“Hm? What did you say, Blake?”
Blake gently lifted me up as I clung to his leg.
His touch was unexpectedly tender, so I stared at him blankly. (Of course, I was still doing a perfect job pretending to be a doll.)
“This isn’t your gift, so no.”
“H-huh? Oh… okay.”
Leah awkwardly stepped back, clearly caught off guard by the answer.
Then, as if curiosity got the better of her, she suddenly leaned in again and asked,
“Then what is that teddy bear? There’s no way it’s yours, Blake.”
“……”
“…?”
The longer he stayed silent, the more Leah’s expression shifted.
Her brows furrowed in suspicion, then she smiled as if convincing herself that couldn’t possibly be the case.
“Come on—no matter how I look at it, that doesn’t suit you at all.”
“Doesn’t it?”
Blake replied indifferently as he stared down at me.
“Yeah. Be honest. Who are you giving it to?”
She had a point. It really was an odd combination.
A small, insignificant teddy bear—completely at odds with the reputation of the man known as the greatest swordsman in Kasdonia.
Anyone who saw me in Blake’s hands would never believe I belonged to him.
‘Is he going to call me trash?’
Rain had said earlier that I looked no better than garbage.
Even though I knew this wasn’t my real form, I still felt uneasy and stared stiffly into the air.
Meanwhile, those violet eyes slowly scanned over me, as if trying to read my expression.
Then his languid gaze shifted back to Leah.
“I’m not giving it to anyone. It’s mine.”
The flat response pierced my ears.
My heart was racing—what a life!
Being carried out of a banquet hall in the arms of a handsome man was far more exciting than anything I had imagined.
‘Leah’s face earlier was something else.’
She looked like she’d just witnessed a complete lunatic.
But is it really okay to leave that kind of impression on someone you have a crush on?
The carriage rattled along a flat road lined with tall plane trees on both sides.
I was on my way to the LeBlanc estate, where Blake lived.
Together with a gloomy-looking, yet incredibly handsome man sitting beside me!
I’d always dreamed of situations like this from novels, but I never imagined I’d be a teddy bear when it happened.
Sigh… life really isn’t easy. What a long day.
My chest felt unsettled as worries about my situation quickly surfaced.
But I’m not the type to get discouraged so easily!
“Come to think of it, isn’t this pretty lucky? I get to meet such a handsome guy, ride comfortably in a carriage, and sleep in a cozy house.”
“…What are you muttering about?”
“There are far more exhausting and difficult things in this world. Getting overly happy or overly disappointed about everything just drains your energy.”
Clatter.
Blake, who had seemed to be listening quietly, shot me an annoyed glance and suddenly flung the window open.
“Wow, it’s so refreshing!”
The cool breeze rushed in, and I excitedly scooted closer to him—only for him to recoil in disgust and slam the window shut again.
Tch, I just wanted some fresh air.
Ever since we got on the carriage, Blake hadn’t said a word.
It was as if he had absolutely no curiosity about me.
Normally, once someone learns I’m a witch, they’d have a million questions and suspicions.
I wouldn’t mind being interrogated, honestly.
‘At least I can tell Blake has a strange personality.’
Watching his dark, lifeless profile, I frowned.
He felt completely different from young men who dreamed of a bright youth and a hopeful future.
Maybe “an old man in a young body” would describe him?
“Blake. What should I call you?”
“Don’t.”
“How about ‘old man’? I just thought of it.”
“……”
His thick brows twitched, clearly displeased.
Hmm, not a fan?
Alright, next idea.
A nickname that suits that handsome face paired with such cold indifference and gloomy aura…
“Ah! How about ‘Rude Dragon’?”
He frowned even deeper, clearly hearing it for the first time.
I’d borrowed it from what Max said—something about him being as rude as a black dragon.
Guess that wasn’t it.
“…Then how about ‘Charger’?”
“……”
“Oh, do you not use that word here? The reason is, it’s related to why I followed you. When I’m near you, my depleted mana refills really quickly. Like a mana-charging device. Plus, your handsome face refreshes my tired eyes too, so it works in multiple ways. What do you think? Don’t you like it?”
“Be quiet.”
At his curt command, I pouted.
“But I need to call you something.”
“Stop being annoying and just call me Blake. At least until you die.”
“Then I can call you Blake?!”
I shouted in delight, but Blake simply closed his eyes without replying.
I didn’t expect us to get close this fast.
In the witch world, it was an unspoken rule to use nicknames until you became close.
A witch’s name carried power, so using it carelessly was considered rude.
At one point, Max used to call me “Drunkard of the West.”
Now that I’d grown used to that culture, Blake allowing me to use his name made me genuinely happy.
“Alright! Then, Blake. I’ll allow you to use my name too. Call me Vivian!”
“……”
He didn’t respond again, but I was getting used to that.
Blake was the type who revealed his thoughts even in silence.
Even if it seemed like he was ignoring me, the fact that he didn’t outright refuse meant he accepted it.
“Blake LeBlanc. We’ve properly introduced ourselves and decided what to call each other, so let’s get along!”
I stretched out my fluffy hand, but he didn’t move, eyes still closed as if asleep.
Still, I took matters into my own hands and placed my stubby paw on top of his large, slender hand.
The moment they touched, my whole body began to recharge.
“Yeah, I really should’ve called you a fast charger.”
“Take your hand off.”
“Okay.”
After about an hour of watching him, the carriage slowed as a black mansion came into view at the end of a road lit by orange streetlights.
‘…Is this a castle where a black dragon lives? Why is it so dark?’
It felt completely different from Holloway Castle, which dazzled with flashy golden decorations.
This place was all sharp, rectangular edges with no softness at all, and the gate was lined with menacing spikes.
Whoever designed this had the worst taste.
It looked utterly devoid of dreams or hope…
As if announcing our arrival, the carriage came to a stop as the creaking gates opened.
“We’ve arrived, young master.”
The door opened, and Blake lifted me slightly by the arm as he stepped out.
Without hesitation, he strode into the mansion—it felt like a dungeon you could enter but never escape from.
Dangling from his hand, I was carried into a room and then casually tossed onto a sofa.
Without a single word of instruction or warning, he turned and left.
…Huh?
“Blake!”
Bang.
Just like that, I was left alone in the dark room.
Several hours passed.
“Yaaawn… it’s nice to rest, though.”
I lay sprawled on the sofa like it was my own, killing time.
“What a strange charger.”
Normally, after making a deal, wouldn’t someone be curious and demand the curse be lifted right away?
That’s how it usually goes in novels.
Even I would’ve pressured me to try immediately, but Blake showed no sign of returning.
‘Wasn’t he the one who couldn’t sleep?’
Despite giving me the opportunity so readily, he clearly had no interest in me.
Was he so exhausted from years of insomnia and curses that he’d lost even his expectations and will to live?
Still, he must have brought me here hoping—however faintly—for some kind of miracle…
‘If that’s the case, couldn’t he trust me just a little more?’
I wanted so badly to grab Blake, who seemed both quiet and socially inept, and chat endlessly with him.
But for now, that didn’t seem possible.
‘Then I’ll just find something I can do!’
Maybe I should get used to this room while I wait for him?
Just as I had that thought—
Knock knock.
A light knock came from outside the door.
Oh! Is it Blake? I was about to run over in excitement when I suddenly stopped.
Wait.
Why would Blake knock before entering his own room?
That made no sense.
“Th-then…”
Who could it be?
The realization flashed through my mind.
“Brother, are you in there?”
After a brief silence following the youthful voice, the door slowly creaked open.