~Chapter 45~
“Ruby, it’s okay. Calm down.”
Damien sat beside me and gently said,
“It seems you don’t remember, but we successfully completed the first part of the soul contract ritual.”
“What?”
I couldn’t believe it.
I had no memory of performing the ritual.
I ruffled my hair, trying to recall what happened.
‘I remember seeing the red moon… and then…’
Nothing after that.
Where did my memory cut off?
‘I think I had a strange dream…’
A nonsensical dream.
I was in someone’s arms, unable to move.
That person somehow knew my deepest secret.
I thought he’d abandon me—but instead, he kept holding me and running.
A very strange dream.
“Except for that weird dream, I don’t remember anything…”
I muttered, and his deep amethyst eyes turned to me.
“Did you dream while you were asleep?”
I didn’t expect him to care about my dream.
But I couldn’t tell him what it was, so I brushed it off.
“Yeah… just some random dream. It didn’t really make sense. Anyway…”
I checked my body—nothing felt different.
‘Did the ritual really succeed?’
Damien looked oddly calmer than usual, but I couldn’t spot any real changes.
“You’re wondering if the ritual really worked, aren’t you?”
“Uh—”
How did he know?
Before I could answer, Damien reached out his hand.
“Try this. You’ll see.”
His larger, stronger hand laced his fingers between mine.
At that moment—
Thump—
‘Huh?’
A strong heartbeat pulsed through me. My body, which had felt sluggish, suddenly came alive.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Damien’s slow, steady heartbeat felt like it was beating inside me.
His breath, his movements, his gaze—
Everything felt sharper, clearer, more vivid.
Like Damien’s very presence had become a part of me.
“Gasp.”
Startled by this overwhelming sensation, I instinctively tried to pull my hand away.
But he didn’t let go.
“Don’t run yet.”
His hand held mine gently but firmly as he whispered,
“You need to get used to it a little. Let’s breathe together.”
Damien calmly guided my breathing.
Inhale, exhale… until our breaths matched.
The connection remained, but I felt more stable.
“Do you feel more used to it now?”
“Yes.”
He slowly released my hand.
“Are you feeling any discomfort?”
“No… I don’t think so.”
It was just a strange, intense feeling—not painful.
“Don’t worry, I—Achoo!”
Suddenly, I sneezed.
My whole body flushed and my vision blurred.
“Lie down, lie down.”
The curse dolls gathered around me and gently patted my shoulder, urging me to go back to bed.
“Tsk, what’s with a cold in this weather?”
Alice clicked her tongue and turned away.
“Well, you’re awake, so we’re leaving. Sleep.”
Elliot followed her out.
“I’ll call the doctor.”
“T-Thanks… Achoo!”
Splosh.
The dolls soaked a towel and plopped it on my face—without wringing it out.
It felt like I’d taken a bath, but it was refreshing.
“Like this!”
Damien wrung out the towel properly and folded it, then placed it gently on my forehead.
“We’ll leave now. Please rest until the doctor arrives.”
“We?”
All the dolls turned to Damien.
“You can leave. We’re staying!”
Damien responded coolly.
“When someone has a cold, they need quiet rest. Do you think Ruby can sleep with you crowding the room?”
“Yes! What do you know!”
Damien narrowed his eyes.
“Then can you stay here and not talk to her, not ask her to read to you, or hug you?”
The dolls fell silent.
“…No.”
The leader, Emily in the pink dress, admitted defeat.
The dolls reluctantly followed Damien out.
“Get some rest.”
The door closed. I was alone.
‘I’ll lock the door and let no one in until I’m better.’
That was my plan.
Later…
“Ruby.”
After the doctor finished examining me, Damien’s voice came from beyond the door.
“No!”
“Can’t I at least see you for a moment?”
I pulled the blanket over my head and shouted back.
“No! Seeing my face is the whole problem! And I don’t want you to catch my cold!”
“We’re married. Catching a cold from you is allowed.”
“If seeing your face is the issue, I’ll come in and close my eyes. I just want to know how you’re doing.”
Sigh.
‘He’s making it really hard to say no…’
I gave in.
“Fine. Come in. But there’s no need to go that far.”
Creak. The door opened.
He walked over and lay down behind me, gently wrapping his arm around my shoulder under the blanket.
“You don’t have to show your face. Just talk to me. Tell me how you feel.”
“Ugh…”
I groaned. I didn’t want him to hear my hoarse voice, but I couldn’t say no.
‘He’s being sneaky—asking nicely so I can’t refuse.’
“Cough. As you can hear… not good.”
I explained that I had a headache, fever, chills, and body aches.
“But with the soul contract, don’t you already know how I’m doing?”
“I do. But I came because I wanted to see you.”
I shot up in bed.
“W-What do you mean by that!”
“Whoa.”
Startled, Damien froze.
“You don’t have to show me your face if you don’t want to…”
But then he looked at me again and asked,
“Still, can I ask why you don’t want to be seen?”
“It’s like how you didn’t want me to see you lose control from the curse.”
I clutched the blanket tightly, explaining:
“When I’m sick, my face gets red, I’m sweaty, and I look terrible. I can’t even move properly, so I can’t take care of myself…”
Damien nodded with understanding.
“You didn’t want to show your vulnerable side.”
“Exactly. I mean, people get sick, but it’s not a pretty sight.”
“And I hate always showing you this weak side of me.”
“I understand.”
Rustle. The blanket shifted as he gently covered my chest with it and sat beside me.
“But to me, you don’t look weak or strange at all.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. You’re just Ruby, my wife.”
His warm amethyst eyes shimmered softly.
“Even sick, you’re still you. That’s all I see.”
“Oh…”
“I didn’t come here to take care of you. I came because I missed you. Of course, I’m worried too and want you to get better.”
No one had ever accepted me just as I was like that.
Until now, I’d always felt like a burden—someone others had to help.
“And by the way, you said you looked too awful to show me—”
He smirked.
“But to me, you just look cute. Your cheeks are red like you’ve been crying.”
“W-What?”
‘What’s with him today!’
“Ah, now they’re even redder. Is your fever getting worse?”
“N-No! You’re teasing me, aren’t you?!”
He laughed softly.
“Your reaction is so fun. I feel like teasing you more.”
His playful smile made me glare.
I crossed my arms dramatically.
“Just wait! I’ll get your weakness and tease you too—Cough, cough!”
A harsh cough broke my words.
Damien immediately handed me water.
Only after drinking could I speak again.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yeah. Just this coughing…”
“Hmm.”
Damien held my hand. The cool touch was comforting.
“You’ve been sick too often. I wish I could take it for you.”
I gave him a stern look.
“Don’t say that. I don’t want you to be sick either.”
“Thanks. But ever since we married, my headaches are gone. So I think I can handle a bit more.”
He gently placed my warm hand on his cheek.
It cooled instantly.
“Actually… should we try it?”
His eyes changed—focused, intense.
“Try what?”
“They say you get better if you pass a cold to someone else.”
Wait… what?
“So… why don’t you give it to me?”
…And when did he get this close?!
