DBOFS 60

Chapter 60

The answer itself had been sincere.

When standing in the banquet hall, the thirst hadn’t felt so urgent, but once Harris carried her to the terrace, it intensified sharply.

“Maybe it’s because I feel safe now.”

The terrace, separated from everyone else’s gaze—no one was likely to come in.

Perhaps that’s why Jade suddenly realized just how thirsty and exhausted she was from fighting with those aristocratic bastards.

“That’s why I got so excited when Alucas sent the servant…”

She had thought finally, someone sensible would appear. But in reality, she still hadn’t had a single sip of water.

“…Kuh, kup!”

Judging by Harris’s reaction, it seemed there was no water either.

“Am I funny because I’m thirsty? Huh?”

At this point, it was insulting. If you’re going to laugh, at least give me water first!

Jade turned her head, forcing her dissatisfaction deep inside.

“I shouldn’t have made a fuss over the note… now I’m dying of thirst.”

With a small sigh, Harris raised his head again, somehow catching it. His face looked completely calm, as if he had just restrained a smile.

“Drink.”

“…!”

Jade’s eyes lit up. The water was right in front of her!

She didn’t care that it was brought by dark, tentacle-like condensed magic; she gulped it down greedily.

“Ah~ refreshing.”

“……”

It was almost like the drunken rush from a single strong drink.

Standing made her want to sit, sitting made her want to lie down, and after drinking, she even craved sweet, tangy fruit juice or high-sugar snacks.

“Here.”

“Wow, thank you.”

Just then, after the water, Harris handed her sweet champagne.

It wasn’t strong and was sweet like juice, making Jade giggle with delight.

“So… why did that happen?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly?

Blinking, Jade gestured toward the banquet hall.

“Oh, you mean today.”

Jade sipped her champagne and said,

“Well, it’s something I have to take responsibility for.”

“…Your responsibility?”

“Yes.”

Jade stared at the tiny bubbles in the champagne.

“Actually, you never wanted something like this, did you, Harris? You didn’t care.”

He probably had thought only of killing that Norman Godwin bastard recklessly, but Jade had coaxed and persuaded him into this.

Of course, Jade had his own intentions for Harris.

Advantages and rights that came from the name “Godwin” or being heir to a high-ranking noble family, and the freedom to live openly in the light.

“But ultimately, this also suppresses Harris’s immediate desire for revenge.”

The real Harris would have wanted to kill immediately after escaping, without worrying about the consequences for his life.

“He probably didn’t care if his life was ruined because of it.”

Even if it meant living hidden in darkness, concealing his identity, like a mastermind behind the scenes.

“But I do care.”

I hope there’s a future for your life.

Not just hiding in the shadows, manipulating others, but coming into the light, doing what you want, and living joyfully.

But that is only my wish; I know I cannot force it.

I also cannot expect gratitude or understanding in return.

“That’s why I have to do well.”

That’s why Jade had prepared supporters in the banquet hall and anticipated objections.

“Because it’s my responsibility…”

“……”

Harris looked at Jade.

Her cheeks flushed from the champagne, her thoughts spilling over.

Yes, he admitted it. He had only thought of going to his father and tearing him apart, caring little for his present or future.

However…

“Ah, this feels good.”

Leaning on the terrace, Jade closed her eyes.

The cool evening air rustled the garden flowers, and with the champagne lifting her spirits, she hummed an unknowable melody.

Clear, clean air, a song tickling the ears, sweet fragrance.

“Ah.”

Only then did Harris recognize his own “present.”

Not trapped in a prison, not oppressed by anyone—a free, languid evening.

The full moonlight poured down.

A small, pale body, soft pink curls flowing like waves.

Long, slender limbs, a small, delicate face, eyelashes brushing over half-closed eyes…

“Harris.”

In the darkness, blue-tinged eyes gazed at him. Full lips curved into a smile.

“This place is nice.”

Bright as the moon, dreamy, unreal.

“…Yeah.”

Only then did Harris realize.

The girl, as beautiful as if sculpted from moonlight, was his present.

And he wished she would be his future too…

Harris exhaled in a fevered sigh.

A sweet, indescribably intoxicating, irresistibly alluring scent flooded in.

Was it really fragrance, or just him intoxicated by her?

“Don’t trust it.”

A warning echoed naturally in his mind.

Jade was someone hard to believe in, even without her claims of coming from another world or being a prophet.

He was used to being blamed; he felt nothing.

But now, someone was standing up for him, fighting in his place.

“Don’t trust it…”

His wrist throbbed. The pain from the vanished restraint flared back.

He already knew the price of trust deep in his bones.

He knew.

“…You smell sweet.”

Harris spoke without looking at Jade.

When weakened.

Or in moments of instability, a scent exuded from Jade as if probing his vulnerability.

Paralyzing reason, stimulating instinct.

What would happen if he followed it?

“It’s not always like this, yet it’s terribly sweet at a moment like this…”

“Ah, that, um…”

Jade stammered, flustered.

The slurred voice made Harris look up sharply.

“……”

He was momentarily speechless.

Before him, Jade’s cheeks were puffed out like a squirrel, as if she’d stuffed her mouth with something.

“……”

She even hesitated, watching Harris in silence.

Even now, she was still eating.

Jade, cheeks still puffed, met Harris’s gaze and stammered,

“S-Snack.”

“……”

Did he think I didn’t notice?

Apparently, there was a little pocket at her side. She must have prepared in advance.

“Sweets…”

“I know what kind of food it is.”

“I-I was hungry…”

“……”

The silence stretched, and Jade swallowed back tears.

“Embarrassing.”

She wasn’t eating alone out of selfishness.

It couldn’t be helped—Harris hadn’t given her the “want some?” cue.

“She looked lost in thought, troubled…”

She ate quietly, out of courtesy!

Swallowing quickly, she offered the best apology she could think of.

“I-I’m sorry… for eating alone…”

But Harris responded by pressing his large hand to his face.

With a muffled groan and a body shaking as if restraining laughter.

“……”

Jade deliberately avoided looking at the scene with blurred eyes.

After shaking his muscular body for a while, Harris lifted his face, expression serious.

“Why are you hungry?”

“I didn’t get a proper meal because I was helping prepare for the banquet…”

Even as she explained, Jade felt wronged inside.

“I told you I was hungry before coming in!”

Rinsed, dressed, made up—she had missed the timing to eat.

Fortunately, the maids had prepared something, and she had planned to eat in a corner if the banquet went smoothly.

“But the banquet turned into chaos.”

No chance to eat!

Harris, seeing her sip champagne while keeping an eye on him, was exasperated.

“You’re drinking that now?”

“I-I’m thirsty, please understand…”

“Why are you thirsty again?”

Because she had been secretly eating snacks, failing to maintain the right balance of drink and food.

“Drinking champagne like that… how much did you eat?”

Caught off guard, he grabbed her pocket.

Harris glanced at the pocket, brought by dark magic, and scolded her.

“If you’re hungry, ask for a sandwich! What’s with these sweets?”

“B-But I burned so many calories today that I needed sugar to recharge… No, no, it’s my fault.”

“……”

Jade realized she had broken the serious atmosphere and apologized sincerely.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll pay attention to the balance of carbs, protein, and fat from now on…”

“You’ll have to eat anyway, huh?”

“Sorry for eating without regard to timing…”

Giving her grief even over eating, this tyrant! Didn’t even follow working hours!

Harris made a deflating sound as if he heard her inner complaints.

“Really driving me crazy.”

“…?!”

Jade’s eyes widened—suddenly, Harris had pulled her into his arms.

Not a light hug, but one that seemed like it could swallow her whole.

“What’s this, is this a guiding touch?”

Indeed, he usually didn’t care about food; his comment on the smell had been odd.

Harris must be in bad condition like her.

“But this isn’t guiding, it’s absorption technique!”

She couldn’t let that slip now!

Jade pretended it was guiding, hugging him while patting his back, secretly searching for a sedative with the other hand.

“Jade.”

“Yes, yes.”

Always be prepared. She was sure she had left it somewhere nearby…

“Don’t betray me.”

“Huh?”

What now?

She looked up to meet blood-red eyes.

“If you betray me…”

Harris’s expression was terrifyingly blank.

Red, like she had given her beating heart to him while still alive. Too much emotion, darkened.

“…I might really kill you.”

It wasn’t a threat of murder.

It was a warning—he wouldn’t grant Jade mercy, even in death. She would be trapped by his ability, unable to escape in life or death, forever bound to him.