Chapter 80
I Love You So Much, More Than My Life
“Cas, about the day you proposed to me…”
“Yes.”
Casel relaxed his expression, seeming relieved that Liena had brought up the topic first.
“It rained so heavily that day. The ground was all mud, not a good day to ride a horse at all. Actually, it was a dangerous day. My father passed away on a day like that, too.”
“That’s true.”
“Even though you’re good with horses, it was a risky choice. So why did you insist on coming that day? You could have stayed near the magic portal and waited until the weather cleared.”
“That is…”
Casel lay down beside Liena again and answered softly:
“I wanted to see you again as soon as possible.”
“Just for that reason?”
“For me, it’s not ‘just.’”
He kissed her cheek, full of affection.
“You were everything to me.”
“Hmm, that’s sweet to hear, but really, just that reason?”
“Then what other reason could there be?”
“Like hearing rumors that I was being forced to marry Viscount Lot and rushing to save me?”
This time Casel kissed her lips, smiling lowly.
“Then let’s say it was that.”
“It’s not just ‘that’…”
But Casel didn’t seem inclined to explain further.
So Liena silently decided to figure it out on her own rather than ask again.
The sun had already been up for some time, but Liena was still sleeping soundly.
She was naturally a late riser, but this was more likely due to the intense intimacy they had shared the previous night. Casel kissed the smooth curve of her forehead, feeling a twinge of guilt.
Even though he knew he should exercise restraint, every time he looked at Liena, his self-control seemed to snap, as if he were possessed by a nocturnal fairy.
It was inevitable, of course. Their union had come after such a long wait.
Casel’s gaze slowly traced over Liena’s bare body. There were red marks across her fair skin from their passionate night, but aside from that, she was unblemished.
In truth, he hadn’t wanted those red marks to appear, but he had gotten carried away in his excitement.
Aside from that, there were no bruises, no torn skin. Her body, neither emaciated nor undernourished, looked healthy and beautiful.
It wasn’t just that she was enchanting—it was that she looked genuinely good. A stark contrast to the thin, scarred figure of the past.
He recalled the shy confession she had made:
“I think I don’t just like you… I love you.”
“I love you, Cas.”
The words he had longed to hear, words he had never dared to ask for, now spoken. Hearing them, he felt as if he owned the entire world. He wanted to take Liena and spend time alone, where no one could find them.
So that her unfortunate past would never repeat itself.
But that alone wasn’t enough. He would chase her down and protect her no matter where she was.
Above all, he didn’t want Liena to live in hiding. She deserved to go wherever she wanted and shine proudly.
“I want to hear it again.”
Casel wanted to wake her and hear her say she loved him once more—even if it was a sleepy confession, slurred from her drowsiness, it would be enough.
“But I can’t wake her while she’s asleep.”
Instead, he let his eyes roam over her body again, replaying their earlier conversation in his mind.
She had mentioned a nightmare, yet suddenly referenced something Casel had said in the past—and even asked about the western bell tower.
Casel didn’t want to answer. He wished she would stop being curious about the western bell tower. He hoped she wouldn’t even glance that way.
Perhaps it would have been better not to mention it. After all, the western bell tower was in a secluded area, somewhere Liena wouldn’t usually go.
But it seemed that, unintentionally, he had piqued her curiosity.
“But… I felt uneasy keeping silent since one never knows what might happen.”
At first, he thought he could let it slide when she simply mentioned the bell tower.
But then…
“Is it red? With ivy growing on the walls…?”
When she described the tower, something she hadn’t been told, Casel felt his heart stop.
She must have dreamt it again, just like before—of the day that had become his greatest nightmare, the root of everything. A memory Casel wanted to hide most of all.
He silently hoped she hadn’t remembered the pain of that day.
Casel kissed the tip of her sleeping fingers, then looked down at his bare upper body.
The red scars radiated a presence he couldn’t ignore.
He hadn’t forgotten them when removing his shirt in front of Liena, but the night was dark, and he hoped she wouldn’t notice.
Yet it was a scar she would eventually see, so there was no point in hiding it further.
He managed to brush it off with a subtle lie, and fortunately, Liena had believed him.
Casel held Liena close from behind, closing his eyes.
Normally, he would have gone out to the training ground early in the morning, a habit since he began learning the sword. Even if he fell ill, he would push himself unless it was unbearable. He had skipped morning training only a few times.
But today, he wanted nothing more than to stay here, holding her all day.
It felt good just to feel her warmth. And if she woke and confessed her love again, he would feel like flying.
There were many tasks to tackle: uncovering the truth about Count Dyke’s death, stopping Johannes Beliar from pursuing Liena, and making sure he could never approach her again.
But today, he allowed himself to set aside the weight of all that and enjoy this happiness.
He whispered into Liena’s ear:
“I love you, Lia. I love you so much—more than my own life.”
“Mmm…”
Still half-asleep, Liena wriggled closer into his arms and murmured in a drowsy voice:
“I… love you too…”
Casel felt his heart warm as he closed his eyes. For now, that alone was enough.
“Mother, this inn is really nice. The best hotel in the capital is truly different.”
After Liena and Casel had stayed in a modest inn, one of Casel’s aides came to offer a room transfer to a better hotel. Countess Dyke immediately accepted.
Casel Winkler didn’t just take them to the capital’s most famous hotel—he secured the best room, the one so exclusive that even with money, reservations were nearly impossible. His name alone opened the doors.
The hotel room was much larger than Countess Dyke’s own in the Dyke estate. Even more surprising: it came with dedicated maids—three of them.
When the maids greeted them, the couple was astonished. They were far more organized and efficient than the Dyke household staff.
“This must be the capital,” they thought.
Not only that, the Winkler family sent Aaron’s medicine and other necessities. They even told them to contact them anytime they needed something.
They also arranged for magical portal travel back to their estate.
A luxury unimaginable in the Dyke household.
Perhaps that’s why Bianca moved about the room in amazement from the moment they entered.
“Also, doesn’t Aaron seem better than before? His breathing seems more stable.”
“That’s really a relief.”
“Then why the serious face? Are you worried about something else?”
“No, nothing at all.”
But despite her words, Countess Dyke felt uneasy.
For the past six months, she had been manipulated by Johannes Beliar. Recently, she even suspected he was the one who had driven her into debt.
Yet she had continued to comply with him, even as he threatened not only her life but also Aaron and Bianca’s.
If only Liena married Johannes, everything would be solved. She would finally be free from his threats, and perhaps he might even support the Dyke family financially—or in other ways.
And frankly, wouldn’t it be good for Liena too if she married Johannes?
