cure chapter 9

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“…Yes.”

A strained voice escaped him as I carefully smoothed his disheveled hair. Exhausted, he lifted his eyes while still resting his head on my shoulder. My own worried face was reflected in his slightly teary gray eyes.

“Anyway, about your body getting warmer when I touch you…”

“…”

“I didn’t realize that’s what you meant…”

“What on earth were you thinking?”

A weak chuckle escaped him. He lowered his gaze and rubbed his head against me like a whining child. I flinched slightly as his soft hair tickled my delicate skin, and the large hand that was still holding mine tightened its grip, lacing our fingers more firmly.

“…When I come into contact with someone, my body freezes. But when I touch you… it actually grows warmer.”

“Only me…? Why?”

“That’s probably because—”

I swallowed, waiting for him to continue, when I felt a tug on my skirt. I looked down to meet a pair of bright green eyes looking up at me.

“Maaa…”

“Hm?”

The child was clutching my skirt with one hand and, with the other, holding out the doll he’d been hugging like a lifeline toward Enoch.

“Your Majesty, look at this.”

“Hm?”

I watched for a moment before shaking Enoch, who was still leaning against me with his eyes closed. He struggled to lift his eyelids. Seeing Enoch, the baby’s eyebrows drooped, and he grunted, lifting the doll even higher. As if offering it to him.

“…Is this for me?”

“Ung!”

Enoch paused, about to reach out. He slowly clenched and unclenched his fist, and the remaining ice crystals on his skin fell away. Only after confirming his hand wouldn’t startle the child did Enoch carefully take the doll. The baby’s chubby cheeks drooped.

“Sowwy…”

At the word that came from his tiny mouth, Enoch and I looked at each other in surprise.

“Did he just…”

“I think he just said he was sorry to you, Your Majesty.”

As if to confirm we’d heard correctly, the child sighed dramatically and plopped down, the corners of his eyes drooping sadly. Startled, Enoch lifted his head from my shoulder. He fiddled with the doll in his hand for a moment before crouching to meet the child’s gaze.

“Are you apologizing to me?”

“Ung…”

“Why?”

“Hurwt…”

The child, still unable to speak perfectly, pointed to Enoch’s cheek and furrowed his brow. As if he knew his touch had hurt him. At this, Enoch’s sharp eyes, which had widened in surprise, softened into gentle crescents.

“No. It wasn’t your fault. I must have scared you. I’m sorry.”

Enoch, unable to touch the child directly, took the doll’s soft hand and used it to pat the baby’s own chubby, fern-like hand. The child’s green eyes sparkled. Seemingly cheerful again, the baby wriggled into my lap. As I shifted to hold him more comfortably, Dain, who had left earlier, returned with formula and some snacks.

He froze. Like a malfunctioning robot, he set the food down and quickly tried to leave.

“I-I apologize for my timing. I’ll take my leave now. Please let me know if you need anything.”

“Huh? Where are you going? Hey…! What’s… What’s with him?”

Wondering what was wrong as I watched his hasty retreat, I raised my hand to scratch my cheek, only to be startled by the large, well-defined fingers that suddenly appeared before my eyes.

“Ah! You scared me. If you’re alright now, perhaps we could… let go?”

I had no idea how long we’d been holding hands. Feeling a little embarrassed, I tried to pull my hand away, but Enoch looked down, a hurt expression on his face.

“You were touching me just fine a moment ago… Have you already grown tired of my body?”

“Wha—! How can you say something like that!”

Was it impossible to have a wholesome conversation in this world? Seeing that he had recovered enough to resume his suggestive teasing, I jumped up and hugged Ariel like a shield.

“Abubu! Poo!”

The baby squirmed in my arms, displeased at being suddenly lifted, but as Enoch tried to subtly press closer, I hugged Ariel tighter and glared at him.

“That was only because I was worried when you suddenly froze.”

“Exactly. I’m still very cold. Please touch me again.”

Seeing him whine so shamelessly, I quickly patted him down here and there before looking up with a pout.

“Don’t lie. You’re not just warm, you’re burning up.”

“You caught me.”

He shrugged lightly at my reaction and tilted his head languidly.

“But, Liana. There is something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Earlier, when I said my body grows warm, you said you ‘didn’t realize that’s what I meant.’ What, then, did you think I meant?”

“Uh… well…”

I couldn’t exactly voice the various R-rated delusions that had been running through my mind in response to his sudden question, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Hm? What on earth were you thinking to make you blush like that?”

His long, elegant eyes blinked slowly as he watched me.

“It’s… because you keep saying strange things, Your Majesty…!”

“I do? Like what?”

“Everything! Asking me to touch you, saying you’re getting ho-hot…”