IITYVA 31

Chapter 31

Even though I had made the decision myself to sleep in the same bed as Aches, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Of course I was.

I’m Einra, 25 years old, your textbook definition of a forever-alone type who uses spirit magic instead of traditional sorcery.

I’ve never done this or that with a man—heck, I’ve never even shared a bed with one!

‘Aaaaaaah…!’

I thrashed around under the blanket in silent panic.

My heart was pounding like crazy, thumping against my ribs.

My head felt so dazed I almost imagined I could hear ringing in my ears.

I don’t know how long I was like that.

Then, with my nerves already on high alert, I heard a soft knock at the door.

I froze completely.

The door slowly creaked open with a faint click.

I peeked out from under the blanket—and locked eyes with Aches, who looked freshly bathed.

His damp, curly black hair clung softly to his forehead, and his skin glowed a translucent white, still moist from the water.

Beneath that, his firm upper body peeked out slightly through the loosely tied robe.

His eyes, as red as his well-colored lips, curved gently as he looked at me.

“Breathe.”

“H-Huh?”

“You need to breathe, Einra.”

“…Hah.”

At the sound of his coaxing voice, I finally let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding.

My face, already burning hot, now felt like it might actually explode.

‘Wh-What… What is with that dangerously seductive look?!’

I squeezed my eyes shut and dove completely under the blanket. Just then, I heard a faint laugh and felt the mattress shift under a gentle weight.

“If you take the whole blanket like that, I won’t have anything to cover myself with.”

“…”

“I’m cold, Einra.”

He had climbed onto the bed and was now looking pitifully at me with droopy eyes.

‘Gasp. He can’t be cold!’

What if he caught a cold? That’d be terrible.

I quickly sat up and hurriedly spread the blanket back over to his side.

“Here. Now you’ll be warm.”

I even made sure it was smoothed out with a few pats before backing away, and Aches, who had quietly accepted my fussing, turned to me with another smile.

“Thank you, Einra.”

“N-Not at all…”

Unable to face his smile directly, I dove back under the blanket like I was fleeing for my life.

Not long after I buried my face up to the nose, I felt a presence beside me.

My heart started thumping wildly again.

I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately hoping that the thunderous noise wouldn’t reach Aches’ ears. But as the silence stretched on, I started to grow curious about the person lying next to me.

‘Is Aches asleep…?’

Asleep? He wasn’t moving. Maybe he really was sleeping?

It was such a silly little curiosity, but for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Should I look? Or not?

After an intense inner battle, I finally decided to take one quick peek and lowered the blanket just beneath my eyes.

And then—I locked eyes with a pair of red irises staring right back at me.

“…!”

Startled, I gasped involuntarily, and Aches chuckled softly.

“Einra, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“W-Well…”

“Trying to sneak a peek at me so cutely.”

“T-That’s not…!”

I opened my mouth to deny it quickly, but unfortunately, I had indeed been trying to sneak a peek, so I couldn’t come up with anything to say.

I rolled my eyes around awkwardly for a moment before mumbling in a mosquito-sized voice:

“…I’m not cute.”

“That’s not true. You’re totally cute.”

“I said I’m not.”

“You’re super cute, Einra.”

“Aah, no! I’m not cute!”

Overcome by emotion, I suddenly turned toward Aches and glared at him.

Now facing me under the blanket, his eyes curved again into a soft smile.

“Einra, you really need to understand yourself better.”

“…”

“Good night, Einra.”

He whispered sweetly, then gently closed his eyes.

I felt a bit annoyed, but I couldn’t exactly wake up someone who was trying to sleep just to argue, “I’m not cute.”

Grumbling to myself, I closed my eyes.

Still, thanks to that little back-and-forth, the tension that had gripped me earlier melted away, and sleep came quickly.