“...The dragon’s labyrinth was like a massive spiderweb. Interwoven with darkness, it was hard to see even a step ahead, and the slightest sound would summon beasts from all directions. If not for the lantern from the Elf Elder, I wouldn’t have escaped.”

“The Elf Elder’s lantern, huh. I heard it held mysterious powers.”

“It wasn’t that extraordinary. It simply burned eternally without going out. As for the curses and temptations of the beasts, they had to be endured through sheer willpower.”

“Are you talking about succubi?”

“The dragon commands all kinds of beasts. Their tricks didn’t work on Jorfe or Seha, so they targeted me alone.”

“Clever creatures. They even have the ability to mimic what their target desires most.”

“They do. I thought it was just a legend.”

“So, whose form did they take?”

In the dead of night, as the flickering lamplight wavered like a dream’s edge, Mirian asked her question, feigning indifference. Though her voice remained devoid of emotion, her subtly fidgeting toes betrayed a peculiar restlessness, catching my attention.

It was as though she was waiting for a particular answer. But seeing her like this, I suddenly didn’t feel like giving her a straight response.

“It was a woman who looked exactly like you.”

“A woman who looked like me? Doesn’t that mean it was me?”

“No. Because I haven’t confirmed whether you have a birthmark on your thigh yet.”

It was a rather provocative statement. Yet, she responded without any sign of fluster, meeting it with a casual tone.

“Artists often put a mark on the part of the body they find most attractive. Seems heroes are no different.”

“I don’t think that’s the reason. That’s not the most attractive part of you.”

“Then where is it?”

“I’ve already marked it. Though it’s been erased now.”

“Ha.”

Only then did Mirian let out a soft laugh. It was the first smile I had seen since coming here.

Still, my gaze lingered on her body. In truth, it had been the same throughout our entire conversation.

“...”

Her nightgown wasn’t particularly revealing; there was no need to wear such clothes in this winter cold. Yet my eyes were drawn to her defenselessness.

It felt as though I could pierce through the everyday life she had carefully hidden away. That unguardedness gave off a pastoral yet fatal sense that if I embraced her now, we’d naturally share body heat and meld into each other’s lives.

In my imagination, I had already held her countless times—not as a lover in bed, but as a companion in life. I simply wanted to hold her slender frame tightly, without any ulterior motives.

“You seem deep in thought. What are you thinking about?”

“That I want to hold you.”

“You’re an honest man. Are you just as honest with the princess?”

“That’s an entirely different story.”

“Tell me. You came here tonight to tell me a story, didn’t you?”

“If that’s what you want. But first, I’ll have to collect my payment for the tale.”

Sitting on the small chair beside her bed, I finally crossed the line. As if she had expected this, Mirian prepared to push me away.

But I didn’t approach her further. Instead, I simply looked at her face. The subtle distance between us lingered, prompting her to ask first.

“Have you finally realized your place?”

“It’s the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I’ve always been the one to approach first. This time, it’s your turn.”

“And why should I?”

“Because you’re mine.”

“You’re as arrogant as ever.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, so I naturally expected another sharp retort to follow. Just in case, I braced myself, clenching my teeth lightly, but the expected reproach didn’t come. Instead, a soft touch brushed against the tense nape of my neck.

“Well, you’re not wrong. A skilled storyteller deserves a reward, after all, for the sake of royal dignity.”

“Good. It seems my time wasn’t wasted.”

“Likewise.”

“And what will my reward be?”

“Who knows? I haven’t decided yet.”

“...”

“But for some reason, I feel like I haven’t properly looked at your face before.”

Her hand, which had been lightly brushing my neck, applied a little more pressure. With it came a slight force that made my body feel as though it was gently floating.

In the next moment, she pulled my wrist, and I tumbled onto the bed. Thanks to the pillow already laid out, my head landed comfortably.

Mirian watched me for a moment before resting her own head on the remaining space of the pillow. The distance between us now was barely a handspan.

“You said you imagined holding me.”

“...”

“In this situation, it should be easier to imagine, shouldn’t it?”

She was an infuriatingly captivating woman. One moment, she pushed me away, only to pull me closer the next. It felt as though I was tied to a rope named Mirian, completely ensnared.

Even then, her expression didn’t waver. With her frozen, violet eyes, Mirian examined me closely.

“Looking at you like this, it feels new. Your eyes are darker than I thought.”

“And you’re just as I imagined.”

“Of course. You’ve seen me several times through the succubus, haven’t you? Were we that similar?”

“Perhaps. Should I confirm it?”

I asked softly, reaching toward her thigh. A gentle but firm hand immediately pushed my arm away.

“Just because we’re alike doesn’t mean you can treat a person like you would a succubus.”

“I’ve never done this to a succubus. Because they weren’t you.”

“And what did you do to them?”

“I ended their lives delicately, ensuring not a single mark remained on their bodies.”

“Why is that? Even though you knew it wasn’t really me.”

“Because I wanted to keep looking at your face, no matter what.”

That was how much I yearned for her—so deeply that it pained me. Even though I had only encountered her once, I longed for her. That longing drove me to despair as I killed the succubi, and it was why I couldn’t push away the princess who resembled her.

But now, she stood before me. Because of that, I forgot to blink, my gaze fixed on her endlessly. Whenever it felt like tears might form, I hastily blinked them away and returned my focus to her.

In contrast, Mirian refused to meet my eyes. She stared at the empty space beyond my shoulder, and whenever our gazes threatened to meet, she would nonchalantly look away.

To an outsider, it might seem like a clear refusal to let her guard down. But to me, it felt a little different.

“Well, I suppose that’s enough of a reward, then. Now…”

“Mirian.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t know what to do, do you?”

With those words, I reached out and gently caressed her cheek. The soft light of the moon, long trapped in the night, seemed to spill over onto my cautious hand.

“When I approached you first, you stabbed my wrist and tried to choke me. But now that I’m asking you to take the lead, you’re so awkward that you can’t do anything. You were the one who said you’d give me a reward, yet you’ve given me the lead again.”

“...”

“You’re clumsy at making eye contact. The only thing you’re good at is pushing people away. You’ve almost never reached out to pull someone closer, have you?”

“...Hmm.”

“Is everything new to you? Are you finding it hard to move because it’s unfamiliar?”

My whispered words hung in the air. Mirian continued to regard me with her cold gaze, making no move at all.

In the meantime, the faint light of dawn began creeping through the window frame behind her. It seemed the brief blanket of night was already being pulled away.

“If you’re lonely, I’ll stay by your side, Mirian.”

“You say whatever you please and draw your own conclusions.”

“I just want you to be happy. If it’s too much to bear, you can come to my room.”

“Ha.”

“But since you won’t, I’ll come to you again.”

With that, I ended my words by placing a firm kiss, not on her lips, but on her cheek. I gently caressed the spot one last time before rising from my seat.

Mirian let out a deep sigh. Still lying down, her breath carried soft, murmured words.

“It’s troublesome. To have someone as reckless as you fall in love with me.”

“That’s how the human heart works.”

“You’re oddly bold in some ways and strangely timid in others. Why is that?”

“I don’t want to burden my companions any further.”

“That’s a noble friendship.”

“The worst kind of friend, really.”

I spoke bitterly and began heading toward the door. Just then, Mirian’s voice halted my steps one final time.

“We didn’t talk as much as I thought we would tonight.”

“...”

“Will you come again tomorrow?”

Her subtle voice brushed against my heart, as though her hands were reaching inside me, stirring things up.

Holding onto that strange feeling, I stepped into the dim hallway. The soot of the awakening dawn clung to my shoulders like a heavy cloak.

As the hero left the witch’s room, coldness seeped back in. The secluded space, untouched by a man’s hand for years, returned to its quiet companionship with silence.

But today, the stillness didn’t last long. Not long after the hero’s footsteps faded, three knocks echoed on the door.

“Your Majesty, it is I.”

“Come in.”

The visitor didn’t introduce themselves by name, but the witch granted them entry without hesitation. The door opened, revealing a petite maid.

It was the same maid who had guided the hero to the witch. Bowing deeply, she got straight to the point.

“Did the hero visit again today?”

“Yes.”

“I will report it.”

“Go ahead.”

As before, there were no explicit subjects in their sentences. Perhaps they had long shared a secret understanding.

Having completed her task, the maid bowed once more and turned to leave the room. But before she could go, she suddenly looked at the witch and asked an unexpected question.

“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?”

“Why do you ask?”

“There’s a redness to your face.”

At those words, the witch raised her hand to her cheek. Of course, no matter how much she rubbed, the blush didn’t transfer to her hand.

She soon fell into thought. Then, as if something had come to mind, she changed the subject.

“The sage and the elf—they said they’d leave in three days, didn’t they?”

“One day has passed since then.”

“Then two days remain.”

“Yes, but they mentioned they might leave earlier.”

“I see.”

The witch nodded and turned back to the window. That was as good as dismissing the maid, so not long after, the sound of footsteps and the closing door followed.

Only then did silence reclaim the witch’s room. Wandering near her long-standing companion—silence—she muttered softly to herself.

“It’s hard to wait.”

...

“I want his heart sooner.”

Suddenly, something clear welled up in her eyes. It might have been a tear, but it soon blurred into the pale dawn and seeped into the deep shadows.