“Give me just five minutes. I need to be alone with Edrish.”

“What is the reason?”

“That… I can’t explain. It’s really, really important.”

“Then I can’t allow it either.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

“Fine. Then, right here. Just don’t look this way, all of you.”

Ternya seemed to scrutinize me, as if trying to understand my intentions. But in the end, he couldn’t figure out anything.

“Very well. Exactly five minutes.”

As I had said, Ternya and his knights surrounded us but turned their backs on us.
“What are you trying to do?”

Even Edrish seemed puzzled by my actions.

I checked to make sure everyone had turned away, then took large strides towards Edrish. I then abruptly shoved my hand into his clothes. Only then did Edrish seem to realize my intentions, as he bent down to lower his height, allowing me easy access.

“People would think you’re strange, touching someone’s chest during a farewell moment.”
Edrish whispered softly in my ear with a smile. However, I couldn’t afford to smile back. My heart was beating too fast for that. Edrish was scheming something much larger, something unimaginable.

I reached out my free hand and grabbed Edrish by the collar. Edrish’s face came very close. I saw myself reflected in his golden eyes.

Ah, what should I do?

I’m trembling. This is driving me mad.

“Don’t look at me.”

“What?”

“Look somewhere else.”

Edrish didn’t listen to me. Well, asking someone to suddenly avert their gaze is a strange request after all.
I bit my lower lip. No time to waste.

I raised a hand to cover Edrish’s eyes.

“What is this…”

Before Edrish could finish his sentence, I pressed my lips to his. I tightened my grip on the collar of his shirt to prevent him from escaping. Thankfully, Edrish didn’t push me away.

Despite the abrupt, sealing nature of the kiss, the feeling of his lips was incredibly vivid.

I had thought Edrish’s lips would be somewhat hard, but they were surprisingly soft and sweet.

This is fraud. A scam…
The distant sound of a bustling festival faintly reached my ears.

Edrish’s breath flowed into my nostrils, making my head spin. I felt as if I had accidentally swallowed about six painkillers all at once.

Feeling like my heart might actually burst if this continued, I pulled away from the kiss. I panted as if I had sprinted at full speed. My eyes met closely with Edrish’s, and his pupils wavered.
From the hand still resting on my chest, the rapid heartbeat of Edrish was conveyed. It was as fast as mine, perhaps even faster and more powerful.

“Now….”

Edrish slowly uttered the words. I wanted to run away right then and there.

At that moment, Ternya’s voice interrupted.

“Five minutes have passed.”

I quickly withdrew my hand and deeply bowed my head.

I was truly relieved. Had it lasted longer, I might have fainted from hyperventilation.

I was stunned. What had I done? Edrish’s lips….
Unconsciously, I brought my hand to my lips. Though it was just my fingertips that touched, it felt as if Edrish’s lips had met mine again. Startled, I quickly withdrew my hand.

Ah, no, this is to break Edrish’s curse… Yes. Given the unprecedented excitement and rapid heartbeat, the curse must have been effectively weakened.

My worries lessened a bit.

“We should go now.”

“Right. Let’s head out.”

Edrish also rose from his seat. I couldn’t bring myself to look at his expression.
I knew that the weaker the curse became, the more my feelings for Edrish grew. But Edrish didn’t know that. What would he think of me?

Then, Terminus was the first to transform into a wolf. Fur that looked as if it was dusted with ash trembled in the wind. Bones protruded noticeably on his back and legs. He was completely different from when he was human, filled with an untamed aura.

Wow, are wolves naturally this big?

I had imagined something the size of a large dog, so I instinctively stepped back in fear. Its mouth was large enough to swallow my head in one bite.
But such admiration was instantly withdrawn when Edrish transformed into Baekho.

“Ah…”

When the moon-cursed, snowy-white massive form revealed itself, all the knights let out sounds of sheer terror. The grandeur of Baekho, once thought to be extinct, was truly immense.

Edrish let out a deep growl. A flock of birds fluttered up and flew away in the distance.

I was just as terrified as they were. I kept reminding myself that this enormous Baekho was Edrish. Edrish nudged my belly with his forehead as if to greet me.
I lifted my trembling hand and gently placed it on his forehead. Thankfully, he didn’t seem angry.

“Take care.”

He turned his back. Muscles contracted and then quickly expanded. The body, which had seemed heavy and sluggish, transformed in an instant and took flight lightly. The two beasts disappeared into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

“Receive.”

Upon hearing Terminus’s voice, Edrish faintly opened his eyes. A water bottle and a piece of jerky flew toward him. With minimal movement, Edrish caught them.