cure chapter 7

“…Don’t people normally ask you not to touch them, even if they aren’t in pain?”

“Perhaps. But I’m not exactly in a position to be picky.”

“Have you ever considered… trying to be?”

“I have not.”

Ah… right. He’s a pervert… no, a man of… unconventional tastes.

His reply was even quicker and more resolute than when he had handed me the apple. It came back so cleanly that it left no room for argument, reminding me of an aspect of Enoch’s identity I had momentarily forgotten. I shook my head, and a soft rustling sound tickled my ear.

“By the way, what is that rustling sound you’ve been making… whoa.”

My gaze shifted back to Enoch at the sound, and a pure, unfiltered gasp of admiration escaped my lips.

Are his clothes fastened with a one-touch button or something? Why did they open so easily?

As I stole a glance at the muscles peeking out from between the folds of his fluttering shirt, I belatedly covered my eyes.

“What—what—what do you think you’re doing! Cover yourself up!”

“…? Did you not agree to touch me? Yesterday, you seemed to like it here… and here. Shall I have you touch the same places?”

“I—I have no memory of saying such a thing!”

As I brazenly feigned ignorance at the sight of Enoch innocently pointing to his pectorals and abdomen, his head tilted slightly to the left.

“You don’t remember again?”

“No. I-I don’t.”

“So you’re not in pain, but you can’t remember. Not even what happened just last night.”

“…”

“Hmm…”

Enoch paused as if pondering my reaction, then the corner of his red lips curled upward.

“Well. If that’s the case, then I’ll just have to make you remember.”

Wait… how do you plan on reviving a lost memory?

His smile was so flagrantly impure that I leaned my upper body back, but for all the distance I created, his firm body closed it in a single stride.

“Wh-why are you coming closer?”

“I have an acquaintance who suffers from severe forgetfulness. He once told me that when you forget something—”

Rustle.

In the brief, precarious silence that followed, a large hand gently took hold of the ends of my hair. As I watched, mesmerized, as my platinum blonde locks flowed softly through his black-gloved fingers, Enoch drew near enough for me to feel his breath. His long, elegant eyes curved into a beautiful crescent.

“—you simply have to repeat the actions from before you forgot. So, Liana, shall we repeat what we did yesterday until your memory returns?”

…Excuse me? Could you please not talk as if something actually happened?

All that happened yesterday was that this body’s owner got drunk and groped you a few times!

The moment I internally screamed and swallowed hard at Enoch’s overwhelming allure, the baby in my arms suddenly burst into tears.

“Hic… Waaaaah!”

The sound jolted me back to my senses. Seizing the opportunity, I pushed against the firm chest that had been inching closer and frowned slightly.

“The baby is crying because you keep stripping! Hurry up and cover yourself properly.”

“What did I…? And what do you mean, keep…”

“Waaaaah!”

Muttering as if wronged, Enoch sighed softly at the renewed, louder wail and began to clumsily cover himself. After tying the knot securely, he stared at me with an exceptionally displeased look.

“I’m fully covered, so why is he still crying?”

“I know… what’s wrong?”

The baby’s face was beet red as he cried, gasping for breath. A look of alarm slowly dawned on Enoch’s face as well.

“Is he hurt somewhere?”

“That’s strange… he was playing just fine a moment ago.”

Though he didn’t dare touch the child, he was clearly worried. As Enoch bent down to meet the baby’s eyes, the crying subsided just a little. Watching them, I unconsciously grabbed Enoch’s hand and shook it.

“Your Majesty, what do we do? Do something.”

“…”

“Quickly, please?”

Wondering why he had suddenly gone quiet, I was about to shake his arm again when I realized I was holding onto him. I tried to pull my hand away.

“Just a moment.”

But Enoch caught my retreating hand, lacing his fingers tightly with mine. He blinked slowly and murmured something.

“It seems… it doesn’t have to be my body.”

“Pardon?”

“Liana, I wasn’t mistaken. It truly feels good when you touch me. My body feels warmer, and—”

Thump.

“…”

In the midst of Enoch’s sudden and peculiar confession, I had, to my own profound shock, raised our joined hands and covered his lips.

I’m insane. Absolutely insane! Damn this hand. Why did you have to cover his mouth?

It hasn’t been three seconds yet, maybe if I move it fast enough, he won’t notice I just silenced him? As I was having this ridiculous thought, Enoch’s eyes, which had been watching me intently, curved into a beautiful smile.