Chapter 20

Valerio was always scary, but right now, he seemed just a little less so.

“…You did.”

“Hm?”

Maybe her cheeks were hot not from emotion, but from Valerio’s gaze.

She thought he was just staring ahead, but he was actually looking at her—specifically, at her hair.

Leticia, wondering what he was looking at, grew flustered.

She realized she’d worn the ribbon she’d received as a birthday present, which reminded her of their embarrassing first meeting. Her ears grew hot, feeling as if her feelings were exposed.

“No, it’s nothing. Ah, it’s raining harder.”

Fortunately, the suddenly heavier rain interrupted them. Drops began to soak the ground.

Valerio, pretending not to notice her red ears, muttered to himself and looked up at the sky; Leticia followed suit.

The sky was gray and cloudy, and clear raindrops fell, pricking her brow.

The number of raindrops hitting her face increased. They needed to get indoors before it poured.

Just as she straightened her hair and prepared to run to the nearest annex—

“…Shia?”

Valerio’s hand brushed her forehead.

Valerio was probably trying to shield her from the rain, but Leticia, focused only on getting inside, ended up avoiding him.

“Ah, I did it again… Sorry.”

Before she could say anything, Valerio withdrew his hand.

His apology was simple, but his expression was complicated—hurt, perhaps, or full of regret, though he hadn’t wronged her.

As she blinked, wondering if she’d misread him, Valerio stepped back.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Hmm? Okay.”

He put his arm behind him and gently urged her forward; his face was a little awkward, but she couldn’t figure out why.

The two walked silently through the rain. Even as they reached the annex, the space between them never closed to less than the width of two umbrellas.

* * *

Her throat was parched and her mind felt dusty and foggy.

It took a while before she realized she’d just been sleeping.

“Uhh…”

Her muttered voice sounded hoarse, even to herself, as if she’d screamed.

Leticia rubbed her forehead with one hand and her neck with the other, pressing her cheek to her soft skin.

Come to think of it, what time was it? She tried to check the clock, but her eyes wouldn’t open. They were crusted and swollen.

She was sure she looked a mess in the mirror.

What had happened to make her eyes and neck puffy and give her a slight fever? She wouldn’t have slept outside on the street, so maybe she’d caught a cold.

Oddly, her lower body ached and throbbed.

She exhaled slowly. What had she been doing before she fell asleep? As she rubbed her eye with the back of her hand, she realized—

She’d been rubbing her cheek against something unfamiliar. Against soft skin that shouldn’t be in her private lab.

Whether from lack of exercise or denial, Leticia forced her reluctant neck to turn.

Unlike her own messy appearance, Valerio was lying next to her, face relaxed and glowing.

Leticia suppressed the scream that nearly burst out and rolled her eyes, trying to assess the situation.

The sofa they lay on wasn’t wide, so Valerio slept holding her close.

Judging by his steady breathing, he was definitely asleep.

As she carefully tried to sit up, Leticia noticed his arm around her waist.

She’d have to move it to escape, but it was heavy, and no matter how she struggled, it wouldn’t budge.

Instead, it seemed as if something sticky had been smeared on her skin, making his arm cling even more tightly.

Surely he wasn’t awake? Leticia stopped struggling and glanced back.

Even when she waved her hand in front of his closed eyes, Valerio’s expression didn’t change. Only his soft, even breathing could be heard.

She was careful even with her sighs, afraid she might wake him. As Leticia pondered how to move his arm without waking him, she noticed her wrist was clean.

The ribbon of light that had appeared to grant her wish had disappeared.

Unbelieving, she turned her wrist over and checked—her wrist was bare. She checked the other wrist, too; it was also clean. Nothing was attached.

So had the plan to make him lose affection and cancel the wish actually worked? Leticia eyed the arm wrapped around her with suspicion.

No way. Even if he was slow or oblivious, she could tell by now.

After pushing him away so much and demanding he take responsibility, there was no way Valerio would lose affection for her so easily.

Only now did Leticia understand the meaning of the emotions he’d steadily shown her. Simply taking the initiative wouldn’t make Valerio recoil.

She gave up trying to remove his stubbornly clinging arm and looked around the room. The object she sought was easy to find.

The jewelry box was placed neatly on the table. And the box, which had been open, was now closed.

The vanished ribbon and the closed jewelry box. Feeling a bit calmer, Leticia realized—

Even a real magical jewelry box can’t grant wishes without a price. Everything in the world comes with a cost.

So if a wish is granted without a price, restrictions and limitations must apply.

First, the lid that wouldn’t open—perhaps that was the restriction. And no matter how outrageous or impossible the wish, the box would grant it.

But only until it closed after a certain time. That was the limitation.

She’d been too flustered to think rationally, but in short, it was a problem solvable by time.

Staring at the jewelry box in despair, Leticia grabbed her hair in frustration. To think a mage didn’t even know this and ended up jumping her friend.

“This is bad.”

She nearly tore out a handful of hair. She’d acted without looking back, but now she even wondered if she’d really been the one to take the initiative.

Wasn’t it Valerio who’d insisted she take his chastity for her own good?

No, that wasn’t it. His chastity had already been taken the moment she’d pulled down his pants. As Leticia slowly traced the cause and effect, her face grew pale.

No matter how she looked at it, it was she who had jumped on Valerio and devoured him.

“Oh my…”

A groan slipped out. Was she really supposed to be the one to bell the beast? Now she was stuck with the responsibility of having taken his chastity.

Of course, Leticia believed herself to be a sensible person, someone who understood basic moral responsibility.

So if she ever spent the night with someone, she wouldn’t pretend not to know the consequences.

She’d tried to think of her night with Valerio as emergency care or a rescue operation…

Ah, right. As she clamped her mouth shut, Leticia clung to hope and held her breath for a moment. Maybe she wouldn’t have to take responsibility? It was part of a rescue operation!

And that declaration of “I’ll take responsibility” she’d shouted earlier was, in a way, forced… wasn’t it?

Even though that coercion had a strangely pleasant, sticky undertone, it was still forced…

“Finished thinking?”

Valerio, whom she’d thought asleep, woke up. His languid voice came just as Leticia was trying to untangle her thoughts.

Valerio pulled her close, his arm around her waist.

“I’ve wanted to say this for a while. Thank you, Shia. For choosing me.”

Suddenly, he thanked her. The corners of his lips curled up, and he looked truly happy. Or like a satisfied beast.

“I liked you from the beginning.”

Maybe he’d noticed she was about to dodge her promise to take responsibility, because he drove the point home.

“Even when you said I was ugly, or looked like a tadpole.”

Feeling embarrassed by his clingy behavior, Leticia finally managed to retort in a sullen voice.

She’d been thinking only of running away, convincing herself this wasn’t something she had to take responsibility for, which made her even more flustered.

At first, Valerio looked puzzled, not understanding what she meant, but soon caught on. He frowned, then looked very aggrieved.

“When did I ever? I said it suited you.”

“You said my magic squirmed like a tadpole.”

“I meant the dazzling color that reminded me of you, and how you always worked so hard at everything. And whether it was a tadpole or not, it was cute because it resembled its master.”

“……”

Old grudges melted away in a surprisingly simple way, but Leticia’s expression was more dismayed than relieved.

Knowing his personality, she decided it was best not to reply at times like this. She clamped her mouth shut and subtly turned her body away. She could feel his gaze burning into the back of her head.

“Don’t tell me you’ve misunderstood all this time?”

His voice, poking at the back of her neck, carried a faint hint of reproach. Or maybe disbelief.

Leticia, fearing future consequences, stubbornly ignored the reproach and his gaze. Valerio Lester in public was the model of generosity, but in private, he was different.

“Shia.”

But it was no use. His warm hand turned her face toward him. The force was firm but not coercive, and Leticia found herself facing him.

“Sorry… for misunderstanding?”

Danger. Her voice trembled as she tried to apologize and escape the situation.

“Are you really sorry?”

“O-of course.”

She nodded vigorously, her eyes wide and pleading. Well, people can misunderstand sometimes, can’t they?

“My heart hurts so much from being misunderstood.”

He said it with a face that showed he wasn’t hurt at all, so the words alone didn’t inspire much trust.

But she didn’t have the courage to argue honestly. Both cheeks were held hostage.

A shadow fell, like dark clouds approaching. His transparent eyelashes drew near, and his soft lips brushed hers.

As their eyes met, his green eyes curved gently. Something warm and soft, as warm as the heat on her cheek, licked her parted lower lip.

A sweet sigh spilled onto Leticia’s lips.

“I’m so upset, I’ll have to scold you later.”

“Can’t you let it go just once?”

“There’s so much to scold you for. No way.”

She tried to placate the beast named Valerio, but failed.

He could act as if he’d give her everything, but then would firmly refuse.

After several failed attempts to soothe him, Leticia pouted.

“I’m really tired…”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

“Can you listen to what I say for once?”

“I’ll try harder so you won’t be disappointed by how small I am.”

“……”

Their conversation kept missing each other. Even though he knew what she wanted to say most, Valerio played dumb.

He even brought up her clumsy attempt at provocation, leaving her speechless.

Contrary to her original intent, Valerio’s pride remained untouched, and he teased her as he kissed her.

“I’ll take responsibility. I’m yours…”

Leticia shook her head at his relentless kisses.

She pushed his chin up with her forehead and reluctantly agreed, but Valerio only smiled more happily.

“Finally caught you. I’ll never let go.” 

His words, which could sound scary, were filled with laughter.

Valerio now wore a genuine smile, not the forced one from her memories.

His long lashes, tinted pink by the faint sunlight, sparkled. His eyes curved gently.

Leticia slowly reached out to him. The distance that had never closed was rapidly shrinking.