Chapter 5

“What did you put in here?”

Suddenly, Dante spoke. Chloe looked up. Dante had only touched his lips to the cup before setting it down. Chloe blinked.

“It doesn’t smell like vinegar. Salt water?”

Dante’s voice was cheerful. Only then did Chloe realize what he meant. 

‘What did I put in? So that meant…’

‘…He saw?’

Chloe’s body trembled in shock. Dante laughed softly.

“You’re slow to react.”

“N-No, Dante, it’s not…”

“Not what?”

Dante rested his elbows on the table and his chin in his hand. His gaze was gentle, without suspicion or anger. Dante seemed like someone who’d never imagine Chloe would hurt him. That made Chloe feel even guiltier. As she fumbled for words, Dante pushed his cup toward her.

“If you get caught playing a prank, there should be a penalty.”

“…What?”

Chloe asked in surprise. Dante wore a mischievous smile at the corner of his lips. Chloe glanced between the teacup in front of her and Dante’s smiling face.

“You… you want me… to drink it?”

“What did you put in there to make your face look like that?”

Dante still looked amused. Chloe pressed her lips together. She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t confess that she’d put a love potion in his teacup because she loved him. She knew she couldn’t handle what would come after saying those words.

“I… I’ll just drink it.”

Chloe quickly reached out and picked up the teacup. The fortunate thing was, she was already in love. So even if she drank this, the existence of the potion wouldn’t be revealed. Chloe shot Dante a sly look and gulped down the half-cooled tea. Dante chuckled, like a boy enjoying a fun prank.

“Ugh, salty.”

Chloe deliberately scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue. Dante quickly picked up a meringue cookie.

“Are you okay? Why play pranks, you’re not a child.”

He seemed to think she’d put salt water in the cup. Chloe smiled awkwardly and opened her mouth. The white meringue popped into her mouth. At the same time, Dante’s fingers briefly brushed her lips.

“…Hmph.”

Chloe flinched without realizing it. The cookie crumbled with a soft crunch and melted sweetly in her mouth. It was a bit too sweet.

“Chloe?”

Dante’s voice sounded distant. Or maybe it was too close. Chloe stared blankly at Dante, tasting the sweetness in her mouth. She saw dazzling blonde hair, long eyelashes, and worried blue eyes beneath them. Chloe swallowed dryly without meaning to.

“Are you okay? Your face is red.”

A large hand touched her forehead and stroked her cheek. She couldn’t understand why such a trivial contact felt so hot.

‘…What is this?’

‘Why is my body acting like this? Why so hot, feverish, and hazy…?’

“Dante…”

Her voice came out with a heated sigh. Dante was startled and tried to withdraw his hand. Chloe didn’t want that touch to disappear, so she quickly grabbed his wrist.

“Keep… touching me.”

“What?”

“Hm? Dante…”

Chloe rubbed her cheek against Dante’s palm. Her body was getting hotter, and her breathing was rough. For some reason, she felt a tingling below, so she rubbed her thighs together. Dante opened his mouth as if searching for words, then closed it.

Regardless, Chloe kept rubbing her face against his hand. Cheeks, earlobes, neck—everywhere his hand touched burned with heat. Chloe, as if entranced, kissed his palm. Dante’s hand trembled.

“Chloe?”

“Hnn, Dante…”

Whispering as if moaning, Chloe suddenly snapped her eyes open. Dante was staring at her in confusion. 

‘What had I done? What had I said…?’ 

Chloe dropped the hand she’d been holding and quickly covered her mouth.

“S-Sorry.”

“…”

She apologized quickly, but the heat wouldn’t subside. Her body was hot and dizzy. Between her thighs felt slick. Chloe tried desperately to regain her composure. She hadn’t heard this was what the potion would do. Wasn’t it supposed to make her heart race and her face flush, not make her body burn like this?

‘Chacha, could it be…’

Chloe thought of the vials scattered on the table. 

‘Could it be, could it be…’

Anxiety crept in. Could the potion Chacha gave her not have been a love potion…?

“What did you do?”

The voice sounded unfamiliar, and Chloe cautiously looked up. Dante was staring at her with an expression she’d never seen before. His face was blank, but his eyebrows were slightly twisted, making Chloe’s heart sink. She hurriedly spoke.

“It… wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

“Potion?”

“N-No, not a potion, I just drank the tea…”

Chloe stammered, her face red. Dante twitched his eyebrows and downed the tea that had been Chloe’s in one go. When he set the empty cup down, Chloe shrank again.

“I’m fine, so why are you the only one like this?”

“…”

“What did you put in?”

Chloe didn’t answer. She couldn’t look him in the face. She didn’t want to hear his cold voice. When Chloe didn’t respond, Dante took her hand. As his thumb softly stroked her sweat-damp palm, Chloe’s body shivered. Dante gazed at her flushed cheeks and wet eyes with a blank expression.

“That was too much, Chloe.”

His cold voice made her bow her head. Regardless, Dante kept stroking her palm languidly. Every spot his hand touched tingled, and her body kept twitching beyond her will. If she let her guard down even a little, she felt she might m*an, so Chloe bit her lip tightly.

“What, did you want me to see you like this, all worked up?”

“No, no…”

Chloe shook her head quickly. This wasn’t what she wanted. But she couldn’t bring herself to say what kind of potion she’d meant to use. She didn’t want to imagine Dante’s reaction if she did.

“Chloe.”

Her shoulders flinched every time his fingers brushed a sensitive spot. No, every part Dante touched had become sensitive. Her body was so hot she could hardly bear it. She wanted his hand to touch her face, her ears, her neck, and even the places covered by her clothes.

“Hnn…”

Chloe gripped Dante’s hand tightly. Her mind kept getting hazy. Even as she tried to hold back, a whining m*an slipped through her teeth. Dante frowned at her, then rubbed his face with his free hand. With a complicated sigh, Chloe’s face twisted as if she might cry.

“Let’s get up for now. I’ll take you to the dorm.”

Dante stood and offered Chloe his arm. She felt relieved he hadn’t gotten angry and left, but was oddly disappointed that he was just taking her to her dorm. Still, his firm arm made her body ache.

“…I can’t go.”

Chloe whimpered. Her voice, mixed with heated sighs, sounded strangely seductive, but Dante didn’t even blink.

“Just hold on a bit. Chacha should have an antidote.”

“Chacha’s not here. She went to the seminar.”

“What?”

Dante’s face twisted sharply.

“When will she be back?”

“A-After a week.”

“Why now of all times…!”

Dante spoke irritably, then dropped his head at Chloe’s expression. He sighed deeply for the umpteenth time.

“Let’s go to my house.”

“…Your house?”

“Don’t get any ideas. I’m just worried you might run into some dangerous guy like this.”

His firm voice, drawing a line, made Chloe feel a little hurt. Or maybe she was just disappointed. Chloe silently clung to Dante’s arm. When their bodies pressed together, Dante pulled his arm away a bit.

“Don’t get too close.”

“…”

Chloe, surprised by his unexpected words, looked up. Dante turned his head sharply, looking shocked. The walk to his house felt endlessly long.

* * *

Unlike Chloe, who lived in the dorms, Dante stayed in a house on the Academy grounds. Only upperclassmen could move in, and it was much more expensive than the dorms. You could even bring servants from your family, so it was mostly used by heirs from wealthy families or future heads of houses. Thanks to that, it was small but had the atmosphere of a noble residence. The butler recognized Chloe and bowed deeply.

“It’s been a while, My Lady.”

“Chloe’s not feeling well, so we’ll go to the bedroom.”

Dante shielded Chloe with his body as he spoke. Chloe, her face red, leaned her head on Dante’s arm. Her labored breathing and limp body made it clear she wasn’t well.

“Should I call a doctor?”

“No. She’ll just stay for about a week. Just bring some water later.”

With that, Dante went up the stairs. Chloe followed. The higher they climbed, the harder her heart pounded. When they were very young, they’d visited each other’s rooms freely, but since becoming adults, this was her first time entering his room. Dante slowly opened the door. A spacious bed came into view.

“…Go in.”

Dante opened the door and set the stopper with his foot. Chloe glanced at the wide-open door, then approached the bed. She imagined Dante laying her down and touching her.

What would Dante be like in bed?

Would he be gentle as usual, or unexpectedly rough? How would he kiss, how would he undress, what would he do if she pulled him close now?