Translator and Editor: nieye

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Chapter 59

 

Startled, Eliana stiffened.

The arms that embraced her belonged to the man trying to kill her father.

Eliana unleashed her magic on him, trying to kill him.

The man’s clothes were torn to shreds, blood seeping through the gaps. 

Despite the pain he must have been in, he didn’t release his hold on her waist.

He held her close even as she pounded his chest and clawed at his body. He breathed calmly, as if unfazed by the attacks.

It hurts, it hurts.

Eliana’s body ached as if it were her own body being torn apart along with his. 

The strange emotion sent shivers down her spine, causing her to struggle even harder.

Strange, unpleasant.

Let go. I don’t want to think.

When Eliana felt a glimpse of the man trying to imprint himself in her memory, she resisted and used even more force.

And then, at that moment.

“It hurts, Lili.”

Lili. 

Eliana hesitated at the unfamiliar nickname.

Undoubtedly an unfamiliar nickname, yet it felt nostalgic.

Eliana looked up at the man’s face.

He patted her cheek once again with a gentle touch.

Just as memories seemed to surface, Count Mussieux’s groans reached her ears.

‘No, don’t remember. Don’t think.’

Eliana stopped trying to remember and struggled against him.

However, she didn’t want to hurt the man anymore. 

Looking into his sad eyes, she couldn’t find it in her to strike him. 

So, she desperately called out for her father, asking him to save her.

At that moment, her father collapsed to the ground.

Eliana stared blankly at the scene. 

For a moment, as if they were having a conversation, she saw the man taking something from her father.

And then…

‘Verkley?’ 

The man’s name popped into her head.

His wounded body came into view first, and she realized that he had been hurt because of her.

Eliana’s gaze shifted gradually, left and right. 

Just before losing consciousness, she looked at Verkley and thought:

What an idiot.

* * *

Eliana woke up in the twilight of dawn. 

A slight gap in the window allowed the cool morning air to filter in gently. The room wasn’t pitch dark thanks to the subtle light of dawn.

Eliana stared blankly at her fingers, which were wrapped in bandages. 

Her fingers that touched Count Mussieux felt numb as if they had lost all sensation. 

The tips of her fingers throbbed with a sensation akin to being cut by something sharp.

Her head throbbed as if experiencing a hangover.

“Ugh…”

“Are you awake?”

As Eliana groaned while touching her head, someone spoke. 

The voice was kind and tender, despite being parched and dry.

“…” 

Clear, blue eyes gazed upon Eliana. 

Eyes that shone brighter than the dawn’s first light.

The moment Eliana saw Verkley, her eyes grew moist. The corners of her eyes glistened with tears, and the dampness gradually turned them red.

Verkley gently wiped away a teardrop that was about to fall. 

Frowning, he asked, 

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m sorry.”

“…” 

Eliana covered her eyes with her bandaged hand and sobbed.

His body, which had been clawed, torn, and hit, had returned to its original state. 

But just because his wounds were gone didn’t mean Verkley didn’t feel the pain. 

Even with an immortal body, he felt the pain.

And he had said it himself, that it hurt.

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

She felt as if she might go insane from the guilt. 

The fact that she had fallen for such a shoddy trick and that she had hurt him because of it all felt like her own fault.

Verkley gently removed Eliana’s hand from her face and locked eyes with her.

“The wounds I healed are still fresh.”

“Sob…”

Even in this situation, he was only worried about her minor injuries. 

Eliana finally let out the sobs she had been holding back.

With the thought of wanting to hug him, she didn’t think and just wrapped her arms around his neck and burst into tears.

“Sniff… Huk!“

In the tranquility of dawn, Eliana’s sobbing echoed alone. 

When everyone was asleep, Verkley had stayed awake, guarding her side. 

He didn’t try to stop her crying.

Nor did he make jokes, telling her to let go if she didn’t want to die.

He simply waited for Eliana in silence.

After a while, still in the slightly awkward posture, Verkley asked,

“Have you cried enough?”

“…” 

Once Eliana had calmed down a bit, feeling embarrassed, she held Verkley even tighter.

She clenched his black hair in her fingers and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

It was a clumsy gesture, like that of a young child whining in their mother’s embrace, trying to make the crying stop.

In the midst of this, Verkley’s hand gently pushed against her lower back. 

Eliana’s upper body lifted momentarily. 

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Verkley held her in a deep embrace.

Thump, thump.

In the space where their chests met, the sound of an indiscernible heartbeat resonated.

Perhaps because of the deep silence, the sound of her heart was very loud.

The stillness seemed to amplify the sound of their heartbeats, making them resound loudly. 

The unfamiliar echo made her cheeks flush.

Breaking the silence, Eliana asked,

“Did it hurt?”

“Yes, quite a bit.”

He casually replied as if making a pointless joke.

“I’m sorry.”

Eliana responded sullenly.

Even though Verkley’s body looked unscathed in front of her, it somehow felt like he was covered in wounds.

Verkley loosened Eliana’s arms. 

Their bodies, which had been pressed together like one, separated, and the warmth that had been touching her faded, leaving a sense of loss.

Eliana stared at him blankly, and he gently caught her two hands in his own.

“It must have hurt.”

“…Even though you were hurt worse.”

Verkley chuckled at her rough response.

He brought her hands to his lips.

Chu, chu.

His lips brushed against her fingers ever so slightly, kissing each fingertip with care. 

He whispered in a soft voice,

“Don’t be hurt.”

“…Okay.”

“Don’t leave without a word.”

“I won’t.”

“Lili.” 

At Verkley’s call, Eliana’s gaze shifted from her fingertips to his eyes. 

His eyelashes slowly fluttered open and shut.

Eliana followed suit and blinked her eyes rapidly. 

Despite waiting, the sentence she was expecting didn’t follow. Eliana urged him, unable to wait any longer.

“If you call my name, say something, Your Majesty.”

In response to Eliana’s insistence, Verkley smirked and said, 

“Vel.”

It was a short word, almost as if he was just testing the waters.

“Huh?” 

“Call me Vel.”

“Is that a nickname for Your Majesty?”

“Yes.” 

With a straightforward response, Verkley lowered Eliana’s hand.

He was cautious, making sure not to cause her any pain. 

He was excessively gentle.

As she looked at him, Eliana’s thoughts swirled.

Why? Why did Verkley reveal his powers to Count Mussieux? 

Why did he let himself be hurt for her? 

Why, at this moment, did he allow her to use that endearing nickname?

And… 

‘Why do I feel so happy about all of this?’

Eliana stopped her thoughts, sensing where her emotions were leading her.

And then, almost like venting her frustrations, she mumbled, 

“Your Majesty, you’re infuriating.”

“What?” 

Verkley looked puzzled. 

Then, he closed his mouth upon seeing her face turn bright red.

Her face was so flushed that he couldn’t remember her original skin tone.

She clamped her lips tight together, making an effort not to open them.

Verkley let out a deep breath and answered,

“The infuriating one is your face.”

“Mine?” 

“Close your eyes.”

With those words, Verkley took hold of Eliana’s cheeks.

Startled, Eliana stared at Verkley, who was now capturing her lips with his.

He spoke with his eyes.

Close them quickly.

Just by meeting his gaze, she felt like her whole body was being sucked into him. 

She was helplessly drawn by the command of his deep blue eyes.

Eliana closed her eyes.

As her lemon-yellow irises closed, Verkley shut his eyes as well.

Without the need for a spoken agreement, they focused on each other. 

Their touching lips kept coming together and parting repeatedly, not willing to let go.

The sound of dripping water from a nearby fountain seeped through a crack in the window as if eavesdropping on the two of them.

Inside the quiet bedroom, the sound of their lips colliding echoed softly.

In this tranquil space, only their shared melody flowed like a song.

Verkley tenderly nibbled at Eliana’s lower lip.

His tongue skimmed over her teeth and swallowed her soft moans.

Their lips would touch and then part, only to touch again, repeating the cycle.

It was a kiss unlike any other they had shared before.

Their lips separated briefly, as if reluctant, before coming together again in a series of soft collisions.

Eliana, catching her breath, asked, 

“What does this mean? I’m a bit confused.”

“…”

“Is this kiss only to restore your strength?”

“No.”

Verkley promptly denied it.

His blazing gaze contrasted with his cool lips.

And he lowered his eyes slightly before pressing his lips to hers again. 

It was like a playful nudge, a light kiss that touched and retreated.

Then, he smiled beautifully.

His languid smile transformed into stars in Eliana’s eyes. 

Eliana looked at him and found herself feeling relieved by his response. 

At the same time, she wondered what might be said after his denial.

Their proximity was incredibly close. Their breaths intermingled, tickling the tips of each other’s noses.

Eliana cautiously asked,

“Then?”