~Chapter 46~
“W-What do you mean ‘transfer the cold’? How would you even do that…?”
I leaned back to put distance between me and Damien, but somehow his arm had already wrapped around my waist.
So instead of pulling away, I ended up practically in his arms. It drove me crazy.
“You transfer it… here.”
Here?
His finger pointed to his slightly upturned lips.
With a teasing gleam in his eyes, he lightly tapped his lips.
I instantly blushed, realizing what he meant.
“I-I—this is broad daylight! What kind of indecent—”
My words got jumbled in panic.
Was he really suggesting a kiss?
‘But we’re not even dating… we don’t love each other…’
Wait. Legally, we are married.
“Hm.”
Damien’s brow lifted ever so slightly.
He looked thoughtful as he gazed into my eyes.
“I suppose it still feels awkward, even though we kissed once at our wedding.”
“Well, that was the first and only time…”
He gave a lazy smile—playful, or perhaps hiding something more.
“Then we should practice. So we look like a real couple in front of others, right?”
I was speechless.
‘Is he serious, or just messing with me…?’
A contract husband asking for a kiss—was it for fun or was he being sincere?
‘Still… he’s not wrong, I guess?’
There could be situations where we need to look like a real couple…
Or maybe I was just overthinking it.
My brain spun in circles.
“Th-Then, I-I need a moment to prepare—”
The confusion, the warmth from our close contact—it was all too much. I wasn’t sure I could think clearly anymore.
Trying to stay focused only made my words more awkward and my voice sillier.
“I-I mean, yeah… we might have to kiss in public someday to prove we’re a real couple, so…”
I took a deep breath and sat up straight.
Looking directly at his surprised amethyst eyes, I grabbed the collar of his shirt with both hands.
“H-Here I go!”
I shut my eyes tight and slowly leaned in.
But… my body wouldn’t move. I was frozen in place.
Even though our noses were almost touching, the kiss felt impossibly far.
And then—
“Ruby.”
Damien’s voice came from right in front of me.
“Look at me.”
I opened my eyes.
Smooch.
Something soft brushed the corner of my lips and pulled away.
I froze, stunned, and touched the spot.
The place where Damien’s lips had just barely grazed mine.
It was right on the edge of my lips—close enough to count as a kiss.
It burned like fire.
I looked up, ready to ask what the heck that was—
Damien was calmly gazing down at me.
“I thought you were forcing yourself, so I went first.”
My heart thumped hard.
‘Why does this feel like… I lost or something…?’
“I kissed near your lips. Close enough, I think. Next time, we’ll do the real thing.”
His satisfied smile made me squint at him in mock annoyance.
“C-Cough… I was going to do it first…”
“Does it matter who goes first?”
He smiled coolly and reached out his hand.
“That’s probably enough to transfer your cold. That’s all I wanted.”
He gently patted my hair, like someone comforting someone precious to them—not like a formality.
“You’re really worried, aren’t you?”
I whispered.
“Now that our souls are connected, I can kind of feel how you’re doing physically.”
If I could sense him like this, he could definitely feel my cold symptoms too.
“But really, I’m okay. Don’t worry.”
He clasped my head between both hands, his voice filled with calm strength.
“This time it’s different. I have medicine. A doctor. People who care about me. And I want to get better.”
The person I was most connected to in this world…
The person who might understand me more than anyone.
“So I’ll get better soon. I promise.”
His pale but strong lips curved softly into a gentle smile.
“My bride is so reliable.”
Thump. Thump.
His heartbeat, which had been fast, settled back into a steady rhythm.
I was glad I could comfort him.
“Until then, I’ll stay by your side so you’re not lonely.”
That night was the first time—
I let someone stay in my room while I was sick, smiled even with a stuffy nose and watery eyes…
and fell asleep feeling truly happy.
A Few Days Later…
Thankfully, Rubiana’s cold was gone in just two days.
Then, a few days after—
“So you really went through with the ritual with that woman.”
A sharp, annoyed voice came from a golden crystal orb.
Damien, however, didn’t care one bit.
He calmly sipped his tea in front of the orb.
“You think now’s the time to sit there and drink tea?”
As expected, the yelling followed.
Damien quietly set down his cup and opened his deep violet eyes.
“I’m not being idle.”
“So I assume you know I don’t have time to cancel the ritual and go find another partner.”
That shut the imperial palace rep up.
Damien had completed the first stage of the soul contract.
It made no sense to cancel everything and go back to a weaker, more unstable state.
“Clever little snake. You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
“I simply chose the most logical path.”
A sigh came from the crystal.
“Fine. Just make sure you handle your curse quota properly from now on. Since your resistance is stronger, we’ll assign you stronger ones.”
“Understood. That was your only message, correct?”
Damien moved to turn off the orb’s light.
“Wait.”
He immediately sensed a hassle coming.
Just as he tried to disconnect, the orb lit up again—and a golden shimmer filled the air.
“Ugh.”
The blinding light made Damien visibly annoyed.
When it faded, a gold-sealed envelope dropped onto his desk.
“What’s this? We don’t need to send letters like this.”
Damien scowled.
“It’s not just about you. We have to follow form when contacting someone new.”
Someone new?
At that word, Damien flipped over the envelope.
The addressee included another name beside his own:
[To: Duchess Rubiana Maledictus]
Crinkle.
Damien crumpled the letter just as the voice in the orb spoke again.
“Bring her to Leonard’s victory banquet.”
Leonard Benedict.
A royal with an uncomfortable interest in Rubiana.
The one whose eyes oozed desire while watching her from the terrace.
As soon as that name was mentioned, Damien rose from his seat and glared down at the orb.
His violet eyes, like sharpened amethyst, burned with cold fury.
“I refuse.”
