# 17
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Snowy night.
A room surrounded by silence.
But what was even calmer than that was the atmosphere that prevailed between the two.
Dana felt her heart tickling until it hurt. Her throat constricted, and unbearable emotions rushed through her.
Edwin saw her features, and his face appeared serious.
She was usually quiet, but this time it wasn't normal.
He looked into her eyes, which were about to cry, and asked her.
“…Did something happen?”
Dana shook her head.
“Not that…….”
Then she raised her head and looked at him.
“It's been so cold this whole time.”
Edwin looked into her eyes silently. He was trying hard to read her feelings, even if they were as delicate as the fluff of feathers.
In short moments, a spectrum of many emotions crossed Dana's face.
Her eyes, which looked sad, even very lonely, gradually regained their calm. Then towards Edwin-
She smiled so brightly that it took his breath away.
Her feelings were volatile, scattering at every moment. She did not know how strongly those scenes captured Edwin's heart.
Her blue eyes stared straight at him.
“But now it's okay.”
Her slightly trembling voice reached him.
“Because you came.”
Dana had a definite hunch. The scenes that had suddenly appeared since her childhood -
You won't torture her anymore.
“Are you really okay?”
Edwin's face was uncertain. Not long ago, Dana looked as if she would cry if anyone touched her.
Dana smiled again.
“Edwin, I'm Bardana, are you going to leave me like this?”
“Oh, sorry.”
Then he told her what the official said.
“It looks like the repair won't be done until tomorrow morning. Even the doctors are all sharing rooms.”
“Really? This is bad.”
“You can trade your room with me, Senpai..”
Dana furrowed her brow at his suggestion as if it were normal.
“But then you will feel cold.”
Edwin had never known the meaning of cold in his life.
His firepower always kept his temperature high.
“I don't feel cold at all...”
“So, would you like to share a room together?”
Edwin's eyes widened in surprise.
One room with Dana…… He never expected this. His face turned red very quickly.
Dana smiled faintly as she clearly saw his confused expression.
“Let's just spend the night talking.”
Talking to her all night long……!
But even this did not ease his turmoil. His head was light, as if he was floating.
Suddenly he noticed that Dana's shoulders were shaking.
“Let's go to my room quickly, you'll be cold.”
“Hmm, but let me wear something first.”
Something? Only then did Edwin notice her appearance. When he entered, he quickly covered her with the blanket and did not pay attention to what she was wearing.
Among the folds of the blanket was her bathing suit.
His body suddenly froze. He quickly turned his gaze to her face.
But a drop of water slipped from her wet hair.
It fell on her cheek and then down her soft neck. Edwin stared at her, completely mesmerized.
The redness spread from his face to his neck and ears. It was as if his whole body was on fire.
He quickly turned his head and said in a dry, stiff voice.
“……Then get dressed and come to my room.”
Then his hasty footsteps resounded in the corridor as he walked away.
Dana looked at his empty space for a moment, then smiled to herf.
'Is he just acting like this because he saw me in a bathrobe?'
Although he usually approached her without hesitation, he seemed shy when he wasn't ready.
As for Edwin, he was...
Standing in front of his room door, stunned.
His hand was slipping repeatedly as he tried to insert the key.
After many attempts, he finally entered. He wandered around aimlessly, then grabbed a bottle of water.
He poured himf a cup and drank it quickly, but the heat did not subside.
He sat heavily on his bed. Then he wiped his face with his hands.
Breathe deeply. His head was turbulent.
He didn't know how he walked or even how he got to his room.
Then - there was a knock on the door.
“Edwin, it's me.”
At the sound of Dana's voice, Edwin rose to his feet. Then he cleared his throat, trying to calm his voice.
He wanted to avoid any feeling of embarrassment as much as possible.
As soon as he turned the door handle, Dana appeared, dressed in light home clothes.
“Come in, Senpai.”
Edwin pretended to be calm, smiling. But Dana stifled her laughter when she saw the clearly visible redness of his ears.
“Hmm, thank you. Thanks to you, I think tonight will be warm.”
Her sincere words made Edwin's facial features gently relax.
He gently sat her down on the soft bed. At that moment, Dana studied him with her eyes.
"Are you out? Why are you still in your uniform?"
He was wearing the same uniform he wore to work. Edwin took a moment to choose his words.
“I went to the knights. They had an order.”
“What could they ask of an official who came from the capital?”
“It wasn't a big deal.”
It's just that they asked him to hunt a monster.
“Then you should hurry up and wash up. Looks like I've kept you busy for a long time.”
“I'm the one who keeps you busy.”
He said as he picked up some clothes to go take a shower.
“Then hurry up and wash up. I will wait for you here.”
"……Good."
Edwin hurriedly entered the bathroom.
Dana tilted her head as she watched him quickly disappear. Then something suddenly came to her mind.
'Hurry up. 'I will wait for you here.'
They were words like what newly married couples say.
'Oh my God, what did I just say?'
Moreover, she said it while sitting on the bed...!
Dana covered her mouth with both hands.
Her blue eyes twitched in confusion.
While she was waving her hands as if she was fanning herf, she suddenly stood up.
Then I drank water as Edwin had done before.
As soon as she was about to go back to bed, she hesitated, and finally sat at the table.
A few moments later, the bathroom door opened and Edwin walked towards her.
His wet hair was messy, and his figure was draped in a thin shirt that looked comfortable.
It was a new sight, different from his usual image of dignity. As her body heat barely subsided, Dana opened her mouth.
“New look, huh? You finally look comfortable.”
“Do I really look like this?”
Edwin always wanted to show her the most beautiful picture of himf.
When he asked her shyly, Dana burst out laughing.
“You look nice. Were you even going to wear your uniform to the inn?”
“If you wish, Senpai.”
It was clear that he was determined to look beautiful in her eyes no matter what. Dana rapped her fingers on the table and he sat across from her.
Then she continued saying.
“I heard that the relationship gets deeper the more frank both parties are.”
"like what?"
"I mean, you don't have to pretend to like me. This looks like you, too."
‘Ah…’ He shook his head in understanding.
“So...that means you even like this body.”
“Why are you twisting my words like that?”
“So do you hate her?”
"no."
He raised his shoulders as if to say: See?
With that cunning argument, Dana couldn't help but laugh.
After a joke and a laugh, the atmosphere between them returned to its previous comfort.
The fragrance of soap emanated from the two of them after they finished their shower.
After a long day, as the room became warm after the bath, Dana's body began to melt into relaxation.
Edwin took a long look at her as she relaxed in the chair.
“What's wrong?”
“I'm afraid you'll catch a cold.”
His eyes went to her wet hair.
“You came out in a hurry and didn't seem to dry it well.”
Dana didn't care, and started playing with her hair.
“It's okay... I can dry it now.”
“Senpai.”
Edwin called out to her as she searched for a towel.
Then he leaned his body toward her languidly, until the distance between them narrowed because of the small table.
His lips moved slowly.
“Will you let me do this to you?”
“Y-you?”
"Yes."
“…and why?”
“Just… because I would do anything for you, Senpai.”
Edwin always showed her kindness that did not ask for a price.
Even her mother would ask for money in exchange for a cup of warm tea.
As for Dana, she was, in practical terms, a fallen noblewoman.
Since she was taking care of all the household affairs herf, how could she have a personal maid?
That's why she used to dry her hair herf.
She never knew the meaning of another hand taking care of her, even if it was just out of duty.
Therefore, this offer was… strange to her heart.
While she hesitated a little, Edwin remained patient, waiting for her answer.
In the end... she made her decision.