Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Translator: Yonnee

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After wrapping up his call with Mercy, he glanced through the window to see that the moon was still illuminating the evening sky outside. Moonlight permeated through the windows, which were not covered by their curtains.

Albert drew nearer towards Rosé, who was sleeping on one side of the bed.

“Now, aren’t you sleeping well.”

It hadn’t been long since she started sleeping in this bed, but she was sleeping so well that it seemed like this had been her spot all along. She would be so nervous while settling into the covers, but while he pretended to sleep, she would relax almost instantaneously.

Albert lay down on his side of the bed. The sound of her even breaths next to him filled his ears. He turned to the side and leaned his head on Rosé’s back.

“You said you like my smile.”

I like everything about you. Everything including the things I couldn’t put into words.

You, who gradually brought color to my dull, colorless life. I like you.

From the moment you brought up the contract. When you showed me the expression you had when you said that you would never, ever touch me. During the times you laughed. As we ate together and read books together. Throughout all those times, I like you.

The moment they had entered the tower together, she told him that he should think of no better happiness than this. However, only a fool would have trusted the words of ‘that woman’, and he vowed that as soon as he’d get out of this tower, he would exact his vengeance against Rosteratu. That was the only way he’d be able to continue on with his life.

It was like that. Until Rosé Artius’ demeanor completely changed.

Ever since she changed, she had become his shelter. His salvation.

Living in the tower gave him a moment’s repose from all the malice and all the greed he had been surrounded by throughout his entire life. She was the one who made him realize what living truly meant. It was during the time he spent with her that he was truly happy.

Even though he knew that it was impossible for them to live here forever, he still wished that they could.

‘…And I’m reminded of something else.’

The time he had with Rosé reminded him of a memory from way back when. As he started to think about it more, that memory gradually became clearer.

Albert recalled the time he met that woman, when all he had was nothing but loss. He couldn’t find a single reason to continue living, but then she held his hand and made it possible for him to think that enduring and trudging ahead was worth it.

“You’re going to be happy someday. That’s why you have to live. Your life is worth living.”

Her smile resembled the clear daytime sky, and her tone and personality were exactly like that of the current Rosé Artius.

He recalled the dragon fledgling who had taken up space on the floor next to the bed. Such a precocious name like ‘Blanc’ didn’t suit it.

Albert was now under the strong suspicion that his childhood memories had been blocked. He was even suspecting that he was under a memory erasing spell. Having a vague idea of it, Albert soon stopped thinking about it.

In the end, she was going to leave him yet bring that dragon with her.

“…Maybe that’s why I’ve started to hate dragons even more.”

If she hadn’t become a dragon’s contractor, she wouldn’t be able to disappear so suddenly.

He had a fleeting thought that perhaps Rosé had overcome the ordeal then came to see him at that time in the past. However, that idea was wrong from the very beginning. Rosé and that woman were two separate people.

‘You’re all I need.’

Albert gently held a lock of Rosé’s hair, which was tickling his cheek, and soon, he brought it to his lips. Being so close to her yet not being able to touch her was torture.

His brows furrowed, and yet he smirked. At the end of the day, this, too, was a time they spent together.

After getting out of this place, there would be two weeks. Then, one month. This would be Rosé’s first and last grace period.

“Isn’t this much a long enough time for me to wait?”

His whisper reached Rosé’s ears. At this, she moved slightly.

As Albert exhaled quietly, he lay down, further away from Rosé.

If he was any closer to her now, he might be overcome by the urge to wake her up.

* * *

On the day of Rosteratu’s all-out attack, I automatically woke up as early as daybreak. I didn’t even need an alarm clock for that.

…I guess the day we’re getting out of this tower has finally come. We really are leaving now, but I don’t feel as delighted as I thought I’d be. It made my heart pound just thinking about Rosteratu and his 30,000 soldiers.

I mean, it’s not like they’re here to watch a concert or something. I stiffly sat up, as if my body had become a robot’s.

“You’re up early.”

In the middle of a sword slash, Albert greeted me. Those muscles, which I hadn’t seen for a long time now, made my eyes happy.

Even if a statue’s brought in here right now, I don’t think it would be as perfect as that hot bod over there.

Suddenly, I got curious.

…Did all the eggs I had boiled for him help? I did my best to cook those, y’know.

“Stop staring and go get changed.”

Albert smirked as he wiped off the sweat on his forehead with a towel. With beads of sweat trickling down the sides of his face, there was a hint of color blooming over his skin. The way his face was heated up lent itself into a languid, sensual atmosphere around him.

“I apologize, Prince. I don’t think I can look away.”

“From my body?”

“…If I say ‘Yes, that’s the case,’ would that put you in a bad mood?”

Praise for his body was something he considered another problem, but when asked, Albert just shook his head in response.

“It’s alright when it’s you. Then, I guess the answer is yes.”

“Yes.”

I’m an honest, straightforward woman, so I spoke without beating around the bush. Albert sheathed his sword into its scabbard and wiped his sweat away with his towel once more.

“You don’t have to stare so intently right now. You can continue looking later, so there’s nothing for you to worry.”

Albert promptly smiled at her with his eyes, then he went and hid in the bathroom.

…I can continue looking later, he said.

Look at what?!