be quite hard.

It was a bit unexpected that the abstinent Duke Rashiane would think such things, but...

undefinedMaybe heundefineds a little crazy right now, so his inhibitions are loosened.undefined

They say the more someone suppresses their desires usually, the more dangerous they become when they explode. Ruwellin Rashiane seemed to be just such a case.

After thinking quietly, I opened my mouth.

"You liked kissing so much... thatundefineds why you want to do other things with me too?"

"......"

Ruwellin looked at me silently, then answered a beat later.

"Yes, I want to do everything with you."

"E-everything?"

"From start to finish, everything."

From start to finish. Was that what I thought it meant...? Shocked, I clasped my hands tightly together and trembled.

As if quietly observing my reaction, Ruwellin let out a soft laugh. Why, why was he laughing?

"Ah, really..."

Wiping his chin, he murmured, still with a hint of laughter.

"Youundefinedre much cuter than I imagined."

"Huh...?"

"I really didnundefinedt know Iundefinedd feel this much like devouring you."

Devour... what? I blinked, feeling a bit bewildered.

Ruwellinundefineds fingertip subtly brushed the skin on my forearm. It was a very minor touch, but goosebumps rose on my skin along with an electric sensation.

As I stood frozen, Ruwellin sighed as if in pain and pleaded with me earnestly.

"Roz. Will you kiss me?"

"......"

"This time, a little longer."

As I hesitated, barely looking at him, Ruwellin begged again in an urgent voice.

"Hmm? Roz... kiss me. Please, take pity on me..."

As always, his eyes made my heart flutter. Looking into those eyes made me want to grant any request.

"......"

My hesitation was not long. I would probably end up kissing him anyway.

I approached him quietly and pressed my lips to his. But as if that wasnundefinedt enough, he sighed deeply and said.

"Letundefineds have a deeper relationship, you and me."

"Deeper... relationship?"

"Kissing, and other things..."

He looked at me with an urgent expression. When such a remarkably handsome man looked at me so sorrowfully, I couldnundefinedt look away.

Blanking blinking, I unconsciously nodded. Then he pulled me into his arms and trapped me. With a dazzlingly bright smile.

"Youundefinedre my first, Roz."

Oh no, but you shouldnundefinedt be my first!

Only then did I come to my senses. undefinedFirstundefined – that was supposed to be with the heroine!

Thump, thump. My oblivious heart raced on, oblivious to my inner turmoil. Being so closely pressed against him, I was afraid he might feel my loud heartbeat.

I subtly moved my body, trying to escape his embrace. Then his solid arms tightened around my waist. I couldnundefinedt move an inch.

Ruwellin smiled kindly and said.

"That wasnundefinedt a kiss just now. It was just pressing lips together. And very briefly at that."

"Still, a kiss is a kiss."

I made up excuses as they came to me, flustered by the mounting tension.

A strange atmosphere flowed between us. It felt like an invisible string was being pulled taut. If that string snapped like this, what on earth would happen? My heart pounded anxiously.

"Again. Kiss me properly."

"Duke, are you actually in pain?"

"Of course, Iundefinedm in so much pain. I feel like Iundefinedm dying."

"......"

It felt like he was lying, but it was true that cold sweat was beading on his forehead. Moreover, the body heat I felt through his thin shirt was very hot. His fever was definitely rising again.

undefined...Right, rather than letting his symptoms worsen like this, itundefineds better to kiss him quickly and make him better.undefined

Having reached that conclusion, after a momentundefineds hesitation, I finally gathered my courage and kissed him. Then, as if he had been waiting, his large hand cupped the back of my head. My lips parted at his lead, and his hot, wet tongue entwined with mine.

"Ueung..."

The initial exploration of my mouth was cautious. But soon, his movements became faster and more intense. Because he bound me so fiercely, I couldnundefinedt think straight. My breathing grew more rapid. I flinched and grabbed the hem of his shirt tightly with both hands. My heart was pounding like crazy.

"Ha, Roz..."

He briefly parted his lips, called my name in a thick voice, then gently bit my lower lip. Without thinking, I scratched at his chest. Ruwellin laughed lowly and licked the spot he had just bitten.

"This is..."

He whispered, his lips still pressed to mine.

"...a real kiss."

And then, my lips were devoured again.

Heat rose in my body, my breath came in short gasps. Whenever I seemed unable to endure, he let me rest briefly, but he never stopped. Holding the back of my head tightly and pulling my waist close, he never let me go.

Somehow, that scared me. It was an inexplicable premonition.

How long did he steal my breath? Finally, he let me rest properly.

My tightly clenched hands trembled. My body trembled too. As I struggled to catch my breath, Ruwellin pecked kisses on my lips several times. My overused lips were sore.

"How was it?"

"Huh...?"

"The kiss. I studied hard for it."

"......?"

Wondering why he asked, I blinked. The question gave me a strange sense of déjà vu, but I was too out of it to think properly. I just nodded awkwardly and answered briefly.

"It was... good..."

"Really?"

"Yes..."

Hearing my answer, he smiled brightly. He looked very happy. He even hugged me tight and kissed all over my face! I flinched heavily in surprise.

"Iundefinedll keep working hard."

"Huh? Ah...! W-wait—"

He slid his head down and kissed my neck, making me jump in shock. My body jolted as if electrocuted. He looked up at me with a playful smile.

"Itundefineds soft here too."

"......!"

"Iundefinedm curious if other places are soft too."

For a moment, I doubted my ears. Because I couldnundefinedt believe those words had come out of the mouth of the Duke of Rashiane.

Really, wasnundefinedt he a magical beast disguised as Ruwellin Rashiane? As I blinked in disbelief, Ruwellin made an earnest face and pleaded again.

"Will you allow it? Roz, for me to touch you."

I stammered, barely managing to answer.

"N-no."

"......"

Worried I had sounded too timid, I refused more firmly.

"No...!"

But again, my voice trembled, making me sound very timid.

Damn! Why was it so hard to refuse this manundefineds requests? It must be because of his impossibly handsome face. Definitely!

"Why not?"

"......"

He looked genuinely puzzled. I was so dumbfounded that I forgot how to answer.

As I stared at him in disbelief, Ruwellin made a pitiful face and begged.

"Roz, you touched me all over. So why canundefinedt I touch you?"

"Wh-what? When did I?!"

Dumbfounded, I squirmed. But sitting on his thigh, our upper bodies pressed together, I couldnundefinedt move an inch.

As I blinked in bewilderment, Ruwellin lowered his eyes sorrowfully, as if he had been molested, and said.

"The day you brought me to this villa. You took off my clothes carelessly and felt my body..."

"Aaaah! When did I! I just took off your clothes!"

This was truly exasperating to the point of madness. When had I ever done such a shameless thing! I only took off his wet clothes!

"Itundefineds true I took off your clothes, Duke, but I never felt your body!"

"But you wanted to feel it, didnundefinedt you?"

"I did not?!"

No, more than that, was this man awake back then?!

I grabbed him by the collar and demanded.

"Were you awake back then? Then why didnundefinedt you get up?"

"Ah..."

He subtly avoided my gaze, then answered, pretending to be pitiful again.

"I was conscious, but I was so weak I couldnundefinedt even open my eyes."

"......"

Why did it feel like a lie? He was speaking with a perfectly clear face and transparent eyes. So why did it seem so suspicious?

As I narrowed my eyes and stared at him, he gently took both my hands and said.

"Itundefineds not a lie. I really thought I was dying back then too."

"......"

Hearing that, I suddenly remembered. I needed to ask why he, the Duke of Rashiane, had been collapsed alone on the Hill familyundefineds property...

undefinedShould I ask him now?undefined

Examining his face, I slowly opened my mouth.

"Um, Duke—"

Smack.

"......?!"

At the sudden sensation on the back of my hand, I froze stiff.

Ruwellin started kissing my palm wildly.

Smack, smack, smack smack.

W-what, why suddenly! Startled, I tried to pull my hand away. But Ruwellin, gripping my wrist tightly, absolutely refused to let go.

Smack—.

"Ah, ugh, why suddenly...!"

After one long kiss, he licked my palm lightly. I jumped on his thigh, struggling to escape somehow. But one of Ruwellinundefineds arms was already firmly wrapped around my waist.

undefinedAaaargh...!undefined

A sense of foreboding washed over me. The fact that I had kept thinking he seemed not to be in his right mind.

And now— his body was burning hot again.

undefinedSu-surely...!undefined

Ruwellin Rashiane, when he endures and endures the Mana Rampage until his mental strength reaches its limit, instinctively seeks out someone to suppress his mana.

Half out of his mind...

undefinedNo, but this is too sudden!undefined

Ruwellin, who had been burying his lips in my palm, finally raised his head.

Soon, his emerald eyes met mine, filled with a madness clearer than ever.

"...Roz."

He called my name in a thick voice. I swallowed nervously, my throat dry. My heart was racing like crazy.

"Roz, Roznia."

"W-wait a minute—"

"My Roz..."

He lowered his head, rubbed his cheek on my shoulder, then kissed my neck. Murmuring my name like a madman.

"Duke, please, come to your senses."

"Ro... Ah, ugh!"

As I tried to calm him down somehow, Ruwellin grimaced in pain and moaned.

I felt his arms, which had been holding me, trembling. He gasped for breath and burrowed deeper into my arms. Like a wounded beast.

undefinedAh, what do I do...undefined

In the end, I realized his condition had become very serious. Now, truly, the only one who could save him was me...

In this villa, it was just the two of us, plus one useless familiar.

"Hueuk..."

The moment I saw him clinging to me as if I were a lifeline, moaning in pain, fear rose up.

He might really die like this.

undefinedNo...undefined

My heart pounded violently. I was scared. I was afraid he would die. Not because he was the male lead, but because, even for a short time, he was someone who had shared daily life with me.

A person who kept trying to pry into my heart, who shook my heart.

There had never been such a person in my life. So perhaps I had unconsciously come to think of him as special.

Perhaps that was why. I couldnundefinedt bear to let him die.

"Ah, no, you canundefinedt die."

"......"

"You canundefinedt die, Duke...!"

I held him tight and carefully kissed his cheek. Then Ruwellin stirred as if ticklish. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of my hand, I moved my head to find his lips.

The moment our lips met, he let out a thin moan. Soon, the breath pushing inside was hotter than ever.

I hugged his back, patted him, and kissed him clumsily. His body was so hot, I felt like I would melt too.

The rampaging mana inside him flowed into me. I continued to absorb his mana slowly.

How long did we exchange slow kisses? Before I knew it, I was lying beneath him.

Trapped in his arms, I was completely absorbed in receiving his increasingly rough kisses. I steeled myself that we might go all the way like this. Rather than letting him suffer by just kissing repeatedly, it would be better to properly suppress his mana.

undefinedOnce Ruwellinundefineds condition seems a bit better, Iundefinedll contact the Rashiane Duchy then.undefined

One night, or two or three times... that much should be fine. Itundefineds not like weundefinedre going to get married anyway.

But thinking that, my heart ached strangely. I tried to think why, but then the sound of clothes rustling made my mind go blank.

"Ah...!"

Ruwellin looked down at me intently from above. The lamp had gone out at some point, and faint moonlight illuminated his figure.

He was a beautiful man, like something out of a myth. The moonlight made his aura even more dreamlike, and I looked at him as if bewitched.

"Roz..."

He seemed to have come to his senses a little. He called my name, carefully stroking my cheek, and looked at me with incredibly kind eyes.

Somehow, my heart trembled.

"I want your permission."

His hand, moving to the side, brushed through my hair. As if savoring the touch, he moved his hand very slowly.

"For me to dare touch you..."

"......"

"...and enter you. May I?"

"......"

This time, I couldnundefinedt refuse by saying "No." I nodded slightly and answered in a small voice.

"...Yes."

Then he smiled a dazzlingly bright smile. Even the moonlight lost its luster to his brilliance.

Completely bewitched, I quietly accepted his approaching lips, the touches landing on my body.

"...You definitely gave me permission."

"......"

"I will never, ever let you go now."

It was probably just him, half out of his mind, saying that because I was the only one who could suppress his mana. Sighing deeply, I timidly pulled him into a gentle embrace.

His infinitely kind and gentle kisses bloomed hotter and hotter flowers on my body. Soon, I felt like my whole body was being consumed by the surging heat. The night of the crescent moon grew darker and more cozy. An unforgettable time was being etched into every part of my body.