* * *
As Ashard leaned in, lowering himself as prompted, Eren whispered softly into his ear.
Hearing the words, a playful smile tugged at Ashard’s lips.
He grabbed Eren’s round, adorable butt.
The unexpected move made Eren’s eyes widen.
He had felt this sensation many times before, but it was something he still couldn’t get used to.
Ashard gave the soft flesh a couple of firm squeezes before chuckling and saying:
“Looks like you’re still not satisfied down there.”
“T-That’s not what I meant!”
Did this man never tire?
Even in the original story, Eren had never been pushed this far for this long.
Ashard’s expression made it seem like he still hadn’t had enough, even after what felt like Eren’s waist might snap in half.
Eren was utterly at a loss.
If this kept up, he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed again.
That thought made Eren instinctively put some distance between himself and Ashard.
With his arms crossed in an X over his chest and growling low like a wary puppy, Eren glared up at him.
Ashard let out a small laugh.
Though he couldn’t resist teasing him because he looked so cute, a part of him was also genuinely concerned.
The effects should’ve worn off long ago—and the fact that they hadn’t was definitely not a good sign.
“Get ready. You have to enter the palace today for Melody’s lesson. There’s not much time.”
Eren gave a small nod in understanding.
Ashard, closing the gap in just a few long strides, leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Eren’s lovely pink lips.
“Still, don’t stray too far from me, Eren.”
He tilted his head slightly as if waiting for confirmation.
Until he heard the answer, he wasn’t planning on moving.
His body blocked any attempt to slip past him, and his gaze, calm yet intense, bore down without wavering.
Under that unwavering stare, Eren turned his face away, flustered.
“Don’t turn your face away like that either.”
Ashard’s large hand grabbed Eren’s chin and gently turned it back.
Despite saying they were in a hurry, he refused to budge until he got an answer.
Unable to win against such stubbornness, Eren nodded so vigorously his hair became tousled.
Only after smoothing Eren’s hair with a careful touch did Ashard finally step out of the room.
Watching his retreating figure, Eren let out a soft smile.
The air around him felt like walking barefoot down a flower path—light and ticklish.
Trying to calm his fluttering heart, he began getting ready.
‘But how am I supposed to explain this to the physician…?’
Even if it was a private physician, he couldn’t just say everything outright.
With attention drawn from the recent merger with Epentel, any rumor could be dangerous.
It was best to be as discreet as possible.
“……”
That was how it should’ve gone.
“The artifact’s magic is still active.”
“Did you happen to bring the artifact in question?”
“This one. It was used during… intercourse—would that explain it?”
Eren buried his face, ashamed.
Though the hood covered most of his face, it still didn’t feel like enough.
Ashard explained everything far too confidently.
“It’s still affecting him down there—mph!”
Enough. Please.
Before he could say anything more embarrassing, Eren quickly clamped a hand over Ashard’s mouth.
He yanked his hood further down to hide his face.
Thankfully, the physician handled the situation calmly and didn’t ask them to describe their lewd activities in detail.
“Even if you used both a potion and an artifact, this isn’t a typical reaction.”
“…Then what could be the cause?”
“After using the artifact, were you exposed to raw magic in any direct way?”
Eren shook his head.
He hadn’t even left the estate, so that couldn’t be.
The physician looked perplexed.
“In that case, I recommend a magic response test. Just in case.”
Some people were born with a natural reaction to magic, while others had none at all.
Since artifacts had become common, testing for magical responsiveness in childhood had become standard—especially since magic-incompatibility could lead to dangerous side effects.
Eren blinked.
He knew all that.
He’d used artifacts without issue until now—so why a test now?
“These symptoms aren’t typical. Let’s do the test just to be safe. It won’t take long.”
Seeing the physician’s concern, Eren nodded.
They could do the test right here.
“Could you roll up your sleeve, please?”
Eren hesitated.
There was no way his arms would be free of marks.
As the sleeve rose, red traces became visible, and he let out a sheepish cough.
“Ahem… This should be enough, I think…”
The physician instantly understood what the marks were and gave a good-natured smile.
That only made it more embarrassing.
Eren wanted to blame Ashard for everything right there and then, but he restrained himself.
“……”
The physician, who had been chuckling softly, suddenly turned serious.
Eren hadn’t thought much of it—but the change in expression stirred a quiet sense of dread.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“Your magic responsiveness is abnormally high. Are you sure you haven’t been exposed recently?”
“I really haven’t left the estate.”
“Then thank the heavens you’re not magic-incompatible. If you were, this wouldn’t have ended with just minor side effects.”
Saying it truly was fortunate, the physician handed over several pills.
He explained they were suppressants, prescribed because of the heightened magical response.
If the symptoms persisted even after finishing the medication, Eren was to return for a follow-up.
After they left the clinic, Ashard fell completely silent.
Moments ago, he’d been boldly spouting all kinds of shameless things—yet now he didn’t say a word.
Eren found it strange.
“Is something wrong… Ashard?”
“…Haah. I’m sorry. If only I hadn’t used that…”
Eren stopped walking and looked up at him.
So that’s why he’d been quiet.
He was blaming himself unnecessarily.
“Why are you blaming yourself? Even the physician said the artifact alone wouldn’t cause something like this.”
“Still…”
It was honestly unexpected.
Sure, Ashard had been the one to use it, but if Eren had really hated it, he wouldn’t have just gone along.
If anything, it was mutual.
And yet Ashard looked like he was solely at fault.
The hand holding Eren’s tightened.
His large palm completely enveloped Eren’s hand, and within it, a subtle tremble could be felt.
“Then… will you take responsibility for me, Ashard?”
Eren tossed out a playful comment.
That’s all it was—but with just those few words, Ashard’s gaze shifted in an instant.
“No take-backs now.”
“…Huh?”
It was instinct.
A gut feeling that he really shouldn’t have said that.
“Well, if it keeps pouring out nonstop, I guess someone needs to plug it up. Otherwise, how will it ever stop?”
“Ashard—!”
Startled, Eren hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth, terrified someone might overhear.
The man who just moments ago looked at him with such a guilt-ridden expression had vanished without a trace.
All that remained was a beast—eyes gleaming with the hunger of a predator that had found its prey.
And the trembling prey—Eren—shook like a leaf, completely caught in the snare of this great beast’s trap.
Ashard gripped Eren’s mouth with just one hand, easily overpowering him.
And then, as if even that was something he welcomed, Ashard gave his palm a slow, deliberate lick.
Eren flinched, as though he’d been struck by lightning.
“You said I had to take responsibility, didn’t you?”
“Th-That’s not what I meant…!”
‘It was all an act?!’
Eren stared at Ashard in betrayal.
No wonder he seemed too pitiful—he had been playing him from the start.
All just to push things in this direction.
Just after the two vanished mid-bickering—well, Eren was the only one really bickering—a healer arrived, panting hard as he rushed after them.
“…Damn it.”
The healer stood frozen in the spot where the two had just been, an expression of despair etched across his face.
A mix of fear and helplessness clouded his features, emotions too deep to put into words.
In his hands was a magic measurement device.
Only minutes ago, it had shown extremely high magical resonance.
But now, it had shifted—completely to the opposite extreme.
* * *
