Chapter 444 - 444: Declaration of love.

Gradually, everyone started to go to sleep, leaving only Theo, Zaira, Zaika, Ariana, Shina, Aomi, Yuki, and Mizuki outside the mansion, sitting around a table while talking.

"Mizuki, I still can't believe you never dated," Ariana exclaimed with disbelief. After all, Mizuki was a little over 100 years old, and taking into account her social class and how beautiful she was, it was remarkable that she had not yet chosen a suitor.

"Even if you don't believe it, it's true." Mizuki blinked her eyes and her cheeks turned slightly pink. "I never loved anyone before, but..." She looked in Theo's direction and didn't continue what she was going to say, but everyone understood. Since instead of saying that she never fell in love, she said that she has not fallen in love "before" meaning that quite possibly she is currently in love.

"Ariana..." Theo was no fool, he realized Ariana's intention.

"What is it?" Ariana blinked, acting innocent as if she didn't know what she had done wrong.

Seeing Ariana act this way, Theo didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he just sighed and then looked at Mizuki. Seeing her stare back at him, Theo said, "Mizuki, after this can I talk to you alone?"

"Yes..." Mizuki felt very nervous and anxious. She intertwined her long, delicate fingers while trying to control herself.

This was the first time in all her years that she felt as if her heart was a loud, beating drum. She looked at Theo and felt her heart beat even faster; her delicate hand started to get a little damp.

Taking a few deep breaths, she calmed herself down. Although a little afraid that her feelings would not be reciprocated by him, she was still going to face him, in case she was rejected... Well, she didn't want to think about this possibility, since just thinking about it made her want to cry.

In any case, she still needed to know how Theo felt about her. If not, she'd end up freaking out whenever she saw him.

"I'm tired and sleepy. I'm going to sleep," Ariana said as she got up from her chair. She kissed Theo on the lips and passed Mizuki and whispered softly in her ear, "Good luck."

'This girl... Why didn't she say that telepathically?' Theo thought. He knew she did it on purpose as his hearing was good enough to hear things from miles away and whispering in Mizuki's ear wouldn't make him unable to hear.

Anyway, this was a matter he would have to resolve sooner or later. He had already noticed Mizuki's feelings for some time, but he still wasn't sure how to approach it. But Ariana happened to create a chance for the two of them.

"I'm going, too. Good night to you all," Aomi said, and soon after, she left.

"Good night, I'm also sleepy..."

Everyone realized that Theo and Mizuki needed to be alone and started to leave one by one, until it was just them alone.

"Err. Want to drink something?" Theo asked softly.

"No, I'm fine, thanks." Mizuki rejected the offer while staring at him. Even though she felt her cheeks heat up, she didn't want to look away from his eyes. Seeing him look so intently at her somehow made her feel both happy and nervous at the same time.

"Mizuki..."

"Let me speak first?" Seeing him nod, Mizuki took a deep breath and said softly everything she felt. "Theo, I don't know how this passion happened, but I know that I am no longer the same without you. I love who I am when I'm by your side, and I want to continue discovering each day the strength of that feeling that has taken over my soul. I don't think it's too soon to say, 'I love you!'"

Theo confessed that he was taken by surprise by this declaration of love that almost brought him to tears. He looked at her and realized that she was about to cry. One can imagine that she was quite afraid of being rejected, but even so, she still stood firm while waiting for Theo's answer.

Quite unexpectedly, Theo remained speechless. It was then that he decided to answer not with words, but with action. He got up without warning and stood in front of Mizuki. Bowing slightly towards Mizuki who was sitting, surprising her, he put his left hand on her small and delicate face as he approached.

Mizuki lost herself in the moment. She closed her eyes tightly and slightly opened her cherry-colored lips. Feeling Theo's lips touch her, Mizuki's body shuddered. It was the first time she had been kissed in her entire life, and she wasn't sure what to do. But it was an unnecessary concern, she was led by Theo and started to keep pace with his mouth.

When she felt Theo's tongue invade her mouth and taste every corner, Mizuki was also able to taste watermelon... She imagined that this was due to the fact that they ate watermelon for dessert, but none of that mattered now; she just wanted to enjoy this moment. Mizuki felt a stream of happiness running through every corner of her body as if she had been electrified.

The kiss was long and lasting. Mizuki was sure that her first kiss with Theo would be something she would never forget in her life.

"Wow!" Mizuki murmured when Theo pulled his lips away from hers. She was impressed; it was unlike anything she imagined. Without her knowing it, hot tears started streaming from her beautiful eyes.

Theo was terrified to think that he did wrong to kiss her so suddenly. He said hastily, "Should I have not done this?"

"It's not that..." Mizuki wiped her tears and said, "It's just that I was very happy and without even knowing it, the tears started to come... But, that was a yes, right?"

"Yes." Theo was reassured to learn that she didn't cry because she didn't like it. He smiled as he put his hand on her face, and said, "I love you, from here to eternity."

"Theo..." Mizuki was very moved. She couldn't help herself and hugged him tightly while supporting her head on his belly.

Theo wrapped her in his arms and let her hold him like that until she was satisfied.

{Edited by: Azurtha}

If you were interested in reading advanced chapters of this novel, you can find it in my Pa treon: pa treon.com/Lruskaa