CH 144

The sea was more beautiful than ever. It wasn’t a developed and tidy landscape, yet the natural scenery was alive as it was.

“How pretty.”

“I said you wouldn’t be disappointed, didn’t I?”

“Mm…”

I can see the endless coastline and clear waters with emerald color.

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, asks Monde to draw a landscape with you and Cass.]

[The God of Art, Mond, grabs a brush and quickly completes the painting.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, is dissatisfied with the painting, asking why Reihausd isn’t here and where Cass is by your side.]

A castle built like a painting caught my eye.

“Perhaps, that castle… Is that the summer house you were talking about?”

“That’s right.”

Lloyd’s conglomerate scale was beyond expectations.

‘Then for four days…’

I will stay with Cass there. Thinking of that made my face a little red and my heart trembled.

After a while the carriage stopped at the castle. I got out of the carriage and instead of going straight to the castle with him, I walked close to the shore. Clear waves came and came again.

“The sea is like the pupils of your eyes. Transparent, pretty.”

A smile came to my lips when he said, holding my hand tightly.

“Is this a place you often come to?”

“Yes. In my childhood. My deceased grandfather passed away here. I remember him looking quite comfortable at the last minute.”

He spoke, looking out over the distant sea.

“Lloyd spends most of the last years of our life alone. Lloyd has no friends, no family that truly loves him. Most relationships involving interests are like that.”

It depicts the young man calmly thinking about his life and standing looking at the sea.

“But… Now I feel like I have hope.”

Cass raised his hand to mine and kissed the back of my hand.

[The God of Art, Mond, brought a bucket of water saying that it should rain.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, trips over his feet.]

[The other Gods watch the dog fight between the two Gods with interest.]

A tickling, warm sensation came through. I smiled at him and leaned on his shoulder. He reached out then put his hand on my shoulder. Thus we stood for a while admiring the sea and waves.

***

Days passed like a dream at Lloyd’s villa. I spent a happy time playing in the water with Cass and eating various delicacies. At night, I fell asleep listening to the sound of the sea in a room larger and more colorful than mine in the temple.

The servants of the villa were very kind, and the maid in charge of me served me as best she could.

Sometimes, I would dig up stories and secrets about the Lloyd family with Cass in the library of the old-fashioned villa. The story Ruthos had told me about the Primordial God and the girl he sent was true.

Ruthos and Cass seem to think I’m the reincarnation of that girl, but I don’t know if that’s true. I just think it might be because of the reaction of the Gods.

Anyway, I don’t know why the good times go so fast. Today, the third day, I secretly watched him communicate with Ruthos through the magic orb, and I heard a scream.

“You foolish bastard! To think that you hit the player!”

“To commemorate your recovery, please work smoothly.”

I overheard it and laughed without knowing it. How are Kyuu and Daisy doing, I wonder.

I was trying to stop Daisy from packing a dress in my luggage. Kyuu sneaked into the luggage bag to follow me, and came out while I was taking out the dress.

‘And… Reihausd… Kyle…’

One of the schedules I canceled was to go to a meeting for the founding festival. Kyle had sent a handwritten letter himself. Telling me to be sure to attend.

Because of the secret letter from Noah, I heard that the rumor that I was dating Cass reached Kyle’s ears as well. Because of that, it’s hard for the knights to catch Kyle’s eyes because of the low pressure.

‘What does it have to do with me dating?’

Well, since the Gods say that emotions that are more than necessary are sorted out through cause and effect, I don’t need to think about them any more.

Reihausd had decided to go to the Imperial Palace instead. Still, I thought it would be nice to buy some souvenirs, so I went to a nearby market and picked up some accessories with Cass. Daisy’s, Kyuu’s, Dwayne’s, Reihausd’s, and maybe even Kyle’s.

“Saintess.”

Before I knew it, Cass called for me, who was lost in thought, before dinner. I came back to my senses and smiled at him.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a while.”

At that time, attendants brought some food that looked sweet and placed it in the center of the table. It was a strawberry cake I saw at a dessert shop.

“I have prepared it for you.”

“Did you bring it to the magic movement circle?”

“It’s true that we used the magic circle, but the chef from the shop came directly, not the cake.”

I was amazed at the scale of it.

“My goodness… It looks so delicious.”

[The God of Love, Odyssey, swallows saliva.]

Soon Cass handed me a wrapped case. Looking at the brilliant gold case, I asked him with a puzzled expression.

“What… is this?”

“Please open it.”

At his words, I lifted the case open and lifted the top cover. Then, with a surprised expression, I alternately looked at the contents inside and at him.

It was a blue diamond. It wasn’t just one, but a set of necklaces, earrings, and rings. The blue diamond on the necklace appeared to weigh over 10 carats. The ring must be at least 5 carats. It must have been a treasure of great value.

[The God of Art, Mond, stares at the jewels as if possessed.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, frowns and intoxicates with his wealth.]

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, exclaims that there are many precious jewels in the Imperial Palace.]

Cass stood up and approached me, who was holding it in a daze of surprise.

“I… can’t receive this kind of thing.”

He soon knelt down in front of me.

“You might think that I’m saying such a burdensome thing about how long we’ve met, but…”

His serious ultramarine blue eyes were on me.

“I wanted to swear eternal love to you all along.”

[The God of Love, Odyssey, blushes.]

The sound of cool waves came from outside. His low voice continued.

“You don’t have to answer. Still, please accept it as your birthday present.”

At that, I looked at him in surprise. Although today was my birthday. But it wasn’t Ariel’s birthday. The birthday of me, who lived in Korea… How on earth did he…?

Cass said, as if he had read my shocked expression.

“Actually, when the Primordial God was leaving, he asked me what I wanted. So I said I needed information about you that only I know in this world.”

It was an idea like Cass Lloyd, the heir owner of the Lloyd Merchant, who exchanges money with the most valuable items in the world and has that much information.

“I wanted to know the special you that only I know.”

[The God of Art, Mond, accuses him of being shady, but can’t take his eyes off the jewels.]

I could feel the Cass-like tenacity and interest in me, and my heart pounded.

“I’m sorry if you were offended, but I thought that would make you look at me at least once more.”

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, pretends to be intoxicated.]

“There weren’t only eight idiots who used their wishes to make a fuss.”

“Are there other people like me?”

“Yes, there are. Oh, not ‘people’. Not even a person.”

[The Gods cough.]

Seeing me smile, he took my hand and kissed the back of my hand again. He said in a soft voice.

“Whoever you are, I love you. Ariel.”

It was as if he had been told by the Primordial God that I wasn’t the original Ariel. Still, his feelings for me were unchangingly intense.

“I always see you like this. From the moment we first met until now.”

I stroked his ears and cheeks with my hand. There was a deep sincerity in his voice.

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, is shining with happiness.]

Cass’ lips softened again.

“And I want to live the rest of my life looking only at you.”

I looked into his twinkling eyes and smiled.

“The rest of your life, isn’t it heartbreaking for a marriage proposal? Could you please say something more hopeful?”

[The God of Destruction, Ciel, tries to grab him by the back of his neck, but fails because his arm is short.]

He gave a nice smile and nodded his head.

“I will make you the happiest woman in the world. In the name of Cass Lloyd.”

I had never thought much about my marriage, so my mind raced wildly. But how can I not be weak to a man who looks at me with those eyes?

“I like it, the ring.”

I took the case and handed it to him.

“So, please put it in yourself. Marquis Lloyd, who has become my fiancé from now on.”

At my words, he looked at me with a blank expression for a while.

“Fiancé…”

His darkly shimmering eyes soon filled with emotion, and he slipped a ring with a blue diamond on my ring finger. And he kissed the diamond again.

“I love you. Enough to be overwhelming.”

His sincere, low voice mixed with a little rough breathing flowed into my ears.