Page 114 of Everdoll

“No way! I’d rather not draw my dear witch’s wrath down upon me.”

“Be careful that witch doesn’t kill you one day.”

“You’re already killing me every day.” His grin widened with mischief. “My brain goes numb whenever I’m around you. Tell me, miss, how do I break this spell?”

I attempted to turn my face away, a sudden temper flaring in my chest, but his hand immediately caught my chin.

“Ask the one who cast it on you,” I snapped.

“And what if there’s no other candidate besides you?”

“Then poor you. You must have lost your mind.”

“Is this another one of the witch’s spells?”

“Remi, stop!” I lashed out, drawing back for real this time. “I want to sleep.”

“You’re not really offended, are you?”

“What would you do if I were?”

“I told you; I’d feel like I’d committed a sin.”

“Remi…” With a sudden shift to a serious tone, I dropped act. Raymond, who had been teasing me so cheerfully just moments ago was now staring at me with complete gravity. Under his gaze, my cheeks flushed again, and I looked away.

“You’re not committing anything. I’m not above you. You know that, right?

“I don’t know, I’m not sure.” This time, when he also looked away, both of us were staring awkwardly at the pillow. I wanted to say something, but my tongue was tied.

How? How could a selfish witch like me be above a gentle knight like him?

Who was Remi in love with?

“Do you… really see me this way?” I asked, my voice lower. “In your eyes… am I like a goddess?” Even though it sounded cheesy, my tone wasn’t playful; I was dead serious.

Raymond paused, his brow tightening slightly, not in anger but in genuine effort to understand the question.

“I don’t know. I just love you, Mina. Is that a bad thing?”

I pursed my lips, then shut my eyes close.

So far away.

“No. No, it’s not.” I yawned feebly. A weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Finally, I could blame him. Leave him with a clear conscience. With my agency, with my own free will.

Then why do I feel so empty, so lost, so disappointed?

“Wrong answer…?” he whispered again, but I didn’t open my eyes. He brought our faces closer, our foreheads touched, and I only wrapped my arms around him.

“Hey, my dear…”

“It’s nothing, Remi. I love you too. I’m just sleepy.”

“Did you take your meds early? Maybe we should lower the dose.”

At his words, my heart broke a little more, if that were even possible. He didn’t see it, didn’t catch it. Even Remi no longer noticed the shift in my tone, nor the disappointment on my face.