<Episode 116>

“Brother, it’s not my will to love someone or not.”

“I-I know that.”

“Then why would you wish for something like that?”

Abellard was in a state where he desperately wanted to see Eveline’s face, yet didn’t want to at the same time. He was crying so hard it was difficult even to speak.

But Eveline waited quietly until he could.

“I… I just want a chance.”

“……”

“If I hadn’t met you as family… if that were the case, then maybe I could’ve…”

“Brother.”

“Yeah.”

Eveline spoke as she watched Abellard’s tears drip onto the floor.

“Even if you had that chance—if I still didn’t love you—then wouldn’t all your sacrifice be meaningless?”

“I-I know… but if there’s no other way, what else can I do?”

He lowered the arm that had been covering his face and looked at Eveline.

Elkais, watching his tear-filled eyes—eyes that uncannily resembled Eveline’s—grimaced and couldn’t say anything.

He had originally intended to push the man away coldly and chase him off…

“I wish… I wish I were Elkais instead.”

“Brother.”

“Then maybe you would love me too.”

At those words, Elkais let out a quiet sigh. Eveline spoke again.

“If I hand over all my power, I don’t know how long it’ll take to control it. It might even take a thousand years.”

“I know…”

Eveline felt a pang in her chest, seeing Abellard’s swollen eyes barely open, his pale blue irises glistening with tears in the dark.

“What if… we shared the power in hundred-year intervals?”

“…What?”

Elkais suggested it, fearing that if things continued like this, Eveline might pity Abellard and say something she’d regret. After all, sympathy could turn into love.

“If we set a hundred-year restriction, the power will eventually return anyway. Let’s pass the power to Abellard for a hundred years, then pass it to me after that. How about that?”

Eveline looked at Elkais, wondering if he was being serious. But he appeared completely sincere.

It was as if he was reluctantly choosing this path—yet also wishing for it.

“What if… during that time, I end up loving my brother?”

“I trust you, Eve.”

“I… I trust you too, Elkais.”

Eveline’s voice trembled as she spoke, her heart oddly warm at his words.

“Then… shall we do that?”

“Yeah.”

Abellard asked, finally stopping his tears. If it gave him even a sliver of a chance, he’d take it.

But unlike Abellard, Elkais was more cunning, and there was a flaw in this method—one that Abellard failed to notice.

There was no rule saying Elkais couldn’t approach Eveline while Abellard had the power.

“Then give me the power.”

“Not now. In the morning.”

“Why?”

“I’m too tired right now.”

“Alright.”

Abellard immediately brightened, smiling widely. But seeing that cheerful smile on his still-swollen face made Eveline uneasy.

“I’ll come in the morning.”

“Come during the day.”

“Okay!”

And with that, Abellard left, in much better spirits.

Click.

As the door shut, Elkais wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and buried his head in her shoulder.

“Why did you make a bet like that?”

“You said you trust me.”

“Yes.”

“Then trust me just a little more. I have not the slightest intention of losing you.”

“You think someone like me can be taken away that easily?”

“No.”

At Eveline’s words, Elkais relaxed and leaned against the bed as if collapsing, inhaling her scent.

But even so, he knew Eveline still felt pity for Abellard.

She was bad at rejecting people—but not a cold-hearted person.

* * *

Eveline woke up late the next afternoon, and the moment she stirred, she frowned at the hard surface she felt against her face.

That firm wall pressing against her cheek was something she’d experienced before. Like a rubber raft inflated to its limit—stiff, yet oddly squishy if you bit into it. A strange sensation.

She opened her eyes, realizing her cheek was pressed against his chest.

“You should’ve woken me if I was up.”

“How could I wake you when you were sleeping so peacefully?”

Eveline smiled as she looked at Elkais, unsure when he’d woken up. Then, snuggling deeper into his arms, she murmured,

“Once we hand over the power, we really are going to be doing it every day.”

At her words, he swallowed hard. Seeing his Adam’s apple bob, Eveline chuckled and pulled away from his arms.

“Five times a day.”

“Are you crazy? I’ll die from exhaustion.”

“I’ll make sure you don’t.”

Even though he answered so nonchalantly, Eveline just laughed in reply.

“And yesterday, when I said let’s do it, you refused.”

“Better to hold back than watch you cough up blood and faint the day we get engaged.”

Elkais chuckled like air deflating and hugged her briefly before letting go.

With that, they got up and began getting ready.

It was around 2 p.m., when the sun had just started drifting past its peak, that Abellard finally arrived.

He came with a look of grim determination, as if fully prepared.

The moment he stepped into Eveline’s room, he greeted her with a bright smile.

“I thought about the contract terms.”

Elkais tensed slightly at that.

“Since we’re going to share the power in hundred-year intervals, what if Eveline’s feelings change in between?”

“Right?”

“Then if she wants to come back, everything reverts. How about that?”

“…Sounds good.”

Elkais figured Abellard still had no clue about his real intentions and let him continue.

“And when it’s time to transfer the power…”

“Yes?”

“We agree to meet once a week. No matter what.”

“Alright.”

Eveline glanced at him, checking if he had more to say, but Abellard simply smiled at her as if that was it.

“I’m really happy, you know. That you’re giving me a chance.”

“I’m the one giving you that chance, you idiot.”

At Abellard’s words, Elkais felt that suppressed impatience flare up again. He trusted Eveline—but not Abellard beside her.

Still, he’d rather respect her choice and her will than bind, doubt, or cage her. He trusted her—perhaps more than he trusted himself. He believed she wouldn’t waver.

“Alright then, let’s go ahead with it.”

“Yeah.”

As Abellard reached out his hand, Eveline spoke.

“But I have a condition too.”

“What is it?”

At her firm expression, Abellard tensed up slightly.

He tried to stay objective, but Eveline was dressed in a simple ivory gown that couldn’t hide her curves, and to Abellard, she was the most beautiful person in the world. Naturally, he got nervous.

Noticing his look, Elkais shot him a glare, barely suppressing his murderous intent.

“If you try to kill Elkais by any means, I’ll die too.”

“…What?”

“If Elkais dies, I die. Got it?”

“I… that…”

“Is that a problem?”

Abellard looked down, visibly shaken, and muttered,

“It’s because of what I did last time, right?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t hesitate to answer, and he could only nod, accepting it.

Truth was, he had thought about that possibility. So even while agreeing, he couldn’t fully hide the regret from his face.

But he decided to look on the bright side. Most importantly, he was getting a chance.

With effort, he smiled brightly again and said,

“Then I’ll make sure these next hundred years are the happiest of your life.”

“…Sure.”

Elkais scoffed and muttered,

“Get on with it already.”

“Don’t order me around. I was about to!”

Abellard scowled at him and pouted. Eveline sighed and stepped back from the two, saying,

“Who knows? In two hundred years, I might change my mind and fall for someone else entirely.”

“No way.”

“Not happening!”

Eveline laughed as the two of them shouted in panic, their faces pale.

“So stop fighting.”

“Fine, let’s make peace.”

“Yeah, peace.”

At Elkais’ words, Abellard quickly nodded in agreement.

Then, with a relieved sigh, he said,

“Let’s begin.”

“Okay.”

Abellard stepped closer to Eveline.

“I, Abellard, heir of the goddess Yulias, will hold the power of the three gods for one hundred years, and promise to return it at any time, should Eveline Wilden wish it.”

“My condition too.”

“Oh—right.”

Eveline pointed out what he almost skipped over, and only then did he laugh awkwardly and continue.

“If I kill Elkais, Eveline dies too… and if that happens, I’ll just die with her!”

“Pfft…”

Eveline couldn’t help but let out a laugh as he suddenly shouted halfway through his statement.

“Okay, that’s it!”

Right then, white beams of light shot from Eveline and Elkais’ arms toward Abellard.

He stared blankly, then extended his arm to receive the power.

And just like that, both Eveline and Elkais watched as the divine power they held transferred to Abellard—and smiled.

Elkais smiled because now, he could truly start a family with her. Eveline smiled because she knew exactly what kind of ambitious thoughts were probably swirling in Elkais’ eyes right then.