I had shared my body with Nathan to lift his curse.
But that didn’t make us real lovers.
Once our goals were achieved, we would return to being strangers.
So, I thought it was up to me whether or not I talked to Regis.
“Why is it that I can’t talk to Prince Regis alone?”
It felt a bit unfair that Nathan was trying to control who I spoke with, so I asked him that.
After a moment of hesitation, he answered.
“I’ve taken on a lot of risk for you. Is this really too much to ask in return?”
“What if there’s something I absolutely need to discuss with Prince Regis? Would I have to get permission then, too?”
“Is it so hard for you to just say you won’t talk to him?”
Sensing the change in his tone, I immediately lifted my head to study his expression.
Nathan’s face was slightly contorted, revealing his emotions.
I couldn’t understand why he was getting this upset just because I wanted to talk to Regis.
‘Jealousy? No, Nathan wouldn’t be like that… there’s no reason for it.’
I returned his gaze with a defiant look.
It was a small act of rebellion.
Still, he tried to convince me with a strange logic.
“You said you didn’t even like Regis, so why not just say you won’t talk to him?”
“Alright, then.”
I didn’t agree with Nathan because I was convinced by his words.
I still didn’t understand his demand.
I only responded because it seemed pointless to argue any further.
I turned around and lay down, feeling weary, but then he wrapped his arms around me from behind.
This wasn’t an embrace meant to break his curse.
Nor did it carry any sexual intent.
It was simply a hug for emotional comfort, like what lovers might share.
“I know you’re feeling defiant. Even I don’t fully understand why I’m making such a request.”
Being enveloped by his strong arms and broad chest, I felt my mood soften.
“You don’t know the reason?”
“Yeah.”
What could I do? He admitted he didn’t know why he didn’t want me talking to Regis.
Even though it was a ridiculous explanation, I appreciated his honesty.
I turned to face Nathan and lightly kissed his lips.
‘I don’t want to upset him. After all, we’re bound by fate, one way or another.’
That was why I kissed him.
Or maybe it was just an impulsive act, driven by how much I liked his lips.
Regardless, it was rare for me to initiate a kiss, so he seemed surprised.
I smiled at his astonished expression.
“Talking in the hallway with him is nothing. I’ve shared much more with you, haven’t I?”
It seemed this was the right thing to say.
Without a word, he kissed me deeply in response.
“Mm…”
“Ah…”
The kiss was far more passionate and eager than one meant merely for treatment.
At first, I pulled away from him out of nervousness, but eventually, I responded by moving my tongue, letting myself be swept up in the heat.
Heat is contagious, and as he caressed me with increasing intensity, warmth spread through my body, which had been cool until now.
As I felt my reason gradually slipping away, I made one final request.
“Stay with me all day tomorrow. Put everything else aside.”
When I looked into Nathan’s eyes, I saw for the first time what it meant for someone’s reason to completely disappear.
Momentarily dazed, he kissed me again, even more deeply, while simultaneously pulling on the tie that held the canopy curtains around the bed.
Soon, our bodies, now one, were hidden behind the crimson velvet curtains.
—
We didn’t stop until dawn.
In the thick darkness, untouched by moonlight, we immersed ourselves in each other without tiring.
The soft touch of the silk surrounding my body.
The rough, calloused palms of his hands.
His body heat, scent, and breath…
In the darkness, every sensation became etched more vividly into my mind.
I would probably never forget these moments, even as I aged and faced death.
So, even after waking up, I lay there, lost in the lingering afterglow for a while.
‘It’s already morning…’
Remembering all the tasks I had to handle starting today, I forced myself to focus.
I reached for the undergarments I had tossed aside the night before.
But then, Nathan, who I thought had been asleep, pulled me back into his arms from behind.
“Don’t get up. We said we’d spend the whole day like this.”
“Yes, but…”
Before I could finish, he buried his face in my tangled hair, muffling his voice.
“Every now and then, I used to imagine something like this. Falling asleep with someone I love and waking up together under warm blankets. But afterward, I’d always be filled with self-loathing.”
“Because you thought it could never come true…?”
“Yes.”
I sensed a deep loneliness in him that I couldn’t fully comprehend.
So, I silently wished for him to one day find someone destined for him, someone who could bring him happiness.
“Once your curse is lifted, you’ll receive the respect and love of many people. You won’t feel lonely anymore.”
“We’ll see.”
His response was unexpected.
“I’m starting to think I might be okay with things staying just the way they are.”
Did he mean he didn’t mind if the curse wasn’t lifted?
I couldn’t understand.
He had been so desperate to break free of the curse, but now he was saying something different…
If he gave up like this, he wouldn’t be able to find true love or get married properly.
I thought over and over about what he meant by those words.
‘…Maybe he’s just not fully awake yet.’
In the end, I dismissed it as him not being fully alert.
“This isn’t okay. You need to lift the curse and claim the throne. Come on, get up.”
“I thought we were spending the whole day like this…”
“I wanted to, but there are too many things I need to get done. We have to move.”
I smacked his bare skin lightly with my palm as I stood up.
The more I did, the more he frowned and burrowed deeper under the covers.
But I didn’t give up either, shaking him vigorously.
There was too much to do to just stay in bed.
“Get up, come on!”
“Ugh…”
Groaning and burying his face in the pillow, he eventually sat up.
I ran my fingers through his tousled black hair, trying to smooth it out.
“We have somewhere to go. But it’s a bit far and dangerous, so we’ll need to gather people. Can you arrange that?”
“Go where?”
“To Sharko Island.”
Nathan, who had been quietly letting me comb his hair, turned his head to look at me.
“Sharko Island? It takes at least a week by boat to get there.”
He was right. Sharko Island was a small, uninhabited island that took about a week of sailing to reach.
Most people didn’t even know where it was.
Nathan, being royalty, seemed to know because of his education on the empire’s territories.
‘He looks confused.’
The island had no valuable resources and was overrun with monsters.
Anyone would find it hard to understand why I wanted to go there.
I explained it simply.
“I’ve always been interested in ancient relics. I’ve read through various books searching for hidden treasures in the empire, and I stumbled across some information about Sharko Island.”
“…Really? I didn’t know you had such a hobby.”
“From what I’ve gathered, there’s an incredible treasure hidden on Sharko Island.”
Who could resist the mention of treasure?
Nathan’s interest was piqued.
“What kind of treasure?”
“A water spirit.”
Nathan suddenly stopped my hand, which had been brushing his hair.
“Tell me more. Where did you find this information?”
“It’s difficult to explain. It’s a combination of various sources I’ve pieced together. But I’m certain there’s a water spirit there.”
Of course, my story about being interested in ancient relics was a lie.
I knew about the spirit’s location because of my knowledge of the game’s lore.
Finding a spirit’s location was easier for me than breathing.
‘It’s a good thing I played the game so diligently, huh?’
There was only one spirit whose location I didn’t know… but with the amount of information I had, I’d find it soon enough.
“This information is reliable, right?”
“Yes, it’s certain. All you have to do is prepare the ship, the sailors, and the knights. Leave convincing the spirit to me.”
“Convincing? Spirits can talk?”
“I hear spirits take the form of men, so I think they’ll be able to communicate.”
Nathan seemed genuinely surprised, as if this was new information to him, even as royalty.
