Chapter 38
“…….”
Hansel’s attempt at a smile faltered, her eyelids trembling faintly. A creeping sense of foreboding climbed her spine—was she going to end up eating the entire basket of chocolates by herself?
“Thank you for the thought, but I can’t accept. You did the chores, so I should feed you instead.”
“You eat it.”
“…….”
“You eat less than a chick.”
Dante’s worry was plain. Her appetite had always been meager, bird-like, but recently it had dwindled even further. He felt compelled to ensure she ate whenever the opportunity arose, believing it was the only way to help her grow stronger and healthier.
Of course, the real crisis was Hansel’s. It wasn’t a mere premonition anymore—she would be the one to finish that basket of chocolates by herself. With a gentle grip, she clasped Dante’s hand.
“It’s just that I don’t have much of an appetite right now. Forcing myself to eat would only make it worse. Tomorrow, I’ll eat well.”
She stretched her mouth wide in a feigned yawn.
“Huaaahm. Oh, I’m so sleepy. I think I’ll go to bed now. Too tired to eat chocolates, I guess.”
“Sleep in the bed.”
Rest was as vital as eating for recovery, so Dante decided she needed to sleep well if nothing else. He carefully lifted her into his arms.
Hansel had grown accustomed to being carried by Dante wherever he deemed fit. Without protest, she wrapped her arms around his neck as they made their way to the bedroom.
When they arrived, Dante lowered her ever so gently, relying solely on his core muscles to bend down. Hansel couldn’t help but marvel at his incredible physical strength.
No mage could boast such robust physicality. Was this why Dante drew such a clear line, insisting he wasn’t a mage? The thought flitted briefly through her mind as she lay down on the bed.
“If I lie down like this, the bed’s going to get soaked,” she murmured.
“I’ll dry it.”
Dante slid his hand beneath her head. His long, firm fingers worked through her damp hair, the sensation tickling her scalp. As his hand moved gently, the moisture evaporated, leaving her hair soft and dry.
How convenient, she thought, to be able to dry hair so easily with magic. Talent truly was enviable and useful.
The soothing touch made her eyelids grow heavier. Even in her drowsy state, she wondered: why did he insist on drying her hair with a towel when he could do it this way?
Once her hair was completely dry, Dante slowly stood. Sensing him moving away, Hansel cracked her eyes open slightly.
“Stay.”
Dante’s hand brushed over her eyelids as if to close them again. But Hansel caught his wrist.
“You sleep here too.”
“…Suddenly?”
“You’re the master of the house, but you’ve been sleeping on the sofa all this time. I think it’d be good for you to sleep comfortably for a change. And, well… I get scared sleeping alone sometimes.”
Dante stared at her briefly, then lay down beside her. The bed dipped heavily under his weight. Hansel squinted slightly, pretending not to notice his awkward posture.
He lay stiffly, like a large dog reluctant to disturb its owner’s rest but desperate to sleep nearby.
“Why are you lying so uncomfortably? Come here. The bed’s not that small.”
Dante moved closer, lying next to her. As their bodies came into contact, Hansel naturally turned toward him. Emboldened, she asked for his arm as a pillow.
She didn’t last long before giving up, though—his arm was as solid and unyielding as a log, far too uncomfortable. Instead, she burrowed into his chest.
Something firm and blunt pressed against her stomach.
Hansel tried her best to ignore the sensation.
She knew what she had to do—what she eventually needed to do—but she wasn’t ready yet. Her mind still wasn’t in the right place.
Thankfully, Dante hadn’t made any advances over the past few days. If she just ignored it, he would probably fall asleep peacefully like last night. The only problem was that the pressure where their bodies touched kept drawing her focus, making it difficult to relax.
She needed a distraction.
“Dante.”
Dante glanced down at her. With her eyes still closed, she murmured softly.
“Isn’t it hard for you to just hold me like this until I fall asleep?”
After all, it was obvious he was aroused. Enduring that all night without doing anything must be difficult.
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