Vol 4 Chapter 52 – I Got Cursed Again【Vol 4: Harem Life Arc】

“Alright then.”

I had finished packing my bag and was heading toward the front door — when it happened.

“…Theo.”

I stopped and turned. Eclair was standing there.

In the dim light of the hallway, she stood with her head down, both hands clasped tightly together.

“What’s up? If it’s to see me off, you really don’t have to be so—”

“Come to the bedroom for a minute.”

“Huh?”

Her tone left no room for argument.

Without even waiting for my answer, she turned on her heel and walked away.

(Did I forget something?)

Tilting my head, I followed her down the hall and into the bedroom.

Inside, Eclair sat on the edge of the bed and stared up at me, still and steady.

“Um… Eclair…?”

“…Sit down.”

I did as I was told, taking a seat facing her.

In the room lit only by moonlight, the silence pressed down heavily between us.

At last, as if steeling herself, she opened her mouth.

“Hey, Theo. …There’s something I have to tell you.”

“What is it? You’re being so serious.”

“Well… it’s just… You see…”

Eclair’s face flushed deep red as she said something completely unexpected.

“…I got cursed again.”

“…Huh?”

[The chapter break and scene transitions follow.]

But first — let me go back a little.

When I finished packing my bag, Torte was perched on the edge of the bed, and she looked up at me in a voice that was almost on the verge of tears.

“…You’re really leaving, Master?”

Her dog’s ears drooped flat, and her usually lively tail lay limp across the floor.

“Yeah. Eclair’s curse-breaking finished safely, after all. I don’t really have a reason to keep staying here anymore.”

I kept my voice deliberately cheerful as I stuffed the last of my clothes into the bag.

“Besides, I’ve been away from my own place for a while now. I brought over anything I’d actually miss having stolen, and I’ve been checking in every so often — but still, leaving it empty for so long isn’t exactly smart.”

“But…”

“It’ll be fine. I’ll come by every day for your treatments. It’s not like you won’t see me.”

I said it and ruffled her hair — but Torte still looked unconvinced, her eyes shining and wet as she gazed up at me.

“I don’t wanna…  Torte wants to be with Master all night, every night…”

“Stop being spoiled, Torte.”

The crisp, sharp voice was Eclair’s.

“Theo has his own life to live. Don’t make things harder for him than they need to be.”

“El-sis… sniff…”

Torte wiped her eyes on her sleeve with a determined swipe, took one deep breath, and —

“…Okay! Then I’ll make the most amazing dinner tonight! A farewell party!”

“Oh, I’ll help cook then.”

“Ehhhh~? El-sis is terrible at cooking, so it’s fine~ Everything gets burnt.”

“Wh-What did you just SAY?!”

Eclair seething and Torte laughing as she dodged away.

Their usual noisy back-and-forth made me smile without thinking.

Life here had been loud, and exhausting, and — warm.

Leaving this place… honestly, I was going to miss it terribly, too.

That night, just as Torte had promised, the table was loaded with more food than it could comfortably hold.

Golden roast chicken. A rich, hearty stew packed with vegetables. A vivid, colorful salad.

Every dish was exquisite, and we ate with total, happy abandon.

“Oh — Milfy-san should be coming back soon, right?”

“Mm. About another week, I’d say.”

“Ehehe. When Mil-sis is back, it’ll get all lively again♪ Right, El-sis?”

Torte turned that carefree, sunny smile on Eclair.

But —

“…Yeah.”

Eclair’s reply was somewhere far away.

Her gaze stayed on her plate, and the grilled fish she normally loved was barely touched.

“El-sis?”

“Eclair? What’s wrong — not hungry?”

“Hm? Oh — no, I’m fine. Just ate a little too much earlier, that’s all.”

She forced a smile, but the strain behind it was plain to see.

Was it exhaustion from the relief of finally finishing her curse-breaking? Or was it something else—?

The dinner that should have been joyful carried a strange weight that never quite lifted, and the last night slowly faded into the dark.

“Alright then.”

I had finished packing my bag and was heading toward the front door — when it happened.

“…Theo.”

I stopped and turned. Eclair was standing there.

In the dim light of the hallway, she stood with her head bowed, both hands clasped tight.

“What’s up? If it’s to see me off, you really don’t have to stand on ceremony—”

“Come to the bedroom for a minute.”

“Huh?”

No room for argument in her voice.

Without even waiting for my answer, she turned on her heel and walked off.

(Did I forget something?)

Tilting my head, I followed her back down the hall and into the bedroom.

Inside, Eclair sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at me steadily, in silence.

“Um… Eclair…?”

“…Sit down.”

I did as I was told and took a seat facing her.

In the moonlit room, the quiet pressed heavily between us.

Eventually, as if making up her mind, she opened her mouth.

“Hey, Theo. …There’s something I have to tell you.”

“What? You’re being so formal about it.”

“It’s just… well… I…”

Eclair’s face went crimson as she said something I never would have expected.

“…I got cursed again.”

“…Huh?”