“What nonsense are you talking about?” Rosenia, unconsciously, asked angrily.
Did you say Oath of Heart? Are you serious right now?
“You calm down, Rosenia. It’s anyway up to Llewellyn Rasiane to decide.”
“What? How can I calm down!”
She shouted, jumping up from her seat, and then shot Adrian a fierce glare.
Taking ‘The Oath of Heart’ was the same as sentencing Llewellyn to a short life!
“Adrian, asking him to take The Oath of Heart … Don’t you think it’s a bit too much? He is after all the head of the Rasiane family.”
“That’s why he needs to take it all the more. Because he is the head of the Rasiane family.”
Adrian’s eyes were full of mistrust, as he glared at Llewellyn.
What Adrian simply meant was that he could not trust a good for nothing member of the Rasiane family, so Llewellyn had to risk his life to earn his trust.
He brought up the Oath of Heart for this very reason.
“If it’s the Oath of Heart …”
Llewellyn muttered absent-mindedly. Rosenia was worried if he was taken aback by the oath too.
After all, if he took the Oath of Heart, his life would be tied up with Rosenia’s, and if she died, he would die too.
‘It will never happen. There’s no need for Llewellyn to take an oath like that!’
Why would Llewellyn be bound by an oath that will kill him if I die?
If he died without leaving an heir, the lineage of the Rasiane family would come to an end.
So forcing Llewellyn to take the Oath of Heart was just madness. Rosenia was sure Llewellyn would also probably refuse. He didn’t have to risk his life to get engaged…
“I’ll do it.”
… What?
Did I hear it wrong?
Rosenia stood in place and blinked her eyes, dumbfounded. Llewellyn said that with such a calm face, as if nothing had happened. It was as if he was saying something normal like, “I want to eat lemon pie today.”
“I have no intention of living without Rosenia anyway. If she leaves this world, I’d be happy to follow her. I’ll take the oath right here and right now.”
“Now, wait, Llewellyn? Are you crazy?”
When Rosenia looked at Llewellyn stupefied, he grinned back at her, as if the oath didn’t matter to him.
“I have always been crazy when it comes to you. I think I’ve already told you this a few times… Rosenia.”
“…”
“I am still crazy about you, and I will always be.”
Rosenia wasn’t the only one looking at Llewellyn in amazement. Lord Hill was also staring blankly at Llewellyn with a stunned look. Only Adrian kept glaring at him eerily.
“Duke Rasiane … You don’t have to take the Oath of Heart. Adrian must have told you to take it to test you.”
“No, I actually meant it.”
Adrian quickly refuted his father’s words. He got up from his seat and created a magic circle in an instant by drawing mana in the air. It was the magic circle to make an ‘Oath of Heart’.
“I sincerely hope that Duke Rasiane will take the Oath of Heart for Rosenia.”
Gleaming red eyes looked down at Llewellyn. However, Llewellyn did not shy away from his gaze. He slowly got up from his seat and put his hand on the magic circle.
The moment the blue mana touched his palm, Rosenia quickly reached out her hand. He looked at her in surprise when she yanked his wrist back.
“Rosenia …”
She hurriedly shouted at Llewellyn when he called her quietly.
“No! Keep your hands away from it! Taking such an oath is nothing but madness!”
If he took the Oath of Heart, he’d die when Rosenia would pass away.
But if Llewellyn died, she wouldn’t die … It was how the oath operated.
Two people could not take the oath for each other, only one could take the oath.
So even if Llewellyn took the Oath of Heart for her, she wouldn’t be able to reciprocate the same for him.
‘I hate that.’
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t want Llewellyn to die because of her. She also hated the fact that she couldn’t do anything of equal measure for him.
So she sincerely hoped that he wouldn’t take such a stupid oath, but Llewellyn’s eyes were unwavering and determined.
“It’s okay, Rosenia.”
“It’s not okay!”
“I can do anything for you. If I have to give my life for you, I would gladly do it.”
Llewellyn, who held her hand tightly, slowly lowered his head. Soon, warm lips touched the back of her hand. With his eyes tightly closed, Llewellyn kissed her hand for a while, and then he opened his eyes and smiled.
The emerald-coloured eyes that met her were quite sincere and calm.
“Because everything I own is already yours.”
“…”
That’s not fair, you lunatic!
Rosenia was stunned and with tears dripping down her cheeks, she hit Llewellyn wildly, then collapsed back on her seat. Llewellyn hugged her and patted her in silence.
Rosenia resented Adrian for bringing up the ‘Oath of Heart’, so she glared fiercely at him over Llewellyn’s shoulder.
“Then, Duke Rasiane … are you really going to do it?”
“Yes, so that I can get his permission.”
Llewellyn, who had soothed her enough, got up again and answered Lord Hill’s question, making Adrian cast a disapproving gaze on him.
When he flicked his hand, the blue light of the magic circle floating in the air became deeper. All preparations for the Oath of Heart were completed.
“Do you know how to go about it?”
At Adrian’s question, Llewellyn just nodded his head instead of answering. Rosenia had to watch, devastated, as his hand touched the magic circle again.
“I, Llewellyn Rasiane …”
Rosenia agonised about stopping that mouth from reciting the words of oath more than a dozen times, but even after doing such a thing, she knew the determined Llewellyn would just start over again.
Moreover, since he had already entered the realm of the oath, she could not interfere in the middle. That might put Llewellyn in danger.
“… So, my heart and my life are yours forever from now on, Rosenia Hill.”
Llewellyn stared at her and recited the final phrase. As he gently closed his eyes and smiled, Rosenia looked at him with mixed feelings.
What are you smiling at, you fool! To take such a crazy oath for real … I’m seriously at my wits end …
The magic circle, which began to glow white, split into two. One part flew towards her and the other to Llewellyn.
Her part of the magic circle had permeated into the back of her hand, but Llewellyn’s had permeated into the left part of his chest where his heart was.
It meant that Rosenia was now the owner of his heart.
“… It’s over.”
Adrian murmured quietly when the magic circle completely permeated and disappeared. Rosenia approached him, clenching her fist, and then hit Adrian hard in the chest.
Why is his chest so hard? It’s only my hand that hurts.
“…”
Adrian looked at her quietly as she scowled at him violently, tears welling in her eyes. His expressionless visage bore no expression. His calm expression irritated her even more. Rosenia felt that she was the only idiot who became emotional.
‘Jerk …’
Just when Rosenia was about to hit him again, Adrian grabbed her wrist tightly. Then he gently caressed her cheek with his other hand and spoke in a calm voice, “I have to do this to be sure that he won’t betray you.”
“…”
“You could’ve lived by my side for the rest of your life. Why did you choose that guy?”
What are you talking about, you lunatic …
His words were so absurd that they rendered Rosenia speechless.
“If it were me, I would definitely protect you.”
“…”
“… Even if you like him, don’t trust him too much, Rosenia.”
After saying that, he let go of her wrist and slowly walked away. She dropped her hands with a feigned smile.
Rosenia may not know anything else, but she was sure of one thing.
Adrian’s overprotection towards her was abnormal.
* * *
With Llewellyn’s oath, Adrian also gave his permission for the engagement, but Rosenia wasn’t happy at all. Rather, it left only a scar on her heart.
Did Adrian really have to do that? Even after knowing how important Llewellyn was to the Rasiane Duchy.
‘He’s also someone I like …’
Did he really have to make the person I like take an oath to die with me?
‘… Adrian Hill, you jerk.’
He says it’s all for me, but he never listens to any of my opinions.
Rosenia resented Adrian so much, but he was also her one and only brother, so she felt frustrated and depressed.
What on earth am I supposed to do? Why is Adrian always like that? I really …
“Rosenia?”
“…!”
Llewellyn’s voice brought her back to her senses and broke her chain of thoughts.
When Rosenia feigned a smile at him, he stared at her with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes were filled with concern for her.
Maybe this is why …?
Rosenia was momentarily stunned. Llewellyn always worried about her like this, but he did what she told him not to do.
‘Adrian and Llewellyn, they both just do as they please.’
Llewellyn tried to embrace her, but she pushed him away and wrapped herself in a blanket. Even though she was covered in the soft cotton blanket, she could feel the bewildered Llewellyn pause.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Rosenia, unconsciously, asked angrily.
Did you say Oath of Heart? Are you serious right now?
“You calm down, Rosenia. It’s anyway up to Llewellyn Rasiane to decide.”
“What? How can I calm down!”
She shouted, jumping up from her seat, and then shot Adrian a fierce glare.
Taking ‘The Oath of Heart’ was the same as sentencing Llewellyn to a short life!
“Adrian, asking him to take The Oath of Heart … Don’t you think it’s a bit too much? He is after all the head of the Rasiane family.”
“That’s why he needs to take it all the more. Because he is the head of the Rasiane family.”
Adrian’s eyes were full of mistrust, as he glared at Llewellyn.
What Adrian simply meant was that he could not trust a good for nothing member of the Rasiane family, so Llewellyn had to risk his life to earn his trust.
He brought up the Oath of Heart for this very reason.
“If it’s the Oath of Heart …”
Llewellyn muttered absent-mindedly. Rosenia was worried if he was taken aback by the oath too.
After all, if he took the Oath of Heart, his life would be tied up with Rosenia’s, and if she died, he would die too.
‘It will never happen. There’s no need for Llewellyn to take an oath like that!’
Why would Llewellyn be bound by an oath that will kill him if I die?
If he died without leaving an heir, the lineage of the Rasiane family would come to an end.
So forcing Llewellyn to take the Oath of Heart was just madness. Rosenia was sure Llewellyn would also probably refuse. He didn’t have to risk his life to get engaged…
“I’ll do it.”
… What?
Did I hear it wrong?
Rosenia stood in place and blinked her eyes, dumbfounded. Llewellyn said that with such a calm face, as if nothing had happened. It was as if he was saying something normal like, “I want to eat lemon pie today.”
“I have no intention of living without Rosenia anyway. If she leaves this world, I’d be happy to follow her. I’ll take the oath right here and right now.”
“Now, wait, Llewellyn? Are you crazy?”
When Rosenia looked at Llewellyn stupefied, he grinned back at her, as if the oath didn’t matter to him.
“I have always been crazy when it comes to you. I think I’ve already told you this a few times… Rosenia.”
“…”
“I am still crazy about you, and I will always be.”
Rosenia wasn’t the only one looking at Llewellyn in amazement. Lord Hill was also staring blankly at Llewellyn with a stunned look. Only Adrian kept glaring at him eerily.
“Duke Rasiane … You don’t have to take the Oath of Heart. Adrian must have told you to take it to test you.”
“No, I actually meant it.”
Adrian quickly refuted his father’s words. He got up from his seat and created a magic circle in an instant by drawing mana in the air. It was the magic circle to make an ‘Oath of Heart’.
“I sincerely hope that Duke Rasiane will take the Oath of Heart for Rosenia.”
Gleaming red eyes looked down at Llewellyn. However, Llewellyn did not shy away from his gaze. He slowly got up from his seat and put his hand on the magic circle.
The moment the blue mana touched his palm, Rosenia quickly reached out her hand. He looked at her in surprise when she yanked his wrist back.
“Rosenia …”
She hurriedly shouted at Llewellyn when he called her quietly.
“No! Keep your hands away from it! Taking such an oath is nothing but madness!”
If he took the Oath of Heart, he’d die when Rosenia would pass away.
But if Llewellyn died, she wouldn’t die … It was how the oath operated.
Two people could not take the oath for each other, only one could take the oath.
So even if Llewellyn took the Oath of Heart for her, she wouldn’t be able to reciprocate the same for him.
‘I hate that.’
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t want Llewellyn to die because of her. She also hated the fact that she couldn’t do anything of equal measure for him.
So she sincerely hoped that he wouldn’t take such a stupid oath, but Llewellyn’s eyes were unwavering and determined.
“It’s okay, Rosenia.”
“It’s not okay!”
“I can do anything for you. If I have to give my life for you, I would gladly do it.”
Llewellyn, who held her hand tightly, slowly lowered his head. Soon, warm lips touched the back of her hand. With his eyes tightly closed, Llewellyn kissed her hand for a while, and then he opened his eyes and smiled.
The emerald-coloured eyes that met her were quite sincere and calm.
“Because everything I own is already yours.”
“…”
That’s not fair, you lunatic!
Rosenia was stunned and with tears dripping down her cheeks, she hit Llewellyn wildly, then collapsed back on her seat. Llewellyn hugged her and patted her in silence.
Rosenia resented Adrian for bringing up the ‘Oath of Heart’, so she glared fiercely at him over Llewellyn’s shoulder.
“Then, Duke Rasiane … are you really going to do it?”
“Yes, so that I can get his permission.”
Llewellyn, who had soothed her enough, got up again and answered Lord Hill’s question, making Adrian cast a disapproving gaze on him.
When he flicked his hand, the blue light of the magic circle floating in the air became deeper. All preparations for the Oath of Heart were completed.
“Do you know how to go about it?”
At Adrian’s question, Llewellyn just nodded his head instead of answering. Rosenia had to watch, devastated, as his hand touched the magic circle again.
“I, Llewellyn Rasiane …”
Rosenia agonised about stopping that mouth from reciting the words of oath more than a dozen times, but even after doing such a thing, she knew the determined Llewellyn would just start over again.
Moreover, since he had already entered the realm of the oath, she could not interfere in the middle. That might put Llewellyn in danger.
“… So, my heart and my life are yours forever from now on, Rosenia Hill.”
Llewellyn stared at her and recited the final phrase. As he gently closed his eyes and smiled, Rosenia looked at him with mixed feelings.
What are you smiling at, you fool! To take such a crazy oath for real … I’m seriously at my wits end …
The magic circle, which began to glow white, split into two. One part flew towards her and the other to Llewellyn.
Her part of the magic circle had permeated into the back of her hand, but Llewellyn’s had permeated into the left part of his chest where his heart was.
It meant that Rosenia was now the owner of his heart.
“… It’s over.”
Adrian murmured quietly when the magic circle completely permeated and disappeared. Rosenia approached him, clenching her fist, and then hit Adrian hard in the chest.
Why is his chest so hard? It’s only my hand that hurts.
“…”
Adrian looked at her quietly as she scowled at him violently, tears welling in her eyes. His expressionless visage bore no expression. His calm expression irritated her even more. Rosenia felt that she was the only idiot who became emotional.
‘Jerk …’
Just when Rosenia was about to hit him again, Adrian grabbed her wrist tightly. Then he gently caressed her cheek with his other hand and spoke in a calm voice, “I have to do this to be sure that he won’t betray you.”
“…”
“You could’ve lived by my side for the rest of your life. Why did you choose that guy?”
What are you talking about, you lunatic …
His words were so absurd that they rendered Rosenia speechless.
“If it were me, I would definitely protect you.”
“…”
“… Even if you like him, don’t trust him too much, Rosenia.”
After saying that, he let go of her wrist and slowly walked away. She dropped her hands with a feigned smile.
Rosenia may not know anything else, but she was sure of one thing.
Adrian’s overprotection towards her was abnormal.
* * *
With Llewellyn’s oath, Adrian also gave his permission for the engagement, but Rosenia wasn’t happy at all. Rather, it left only a scar on her heart.
Did Adrian really have to do that? Even after knowing how important Llewellyn was to the Rasiane Duchy.
‘He’s also someone I like …’
Did he really have to make the person I like take an oath to die with me?
‘… Adrian Hill, you jerk.’
He says it’s all for me, but he never listens to any of my opinions.
Rosenia resented Adrian so much, but he was also her one and only brother, so she felt frustrated and depressed.
What on earth am I supposed to do? Why is Adrian always like that? I really …
“Rosenia?”
“…!”
Llewellyn’s voice brought her back to her senses and broke her chain of thoughts.
When Rosenia feigned a smile at him, he stared at her with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes were filled with concern for her.
Maybe this is why …?
Rosenia was momentarily stunned. Llewellyn always worried about her like this, but he did what she told him not to do.
‘Adrian and Llewellyn, they both just do as they please.’
Llewellyn tried to embrace her, but she pushed him away and wrapped herself in a blanket. Even though she was covered in the soft cotton blanket, she could feel the bewildered Llewellyn pause.
