I Became the Villainess, But My Beast Husbands Can Hear My Mind?!-Chapter 81: Warm Hands on a Fevered Night (2)

[Congratulations, Host! Side Mission Complete: Don’t Let Skiv Leave.]

[Reward:

+1 Magical Bow — Effect: Your arrow will always hit the target, even if you have no talent in archery.

+15,000 Spirit Points (SP)]

[Total Spirit Points (SP): 32,800]

Roxanna went silent for a moment when she saw the notification. So... the side mission about Skiv had just been completed. Did that mean the boy had still tried to run away, even after she explained everything to him?

She had even told him that she never had any ill intentions when she saved him.

[Skiv actually felt even more guilty after hearing your real story, Host,] the system explained calmly. [And since he had said some harsh things to you before, he thought about running away.]

[But after thinking it through, and realizing it would be a waste to leave when the tribe finally has a good leader, he decided to stay, at least for now.]

Roxanna narrowed her eyes. [You seem to know everything, don’t you?]

Luan also frowned, clearly wondering the same thing. But since he could only hear Roxanna’s thoughts and not the system’s voice, he didn’t know the full details.

However, the system didn’t continue talking about Skiv. Instead, it gave her a new mission.

[Ding! Ding!]

[Side Mission Activated: Make Luan Cry in Front of You]

[Objective: Comfort Luan and have an honest, heart-to-heart talk with him.]

[Reward: Guardian Blessing — Effect: Temporarily shields the person you touch from Mental Disturbance (Stress, Fear, Anxiety)]

The reward skill seemed like something truly useful. With Guardian Blessing, maybe she could convince Skiv to stay in the settlement without being afraid anymore.

[But the real problem is... how am I supposed to make Luan cry?] Roxanna sighed in her heart. [Damn it, I’m not even sure I can really have a heart-to-heart talk with him!]

Luan frowned slightly. He honestly didn’t want to cry at all, but if she needed it to complete her mission, then maybe he could at least try.

The only problem was... his tears had dried up long ago.

In truth, Luan couldn’t even remember the last time he cried. Did he cry when he saw his brother die? He wasn’t sure. Back then, he was too busy trying to survive. Crying had never been an option.

Still... maybe he could at least try.

"Roxanna," Luan said, his voice a little hoarse. "You’re going to stay here, right?"

"Yes, yes, of course," Roxanna replied at once, snapping out of her thoughts. She gently cupped his face, brushing her fingers across his cheek. "Of course I’ll stay. But... the bed is a bit cramped for two people."

To be fair, the bed wasn’t so bad if it were two women sharing it. But Luan was taller and broader than her, which meant there wasn’t much space left for moving around.

"How about this?" she suggested softly. "I can ask Calen to move the bed outside, and we can sleep on the floor mattress here instead."

Yes, that was probably better. They would definitely be more comfortable on a wider mattress.

[But... this little bed isn’t so bad either...] Roxanna bit the inside of her lip as a slightly embarrassing thought crossed her mind. [If we stay like this... I can sleep while hugging Luan. Just like when I hugged Azul in his hut...]

Before she could stand, Luan gently caught her hand.

"There’s no need to go through all that trouble," he said. "This bed is enough for us. I just need to move a little and..." He patted the empty space beside him. "You can sleep here."

Roxanna hesitated for a moment, then finally lay down next to him.

The bed was softer than the floor mattress, but because it was small, she had to scoot closer to Luan so she wouldn’t fall off the edge.

"But won’t it be harder for you to rest like this?" Roxanna whispered, holding her breath because her face was now so close to his. She was practically resting on his arm instead of the pillow made from folded cloth.

"Why would it?" Luan wrapped his other arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer into him. "I feel really comfortable like this."

Roxanna doubted that, but as long as Luan didn’t protest, she decided not to question it any further.

They didn’t say anything for a while, and Roxanna focused on making sure the damp cloth was still resting on Luan’s forehead.

"They’re really quiet tonight," she said softly, only now realizing how silent the communal room had become. She couldn’t hear a single voice, not even a whisper.

"Maybe they just don’t want to disturb our rest," Luan replied. "Besides... Cyrus needs sleep too."

"Mhm, maybe," Roxanna murmured, though she still sounded uncertain. "But it’s so quiet. It almost feels like they all left the hut."

But she hadn’t heard anyone leave, or maybe she simply hadn’t noticed, so she had been too focused on Luan.

"Isn’t that a good thing?" Luan asked. "If they really left the hut, that means we can rest without anyone bothering us."

[But then... where would they sleep?] Roxanna wondered. [They shouldn’t have to leave just because Luan is sick. I should tell them to come back.]

However, she couldn’t get up from the bed because Luan’s arm was still wrapped firmly around her waist, giving her no chance to move away.

[Well... maybe I can ask them to return later.]

Since Roxanna didn’t truly feel like leaving anyway, she eventually gave up and let Luan hold her there.

"You know, Luan," Roxanna said after a moment. She looked into his green eyes, her expression turning serious. "I’m actually mad at you."

Luan’s eyes widened slightly. He was sure he hadn’t said anything harsh or cold since returning to the hut, so why was Roxanna suddenly upset with him?

What did he do?!

"Why?" he asked quietly. He even pretended to look weaker, turning his head away and coughing a little. "Did I... do something wrong?"