***

“Ugh.”

The witch and Julian entered deep in the forest. The sudden transportation caused Julian to lose her balance and fall flat on the dirt floor.

The witch looked down at her, amused.

“Planning to cast a curse on a new human?”

“Yes.”

“You know your body won’t be able to handle a new curse.”

“You said I had about two left.”

“I thought you’d continue cursing the same person as before. Given your condition, you can’t even properly cast a new curse.”

Despite knowing Julian’s intentions, the witch feigned ignorance. Julian clenched a handful of dirt in frustration.

“I’ll offer you a choice, being the generous and kind person that I am.”

“A choice?”

“Do you want to borrow my power to curse a new person heavily? Or would you rather place a weaker curse on the same person as before?”

“Borrow the power.”

Julian answered as if it were obvious.

Her life was doomed to end anyway; it didn’t matter if her death would be more painful because of the debt. As long as she wasn’t dying alone.

“Hahaha, you really are amusingly foolish.”

With another snap of her fingers, a massive shadow spread beneath the witch’s feet.

The shadow climbed over Julian, who was sitting on the ground. Wherever the shadow passed, it left behind traces as if it had scorched the earth black.

It was a moment steeped in the vilest of darkness, the witch’s absolute favorite.

“Now, tell me. The name of the human you’ll curse and the purpose of the curse.” 

The witch asked, lowering her voice.

“My curse, you shall be directed at…”

Julian’s blue eyes turned pitch black as she answered, her voice splitting into three separate strands.

“Iva Blanche, aim for her life. Pour all misfortune upon her, plunge her into despair.”

As the curse was recited, its power began to meld into Julian’s body. From a sitting position, weakened and unable to stand, she gradually rose to her feet.

The massive shadow that had loomed instantly raced through the forest toward its target.

“Constrict her breathing slowly, make it unbearable for her.”

By the time she finished her last words, the dark, scorched marks all sank back into Julian. 

Though this power would gnaw at her flesh and bone, Julian didn’t care.

As long as she didn’t die alone.

***

“Ugh…”

Inside the carriage of Duke Castello, Iva awoke from her sleep due to a sudden chill and heartache.

It was a terribly unsettling and unfamiliar shiver.

Instinctively, she curled her neck in, hiding the nape of her neck as she opened her eyes. Startled to see that the ceiling was not the familiar one of her bedroom but rather of the carriage, she quickly lifted her head.

Ah, I fell asleep in Ray’s arms.

It was only after looking at his face that Iva remembered they were heading to Grace.

How much time had passed? At some point, the road had smoothed out, and the interior of the carriage became calm.

Looking out the window, she noticed the sun was already setting. Sensing that they were almost there, she turned her eyes back to Ray.

He had his eyes closed and his head leaning against the seat.

Though she felt endlessly comfortable, he was sleeping in an awkward, upright position.

Not to disturb his nap by moving, Iva stayed still afraid if she moved she make wake him up. 

With eyes that had yet to fully awaken, she absentmindedly stared at Ray and mumbled.

“Wow, his face really is stunning…”

She had been so angry with him lately that she’d momentarily forgotten how handsome he was.

Seeing him up close again after a long while, admiration naturally slipped out.

The high, well-defined nose, and the sharp jawline. Even with his eyes closed, he oozed decadence.

Just by existing, he dripped with sex appeal, and in his uniform no less—it was like if there was such a thing as extra sexiness, it could only be Ray.

“Why just look at this face and not mess around? When will I ever get to kiss a face like this?”

With a face relaxed from exhaustion, Iva reached toward his face as if entranced. 

She touched his forehead lightly with her fingertips, then brushed along the bridge of his high nose. She poked his cheek—it was surprisingly soft. The sharp lines of his jaw looked so edgy she didn’t dare touch them as if it might cut her hands. 

While she was engrossed in playing with his features, her gaze fell on the scar above his left eyebrow.

Knowing it was an old wound and probably not painful, she touched it gently, cautiously. 

When she felt the uneven skin, her face involuntarily twisted in sympathy.

“What am I doing… Ah!”

She hastily pulled back her exploring hand, but Ray’s hand reached out and gripped hers tightly.

“W-were you not asleep?”

When did he wake up? Startled, Iva’s eyes darted up to meet his gaze.

Ray was looking down at her with eyes now open, his face flushed red as if it might burst at any moment. He hesitated, then spoke.

“…If you want, you can continue.”

“Huh? Continue what?”

“You can…mess with my face. Kissing is okay too.”

Realizing her mumbled desires had been heard, Iva’s face flushed hotly.

“No, I mean, that was just…”

Wide awake now, she covered her mouth with both hands and began to stammer gibberish. As she was frantically rolling her eyes here and there, thinking about how to salvage the situation…

Ray’s large hand pulled hers away from her mouth and slowly intertwined their fingers.

“Your-Your Grace?”

He didn’t answer her call. Instead, he simply met her gaze and moved closer, ever so slowly.

The confined space of the carriage, the heated breaths, their touching bodies—there was no escape.

Ray didn’t stop moving closer. And then, their noses lightly touched.

Not knowing where to direct her gaze, Iva opted to close her eyes.

With her eyes half-closed, she sensed Ray tilting his head and was about to hold her breath when—

“Hey, crybaby!”

Suddenly, the carriage door flung open, making both of their heads turn in that direction.

“B-Brother!”