Chapter 5 - At One’s Touch (1/2)

Chapter 5 – At One’s Touch

Before heading back, they replaced the wet handkerchief which had fallen on the floor. Thanks to that, Nabel and Ronée were able to keep their hands joined the whole way. Nabel stared alternately at their hands and Ronée’s face.

“You’re not hurt?”

Nabel nodded in response. The one she should really be worrying about was herself. Nabel’s lips pressed into a thin line. He did not hold hands with others. Nabel looked at Ronée’s hand again as he dwelled on that thought. He now disliked his own hand.

Just as the rest of his dead family had.

“It’s fine, isn’t it?”

A warm voice called out in Nabel’s head. He looked again at his hand clasped in Ronée’s. That was the source of the voice. The white light that only he could see twinkled again.

Nabel thought of many people. People who did not know the meaning of clasping the hand of another could have. Their heads were full of nothing but lies. Just lies and their disgusting inner desire. People who lived for nothing but their own gain.

But not Ronée.

Such a strange person.

Ronée, to whom prioritizing herself first did not come naturally, was a very strange person. That was why he could not stop thinking about it.

”Magic doesn’t work on me.”

That was what she had said… The scent of dried roses, matching her dusky pink hair, had come from the words which were whispered in his ear.

“Sit down here, my Lady.” As soon as they arrived in Ronée’s room, Ryne brought out a first-aid kit and cast her eyes over Ronée “Do you not have any burns?”

It was only the magic that did not work on her; she had still felt the fire’s heat. Ronée began to shake her head when Nabel, who had been staring continuously at Ronée’s hand, rolled up her sleeve.

“Ah.” Without even realizing it, Ronée had been concealing a red burn mark from below her hand. It was the instinct of someone who did not wish to show it when they get hurt.

The people from that household secretly rejoiced whenever she, who dared to reject the gods and not be affected by magic, was injured.

“Isn’t it just a punishment from the gods?” they would say. She detested their laughter. That was why she hid in front of others.

But there was no such need for it now. Ronée, who had started to pull her sleeve down, dropped her hand. “…Nabel.”

Nabel widened his eyes in surprise at her tone as she called his name. Ronée’s voice reverberated strangely in his ears. “You told me you were dangerous, right?”

Ryne said nothing and started to apply ointment on Ronée’s arm with a sad expression. Watching her, Ronée continued, “You’re not more dangerous than this place.”

At her words, Nabel clenched his fists unconsciously.

“Hey, let me take a look at you too.” After carefully checking Ronée’s whole body, Ryne turned her gaze on Nabel.

Nabel shook his head slightly in refusal, but Ryne was already fussing over his singed sleeves. “Burn scars don’t fade easily, you know. Hurry up.” Ryne took Nabel’s hand and started to lift it. The moment she touched him, Nabel recoiled from Ryne’s touch instinctively.

Smack!

“……!” Ryne was startled by his aggressive rejection.

“Ah!” Nabel appeared surprised too.

“She’s not going to hurt you, Nabel.” Nabel’s hard breathing settled at Ronée’s words. Her voice calling his name got stuck in his head strangely again.