“Do you really not remember?”
Elise hesitated to answer. Honestly, she couldn’t recall, but she didn’t want to disappoint Karan by saying so directly.
Where on earth was this place?
Elise observed her surroundings while pretending to brush her hair back.
A secluded alley at least four blocks away from the central square.
If you went out to the main street, there was a very old wine shop and a store that bought and sold second-hand goods.
A little further down was a market used by commoners, and nearby was a large carriage rental office.
While there weren’t strict class restrictions on entering shops, nobles tended to frequent the area above the wine shop, while commoners used the area below.
In other words, it was unlikely that Elise would have come here…
Why did it seem familiar?
As she was carefully trying to recall,
[From now on, you’re my pride. I hope I can become your pride someday too.]
A shiver ran through Elise’s body at this sudden fragment of memory.
A gleam appeared in Elise’s eyes. She scanned the surroundings.
“This… was the place.”
The place where a young, hurt Elise had hidden after running away from Viscount Worton, his wife, and Iris.
This is where she met young Karan.
“It seems you remember now.”
“You remembered too? Since when?”
Elise grabbed Karan. A splendid smile spread across Karan’s face.
“Well, I wonder since when?”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You should have told me.”
Elise’s eyes were moist as she looked up.
Karan kept quiet, unsure if she was upset or feeling sorry.
He believed that if it was truly a necessary and precious memory, Elise would find it on her own.
If she couldn’t remember until the end, that would be fine too.
It was enough that he remembered.
“Did you know I would come here?”
Elise wiped away the tears that were flowing sentimentally with the back of her hand.
“You used to come here when you ran away before. I thought this was like your hideout.”
We must have met quite often, it seems.
Elise couldn’t say those words. She had few memories of her childhood.
She thought it might be a self-defense mechanism.
While erasing bad memories, she had buried even the good ones.
The fact that these buried memories were surfacing now probably meant that her childhood was no longer a wound.
Or perhaps she had gained the courage to overcome even greater trials and wounds that might come her way.
“You know, Karan.”
Karan, who had been lost in memories for a moment, made a low “Hmm” sound.
“You kept all your promises.”
Karan tilted his head and met her eyes.
“You said you’d punish everyone who made me cry.”
Karan chuckled. Then he stroked Elise’s hair.
“You did that yourself. You punished them all before I had a chance to step in.”
Iris, Chase, and the Viscount and Viscountess Worton.
“I couldn’t have done it without you. It’s too late, but thank you.”
Elise bumped her forehead against Karan’s chest as if throwing a tantrum. Karan laughed softly and pulled the back of her head.
Elise fit snugly into Karan’s embrace. This position, where they fit together as if born as a pair, was simply comfortable for both of them.
“That’s what I should be saying. Thank you for growing up just as you are. Beautiful and kind.”
Elise wrapped her arms around Karan’s back without answering. He didn’t know. Elise had never been kind in either of her two lives.
She had lived selfishly both times.
The difference in results was simply due to making different choices at life’s crossroads.
From Chase to Karan.
The right answer for her life had been decided in her childhood, so why hadn’t she known it in her first life?
The person who called her beautiful even when her face was a mess with tears.
The person who willingly reached out to her when they first met.
The person who found the courage to stand up to bad people for her sake.
The person who risked his life to save her.
No matter how many times she relived her life, there would only be one such person in Elise’s life.
Karan.
Elise’s hands tightened around Karan.
Karan silently patted Elise’s back.
Having already experienced the emotional turmoil caused by waves of returning memories, he knew Elise needed time.
Elise listened to the loud beating of his heart and moved to inhale his intensified scent.
At times like this, Elise felt completely connected to him. In a different sense than in bed.
Perfect emotional communion.
Suddenly, a light went on in Elise’s mind.
She remembered that this was the place where she had last met Karan in her childhood. One by one, she recalled the words she hadn’t been able to say when they parted in a hurry.
“You know. There’s something I didn’t get to tell you back then.”
“What is it?”
As Karan spoke with his chin resting on top of Elise’s head, she felt the vibration of his words.
“You’re already my pride.”
Karan flinched.
It’s the first time she’s used informal speech, did it make him uncomfortable?
Elise squirmed to get out of his embrace. However, Karan held her even tighter, keeping her in his arms.
“I should have heard those words somehow.”
Karan let out a soft sigh. Fortunately, he didn’t seem upset. Elise rested her left cheek against his chest in relief.
Karan looked up at the sky visible between the alleyways.
If he had heard Elise’s words back then, Karan would have sought her out before she made the wrong choice with Chase.
He wouldn’t have left her in a painful life while struggling to earn the right to stand by her side.
“But you know, Karan.”
“Yes, tell me, Elise.”
“If that had happened, would I be your first love?”
Karan removed Elise from his embrace.
“You didn’t know?”
Karan pretended to be hurt. Elise’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
Karan brushed back her disheveled hair. He laughed helplessly.
He never thought he’d end up making such a confession, but this woman made him say all sorts of things.
“You are my first love. My only love. And my last love.”
Though his answer was as concise as if he were answering a quiz question, Elise’s heart was trembling so much it felt like it might jump out. Her jewel-like eyes and eyelashes trembled together.
“I won’t be greedy, but…”
Karan lifted Elise’s chin.
“I hope I’ll be your last.”
“Be a little greedy.”
“Huh?”
“You’re my first love too, and my only love.”
Chase was Elise’s greed. A choice made out of a desire to be acknowledged by Iris and the Viscount and Viscountess Worton. If it had been true love, Elise would have wished for his happiness even in her miserable dying moments.
She learned through her second life that true love is something you wouldn’t hesitate to give your life for.
This time, it was Karan’s eyelashes that trembled. He had received an unexpected gift. Karan’s chest swelled with overwhelming emotion.
“Karan, now’s the timing.”
Elise stood on her tiptoes.
“The timing for a kiss.”
Elise whispered. Further conversation was meaningless. Karan covered Elise’s lips with his own. A long kiss followed.
****
The winner of Bedrokka’s New Year’s treasure hunt was, of course, Karan.
Afterwards, a banquet open to all, regardless of social status, was held in the square.
Amidst the laughter and joy of everyone, Deboa and Jasmine kept apologizing to Karan and Elise.
“We’re so sorry! We really didn’t think we’d be chosen. It was just a joke, I swear!”
Though they had made a lot of money thanks to it, it wasn’t their intention.
Karan listened to their words with his usual expressionless face, while Elise said she’d let it slide this time but it shouldn’t happen again.
After all, Elise had benefited from participating in the treasure hunt game by regaining her memories and receiving a confession of first love.
“Understood. We’ll never misuse your personal information again! Now, let’s dance!”
Jasmine swayed her flexible body. Deboa also raised his hands high, poking the air with his fingers.
Elise’s face, which had been pretending to be angry, softened.
She looked around at the people gathered in the square.
There were so many people from Magnus and Tetris that it was hard to tell if this was Bedrokka, Magnus, or Tetris.
People from the three countries mingled freely.
Elise smiled contentedly and took both of Karan’s hands.
“Let’s dance too, Karan.”
He made a face as if he disliked the idea, but soon matched his steps with Elise’s.
As always, just as she wanted.
