Chapter 117

I looked at him without any doubt.

Rixus leaned in the bathtub filled with warm water and asked me lightly.

“Why were you standing in the rain in the garden yesterday?”

Well, it must have looked weird.

It was raining, but I was standing in front of the clock tower and looking at the sky.

Besides, didn’t I suddenly confess to Rixus while being hit by the rain?

I was really happy then.

Even now, thinking about that moment made my heart warm.

‘The blue rose… Finally, the thing that bothered me so much is gone.’

In fact, I still didn’t feel it.

I was killed by the same man seven times, and regressed each time.

And I lived in fear of death, which I never knew when it would come.

However, living my 8th life which had changed a lot… 

The type of fear had changed.

Of course, I was afraid of death, but what was more terrifying than that…

‘Now, I don’t want to lose the people’s hearts.’

Losing the warm relationships I had built up in this life and becoming a loner again.

‘Rixus…’

And, above all else, losing Rixus.

I was afraid that he, who had fallen in love with me, would bear unparalleled pain.

I was so relieved that we wouldn’t have to offer each other the sword of death.

It was overwhelming to think that there would be no such tragedy in this life, and that the misery that had been ingrained in my soul was finally gone.

The emotions that I had forgotten swirled and warmed my heart. Immediately, I felt like I was going to cry.

“Uh, I had a nightmare…”

“….…”

I managed to pull myself together and smiled at him.

“I must have had a nightmare, Rixus.”

A very long and terrible nightmare.

Rixus stared at me silently, then gently wrapped a hand around my cheek.

“…I see.”

I didn’t know whether or not he believed this clumsy excuse.

But when he saw my expression, he didn’t ask any further questions. He just enveloped me in his arms.

He kissed my forehead tenderly and whispered,

“There will be no more nights like that.”

…He didn’t know how comforting those words truly were.

“For the rest of my life, I’ll be there for all your nights.”

“….…”

My heart was pounding. Rixus’ arms were as comfortable as coming home.

It seemed like it would reliably block any storm, strong waves, and misfortune that struck me.

Wherever I went, I wanted to come back. To this warm embrace.

I wanted to live comfortably and happily by his side forever.

It would be possible in this life. Only this time.

“You will grow old into a pretty old woman, Candy.”

“Haha.”

He mustn’t have forgotten my absurd hope for the future.

Eventually, he burst out laughing, slowly turned me around, and made me lie down on his body.

The posture was comfortable, and the temperature of the water and Rixus’ body were just right.

“I want to have about three children too.”

“You must have had a hard time.”

Rixus cared for me first. The large hand attached to his firm arm that embraced me gently touched my hand.

“Still, you’ve been alone for too long, too long.”

“….…”

“It felt terribly long.”

It was really long, but I didn’t know how to answer.

I didn’t answer for a while.

He was behind my back, so I had no idea what kind of expression he was making.

I had no choice but to quietly talk about my wishes.

“So, I want to have many children.”

“……Okay.”

Suddenly, a voice that seemed to be locked came out.

“Let’s have a lot of babies.”

Rixus kissed my ear softly and whispered.

“Our children will rule a unified empire.”

“….…”

“The descendants of this land will enjoy peace and prosperity from generation to generation.”

I imagined the future he was talking about.

My husband, but could also be said to be the monarch of my ally, as the emperor of the future Aktoum.

My heart was trembling with excitement.

I liked what he said as a husband, but I liked the blueprints he showed me as a monarch.

In this lifetime, I would see firsthand the prosperity of my country.

It was really cool.

“…Okay, that too.”

I rejoiced and took his hand.

Then I turned my head and kissed his lips.

He was so cute and affectionate.

The future we would have together would be so good.

I emphasized again and again.

“I like it.”

“…….”

However, there was something strange about the atmosphere behind my back.

The ‘mood’ that I had felt countless times last night gave me a strange feeling.

Soon, a low-pitched voice bitterly wet my ears.

“As long as you like me, I’m always happy.”

…What was this huge, scary thing that’s stabbing me right now?

And what’s always good? That’s not what I meant about liking…

My face turned bright red in an instant. I struggled to get out of his arms.

“You can’t run away. You seduced me.”

“How is a kiss seduction!”

“I think I’m going crazy.”

Rixus got up from the bathtub, wrapped my body in a towel, and held me in a flashy embrace.

He moved to the bed in an instant, laid me down on my stomach, and climbed over me.

When the towel was removed, his body temperature wrapped around my back.

Then his low voice gently tickled the back of my neck.

“You said you wanted to have many children.”

“!”

……Was that such an immoral and lewd thing to say?

There were small goosebumps on my back.

The body that had been immersed in the warm water was already loosened.

A more languid voice savagely wet my ears.

“From now on, you will be harassed every night, poor Queen.”

There was no hesitation in his movements of holding me.

Soon, a sweet and breathy moan escaped my mouth.

* * *

[Johann, the wedding will finally be held today! Yours and the Queen’s wedding!]

The crow flew low through the temple, flapping its wings.

This was Johann’s personal temple.

And today was a special day.

It was the day that Johann welcomed his Eternal Bride.

[You’ve been through a lot! Hehe! ]

It was only then that Johann’s power grew enough to put a brand on the bride.

Through daily rituals, little by little, he had built up the evil powers of ‘Merrich Toulouse’, and now he had enough power.

It was a cruel wedding.

The bride was unaware that it was a ritual to usurp her freedom and bind her soul.

Tonight when the red moon was swallowed up by darkness… 

Midnight when the moon and darkness drifted.

This secret and compulsory wedding would be completed.

The demons would celebrate the coming hell to the world, and dance all night long with joy.

Johann was sitting in his chair, drinking celebratory wine.

“It’s a nice day.”

[It was originally yesterday! If you hadn’t skipped a ritual for just one day…! Oh, that’s too bad!]

Johann squinted as he leisurely swallowed the wine in his mouth.

“It’s what my bride wanted.”

Of course, at that time, he had no intention of making her his own bride.

However, it was the right decision to set aside a day to hand over the fragment of Zephyross to her. She was worth it.

The cute, prickly queen would have had a little favor for him.

While Johann was smiling strangely, Melfis entered the private temple.

He bowed briefly, as if familiar with the appearance of Toulouse, and reported the news to his master.

In a soft whisper, where the queen was now.

Johann’s eyebrows twitched uncomfortably as he heard the story.

“……The Queen too, indeed.”

His voice became lower. He whispered as he licked his thick lower lip with his tongue.

“Maybe it’ll taste better in bed.”

His black swampy eyes glistened with intense heat.

“I’ll have to feed you too.”

With a slightly angry face, Johann tapped his lips and smiled softly.

He wanted her to know this discomfort and seething jealousy that he felt today.

Moving forward, step by step.

Johann set down his cup, rose slowly from his chair, and stood before the Black Fountain.

“She’s a really talented woman when it comes to annoying me….”

That was attractive.

‘If it’s bearable and forgettable, it drives you crazy to want it, right?’

Then Johann turned coldly to Toulouse and said,

“Start. I can’t stand it for a second more.”

* * *

After dinner, we slept together in the same bed.

During the day, the line between day and night was blurred.

Because we just made love, ate, and fell asleep over and over again.

Talking and whispering together……

And as soon as I opened my eyes in the middle of the night like this, I saw Rixus in front of me. Everything was great like a dream.

I never wanted to wake up from this dream.

‘He still looks like a boy when he’s sleeping.’

“….…”

I looked at his face as he inhaled and exhaled quietly.

Imagine…

Spending the days growing old with him.

In the spring, we would see flowers together; in the summer, we would go to the sea together.

In autumn, we would share the ripe fruits.

In winter, we would fall asleep holding each other.

Our children would grow up bright and healthy.

He and I would drive loneliness out of each other’s lives.

We would fill in the gaps with each other and live a full life.

I was so happy that I could cry.

How could such a happy life exist?

I licked my lips slightly and whispered.

Very carefully in a very low voice, fearing that this happiness would leak out if I said it out loud.

“…Rixus.”

‘I love you.’

‘When I later become a grandmother, I want you to sit next to my rocking chair.’

I watched for a long time as Rixus slept.

He said it was fun to look at my sleeping face, and now I understood.

Even though I felt thirsty, I felt sorry for the time I had been away from Rixus, so I remained in his embrace for a while.

But in the end, I cautiously got up from my position and walked to the side table where a water bottle was placed.

It was then.

The light at night gradually decreased, and the window outside the curtained window began to darken…

‘Why is it so dark?’

Without feeling anything ominous, I looked up at the sky, then turned my gaze to the water on the side table next to a big mirror.

And then when I accidentally glanced into the mirror—

“!”

I couldn’t believe it for a moment, so I opened my eyes wide.

On my shoulder, a pattern of blue roses was blooming, pale and shining.

“Ah…….”

‘Why is fate so cruel to me?’