Chapter 24: The Moment I Learn Didi's Identity
The moment I learned Didi's true identity, countless calculations sprang up between us. We'd only met twice, but I liked Didi. Our conversational wavelengths matched so well, along with his calm, elegant demeanor and gentle personality. It wasn't bad having someone else's warmth fill this always lonely cabin.
"So just stay as Didi around me. So I can see you for who you really are."
Didi's pupils dilated for a moment. He opened his mouth as if to say something but couldn't for a long time, eventually biting his lip hard. Like red paint slowly spreading across clear water, a flush crept up to his ears.
"......Damn it."
Didi dropped his head and roughly scrubbed his dry face. Due to the antidote's side effects, all strength had drained from my body, so I could only watch him.
"You......" His white ears flushed rapidly. Didi buried his face in his hands. "You have this weird charm that drives people crazy."
His reaction looked so strange that, puzzled, I poked his cheek. He flinched dramatically. The spot where my fingertip touched his left cheek burned an unnaturally vivid red.
"You're acting weird because you haven't slept. That's what happens when you stay up late."
He kept his face buried in his hands. I had no idea why, but my mind was too foggy to care. I stared blankly at Didi and let it slide.
"Staying the night?"
I asked again while straightening the bedding. A glance out the window showed a fierce blizzard raging.
"Looks like I will. This storm's too tough to push through."
With that curt decision, Didi whipped his head up and squeezed his eyes shut. I let out a long yawn.
"You say that so casually!"
"What, should I cry about it?"
I eyed him—he looked feverish—and stood from my seat. Sleepiness made my feet drag heavily across the floor.
"......I'll impose on you for one night, then."
He whispered faintly as the blizzard rattled the ceiling. Didi must have realized pushing through it would be impossible too. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I mumbled,
"You take the bed. I'll sleep in the chair."
Didi, having finally calmed his face, looked incredulous.
"Shouldn't the patient obviously take the bed?"
"Even if I'm sick, I'm way stronger than you, Didi. The weak one gets the bed."
He bristled, lips twitching as if he had a lot to say, but in the end, he couldn't argue back.
"......You're right that I'm weak, but do you have to rub it in like that? It hurts a little."
What can I do about you being weak? I clicked my tongue, eyeing his muscular frame. Great body, but no martial aura. Around me, he was just a fragile little puppy.
"You want me in the bed?"
"You're the owner of this cabin. Of course."
"Then no choice."
"Right. That's proper."
"Let's sleep together."
Didi's body stiffened rigidly mid-nod. His dazed echo hung in the air. His handsome face looked like his soul had fled.
Sleepy.
Blinking my half-closed eyes slowly, I ignored the frozen Didi and flopped onto the bed. My head wasn't working right. I felt like I should give the bed to the fragile one, but tonight, I didn't want to yield it.
Feels like wisdom tooth anesthesia...... or endoscopy sedation...... Recalling my past life piled with black history from anesthesia mishaps, I rolled around on the bed. Normally, one herb in the antidote wouldn't do this, but pushing through hallucinatory side effects in my worst state was too much. My head was blank, drowsiness seizing my whole body.
"What are you doing? Lie down."
With bleary eyes, I patted the remaining space on the bed. It was a perfect single bed, but if we lay on our sides back-to-back, two could fit.
His face, blank as if his soul had been sucked out, began to flush, his blue eyes turning a perfect crimson opposite. His pupils shook nonstop.
"......Are you okay?"
Staring blankly at his ears, which looked ready to burst at a touch, I leaned my face closer. Didi recoiled like he was having a fit, grinding his teeth.
"Are you actually insane?"
"Not fully insane...... maybe half?"
My head throbbed; I barely knew what I was saying. Struggling to blink my heavy eyelids, I saw Didi's face twist in utter exasperation.
"What, it's not like sharing a bed will make my heart race at my age."
Of course, I was in my spry twenties physically. But mentally? Around fifty, a young-looking old fogey. No dating in this life, but plenty of wild experiences in the last one, so sharing a bed with a kid for sleep? No big deal.
"Lights out. Come here. I won't pounce."
Sprawled out, head thrown back, I rolled my eyes toward him. My hair slid down, exposing the nape it had hidden. Through my half-lidded eyes, I vaguely saw Didi's throat bob.
"Lie down now, or I'll kick you out."
Irritated that I had to spell it out, I scratched my neck. Didi let out a hollow laugh. Messing up his soft light-brown hair wildly, he sprang up.
"I really hate you sometimes."
"Yeah, yeah."
All I cared about was sleeping fast. He extinguished the cabin's lights with sluggish movements and plopped onto the bed. The single bed creaked loudly under our combined weight. A vanilla scent tickled my nose up close.
Even after sitting, he hesitated to lie down. He's shy, I thought, waiting minutes.
"Argh! Just sleep already!"
"Wh-what......?"
I yanked his arm, pulling his upper body down. His rigid body toppled beside me. I gripped his frozen nape—he wasn't even breathing. Frowning deeply, he exhaled hot breath. Vanilla overwhelmed my senses. Tilting my head, I brought my lips close to his burning ear.
"Lie down now, or I'll make it eternal sleep, not just bedtime."
My weary, husky voice filled the room without echo. Didi squeezed his eyes shut.
A Sword Master's senses are absolute. Mine were dulled now, instincts blunted, but with someone wide awake breathing right beside me, sleep wasn't happening.
"Sleep. Sleep."
Due to our height difference, my head rested at his chest. He sighed deeply, scrubbing his face repeatedly.
"Seriously, you...... ha......"
Honestly, his heartbeat thumping right by my ear was too loud for sleep, but it started feeling like a hip-hop lullaby, lulling my eyes to droop. Seeing no sleep intent from Didi, I placed a hand on his head and stroked lightly. He stopped breathing. Didi's body heat was scorching. Instinctively seeking warmth, I leaned my head against his chest and slowly closed my eyes.
"Good night...... sweet dreams......"
And I fell asleep. Deeply.
I might die.
Imperial Crown Prince Diego Solatine thought endlessly, crammed into the tiny single bed unfit for his frame.
The long, soft black hair tickling his nape. The quiet breaths against his chest. The faint body scent pricking his nose. The slender arm draped over his waist. He struggled to calm his heart, ready to burst.
This Sword Master was overly sensitive; any noise from him, and she'd wake instantly. Caught between inaction, Diego truly wanted to die.
Very slowly, he dipped his head. Waist-length waves swaying. Beneath the black mask, skin pale to transparency overlaid with firm muscle. Her rough hand still atop his head from stroking it asleep. Long lashes fluttering with his breath. Coral lips pressed tight.
Damn it all!
Diego squeezed his eyes shut. Cooling his flushed body was impossible with the small figure in his arms radiating heat nonstop. Every patch of touching skin burned. This was torture. Like merciless fertilizer dumped on budding emotions.
He'd returned to confirm these feelings, but not this fast. Love at first sight was absurd enough; awakening to it so instinctively made him feel shallow. Guilt, doubt, and pounding heart left him reeling.
Ah, please. Restless Kashmir draped a small hand over his neck. Long fingers brushed his nape. Diego's face heated to his neck. He really wanted to die.
......She's sleeping like a rock.
Diego glared resentfully at the culprit tormenting him. Treating him like a body pillow, the tiny figure—looking at him like a five-year-old kid—slept with the world's most peaceful face.
He wanted to pinch those carefree cheeks, but touching the mask recklessly might get him killed. Diego sighed deeply. Sunlight now filtered through the window.
Slept enough.
For him, it had been an eternally long night.
* * *
"Hoo......"
I pressed my forehead against a tree, catching my breath for a while. Waterlogged hair like seaweed flopped wildly, tickling my face.
Let's sleep together.
"Aaaah! You lunatic!"
Thud! Thud!
I bashed my head madly against the rough tree trunk. After dunking in the spring so long, water droplets flew everywhere from my dripping hair.
Lights out. Come here. I won't pounce.
Whirling around, I plunged my head into the nearby spring. Winter water cold enough to freeze bones to the marrow soaked me. Recalling last night under anesthesia haze made me want to bite my tongue and die.
You idiot! Why say that crap?!
My mental age topping fifty didn't erase shame or my sense of sexuality. Remembering Didi's exasperated face, I had no face left to show him.
Sorry.
Glancing at the distant cabin, I whipped my head away. Waking late morning, I'd been clinging to Didi like a corpse; unable to wake his death-like sleep or endure holding him, I'd fled.
[Thanks for last night, and sorry. Rest as long as you want; head back when the blizzard eases.]
I hoped Didi wouldn't be too furious reading the note later. Shaking out my hair—wet with water now rimed with thin ice from the biting cold—I headed off.
"Sis! You're back?"
Opening the door to our small, shabby home, Aria greeted me warmly from setting the table in the main room. Her beaming face froze upon seeing me.
Oh no.
Hiding my bandage-wrapped left arm behind my back with an awkward smile, I approached Aria cautiously, noting her chilly vibe.
"......I'm home."