I Saved a Demon, and Now He’s After Me - Chapter 44

Ah, come to think of it, it wasn’t just the two of them. Realizing this belatedly, Eden cleared her throat awkwardly. Bezel, hearing those unexpected words, blinked his large eyes, then smiled like someone who had just heard the happiest news in the world.

“I’m glad to hear you say that. I’ll work even harder so I don’t disappoint you.”

A flawless, perfect smile and a fitting response. She had no idea what exactly he was trying to work so hard at every time. Thinking he was already doing enough, Eden placed the gun into his hand.

***

The place the servant mentioned was an orchard that had once been well-known in the village for its size. Though there were signs of long neglect, wooden signs painted with colorful fruit were set up at regular intervals along the alley. Thanks to that, Eden and her companions arrived at the orchard without getting lost once, even without the servant’s guidance.

Eden habitually pulled out a sansho leaf. As she chewed the herb and looked around, a cold hand grabbed her wrist.

She could tell just from the body temperature now. It was definitely Bezel, who was either very sensitive to cold or suffered from poor circulation in his extremities.

“Are you eating that poisonous herb again?”

“Oh, come on. It’s medicinal.”

“I clearly told you there’s no need for that anymore…”

Bezel trailed off, his gaze drifting toward the lower part of her face. When people talked, they were supposed to look at someone’s eyes, so where exactly was he looking? Eden brushed the spot where his gaze landed with her free hand.

Her chin… no, higher than that. Her lips. The moment her fingertips touched her own soft lips, Eden startled and shook off the hand holding her.

“Let go, let go!”

Damn it. She had forgotten, but now she remembered again. Just the night before, Eden and Bezel had shared a kiss so intense it was almost violent.

“Th-th-that…! What are you trying to do here?!”

She was so flustered her words came out stuttering. When Eden shouted loudly, Bezel looked surprised and tilted his head.

“What do you mean, what am I trying to do… I did it last time too, didn’t I?”

Aaah. Was it really true that the first time was hard and the second time easy? Even so, there are people watching, and here of all places?!

“I told you I don’t remember anything!”

“What are you… I’m not talking about yesterday. I mean the sign of the cross. You received it last time when we dealt with the demon too.”

“…The sign of the cross?”

What is he even talking about? Eden stopped yelling and stood still, mulling over his words. If it’s something she received when dealing with the demon last time… Eden’s face turned red all the way to her ears as she tried to recall.

Oh no. Her mind had been muddled by yesterday’s memory, causing her to overreact unnecessarily. What was she even thinking? Bezel wasn’t trying to kiss her lips, but rather, like he’d done before, he was going to kiss her forehead, chin, and both cheeks.

This too was embarrassing, but compared to what had happened last night, it was nothing. Eden fanned her heated face with her hand, embarrassed by her own overreaction.

“Ahem. It’s not that… you were staring at my lips, Bezel.”

“You’re being oddly sensitive.”

Bezel plucked the leaf that had been precariously tucked in her mouth, then lowered his head.

“…Almost like someone who remembers what happened yesterday.”

Cold breath tickled her upper lip. The violet eyes staring straight at her held a faint glint of mischief.

At that moment, Eden realized. Bezel already knew she was pretending not to remember. Even if Eden was oblivious, she wasn’t so dense that she couldn’t tell when she was being teased.

Well, she did act pretty obviously. The moment Eden recognized the truth, embarrassment washed over her and she couldn’t bear to look at him anymore, lowering her head. Bezel grabbed her chin and lifted it up.

“Aren’t you going to ask me to do it today?”

“…Ha.”

Right then, an exasperated sigh came from beside them. Johan was looking back and forth between the two of them with a stiff expression.

If she’d been alone, she would’ve been too conscious of that bastard to do anything, but being with Bezel, she kept forgetting about him.

After declaring Bezel “my person” before and now showing such a strange sight. She was about to pull away from the embarrassment, but the moment she saw Johan’s dark expression, spite suddenly welled up.

Right. No matter how long they’ve been broken up, it can’t be pleasant to see someone who was once his woman clinging to another man. Serves him right. Why did someone like him dump her anyway?

Eden grabbed Bezel’s clothes with the hand that had been about to push him away, pulling him toward her instead. Bezel obediently let himself be pulled as if he’d been waiting for it. As their already close heads drew even closer, Eden asked provocatively.

“If I ask you to do it today too, will you really do it?”