At his blunt words, Arne’s face turned crimson. Cedric’s unchanging expression captured her widening pupils.

“You remember. Yet you didn’t come to me.”

“……”

Cedric’s red eyes flickered as he looked down at Arne. The oppressive atmosphere made it hard for her to breathe. As a strange silence fell, the murmurs among the observing servants grew louder.

At that moment, Arne came to her senses, blushing and struggling.

“Put me down. I can walk!”

“If I put you down, will you run away like you did last night?”

“What…?”

Arne’s face flushed even more at the thought that someone might have heard, while Cedric remained indifferent. How could he be so nonchalant? Arne felt a pang in her heart, wondering if the events of the previous night meant so little to him.

As her heart ached more, Arne’s struggles intensified. No matter how much she struggled, his firm arms didn’t budge, and the veins stood out.

“Put me down! Put me…”

As she struggled, Arne suddenly froze. She felt a heavy, solid presence against her side. Now she was certain it was his member.

Cedric’s movement, as he bent to enter the carriage, paused for a moment.

Slowly turning his head, Cedric’s face remained cold and expressionless.

“……”

“……”

He merely ascended into the carriage with formality.

A strange silence filled the carriage.

Arne looked at Cedric. His broad shoulders and firm abs were covered by a black shirt that looked almost ascetic. Both the cold, hardened lower jaw and the hard body were strangely tense.

It was hard to believe that this man had poured himself over her with beastly groans the previous night.

“Do you have something to say?”

“N-no!”

“…Nothing?”

Startled, Arne quickly replied, and one of Cedric’s eyebrows slowly raised.

Cedric’s gaze fell on the flowing white pearls of Arne’s dress. He recognized the dress well. The dress, reminiscent of Judith and named ‘Sacred Prayer,’ made his eyes flicker briefly.

‘She was delivering Grandmother Judith’s letter and was caught in my rampaging mana…’

Biting his lip, he exhaled slowly. The sound of Arne’s voice pleading for him to stop echoed in his ears from the previous night.

The image of her clinging to him as he ravaged her mouth and thrust roughly made his lower body harden.

‘Even in this moment. How disgraceful.’

Running a hand through his hair, Cedric spoke. His calm, low voice resonated.

“Is your body alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

“That can’t be true. I embraced you several times.”

At his blunt words, Arne’s mouth opened and closed.

“I’ll take responsibility. This is my first time as well. I’ve never met anyone during the full moon, nor have I ever lost control. I know it’s ridiculous to apologize, but I do.”

“……”

“Though you likely won’t remember much.”

Cedric watched Arne’s widening eyes with a bitter smile. The demon’s curse flowing through Renigrad’s blood, that power could manipulate people and lend them strength.

For instance, turning back someone’s time.

“You ran away that night, saying you didn’t want it. I’ll erase it all with the red mana’s power as if it never happened.”

“Erase it? What do you mean?”

“I can make it as if you never met me that night. Your memory and everything that happened will be gone, as if time was turned back. There’s a secrecy spell to prevent me from disclosing too much about the family’s secrets, so I can’t explain further.”

All her memories and the marks he left would disappear. Cedric bit his lip and reached for Arne’s forehead.

Cedric’s red eyes flickered. Arne’s clear eyes would never look at him the same way again. He had never used this power, so he didn’t know how much of her memory would be erased.

She might not even remember his name, Cedric.

“Cedric.”

His reaching hand trembled at Arne’s voice. Her clear eyes blinked slowly, revealing nothing of her thoughts.

“I refuse. If you’re worried I might get pregnant, it’s okay. My period just started.”

She couldn’t afford to miss the chance to meet Vivian. Cedric’s brows furrowed as he stared at Arne, who had come up with a suitable excuse.

“Why are you saying that? Why…”

Cedric closed his mouth again. He remembered Arne’s last appearance from the previous night—how he had become increasingly addicted to the intensifying dark energy until he finally coughed up blood.

Grandmother Judith’s final moments were no different. Seeing Arne in this white dress, which felt like a burial shroud, Cedric bit his lip.

He could not drag Arne into Renigrad’s curse any longer. Even his grandmother, a Holy Knight, couldn’t withstand the demonic energy and passed away. It was clear as day what would happen to the fragile, glass-like Arne.

‘And yet, my eyes keep wandering towards her. Am I already being played by the demon’s mischief?’

Cedric tilted his head back, exhaling slowly as he looked into Arne’s clear eyes. His fleeting desire to see those clear eyes turn red with tears made him think that might be the case.

“I thought you hated me. You clearly said you did yesterday.”

“…I don’t hate you. I was just too shocked and confused yesterday.”

Such simple words. Cedric clenched the hand he had extended towards Arne’s forehead.

“Was what happened last night related to Renigrad’s curse? When the red mana appears, does it make you say things you don’t mean and act like that?”

Arne asked, fumbling for the right words.

“It’s true it was because of the red mana. But I didn’t say anything I didn’t mean.”

“What?”

Cedric looked at Arne and spoke.

“You’re beautiful.”

“……”

When his red eyes met hers, Arne blinked slowly. Her chest ached and tingled. It felt like something heavy inside her had melted away.

“You’re beautiful.”

His gaze deepened, and even Arne’s fingertips blushed. Cedric, who had been taking in her every reaction, clenched his hand tightly.

“…If you ever change your mind, come find me. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“…I understand.”

“Your wrist.”

“Huh?”

“Give it to me. I’ll bless it. You got hurt because of me.”

Cedric’s lips touched Arne’s wrist. Her skin felt hot where he kissed.

Maybe it was because of last night, but Cedric’s red eyes seemed overly sensual through her fingers. Every time she felt his breath on her palm, she felt strange.

“…Have you blessed many people?”

“No. This is my first time. When I was young, my mother used to bless my forehead before bed. I’m just imitating that. It might not be as good as a formal blessing from a spirit mage, but it should do.”

“Thank you. It feels much better now.”

Arne replied, feeling dazed. Her heart was pounding. It felt like he could hear it.

Seeing Cedric looking completely unaffected made her feel embarrassed. It was common for spirit mages to bless someone’s forehead or hand.

‘I just got a blessing because my wrist was hurt. Cedric probably did it without any special meaning.’

Arne didn’t want to show how excited she was, but she couldn’t calm down. Maybe it was because the memories of last night were so vivid, even though neither of them was in their right mind.

Cedric stared at her blessed wrist. He should let go, but he didn’t want to.

‘Since I need to recover my mana anyway, it should be okay until then.’

Cedric took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. His body felt hot.

He was overly conscious of her because of last night. Even though he knew he shouldn’t drag Arne into this any further, he didn’t want to let go.

Cedric closed his eyes tightly. He needed to calm his turbulent emotions. What happened last night must never happen again.

So, he would fill his mana and drop her off at her destination. Arne would go there, and Cedric would turn the carriage around and go his own way.

Thud.

The carriage jolted heavily. Arne’s head tilted towards the window as the carriage swayed.

But Cedric’s hand reached her head before it hit the window. Instinctively, he pulled her into his arms. Cedric’s distinct scent enveloped her. Arne’s heart raced at the sound of his voice right above her head.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

Arne closed her eyes tightly, feeling like her racing heart might be heard. Luckily, the coachman’s voice followed.

“My apologies, Cedric! The road is rough because of the rain.”

“Be careful.”

“Yes, my apologies. But where should I take you? We’re approaching a fork in the road.”

Cedric turned his gaze to Arne. His Adam’s apple moved again.

“Where were you planning to go today?”

“Oh, I’m going to Freya Orphanage. The Duke of Ronia established it, and it’s restricted to outsiders, so today is the only day I can visit.”

That place is different from an ordinary orphanage. If not for today, when I have the token from the Duke, I don’t know when I’ll be able to visit again.

“Would you like to come with me, Cedric?”

Cedric intended to decline lightly. Her mana was almost replenished, and if his reluctance to let go of her hand was due to being swayed by the demon’s mischief, he needed to let go. He could let go.

But then she said something that he absolutely couldn’t refuse.

“It’s the Freya Orphanage, where I have a friend with the same illness as your sister. It might be helpful.”

“…I’ll go with you. Thank you.”

Her words were entirely different from his expectation that they would go their separate ways.

It was an offer Cedric absolutely couldn’t refuse. He had no choice but to respond as though he was enchanted.