After finishing breakfast, I returned to my room. Since my body wasn’t fully recovered yet, I needed some rest.

Idrish, after confirming that I was lying down, turned to leave.

What? Just go? Where are you running off to?

I grabbed Idrish’s hand.

Once I was sure of Idrish’s feelings, I couldn’t just let him go. No more playing hard to get. It’s going to be all about pulling him closer.

I chuckled mischievously.

“Do you need anything?”

Do I need something? Yes.

I licked my dry lips. My heart was beating fast, and my whole body was filled with a pleasant tension.

Idrish seemed clueless about my intentions, with a puzzled look in his eyes. I held onto his hand tightly and didn’t let go.

Because what I need is you.

“Um, is Idrish’s curse… okay? You fought with Vita yesterday. Are you not hurt?”

It meant, don’t go. Moreover, it meant, come closer, it’s okay to take it a step further.

Trying to seduce so blatantly made my face feel hot.

“It’s okay.”

Idrish withdrew his hand.

Ah, can’t he pick up on my signals?

“Ha, but we don’t know what might happen. You should lift the curse just in case. Sit over here for a moment.”

I tapped the bed assertively. But the unexpected response came.

“It’s not necessary. Rest.”

With that, he turned away. I just stood there dumbfounded until the door closed silently, realizing I had been completely rejected.

“Did he misunderstand what I meant? No, I clearly expressed myself… And Idrish’s expression, it was like someone trying to escape. No way… Did I misunderstand again this time, alone?”

But it was too much for just worrying. Both the kiss and his words were excessively fervent.

Is Idrish’s hand that hugged me tightly, the eager kiss, all just my imagination?

I explicitly said it.

“Don’t ever leave my side again.”

Originally, Idrish was supposed to leave once the curse was lifted.

But to never leave at all, isn’t this a confession?

Like a pot boiling on a lively firewood, my insides were bubbling. My heart was about to burst from the frustration. I got up from my seat, and with heavy footsteps, I chased after Idrish.

Thinking back, it was a confession. It couldn’t be anything else. But what’s this! Why aren’t words and actions matching!

Anger surged through me from head to toe. How much more would he toy with me?

I slammed the door and went out. Idrish was visible in the distance. I ran. The servants in the hallway were shocked by my thoughtless actions, their mouths agape, but there was no sign of them now.

Idrish, hearing my footsteps, turned around. His eyebrows furrowed. Was he surprised? Or maybe calm?

I stopped in front of Idrish. Then I poked him with my elbow.

“Yesterday!”

“…Yesterday?” Idrish asked in confusion.
“After kissing like that, telling me not to leave! What’s going on again?”

“What?”

Everyone around stopped what they were doing and looked at us.

“Are you going to use my liking for Idrish like last time? Why do you keep messing with me? If you like me, then like me, if you don’t, then don’t. Just decide!”

“Cecilia.”

“How many times is this! You shouldn’t treat me like this. Don’t you know how difficult it is for me to sort out my feelings alone?”

Tears welled up, and my vision became blurry. On top of that, it hadn’t been long since I recovered from the fever, and my head started to throb painfully.

That’s how much I resented Idrish. No, it was much more than that.

I rushed out, took off the slippers I was wearing, and grabbed the slippers that were thrown out.

“Eek!”

I then struck Idrish’s bicep.

Smack!

A loud sound echoed through the corridor. Idrish, seemingly experiencing this for the first time, looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“Ugh.”

I suddenly burst into tears.

In response, Idrish lifted me up.

“Let go of this! Look at this, don’t touch me recklessly if you don’t even like me!”

Struggling or not, even though I, a grown adult, was making a scene, Idrish didn’t budge.

As if walking leisurely, the door closed with a bang. We were back in the room.

“Hurry up and get off?”

I abruptly grabbed Idrish’s hair. Unlike me who turned fierce, Idrish gently laid me down on the bed.

I gasped for breath, looking up at Idrish.

“Does Idrish know my heart? I felt like soaring into the sky with every one of Idrish’s actions, only to crash back down to the ground. Is there any way he could know? Maybe not. Even if Idrish died and woke up as a South Korean citizen, would he know my feelings…”

“It’s because of the curse.”

I stopped my tantrum at Idrish’s quiet words.

“The curse? You played with me because of the curse? Idrish, sorry, but you made that excuse last time, didn’t you? It won’t work this time.”

“If you stay close to me, the curse weakens, but the effects on you haven’t been fully understood yet. This curse could have a negative impact on you. You should avoid it, especially when your health isn’t good like now.”

“What are you talking about now? My question…”

“It means I didn’t avoid you because I disliked you.”

“No? Then…”