(Few hours later)
"Kikikiki, are you getting cold feet now?" Sylvia puffed out her chest. "If it were , there’s no way I’d ever be shy."
Arthur stared at Sylvia while he stood in front of the room Alia was in.
After they had stopped their carriage, Arthur had decided to ride the horse with Ravian while Alia entered the carriage, but now he couldn’t help but grow hesitant.
Arthur covered his face with his palm. ’Why am I feeling nervous? It isn’t like this is the first ti I’m talking to Amy.’
But Arthur knew that the Alia who was here was different from the Alia he knew.
Still, since she decided to follow Ravian and co, that ant she at least felt sothing for him.
’That’s a good start.’ He stared at Sylvia, who held a bottle of alcohol while dressed in a blue tunic. ’But why did everyone leave her alone in the room?’
Arthur exhaled through his nose, lowering his hand. ’No point brooding over it.’
He could say he knew Alia better than anyone else in the world, so there was no need to get shy like so boy new to love.
He turned to Sylvia and took the alcohol from her. "And stop drinking."
Sylvia grinned and let her body fall on him, but he moved away. "Idiot."
Arthur turned to the door behind him and twisted the doorknob. "I’m coming in."
Alia, who was in the room, flinched and placed the cup down on the saucer. "Oh, yeah, co in."
Arthur first stuck out his head and looked inside. However, the mont Alia saw his face, her cheeks flushed.
"Uhmm... Hey."
Arthur smiled without realizing. "Hey."
Alia lowered her gaze slightly and tapped the space beside her. "You can sit here."
After Arthur sat beside her, the two remained stiff in silence.
Alia occasionally took quick glances at his face, then blushed, while Arthur pretended not to notice.
’Damn, this is awkward.’ Arthur thought, moving his hand from his lap to the teapot, but unknown to him, Alia moved her hand at the sa ti, and they touched.
Not just their hands, but their eyes t too.
’What should I do?’ Arthur panicked but still managed a soft smile.
But from Alia’s perspective, it was as if a god himself had smiled. And with the beautiful light she saw around him, a light no one else in her life had before, she couldn’t stop herself from turning away.
"I’m sorry," she muttered as she lowered her head.
’She’s so freaking cute.’
Arthur left the cup and turned to her. "Nice to et you. My na is Arthur Arcain."
Alia’s eyes suddenly sparkled. "I’m Alia Roderick Valtor. Nice to et you."
The two remained quiet for a breath before chuckling softly.
"A conversation is all about greeting and answering questions..." Arthur’s words made Alia’s eyes widen in shock.
’How does he know those words...?’ Alia pondered.
Arthur had made a decision since waking up in this reality. He was going to do things afresh.
Even if they didn’t rember him, he would commit everything to his wives. And this ti, he would save all the female leads Ha-joon had mistreated.
Not because he was a hero or for revenge, but because he was a gentleman.
Arthur relaxed a little. "I’m not soone who usually believes in those words," he said, turning to look Alia in the eyes. "But it wouldn’t be a bad place to start."
Alia smiled warmly, the kind of smile that could brighten any guy’s day, and pressed her fingers together as if about to clap.
"Okay."
Arthur’s eyes widened for a mont, his heart fluttering with new emotions as the world around him seed to brighten.
He smiled softly, his cheeks slightly red. "Yeah."
...
The two of them talked for hours without stopping, though Alia did most of the talking while Arthur listened and added in when necessary.
Alia laughed loudly, the moonlight casting a dim glow over the northern peaks.
"That isn’t what I said! I said, ’It’s not my ti yet.’"
Arthur laughed too. "What the hell was that crude imitation of your dad?"
"Hey, don’t laugh at !" she stamred, clearly flustered. "I thought I got it right!"
Arthur patted her head as they stood on the balcony. "Yeah, that was pretty good."
Alia nodded like a child happy to be praised.
Arthur took in a deep breath. ’Reminds of when we first talked.’
He glanced at her. Their eyes t before they looked at the icy peaks together. This ti, they didn’t turn away out of embarrassnt. Even their fingers brushed against each other.
"Amy..." Arthur called out, and without knowing why, she leaned against his arm.
"Yes..." she replied softly.
Arthur hesitated.
What was he going to tell her?
That this world was fake and it turned out this way because he couldn’t stop her death or protect his wives?
Or that they had already been engaged, and the goddess was evil?
Arthur looked at the full moon, his mouth opening slowly. "... I love you," he finished.
Alia turned to him, her cheeks completely red.
Throughout her life, she had always been distant from everyone.
Maybe it was because of what her mother had taught her, or maybe sothing else.
Because of that, she had never had a fiancé. She just never connected with anyone.
She didn’t know when it started, but at so point, she stopped feeling lonely even when no one talked to her.
She started believing that soone out there loved her more than anything.
Friends who were more than companions. Faces she would rember for the rest of her life.
She didn’t understand what that feeling was.
But from the mont the stunning blonde-haired man entered the castle she had visited for a mission, she felt it.
He was her prince charming.
Alia lowered her gaze, fumbled with her fingers, trying to think of what to say, then suddenly looked up and said:
"I love you too."
Ding!
『 You have earned a romantic bond 』
『 Alia’s affection for you is skyrocketing 』
『 You have earned an infinite lover 』
『 You can revive Alia’s forgotten mories if she kisses you today 』
’What?’
Before Arthur could fully comprehend the notification, Alia slowly leaned in.
Even she wasn’t sure why she was doing it.
But it just felt right.
Her soft lips t his in a passionate, tender kiss that lasted seconds—if not minutes.
Arthur’s hand wrapped around her waist as she did the sa around his neck.
Their tongues twirled together like they had beco one.
Each ti their lips parted, they’d gaze into each other’s eyes for less than a second, then kiss again.
For Alia, each kiss brought back mories even she didn’t fully understand.
But after about five minutes, they both stared at each other as if anticipating sothing.
Then—
Alia muttered one word as tears rolled down her cheeks:
"Husband."
─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───
Reviews
All reviews (0)