Chapter 6 (Part 5)

Thinking he was right, Grace hung her head low.  

However, for a knight, their physical condition was as confidential as a secret, so it wasn’t easy to reveal everything to someone who was almost an enemy.  

‘It’s only because we’re in the same boat that I’m even saying this much.’  

Otherwise, he was someone she wouldn’t have even looked at.  

Grace tried to erase from her mind the fact that they had once, no, multiple times throughout the night, shared excessive intimacy.  

“Sir Grace Lowell.”  

Leonardo called out to Grace, who was silently keeping her lips sealed with an unreadable expression.  

Finally, Grace sighed and spoke up.  

“It seems like we stop breathing when our bodies switch.”  

Leonardo’s face turned cold at the unexpected, or perhaps overlooked, fact.  

“In simple terms, you’re saying we become ‘dead’ temporarily?”  

“Yes. It seems to be due to the absence of the soul or something like that… If this continues, it seems obvious that it will take a toll on the body.”  

At her words, Leonardo recalled what Delia had said the night before.  

‘Is this what she meant by saying it’ll be ruined soon?’  

Even if it was only for a brief moment, having one’s life stop couldn’t be good for the body.  

Blaming himself for not considering that point deeply, Leonardo picked up a box from the desk.  

Handing it to Grace, who still looked uneasy, he said,  

“What’s inside should help with this situation, even if just a little.”  

At his words, Grace slowly opened the box.  

Inside the velvet-lined box were two potions of a brilliant color. Grace recognized what they were at a glance.  

“Holy power potions… and top-grade ones at that.”  

“Yes, that’s correct. My sister gave them to me.”  

At his words, Grace picked up one of the bottles. The liquid, displaying various colors like an opal, shimmered in the light as the bottle tilted.  

Grace, staring at it as if entranced, asked Leonardo,  

“Then, does she know about our situation?”  

“No. She only knows that I’m simultaneously cursed and enchanted and that there’s a partner who shares this curse and enchantment.”  

“So she doesn’t know that it’s me.”  

Grace, lost in thought, sighed and put the bottle back in the box.  

Her heart felt heavy. If Delia knew that the heir to the Mage Tower and the proud son of the Duke’s family was involved with her, she wouldn’t have given such a precious item so readily.  

‘It’s fortunate she doesn’t know.’  

Likewise, Grace, who knew nothing about Delia, rubbed her finger over the surface of the bottle and asked,  

“What should I do with this?”  

Meanwhile, to Leonardo, that seemingly insignificant action reminded him of Grace touching him with her hand.  

Even though he knew watching was wrong, it felt increasingly provocative, and he swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth before finally answering.  

“Just drink it.”  

At his words, Grace took out the two bottles again. Then she handed one to him, saying,  

“I hope it helps this time.”  

Leonardo nodded at her words.  

The two exchanged glances after opening the bottles and drank the potion simultaneously.  

“Oh, huh? It’s fine?”  

Expecting the same pain as when their bodies swapped, Grace instead felt a sense of relief wash over her body.  

The vague heaviness she felt every time they returned to their original bodies vanished completely. However, she still wasn’t entirely okay.  

“Let me check.”  

Perhaps feeling the same, Leonardo extended his hand to Grace and said.  

When she nodded and took his hand, Leonardo cast a spell.  

‘…It’s beautiful.’  

Grace thought absentmindedly as she watched the delicate golden mana unfold.  

Watching Leonardo examine her with a serious face, Grace suddenly realized she knew nothing about him.  

Knowing he was an exceptional mage because they were rivals, she hadn’t paid attention beyond that.  

Suddenly, she found herself wanting to know more about him.  

“Does everyone have different mana colors?”  

Leonardo momentarily lowered his gaze at Grace’s sudden question, then lifted it again.  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

“Then, is the golden mana unique to you only, Sir Leonardo?”  

At Grace’s words, Leonardo completely lowered his head and looked at her.  

He couldn’t fathom why she was suddenly asking such questions.

“It’s done. Your physical condition has improved a lot. But why did you ask that all of a sudden?”  

“Well, I was just wondering how well you could imitate me.”  

Grace said this while moving her arms around. Indeed, as he mentioned, it was easier to move than before.  

“Actually, my mother suggested we spar every morning.”  

At Grace’s words, Leonardo’s face hardened.  

It was no wonder, as Grace’s mother, Amelia, was the best swordswoman in the country.  

Grace Lowell couldn’t defeat her with a sword, so there was no way he could handle Amelia.  

“…So what will you do?”  

“Well, there’s no way to avoid it, is there? Besides, my mother likes to spar at dawn before the sun rises. …Can you handle that?”  

At Grace’s words, Leonardo hesitated and stepped back.  

Seeing this, Grace laughed heartily and stood up, saying,  

“We’ll have to drink the potion once more at dawn. She’ll probably want to spar around 5 o’clock.”  

“…Will you be okay?”  

Knowing how painful it was for her every time their bodies swapped, Leonardo asked with concern.  

Grace, as if finding it unexpected, said,  

“Are you worried about me now? Wow, living to see the day when Sir Leonardo worries about me.”  

Jokingly responding, Grace tapped Leonardo’s arm and said,  

“I can’t ask you to face my mother, who even I have a hard time with. I’d feel sorry for you. Besides, we have to get up early.”  

“That’s fine.”  

“Then, there’s no problem.”  

Grace replied with a smile.  

Suddenly, Leonardo wondered when was the last time she smiled without any negative emotions in front of him.  

As he was about to respond, Grace suddenly extended her hand.  

Instinctively taking her hand and gently stroking it, Leonardo met Grace’s gaze intently.  

Feeling uncomfortable, Grace averted her eyes and said,  

“Well then, I’m counting on you.”  

Just as she had rushed here, Grace left the lab with slightly hurried steps.  

Leonardo clenched his fist, unable to stop her from leaving.  

Was it the thumb he rubbed that was the problem?  

Or was it the long eye contact with her?  

‘Why did it look like she was running away to me?’  

Was getting closer to Grace an unattainable goal?  

Caught in complex emotions, he stood still for a moment before realizing,  

‘The enchantment should have weakened, so why aren’t these feelings disappearing?’  

As soon as he drank the potion filled with holy power, Leonardo immediately felt the curse and enchantment constricting his heart weaken.  

Yet, his feelings for Grace remained unsettled.  

‘This is like a teenage boy.’  

Leonardo ran his hand over his face and stared at his now-cold hand.  

Since coming here, Leonardo hadn’t had any erotic dreams or thought about those dreams.  

He only occasionally felt an inexplicable thirst.  

Leonardo couldn’t define what it was clearly.  

That’s why he felt more anxious.  

‘Regardless, you decided you wanted her, Leonardo Fernandez.’  

He had already resolved to have Grace Lowell in his grasp.  

But the long-standing habit of hatred occasionally reared its head and questioned him.  

‘With that Grace Lowell? Are you out of your mind, Leonardo Fernandez?’  

That’s why Leonardo wanted everything to be clear.  

He wanted his feelings to be certain.  

“Stupid bastard.”  

Leonardo cursed himself and closed his eyes.  

<I’ve Swapped Bodies with My Nemesis! (Volume 1)>