Chapter 7
“That sound… they’re looking for me.”
“Who is it?”
“……An ex?”
“Right now?”
“Not anymore. Honestly, I don’t even really know him……”
“But you said ex.”
“Y-Yeah… I guess.”
As she said that, Litia quietly hid behind the man.
Caliph shifted slightly to the side.
Litia moved with him.
“……”
They did that several more times.
Every time he moved, Litia followed, gripping the back of his clothes tightly. In the end, he burst out laughing.
“Are you that desperate?”
“It’s not that… it’s just a really awkward situation.”
“So?”
“…….”
At Caliph’s question, Litia pouted. She thought he was teasing her.
“He’s not coming here anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Because I made it so.”
At that, Litia peeked her face out from behind him. The lamplight on the wall made her face glow more brightly.
The man looked down at her face in silence.
“Do you really use magic?”
“Maybe.”
Whether it was because of what he did, or because Jit had lost interest in this place, he never came in even though Litia stayed hidden for quite a while.
His voice faded, and eventually there was no sound at all. Relief washed over her—but at the same time, reality hit her: she would have to go back eventually.
Well, at least she’d gotten rid of the biggest nuisance.
Litia let out a deep sigh. Ever since waking up in this body, sighing seemed to be what she did most.
“You look like you need help again.”
Litia looked up at him.
He was so tall it made her neck ache, and the shadows on his face were striking.
“That’s true, but this time no one can help.”
“…….”
How could anyone help? She absolutely couldn’t upset the Duke of Mont right now.
Litia smiled brightly. It was time to part ways with the gentleman who had helped her.
“Thank you for helping me earlier. May I ask your name? Um… I don’t know if we’ll meet again, but I won’t forget today.”
“…….”
No answer.
Thinking she couldn’t linger any longer, Litia glanced at the curtain and spoke again.
“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. I’ll remember your face, so if we meet again, I’ll make sure to repay you.”
She gave a light bow and turned toward the curtain, hesitating—but the man still didn’t say anything.
“Caliph.”
She let out another sigh and reached for the curtain when a voice came from behind her.
Litia turned around sharply.
“Yes?”
“Caliph.”
“Oh.”
His name.
Litia smiled softly and repeated it under her breath.
“I’ll remember it.”
At that moment, Caliph gently closed his hand over the back of Litia’s right hand, which was holding the curtain.
Confusion crossed her face as he spoke.
“Want me to help you so you don’t have to go back?”
Litia’s eyes widened.
Before she could even ask why he was holding her hand, another question slipped out first.
“How?”
“If you play with me.”
“Play?”
“I’ll put an illusion on them so they think you stayed inside and went home without any trouble.”
“Is that really possible?”
“Yeah.”
She was more drunk than before, but even so, a question surfaced.
Why was this man helping her?
Was it just kindness?
The thought escaped her lips.
“…Why do you keep helping me?”
Litia had fully turned toward him now. Their faces were close enough to touch if either leaned forward—but he didn’t feel threatening.
Maybe it was because of his relaxed, easy smile.
“You asked for help earlier.”
“Not like this.”
“True.”
He smiled again.
Litia’s heart thumped hard.
“Could it be that……”
“Hm?”
Caliph bent down to her height and tilted his head.
“Did you fall for me at first sight?”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this nice.
“Haha.”
Caliph finally laughed.
The refreshing sound made Litia’s face heat up slightly.
“I am curious about you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. So—what will you do?”
His eyes playfully asked whether she would go back inside or come out and play for a bit.
Despite his elegant and captivating looks, his tone was surprisingly playful. Litia didn’t think long.
“You can really make it so there’s no problem, right?”
She didn’t know what might happen if she met the Crown Prince, and she wanted to delay it a little. If she could avoid it, she wanted to—especially if she didn’t have to take responsibility.
As if understanding her hesitation, he held out his hand.
“Take my hand.”
Litia carefully took Caliph’s hand. At the same time, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, and a powerful wind swept around them like a storm.
Instinctively, Litia buried her face against his chest.
“Wow.”
The place Caliph took her to was the top of a spire not far from the banquet hall. It was so high the lanterns below looked distant, like scattered stars. Her chest felt refreshingly clear, as if cold soda had been poured through her.
Litia closed her eyes for a moment and enjoyed the sensation. She didn’t know about the real Litia, but for Yoo Jimin, this feeling and view were completely new.
She had lived her whole life sick, and after turning twenty, she hadn’t been able to leave the hospital at all. After dying and waking up in Litia’s body, she had been confined again. The stress had piled up unbearably.
But now, that suffocating feeling eased a little.
Was this freedom?
Then what was this man?
Who was he, to help her like this?
She questioned herself, but regardless, he was clearly her benefactor. Litia turned toward Caliph and smiled brightly.
“I should’ve drunk here. What a waste.”
She muttered to herself.
That fine wine would have tasted even better here.
The regret made her thirsty.
Caliph held something out.
In his hand was a wine glass, dark red wine swaying inside—as if he’d created it himself.
Litia’s eyes widened again. He had never answered clearly, but he was definitely a mage.
“Thank you.”
I should drink moderately.
But sipping carefully only made her want more. So Litia decided to be a little bolder. The restraint she had accumulated finally overwhelmed her reason.
She had experienced something she never had before—so just for today, nothing else mattered.
She gulped it down, and the drunkenness deepened.
Her restraint snapped.
One more glass.
Another.
And another.
Her mood swelled like a balloon, and Litia started making more demands of Caliph. Wine sloshed and wet her wrist, but she only felt good.
“I think you’re really handsome.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Especially your face… ah, your voice too. But what were you curious about? That’s why you helped me, right?”
Her speech had grown slurred.
“I don’t think you can answer properly right now.”
“Why? I can.”
Her smile had grown loose.
“Then tell me how you came here.”
“Here?”
Litia rolled her eyes, thinking. She swayed slightly, then parted her red lips.
“By carriage?”
“Not that.”
“Umm…… I don’t know.”
“I thought so.”
Caliph laughed in disbelief.
Litia smiled along.
“I…”
“Hm?”
“This feeling is new to me. Because it’s my first time. My first time feeling free.”
She stuck out her tongue and caught the drops of wine clinging to the glass. She asked for more, but sensing her condition, Caliph refused.
Her behavior resembled a heavy drinker—or even an addict—but her pure appearance somehow made it look elegant.
Litia squinted one eye and stared into the empty glass.
“First time?”
“I was always… lying down.”
After mumbling about herself for a while, Litia began nodding off. She had eagerly agreed to play, followed him here, and now she was half-asleep. Caliph shook his head.
He hadn’t expected this—but he was curious enough to wait and see.
Normally, she should have instinctively avoided him. But there was none of that, which made her even more interesting.
Someone he had never seen before.
An outsider?
At some point, Litia leaned against him and went quiet—as if she’d fallen asleep. But soon, she opened her eyes again, meeting his gaze.
Her eyes, clouded with alcohol, were clearer than ever.
“Caliph.”
“…….”
When he didn’t answer, Litia boldly cupped his cheeks with both hands and stared at him insistently.
“Caliph.”
“Yeah.”
He answered obediently, though baffled.
“You’re pretty.”
Very pretty.
Litia grinned.
Caliph let out a quiet breath.
“So you like me?”
“Yes. I actually followed you because I liked you. I like pretty people.”
“If I were dangerous—”
She tilted her head, then shook it.
“Nope.”
She wobbled, and Caliph immediately steadied her.
“See? Not dangerous.”
Her smile deepened. Now she fully leaned on his shoulders, then suddenly leaned closer and pressed her lips lightly to his forehead.
For the first time, Caliph’s relaxed expression faltered.
“Thank you. I didn’t bring anything, so I have nothing to give you.”
Litia giggled as their gazes met in midair.
At that moment, sparks flew.
Chapter 2. I Ended Up Causing an Accident with a Dangerous Man
