CH 140

“Well, it might be difficult.”

Tak, Berylia smiled coldly and shook his hand away.

Johann made a pretty sad expression on his face when she quickly pulled out while he was kissing the back of her hand.

But soon he narrowed his good-natured eyes and smiled.

“One day, you’ll trust only me, and the day will come when you will stay by my side.”

‘I’ll hold you that day and dance all night long, my queen.’

Johann, who did not know the suspicions he had aroused, felt quite good.

But he soon frowned.

It was because he could see Rixus coming.

He let go of Berylia as if he was done with his prey, and stepped aside as if he had given way, but not really.

He was holding back some questions, so he just went to solve it.

Johann went out to an empty balcony and opened his mouth.

“Come out.”

[Why? So suddenly?]

Slowly, like smoke, Toulouse appeared and sat down on the railing.

“I saw something very strange.”

[What’s strange?]

Johann brought his wine glass to his mouth and tilted his head.

“Rixus pulled her sleeve when he grabbed her.”

[…What’s weird about that? Can’t he just grab her sleeve?]

“Usually, he would rather hold her hand or her arm as if looking out for her… But earlier, it was just the sleeve. Like he’s careful with physical contact.”

Johann’s eyes darkened sharply as if recalling the scene.

“And when Berylia danced, she was trembling.”

[…….]

“…She definitely smelled of fear.”

Toulouse shook his three heads and looked elsewhere as if trying to turn away.

“Isn’t it strange? I heard that there was a big commotion in the morning when she lost her memory and woke up.”

[That’s it, think about it. The Crown Prince of the neighboring country is suddenly lying in the same bed, of course she’s surprised!]

“Beyond that surprise, I heard that she attacked Rixus really badly? Enough to bring everyone in.”

[Uh… that…]

“If you think of it as a ‘defensive’ mind-set attack, it fits in with today’ actions.”

[…….]

Johann’s eyes gleamed swiftly.

“Why is Berylia… so afraid of Rixus?”

All of a sudden, he hit the nail on the head.

[Uhhhhhhhhh!]

Toulouse was startled and pretended not to know.

Johann made a ‘click’ sound by snapping his index and middle fingers, and drawing three pairs of eyes to himself.

“You know why, don’t you?”

[…Oh my gosh, I shouldn’t say things like this. You’re so sharp!]

“Tell me right now.”

Toulouse opened his mouth as if there was nothing he could do about it.

[Actually… She came back seven times. She is like that because of her memories of her past.]

“What?”

Johann’s eyebrows were severely contorted.

[I’ll tell you everything since I’ve already said this. If you know all the ‘truth’, will we really achieve our goal this time?]

So. This was the ‘variable’ that Toulouse threw away; Which was not in the past lives where they lost.

The crow slowly talked about Berylia and Rixus.

What kind of relationship they had in their previous lives, and that they kept returning for some reason.

He also revealed a rather shocking truth to Johann.

[Our plan, too, this is the 8th time.]

“…Damn, so the me in my previous lives has already been defeated seven times by that damn bastard?”

[That’s not right! In our previous life, we finally won!]

Toulouse reduced the time he needed to hand over his power to Johann more efficiently each round, little by little.

So, the ‘time’ to achieve their purpose was bound to accelerate eventually.

Did that work?

The details were unknown to Toulouse, but they were clearly victorious in their previous lives.

“Then did our plan succeed? Does that mean I have united and ruled the five continents?”

[…No, if it was successful, the regressions would have stopped. In the end it failed. Because you died…]

Johann said nothing, maintaining an expressionless face and drank from his glass of wine.

Toulouse, who had been gloomy for a moment, flapped its wings excitedly as if it had an interesting thought.

[Kekek, but you know what’s strange? All this time, I’ve been making blue roses bloom on Berylia, and this time you’ve chosen her yourself! Again, Berylia!]

“I guess we are destined.”

Johann answered briefly and put down the wine glass.

His black eyes glowed tenaciously and the corners of his eyes were curved.

“I want her so madly that I’ve chosen her eight times….”

His lips twisted.

“I like that.”

[What on earth do you like about it? What a crazy man! Crazy!]

Ignoring the criticism, Johann asked as if it had suddenly occurred to him.

“Then, does Rixus not know about this?”

[…No, everyone knows. The Crown Prince, he saw the past with the holy relic ‘Portrait of Madame Artingus’.]

It was a holy relic that Johann knew about.

[Instead, they do not know who we are. I could feel the power of the holy relic, so I interrupted it so that they wouldn’t see it, ahem!]

The crow stuck its chest out to the fullest and boasted.

[If this body had been in Marsephone, I wouldn’t have been able to stop it, but what happened in Aktoum was probably a ‘devastating move’. The great sixth sense of this body…]

“I’ll never miss it.”

[…Are you listening to me?]

Johann had firm resolve that he would never miss this chance.

No matter what.

“For her to be afraid of Rixus is a great opportunity for me.”

So in the future, he should stop doing suspicious things like today.

He realized that this was not the time for fun.

‘If you have memories of your past life… You might be more wary of me after today’s pranks.’

Maybe she had other information about Deborah.

‘I made a mistake.’

Johann pondered and asked Toulouse.

“By the way, why did I die in my previous life? You said I had won.”

[…Uh? It’s dinner time. Let’s eat first!]

Toulouse flapped its wings, avoiding answering.

“….…”

Johann looked at him with curious eyes.

* * *

“Rixus, where have you been?”

“Wait. Follow me.”

“Yes?”

I took Rixus’ outstretched hand voluntarily and followed him.

Rixus took me into the widest private balcony.

There was no one around, just the two of us.

The countless stars in the sky shone as if they were pouring down, and the wind that brushed my cheeks was refreshing rather than cold.

The music drifting from the banquet inside made my heart flutter.

Rixus looked at me quietly, with eyes as red and blue as the dawn sky.

“There will be the ‘last’ event of today’s banquet here.”

“…What event?”

I, after asking the question, suddenly realized. That I was still holding his hand.

“…….”

Surprised, he slowly pulled out his hand.

‘I took his hand like it was natural. Oh, nothing…’

There was no time to feel trauma. I didn’t even tremble.

Perhaps because I recognized that, my fear of Rixus had somehow faded.

‘Just like a couple or lovers…’

Tak—

Then Rixus gently placed his coat on my shoulders.

He seemed to be conscious of the cold wind.

“I asked the doctor, and he said that re-experiencing things that were impressive in the past will help you regain your memory.”

“……Therefore?”

Rixus smiled softly with his sharp eyes.

“Fireworks festival.”

“!”

“There will be fireworks at midnight.”

“…Did we do something together during the fireworks festival?”

“We did.”

“What did you participate in?”

Rixus smiled and furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

Well, he thought she would be ashamed if he answered what they did that day.

“…Then why did you kiss me?” 

“I didn’t do it for you, I did it for me.” 

“….…” 

“Because I want to.”

How did she say that with such an innocent expression on her face.

“Aren’t you handsome? I’m ‘weak to handsome’.”

Rixus laughed lowly, remembering what she had said during the fireworks festival.

At the time, the moment just passed by happily… Now it remained only in his memory.

Shining, nostalgic, and beautiful memories.

Rixus tilted his head mischievously and answered.

“Well.”

“…Why don’t you tell me?”

Rixus carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. like asking for permission.

She didn’t seem to mind.

As he carefully wrapped his arms around hers, he felt her body temperature.

“Just.”

Rixus replied briefly, with his arms wrapped around his wife’s shoulders, looking straight ahead.

He, who did not give a direct answer, made me even more curious.

“How was I that day?”

“Pretty. Extremely.”

“…How coarse.”

“It was crowded as if all the people of Aktoum had come to the square…”

In the crowd…

“You were shining like a star.”

“……”

“So I found you right away, Candy.”

I felt my heart warm.

I didn’t know if what he was saying was true, but…

I could feel that I was a very much loved wife at that time, as Rixus was expressing.

I was just a person who had struggled through seven lives alone from beginning to end… 

I couldn’t believe I had received such a heart and affection from someone.

And I was also showing my heart as if I was giving it all out.

To that man.

“I hope you get your memories back soon.”

“Why?”

It was a stupid question.

‘If I am constantly afraid, it will be uncomfortable and unpleasant for him.’

However, contrary to expectations, Rixus gave a different answer.

“Because now you only have bad memories.”

He hugged me a little tighter and peered at me.

“I thought you might be lonely.”

“….…”

That friendly low voice seemed to melt my frozen heart.

Even if he tried to hide it, I knew there were feelings he couldn’t hide.

Now, those emotions were seen in Rixus’ eyes.

He feared that I would be lonely.

He was more worried and distressed compared to me.

He didn’t seem to mind being hated.

Seeing Rixus like that, my heart raced as if it was tightening.

‘Maybe, me too, Rixus…’

At that time, there was a notification from the inside of the hall that the fireworks would start when ‘midnight’ came.

I looked up at the sky hurriedly, hiding my blushing cheeks and pounding chest.

“The countdown is about to begin.”

10, 9, 8… 5, 4…

The voices of the nobles happily counting down could be heard from inside.

I licked my lips together involuntarily in the excited atmosphere and joined in counting down.

“Three.”

Rixus laughed.

“Tw—”

However, that laugh quickly faded as he gazed at the darkening sky.

Rixus’ eyebrows narrowed as he shouted in haste.

“Get down!”

“!”

The moment when Rixus quickly wrapped his body around me and threw us down to the floor, protecting me.

Swa-ae-ae-ae-aek!

The wind blew like a storm and all the windows of the banquet hall were smashed all at once.

“Aaaaaaaaaah!”

In an instant, pandemonium broke out.

Ame: Johann really is quite a smart villain, whereas for Toulouse *looks at it skeptically* Anyway, prepare for trouble!! Oh, I mean, pandemonium!

Dea: Prepare for trouble and make it double. To ruin the world and bring devastation, to brainwash all peoples within their nation. Johann! Toulouse! ….and Deb

Team Crowie strikes again