CH 147

Berylia whispered.

“I can’t talk for a long time right now. So… as soon as I get back to the Imperial Palace, I’ll go find the Archduke.”

Badump, badump.

Johann’s heart was really beating as if he was her ‘secret lover’.

The moment when he despaired that he would not be chosen.

When Berylia unexpectedly chose him, excitement gathered and he lost his mind to the thrill.

“I’m willing to wait, my Queen.”

Johann spoke politely with quivering eyes.

Berylia quietly raised her lips and pulled away from him.

That momentary smile was engraved deep in Johann’s chest. A charming and arrogant smile, it was just Johann’s taste.

“…I’m really going crazy.”

‘I’m already looking forward to what you’ll say.’

Apparently, Deborah did a good job. Should he give her a compliment when she came?

However, he had no idea what Berylia would say to him when she returned.

Johann, hiding in the shadows, watched her meet up with Rixus and climb into the carriage.

‘The waiting time is going to dry up my blood.’

‘Please tell me now.’ He felt like he wanted to go down on his knees and beg.

However, as much as he anxiously waited, the time for reward would be thrilling.

Johann smiled confidently and hopefully.

* * *

I met Rixus and got on the carriage.

Then I looked at Rixus with particular attention.

‘Something… is different than usual.’

Which part was different could be known by a ‘woman’s instinct’.

Originally, he was neat and tall, but today, something special… more…

More handsome? Hmm, that was a bit embarrassing, but it was true.

Maybe it was because I got a little closer to Rixus.

Or, it was because the confusion about Johann disappeared and I was looking at him with the premise that he was the man I loved.

If not… Had I noticed his handsome face that I hadn’t seen before because of my suspicions?

‘It makes me really conscious.’

The sun was pouring down obliquely on the nose, lips, and delicate eyelashes that stretched coolly.

A masculine forehead and chin, and indifferent eyes.

Even the subtle and clean body scent was entering my consciousness.

Without realizing it, I kept spying on him over and over again.

“….…”

Like a sea otter who secretly stole the scallops hidden in the food warehouse.

Just then, Rixus looked at me.

“!”

I pretended I didn’t eat anything, no, I pretended I didn’t see anything, and calmly turned my head.

“Berylia.”

“Oh, huh?”

Then I looked at him as if I had seen him for the first time with a brazen face.

At that very moment, taduk taduk! The carriage moved up and down.

Rixus took my surprised hand and said in a troubled way.

“When the barbatus dragon blocked magical power, a lot of the Imperial Palace’s magic tools were destroyed.”

“….…”

“The magic that I put on the carriages has been blown up, they’re still under repair. So the ride isn’t going to be very good.”

“Ah.”

Then again, taduk taduk! And the carriage moved loudly.

“It’s a surprise.”

“The road is rough, Lady.”

He said mischievously and suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tightly towards him.

“!”

As our bodies drew closer, the seductive and masculine body scent deepened.

His body temperature felt hot.

Badump, badump.

The strong forearms and large hands that naturally hugged my waist made me feel so shy.

Still, I was very embarrassed to have this kind of touch with him.

I didn’t know what I did with him before I lost my memory.

“Is this safe?”

“…It’s fine. We can just ride it.”

‘My heart is not safe…’

It certainly felt a lot better when he held me, as there was less movement.

Holding my waist and hand, our relationship seemed so friendly… 

My heart tickled.

‘Why is this man so natural?’

At that moment, Rixus looked at me with his head lowered gently.

Then he stroked my cheek with the outside of his index finger.

“Why is your face so red?”

It made me even more embarrassed because he pointed it out.

I was taken aback for a moment and spouted out anything. I couldn’t think of anything other than this, and I felt sick the moment I said it.

It was an excuse for him to fall off. At the same time, the answer was a bit cruel for Rixus.

“Because I’m scared.”

“……”

Sorry… Rixus. I really couldn’t think of anything more plausible than this.

But with this kind of excuse, he would have no choice but to let me go. I felt guilty.

I really felt like a villain.

However—

“Lies.”

Rixus’ blue-purple eyes stared intently into my eyes.

As if he knew everything inside of me.

Then he hugged me even deeper and clasped his big hands together.

My face turned even redder in this instant.

‘You’re quick-witted and I don’t even get to fight…!’

‘How… Do you know me so well?’

‘Is this also because of the love of Rixus?’

I wasn’t good at showing my inner thoughts, so how carefully had you been looking at me?

Even before I lost my memory, I must have tried to push him away at first, but with a man like this… It would have been very difficult to push.

I had no memory of us loving each other.

But every moment we were together, I was discovering the reasons why I had no choice but to fall in love with him.

Shaking and rolling, the carriage was running peacefully.

The tight grip from his large hand felt more secure than uncomfortable.

With him, even the bumpy road felt well worth going.

A heart that was irrationally attracted to Rixus.

Believing too easily, this attitude was so uncharacteristic of me.

All of these things were now embedded in my heart as evidence of love.

The slightest suspicions did not disappear altogether, but every time I found such evidence, my doubts would disappear little by little, like waves crashing and carrying sand.

A little anticipation filled the place.

We went back and visited the places we had been together.

When we reached Breathbridge, he said I had beaten a coachman with a whip.

“It’s really like you.”

“…Don’t portray me as a villain like that, Rixus.”

“You wanted to save the abused horse, but you pretended not to be weak.”

“….…”

“You were especially soft and vulnerable to wounds.”

“Then where are you weak?”

Do you, who is like steel, have any weak points in you?

Rixus took my hand and kissed me on the shoulder, closing his eyes.

“I do, you.”

“…….”

“My weakness and most precious thing is you, Candy.”

His sincere heart fluttered and filled my heart.

Strangely, just being with him felt like it made the loneliness go away. That distant loneliness that tormented me all my life.

We left Breathbridge and went back to other places where we had been together.

However, there was no sign of any memory coming back to me.

After spending a full day like that, we returned to the Imperial Palace and went to the Black Lake.

It was said that I told him to prove his heart here.

So he plucked flowers for me.

I fiddled with the fresh blue flowers that Rixus had picked up again.

Perhaps because it was a flower that bloomed in winter, the blue flowers were now in full bloom on top of the Black Lake.

I thought as I touched the flower.

‘Really… I desperately want to get my memories back.’

But, wildly, nothing, nothing really came to mind.

Not a single scene of Rixus’ words appeared in my mind.

I ended up completely exhausted, and I mumbled,

“I’m upset.”

“It’s ok, there’s no need to overdo it.”

“The memories I lost… I think they were really precious in my life.”

“…….”

“I feel like I’ve lost all my precious jewels.”

Rixus hugged me in his arms and comforted me.

I could not be entirely frustrated due to his comfort and kindness.

Rixus patted my back and looked around.

“Winter is coming. The first snow will be here soon.”

Then the scenery came into my eyes.

I saw the trees preparing for winter.

Each had thin leaves and were armed with a thicker shell. I could feel the vitality that endured intensely in it.

I finally smiled comfortably.

“Yes.”

I always liked the vitality of plants.

They would cultivate a dense forest again from the beginning.

‘…Me too, I’m sure I’ll be able to.’

As I was making up my mind, Rixus suddenly spoke.

“We need to find out what’s going on in the Illuminati before the first snow falls.”

When the snow began to accumulate, it would become more difficult to search.

“…You haven’t figured out where that bizarre frequency is coming from?”

“Yes, there must be a source, but it is not easily found.”

Rixus gazed at me while keeping me in his arms.

“Besides, it’s difficult to find because the mountain is so steep and so wide.”

“I’ll ask Spinel’s search team to join as well. There are no veterans like that to search the winter mountains.”

“Is it okay though?”

“It’s not only Aktoum’s job, it’s Spinel’s job too.”

“….…”

“And, anyway, the two countries are now one… because we are a married couple.”

“You only say pretty things with pretty lips.”

I was embarrassed and pushed his smiling lips slightly.

‘Sending frequencies to monsters.’

There was a person who came to mind.

“This forbidden ‘magic of a demon’ is corroding my heart.”

—Johann being in control of the magic of a real demon.

When his identity was obscure, I didn’t quite relate the two.

Johann was definitely there at the banquet, and he almost got hurt.

I couldn’t take a closer look due to the circumstances, but I definitely saw Johann’s face in great bewilderment.

It couldn’t possibly be acting.

However… 

‘Clearly there must have been a reason why I recognized Johann as an ‘enemy’.’

He must be a villain with such a powerful impact that I would seek to destroy by finding his weaknesses.

If so, wouldn’t it be difficult to think that he had nothing to do with the strange movements of monsters and the powers of demons?

The unique ‘intuition’ that only people who had been through various crises had, was speaking.

‘Johann has something.’

I decided not to think alone anymore. I wanted to get through it with Rixus.

“We loved each other like it was our lives.”

“We were passionate about each other.”

Immediately after losing my memory, two men approached me, but…

In the end, there was only one man who could give me faith.

It was only Rixus.

“I have something to tell you. It’s about Johann.”

* * *

“Melfis, what time is it?”

“…It’s only been two minutes since you asked.”

“It’s crazy. Time doesn’t go by.”

Johann was anxiously waiting for Berylia all day.

She said she would find him as soon as she returned to the Imperial Palace, but there was no news even until the dark night.

“You never come to me in the middle of the night.”

Wasn’t she the one who always got up and left after dinner?

Since the sun had gone down and she was at home, there was no way she would come and find him at such a late hour.

But it was then. Melfis had some surprising news.

“Her Majesty the Queen has arrived.”

Johann’s eyes, which were dropping like a child forced to participate in a boring class, gleamed.

He got up like a spring and opened the door to the drawing room himself.

Then she came in. She said that she had ‘something to say in secret,’ and she was running around his head all day.

“Archduke, you haven’t slept yet.”

“How can I sleep, my queen?”

Johann politely guided her to a seat.

She was wearing a cloak as if she had come in secret.

As if she didn’t want anyone to find out.

It felt like a real ‘indulgence in each other’, and there was a gentle excitement in Johann’s heart.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Say anything, please.”

Berylia looked at him with wide eyes.

“As you know, I always doubted the relationship I had with you before I lost my memory. But…”

“….…”

“I heard from Madam Deborah yesterday, Archduke.”

Berylia’s eyes softened a little.

“…Have you been sad all this time? Because I didn’t believe you.”

A strong pleasure surged through Johann’s chest.

‘Oh, she is also beautiful in my trap.’

‘You got it right, Berylia.’

Berylia thought as she stared at Johann who was swallowing joy.

‘It’s just the beginning, you motherf*cker.’

Ame: Berylia: Rixus, I have something to tell you. It’s about Johann. 

*cues the trumpets and bass of ‘Viva la Vida’ chorus*

I hear the choirs of angels singing 

“They are finally communicating 

Now be each other’s sword and shield 

Allies against the demons unsealed”

‘For some reason I can’t explain’ 

Berylia will never say these words again

Never everrrr again 

And now let’s go and cook a crow

Dea: I’m so proud of our girl Berylia confiding in Rixus about her plan and not doing it alone, you go girl