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Published at 20th of May 2022 08:10:42 AM


Chapter 495

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Autumn was already approaching its end.

More than a month had passed since Roel and Charlotte returned to Rosa. Tori City’s Love Forest was covered in a layer of rose-red leaves. This was the final splendor of the Miura Trees before everything withered to the frost.

Under a rain of rose leaves, Roel and Charlotte leisurely strolled down a forest path with their hands in each other’s.

Grace and the other maids had stopped their footsteps a far distance away, gazing at the two lovers with gentle expressions. As much as they would enjoy following the two of them and immerse themselves in the sweet atmosphere, they weren’t about to overstep their boundaries.

They knew better than to become lampposts.

“All the best, young miss!”

Grace clenched her fists tightly as she cheered for Charlotte. The latter glanced backward and directed her a nod.

The brilliant rays of the noon sun had expelled some of the late autumn’s coldness, granting Charlotte the freedom to wear her favorite clothes without having to worry about catching a cold.

Charlotte was particularly fond of wearing her own designs during her free time, and today was no exception. Her style was at odds with mainstream fashion trends, but she was always to pull them off with such grace that few would criticize her unconventional choices.

She had chosen to go with a floaty white dress with a newly-designed crown anklet for this long-awaited date.

Beside her, Roel was wearing a fitting suit that could be described as formal casual. It was another one of Charlotte’s own designs, and it fitted the vibe of their romantic date.

The Rosaian authorities had initially intended to cordon off the entire forest upon their arrival, but Charlotte insisted on doing away with this security measure. She didn’t want her date with Roel to be built on others’ misfortune, and she was confident in her lover’s ability to protect her.

Roel could only sigh at Charlotte’s rose-tinted impression of him. That being said, he still went with her wishes.

It was a relief that it was already late autumn and there were much fewer tourists around. Surprisingly, they didn’t bump into anyone else while strolling through the forest.

While taking in the breathtaking scenery, the two of them also found joy in observing the little things happening around them. In particular, they saw many adorable squirrels scurrying around the sunlit forest to stockpile food for winter.

These sights brought a smile to Charlotte’s face. She was so excited that she even released Roel’s hand and ran up to some of these animals so as to take a closer look at them, just like a curious little child.

Roel calmly followed her around, making sure to keep her safe.

Ever since she had fallen ill, Charlotte had never shown such a radiant glow on her face. The debility she suffered from the affliction left her constantly fatigued that it was hard for her to find joy in anything. She couldn’t express her true feelings before Roel, so she chose to cover it up with a smile.

But the happiness she was showing now was real.

In fact, she had been in high spirits ever since their departure from the Hundred Birds Gallery.

Watching as Charlotte attempted to beckon the animals over to her, Roel had an inexplicable feeling that she was different from usual. Sensing his gaze, Charlotte suddenly raised her head to look at him.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“… No, it’s nothing,” Roel replied with a shake of his head.

It finally struck him what was different about Charlotte.

She seemed to be neither the noble young miss of the Sorofyas nor the dignified successor of the Rosa Merchant Confederacy today. She was Charlotte Sorofya today, nothing more and nothing less. She had temporarily placed aside all of her duties and responsibilities to reveal her deepest nature, making her seem more earnest than ever.

Her change evoked an indescribable feeling in Roel’s heart.

It felt like they had entered a paradise where they could forget all about the harshness of the real world and enjoy the innocence of a youthful romance. It was reminiscent of a budding first love between middle schoolers sheltered in an ivory tower. It was shallow but wonderfully sweet.

Roel found her change alluring, but it left him bitter too.

He felt more attracted to Charlotte than he ever had, but a heavy feeling loomed in his heart when he thought about the reason behind her change.

Many emotions flickered across his face before he managed to put a rein on his feelings. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing himself to forget about everything else and immerse himself in the present.

On the other hand, Charlotte was feeling vexed at being unable to attract the little animals.

“I don’t think I am well-liked by little animals,” she said.

“They’re probably busy scavenging for food,” replied Roel.

“I can’t get the birds in my Hundred Birds Gallery to warm up to me too. It really is weird. Don’t the legends always describe elves as being close to wild animals?”

Charlotte stared yearningly at the little animals who refused to approach her with disappointed eyes.

Roel blinked his eyes in surprise, not expecting to see such a childlike side to her. He contemplatively stared at Charlotte and the little animals hiding behind a tree.

With a slight flick of his finger, he released a weak pulse of mana into the surroundings. Seconds later, a jolt ran through the bodies of the little animals. Their little heads peeked out from behind the tree to look at Charlotte before suddenly scurrying toward her.

“Oh?”

The abrupt change in situation shocked Charlotte, but this rare show of intimacy coming from these little animals quickly made her heart swell in joy. She carefully stroked their smooth fur as a moving smile blossomed on her face.

Roel found his mood brightening up too.

The two of them took turns feeding the little animals before finally setting them go.

Charlotte quietly watched as the wild animals returned to the depths of the forest before snapping back to the present. She then directed a sharp glance at Roel, who immediately averted his eyes out of guilt.

“Ahem. I guess little animals do like you after all.”

“Are you sure? I’m pretty sure that a villain has coerced them to do that.”

“…”

Charlotte grabbed Roel’s hand, not giving him any room to escape. The latter sighed softly.

“I got busted, huh?”

“Of course. Despite my weakened state, I am still a transcendent. The least I can do is to sense mana. But how did you do that?”

“I got some help from Peytra,” Roel replied with a smile.

What he had done earlier was tapping into Peytra’s authority as the Queen of Saint Beasts. Other than the demonic beasts who had turned against Goddess Sia, it was well within her authority to summon any beasts at her whim.

Charlotte looked at him enviously, not knowing that he had such abilities too.

“Honestly, it’s nothing much,” Roel said.

“It’d be nothing much if we’re just talking about small animals… but I heard that children are like small animals too.”

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“Hm?”

“I’m saying that I might not be well-liked by children too,” Charlotte elaborated as she gloomily lowered her head.

Those words caught Roel by surprise, and he didn’t know how he should respond. This was a taboo topic for Charlotte right now.

Words relating to hope and the future were things that one absolutely shouldn’t raise before the terminally ill. Charlotte was so severely ill that she could very well fall asleep and never wake up again. Even her tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed, let alone having children. Talking about such distant possibilities would only stoke her sorrow and regret.

 

Of course, Roel was going to do everything he could to save her, but he still didn’t want to do or say anything that might upset her. Thus, after a momentary pause, he directed the conversation elsewhere.

“You don’t need more people to like you. Am I not enough?”

“Darling…”

Roel wrapped his arms around Charlotte and embraced her. It was rare for him to utter such domineering words, and it made Charlotte blush a little.

“Is it jealousy I’m detecting here?”

“You could say so. I want your mind to be filled with nothing but me.”

“You dumbo… it already is,” Charlotte murmured in response.

“!”

A jolt ran through Roel’s body, and he widened his eyes. The unexpected counterattack left him feeling embarrassed instead. He turned his head over to look at Charlotte, and he suddenly felt an inexplicable itch in his heart.

The sweet scent of romance gradually deepened. The two of them looked at each other without saying a word, their hearts beating rapidly.

“Darling, I…”

“Hm?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Charlotte hesitantly cut off her words halfway through, and she turned her head away. Roel was intrigued by her actions, but he decided not to probe on.

They spent a while in embrace before slowly releasing each other. They resumed their leisurely stroll down the rose-colored path afterward, but it was not that easy to calm their furiously beating hearts anymore.

For the rest of the day, Roel and Charlotte feasted their eyes on many sceneries they had missed out on their previous trip here. It was both sweet and heartwarming.

Charlotte did run out of energy halfway through the trip, but it was easily resolved through Roel’s princess carry.

She would have usually protested against such intimate gestures in public, but many things had changed over the past month. She had grown accustomed to this level of intimacy between them, refusing to come down even as she recovered from her fatigue.

Roel had also gotten used to dealing with Charlotte’s willfulness. He lowered his head and gently demanded a kiss in compensation before resuming their walk. Charlotte blushed furiously as he collected his fees, but she didn’t reject it.

They were both still at an age where it was normal to get embarrassed about such things, but their dynamic felt more like an old loving couple. It was a mysterious feeling for both of them, but they relished in it too.

Evening, Roel carried Charlotte back to the Diamond Rivière. They were welcomed with bright smiles from Grace and the other maids. The two of them shared a marvelous dinner before heading to a nearby observatory to rest.

After an entire day of activities, Charlotte succumbed to her exhaustion and fell deeply asleep. Holding her in his arms, Roel enjoyed the beautiful setting sun while stroking her silky long hair. He took a sip of wine prepared on the neighboring table and relished in the moment.

It was too early for him to rest when the sun had yet to set. On top of that, he had a feeling that the day hadn’t ended yet.

True to his premonition, Charlotte’s eyes fluttered around an hour later, rousing from her sleep. A sweet smile formed on her lips when she saw Roel lying right beside her. She looked at the darkened surroundings, followed by the half-emptied wine bottle on the neighboring table.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“I am. You had something to tell me.”

“You knew about it?”

“How long do you think we have been together for? You have been distracted for the entire day.”

Charlotte’s face reddened and she bit down on her lips. A moment later, she sat upright and turned to face Roel.

“… That’s because I was looking forward to it.”

“Looking forward to it? What are you referring…”

“Darling, I love you.”

“!”

The abrupt confession startled Roel. He could see the earnest feelings brimming in Charlotte’s emerald eyes, and it brought about a rush of emotions.

Charlotte did express her feelings for him from time to time, but this was the first time she was confessing to him in such a formal and solemn manner. There was no way he would be unmoved when his lover was saying such words to him.

“I love you too, Charlotte.”

After properly answering her feelings, Roel leaned forward and kissed her as if to apologize for having her make the first move. The sweetness of the exchange was tinged with the bitterness of alcohol, but it only further lit their feelings ablaze.

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It was a while later before their lips finally parted.

Gasping for air, Roel looked at the auburn-haired woman who had locked her arms around his neck. She was looking at him probingly with eyes filled with desire. He would have to be as dense as a rock to not understand the meaning behind that.

She was inviting him. Their current level of intimacy was no longer enough to satisfy her.

Yet, Roel hesitated at her silent invitation.

Charlotte’s condition was in its worst-ever state. The earlier walk was already more than enough to exhaust her, let alone anything more intense than that. Roel seriously doubted that her body would be able to take it even with the adrenaline rush from their feelings for each other.

Sensing his worry, Charlotte touched his cheek and reassured him.

“Darling, don’t worry about me.”

“But your body…”

“It’s because I’m already in this condition that I wish to do it.”

For the first time, Charlotte revealed a melancholic expression. She caressed his cheek as she continued on.

“I initially planned for something more elaborate, but I think it would only upset you more. I don’t know when my body will reach its limit. I might fall asleep tonight and never wake up again. That’s why, I want to make full use of today to fulfill my wish.”

“Charlotte…”

“Darling, I am yours. That has been the case from our birth. Our fate was decided a hundred years ago. The Goddess of Fate has intertwined our destinies together. I want you to understand that.”

“I get it. I do. You are my fiancée…”

“That’s right, I am your fiancée, your one and only fiancée. I want to fulfill my responsibilities as your wife for once,” Charlotte replied hoarsely.

Those words spoken with love and sadness tore down every last one of Roel’s mental defenses. With tears glistening in his eyes, he nodded. Then, he carried her up and brought her to a familiar bedroom.

This bedroom in the Diamond Rivière was a place cradling many of their important memories. This was where they had first shared a bed years ago, and they were going to share yet another important moment here.

Roel softly placed the fragile Charlotte down on the bed, but he immediately found himself at a loss as to where to start. Sensing his dilemma, Charlotte looked at him with a tender smile on her tear-stained face. She slowly opened up her arms, as if she was going to accept his entirety.

“Darling, don’t hold back. Entrust it all to me.”

“!”

The feelings Roel had suppressed for the longest of time gushed out like a torrential flood, devouring his rationality. Two bodies intertwined with each other, eventually becoming one.





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