THDK Chapter 12

Chapter 12: I’ve Fallen Ill ①

Since the cake incident, I feel like I’ve been thinking about Nox more and more. While practicing magic, I couldn’t help but remember the kiss on my forehead, and my heart raced.

“Hey, focus!”

“Ah, wha! I’m sorry!”

I panicked when Zain scolded me. My emotions had fluctuated, disturbing my magical energy, causing the flames I had conjured to flicker and shift into various shapes, big and small. Thanks to my magic control practice, I had been able to handle it a little more freely, but it was still dangerous, so everyone told me to keep practicing.

It seemed that I had more magical energy than a normal person. I could control multiple elements, but that also meant that if it went out of control, it could be very dangerous. And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about Nox, which made it hard for me to concentrate.

“Did something happen?”

“No, no… nothing at all.”

I forced a smile to cover it up and focused on my hands. The crimson flames reminded me of Nox’s eyes, and my heart began to race again.

“The flames are swaying.”

“Ah!”

I was startled by the low voice near my ear, and the flame I had been holding sputtered and disappeared. When I turned around, as expected, Nox was standing there, and my face turned red. He always appeared so suddenly that it surprised me. Especially now, I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. As I looked down, I felt his eyes on me, and my heartbeat quickened.

“Do you have a fever?”

Nox’s large hand pressed against my forehead. I felt his warmth and the soothing scent of him, and my heart almost exploded. Maybe… maybe I was sick.

“Stop, please!”

It would be terrible if I passed my illness onto Nox! Thinking that, I instinctively brushed his hand away. Nox’s expression remained neutral, but his eyes widened in surprise. Seeing his face, I felt a sharp pang in my chest. Before I could control myself, I had rushed out of the room.

I could hear Nox, Zain, and Beatrice calling after me from behind, but I couldn’t stop. Running aimlessly through the Demon King’s castle, my heart pounded wildly, and I was at a loss. I had never experienced such symptoms or emotions before.

When I thought of Nox, I felt joy, happiness, and my chest would swell. The memory of his gentle touch and the image of him protecting me would overwhelm me with a bliss so intense that it almost brought me to tears. It felt as if I wasn’t even myself anymore. My heart and body, no longer in my control, left me confused.

“…Roses?”

I had been running without a clear destination, but I ended up in a greenhouse-like place filled with red roses. Beatrice had always told me to stay with her, but I had broken that promise. I didn’t know what to do if I went back now. The more I thought about it, the more tangled my mind became, so I decided to escape into the greenhouse.

“Wow, it’s beautiful…”

Upon entering, I was greeted by numerous beautiful roses. Being alone for the first time in a while, I felt the tension leave my shoulders, and I could relax. I put away the forced smile I usually wore and walked through the space with a neutral expression.

I eventually reached a place where a garden chair and table were set beneath an arch-like structure wrapped in rose vines, resembling a birdcage. Sitting down on the chair, I exhaled deeply, pressing my chest as my breath steadied.