“Can’t we just drill a hole in the crown and take it out?”
No, you mean you use a physical solution to break the spell? Drill a hole in the crown of your head!
“Isn’t there any other way?”
In response to my urgent question, Tan waved his hand and told me not to worry.
“Of course. As the wooden doll said at the end, -- it’s a dance that can’t be stopped without it.”
Yes, come to think of it, the damp steam grew thicker as the wooden doll danced. If I could stop the dance, I could stop the steam from being produced.
“But -- I couldn’t hear what it was.”
“It’s probably a man. If a man had a dream, it would be a woman. It’s a specific object of sexual desire.”
It was like brainwashing while I was dreaming. Telling me to go out and meet the opposite sex, to relieve the desires that were rising like steam.
“So you’re saying I have to meet a guy to let off some steam?”
And it's not just about meeting...
When I was shocked, Tan tilted his head in puzzlement.
Why on earth does Ms. Harrington look so unusually embarrassed?
It would be embarrassing for someone who doesn't have a husband or lover, but doesn't Miss Harrington have a husband who is fully functional?
“Miss Harrington has Sir Erne.”
What, what did you say!
I and Erne sat frozen. Tan didn't tell us exactly what to do, but both me and Erne knew exactly what to do.
“...Isn’t there a case where the damp steam escapes naturally?”
After a brief, awkward silence, I came to my senses and asked.
“If it disappears naturally, it would be witchcraft, just a dream. If left alone, the dream will continue and Miss Harrington’s body will be filled with a damp steam.”
“Then what happens when it fills up with damp steam?”
“When you lose your energy, everything becomes a nuisance. At first, you lose your appetite, become irritable, and feel like you’re groaning, but later on, you get bone disease.”
Tan answered that he was suffering from a cold, a fractured bone from a slight fall, and a bone disease here and there. This left me with three choices.
One, drill a hole in the crown.
Two, live without feeling like you're alive even if you're sick.
Three, Erne and...
I shook my head and decided to ask how many holes I would have to drill into the crown of my head. I thought I could handle it if it was just a very thin needle.
“What did you use to make a hole in the crown?”
“You know those knitting needles? A little thicker than those.”
Knitting needles are thick, but what about something thicker than that? Just thinking about it makes my whole body shiver.
“Then there will be a lot of bleeding.”
“It’ll probably hurt a lot, right? If you insist on using that method, I’ll ask Brother Beichi for some hemostatic medicine that works well.”
Judging from the questionable tone in Tan's voice that appeared here and there, it seemed like he didn't know exactly either.
“Godmother, has no one died from drilling a hole in their head?”
I asked the godmother instead.
“No one died, but I have heard that some people lost their eyesight as a side effect.”
Losing your eyesight? That's not it.
No, you mean you use a physical solution to break the spell? Drill a hole in the crown of your head!
“Isn’t there any other way?”
In response to my urgent question, Tan waved his hand and told me not to worry.
“Of course. As the wooden doll said at the end, -- it’s a dance that can’t be stopped without it.”
Yes, come to think of it, the damp steam grew thicker as the wooden doll danced. If I could stop the dance, I could stop the steam from being produced.
“But -- I couldn’t hear what it was.”
“It’s probably a man. If a man had a dream, it would be a woman. It’s a specific object of sexual desire.”
It was like brainwashing while I was dreaming. Telling me to go out and meet the opposite sex, to relieve the desires that were rising like steam.
“So you’re saying I have to meet a guy to let off some steam?”
And it's not just about meeting...
When I was shocked, Tan tilted his head in puzzlement.
Why on earth does Ms. Harrington look so unusually embarrassed?
It would be embarrassing for someone who doesn't have a husband or lover, but doesn't Miss Harrington have a husband who is fully functional?
“Miss Harrington has Sir Erne.”
What, what did you say!
I and Erne sat frozen. Tan didn't tell us exactly what to do, but both me and Erne knew exactly what to do.
“...Isn’t there a case where the damp steam escapes naturally?”
After a brief, awkward silence, I came to my senses and asked.
“If it disappears naturally, it would be witchcraft, just a dream. If left alone, the dream will continue and Miss Harrington’s body will be filled with a damp steam.”
“Then what happens when it fills up with damp steam?”
“When you lose your energy, everything becomes a nuisance. At first, you lose your appetite, become irritable, and feel like you’re groaning, but later on, you get bone disease.”
Tan answered that he was suffering from a cold, a fractured bone from a slight fall, and a bone disease here and there. This left me with three choices.
One, drill a hole in the crown.
Two, live without feeling like you're alive even if you're sick.
Three, Erne and...
I shook my head and decided to ask how many holes I would have to drill into the crown of my head. I thought I could handle it if it was just a very thin needle.
“What did you use to make a hole in the crown?”
“You know those knitting needles? A little thicker than those.”
Knitting needles are thick, but what about something thicker than that? Just thinking about it makes my whole body shiver.
“Then there will be a lot of bleeding.”
“It’ll probably hurt a lot, right? If you insist on using that method, I’ll ask Brother Beichi for some hemostatic medicine that works well.”
Judging from the questionable tone in Tan's voice that appeared here and there, it seemed like he didn't know exactly either.
“Godmother, has no one died from drilling a hole in their head?”
I asked the godmother instead.
“No one died, but I have heard that some people lost their eyesight as a side effect.”
Losing your eyesight? That's not it.
I sighed as if the ground was falling apart.
‘I can’t live with a bone disease, and I can’t get a hole drilled in my skull because of the side effects and the fear. I’d rather just...’
I turned my head and looked at Erne.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Erne frowned and slowly moved away from me. My eyes, slightly reddened under my eyes, took on a rather miserable glow as I followed Erne away.
“Erne.”
My voice calling his name was sorrowful. However, Erne's heart did not soften at the sound of that voice but rather became enraged.
How can you make such a decision so easily? You think about it for at least two days, and if it doesn't work out, you just hang on, but you decide right away after hearing it?
Of course, Erne didn't hate Judith either. But not like this. At least the first night was proper... Anyway.
“I recommend drilling a hole in your crown. I can help you with that. If you drill it in the right spot and quickly, it won’t hurt much.”
Hey, it's easy to say that it's not someone else's fault.
For me, too, the one-night stand with Erne was embarrassing. But Erne was the best thing for me. I didn't want to get sick or lose my eyesight by getting my crown drilled.
But I can't just meet any man. Whatever the circumstances, Erne was my husband. If I couldn't use him for something like this, then what use would I have?
Of course, Erne's beautiful appearance also helped my decision. Even if I didn't know his core, Erne's shell made me hesitate less.
I, already covered in damp steam, licked my lips as I saw Erne's chest revealed through his open shirt.
I wonder if I want to hug something that looks solid. Any mature woman would think the same way, I rationalized.
And above all, Erne didn't seem to mind spending a night without any meaning. Although it doesn't appear in the original description, isn't his nickname the Mad Dog of the Empire?
If you're going to be a mad dog, you must have burned with desire without hesitation. What's the problem with adding me to that experience? I thought so.
“Where are you looking?”
Erne quickly buttoned up his shirt all the way to his neck as my sticky gaze scanned his skin.
“I didn’t leave it open for you to see.”
“Then who did you leave it open for?”
I pouted. Legally, I had the right to legally demand union from Erne.
“Since your body will rot and decay when you die anyway, I think you can save one person.”
“What are you talking about, Miss Harrington? I’m not rotten.”
Erne kindly reminded me of the time when he was an incorruptible corpse and then ran off to his room. He was so fast that I couldn't even catch him.
“Oh, my. Is this how it comes out?”
I feed you and put you to bed, but can't you do just that?
But I was not embarrassed. I did not think he would give permission right away. It was unfortunate that it was not Erne, but me, so I had to go and beg him, and he would probably listen to me out of kindness.
Ah, living in a vacuum isn't easy. I stuck out my tongue and got up from the bed.
“Where are you going, Miss Harrington?”
“Let’s go eat dinner. The godmother hasn’t eaten yet, has she? You must be hungry, so let’s go quickly.”
You need to eat a hearty dinner so you can convince the mad dog or docile dog of the empire to lie down.
This is ridiculous.
Erne's feelings could be defined in just one word.
“What do you see me as?”
Erne doesn't have any particular aversion to such behavior. He's never done it, but he doesn't have any beliefs about it either. He just hasn't had anyone he wants to do it to.
But Erne had no intention of taking care of my body. As Judith said, his body would rot away when he died, so he could do it if he wanted to.
If it could save one person, he guessed he could do it, but still.
“How come you don’t even look like you’re hesitating?”
It was a question of attitude.
Yes, of course, Judith and him are legally married. If they are to unite, it is only right that she do so with her husband. It is better than going out and bringing in a man.
“If you go outside after seeing me, no one will catch your eye.”
But the time to think is too short.
Is this nothing to Judith? Even though they are a married couple on paper, their relationship is not yet established enough to be intimate, so does that not matter?
He knows that Judith's life is at stake. But she's not going to die right away. Shouldn't she at least show some signs of hesitation and concern for a few days?
Perhaps Judith would have looked at the man sitting next to her, no matter who he was, if only they could sit next to each other on the bed.
Erne was very offended by that point.
“...Are you sure you’re not going to end up going to Henry?”
Suddenly, the faces of the two people who had been smiling affectionately came to mind. Henry was a very weak-hearted man.
If Judith were to grab hold of his trouser leg and beg for her life, the weak-hearted Henry might grant her request.
Of course, Erne will do something about it before that happens, but anyway, not right now.
“No, I wonder what she thinks of me...”
When he looked closely, Judith was really annoying. He was going to keep seeing her face, so what was he going to do after that if he kept doing things like that?
“She had eyes that didn’t show any worries about things like that.”
But why do I feel like I'm the only one who's different?
Just as his anger was rising again, a knock was heard and the door opened. Judith barged in head first without asking for permission from the owner of the room.
“Erne, listen to me...”
"No."
Before Judith could even take a step into the room, Erne grabbed her by the crown of her head, spun her around, and sent her out. Then he locked the door.
I knew this would happen, but you really are reckless.
Erne shook his head and sat back down on the bed, but then the click-click sound of the lock opening was heard.
‘I can’t live with a bone disease, and I can’t get a hole drilled in my skull because of the side effects and the fear. I’d rather just...’
I turned my head and looked at Erne.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Erne frowned and slowly moved away from me. My eyes, slightly reddened under my eyes, took on a rather miserable glow as I followed Erne away.
“Erne.”
My voice calling his name was sorrowful. However, Erne's heart did not soften at the sound of that voice but rather became enraged.
How can you make such a decision so easily? You think about it for at least two days, and if it doesn't work out, you just hang on, but you decide right away after hearing it?
Of course, Erne didn't hate Judith either. But not like this. At least the first night was proper... Anyway.
“I recommend drilling a hole in your crown. I can help you with that. If you drill it in the right spot and quickly, it won’t hurt much.”
Hey, it's easy to say that it's not someone else's fault.
For me, too, the one-night stand with Erne was embarrassing. But Erne was the best thing for me. I didn't want to get sick or lose my eyesight by getting my crown drilled.
But I can't just meet any man. Whatever the circumstances, Erne was my husband. If I couldn't use him for something like this, then what use would I have?
Of course, Erne's beautiful appearance also helped my decision. Even if I didn't know his core, Erne's shell made me hesitate less.
I, already covered in damp steam, licked my lips as I saw Erne's chest revealed through his open shirt.
I wonder if I want to hug something that looks solid. Any mature woman would think the same way, I rationalized.
And above all, Erne didn't seem to mind spending a night without any meaning. Although it doesn't appear in the original description, isn't his nickname the Mad Dog of the Empire?
If you're going to be a mad dog, you must have burned with desire without hesitation. What's the problem with adding me to that experience? I thought so.
“Where are you looking?”
Erne quickly buttoned up his shirt all the way to his neck as my sticky gaze scanned his skin.
“I didn’t leave it open for you to see.”
“Then who did you leave it open for?”
I pouted. Legally, I had the right to legally demand union from Erne.
“Since your body will rot and decay when you die anyway, I think you can save one person.”
“What are you talking about, Miss Harrington? I’m not rotten.”
Erne kindly reminded me of the time when he was an incorruptible corpse and then ran off to his room. He was so fast that I couldn't even catch him.
“Oh, my. Is this how it comes out?”
I feed you and put you to bed, but can't you do just that?
But I was not embarrassed. I did not think he would give permission right away. It was unfortunate that it was not Erne, but me, so I had to go and beg him, and he would probably listen to me out of kindness.
Ah, living in a vacuum isn't easy. I stuck out my tongue and got up from the bed.
“Where are you going, Miss Harrington?”
“Let’s go eat dinner. The godmother hasn’t eaten yet, has she? You must be hungry, so let’s go quickly.”
You need to eat a hearty dinner so you can convince the mad dog or docile dog of the empire to lie down.
***
This is ridiculous.
Erne's feelings could be defined in just one word.
“What do you see me as?”
Erne doesn't have any particular aversion to such behavior. He's never done it, but he doesn't have any beliefs about it either. He just hasn't had anyone he wants to do it to.
But Erne had no intention of taking care of my body. As Judith said, his body would rot away when he died, so he could do it if he wanted to.
If it could save one person, he guessed he could do it, but still.
“How come you don’t even look like you’re hesitating?”
It was a question of attitude.
Yes, of course, Judith and him are legally married. If they are to unite, it is only right that she do so with her husband. It is better than going out and bringing in a man.
“If you go outside after seeing me, no one will catch your eye.”
But the time to think is too short.
Is this nothing to Judith? Even though they are a married couple on paper, their relationship is not yet established enough to be intimate, so does that not matter?
He knows that Judith's life is at stake. But she's not going to die right away. Shouldn't she at least show some signs of hesitation and concern for a few days?
Perhaps Judith would have looked at the man sitting next to her, no matter who he was, if only they could sit next to each other on the bed.
Erne was very offended by that point.
“...Are you sure you’re not going to end up going to Henry?”
Suddenly, the faces of the two people who had been smiling affectionately came to mind. Henry was a very weak-hearted man.
If Judith were to grab hold of his trouser leg and beg for her life, the weak-hearted Henry might grant her request.
Of course, Erne will do something about it before that happens, but anyway, not right now.
“No, I wonder what she thinks of me...”
When he looked closely, Judith was really annoying. He was going to keep seeing her face, so what was he going to do after that if he kept doing things like that?
“She had eyes that didn’t show any worries about things like that.”
But why do I feel like I'm the only one who's different?
Just as his anger was rising again, a knock was heard and the door opened. Judith barged in head first without asking for permission from the owner of the room.
“Erne, listen to me...”
"No."
Before Judith could even take a step into the room, Erne grabbed her by the crown of her head, spun her around, and sent her out. Then he locked the door.
I knew this would happen, but you really are reckless.
Erne shook his head and sat back down on the bed, but then the click-click sound of the lock opening was heard.
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