Chapter 2

Frozen in shock, Selina didn’t move until Evan called her.

“Don’t listen to that nonsense. There’s nothing worth remembering.”

He took hold of the old woman’s hand and freed Selina’s hair.

“Y-yes. I don’t believe things like that!”

Selina quickly explained, just in case. But the more she repeated herself, the stranger her excuse sounded.

“Remember, it only really ends if you put it in and finish!”

The old woman cackled, spouting vulgar words.

Leaving the old woman behind, Evan and Selina exited the prison. Mischievous laughter echoed behind them.

“Sorry about that, Miss. See you tonight, Duke!”

It was a ridiculous story, but the old woman’s words wouldn’t leave Selina’s mind. Even after she arrived at the Duke’s office, they lingered.

“Go home right away.”

“Huh?”

Selina was startled by Evan’s words, her face still flushed.

“You’ve finished your work, so go home.”

Once again, Evan tried to send her home early. But this was an urgent matter.

Selina composed herself and spoke clearly.

“No, I’ll finish organizing the records before I leave.”

“…Do as you wish.”

Evan seemed about to say something, but then permitted her to work overtime.

Selina immediately sat down at her desk, which was diagonally across from his.

The Duke, known as a master negotiator, managed to learn a few things even from the defensive old woman—like the ingredients for the illegal medicine and how to treat the side effects.

Selina organized the key points into a neat summary. Even after finishing, she checked several times to make sure nothing was missing.

‘Good, it’s perfect!’

It was a flawless report. Selina was filled with anticipation, hoping to be recognized by the Duke for her abilities. This time, she truly wanted to become someone indispensable to him.

‘But why am I feeling so hot…?’

Maybe she was coming down with a cold, because her body had been gradually heating up for a while now. When she touched her forehead, she could feel the warmth clearly.

It wasn’t just that. Her cheeks were flushed, and even the delicate skin of her neck was growing hotter.

Taking care of her health was part of her skill set… She absolutely couldn’t let Evan know she was sick.

No, was she really sick?

Her body didn’t feel weak like with a cold or the flu. Instead, she felt thirsty, and her heart was pounding as if she might rush off somewhere at any moment.

The heat spread throughout her body, until even her fingertips were burning.

She tried hard to keep her expression in check. Today, everything had to be perfect, right up to the end.

Just as Selina steadied herself and stood up with the report, a strange and unfamiliar sensation swept over her whole body.

“Hngh…”

Selina’s legs gave out, and she sank back into her chair. At the same time, she felt herself grow damp below.

What on earth was this…?

It felt as if the heat had traveled downward, and now an unexpected place was burning. She was so flustered she didn’t know what to do.

For a moment, confusion overwhelmed her, and then—suddenly—fl*id gushed out, soaking her underwear.

It didn’t stop there. Her most private area itched as if longing for something. The burning sensation made her twist her thighs together.

Even in the midst of this, Selina tried hard to remember the cause. The answer wasn’t far away.

It was the old woman’s curse! Selina’s face went blank in shock. The spell she’d brushed off so lightly was now making her dizzy.

Unable to bear the heat, Selina slumped over her desk. She gripped the papers tightly, crumpling them in her desperate attempt to hold on.

She couldn’t control her body in the face of this new excitement. The last bit of reason barely kept her together.

‘I absolutely cannot let the Duke see me like this!’

She’d finally gotten a chance to be recognized… She couldn’t collapse now.

Selina struggled to pull herself away from the desk and slowly walked toward the Duke, hoping he wouldn’t notice her condition.

When she finally approached Evan’s desk, she stopped without meaning to.

His face was more tense than usual, as if he were holding something back.

Had she taken too long with her work? She considered apologizing, but she didn’t even have the energy for that. Her condition was only getting worse as time passed.

To avoid the worst, Selina decided she had to leave as soon as possible. She swallowed her heated breath and forced herself to speak.

“…Duke, here’s the report summarizing the interrogation… I’ll be going now… hngh!”

However, once again, water gushed out through the split, and Selina wanted to stop crying. She was seized by the urge to grab the old woman she’d seen earlier by the collar right then.

A strange excitement bloomed throughout her body. Her private area was now shamelessly craving something endlessly.

For someone like Selina, who had no experience, it was even harder to endure. In the end, she couldn’t control the feeling and collapsed.

“Selina!”

Evan sprang up and rushed to the weakened Selina. He looked uncharacteristically flustered.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Evan first lifted her in his arms. Then he laid her down on the long sofa in the center of the office.

That, too, was almost unbearable. His touch only fueled Selina’s desire.

Moreover, perhaps because of their close proximity, she could feel Evan’s body completely—his firm chest and broad shoulders.

Even in his usually neat attire, his finely sculpted muscles were visible. But she’d never thought about wanting to see his body before.

……At least, not until now.

Selina wanted to embrace Evan and join their bodies right away. She felt frustrated with herself for thinking such dangerous thoughts.

She barely managed to turn her head away from his face. Anger at the old woman’s curse surged within her.

As she lay on the sofa, breathing heavily, Selina suddenly had a question.

Come to think of it, hadn’t the Duke heard the same spell? Why wasn’t he flushed or panting like she was?

‘No way…… Am I the only one cursed?’

She felt so wronged she could go mad. How had she ended up trapped alone, and tears of sorrow spilled from her eyes.

“Is it really that hard for you?”

Evan seemed to interpret her tears in his own way, his face turning serious.

“Wait here. I’ll call the physician.”

“W-wait!”

Selina hastily grabbed his hand. Evan froze at the unexpected touch.

She had to stop the Duke from leaving somehow. If anyone else found out about her condition, it would be impossible to continue at her job.

She turned to the side……

‘What is that……?’

The front of the Duke’s trousers was thick. No, it was bulging as if about to burst.

Evan noticed Selina’s gaze and stepped back. When she looked up, his face and neck were flushed red.

He looked as if he was thinking, ‘This is a disaster.’

“If you don’t want the physician, I can at least get you some medicine. Tell me your symptoms.”

His voice sounded far too calm, but his lower body couldn’t hide the truth. Selina asked cautiously,

“Are you also…… suffering from the curse, Duke?”

“What……?”

Selina braved her embarrassment and spoke to him.

“What do we do…… We’re both under that old woman’s curse.”

“Curse?”

Evan repeated her words, then seemed to realize something. It took him a moment to accept the idea of dark magic. He probably hadn’t truly believed the swindler’s words either.

Selina shuddered again. Now, her private area was shamelessly yearning for Evan.

“……Selina, what do you want to do?”

Truthfully, Evan was also struggling to endure. He, too, felt a strange heat at the same time as Selina. But he did his best not to show her a beastly side.

He had never imagined it was because of the curse. He simply thought it was because of Selina……

Evan sat beside her. He furrowed his brow in distress. Even though he knew he shouldn’t touch her, his body was reacting regardless.

“Hngh……”

The m*an Selina let out in that moment was excessively alluring. Now, her flushed eyes and heated breaths seemed intensely sensual.

“Duke… I can’t do this. We should both just leave…”

At those words, Evan’s expression turned frighteningly serious. His subdued voice stopped Selina.

“You want to show this side of yourself… to someone else?”

“There’s no one else on this floor…”

“How are you going to get home? You’re going to walk out onto the street in this state? Or show yourself to the coachman?”

With his barrage of questions, Selina burst into tears again. She felt as if she were being scolded, and sorrow welled up inside her. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t come up with a solution.

Evan muttered as if there was nothing else he could do.

“Just stay at the Duchy for the night. I’ll have a guest room prepared for you.”

“But… what if the curse still isn’t broken by tomorrow?”

“……”

“That old woman said… unless we join bodies…”

Selina couldn’t finish her sentence, panting heavily. Her l*stful body was craving her partner more and more as time passed.