I don't like being in pain. Rodrick's expression hardened at her mumbled words.
Come to think of it, his face looked somewhat haggard.
What? Is it the after-effects of the curse? I should have absorbed it all.
She reached out and placed her hand on his gaunt cheek.
"Were you in pain too?"
"..."
His eyes darkened with some unreadable thought. After remaining silent, he answered a different question.
"You slept for over ten full days. That's why your body is stiff."
Ten days. That vague number felt unreal.
"What?!"
What is he saying? I'm sure I just woke up right after fainting with a nosebleed.
As she tried to pull her hand away in surprise, Rodrick quickly grabbed it.
"Rodrick?"
It's warm. The faintly heard voice seemed to be one of relief.
As always, Diana didn't think much of it and turned her eyes from Rodrick to survey the room.
The soft bed and the luxurious interior of the room were unfamiliar and new.
"Where are we?"
"The North. Schwartz Castle."
Wow, when did we get here? It's nice to have traveled comfortably while sleeping, but judging by how fresh my body feels, they must have even bathed me. The clothes are new too.
After roughly grasping the situation, Diana asked her biggest question.
"But why are we both naked? And in the same bed?"
Rodrick, who had been fiddling with her fingers, answered without blinking an eye.
"Aren't we that kind of relationship?"
His low voice lingered thickly in her ear. Her body hair stood on end.
Her pink eyes rolled to the side, unable to meet his blue ones.
"What kind of relationship were we?"
"You should know well, shouldn't you?"
Her eyes rolled around searching for an answer before she finally managed to speak.
"Well, we are in a life-and-death relationship, I suppose."
Why has his attitude changed so much? Still, is it good that his behavior is gentler?
Ah! Is this the timing? The proposal timing.
If she was going to stay here anyway, she needed a reason.
"Um, Rodrick."
"Diana."
"..."
Diana's breath caught briefly at hearing her name from Rodrick's lips.
"...Did you just call my name?"
Her pink eyes widened. She looked like a rabbit surprised by an unexpected carrot.
He chuckled. What's the big deal about calling a name?
"You said you could only live by being in contact with me, right?"
His smile, which curled lazily in the strangely relaxed atmosphere, was downright violent.
Entranced by Rodrick's face, Diana could only answer half a beat late.
"Y-yes?"
"And you can remove my curse."
"Yes."
"Then we'll have to stay together constantly."
Diana's face brightened as she listened quietly to Rodrick's conclusion.
Finally, you understand what I'm saying! You live, and I live. Let's live well together, us extras who were supposed to die in the original story.
"That's right, Rodrick! So, about us—"
"Shall we get engaged?"
Diana's face, which had been filled with emotion, froze.
Um... my proposal was stolen.
"We can think about marriage after the engagement. If your mind hasn't changed after your illness is cured, that is."
"W-why are you like this? Who are you?"
"What?"
"You're not the Rodrick I knew? The Rodrick I knew was a man of integrity who said 'No' as easily as eating bread! Who are you?! Who possessed my cure?"
She wanted to grab his collar and shake him, but there was nothing to grab on his bare skin.
"Ha, Princess."
Ah! In an instant, Rodrick moved his body over Diana's. His face was above hers, trapped between his muscular arms.
"Is it your preference to be treated roughly?"
"Ye... No?"
He lowered his head and gently bumped his forehead against hers.
"No fever."
Come to think of it, her body that had been screaming in pain was no longer hurting. As expected of my cure.
"I guess I'm not in pain anymore because I was close to you."
She smiled prettily.
"..."
He was silent for a long time. Unable to bear the awkwardness, she spoke up again.
"You haven't contacted my family, have you?"
"Before contacting them, I found out that you're supposed to be at the mansion in the capital."
Ah, Rodrick's words confirmed her suspicion. Seeing that she was still registered as being in the capital, it was clear that her kidnapping and imprisonment were all done by people from her family.
The magician who threw Rodrick into the water also had the red eyes characteristic of the Beatus family.
She couldn't go back right away, and it seemed she would have to observe the situation here for a while longer.
"Your younger brother is still listed as missing."
"Can we stay here longer?"
Rodrick, who had been quietly looking down at her, raised her hand with his ungloved hand.
Lifting her hand, he planted a deep kiss on her palm and said,
"Where would you go without me?"
He tilted his head slightly and smiled.
That seductive smile nearly made her lose her soul.
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.