Chapter 89
“Siena? What are you doing right now?”
“What about you? Are you trying to run away?”
“What, wait—!”
Did he really think I’d just let him leave like that? I jumped over the railing and threw myself down. I only dared to do it because I had a vague belief that Hereis would catch me.
Seeing him running toward me, I tightly shut my eyes, and in that instant, his strong arms caught me and we both tumbled backward.
Thump. The flowers beneath us, crushed under the weight of two adults, burst up into the air. Through the falling petals, I could see Hereis exhale deeply, whether in relief or frustration.
“Why are you so reckless? What if you got hurt?”
“That’s because you wouldn’t listen to me and tried to run away.”
Even as he scolded me, I refused to back down.
But my glare lost its effect when Hereis quietly focused on plucking a petal stuck to my cheek.
“You looked upset, so I thought I’d wait until tomorrow to talk. I wasn’t running away.”
“Liar.”
“It’s true. Why would I ever run away from you?”
“Weren’t you running away because you didn’t want to talk about what happened at the lake?”
When I brought up the reason for the awkwardness between us, Hereis slowly sat up. I straightened my back too, waiting for his lips to open.
“I thought you wouldn’t want to talk about it, but this is good. Let’s. Tell me everything.”
Fine. Good. Let’s settle this once and for all.
“Why did you hide that you’re a Null Mage?”
“That’s…”
“Shall I guess? You thought if I didn’t lift the prohibition for you, you could use it as leverage and force me to break it?”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
“You bastard.”
Just as I expected.
‘I knew it, but still…’
Hearing it straight from his mouth made my insides boil. I grabbed him by the collar and yanked his face close.
“Was it fun pretending to like me just so you could lift one prohibition?”
I knew I was too agitated, but the thought of being deceived made it impossible to calm down.
“What are you saying? Why would you think something so wrong?”
“You tricked me all this time. And you think I can still believe your words?”
He should have just revealed I was a Null Mage and asked me directly to break it for him.
Even if I had refused at first, I would’ve eventually understood his situation—an immortal man forced to live for 500 years. I would’ve helped him. But instead, he chose to deceive me.
‘Who knows how many other times he’s lied to me since then.’
And even our contract bound by the ruby—it had been built on deceit. Realizing I’d been used from the beginning, betrayal burned my eyes red.
“All this time you wanted the prohibition lifted… if not for that, you would’ve left me already!”
And after that, who’s to say he wouldn’t have gone off to find his first love? If the legend was true, they’d meet again in the next life too!
I was breathing hard, too caught up to notice the heaviness that had sunk into his voice.
“You think I would’ve left you?”
“Yes!”
Hereis twisted his lips. His gaze met mine, turbulent and fierce.
“…I must’ve hidden my true feelings too well. I held back because I thought you’d run away if I showed everything. But I can’t do that anymore.”
His low laugh carried on the night air, his blue eyes shimmering eerily in the moonlight.
The sight made me instinctively retreat a step. He growled low in his throat, like a beast.
“If I’d known you’d make such a ridiculous assumption, I would’ve told you properly. That’s my mistake.”
And then, in a flash, his arm circled my waist and pulled me into him. I collapsed into his embrace, his face so close his eyes gleamed inches from mine.
“Sisi. Did it never cross your mind that my reason for wanting the prohibition lifted could be the opposite?”
“…Opposite?”
Startled by his sudden intensity, my anger faltered. I blinked at the word.
“Did you never think—maybe I want it gone because I’m afraid of being left alone when you die? That I’m terrified of living on without you?”
My eyes widened. I looked at him. His expression twisted bitterly.
“I have to keep living even after you’re gone. An endless life in a world without you.”
“You…”
“Do you have any idea how horrifying that is?”
“…”
“Of course you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t throw such words at me.”
He muttered self-mockingly, then pulled me tightly into his arms.
“You don’t have to break it now.”
In his embrace, I blankly listened.
“Do it when you want to. Even if you wait until you’re old and gray. But promise me—before you die, you must break it.”
“…Why only then?”
“So I can follow you.”
The matter-of-fact tone made my head spin.
‘That’s why he wanted it lifted?’
Not because he wanted freedom or to leave me—but because he wanted to stay with me until the end…
I had never imagined it. My suspicion that he seduced me just to break the prohibition felt laughably small compared to the weight of his love.
It was so heavy it made me step back instinctively. Sensing it, his arms tightened.
“So don’t ever say I would’ve left you.”
“Herein…”
“Don’t leave me alone.”
His voice was desperate now. I could only cling to him and pat his back, flustered.
“I won’t. So calm down.”
“I’m sorry I deceived you. I didn’t think it through. I was afraid you’d abandon me if I told you the truth.”
And now he was apologizing. How could I stay angry? Anyone would soften at this.
I pulled back, cupped his cheeks, and looked into his eyes.
“I’m sorry too, for misunderstanding. I was too emotional and couldn’t think straight. It’s all cleared up now, so let’s stop.”
Honestly, I felt foolish. Embarrassed. And also painfully self-aware of how absurd this argument was in the middle of the night. I just wanted it over.
“But still, I’m glad we talked. Right? We made up, and now it won’t be awkward—”
“I love you.”
I froze.
He confessed the moment I said it wouldn’t be awkward. And now, it was awkward again.
“Uh… I know.”
“You know? You acted like you didn’t.”
“…Now I know.”
I had just experienced the full weight of his love—how could I not?
But Hereis wasn’t satisfied. He leaned close, our foreheads touching.
“Then I’ll say it even clearer.”
“Clearer than this…?”
“If there’s a next life, I’ll find you again. Every time. So you have to accept me then too.”
Damn it. I failed to keep a straight face. As ridiculous as it sounded, the promise to find me even in another life melted my anger.
It was absurd—he was the one who fought for love in his dream, while I stood still and yet he still loved me.
‘Well… people don’t always love one person forever. A second love comes eventually.’
But if he loved me more, wasn’t that enough? Even if the thought was childish, I couldn’t stop it.
“You’ll accept me, won’t you? Promise?”
Maybe it was because he had already failed once before, but he was so cautious now. The real problem was that his feelings were far too heavy to brush off.
“…We’ll see.”
My vague reply made him laugh hollowly.
“So that’s how you answer… karma, huh.”
He muttered to himself, but before he could confess again, I quickly steered the conversation away.
“I have a question.”
Hereis, noticing my poor attempt, still played along.
“What is it?”
“Why do I keep dreaming about your past?”
“Keep dreaming?”
“Yes, I saw it once before when I collapsed. That was the first time…”
I reached out and pinched his cheek.
“Ow?”
“When that person kissed your forehead, you turned bright red and didn’t know what to do. Do you know how shocked I was, seeing you embarrassed for the first time?”
“Of all things… that…”
Hereis covered his face in embarrassment.
“The fact that you know it so clearly means you really are seeing my past in dreams. I’ll have to research what’s going on.”
“Oh, and I also found out then that I’m a Null Mage. That person was similar to me, wasn’t he?”
Null Mage… death’s breath patient… surely it wasn’t because of that similarity, was it?
“Hereis. Whatever happened in the past, now you’re mine. If you ever look elsewhere, I won’t let it slide.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll only look at you.”
“We’ll see.”
I raised two fingers to my eyes in warning.
And just then—
“Who’s there?”
A stranger’s voice rang out, along with the light of a lantern. The clinking of swords marked patrolling knights.
Step, step. They drew closer. Hereis quickly scooped me up and hid us behind a wall.
“Nothing here. Must’ve been my imagination.”
“Probably a stray cat. Let’s go.”
As the knights’ footsteps faded, I whispered nervously.
“Why are we hiding?”
There was no real reason to. Blinking at him in confusion, I noticed Hereis avoid my gaze.
“…Because I don’t want anyone else to see you dressed like that.”
“…Ah.”
Right. I was still in my nightclothes. Realizing it belatedly, my face flushed hot.
