Episode 121
“…Ugh, really. What are you doing, not even giving me time to savor the moment?”
“Being slow doesn’t suit my style.”
Cesar, finally releasing my fingertips which he had gently bitten, smiled.
“So, what’s your answer?”
My face flushed. I took a small breath and replied clearly,
“How could I refuse? I love you enough to want to save you, even if my life is in danger.”
“Me too.”
Cesar’s voice, without a hint of hesitation, was as sweet as honey.
A small light shimmered between our ring fingers and then disappeared like scattered stardust. I looked at my finger in surprise and saw a ring I had never seen before.
A rainbow-colored jewel was embedded in the center of the silver band. As I moved my finger, the jewel shimmered, its colors changing depending on the angle of the light.
It was a beautiful jewel, like a mana stone.
“Wow… It’s so beautiful.”
As I stared at it, mesmerized, he chuckled.
“It’s called the Tear of the Sea. It seems the Empress had someone buy it for her, but it lost its owner, so I bought it. I thought it would suit you.”
The words “Tear of the Sea” reminded me of the day I went to the auction house with Sylvia.
“It looked familiar. I saw this jewel once before, at the auction house with Sylvia!”
I had been disappointed that it was sold to the man who made a high bid from the start. Now, seeing it up close, I understood why I had been so captivated by it.
“Thank you. I was actually quite tempted when I saw it at the auction house. I didn’t know it was meant for the Empress. I’m happy to receive it as a gift from you, Cesar.”
“Is that all you’re happy about?”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think it’s just a simple gift?”
His question suggested he was expecting a different answer.
I wondered what I had done wrong and realized I had only been talking about the jewel.
“Of course, I know it’s not just a jewel. It’s a proposal ring.”
It fit my ring finger perfectly, and the jewel was clearly chosen and meticulously crafted for me; there’s no way it was just a simple gift.
“It’s so beautiful. I didn’t think I could love you more than I already do, Cesar, but… I seem to fall for you more each day.”
I spread my fingers and admired the ring, its jewel sparkling in the light. It was the most memorable gift he had ever given me.
It made me even more reluctant to leave his side.
“Cesar, I want to give you a gift, too.”
I felt bad for only receiving, so I was about to ask him what he wanted when I felt his hand gently stroking my hair.
His eyes, looking at my slightly flushed face, were dangerously intense.
“Cesar?”
‘Why is he suddenly acting like this? Did I say something wrong?’
I couldn’t think of anything I had said wrong, and I was puzzled by his reaction. He suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
“You make it hard for me to let you go when you say that.”
Cesar, telling me not to leave, sounded like a child.
“You don’t want me to go back to the Holy Kingdom, do you, Cesar?”
“You’re wrong.”
“Huh? Then…”
I felt a soft touch on my lips. A gentle touch, like a falling petal, lighter than his usual insistent kisses.
Our lips briefly met, like birds touching beaks.
“I don’t like the thought of another man being by your side. It bothers me that you’re going to the Holy Kingdom, even though I’m not so foolish as to doubt you’ll return. But the thought of those flies buzzing around you… it irritates me.”
I had been worried about Cesar’s insecurity, thinking I would leave his side. But he now believed I would return.
I couldn’t help but smile, despite knowing he wasn’t in a good mood.
“Pfft…”
“Lily?”
“Ahaha!”
He raised an eyebrow at my laughter. Startled, I quickly apologized.
“Oh, I’m sorry. But I’m happy.”
“That I’m jealous?”
“No. I’m happy that you believe I’ll stay by your side, Cesar. That you trust my feelings.”
I was happy that he understood and accepted the fact that I was staying because I loved him.
“My possessiveness is still strong. That’s why I’m giving you this ring before you leave.”
Indeed, the ring on my finger was a clear declaration of our relationship, without having to say anything.
“That’s a cute possessiveness. You seemed to be sulking earlier.”
“Because I don’t like you being with that Spirit Summoner.”
I had expected him to be displeased about that as well. But I thought he would be more concerned about me going to the Holy Kingdom than about Heron, whom I barely interacted with.
It seemed like he was more concerned about the part I had dismissed.
“So, you’re not going to let me go?”
“Tell me you love me one more time, Lily.”
“Well…”
“What’s wrong?”
Cesar urged me as I hesitated. I looked at him and replied,
“I love you. Just like you, Cesar, I want you to only look at me.”
It might not be as strong as his, but I also felt possessive of him. I didn’t want other women to be in my place while I was gone.
I knew he wasn’t interested in other women and was very guarded, but perhaps we were becoming more alike, as I also felt a pang of jealousy.
“And I’ve already rejected the Spirit Summoner. So don’t worry.”
I had already rejected him once, so he wouldn’t approach me again. Heron was indifferent and wouldn’t pursue someone after being rejected.
He was different from Cesar, who was obsessed with possessing the one he loved.
Cesar, however, seemed to misunderstand.
“That bastard confessed to you?”
Ah, look. His eyes instantly turned sharp.
“…He didn’t confess, but it was obvious. So I rejected him indirectly. So you don’t have to worry, eek!”
He suddenly lifted me into his arms. He was holding me again, without asking.
“I’m not worried about you, but about that damn Spirit Summoner. Lily, you’re sometimes so wary, yet so careless at other times; it worries me.”
“So where are you going?”
“I’m going to see that Spirit Summoner and set things straight.”
“What are you going to say?”
“That you’re my fiancée. So he should stop his useless attempts.”
“He won’t try anything if he sees the ring. And I’m not so weak that I can’t protect myself.”
But Cesar was already preparing a teleportation spell, as if he had made up his mind. I hurriedly covered his mouth and shouted,
“There’s nothing like that, really! Isn’t it more important that you proposed to me today, and I accepted? Why are you so concerned about other things?”
He finally stopped.
“I want to spend more time with you, Cesar, before I go somewhere I don’t want to go. I’m actually a little uncomfortable around the Spirit Summoner, and… I’m so happy and excited that you proposed to me today, unexpectedly. I don’t want to ruin this feeling because of something else.”
I fidgeted and then hugged him tightly.
“You seduced me first… and now you’re concerned about other things?”
I was dying from the lingering feeling of his lips on mine, and yet, Cesar seemed to have time for jealousy.
I briefly kissed him, like he did earlier, and whispered in his ear,
“You touched me like this, made me say I love you, and now you’re more interested in the Spirit Summoner? Whether it’s jealousy or something else, please focus on me now, Cesar.”
I touched his earlobe, feeling a little hurt.
Of course, I would also be upset if Cesar went somewhere with another woman.
But despite that, I knew he wouldn’t show even the slightest interest in other women and that he would handle any advances.
In fact, he was capable of eliminating them, so I should probably be more worried about the other woman’s life.
And here I was, fully trusting him and ready to support his decision.
‘I was relieved that he wasn’t worried about me leaving, but was I too hasty in feeling touched? He keeps getting jealous and saying I’ll go to Heron.’
What could Heron possibly do to me?
I would have understood Cesar’s worry if I was powerless. But now, with the original soul merged with mine, protecting myself with divine power was easy.
Why was he trying to ruin our precious remaining time together with such pointless arguments?
“Lily.”
“What?”
As I replied curtly, he kissed my forehead. His lips moved to my cheek, my nose, and as he leaned in to kiss me, I initially resisted but then slowly responded.
Our breaths mingled. Cesar pulled away slightly and whispered in my ear,
“Then tell him yourself. That you love me. That these feelings will never change and will last forever.”
I nodded and clung to him, and his purple eyes, fixated on me, led me somewhere else, wanting more.
I saw the ring on my finger, sparkling in the light.
It shimmered, reflecting our hearts.