Chapter 6

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 105

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I was at a complete loss for words in that instant.

Was he really under the impression that I was the one about to pounce on him?

"If doing it with someone who's awake doesn't appeal to you... should I pretend to be asleep, then?"

"......"

I couldn't help but genuinely wonder if he was in his right mind saying that.

But when I glanced down at his lower half, it was clear he'd seriously misunderstood.

I turned my head away, lacking the courage to face him any longer. How utterly embarrassing.

"Does even this fail to tempt you?"

Maybe I should just welcome this misunderstanding.

Getting caught stealing his medicine would be far worse, though on the other hand, I felt a pang of frustration at not being able to correct his bizarre assumption.

"......I just want to sleep."

"Why?"

Rihart furrowed his brow, clearly displeased, and asked.

"I'm sleepy."

"......"

Rihart looked deeply unsatisfied with my ridiculous excuse.

"You're the one who got me all worked up like this, and now you just want to sleep?"

"Yes. So good night."

I even gave him a goodnight greeting, signaling I had nothing more to say.

I turned my back to him and lay down on the opposite side of the bed.

A low groan, like a pained whimper, came from behind me.

I ignored it and closed my eyes.

I woke up with Rihart and spent the entire day trailing after him.

My goal was to keep him from taking his medicine, but he'd interpreted it differently.

<Rozhi really is such a scaredy-cat. Ghosts must terrify her that much.>

<......>

<I hope ghosts really exist in this world. That way, you'd have to stick by my side forever.>

Even if they did exist, they wouldn't haunt you.

I repeated it to myself a hundred, a thousand times inwardly, but unable to respond, I just smiled quietly.

Last night, while Rihart slept, I'd swapped out the contents and slipped them into my pocket.

It was a sleight of hand.

The mana suppressant was colorless, odorless, and tasteless, so he wouldn't notice even if he took it.

There were suppressants with delayed effects, too, so he'd likely overlook it.

It didn't matter anyway.

I'd make damn sure he never got his hands on the real stuff.

I'd thought it'd be tough at first, but it wasn't so bad.

"Must be nice for you."

Rihart turned to me quizzically as he prepared the meal.

I sat at the table, waiting for him to finish cooking.

Following him around all day had revealed something: all the meals I'd eaten so far were made by Rihart himself.

'No wonder it felt off...'

The castle was deserted when I tried to escape.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Three years ago, you told me yourself. Being with me means no pain at all."

I tossed it out casually, testing the waters.

"You said it felt good."

But not anymore, right?

Rihart still had no idea I'd figured it out.

"That's right. It feels good."

I wasn't sure why he'd bother hiding it when there was nothing left for him to gain from me, but he was clearly trying to keep that fact under wraps.

"Being with you feels amazing."

Rihart said as he set the food down on the table.

The mouthwatering dishes made Rihart fade from my mind.

I'll eat first and think later.

As I ate, a sudden thought struck me.

'What if I just ditch everything and start a cooking business with him?'

This could be a huge hit.

An entrepreneurial spark ignited in me.

We'd make money, live luxuriously... it didn't sound half bad anymore.

'Snap out of it! Michel's waiting for me.'

But I'd already imagined striking it rich with Rihart in the culinary world.

Sorry, Michel. I wavered for a second. You know it's not my fault, right?

"Delicious?"

......But is it really okay for this guy to keep hanging around here?

He's the Holy Knight Captain. Why's he wasting time with me here?

"Aren't you busy?"

"Of course I am."

"......Then why are you still here doing this?"

We'd been here for days now, but I'd never once seen Rihart working.

"Should I quit my job?"

"Are you insane?"

Why throw away such a great position?

"If I submit my resignation, I could stay here with you all day. I could protect you from ghosts, too."

That damn ghost nonsense again.

My healing meal-induced calm started bubbling with irritation once more.

"You're here right now without having quit."

"Hm. True. Still, it's a bit of a hassle, so I've been seriously considering it."

Being Holy Knight Captain wasn't something you could just walk away from.

From what I knew, temple priests were bound for life once they joined.

Deserting meant becoming a fugitive...

"You're joking, right?"

"Did it sound like a joke?"

No. Not at all.

......He's dead serious.

I briefly imagined Rihart as a fugitive, living out his days here with me.

No business prospects for fugitives. I'd have to shelve that cooking idea.

A chill ran down my spine.

'I have to escape. No matter what.'

No matter how closely I shadowed him, Rihart never took his medicine in front of me.

He had once, back at the northern count's castle, but now he was holding back to avoid detection.

As a result, his condition deteriorated rapidly.

"Your face looks pale. You okay?"

"......I'm fine."

"Oh, are you sick or something?"

I pretended not to have a clue why he was like this.

Seeing him worsen by the minute did stir a bit of pity. But for my escape, this was the only way.

Rihart would never let me go otherwise.

"Yeah, I am sick. If you hold me, I bet I'd feel better..."

The problem was how he exploited his own state to pull his tricks.

"Can't have you hurting."

I knew his game but played along, acting oblivious as per my role.

'Why does he only pull this on me?'

He never did with Arjen, who imprisoned him.

Like I'd done something wrong.

And he was the one who tried to kidnap me three years ago.

Such thoughts occasionally surged, filling me with resentment.

"Rozhi, you smell so good."

I flinched at that.

Wasn't he supposed to have lost his sense of smell?

"I love your scent."

So that was it.

I hated how relieved I felt in this moment.

But after letting it slide a few times, Rihart hit his limit.

His breathing grew ragged, his body temperature rising.

Why was he stubbornly refusing his medicine?

Pitiful as it was, I had no choice.

I sensed my escape day drawing near.

"I'm going to wash up now."

I said as I loosened Rihart's cravat.

He obediently held out his hands, knowing full well what I intended.

I bound his wrists tightly with the cravat.

"Don't go anywhere. Stay right here."

"If I'm good, reward me with a kiss, Rozhi."

"Sure."

He looked surprised at my ready agreement.

It wasn't hard. Just... draining. Very draining.

I secured Rihart's bound wrists to the bed.

I accidentally glimpsed his lower half and quickly looked away.

When I returned after washing up, he was still obediently tied.

With flushed cheeks, he begged for his kiss, and I kept my promise.

And that night, Rihart collapsed.

A few hours earlier.

Rihart finally took his medicine in front of me. He'd reached his breaking point.

<I've been meaning to ask—what's that?>

I feigned ignorance and asked,

<Just cold medicine.>

Rihart lied brazenly.

'If you're gonna lie that smoothly, why not take it sooner?'

I watched worriedly as he swallowed what I'd swapped for plain water.

The mana suppressant had no taste, similar to water but with subtle differences.

His inability to notice meant his condition was dire.

In the end, Rihart collapsed.

"Hey, you okay?"

"......Rihart."

"Yes?"

"......Call me Rihart, miss."

Addressing me as "miss" instead of Rozhi showed he truly wasn't in his right mind.

'Miss.'

It had been ages since I'd heard that title.

"This must be more than a regular cold."

I pretended concern and tried to help him up.

"Will you feel better if I hold you?"

"......Yeah. Hold me."

How could he lie so shamelessly?

"......That's weird."

"What is?"

"......Sometimes the medicine doesn't kick in right away... Maybe it was bad."

"Do you have more? Tell me where."

"......Uh... where was it?"

Even as he spoke, he clearly had no intention of telling me, pulling me into a tight embrace instead.

His hot breath brushed my neck directly.

The spot tingled with heat.

"I'm just worried about you, Rihart."

I patted his back as if truly concerned.

His back trembled faintly in response.

"......Now I get it."

"Remembered where the medicine is?"

"Three years ago, before you betrayed me, you were this kind to me too, miss."

"Why bring that up now...?"

"Did you tamper with my medicine?"

Sharp as ever.

"......You've realized that even with you by my side like before, my body won't heal."

"......"

"That's why you've been so sweet these past few days."

I pushed Rihart away without hearing more.

His crumbling body was easy to shove from my arms.

"......Don't go."

I ignored his plea and walked on.

I'd placed the medicine vial on a table far from him when I swiped it.

I hadn't discarded it—just relocated it.

"Medicine's right there. Help yourself."

It'd take him time to crawl over.

"......Don't go."

"......"

"Please."

Rihart begged like he was groaning in agony.

"I believe a few days of revenge is enough."

"......"

"I messed up too, but you tried to kidnap me three years ago. Call it even."

Even if saying this wouldn't erase my guilt, pity, or heaviness, I forced a cold tone to lighten the load.

We'd traded one blow each, so a touch of remorse was fair.

I left him and headed for the door.

"......If you go, I'll kill that Seyblin Baroness you care so much about."

His feverish threat made me glance back briefly.

Thinking I'd return, Rihart smiled brightly.

"Don't be disgusting, Rihart."

That was it.

I left the room without lingering.

Walking briskly, I glanced back and saw no pursuit from Rihart. A smile tugged at my lips.

I broke into a run.

I'd escape this place soon.

Finally, freedom!

Unable to contain the surging elation, I ran until the exit came into view.

Unlike before, I didn't get lost.

Even after leaving the castle, I kept running.

The castle was surrounded by forest. I ran without knowing the path.

My lungs burned to the limit, but euphoria drowned out the pain.

Freedom at last!

But in that moment, someone seized my waist.

My heart plummeted.

Had Rihart caught me again?

Too shocked to breathe properly, I looked up and met fierce red eyes.

"Sis."

Yurta grinned with joy.