The Innocent Mage's Spellbinding Nights - Chapter 20
“…No, nothing happened. It was just one of those nights I felt like drinking.”
No matter how much he drank or how dreamlike the situation was, Hesed couldn’t confess his feelings for Irina. Even in a dream, he didn’t want to see her reject him.
“By the way, what brings you here, Senior? Breaking my barrier and all.”
He spoke in a slightly whining tone. Breaking through his barrier without permission was not something Irina would normally do, making him more certain this was a dream.
“Well, that’s because…”
Hesed was now curious. What excuse would his subconscious give her?
“If you went through the trouble of breaking the barrier, it can’t be a trivial matter. Please, be honest.”
“But you’ve had quite a bit to drink…”
“I haven’t had as much as you think. I’m talking to you, can still cast most spells, and even though I’ll have a bit of a headache, I can still handle documents.”
“That’s not the issue…”
Irina murmured, avoiding his gaze.
“So, you came to my quarters at this hour for personal reasons?”
Hesed impulsively pulled her arm. Surprised, Irina followed him without resistance.
They were now close enough to feel each other’s breath. Staring at her with mixed emotions, Hesed spoke in a sly voice.
“Could it be that despite what you said this morning, you were satisfied with me last night?”
“W-What are you saying?!”
As Hesed took a step closer, Irina took a step back. They repeated this twice until she had no room left to retreat. When Hesed moved one step closer, her body naturally leaned toward the bed. Lowering his head, he lightly kissed her silken hair and spoke.
“Or maybe you came to give this unworthy junior another chance.”
“A chance… I… I just came to ask for help.”
A faint voice escaped from Irina.
“Even in my dreams, you are still you. It’s so vivid that it’s driving me… crazy.”
“Hesed.”
“So, what should I do? This obedient junior is ready to follow whatever his senior says.”
Ah, you fool, Hesed Clarke.
He mocked himself inwardly. He was having such a vivid dream, yet here he was, as restrained as in reality.
But he couldn’t help it. Seeing Irina look like she was about to cry from his slightly bolder words made him soften.
Her lips trembled as Irina finally mumbled something.
“…I need……”
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
I swear to heaven, I wasn’t pretending not to hear.
Irina’s voice, flushed red, was so soft that only a knight with superhuman hearing could have caught it.
“The side effects of the potion haven’t disappeared yet, so please help me!”
Irina shouted in a sharp voice, covering her face with one hand. This time her words were clear, but Hesed still had a hesitant expression. No, to be precise, he felt a wave of self-reproach that made his face hot.
Despite seeing Irina struggling with the potion’s side effects, his selfish desire had secretly hoped for an excuse to keep entangling with her.
“…It’s all my fault.”
Feeling like he was drinking bitter cocoa, Hesed pressed his lips against hers.
***
The area around Hesed’s quarters was quiet. It was late, but also because several layers of barely perceptible barrier spells surrounded his quarters. He acted kind to everyone but was quite secretive.
‘These are spells that activate if the door is forcibly opened.’
Irina knocked, thinking it was still too early for him to be asleep. There was no response. Normally, she would have just left. But today, frustrated from not seeing Hesed at all and feeling the heat building in her body, she made a different decision.
‘Hesed broke into my quarters without permission yesterday, too.’
His barriers were complex, but not beyond her capabilities as the White Tower Master.
With ease, Irina dismantled the barriers and cautiously stepped inside. The room was dim, but a small light was on, making it easy to see.
“Hesed. Are you sleeping?”
Even after entering his quarters, finding Hesed lying in bed made her feel like the sky was falling.
The room was filled with the scent of alcohol. He must have drunk himself to sleep and wouldn’t wake until morning.
“Hesed, you liar. You told me to come to you.”
He prided himself on always being one step ahead, but he surely hadn’t predicted this absurd situation. Feeling unreasonably aggrieved, Irina muttered her complaint.
‘I should leave quickly before this becomes a moment of deep regret. I’ll find another way.’
As she turned to leave, giving him one last indignant look, he sat up in bed.
“By the way, what brings you here, Senior? Breaking my barrier and all.”
It was a perfectly natural question from the owner of the quarters, whose sleep had been disturbed.
