Chapter 266

Chapter 266

Translator: yun

I heard him chuckle. I could imagine a slight smile drawn on his face. Squeezing the bracelet, I slowly spoke.

“I mean...”

“Right. I was never your brother from the start.”

“Yes.”

“... Is something up? What’s wrong with your voice?”

I lowered my head and grabbed the bracelet with both my hands.

“A lot has happened. All within these few days.”

“You’re not hurt?”

“That’s what I was about to ask. You know. Brother.”

“Hm?”

The Head Templar, Pontus’ words suddenly came to mind.

“How would you feel if I told you I wanted to become emperor?”

Amor paused for a moment. After a moment of silence, I heard him take a short breath before speaking unhurriedly.

“Is that what you’ve decided on? Or are you still deliberating? Or... is that something you’re being pushed to choose?”

To my surprise, he asked calmly.

“I don’t know.”

Because it had been so sudden. I closed my eyes. Everything I just went through had struck me like lightning, giving me no time to prepare. All I could do was groan at the pain that penetrated my body. And till now, I was still reeling from the aftereffects.

“Whatever you choose, I’ll be with you. I won’t let you do anything alone anymore.”

“Does that mean you’re going to support me? I’m trying to start a coup, you know?”

“Not behind you but beside you.”

To my playful reply, Amor replied sincerely. I stared at the bracelet with a smile.

“I’ll be by your side.”

Calmness settled on my chest with a tickle much like a foxtail. Could I call this shard happiness? I closed my eyes.

I recalled what the duchess once told me. The God of Love proclaimed that there were three forms of love. One that makes you look up, one that makes you look down and the other where you face each other. People chose to love using one of these three forms. I knew what kind of love I needed right at this moment.

“If you become the emperor, well, does that make me your prince consort?” (1)

“I never said I was going to marry you.”

“I’ll come find you in your room till you do.”

“You will be committing a crime.”

“... I’ll stay outside your door.”

His voice sounded a little sullen at the end. I burst into another fit of laughter. Now, feeling more light-hearted, I stared at something beyond the bracelet. Out the window, a crescent moon that looked like it had been bitten into by a beast was hanging in the sky. Were we both staring at the same moon?

“Brother, do you believe in fate?”

“What do you think?”

“I think it exists. If it exists...”

Amor remained silent but I knew that he was waiting for me to finish my sentence.

“Doesn’t that mean fate cannot be changed?”

I called out for him from within. I had met the female lead from the original novel. You know. The person he was meant to love was so bright and lovely, and her kind-heartedness that allowed her to sympathise with the less fortunate was exactly as it was described to be.

“But I don’t agree.”

I was sitting here because I had escaped my fate to die countless times. Countless foreseen deaths. The hollowness and hopelessness I felt after every death had been indescribably painful and I had been struggling with my wounds and maintaining my daily life every day I met you.

“Because the fact that I’m alive is proof that it doesn’t exist.”

You had been the snow that continued to fall upon me without stop. You brought about a season in which all I wanted to do was sleep where it was warm and let the white snow pile atop me and cover me whole.

“You’re light.”

When I was rendered speechless, unable to respond, Amor spoke again.

“Sorry. I’m getting drowsy again.”

“It’s alright. Go to sleep.”

Just as I thought, he hadn’t recovered yet. Pressing my eyes closed tightly before opening them, I nodded.

“Amor.”

“Hm... It’s nice. Your voice.”

“Call my name too.”

I smiled before stroking the bracelet. It felt damp as if grass was used to weave it. Just then, I was reminded of the one who gave me so much love unconditionally. I closed my eyes at the thought of Ray’s love to which I could not respond. After some time passed, he replied slowly.

“Rosé.”

“Mhm. Get some rest.”

As unfortunate as it was, I spoke my last goodbyes to Amor before washing up to get my act together. When I left the bathroom, the darkness had yet to leave the night. I left my room with a towel on my head. I arrived at the chilly drawing room before heading towards the sofa.

“Ashley.”

Drip drop.

Water dripped off my wet hair and dampened my shoulders.

“Dane?”

I found Dane leaning against the window. Perhaps he didn’t manage to sleep.

“Why did you stay up?”

“Ah. I felt stuffy so I washed up. I’m wide awake now.”

Turning just his head, he asked.

“DIdn’t you feel sleepy?”

“Hm... A little?”

I had too much to think about. It would be a waste of time to sleep. I was going to sit and think about it. About the future. About me. About everything.

“I see.”

He gave a gentle smile. Then, as he approached me, he took the towel from my head and sat me down before proceeding to dry my hair. Shocked, I tried to take my towel back from him but he dodged my hands with ease before insisting.

“Let me help.”

HIs soft yet firm hand grabbed me before he spoke.

“... Otherwise, you wouldn’t let me near you.”

Flinch. As I froze helplessly, Dane grabbed the hand that was hovering in the air before kissing my fingertips. As Dane’s eyes stared into mine through strands of my gently fluttering hair, I pulled my hand back.

“... Dane?”

His intense red eyes were overwhelming.

“You know.”

The voice he had been holding back escaped.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

Even without him looking back at him, I could tell how he was looking at me. The 3rd Prince dissipated from my mind as he took over.

“I know how you feel. I do.”

“Ashley.”

He called me. I shook my head before repeating myself.

“Actually, I...”

“Ashley!”

T/N:

(1): Here, Amor uses a very formal word for husband but to stay true to official titles used in present monarchies, I used this as a substitute!