Chapter 13 Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The doll was life-sized, identical to Gu Si. Her face was exquisitely crafted, with curled eyelashes framing a pair of round, amber-brown pupils that drooped slightly, with a shy and timid expression, appearing vividly lifelike.

If not for her lack of heartbeat and breath, Nolan might have mistaken her for Gu Si herself.

As a devotee of the God of Purity, Nolan adhered to the ascetic practices of a monastic. His food, clothing, and daily necessities met the same standard as an ordinary knight's. He wore a white nightshirt, buttoned up to his Adam's apple, covering his elegant, well-defined, lean muscles. Even in simple attire, his handsome features stood out.

True to form, he also had no inclination to purchase expensive alchemical products.

Nolan examined the girl doll on his bed. Not many in his inner circle had access to his bedroom. Isaac, responsible for the Moon Knights' diplomacy, wouldn't have the time for such a prank.

As for Lan Ruo, being female and a fellow believer in the God of Purity, they typically avoided even eye contact during conversations, let alone entering his bedroom privately.

Demons existed in this world. Nolan did not recklessly touch her. Instead, he intended to leave the room to wake Isaac next door and then have him wake Gu Si.

If the original owner couldn't be identified, it was best for her to take the doll back to prevent anyone from casting a malicious spell on her.

Having grown up in a secluded monastery, Nolan was unaware of other potential uses for a life-sized doll. His conventional mindset could only associate it with witch-dolls related to black magic.

However, Nolan was blocked by a ward on the door and couldn't open it no matter what he tried.

The blue-haired young man frowned.

While more interested in medicine, he had never neglected his daily training. Nolan stared at the wooden door before him, his eyes shimmering with a fluorescent, watery blue light. His damp hair fell across his forehead, the strands seemingly flowing with a lake-like glow.

He invoked the blessing of the God of Purity, attempting to dispel this strange haze.

But nothing happened.

The door remained standing there, as if mockingly taunting him. The space distorted slightly, and a line of flamboyant, cursive Common script boldly appeared on the door.

[A room you cannot leave without an embrace.]

Nolan: ...

He closed his eyes briefly, feeling a mild headache. Nolan was certain his dream had been invaded by a vampire or a black magician.

The God of Purity's power could only protect their physical bodies from being affected by vampire abilities; it was ineffective against dreams.

Magic related to dreams and illusions was difficult to guard against but not insurmountable. Such abilities significantly weakened during daylight hours, at which point he would naturally wake up.

Since it was a dream, there must be an exit.

His expression remained calm, Nolan returned to the bedside and looked at the girl who appeared to be sleeping.

Nolan found the door's requirement acceptable. He also wanted to see what would happen if he followed the instructions.

In reality, Gu Si was being targeted by Dark creatures. If that Prince also harbored ill will towards him, then he could assess the risks for her first and inform her later on how to act if caught in such a bewildering dream.

This was her life-sized doll on the bed. Hugging it wouldn't violate the God of Purity's commandments.

With this thought, Nolan reached out. His fingertips were rough with sword calluses, giving them a sense of strength that contrasted with his refined features, sinking easily into her soft skin.

...Warm.

He paused for a moment.

The girl had initially been lying under the covers. When Nolan lifted the corner of the quilt, he discovered she was completely nude. Her slightly curly golden hair cascaded below her collarbone, accentuating her lovely form.

Nolan instinctively averted his gaze, refraining from further movement. Instead, he wrapped the girl snugly in the quilt.

...He didn't quite understand. Even for the purpose of a curse, why would the spellcaster depict her body so... realistically.

Nolan adjusted his breathing, banishing impure thoughts from his mind. He bundled Gu Si up tightly in the quilt, leaving only her head exposed. After a moment's thought, he lifted Gu Si with an expressionless face as if handling a piece of luggage.

The colors on the door blurred again. A second line of text appeared below the requirement.

[Please complete the task properly. After three hours, you may leave the dream.]

Nolan: ...

The concept of physical contact had been almost entirely absent from the first half of Nolan's life. Even in his vaguely remembered childhood, while still with his family, interactions with relatives were reserved and restrained.

A hug wasn't a transgression, but he found it difficult to overcome his internal barriers.

Perhaps it was because this doll resembled Gu Si too much... so much so that it seemed the next second, she might look at him with lively, flustered eyes.

Nolan cradled her in his arms. His calm gaze swept over her face, then his palm gently pressed down on her eyelids, causing her eyes to close softly.

Gu Si's vision plunged into darkness.

A wave of alarm shot through her.

Gu Si couldn't control her limbs, nor could her eyeballs move. Initially, keeping her eyes open had provided a slight sense of security. But with her eyes closed, she had no idea what might happen next!

Although Gu Si knew Captain Nolan was a trustworthy, good person, she was just a little scared.

"My apologies," he said lightly.

Once she seemed to be asleep, Nolan regained his composure.

Gu Si recalled when she first woke up, Nolan had put his fingers in her mouth, skillfully prying her lips open. Perhaps while she was unconscious, he had been performing his duties as a physician, conducting daily examinations for her.

Nolan did not remove her quilt. Maintaining this posture, she was enveloped in a firm, lean embrace.

His arm held her. He didn't sit down but instead walked around, apparently checking for a way out of the dream. Gu Si's face was unavoidably pressed against his chest. Her mind went blank.

The edge of the quilt slipped down slightly, revealing the bandage wrapped around her wound.

Even this detail, which interested him, was replicated perfectly.

Nolan's gaze fell on her slender neck. Then, with an arm around her waist, he sat down at the desk. He unwrapped the bandage on her wound and, while observing it, casually picked up a quill and some scattered papers. The soft scratch of a quill on paper began.

Was he recording something... or drawing her?

Nolan had now clearly entered a state of flow, completely treating her as a medical subject. Gu Si, with her eyes closed, felt the quilt slip down a bit more, but the focused knight didn't notice.

Being unable to see or move, time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly in her perception.

She didn't know how much time had passed when the writing sound stopped. Nolan considered for a moment, studying the figure in his arms, thinking whether to turn her around to face him.

...But he still needed to complete the embrace task. In that position, her legs would be awkwardly positioned within the quilt and might press against his waist.

Although Nolan treated all patients equally, he disliked being touched in overly personal areas.

Gu Si felt Nolan lift her up again and walk towards the door.

Nolan's room wasn't specially decorated; the thing that stuck with Gu Si most was the full-length mirror placed beside the coat rack. Nolan's subsequent actions confirmed her suspicions.

Her skin was getting colder as the man carried her like a child in front of the mirror. For some reason, Gu Si felt an urge to cry.

"...Hmm?"

Nolan's voice, tinged with confusion, sounded softly.

He stopped walking, freed up his right hand, and wiped away the teardrop that had spilled from the corner of her eye, murmuring calmly, almost to himself:

"Can you cry?"

The moment she heard the young man's questioning voice, Gu Si's consciousness was abruptly yanked back to reality.

The three-hour time limit had ended.

In the ward, she suddenly opened her eyes in the darkness, tossed and turned in bed for a while, then hid under the covers without saying a word, her face and ears flushed bright red.

This is too much!

Why did she have to have such a dream with Nolan? Gu Si had no idea why a dream like this would increase Nolan's favorability.

Did he prefer the type who slept soundly, letting him observe and record at will?

No, no, she had to tell her foster father that next time, she absolutely shouldn't enter Nolan's dream again.

Who knew if, after discovering the doll could cry, he would experiment to see which other reactions matched those of a living person...

Gu Si didn't sleep for the rest of the night, wrapping herself in the quilt and withdrawn until dawn.

These past two days, Gu Si hadn't seen much of Wost. Today, he arrived much earlier than in the first few days. Catching a whiff of food, Gu Si's nose twitched, her eyes wide and round as she cautiously peeked out.

Wost took out the meal and laid it out on the small table. Gu Si eagerly kicked off the covers, got up, and sat on the stool, ready to eat. As she savored the meal with her eyes closed, Wost helplessly told her to slow down, standing behind her to smooth out her messy hair.

He seemed to really like her long hair, his fingertips lingering for a long time before reluctantly letting go.

"How is Nolan's treatment helping you recover?"

Wost's gray-blue eyes lingered on her neck, his voice low.

He leaned down, instinctively sniffing her scent.

Gu Si, spoon in mouth, nodded. The itching sensation had persisted these past few days, but she had gradually grown accustomed to it and no longer found it unbearable.

His voice grew even lower, hesitant: "Do you... still need me?"

Gu Si was taken aback for a moment before realizing what Wost was referring to.

Back when they were traveling to seek medical help, Archer had been disgusted by her, and it was always Wost who helped her relieve that feeling. Later, Nolan took over her treatment, and Gu Si had been so busy surviving that she had somewhat neglected Wost these past two days.

But it had only been two days!

Gu Si had never raised a dog, but she had heard that some dogs develop separation anxiety after bonding with their owners.

Could Wost be like that too?

Gu Si thought for a moment and said, "I'm not uncomfortable... Thank you for brushing my hair."

Gu Si liked Wost a lot—the way you like a reliable partner or a loyal dog. Noticing Wost's drooping tail, she tentatively suggested, "Do you... want a hug?"

Ah, his tail started wagging again!

Gu Si watched the tail, which was far more straightforward than its owner, with fascination, feeling the urge to pet it again.

Wost let out a sigh of relief, as if he had received his owner's permission. He carefully wrapped his arms around her in a light hug, the scent of forests and wild beasts enveloping her. His firm jaw brushed against her forehead.

He had shaved, but there was still a slightly fuzzy texture. Gu Si giggled from the ticklish sensation.

Sunlight streamed through the clean window. Just then, there came a brief knock on the door—two brief taps.

Gu Si looked up from the werewolf's embrace and saw the young man with brown hair and a boyish face.

"Oh, so the werewolf brought you food today."

Isaac leaned in the doorway, holding a lunchbox, watching the embracing pair with a natural expression and a smile. "Am I late?"

...

The breakfast ended awkwardly.

Although Isaac didn't say anything, he smiled and told her to enjoy her meal, then gave a wave with the lunchbox in hand and left.

After leaving Nolan's residence, Isaac greeted colleagues he encountered along the way as usual. Arriving at the Moon Knights' ward area, he made his rounds when he heard a heated argument.

A mercenary with a scarred eye was shouting and demanding to know why he couldn't use the Moon Knights' relief funds and had to pay for his medical treatment out of his own pocket.

Two ordinary knights stood there awkwardly, unable to get a complete sentence out as they were being berated.

The man grew increasingly agitated, veins bulging on his temples. Seeing the two knights act so timidly only made him bolder, and he was on the verge of resorting to threats, scaring a child in the neighboring room into letting out a piercing cry that nearly shattered eardrums.

"I'll handle the explanation. You two get back to work." Isaac walked into the ward, handed the lunchbox to one of them, and calmly issued the instruction.

His subordinates sighed in relief. Before leaving, one of them cautiously glanced at the Deputy Commander and noticed that his smile wasn't as amiable as usual—it seemed a bit perfunctory, as if he couldn't be bothered.

The knight carefully closed the door behind him. Almost immediately, the arrogant shouting inside the room stopped.

The sound of bottles and medicine jars being knocked over followed, and then something heavy crashed to the floor. The two knights hadn't gone far and exchanged a look.

They returned and opened the door to find the troublemaking mercenary knocked unconscious on the floor and Isaac's back turned to them, lost in thought.

The brown-haired young man's expression was somewhat cold. He clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword.

"Annoying," he muttered under his breath.

Gu Si keenly sensed a subtle change in Isaac's mood.

Recalling their interactions over the past two days, Gu Si felt that she might have somewhat taken the easygoing Deputy Commander for granted.

He was always available when she called and had diligently explained the kingdom's factions to her. But today, Wost had come early, and she had forgotten Isaac would also visit her in the morning, letting him witness the harmonious scene between her and Wost.

That was disrespectful to him, wasn't it? Should she go and apologize?

Gu Si asked one of the Moon Knights on duty and learned that Isaac's schedule was very busy. She ran around breathlessly, taking a long detour without finding him. Exhausted and dazed, she decided to take a nap first.

...It seemed that thinking about someone led to dreaming about them. When she opened her eyes again, Gu Si hazily realized she had entered someone's dream once more.

She lay in a bed that carried a masculine scent, meeting a pair of just-awakened, somewhat indifferent green eyes beside her.

He seemed to have a habit of sleeping naked. His wheat-colored chest was strong and sensual, his collarbones prominent, and the corners of his eyes looked sharp when he wasn't smiling.

This was not good.

This was Isaac's dream.