As soon as she returned to the mansion, Evelyn followed the maid assigned to her and stepped into her new room. She could not hide her bewilderment.
"Is this really... the room I'll be staying in?"
A bed surrounded by flowing canopy curtains, a carpet so soft it felt like walking on clouds, and furniture decorated with diamonds.
The place she had stepped into was a room she would only have seen when summoned to the Countess's chamber.
No—it was far larger and far more luxurious than that.
The bedroom... even the furniture is arranged exactly the same as in the North.
For a brief moment, she thought it was only natural since she had returned to the past.
But this was the capital residence.
He wasn't the sort of person who would pay enough attention to decorate a place he only stayed in once or twice a year to match his northern bedroom.
"Yes. His Grace personally chose this room for you. If it isn't to your liking..."
Just as she was lost in suspicion, the maid approached hesitantly, watching her expression with an awkward smile.
"Not at all. I like it very much."
When Evelyn forced a smile, the maid sighed in relief, bowed politely, and quietly left the bedroom.
"Whew..."
Was it because she had been told once again that her life would be short?
Ever since returning to the past, far more good things had happened than bad, yet her clouded mind refused to settle.
What... were those words earlier?
But she had no strength left to continue thinking.
Her vision blurred, then cleared again and again. A strange sensation gradually pulled her away from reality.
"Ah..."
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Evelyn felt her body sink.
The next moment, she collapsed onto the mattress and fell into a deep sleep.
As always, a sleep filled with exhaustion and anxiety dragged her into a horrifying nightmare.
[Huff... Haa...!]
Inside a distorted space where she couldn't see an inch ahead...
Something pitch-black, damp, and sticky was chasing after her in writhing masses.
Terrified, she stumbled over and over again, falling and getting back up dozens of times as she ran barefoot without stopping.
[Aah! Go away... please...!]
Her breath caught in her throat.
Her heart pounded as if it would burst, overwhelmed by unbearable fear and pain. She felt as though she would collapse at any moment.
Then—
Without warning, a hand shot out from behind and grabbed her hair.
Her head snapped backward, and she crashed onto the ground before tumbling down a flight of stairs together with the sticky mass.
[Ah... Ugh!]
She slammed into a thick wooden trunk and frowned as she opened her eyes.
Then she rubbed them violently, unable to believe what she was seeing.
The mass that had rolled down with her began to take on color within the pitch-black space.
Little by little, it assumed the shape of a person.
Dazzling silver hair that shone even in the darkness.
Brilliant emerald eyes like those of the goddess who ruled the earth.
That is...
The person standing before her...
...was herself.
No.
More precisely, it was something wearing her appearance.
It staggered toward her.
Crunch... Crunch...
A grotesque sound echoed against her ears.
Evelyn struggled to stand, but her body refused to obey.
Starting from her toes, every part of her body had stiffened like stone.
The woman stopped right in front of her.
Twisting her neck unnaturally, she grinned.
Hehehe. Found you!
In an instant, her vision went black.
The only thing left lingering within her fading consciousness was that horrifying laughter.
"Hah...!"
Just before the woman's fingernails pierced her eyeballs, Evelyn jolted upright in bed.
"Haa... Haa..."
Clutching the blanket soaked with sweat, she gasped desperately like someone who had just been pulled back from drowning.
What... was that?
She knew it had only been a dream.
But dismissing it as nothing more than an illusion born from anxiety felt... wrong.
The dim moonlight slowly brought her back to reality.
Brushing her damp hair back, Evelyn sat at the edge of the bed and recalled Matthias's final warning.
"The more intimate the contact, the better the effect. But even that is only a temporary measure. It won't solve the root cause."
Magic and demonic energy coexisted inside Kallian's body.
According to Matthias, Kallian's powerful demonic energy had to flow into her and purify the chaotic magic inside her.
Just yesterday, she had resolved to minimize physical contact unless absolutely necessary.
Now...
She had become the one who needed to cling to him instead.
"So we're each other's cure..."
Letting out a hollow laugh, Evelyn poured herself a glass of water.
The scar left on her cheek from being slapped reflected on the rippling surface.
At the same time, Kallian's casual remark from the carriage echoed in her mind.
"So you can't heal your own body."
A question suddenly surged through her foggy thoughts.
In her previous life, she possessed enough healing power to save a dying cat.
Yet she had never been able to heal another person's wounds.
The only human her healing abilities had ever worked on...
...was Kallian.
Something was strange from the very beginning.
A few days ago, when she tried to heal him while he was losing control, her aura had appeared.
But she hadn't been able to restore the color of his eyes.
He only came back to his senses... after we had much more intimate contact.
What if all of it had happened simply because she couldn't properly control her magic?
Wouldn't that mean she could draw out much greater power once her magic recovered?
Evelyn raised the glass as if swallowing the moon reflected in the water.
Gulp.
The cool water slid down her throat, and her tangled thoughts gradually became clearer.
Perhaps...
This time, she could help him more completely.
If only I can completely lift this curse.
Biting her lip, she buried her face against her drawn-up knees and let out a sigh.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
The sudden sound, despite there being no sign of anyone's presence, made her flinch.
Perhaps because of the terrible nightmare, her already fragile heart reacted sharply even to the smallest noise.
"W-Who... is it?"
There was no answer.
Yet she was too frightened to remain still.
It felt as though something hidden within the darkness would grab her by the hair and drag her into a bottomless abyss.
I have to find out where that sound is coming from.
She lowered her knees and awkwardly tried to stand.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound came again.
This time it was clearer.
It almost sounded as if someone inside the bedroom was deliberately making the noise.
No... It's nothing.
There's no way anything could happen in the Grand Duke's mansion.
Steeling herself, Evelyn finally managed to get to her feet.
Then she suddenly felt someone's gaze.
She slowly turned her head.
"...!"
She collapsed onto the floor.
Because she realized...
Someone was watching her from a corner where even the moonlight couldn't reach.
Her widened eyes were fixed not on the bedroom door...
...but on the connecting doorway between the two rooms.
The saying that someone could be so frightened they couldn't even scream...
...was true.
Barely managing to move her stiff lips, Evelyn spoke.
"W-What are you doing standing there? N-No... since when have you been there...?"
From his pitch-black hair to the dark night robe he wore...
Kallian, wrapped entirely in darkness, leaned casually against the doorway and smiled faintly.
"I didn't mean to startle you."
His leisurely steps over the threshold were as relaxed and careless as the robe draped loosely over his trousers.
"You seemed so deep in thought."
Even the soft rustle of his clothes was enough to make every hair on her body stand on end.
Evelyn stared at him as he drew closer, her clenched fingers trembling.
"I'm sorry."
"It seems I unintentionally overheard your thoughts."
Soon, his shadow completely covered the seated Evelyn.
Moonlight pouring through the window illuminated his face as he reached out a hand toward her.
"It's a northern tradition for husband and wife to share their living space like this. Even if it makes you uncomfortable, remember that I can come in whenever I wish."
The meaning behind his words was unmistakable.
A place where he could enter whenever he wanted...
Without caring who saw him.
"Then..."
After calming her racing heart, Evelyn ignored his outstretched hand and instead forced herself onto her trembling legs before sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Does that mean... you'll be sharing the same bed with me tonight?"
The moment her body touched the soft mattress, memories of everything the two of them had done together in this bedroom in her previous life naturally resurfaced.
Surprisingly...
She wasn't afraid.
If it's to survive... what is there that I can't do?
Now I'm the one who has to cling to him.
Just as Evelyn prepared herself and tried to rise—
The bed shook violently.
His face was suddenly right in front of hers.
A faint smile lingered at the corners of his lips.
But no one would have mistaken it for genuine amusement.
"I'm disappointed that you think I'm some mindless beast."
Kallian leaned closer, tilting his head slightly before her.
Evelyn stared at him in stunned silence.
Before she could even ask what he was doing, his hand gently cupped her chin.
Looking down at Evelyn, who trembled like a rabbit cornered with nowhere to run, he continued in a dissatisfied tone.
"The reason I came here is to keep my promise to provide each other with what we need."
What she needed...
...was a way to break the curse.
Wasn't that no different from saying they would share the same bed?
Still filled with questions, Evelyn met his gaze.
He leaned in until their noses were almost touching.
"I can't seem to understand what's going on in that head of yours."
I could say the same about you.
She wanted to answer.
But the words never came.
His fingers gently pressed beneath her right eye.
She quietly swallowed.
The faint scent of medicinal herbs mixed with his natural fragrance filled her senses.
The familiar scent alone made her heart pound.
She swallowed nervously.
Each time his rough fingertips lightly brushed across her cheek, her injured skin stung, making her chest tighten.
You don't have to be so kind.
You could've pretended not to notice something like this.
A wave of sorrow suddenly welled up inside her.
Her eyes grew hot.
Without realizing it, Evelyn's expression crumpled.
"I think... that's enough medicine."
Almost instinctively, she grabbed his wrist.
If anyone saw the way her cheeks trembled...
They would immediately see the feelings she was trying so desperately to hide.
"I can apply the rest myself..."
"Stay still."
Unlike his gentle touch, his voice was cold and firm.
The slight furrow of his brows openly revealed his displeasure.
"I'm not so desperate that I'd embrace someone who trembles in fear just from making eye contact with me."
Even after saying that, he carefully applied the herbal medicine to the wound on her wrist as well.
Even though the scar had already hardened beyond healing.
Trying to hold back her tears, her throat bobbed once more.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Evelyn recalled the very first night she had spent with him in her previous life.
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