I hesitated for a moment, then quickly wet my lips.
“No. Let’s not get sick together so Nox won’t have to hurt for us.”
……Nod.
It was still midday, but letting him sleep for a while would probably be better than making him move more, right?
Nox quietly lay down on the bed. Instead of letting go, he clung to me tightly with his fingers, but this time, instead of prying them off, I sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
“Mm. But, Amy.”
“Mm?”
“Can’t I sleep now and not sleep at night?”
Huh? I widened my eyes and looked at Nox.
He stared at me with clear eyes, lips pressed stubbornly together, like he was fidgeting anxiously, worried I wouldn’t allow it.
“Why?” I asked back, curious.
“I want to be with Amy at night too.”
At that, I couldn’t answer.
……We’re already together though?
“Can’t I not sleep?”
“Well, it’s not that you can’t…… No. You probably can’t.”
“Why?”
“At night, uh, hmm…… I have things to do at night.”
I couldn’t exactly say, “Because I’ll be seeing you as the Grand Duke. And half-naked, at that.”
Not that it would matter much if I told him, but I wasn’t heartless enough to dump such a shocking truth on a feverish kid. Better to tell him when he could actually handle it.
I scratched my cheek. Nox, who had been keeping his lips pressed shut, spoke carefully, gripping me tight like he thought I might abandon him.
“Who do you go see at night?”
“Mm? Uh, well. I guess I do see someone……”
I accidentally spoke the truth.
Nox’s gaze turned directly on me.
“Who do you go see at night?”
……You.
* * *
By sunset, the sun dyed the entire house crimson, even reaching the bed where Nox lay. Rustle. Breathing softly as if he wouldn’t notice even if I carried him away, the child let out tiny breaths. Flip, flip. Pages turned beside him. I lifted my head from my book.
‘Guess I should start dinner soon.’
But if I let go of this hand, he’d wake up, wouldn’t he?
One of my sleeves was clenched tightly in Nox’s hand. Every time I tried to slip away, his eyes would snap open as if by magic.
Even if he looked endlessly fragile, he was still the male lead, wasn’t he? I couldn’t just leave him crying, asking where I was going.
This is bad. I have to do laundry, fold the dry cloth, wash the dishes, make dinner, and prepare tomorrow’s breakfast in advance……
Ugh. Holding my breath, I decided to try escaping for the eighth time, twisting my fingers gently.
Was it because of the medicine? Or maybe he finally felt safe enough to sleep deeply?
‘……I’m free!’
I carefully placed his small hand back onto the pillow. Moving on tiptoe so as not to wake him, I quietly closed the door.
“Whew…… ha……”
Leaning against the door, I let out a breath.
When did it get so late? Time must have flown by; the sun was already dipping past the western horizon outside the window. Ever since Nox got hurt yesterday, it felt like time had been speeding by.
Ever since we lost our parents and my sister and I settled here, I’d barely left this place. I didn’t feel trapped; I wasn’t the type to get restless staying indoors, and I knew how dangerous this forest was. Most of all, I think it was thanks to my sister’s efforts that I never got bored.
My life had always been peaceful—until Nox appeared. Now it felt like I was tumbling around inside a spinning washing machine.
I didn’t regret placing the flag in my sister’s stead, but I was curious—how was the world moving out there?
Once Nox disappears, the Grand Duchy will be thrown into chaos, mobilizing every possible resource to find him. Among them, the Dawn Knights, Lux, whom Nox cherishes the most, would be the most active. But despite their skill, they would arrive just one step later than the Imperial Knights led by the Crown Prince.
When the Dawn Knights arrived, Nox would be standing in shock before the dead woman—his first love, my sister, Diana.
「My first tears fell that day.」
It showed just how much Nox loved my sister, but I doubted he’d act that way in this situation. Well, he’d probably flee before the Imperial Knights arrived anyway.
I needed a way to find out if the Imperial Knights had started their pursuit. But after spending half my life stuck in this forest, nothing came to mind. If I had just a little hint, I could deduce things based on what I remembered from the book.
Should I ask my sister when she gets back?
After folding the laundry, I went back into the room and froze.
“When did you wake up?”
Sitting against the backdrop of the night sky, in his Grand Duke form, was Nox.
“Just now.”
“Ah……”
Nox stretched out his hand toward me.
“I was looking for you.”
His outstretched hand beckoned me closer, and I started walking toward him quietly—then stopped.
Wait, wasn’t I being way too obedient? I’d clearly been tamed, intimidated by that first murderous gaze of his.
But I couldn’t not go, so I cautiously sat on the edge of the bed.
“Where were you?”
“Where would I go? I was in the house the whole time. I just finished some chores. Made dinner, prepped breakfast. Oh. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Not yet. I’m not hungry.”
Strange, he was asking the same thing he used to as a kid. As if I’d run off somewhere. Where would I even go? My sister wasn’t even back yet.
Nox frowned at me.
“……Too far.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you sitting so far away?”
“Well…… I mean. What do you mean, far away?”
“Far.”
To be fair, I had sat a little farther away, maybe because I kept thinking about all that blood yesterday. But still, it was only at the edge of the bed.
I was about to protest, How is this far at all? when a strong arm pulled me close in one smooth motion.
With his arm wrapped around my waist, Nox tilted his head.
“I can’t see your face from there.”
Seriously, I knew he was strong, but actually experiencing it—his strength was freakishly, no, abnormally strong.
Swallowing nervously, I looked at him carefully and spoke.
“You scared me. You can’t just…… touch people like this without permission……”
“Really? I didn’t know.”
I frowned, tilting my head.
“How could you not know…… That’s common sense.”
“I don’t have memories, remember?”
……Why did that reply feel so shameless?
I stared at him closely and noticed something slightly different.
Usually, in his Grand Duke form, Nox was like a limping wolf. Wolves, after all, were said to be animals you could never tame, and Nox always looked like that—never letting down his guard even if you gave him a seat by the fire.
Knowing his upbringing, I could understand. It would’ve been weirder if he acted friendly.
But right now, there was something… off.
“Um…… Why are you being so affectionate today?”
I carefully reached out and touched his forehead. He flinched for a second but didn’t push my hand away.
No fever?
“You’re not hot.”
“I’m not sick.”
Hmm, he did look better than yesterday…… Then why? If he were sick, I’d think, Oh, he’s doing what he normally wouldn’t because he’s ill. But his eyes were as calm as ever. If anything, the way his arms held me felt strangely awkward.
“Ugh, anyway, you should always ask permission before touching someone. That’s common sense.”
“Common sense.”
“Yes, common sense.”
He stared at me silently for a moment.
“Didn’t know.”
Now that you do, could you maybe let go, I was about to say, but Nox was faster.
“Then you can teach me from now on.”
“……What?”
“You brought me here…… Didn’t you have that resolve?”
What resolve? Who brings someone home with a resolve? What does that even mean—resolve to get grabbed like this?
Honestly, not that I minded. Yeah. Hard muscles, soft skin—what’s not to like…… That’s the problem. I didn’t know where to look! Even now, his breath brushing my ear made it unbearably ticklish.
“……Well, um, no one would expect a random kid they picked up to turn into a half-naked man at night……”
Though, to be fair, I already did.
“Then I guess I’ll have to get used to it.”
“……”
……So, why exactly is he being so assertive today? It wasn’t my imagination. I pushed hard against his chest, leaning my head back.
“Uh…… Dinner! We should eat dinner! Yeah. You have to eat before you can take your medicine! I’ll get it ready right now. Just wait a little. So then.”
“No need. I’ll take you.”
“Huh?”
Nox stood up with me still in his arms.
“Wait a second!”
Just like yesterday, he carried me as if I weighed nothing, like I was made of feathers. If every man were like Nox, women might never feel the need to diet.
No, more importantly—three minutes ago, I told him it’s common sense to ask for permission before touching someone, didn’t I? Losing his memories doesn’t turn an intelligent man into an idiot. This man was definitely pretending to forget on purpose.
“Why is someone who’s sick carrying people? P-put me down!”
“If you move around like that, it’ll hurt more.”
I froze. My hands stopped instinctively.
“……What? You said earlier you weren’t in pain.”
“Seems like I am. Probably since a little while ago?”
“……”
……Am I really supposed to believe that? When he’s saying it with such a straight face?
While I stared at him in confusion, Nox reached the kitchen and put me down. The problem was—he put me down on the dining table.
On one side of the kitchen, the porridge I’d made for Nox was still steaming. I had warmed it up in advance, thinking he might wake up around dinnertime.
Anyway, since we were already here, I figured I should give it to him and asked:
“Is porridge okay?”
“Did I eat that during the day too?”
“Huh? Yes.”
For some reason, Nox narrowed his eyes slightly at the pot. He looked almost uncomfortable, and I nervously wondered if he had remembered something from his past.
Because the food Nox hated most was porridge. I’d prepared other things just in case.
“Do you not like porridge? Should I give you something else? There’s stew, and bacon. Oh, and if you wait a little, I can make sandwiches.”
“No. I don’t dislike it.”
“Oh. Good. Porridge is best for digestion, you know. Daytime Nox ate it well too, I was happy.”
“Daytime me?”
“Huh? Yes. Since I added herbs, it should help you recover.”
I looked at him brightly, smiling, but he stared back at me quietly and asked:
“How did I eat it?”
“Huh? Well, since it’s porridge…… I fed you one spoonful at a time……”
I accidentally said more than I needed to and blinked, confused by his gaze. But then, frowning slightly, Nox tossed out:
“Then feed me like that.”
“Excuse me?”
“You fed me, didn’t you?”
I quickly tried to stop him.
“No, wait. What are you talking about? Daytime Nox couldn’t move his arms.”
“Can’t use my arms.”
Sir, you literally carried me just now.
I opened my mouth to argue, but froze under his sharp, intimidating stare.
“Is there some reason why it was fine during the day but not now?”
Reason? At this distance, all my reasons would run away anyway.
I swallowed nervously and nodded. Then quickly climbed off the table and rushed to the pot.
Clatter. Even as I placed the porridge and spoon in front of him, I wondered if I really had to feed him like a child.
“Th-this is just a joke, right, Nox……”
“No.”
“Of course it’s not. Yes. Of course not. Yeah.”
My mouth agreed, but my body hesitated. Holding the steaming bowl, I froze, unsure what to do, when Nox picked me up again. He set me back on the table, and I blinked.
“Can’t see your face from down there.”
“Ah……”
Well, couldn’t he just sit on a chair? But then I remembered his size. True, this table was a bit small for Nox.
It was an awkward position, but I scooped up a big spoonful, blowing on it gently. The whole time, Nox stared at me, making sweat trickle down my back.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the spoonful. His Adam’s apple bobbed with a gulp—and why did that look so indecent? Probably because of his half-naked state.
Seriously. A perfectly healthy man, bracing himself on both sides of me with his arms, just opening his mouth to be fed. I didn’t know where to look and swallowed hard.
“……Does it taste good?”
“It does.”
Wanting this moment to end quickly, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Um, now that I think about it, my sister will probably be back tomorrow.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. She always brings lots of delicious things. Sometimes even new clothes. I don’t know why she always brings so much…… She’s like Santa Claus.”
Talking about my sister made the weirdness of the situation feel a little less awkward, and feeding him became less clumsy. Honestly, it would be better for my mental health if my sister came back soon—day or night. Better than being alone with Nox, who kept throwing straightforward lines and suddenly getting closer.
“I hope my sister comes back soon.”
“Well. You and I seem to have different opinions.”
“Huh?”
Instead of answering further, Nox lowered his gaze.
What was that supposed to mean? I looked away from him and stared at the sky. My sister would probably come back tomorrow.
She usually took about two days to reach the village because she zigzagged, hunting along the way. But she said she walked straight back home because of the heavy load.
By now, she should’ve arrived at the village, right?
* * *
“Diana!”
When Diana turned her head, the merchant Hans ran up to her, panting for breath.
“What is going on?!”