NOVPUBIn this pitch-black house, finding a bedroom was easier said than done.
Fortunately, Snowy was small enough that I could carry her with one arm. Holding her close to my chest with one arm and balancing a candle with the other, I wandered through the expansive house, searching for a bedroom.
I didn’t find anything that looked like a bedroom on the first floor, so I made my way up to the second floor. Surprisingly, I located a bedroom rather quickly.
It was easy to distinguish which rooms were “in use.” Most of the doorknobs were covered in a thin layer of dust, except for a few that were noticeably clean.
I decided to open one of the clean doorknobs first — and hit the jackpot. The first room I opened was Snowy’s bedroom.
The room was simple. The bedspread was plain white, and there wasn’t much in terms of decor. There was just a wardrobe and a desk, giving off the impression of a slightly larger hospital room.
Rather than calling it a bedroom, it was more like a place meant solely for sleeping.
I laid Snowy down on the bed, gently brushing her cheek as I called her name.
“Snowy? Are you okay?”
Her eyes remained closed. Her bare skin was flushed, and faint moans escaped her slightly parted lips.
“Mm... mm...”
I touched her forehead. It was burning hot.
Snowy really did have a weak constitution against heat. After just a short soak in that hot bath, her entire body had turned red as if she were suffering from heatstroke.
Ugh... What should I do next? I need to wipe her body down, right?
Should I do it myself? There was no one else around, so I had no choice but to do it myself.
I knew it wasn’t exactly appropriate, but I couldn’t just let her stay like this and risk her catching a cold.
She wouldn’t mind, right? For some reason, I convinced myself that she wouldn’t.
I went back to the bathroom and grabbed two clean towels, quickly drying myself off and putting on my clothes. With the towels in hand, I returned to the bedroom.
The bath towel that had been covering Snowy had already slipped to the floor. Her small, slender body was curled up slightly. The poker-faced expression she always wore had vanished, replaced by a look of discomfort. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her lips were parted as she mumbled softly in the stillness of the room.
“Mm... it’s so hot...”
I started by wiping her face, gently patting away the lingering drops of water. Then, I moved to her hair, brushing away the damp strands so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
After that, I began wiping her back — the largest area of exposed skin.
As I continued, the tension in her face gradually eased. Her furrowed brows relaxed, and her soft moans transformed into steady, rhythmic breathing.
Looks like I wasn’t making her uncomfortable.
A strange feeling crept over me. It was like I was cleaning a delicate porcelain doll, each motion deliberate, careful, almost reverent. Without realizing it, my hands had become gentler, each stroke smooth and tender.
By the time I snapped back to reality, I had already finished wiping her entire body. Not a single inch was left untouched.
Then, I just... stared at her. At her small, delicate frame.
My mind was drifting... growing foggy...
Had the heat gotten to my head too?
It felt like something terrible had been triggered inside me. An evil impulse was slowly overtaking me, eroding my sense of reason.
“Ethan...”
Snowy’s soft voice snapped me back to my senses.
Ah! What the hell was I just thinking?!
I punched myself in the face, tumbling backward and scrambling to my feet.
My heart was racing. I clamped my hand over my mouth, eyes wide and unfocused, leaning against the wall.
What the hell was I about to do just now?!
Something was definitely wrong with me.
Damn it. What if I really lose control of myself...? I wish someone could talk some sense into me right now...
That’s it.
I pulled out my phone from my pocket, hesitating.
At this hour, most people would already be asleep. Especially someone like her — a proper, high-class young ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) lady who probably had a strict sleeping schedule.
But for some reason... I had a feeling she might still be awake.
With only 3% battery remaining, I dialed the number that had recently appeared on my contact list.
My heart pounded in my chest. This was the first time I was calling her of my own accord.
I thought about hanging up if she didn’t pick up within three seconds.
But she answered after less than a second.
Was she just checking her phone? Or... was she waiting for my call all along?
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.
“Hey, it’s me...”
“Oh~? And here I was wondering who it could be~ Turns out it’s my beloved Ethan~ What’s the matter? Did you miss me?”
Her playful tone instantly lightened my mood, and I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Heh... yeah. I missed you. Especially right now, when I really need your help.”
Honestly, just hearing her voice was enough to make me feel better.
“Ohhh~ I knew waiting by the phone was the right choice. Just hearing those words makes every second of waiting worth it~”
“Come on, don’t exaggerate...”
She was laying it on so thick that it made me feel guilty.
“Oh, it’s not an exaggeration at all. This is the first time Ethan has ever said, ‘I need you,’ to me. Hehehe... I’m absolutely ecstatic right now~”
When Lillian put it that way, I suddenly realized how it must have felt for her.
Until now, all I had ever done was avoid her, reject her, brush her off... This really was the first time I was reaching out to her for help.
Had she already become that important to me without me even realizing it...?
No. No way. I wasn’t going to admit that.
“What? Am I not allowed to ask for your advice?”
“Of course you can! The fact that you’re relying on me makes me so happy that I could dance the tango with my maids right now~”
Lillian hummed a cheerful tune, her melodious voice echoing through the receiver. Then, she asked:
“So, Ethan, what is it you wanted to talk about?”
I struggled to find the right words, unable to explain the whole situation in such a short time. In the end, I decided to cut straight to the point.
“Uh, Lillian... I think I’m a scumbag.”
“Oh? You’re only realizing that now, Ethan? Hehehehe. You’re a massive scumbag, you know. You tricked me into falling head over heels for you, to the point where I’ve even split into two personalities. How about I let ‘her’ come out and tell you just how much she loves you?”
“No! Don’t joke around like that...”
If she brought out Soft Lillian right now, I wouldn’t be able to say a single word.
“I’m serious. I really think something’s wrong with me... Like, I keep getting these... these dirty thoughts.”
“Oh dear... Ethan, don’t tell me you’ve been cheating on me behind my back?”
Her voice turned ice-cold, each word stabbing through me like an icicle straight to the heart.
I jolted upright, spine ramrod straight as if I were in a military drill.
“No, no, no! Absolutely not!”
“Is that so? Then, Ethan, where are you right now? And don’t lie to me, okay? If you do... hehe, heh, heh...”
Her laughter was spaced out, each chuckle longer and more drawn out than usual, as if she were hinting at something sinister. Cold sweat began to trickle down my back. I had the distinct feeling that if I admitted to being at Snowy’s house, some terrifying consequence would await me.
“Uh, I-I-I-I...”
I could only stammer the word “I.” The rest was stuck in my throat, unable to come out. I didn’t know what to say, let alone how to say it.
“Hehehe~ Just kidding. I already know you’re at the poker face girl’s house. But... you didn’t do anything to her, did you?”
I wasn’t even surprised that Lillian knew my exact location. With the ever-resourceful Shirley at her side, finding me must have been a breeze.
“Uh, of course not...”
Not yet... Though I almost did... And who knows what might happen next... That depends on whether she can keep me from losing it...
“Fine, I’ll believe you this once, Ethan. Hehehe...”
“Please! You have to believe me!”
“Alright, then let me give you my analysis. I think the evil impulses you’re feeling might be a side effect of your ability.”
“A side effect of my ability?”
Wait... could Lillian know about my ability to see titles? No, that’s impossible. The only person I ever told about that was Lily, and I haven’t said a word to anyone else...
“Ethan, don’t you have the ability to make people feel attracted to you? Don’t even think about lying to me, okay? The first time I met you, I was captivated by that ability of yours. Hehehe...”
Ah, so that’s what she meant. She was referring to that bizarre charm spell that wormed its way into my head... no𝚟𝚙u𝚋.c𝚘m
“Oh, that. Yeah, I do have that... So, you’re saying the ability is malfunctioning somehow?”
“That’s right... but this is just my speculation. After all, if it only makes people attracted to you without you feeling any desire for them in return, then that ability would be completely useless, wouldn’t it?”
A succubus’s charm spell... If it made others attracted to me, it would naturally amplify my own desires too.
Yeah... that actually made a lot of sense.
I’d thought that thing was harmless as long as I ignored it, but now it seemed like I had to do something about it.
“Thanks, Lillian. You really helped me out. Oh, right, about the homework...”
“I already got it from someone else. Actually... I kinda expected that you’d run into trouble at the poker face girl’s house.”
“Oh, wow... you’re incredible.”
Lillian really was sharp. She had already anticipated Snowy’s issues and managed to get the homework from someone else.
Now that I thought about it, I never even had to come to Snowy’s house in the first place. I could’ve just called Lillian right from the start and avoided all this insanity tonight.
Ahhh! What the hell have I been doing?!
As I was scratching my head in frustration, Lillian’s final words echoed through the phone.
“Ethan, when you feel like you’re losing control, try thinking about your past. People can always ground themselves by reflecting on their memories. That’s how I keep ‘her’ under control. Hehehe...”
Click!
The phone’s battery finally died, ending the call.
Grounding myself through memories, huh...
I took a deep breath and stood up, patting the dust off my pants.
I should get back to the bedroom. Snowy still doesn’t have any clothes on.
I returned to the bedroom and steadied myself as I walked over to the wardrobe.
I was just about to open it and pull out some sleepwear when I froze at what I saw inside.
“Uh...”
The wardrobe was filled entirely with school uniforms. Not a single piece of casual clothing in sight.
Does she not own any other clothes?
Am I supposed to dress her in a school uniform? That would be seriously uncomfortable.
Is there anything else...? Oh, right. My shirt.
Yeah. It didn’t look too dirty. Should be good enough to cover her up.
I spread the shirt out on the bed, then gently lifted Snowy and laid her on top of it.
Sliding her arms through the sleeves, I carefully pulled each sleeve over her delicate arms, one by one. Then, I pulled the shirt together and fastened the buttons.
The whole process felt oddly methodical — like dressing a baby or handling a fragile doll. My shirt was way too big for her, draping down to her knees like a makeshift nightgown.
At least her body was covered now, but having her wear just a shirt still felt... off.
“Sigh...”
Snowy lay across my lap, her skin no longer flushed. It looked like the heat had finally dissipated.
I exhaled heavily, rubbing my temples.
I lightly fanned her with my hand, cooling her down.
“Mm... nngh... so warm...”
She mumbled softly, her face nuzzling against my chest.
How can she sleep so soundly while lying on the same bed as a guy?
In the flickering candlelight, I noticed a faint smile appear on her face.
A rare smile. It was mesmerizing.
Before I knew it, I was stroking her hair. That sweet, gentle smile made her look so... so endearing.
Was she dreaming?
How old was Snowy again? She was supposedly my age, but she felt like a little girl, completely detached from the world.
She had the most basic understanding of social norms, but beyond that, she was a blank slate. Like a doll, unaware of how people interacted with one another.
I scratched my nose, then carefully moved Snowy’s head onto the pillow.
I leaned back against the headboard, hands resting behind my head.
Snowy suddenly rolled over and pressed herself against me, her small hands clutching at my shirt, her expression anxious.
“Don’t... leave...”
“Uh...”
Was she feeling uneasy without the physical contact?
Only in sleep could she express her emotions so openly, her expression shifting naturally.
Had she always been like this? Alone and unloved, facing the world with nothing but a blank expression...?
Could I be her... guardian?
I stroked her hair gently, leaning close to her ear as I whispered,
“I won’t leave.”
Snowy seemed to relax at that, her soft cheek rubbing against my chest. She tilted her head up slightly, her tiny nose pressing against my collarbone, her forehead resting against my throat.
Her gray hair brushed against my chin, tickling me.
She hadn’t used soap or shampoo during the bath, so the scent wafting from her was purely her own. A faint, sweet aroma, almost like honey.
Earlier, she had been covered in blood, but after less than a minute in the water, she was completely clean, without a trace of blood left on her skin.
Lillian’s words echoed in my mind like a spell, grounding me.
I pulled the blanket up, covering Snowy’s small body, and let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh... Hoo... Hoo...”
I exhaled twice and blew out the candle on the desk.
Darkness consumed the room, as thick as blindness.
There was no way I was getting any sleep tonight.
