Chapter 77
Confession
The one who felt confused was Riena, yet he seemed to have even more complex emotions.
Riena had mixed feelings about his attitude.
There was the satisfaction of realizing she could influence this man, who claimed to have no blood, no tears, and the heart of stone, and at the same time, the worry that he wouldn’t have to struggle like this because of her.
This time, the latter feeling won. Riena cautiously spoke.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to think that way. I really just needed some time to sort out my thoughts. I wanted to speak beautifully in front of you.”
“You are always beautiful to me. So, would you tell me what you were thinking?”
She also appreciated his unconditional trust in her.
Gaining courage, Riena opened her heart.
“I felt extremely ashamed today. I was embarrassed to show you my personal matters without hiding anything, and even more ashamed that I couldn’t handle things on my own.”
“……”
“When I went to meet Noah, you said you didn’t want to show me this side of yourself. But seeing you acknowledge your mistakes and try to resolve everything—it really made you look amazing to me.”
Riena smiled faintly.
“I wanted to do the same, but instead of solving it myself, I just relied on your help. And on top of that, I even got slapped by my mother. I always wanted to show you only my beautiful and confident side.”
She frowned without realizing it.
“I’ve never felt so pathetic and small before. I…”
At that moment, Casel interrupted her words.
“Why would you say such things?”
His voice was tightly restrained. He took her hand and pressed his lips to her palm.
“No matter what you do, no matter what happens, you are noble and the brightest person simply by existing. So do not belittle yourself.”
“Only you would say something like that in this world.”
Casel looked up at her with his lips still on her hand.
“Is that not allowed?”
“……”
“Can’t I be the only meaning in your world?”
Before Riena could respond, he continued.
“I only need you. Saying I was happy with you and unhappy without you was not some sweet lie to lure you.”
“……”
“I want to be that kind of person for you.”
Casel’s breathing grew rough.
“I tried to wait silently as you asked, but I can’t stay still any longer. Even now, my reason tells me to stop, but I just can’t.”
“……”
“You asked why I place no conditions on my love and desire nothing from you.”
His lips gradually lifted to her inner wrist where her pulse was racing.
“Ria, I love you. I love you more than you can imagine, and I want you with all my heart, even painfully so.”
“……”
“Because I love you, I want to be perfect for you, to be everything for you. But…”
He let out a deep sigh.
“The fact that I couldn’t protect your body or your heart—or any part of you—hurts me now.”
Upon hearing his confession, Riena felt a liberation she had never experienced before.
She already realized he loved her. It was almost impossible not to notice, given how openly he displayed his emotions.
But hearing it directly from Casel carried a different weight.
Even knowing it wasn’t the perfect time, her oblivious heart raced, and her face flushed.
Her emotions swelled again, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Noticing no change in her expression, Casel spoke in a pleading tone.
“You don’t have to love me. I’m not saying this to beg for love. In fact, even this confession is a luxury, a selfish desire for me.”
“……”
“But please, just until you regain stability, let me stay by your side…”
“I like you.”
Riena spoke without realizing it. Emotion had reacted before reason.
“What did you just say…”
Casel asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Looking into his eyes, Riena said, almost tearfully:
“I like you, Cas.”
Once her emotions, which now dominated her mind, subsided, she might regret this impulsive confession. It was far from the carefully planned declaration she had envisioned.
It was different from Casel’s passionate displays of affection.
Yet, she felt she had to respond to Casel immediately for courageously expressing his feelings.
Riena stammered a little as she spoke.
“I thought about it a lot. My heart keeps leaning toward you, but I worried if someone like me even deserves to be by your side.”
“……”
“No matter how much I think about it, I feel like I have nothing to give you, yet you keep giving me such undeserved treatment.”
She smiled faintly at Casel, a proper smile for the first time.
“What I’ve done can hardly be remembered, yet you keep saying I’ve given you so much, and you plead and fidget in front of me like this…”
“……”
“And today too. I showed immature behavior, yet instead of being disappointed, you worried I might have been hurt. Who am I, really? What makes me such an incredible woman?”
Riena smiled through her tears.
“But how could I not like someone like you?”
Casel still looked incredulous. He let out a deep sigh from his chest, wiped his face dry, and then asked in a trembling voice:
“Could you say that one more time?”
Riena could now say it without hesitation.
“I like you, Cas. I like you so much… huff.”
But she couldn’t continue. Casel, breathing heavily, pressed his lips against hers in a rush.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Riena’s waist, covering her slightly parted lips. The sensation was new, but Riena willingly responded.
When she struggled, Casel slightly pulled back, glanced at his glistening lips, then urgently kissed her again. Riena wrapped her arms around his neck, reciprocating clumsily.
Wet, muffled sounds echoed through the quiet room. Casel’s hand traveled up Riena’s back over her clothes. Every place his fingers touched seemed to ignite.
“Ah…”
Riena tilted her head back unconsciously, moaning. She surprised herself with the intensity of her sounds.
“Cas…”
He held her tightly, sharing his breath while taking hers.
Riena realized for the first time how sensitive her body was. Everything felt new, as if she were experiencing it for the first time.
The inside of her thighs pressed by Casel’s firm legs, his hands on her waist and side, and his insistent lips—everything was heightened. Even her palate responded to him. Her waist tensed, and her legs stiffened with every touch.
“Ugh, ha…”
Before she knew it, Riena was lying in Casel’s arms, still kissing him passionately.
She was thirsty. Kissing alone wasn’t enough.
She wanted Casel. Not just his heart, but all of him. She wanted him to love her while completely surrendering herself—a sinful desire.
Her feelings, arising in less than three months since their reunion, were too strong to be so new.
Her affection, once a gentle ripple, now crashed like a storm over her body.
Perhaps she had desired Casel for a long time, even since dreaming of him after her father’s death—or even earlier.
After a long journey, her heart had finally found its place.
But was this right?
Despite feeling they had been together forever, they hadn’t known each other for long. They had only just confirmed their feelings. They weren’t married.
Was it okay to spend the night with Casel in such circumstances? Was it right?
Could she, as a rational person, act purely on instinct?
There was no rule against it.
Riena had always been a tomboy, a spirited girl—not someone overly refined or modest.
In this moment, she decided to follow her instincts.
She gripped his shirt tightly, as if to crumple it, and moved with him.
“Cas…”
Perhaps sharing the same thought, Casel became bolder in his pursuit. He gradually kissed down her neck.
When he bit her sensitive neck gently, Riena felt a flash of light before her eyes.
A cry, one she never thought she could make, escaped her lips.
Her waist arched, and her breathing grew heavy.
Casel’s hands untied the ribbon on her dress from the back. As her dress loosened, her white skin was revealed.
As Casel pressed his lips to her skin, Riena involuntarily cried out at the unfamiliar sensation.
“W-wait…!”
Casel seemed to interpret this as refusal. He pulled back, breathing heavily, and removed his hands.
“I’m sorry. I lost my composure for a moment…”
Riena, still overwhelmed, lay on the floor, gazing at his face, gasping.
Casel wiped her wet lips with his thumb, then pushed himself up with his arms. The weight above her gone, she felt emptiness.
Her thirst was still unquenched. She didn’t want him to leave.
“Don’t go.”
Whispering in a pleading voice, Riena watched as Casel swallowed dryly.
“Stay with me today.”
“…Do you realize what you’re asking?”
“Yes.”
Riena tried to speak nonchalantly.
“I’m not so naive that I wouldn’t understand.”
“You might regret it.”
“That won’t happen.”
She feared letting him go more than regretting anything else.
