Through her blurred vision, she saw the Duke’s beautiful face. And then the Duke started unbuttoning his shirt……

“Huh……?”

This person, why is he taking off his shirt……?

Realizing the situation, Nelia hastily tried to push the Duke’s chest away, but her wrist was instead caught.

Brown eyes that were holding back tears quickly showed a puzzled expression.

“What are you doing now……!”

Pitiful silver eyes looked at Nelia.

“Don’t you like it……?”

His appearance was so tempting that Nelia momentarily closed her mouth.

‘He suddenly asks if I don’t like it……’

“If you don’t want it, I won’t touch you. I said I wouldn’t if Nelia doesn’t want it.”

Nelia couldn’t easily say she didn’t want it.

The sight in front of her was already too tempting.

The Duke’s unbuttoned shirt was not serving its function as clothing. His firm upper body was entirely visible.

It even seemed like he smelled good, like soap. Perhaps because he had bathed.

Moreover, he was still planting kisses all over her face, even as he said he wouldn’t touch her if she didn’t like it.

His contradictory actions made her heart flutter.

“Nelia……”

At the whisperlike calling of her name, Nelia closed her eyes tightly.

“……Alright.”

The moment the permission was granted, the Duke lifted Nelia up. Nelia, surprised, clung to the Duke’s neck.

With a flushed face, Nelia whispered in the Duke’s ear.

“Just once, alright……”

“Hmm…… I can’t promise, but,”

Gently laying Nelia on the bed, the Duke grinned as he threw off the shirt he had been wearing.

“I’ll try.”

(This is a time separator.)

What effort?

Nelia, waking up at dawn, glared at the Duke.

In Nelia’s eyes, it did not seem like the Duke was trying to catch the reason that had flown away.

But regretting was too late. What had to happen has happened.

Nelia fell into selfloathing.

She was not a virginity purist, but she had intended to keep a distance from any physical…… relationship with the Duke, but had been easily swayed.

She wouldn’t say it was 100% the Duke’s fault. However, his responsibility was still large.

In her frustration, Nelia yanked a few strands of the Duke’s hair.

The Duke slightly frowned, then immediately relaxed his expression.

Seeing that, Nelia snickered, and then, out of nowhere, the Duke pulled Nelia into his arms.

Nelia, calming her surprised heart, asked,

“Why are you awake, didn’t you sleep?”

The Duke opened his eyes. In the darkness, silver eyes illuminated by the moonlight quietly sparkled.

“I was awake.”

“Why……?”

“Because Nelia pulled my hair too hard.”
Nelia felt a twinge of guilt, but the Duke chuckled.

“It’s a joke. Actually, I had a strange dream yesterday, and I guess I’ve been worried about having the same dream tonight.”

It was fortunate she wasn’t the one to awaken him, but he had lost sleep tonight because yesterday’s dream had been on his mind.

Nelia tilted her head and asked,

“What dream did you have yesterday?”

“You appeared in my dream.”

“Me…?”

“Yes, you were the star of my dream.”

Nelia blinked slowly at the Duke, who spoke with a gentle smile.

It felt rather peculiar that she, an extra in the original work, was the star in someone else’s dream.

‘But…’

She recalled the Duke saying he had a strange dream yesterday.

Could she, the star of the Duke’s dream, have appeared in an odd manner? After all, a lead could appear strange too.

Nelia narrowed her eyes and inquired,

“How did I appear?”

“Hm… That’s a secret.”

One of Nelia’s eyebrows arched slightly. She closed her mouth, holding back the question that she was about to ask him.

Because there was something else she wanted to know.

“Why did you suddenly turn from a snake back into a human?”

“It must be your influence.”

“So, why is it that I, of all people, am the one to turn you back into a human?”

Although she knew it was a question he might not have an answer for, she had become truly curious.

Did she possess some sort of special power? But she was close to being an extra in the original work. If she had such a power, she wouldn’t have been a supporting character.

The Duke was silent as though deep in thought, but eventually spoke in a composed voice,

“I don’t know the reason. I’m just grateful that you’re by my side.”

Smiling, the Duke took Nelia’s hand.

“I’ve had a good idea, Nelia.”

“……What is it?”

Why did she feel uneasy when the Duke spoke with twinkling eyes? It was a strange reflex.

“Perhaps we don’t need to break the curse.”

“What……?”

Nelia’s eyebrows relaxed at his sudden, incomprehensible statement.

“If we stay together, the curse won’t affect me. So, maybe we should link ourselves together for life with handcuffs or something…”

“No thanks.”

Nelia cut him off and lay down. Behind her, she could hear the Duke’s laughter.

Always messing around.

When his laughter subsided, Nelia spoke to the Duke in a soft voice,

“Duke.”

“Yes, Nelia.”

“I’ll help you lift the curse.”

The Duke turned Nelia’s body toward him so that they faced each other again.

“I must have burdened you by talking too much.”

“That’s not it.”

“I initially asked you to find out why I turned back into a human, not to lift the curse.”

“I know. But they’re similar in context. If we find a way to lift the curse, we’ll naturally find out why you turned back into a human.”

“Nelia…”

The Duke’s eyes darkened.

“There’s no need to apologize. However, when I find a way to lift the curse, expect me to make a tremendous request.”

At her spirited voice, the Duke looked intently at Nelia.

“What will you ask for?”

“Well, I haven’t thought about it yet, but you’ll have to give me at least this mansion, right?”

The Duke drew a weak smile on his lips.

“Is that enough?”

“Don’t make such remarks, Duke. You don’t know what I might ask for.”

“If it’s Nelia, anything is fine.”

Nelia grinned.

“Alright, I won’t forget you said that.”