From his straight nose bridge to his tousled hair. Hector’s relaxed sleeping face even stimulated her protective instincts.

‘Does he live in this world alone….’

Charlie twitched her burning cheeks for no reason. But she didn’t shake off Hector and get up.

It was because she remembered his words from last night.

[I couldn’t sleep for even two hours in two days.]

She could tell just by looking, without needing to hear it.

Truly, Hector’s appearance was beyond words.

[Let me sleep.]

Charlie carefully unwrapped the arm around her so as not to wake Hector and gently gathered it. She also returned her draped leg to its place.

Unlike a moment ago, her position became quite uncomfortable.

[I won’t do anything you don’t want. I promise.]

What was there to look at like a drenched puppy?

As she recalled Hector’s appearance that even evoked pity, her long eyelashes fluttered.

‘…His face is a weapon.’

Honestly, at this level, it would be considered a murder weapon.

When she thought that, Charlie’s face broke into a meaningless smile.

At that moment, Hector’s disheveled hair entered her field of vision.

The way it hung and swayed over his thick eyelashes looked quite ticklish.

Should I brush it away, or leave it be?

After hesitating for a while, her fingertips carefully reached out.

As she stealthily approached to pick out the black hair,

Another memory flashed through Charlie’s mind.

[I said I don’t want to.]

It was only natural that Hector, a Grand Master, wouldn’t want to have s*x with her, a Silver.

No, it was fortunate.

‘I’m not Miracle after all.’

She couldn’t become a miracle for Hector like Liliana.

‘I’m just a substitute anyway.’

Just as her fingertips, unable to reach him, were about to fall limply.

“Remove it.”

“……!”

Charlie’s eyes widened at the low, deep voice.

“It’s ticklish.”

“Ah, weren’t you asleep?”

When Charlie, startled, tried to get up, Hector tightened his arm, pulling her into an embrace.

“I was.”

No matter how much strength she used, she couldn’t overpower Hector. The more she struggled, the tighter she was held.

How many times did she try to push him away?

Charlie seemed to give up on escaping, letting out a short sigh and stopping her movements.

“But you’re awake now.”

“I’m not.”

“What?”

“I’m sleeping right now.”

“Come on, what are you…”

Hector gently rested his face on Charlie’s head.

The hand that had been wrapped around her shoulder loosened and moved to the small, round back of her head.

“So you should go back to sleep too. We haven’t slept much.”

Pat, pat.

The gentle stroking hand sent Charlie’s words flying far away.

A moment of silence passed.

Finally, Charlie, who seemed to have given up, let out a small laugh and said.

“What am I, a child? As if I’d fall asleep from that.”

“You’re not a child, but you’re like a child to me.”

“I’m twenty-two, you know.”

“I know, but you’re still like a child to me.”

Hector didn’t stop stroking Charlie.

“……”

Well, being upgraded to a child is something, isn’t it?

At least it meant he recognized her as a person, not an amoeba or dust.

Compared to where they started, it was a huge improvement.

“Snore. Snore.”

“…..?”

Suddenly, at the unexpected sound effect, Charlie’s head peeked out to look up at Hector.

“Snore- sniff. Snore.”

“What are you doing now?”

“It’s a thing.”

Charlie tilted her head.

It was a sound that didn’t suit Hector at all.

Not only that, but Hector was trying to hold back his laughter, his chest shaking.

What could it be? That snoring sound…

Like snoring…

“……!”

Charlie, startled, pushed Hector away.

“Did I snore?”

“No.”

Hector tried to pull her back into an embrace, but Charlie’s hands pushed him away with strong force.

“Don’t lie. You’re making fun of me for snoring, aren’t you?”

The forceful pushing was so strong that Hector’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

On the other hand, his wide-split mouth was full of joy.

“You didn’t snore.”

“Then what was it?”

“I just breathed like that.”

“That’s what snoring is!”

“I said you didn’t.”

“What do you mean I didn’t? You’re teasing me!”

Charlie stretched out her short legs and pushed against Hector’s legs.

“It hurts.”

“I know this much doesn’t hurt you.”

“It really hurts.”

Her kicking feet stopped.

“Then you can let go.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I haven’t slept enough.”

As if he truly had no intention of getting up, Hector kept his eyes closed.

His hand holding Charlie also remained in place.

“How long are you planning to sleep?”

“Forever.”

“What did you say?”

The dust particles illuminated by the sunlight shimmered following their movements.

Tanner couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Hector’s sudden words.

“You mean suppressants?”

Suppressants were, as the name suggests, drugs that suppressed s*xual desire.

They were typically taken by dominants facing their rut cycle when unable to perform the purification ritual in unavoidable circumstances, making their consumption extremely rare.

This was due to the significant side effects of the drug.

Feeling mentally hazy was the least of it; dizziness and vomiting were common, and in severe cases, it could even cause fainting.

Moreover, the effects worsened with repeated use.

In any case, Hector had no reason to take suppressants.

He wasn’t in a rut cycle, and he could control his s*xual energy.

For Hector, an er*ction was like a voluntary action.

He could achieve an er*ction at will, regardless of arousal. Naturally, the opposite should also be possible.

So why was he looking for suppressants?

Unable to understand, Tanner asked again.

“Why are you looking for suppressants?”

Instead of answering, Hector sank deeply into his chair and let out a long sigh.

“If it’s because of chest pain, why don’t you try performing the purification ritual?”

Hector rubbed his dry face.

Hector had no intention of getting an er*ction when he was with Charlie. Therefore, he didn’t use his s*xual energy.

He just felt a tingling and numbness in his lower abdomen, and his muscles tensed up unconsciously.

But clearly, his body had become er*ect. To the point where he couldn’t control it.

“…Just prepare it.”

Unaware of Hector’s inner turmoil, Charlie’s annoyance continued.

Tick tock- Tick tock-

“……”

They say the first time is always the hardest.

After the first day, Hector naturally embraced Charlie to sleep. From Charlie’s perspective, it was an extremely bizarre situation. But she couldn’t bring herself to push Hector away.

Was she really emitting alpha waves? It seemed unbelievable that someone who couldn’t sleep was now getting such deep sleep every night.

He no longer sought strong alcohol, and the thick curtains were drawn back.

Moreover, as promised, Hector didn’t do anything other than embrace her.

Wouldn’t a person feel like they’re dying if they can’t sleep for just one day?

No matter how much of a Grand Master Hector was, it was impossible for him to be free from pain. Had he never slept comfortably his entire life due to the pain of his ability?

Perhaps that’s why Hector wore a smile as bright as innocence while embracing Charlie.

Charlie simply couldn’t refuse such a face.

‘I should do as much as I’m paid for.’

She was probably just an attachment doll needed for sleep.

Charlie decided to adapt to the given situation, rationalizing it to herself.

But such tender feelings didn’t last long.

It was because he slept too much.

Tick tock- Tick tock-

Woken by the birds announcing morning, Charlie wriggled her body, trying to break free from Hector’s embrace.

“……”

No, the sun had already risen high in the sky, well past morning.

But no matter how much she struggled, the heavy arm wrapped around her didn’t budge an inch.

‘Damn it.’

Her feet tapped the bed in frustration.

What was he, Sleeping Beauty? Where had our diligent Grand Duke gone?

Hector not only slept in, but showed no signs of leaving the bed at all.

[Purification.]

Right, she understood that her job was to be a guide and that purification was her main task.

It was also true that the amount of purification increased with more contact.

But because he never wanted to be apart, not only her break time but even her days off disappeared.

Getting annoyed didn’t work, and if she glared at him, he would even laugh now.

“Sigh…”

“……”

They say if you make the same mistake three times, you’re a monkey. Perhaps she had been possessed by a monkey instead of being a Zero.

[We’ll do it here.]

Hector had even started conducting official business in bed. And that too, while tightly embracing her.

Holding her in one arm and looking at papers with the other hand, Charlie raised both hands and feet at this bizarre posture.

“I know you’re awake.”

“……”

“Ah, I’m thirsty!”

At that moment, there was a sound of water being poured.

Then, a cup of water arrived in front of Charlie.

‘This guy, really.’

Charlie’s fists trembled with rising anger.