A notification seemed to appear out of thin air, and then my vision jerked violently.

“…….”

Then my head hurt like it was going to crack.

‘My head hurts?’

I opened my eyes wide, even as the strength drained from my body.

When Rose, the ancient witch, took over my body, all my senses were blurred.

Like when you’re underwater, your vision is blurred and sounds are muffled.

But now was different.

“Roselina!”

I could hear Argention’s voice clearly.

‘I see I have indeed defeated the ancient witch Rose and regained my body.’

I sent my energy through my body to confirm.

And I didn’t feel any of Ancient Witch Rose’s energy.

‘Thank God.’

I thought to myself and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Are you all right?”

I heard Argention’s voice again.

Then the warmth of his hand on my back.

Before I knew it, Argention was leaning in close.

“Huh?”

What the hell is going on?

I snapped out of my thoughts and gasped.

Argention’s strong arms were wrapped around my waist and back.

He was supporting me, bearing my weight.

‘Why am I being held by Argention?’

Panicking, I tried to push him away.

But my arms were drained of energy, and I couldn’t move.

“I don’t mean anything else, so calm down. I only grabbed you because I was afraid you’d fall to the cold floor.”

“Oh. Yeah……. Thanks.”

He sat down on the floor, still holding me.

“Argention. It’s okay, let go of me.”

“Being on a hard cave floor makes even the best of people sick. If you’re uncomfortable, bear with me.”

“But…….”

I was embarrassed by the way I was being held like a baby.

‘You could just make a shield out of the ether.’

Then he wouldn’t have to hold me like this.

I was going to suggest Argention to do that.

“You’re too weak to move right now, so just focus on recovering. Once you’ve regained your strength, we can return to Castle Winfrote.”

Argention’s voice was polite, as if he meant nothing else.

‘Shame on me for thinking otherwise.’

I nodded, thinking to myself.

I found it odd.

‘Huh?’

Argention’s earlobes were strangely red.

‘I must have misread you.’

I looked away, pretending to be unconcerned.

But.

This time, a loud thumping sound caught my attention.

‘Could it be another demon?’

But I didn’t detect any demonic aura or smell.

‘Then what is it?’

I leaned closer to the sound.

It sounded closer than I thought.

I rolled my eyes toward the epicenter.

What I saw was a solid, broad chest.

“Argention?”

“Yes.”

I mumbled the owner’s name, and his ruby eyes locked on mine.

“What’s going on?” (Argention)

“Um. It’s…….” (Roselina)

“Did you ever do anything bad to…….”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

I interrupted hastily, before he could get the wrong idea.

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”

“But your cheek reminds me of a fever.”

“That’s…….”

“Tell me. Where are you sick?”

When I didn’t answer straightforwardly, Argentina’s expression grew serious.

“Is there some reason you can’t tell me?”

I was frustrated at my inability to speak.

‘But I can’t even ask.’

Even now, Argention’s heart was beating fast.

It was a strangely strong pulse that I only now recognized.

‘Argention. How can I tell you that your heart is beating loudly?’

Argention, who didn’t know what I was feeling, made a pleading face.

“I apologize if I’ve caused you any discomfort, so please tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m not sick.”

Argention bowed his head near me wordlessly.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

The heat inside me surged.

I quickly turned my head to look away, but Argention was one step ahead of me.

“Are you going to claim that you don’t have a fever after this?”

“Ah…….”

He pressed his forehead against mine.

‘I thought we were going to kiss.’

I touched his chest in surprise.

‘I mean, it’s so out of context to kiss a person in this situation.’

Why the hell did I think that…….

My face flushed with embarrassment at my unnecessary misunderstanding.

“Of course I’m furious. With you questioning me this close.”

Eventually, through gritted teeth, I spoke the half-truth.

“……ah.”

Argention seemed to realize that we were in close quarters.

Even in the darkness of the cave, I could see the nape of his neck flush red.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. Nothing to be sorry about.”

Argention was embarrassed, and I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye.

I rolled my eyes unnecessarily and looked away.

“Are you offended by……?”

“What?”

Argention’s blurted out words forced me to look at him again.

‘What the hell are you talking about?’

But he was deadly serious.

“I’m embarrassed to say, but I’m not the most attractive person, so I was wondering if I might have offended you.”

“What?”

My jaw dropped at the absurdity of it all.

‘If Argention isn’t the most attractive person, then whose face is it?’

I don’t know about him, but I can’t get enough of Argention’s face.

‘He’s the most handsome man in the world!’

I stared at Argention’s face in disbelief.

He blinked slowly.

His long eyelashes fluttered, revealing cold rubies.

They were pretty eyes.

The shading added to the mood, giving them an indescribable aura.

‘I want to go in there and live.’

Not to mention his nose, which stretched high and cool.

Sometimes I was tempted to reach out and touch it.

That’s when her lips curled into a nice shape.

“Roselina.”

“Huh?”

Argention’s voice was gorgeous.

“The distance is…… close.”

His voice was eerily low.

I shivered, startled by the strange heat in it.

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“No, I was just concerned that you might be offended…….”

“No! I’m not offended!”

I snapped.

It was a sin to think of himself as ugly with a face like that.

“I’m not offended at all, I just like your face.”

“You like my face?”

“How could I not like such a handsome face…….”

Only after my instincts had gotten the better of me did I come to my senses.

I realized I’d blurted out a string of words I shouldn’t have and shut my mouth.

“Anyway. Whatever.”

I blurted out, trying to get it out of my system.

“In that case, I’ll give it to you.”

“Huh? Like what?”

“My face.”

“Why would you give that to me?”

For some reason, the conversation was getting out of hand.

‘I need to avoid this situation.’

I felt like I was walking naked into a tiger’s den.

I felt like I was going to get eaten if I didn’t keep my wits about me.

“Argention. I’m feeling much better, thanks to you. Now…….”

I tried to shake him off, saying I was feeling better.

But again, Argention leaned down and brought his face close.

“My face. I thought you might like it.”

“No. Who likes it!”

“Then…… does it offend you?”

It was extreme logic.

But I was too dazed to think about it.

Argention blinked lazily.

His thick lashes fluttered, catching my gaze.

“No offense, but…….”

“Then please take it away.”

“Huh? Okay…….”

I replied, mesmerized.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure you like it even in the future.”

Argention smiled pleasantly and took my hand.

Then he made me cupped his cheek.

‘You have deceptively good skin.’

As I savored the feel of his skin, I jerked back.

“What are you doing?”

I jerked out of Argention’s arms this time.

‘No way. What have I done?’

I had a million things on my mind, but I was enjoying playing with him.

‘I’m crazy, I’m crazy.’

My mind raced as I realized that I’d been so close to cuddling with him just moments before.

I could still hear the pounding of his heart.

The way he looked at me, the emotion in his eyes.

‘I can’t possibly think that Argention would want me to……. No. It’s impossible.’

That could never happen!

“I’ll go out first!”

I sprinted out of the cave, not even looking at Argention.

I intended to return to Winfrote Castle first.

But I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted someone.

“You…….”

An unexpected person was waiting outside the cave.

• • Rose.

It was the Spirit of the Garden, the cause of all these events.