ITYVA 31

Chapter 31

No matter that I had decided myself to sleep with Aces tonight, I couldn’t stop feeling nervous.

It was only natural.

Me, Einra, age 25. A textbook case of a lifelong single who could use spirit arts instead of magic.

I’d never done this or that with a man before, much less shared a bed with one!

‘Uwaaaah…!’

I silently flailed under the blanket.

My heart was pounding like mad.

My head was ringing so much I thought I was hearing things.

How long had I been like that?

My over-sensitive ears caught the sound of knocking.

I froze instantly.

The door opened slowly with a click.

Peeking out from under the blanket, I met eyes with Aces, who looked freshly washed.

His curly black hair was still damp, his skin luminous and pale from the moisture.

Beneath, his loose robe revealed glimpses of a firm chest.

And his blood-red eyes—glowing like his lips—curved gently as they fixed on me.

“Breathe.”

“Wh-what?”

“You need to breathe, Einra.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did the breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding burst out, teased free by his voice.

My already overheated face felt like it might explode.

‘Th-that…! That dangerous look of his, what even is that?!’

I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled the blanket completely over my head.

A moment later, the mattress dipped with weight, and I heard a low chuckle.

“If you hog the whole blanket like that, I can’t use it.”

“……”

“I’m cold, Einra.”

Now on the bed, he drooped his eyes pitifully.

‘Oh no. He can’t be cold!’

If he caught a chill, it’d be terrible.

Panicked, I sat up and hurriedly spread the blanket back over him.

“Here, now you’ll be warm.”

I even fluffed and smoothed it flat before retreating.

Receiving my fussing without complaint, he turned to me and smiled again.

“Thank you, Einra.”

“N-nothing to thank me for…”

Unable to meet that smile head-on, I dove back under my blanket.

Not long after pulling it up to my face, I felt movement beside me.

My heart started thundering all over again.

I prayed desperately that the racket in my chest wouldn’t reach his ears.

After what felt like ages of stillness beside me, curiosity won out.

‘Is Aces asleep…?’

Asleep? No movement… maybe he really is?

Such a trivial thing, yet it nagged at me.

Should I look or not?

After fierce inner debate, I decided on just one peek.

I lowered the blanket slightly…

…and found his crimson eyes staring right at me.

“……!”

I gasped in surprise. He chuckled softly.

“Einra, why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Just sneaking peeks at me, so cute.”

“Th-that’s not…!”

I opened my mouth to deny it—but sadly, I had been sneaking a look. I had nothing to say.

I rolled my eyes around in desperation before whispering in the tiniest voice:

“…I’m not cute.”

“That’s not true. You are.”

“I said I’m not.”

“You’re very cute, Einra.”

“Ugh, no! I’m not cute!”

Overcome, I whipped around to glare at him.

He lay facing me in the blankets, eyes curved in gentle amusement.

“Einra, you really need to know yourself better.”

“……”

“Good night, Einra.”

He closed his eyes with a tender whisper.

I still felt frustrated, but I couldn’t wake someone up just to insist I wasn’t cute.

Grumbling to myself, I shut my eyes.

Thanks to our little spat, my tension eased a bit. Sleep came quickly.

Ch. 6. Malice

The next morning.

Just like every time I’d slept with As, when I woke, the spot beside me was empty.

Stretching with a yawn, I suddenly remembered Aces’ warning that canceling the curse might have side effects—and bolted upright.

“A-Aces…?!”

I scrambled downstairs in a panic.

There he was—back in his child form.

It seemed the nullification spell from Harnern had finally worn off.

“Einra, did you sleep well?”

Since he was small again, I figured I should call him As in this form. Cooking stew, he smiled at me.

I scrutinized him carefully.

Thankfully, there wasn’t the slightest hint of side effects.

‘Looks like nothing’s showing up yet.’

Relief washed over me.

I started to smile back and greet him, but then froze.

Because there before me was the absurd sight of a ten-year-old cooking.

“A-As! I told you, children don’t have to do things like this!”

“Huh? But—”

“Fire and knives are dangerous!”

Sure, even grade schoolers could boil ramen, but danger was danger.

I scooped him up and plopped him on a chair by the table.

Caught mid-protest, he froze in my arms, lips opening and closing soundlessly until I turned back to the kitchen.

‘I’ll just have to wake up earlier from now on!’

Not that I knew when As got up, but if I rose super early, somehow it would work out!

Clinging to this flimsy resolve, I hurried to finish the stew.

After breakfast, we began packing to move.

First stop: the realtor’s office with As.

Since the decision to move was final, it was best to put the house up right away.

The bell jingled as we entered.

“Welcome—oh my, Einra!”

The owner, Aunt Amy, beamed at me.

I bowed with a big smile.

“Hello, Aunt Amy.”

“My, it’s been so long! What brings you here today?”

Guiding us to the sofa, she offered As some snacks before asking.

I laid the deed I’d brought on the table.

“I’d like to put my house up for sale.”

“What? Your house? Why?”

She gasped in shock.

Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I answered.

“I’m moving to the capital.”

“What?! The capital?!”

Her eyes went wide as she clapped her hands over her mouth.

Her reaction was so dramatic, I could only laugh awkwardly.

Well, the cost alone of moving to the capital was enormous. It was only natural for her—and the rest of the village—to react like this.

“You’re really moving to the capital out of nowhere… When are you leaving? Have you already found a place to live there?”

The capital’s housing market was brutal lately… Aunt Amy frowned with concern.

I kept up my stiff laugh and replied.

“Probably tomorrow. And yes, I already secured a house, so you don’t need to worry.”

“That’s a relief then. But goodness… you, moving to the capital. There was no sign at all!”

To her wistful words, I waved my hands quickly.

“It was all very sudden. I didn’t expect it myself.”

“If I’d known, we could have thrown you a farewell party. Such a shame…”

Then she clapped as though remembering something.

“Oh right, Einra—you said you’re leaving tomorrow? Where should I send word once the house sells?”

“Ah… right.”

I drummed my fingers with a troubled face.

I couldn’t ask her to send it to the Grand Duke’s manor in Serenia.

Most nobles still thought Aces and I didn’t get along.

If documents about my house suddenly went to the Grand Duke’s residence, high society’s gossip-mongers would never let it slide.

Curious nobles would pry into my life in Count Haila’s territory, pretending otherwise.

And then word of Aces’ curse turning him into a child would spread in no time.

‘Absolutely not.’

I could never let Aces’ weakness be exposed.

With firm resolve, I opened my mouth.