Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Translator: Yonnee

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The unexpected confession rendered me speechless.

“He’s not a stranger to magic, but he still couldn’t overcome the pain. He took his own life.”

Albert didn’t learn magic by himself, but there was never a mention of his mentor in the novel.

This meant that he died a long time ago…

Almost each person who was close to Albert had already passed away. That might be why he still kept Greten around.

A human being’s way of thinking stems from their own experiences. I knew well enough where Albert’s fears came from.

But I want to show him that there can also be exceptions.

“I’m not going to die.”

I came forward and hugged Albert. I hugged him as tightly as I could. It felt like I was the one being comforted with this warm embrace.

“I won’t.”

I spoke again in a clear voice. If this could reassure him, then I’ll tell him over and over again.

“Truly, I won’t.”

Albert exhaled heavily.

With strength enough to almost crush me, Albert hugged me back. For a moment, the sound of his rough breathing filled my ears.

I think I heard this from somewhere—that people who smile a lot had a lot more wounds and scars within them than anyone would think.

He embraced me for a long time. Then, he held my chin.

Through the languid eyes, his gaze continued to be filled with warmth.

“Rosé, let’s kiss.”

His low voice tickled my ear. I tried to recall how he looked during the first time he suggested this. I think he was smiling. And he was relaxed, as he always was.

But now, he wasn’t smiling.

I nodded. And, as though he was only waiting for the signal, he leaned in close at once.

His scent surrounded me completely.

And it was an utterly different kiss compared to what we shared before.

As if he wouldn’t allow me to take a single breath, he tilted his head to the side and matched our lips. The long kiss did not end easily.

Clutching the hem of his shirt, I shuddered as Albert took off his lips for a very brief second. I took in a shaky breath as if I was a child drowning in water.

Albert let out a low chuckle, and it seemed as if he regained his composure at last.

However, as I thought that it was already over, the kiss continued anew.

Because after I took that short breath, Albert brought his lips upon mine once more.

I could feel my face turning beet red. Albert’s hold on the nape of my neck was much more meaningful than before.

“……”

Now with our lips a hairsbreadth apart, I breathed in and out for as much as I can. Albert gently rubbed my lower lip. Unlike the intense kiss, his touch was ever so soft.

His eyes were fixed on me.

“…It’s impossible now.”

I couldn’t tell whether he was talking to me or to himself.

When a knock came to the door, he let go of my chin.

“You’re not allowed to die, Rosé. Ever.”

As though chewing out the words, Albert said this as he leaned away. With the same composure from before, he looked as if nothing had happened just now.

“Prepare for our return.”

He opened the door.

Liam was standing there, and Schubert as well, who had a gaunt face.

* * *

After Rosé Artius left, Liam could instinctively tell that Albert was in a terribly bad mood. The reason was obvious. He didn’t have to ask.

He finished conveying his report amidst that stony silence. It was the last report Albert was going to receive before his return to the tower.

The coup was moved up, and it was proving difficult to gather people for the cause. The beheading of Marquis Evnen recently affected a lot of people.

Of course, there were still people who wanted to stand by Albert’s side, but there were some who couldn’t commit the act of treason against Rosteratu for fear that they might face punishment in case Albert wouldn’t win this battle.

In the meantime, Rosteratu was also gathering his soldiers to storm the tower. The first attacks had already happened without Rosteratu there. The original plan was to face him head-on, but with how differently things turned out, the casualties this time were at least projected to be much less.

“My sword.”

“It’s here.”

Liam held out Albert’s sword, which Schubert had retrieved.

It was a bastard sword[1] that was made just for Albert.

Unlike a regular sword, Albert’s sword could be infused with mana, and it was made to perfectly suit his height, weight and the manner in which he wielded the sword.

Albert took the mana sword from Liam.

He drew it out from its scabbard. With its sharp blade, the sword shone with a blue sheen. Albert traced one finger along the edge.

“Good job.”

“It’s nothing, sir.”

Albert didn’t choose the sword himself, rather, he ordered Liam to have it made while he was still in the tower. Anxious that the prince wouldn’t be pleased with it, Liam breathed out a sigh of relief.

All of a sudden, Albert asked.

“So, Rosé asked for your assistance?”

The question jabbed at Liam’s weak spot.

Liam blinked in a daze. As Albert was looking down at the sword while examining it, he looked up at the duke obliquely.

“Speak.”

The look in his eyes seemed to say that he already knew everything.

¹ bastard sword – a variation of a longsword which could be used with either one or two hands; it was given the name ‘bastard’ due to its ambiguous categorization, irregular traits and misleading appearance. ↩