Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Fireworks erupted over and over again as we mixed our tongues and swallowed each other’s breath.
The cheers and laughter of the people could be heard in the distance, but we were completely focused on each other, as if we were the only ones in this space.
His large hand caressed my cheek and neck.
I had a hand on his firm chest, where I could feel the beating of his heart… His voice mingled with the breath calling my name.
During the kiss, those things passed me by in a dreamlike ecstasy.
“Ah…….”
Only after my lips swelled and warmed up and my breathing became harsh did he let go of my lips.
I didn’t know how much time had passed.
In the ebony sky, colorful fireworks were beautifully embroidered.
My legs were numb, my cheeks were burning, and my body was trembling and I felt like I was going to collapse.
He supported me with his strong arms, held me firmly in his arms, and gently calmed me down.
After the passion had stormed, a feeling of affection lingered in my heart.
Suddenly, he called me.
“…Berylia.”
I was flustered and avoided meeting his gaze as if I was going to die suddenly.
I buried my head into his shoulder like a hidden hamster by digging a burrow and did not move.
Then my ears tickled. He whispered to me in a low, but audible tone.
“Candy.”
‘…Don’t call me for a second.’
‘I think my heart is going to turn into something else.’
When I tried to calm my racing heart.
Chuu—
A soft and light kiss fell on my ear.
He gently placed his hand on my chin and kissed my eye.
My eyelids quivered as they instinctively closed.
“….…”
Then, his cheeky lips touched the tip of my nose.
And on the lips and on the cheeks… There was affection in each very careful and slow movement.
I felt like I knew even if he didn’t say it.
How much he cared for me and how genuinely he cherished me.
I really enjoyed my time with Rixus and accepting him.
It was only then that I registered the sound of the fireworks exploding and the joyful laughter of people.
Finally, I felt like a participant of this festival.
I suddenly gazed up at the fireworks and whispered.
“…It would have been better if the fireworks could be seen clearly from here as well.”
We were behind a tree, so the view was a bit obscured.
It was when I was staring at the fireworks, soothing my regrets.
“Ah!”
My body lifted up like a child’s, and I was placed gently on a high rock.
For a moment, it felt like my body was floating by magic.
Then, Rixus jumped up lightly and sat down next to me.
Fuhhh—! Pop!
The view was clear with no obstructions.
The feast of lights bursting in the black sky was so beautiful that it was enchanting.
My heart swelled.
“…So pretty. I’ve never seen anything so pretty in my life.”
“Me too.”
While saying that, Rixus’ gaze turned toward me.
What I saw were the flames, but what he saw was me.
Embarrassed, I frowned like I was going to give him a hard time.
“Childish.”
“How could you look so disdainful?”
“How can you be so sly?”
As I playfully responded, imitating his tone of voice, he smiled and pulled me by the waist and held me in his arms.
Then he squeezed my cold hand tightly with his hot one.
“I guess you’re not afraid of me now.”
He must have remembered when I said I was afraid.
Indeed, that man had a dense memory which wouldn’t forget what I said, even if it were those words.
I answered with an indifferent look.
“No. I’m very scared.”
“!”
Rixus, we had a non-existent past where you killed me seven times.
The fear of a nemesis was an instinct engraved in my DNA.
But I couldn’t say that, so I just stared at him.
He killed me so many times, so shouldn’t he bear such a shock?
To hear that the girl he just kissed found him scary.
‘…Was it too much?’
In the meantime, however, I was soft.
No, I couldn’t help but feel weak when I saw those confused eyes.
“…Then why did you kiss me?”
“I didn’t do it for you, I did it for me.”
“….…”
“Because I want to.”
I answered brazenly, pointing at him with the tip of my chin.
“Aren’t you handsome? I’m ‘weak to handsome’.”
“…….”
I made fun of him by quoting what he once said to me.
After I teased him once, I wanted to tease him over and over again.
It was exhilarating and fun to see a frown on those handsome brows.
“So, did you just do it because I was handsome?”
“Of course. You’re very good at kissing too?”
“….…”
I pressed my lips together and tried not to laugh.
He asked, astonished.
“You were evaluating?”
I answered without hesitation and without batting an eye.
“Of course.”
“…….”
“My evaluation was dispassionate, so it’s okay to be proud of your kissing skills.”
“Ha.”
…Ah, this was so much fun and so exhilarating, but I had better stop, sooner than later.
Seeing that those bad-tempered eyes had narrowed and became even grumpier.
But it was already too late.
“Screw it.”
Rixus simply lifted me up and sat me on his thighs.
“Rixus!”
Then he grabbed my two hands trying to push him away with his big one.
Rixus slowly tilted my chin, and his wet tongue cut into the boundaries of my lips, which had already become red and sensitive from the earlier long kisses.
“…….”
At the sudden touch, my lips parted open and my stomach warmed.
“Then…”
He made intense eye contact and lowered his voice.
As if seducing me.
“Evaluate this kiss too.”
Then, like a beast, he took my lips and swallowed them.
We did not fall until the sparks from the sky became ashes and perished.
My heart was pounding as if it was about to explode, and it was dizzying, making my little hairs stand still.
Why didn’t I know this? Why didn’t I know that this man wanted and loved me so much?
After I finally admitted that I liked him, Rixus’ earnest heart became clearer.
‘Well, I guess I’ll have a little more courage…’
The hands that touched me, the way this man looked at me;
Waiting for my breath, whispering all the love he had…
There was nothing that was not heartbreaking.
Once the dam broke, the pouring feelings mingled with his like a rushing river.
Still, I wasn’t worried. Really, only for tonight.
Today was the day of the festivities that continued all night long.
Even after the time for setting off fireworks was over, the happy lovers went out on the streets and enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
We walked the streets holding hands like other lovers.
For this moment, we were neither the Crown Prince of Aktoum nor the Queen of Spinel, but merely sweet lovers in a blue rose mask and a beast mask.
I wondered when I felt lonely on this street.
I was only holding Rixus’ hand, but the despair and frustration I felt about an hour ago was as distant as a long time ago.
Throughout our walk, my heart was hammering and excited.
We ate delicious food and played mini games together.
It was a game where you hit the target with a dart at the seat, and the first prize were matching brooches.
“I’ll try.”
To be honest, plenty of jewel brooches rolled around in the Imperial Palace, but I coveted them because they were the first prize.
All of the people who said they would do it earlier were men, but for our couple, I did it.
I pierced the 10-point red circle on every throw.
“…The lady seems to be cheating with something. The gentleman will do it instead!”
The quick-witted owner passed it onto Rixus, as if he knew that I had mixed my abilities in a bit.
But.
Rixus was a much more terrifying human being.
He really hit 10-points with just his fingers, and even produced a bizarre situation where the front dart was split in half because the next dart hit it.
In the end, the owner, who would have eaten the business till he had a stomach ache because of the lovers today, turned over the brooch with tears, like a raccoon that washed cotton candy.(TL/N: if you’re curious, just google ‘raccoon wash cotton candy’ hahaha.)
Laughing at that look, we walked around with the childish jewel brooch pinned on our clothes.
Then, suddenly, a girl caught my eye.
She seemed to be over eight-years-old, but not yet ten-years-old.
She was healthy and of good color, and was holding her father’s hand.
Then I remembered.
Shadow.
‘Will Amelie have gotten any better by now?’
As soon as I received the information from him, I handed over ownership of the fragment of Zephyross’ tombstone.
By now, he should have confirmed that it was genuine.
It would come in a few days. Information about the ‘last thing’ Deborah traded with Shadow.
‘What the hell was it?’
If it was a self-made play that would put me in trouble, the Breath of Johannes and the Poison of Mandra Gora were enough.
But she wanted something else?
‘Who are you going to use it for?’
From the beginning, I had a very uncomfortable and bad feeling. I thought that maybe the target was not me, but Rixus.
“Rixus.”
He, who was touching the childishly shiny brooch, raised his eyebrows and looked at me. Then, he responded sweetly, “Hmmm?”
“Please take special care of yourself until the wedding.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just in case, we never know. It’s a marriage with a lot of talk and weariness.”
I couldn’t tell him the details of the transaction I had with Yggdrasil yet.
“Yes.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
It was a small promise, but my heart felt relieved and relaxed.
Under the starry night sky, I stopped slowly. Then I faced him.
“And make one more promise.”
“Anything. Tell me.”
My heart was pounding. As I spoke these words, I became somewhat nervous and my mouth burned.
“Tonight…”
“…….”
“Never forget this night.”
Don’t forget tonight when our hearts touched each other.
So no matter what fate awaited us, hold my hand like today.
My beast looked at me and smiled slowly.
Then he whispered.
“How can I forget this night?”
My heart soared with excitement.
I was confident and certain that my fate would change this time, and that I could live well in the future.
After the fireworks festival, time passed quickly.
And it came.
……All of a sudden, the wedding was just three days away.