~Chapter 26~
“Alice told me. She said you thought I was angry.”
“Ah.”
Damien reacted calmly, as if he had just remembered something.
Unlike me, who was desperate to explain myself quickly.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t because I was actually mad.”
“Then… why did you act that way?”
His purple eyes stared down at me, filling my vision.
It was the first time today I had properly met his gaze.
Thump.
My heart felt like it skipped a beat again.
But instead of looking away, it felt like I was hypnotised by his eyes and couldn’t turn away.
“Because… I was embarrassed.”
The words just slipped out honestly.
“What you did last night… I’ve never done anything like that with anyone else before.”
“I see.”
Though his reply was short, his serious expression told me he was listening intently.
So I poured out my words in a rush.
“But then in the morning, I kept thinking about it, and I felt so hot… then I heard the maids talking, and I was so embarrassed I couldn’t stand it…”
“…That makes sense.”
His calm tone, quiet voice, and those serene violet eyes…
Honestly, it was hard to tell what Damien was feeling at that moment.
“And I couldn’t bring myself to look you in the eyes… That’s why I acted like that.”
“…I see.”
I decided to just be completely honest with him.
“Are you mad at me?”
I asked cautiously, unable to read his expression.
At that,
“Of course not.”
A faint smile spread across Damien’s lips.
Seeing that made me smile brightly in relief.
‘Thank goodness.’
When Alice told me Damien thought I was mad, I almost fainted from shock. I was so glad it was resolved like this.
“Um, actually…”
“Yes, Ruby?”
“Alice gave me this…”
I took out a neatly folded flyer from my pocket.
“As an apology… I’ll pay for the tickets and meals, so…”
I unfolded the flyer with both hands and showed it to Damien.
“Will you please come with me…?”
Damien narrowed his eyes slightly to read it better.
“Horrible author…?”
The flyer read:
[The comet of the horror novel world, author Horrible’s new release The Other Side of the Mirror launch event!
Mirror version signed copies and Other Side version signed copies given out randomly!]
Pointing to the part about random distribution, I pleaded deeply with Damien.
“The mirror version reveals ghost shapes under light, and the other side version has pop-up art themed on this novel.”
“They both sound very tempting.”
“Right? But look here.”
I pointed to the tiny print at the bottom.
[(Note) Only one signed copy per person will be given.]
“That’s why… I need two people.”
“Yes.”
I really wanted both versions. It was frustrating.
‘Well, limited editions like this have to restrict quantities to prevent hoarding… but still…’
For someone like me with no friends, what was I supposed to do?
If I didn’t have a contract husband who shared my hobby, I would’ve been doomed.
“Alright. Understood.”
Damien took the flyer and placed it on his desk.
“But don’t worry about paying for tickets or meals. I’ll just pay with my cheque.”
“…Huh?”
I blinked at him and asked softly.
“Then… you’re really coming with me?”
Damien usually avoided going out.
People outside gossiped and pointed fingers at him.
‘He takes off his mask only around me, but he still wouldn’t want to go out in public…’
I thought he might reject the outing for that reason.
“Yes, of course.”
“…Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. I also want both the mirror and other side versions.”
Surprisingly, the outing plan was settled easily.
‘Strike while the iron is hot.’
We decided to go buy the books the next morning.
“Then… I’ll see you tomorrow at 10 AM.”
“Yes. Sweet dreams.”
I left the room happily, relieved I had apologised and excited for tomorrow’s promise.
Just as I was about to close the door—
“…Ruby.”
“Yes?”
Did he have something else to say?
I slightly reopened the door and looked at him.
In a barely audible whisper, I heard:
“You’re cute.”
Huh?
‘Wait… what did I just hear?’
I stared blankly.
“Pardon?”
But Damien, as if nothing had happened, peeked through the door crack and said,
“Well then, goodnight.”
Creak—
The door closed.
“W-wait! What did you just say?!”
I knocked and called out, but the door didn’t reopen.
Instead, a soft laugh drifted through.
“I’ll tell you on our date tomorrow.”
Date.
Just hearing that word again made my face flush with heat.
“Hmm.”
The current time was 10:50 AM.
I stood in front of the mural depicting the history of Maledictus.
Before our outing, Damien and I had promised to check the condition of the orbs here together.
‘Sure enough, the fourth orb has gotten brighter.’
Originally, out of the five orbs, three shone brightly, while the fourth was dimmer, and the fifth didn’t light up at all.
But now, the fourth orb was glowing almost as brightly as the others.
‘Maybe it’s because we resolved that issue with John.’
John was a curse that had flowed in from outside, not one that originally belonged to Damien.
So I wasn’t sure if interacting with it before it became fully bound to Damien would fulfil the conditions.
“It seems… it’s been accepted.”
I brushed my hand over the stone wall, keeping my gaze fixed on the orbs.
‘Or… maybe it’s because we slept holding each other that night…’
Suddenly, an image of Damien’s damp, fragrant, exposed skin that night flashed through my mind, and my heart began to pound again.
‘No, stop it. I shouldn’t think about this.’
My head was definitely clouded.
Nothing like this ever happened before that night.
Thunk.
To clear my mind, I gently bumped my forehead against the stone wall.
“What are you doing, banging your head against the wall? Are you possessed?”
A familiar voice rang out. Turning around, I saw Elliot, half his body emerging from the stone wall, staring blankly at me.
I squatted down to meet his eye level.
“Wow, how do you do that? Teach me.”
“You can’t, idiot.”
“I wasn’t actually going to try. I’m just curious.”
Elliot clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Figures. Damien’s an idiot, and looks like he picked another idiot too.”
Elliot fully emerged from the wall, crossed his legs, and leaned back casually against the stone.
“Anyway, what’s with you today? You usually wear dull clothes, but now you’re all dressed up.”
“Yeah. I’m going out with Damien today.”
“Ah, that thing Alice was talking about.”
Elliot nodded calmly, but then his expression twisted into a frown as he glared at me.
“If you run away while you’re out there, I’ll kill you. Alice and I will curse you forever.”
“Hmm? Why would I run away?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“I still have to draw at least 80 more portraits of you and your sister. I’m overflowing with ideas right now.”
At that, the light faded from Elliot’s eyes.
He suddenly looked utterly unmotivated.
“…Yeah. I guess there’s no way you’d run away. I’m an idiot for worrying about that.”
“Well, don’t beat yourself up calling yourself an idiot for that.”
Elliot smacked his own forehead with an audible slap, then rubbed his eyes tiredly.
“At times like this, just stay quiet… you idiot…”
I didn’t know exactly why, but it seemed like Elliot needed a moment. So I closed my mouth and waited silently.
Fortunately, a few minutes later, he let out a long sigh and spoke normally again.
“Anyway, have a good time. Damien’s a huge idiot too, so take good care of him.”
“Hmm, okay. Although usually, Damien takes care of me more.”
“Whatever. And if he annoys you, just whack him on the back of the head.”
“Violence between married couples is not okay.”
“Then tell us. We’ll beat him to a pulp for you—”
“Who are you planning to beat up?”
At the sound of a familiar voice, I turned around to see Damien standing there.
And then—
“…Huh?”
I was left speechless by the shocking sight before my eyes.
