~ Chapter : 7 ~
“That voice… it’s calling me.”
“Who is it?”
“…My ex?”
“And now?”
“Not now. Actually, I don’t even really know him…”
“Your ex?”
“Y-yeah, I guess so.”
Litia said that and quietly hid behind the man.
Caliph stepped slightly aside, and Litia moved along with him.
“….”
A few more times passed like that. Every time the man moved, Litia clutched his clothes from behind, following him closely, until he finally burst out laughing.
“So desperate?”
“Not exactly… it’s just a tricky situation.”
“And?”
“….”
Litia pouted at Caliph’s question, thinking he was teasing her.
“Anyway, he won’t come here.”
“Why?”
“Because I made sure of it.”
Hearing that, Litia peeked out from behind the wall. The lanterns on the wall made her face glow a little brighter. The man looked down at her face intently.
“Are you really using magic?”
“Maybe.”
Whether it was because of his words or because Zite had no interest in this place, the man never entered despite Litia hiding for quite some time. His voice eventually faded away entirely. Litia felt relief, but reality hit her—she would have to go back eventually. Still, she thought it was lucky she had dropped the most cumbersome part of the problem.
Litia let out a long sigh. Since opening her eyes in this body, sighing seemed to be the thing she did most.
“Your face looks like it needs help again.”
Litia looked up at him. He was so tall her neck ached, and the shadows across his face made him look impressive.
“Yes, but no one can really help this.”
“….”
How could anyone help? She absolutely couldn’t offend Duke Mont right now. Litia smiled brightly. It was time to part ways with the gentleman who helped her.
“Thank you for helping me just now. Can I ask your name? Hmm… I don’t know if we’ll meet again, but I won’t forget what you did today.”
“….”
But there was no answer. Litia, thinking she couldn’t waste more time, glanced at the curtain and said,
“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. I’ll remember your face and be sure to thank you if we meet again.”
After giving a light farewell, Litia hesitated by the curtain. Still, the man said nothing.
“Caliph.”
She sighed deeply again and reached for the curtain when a voice came from behind. Litia whipped her head around.
“Yes?”
“Caliph.”
“Oh.”
His name. Litia smiled softly, murmuring it a few more times with her red lips.
“I’ll remember it for sure.”
At that moment, Caliph grabbed her right hand that was holding the curtain, wrapping it gently with his. Litia’s face showed surprise as he spoke.
“Want me to help so it won’t be a problem if you don’t go back?”
Litia’s eyes widened. The question that came first wasn’t why he was holding her hand, but the one he actually asked.
“How?”
“Play with me.”
“Play with you?”
“I’ll cast an illusion so it looks like you were here and went back home without any issues.”
“Can you really do that?”
“Yes.”
Though her tipsiness had worsened, a question still formed in her mind. Why was this man helping her? Was it just simple kindness? Her thoughts spilled out before she could stop them.
“…Why do you keep helping me?”
Litia had fully turned toward him. They were close enough to touch heads if they leaned forward, but he didn’t feel threatening. Perhaps it was his languid, easygoing smile.
“You just asked for help a moment ago.”
“That wasn’t exactly asking.”
“True.”
He smiled faintly, and Litia’s heart thumped violently.
“Could it be…?”
“Hm?”
Caliph leaned toward her, tilting his head slightly.
“Did you fall for me at first sight?”
There was no other explanation for his friendliness.
“Haha.”
Caliph finally laughed, and Litia’s cheeks flushed slightly at the bold, refreshing sound of it.
“I am curious about you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. What will you do?”
His eyes mischievously asked whether she wanted to stay behind the curtain or come out and play for a while. Despite his captivating, elegant looks, his tone was playful. Litia’s deliberation wasn’t long.
“Can you really make it so nothing happens when I leave?”
She wanted to delay meeting the crown prince. If she could avoid it, she wanted to, and she wanted even more not to take responsibility.
As if acknowledging her thoughts, he extended his hand.
“Hold my hand.”
Cautiously, Litia took Caliph’s hand. At the same moment, his firm arm wrapped around her waist, and a whirlwind of wind swirled around them. Litia instinctively buried her face into his chest.
“Wow.”
The place Caliph took her to was the top of a spire, not far from the banquet hall. The lanterns looked tiny from so high up, like stars scattered across the sky. It felt as if cold sparkling water had been poured over her, refreshing her completely.
Litia closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the sensation. Whether it was truly her or Yoo Jimin experiencing it for the first time, it was exhilarating.
Having lived a life constantly plagued by illness, unable to step out of the hospital after turning twenty, and then awakening in Litia’s body only to remain trapped, the stress had been overwhelming. Now, she felt some of that suffocating feeling lift.
Could this be freedom?
Then who was this man? Why did he help her?
Despite the confusing questions, one thing was clear—he was a savior. Litia turned to Caliph and smiled softly.
“I should’ve had this here, what a shame.”
She muttered to herself. The fine wine would have been perfect to drink here. Thirst welled up from the regret.
Caliph offered her something. A wine glass, shimmering with deep red liquid, appeared in his hand as if conjured. Litia’s eyes widened again—he was clearly a mage.
“Thank you.”
She decided to sip moderately, but one sip at a time only made her want more. She became bolder. The feeling of being constrained all this time had overtaken her rationality. Having never experienced this before, she decided nothing else mattered tonight. The stronger her intoxication grew, the looser her control became.
One more drink. And another. And another.
Her mood ballooned, and she demanded more from Caliph. Even as the wine spilled over her wrist, she felt nothing but joy.
“You’re kind of amazing.”
“Me?”
“Yes, especially your face… oh, your voice too. But why were you curious about me? That’s why you helped me, right?”
Her tongue grew clumsy.
“I don’t think I’ll answer properly now.”
“Why not? I will.”
Litia’s laughter became loud and carefree.
“Then tell me how you came here.”
“Here?”
She rolled her eyes and paused, thinking. Her lips opened, red and soft.
“By carriage?”
“Not that.”
“Hmm… I don’t know.”
“I thought so.”
Caliph laughed incredulously, and Litia mimicked him with a smile.
“It’s… because it’s my first time feeling like this. Freedom… it’s my first time.”
She tilted her head to catch the drops of wine with her tongue. Though she wanted more, Caliph, sensing her inexperience, didn’t give her more. Her behavior was reminiscent of a lover of alcohol or an addict, yet her elegant appearance made it seem graceful.
Squinting, she stared at the empty glass.
“First time?”
“I’ve always… been lying down.”
After talking to herself for some time, Litia started nodding off. She had agreed to follow him to play, but now she dozed lightly, drunk, in his company. Caliph shook his head; he hadn’t expected this, but she had intrigued him enough to watch a little longer.
She was a completely new presence—an unfamiliar being.
For a while, she rested quietly against him. But soon she opened her clear, lucid eyes again. Even in her intoxicated state, her gaze was sharper than ever.
“Caliph.”
“….”
Getting no response, Litia boldly cupped his cheeks with both hands, demanding an answer with her eyes wide open.
“Caliph.”
“Yes.”
Caliph was taken aback but answered obediently.
“You’re beautiful.”
You’re really beautiful.
Litia grinned, and a small breath escaped from Caliph’s mouth.
“So… do you like me?”
“Yes. Actually, I followed you because I liked you. I like beautiful people.”
“What if I were dangerous?”
Litia tilted her head, then shook it.
“Not dangerous.”
As she swayed, Caliph’s hand quickly steadied her.
“See? Not dangerous.”
Litia’s laughter deepened. She clutched his shoulders as support. Her face then drifted closer, and she pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
For the first time, Caliph’s composed expression faltered.
“Thank you. I didn’t bring anything, so I have nothing to give.”
Litia chuckled, and their eyes met in the air. Sparks seemed to fly in that instant.
