After that, nothing much changed in my daily life. Other than the Norma constantly coming and going, watching my every move, the surroundings of the castle were peaceful, almost too quiet. Such considerate and gentle confinement.
“What kind of scene is this…?” I muttered quietly, leaning my head out the window.
“Huh? Why are you out here?”
There were always guys who would rush over to me like puppies every time I poked my face out of the window.
“Hmm, you are…?”
The problem was that they changed every day, so I couldn’t tell who was who.
“What’s your name?”
“Crocell.”
Among the things I learned while observing them was that they all had another true form. For example, Beleth, who had to collapse holding his neck for no reason, was a cat with a bead on its neck. I remembered him because I had met him in the underground guild, so I recognized him even in his true form.
“What’s your true form?”
“I’m also a cat.”
No wonder he had a cold demeanor. It was quite cute to hear him say, ‘I’m also a cat,’ with his cold eyes. But unlike Beleth, this cat seemed to lack any affection.
Will Redian change like this too?
Hmm, I initially imagined him as a black wolf with bluish eyes… But now, why do I think of a white fox?
“Does your master change forms like you?” I asked Crocell as I propped my chin on my hand.
The devils had different personalities; some ignored my questions, and some answered honestly. So, when I casually threw the question like today…
“Our lord is always in his perfect form. Though he may differ from before and after his fall.”
Sometimes, one would get caught. If it had been before, I might have wondered, ‘Fall? What does that mean?’ But I was starting to understand these terms. Although I still didn’t fully understand who I was, I was beginning to grasp the world around me.
“So, do you know what I am, the master of your master?”
“Of course, you’re the goddess.”
Ah, damn it… I hoped it wasn’t that.
This one must have an overly honest personality.
“If I were the goddess, wouldn’t it be strange for us to be chatting in the same space like this?”
We should be killing each other, not chatting under the warm sun. Good and evil, happiness and pain, light and darkness can’t coexist in the same space. It’s basic common sense.
“That’s what love is.”
“…”
“Happiness and pain, betrayal and trust, only love can coexist with these.”
“Well… that’s true.”
A goddess learning about love from the devil, could this situation be real?
“Yes, love is amazing.”
Love, love. As I repeated the word, I thought of Redian out of habit. Lately, he’s been telling me he loves me very often. He acted as if I taught him about love, but who knows?
I saw love in Redian’s claim that he loved me. So, who is teaching whom about love? Anyway, I still don’t get that cheesy word.
I soon shook off my thoughts. The warm, fuzzy feeling was always useless and dangerous.
“If you need anything, please tell me. I’ll prepare it for you.”
Crocell’s voice interrupted my thoughts, indicating that my neck was out too far.
“The wind is cold. Please come inside.”
In fact, I had been planning a few more escape shows but was resting because it was too bothersome. Just poking my face out even caused a commotion in the entire castle, which was exhausting.
“Our lord is worried.”
“If your lord loves and worries about me so much, why is he so desperate to devour me?”
It was at that moment.
“Do you really wish to be devoured?”
In an instant, the curtains closed, darkening my view.
“I always want to do that, to be honest…”
All the world’s noise ceased, leaving only Redian’s voice.
“But I’m restraining myself because I’m afraid you will hate me, Master.”
He didn’t even bother to hide his power, indicating he had no intention of concealing his presence.
“It’s time for you to rest.”
“It’s still early evening, Rere.”
Turning my head, I saw Redian standing there, his hair neatly combed. He had just washed, as evidenced by the remaining dampness.
“I heard you didn’t have a proper meal today either.”
These days, most of our conversations went like this.
“I want the lemon cake from the central square.”
“I’ll bring it to you tomorrow morning. Anything else?”
Seemingly mundane, yet far from ordinary.
“What about Francis?”
“Francis has been serving you for over two days. I’ll send Inein next.”
As expected, he didn’t trust even his subordinate, Norma, whom he was soul-bound to, changing faces daily. Indeed, power and authority are truly the best.
“Well, something else then,” I answered, watching Redian skillfully grip my ankle. “Hmm, come to think of it, I want Raphiel’s apple pie from Pronaea.”
“…Ah.”
My ankle had suffered a slight sprain from a recent escape show. It was nothing serious, but Redian, being very perceptive, insisted on treating it.
“Your left ankle is still quite swollen, Master.”
“…”
However, there were times when the perceptive Redian would change the subject.
“You still need to rest more.”
Just like now.
Whenever I showed signs of wanting to leave this place or go outside, I could sense his tension.
“Rere, I’m fine.”
However, ignoring it out of laziness could only go so far.
“You said I could do whatever I want and go wherever I want, right?”
“…”
“The reason I’m staying here is the same. Not because of you or Norma, but because I want to be here.”
Having rested enough, it was time to start my plan.
“I have somewhere I need to go myself.”
At that moment, the gaze between us broke. He was the first to look away, lowering his head.
“Master’s foot, it’s not fully healed yet.” His blue eyes showed no emotion as he looked at my ankle.
“Redian, I need to go to the Sea of Ananke.”
“…”
There was no point in beating around the bush.
“I need to go there to find my memories. You know better than anyone that my memory isn’t clear.”
“No, Master.”
After a long silence, Redian’s lips moved. The surroundings were quiet, and his hand still wrapped around my ankle.
“You remember me.”
As always, his voice was gentle but somehow persistent…
“Isn’t it enough to only remember me and our memories?”
“No, it’s not.”
Even if it led to a futile answer, I needed to know. Why was I trapped in this world, and where did I need to go next?
“After all, the only thing you’re seeing right now is me. I’m the only one in your past and present…”
Redian slowly lifted his head.
“I’m the only one in your future, so just rely on me.”
The look in his eyes as they met mine was quite sharp.
“I’ve been trapped in the world you created until now.”
“…”
So I answered, stroking his hair.
“How long will you blindfold my eyes and cover my ears, Redian?”
I now knew that my many lives and endless reincarnations were all connected to him. I also knew that the world I thought was mine was his creation and that he would be at the end of this destination.
“What if you don’t come back this time?”
“…”
“You always abandoned me, Master.”
His calm voice sounded chilling.
“In the moment I loved you most and trusted you most.”
His eyes, looking at me, were trembling slightly.
What a crybaby.
The problem was that Redian was no longer scary or unfamiliar to me. He, who used to be unfazed by anything, now seemed like he would shed anxious tears at a slight push from me.
“…I just want to rest, Master.”
As I stayed silent, Redian spoke first. His soft breathing sounded unstable.
“Come here,” I called Redian to my bed. I hadn’t indulged his tantrums much while I was here, but today, I had no choice.
“Don’t cross this line.”
“…”
Feigning indifference, I lay at the edge of the bed, turning my back to him.
We used to sleep in the same bed just fine. Then I had to bite my lips to say, ‘Don’t cross this line.’ There were times when I treated his bare body, and it wasn’t just once or twice that we fell asleep in the same bed!
Why did I say something like that?
Why did the thought of being close to him make my ears itch?
Could it be… I see Redian as a man?
Ha, that’s ridiculous.
I placed him by my side because his expression seemed unstable. It had been a long time since I felt someone else’s emotions through their expressions. This newfound empathy was overwhelming.
“I just… wish it could be just you and me, Master.”
Redian’s voice came from behind me.
“I don’t need to be the Crown Prince of Meteora or be confined in the underground castle again.”
His warmth reached me, making the distance meaningless.
“I thought if I climbed higher, I could have all of you…”
At the same time, my heart started pounding loudly.
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