The reason for visiting Dehan was clear—it was to ask, ‘Have you been tormented by the demons?’
Of course, knowing that the First Legion demons favored him, I assumed there wouldn’t be any major issues. However, I still worried that he might have suffered in places beyond their sight.
That was why I came to find Dehan without any particular plan…
“I like you.”
Wait, what?
This is not what I came here to hear.
“I like you, Lady Shekina.”
Of course, I knew.
I couldn’t say I hadn’t noticed Dehan’s feelings.
Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.
But I never expected such a direct confession. After all, the Dehan I knew—the one from my memories—was someone who only confessed right before I died.
And yet…
I didn’t know he already liked me!
Shekina clutched her flushed cheeks with both hands, screaming internally.
She had always thought Dehan admired her like a baby bird follows its mother. She had no idea he harbored such deep feelings.
Dehan was still just a child…
Oh, wait, he’s already fifteen.
That means he’s old enough to understand everything.
Realizing this, Shekina’s face turned even redder.
“Lady Shekina?”
“Ah, wait a minute!”
As soon as Dehan reached out his hand, Shekina instinctively stepped back. She wasn’t sure why, but her heart pounded wildly.
Thump. Thump. She could feel it racing.
Her face was burning up.
It’s not like this is the first day Dehan has had feelings for me, so why am I acting like this?
Shekina took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but oddly enough, her heart pounded even harder.
Maybe it was because this was the first time Dehan had confessed while she was still alive.
Shekina let out a sigh, trying to regain her composure.
“Okay, uh… I get it. I do. But I need you to think about it again.”
“…Huh?”
“I mean, you say you like me, but… isn’t it just because I’m the closest person to you? Have you ever considered that?”
“……..…”
Dehan’s face stiffened slightly.
He seemed somewhat shocked—both by how Shekina had taken a step back the moment he confessed and how she had immediately dismissed his feelings.
Dehan shook his head.
“If that were true, then the person I should like the most would be priest Yuriel. Or maybe Salmon.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“It’s okay if you reject me.”
Dehan took a step closer to Shekina, who stood frozen.
“But please, don’t deny my feelings.”
He smiled gently as he reaffirmed his emotions.
“I sincerely like you, Lady Shekina.”
So, in the end, Shekina couldn’t bring herself to respond.
She hadn’t anticipated this scenario at all.
And more than anything…
For the first time, her heart was pounding in a way it never had before.
‘Ah.’
This… might be a big problem.
Shekina tightly shut her eyes.
***
“Aww, so cute. The cutest. The best in the world.”
Calvin mumbled with a goofy grin as he hugged and stroked Sera tightly.
– Meooow!
Sera struggled, but Calvin, used to this routine, didn’t let go. Instead, he buried his face in Sera’s belly, sniffing happily.
“Ahh… this is true happiness….”
After soaking up happiness from Sera for a while, Calvin turned his head toward Shekina.
She had been sitting by the window all morning, staring off into the distant mountains. But something about her seemed different. As if she was more absent-minded than usual.
“Are you okay?”
Calvin brushed away the floating cat fur and asked.
“…Me?”
Shekina finally turned her head.
“Yes. You don’t look well.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“…Pardon?”
“Why do I look unwell? I feel amazing. I feel so great I think I could fly.”
Calvin quickly assessed the situation.
Hmm.
So, Shekina has finally gone mad.
He had been wondering when it would happen. Turns out, today was the day.
With pity, Calvin clicked his tongue.
“Should I bring you some medicine? Something for calming the nerves?”
“Me? Why? No, I’m fine. Really.”
“…Uh, sure.”
Shekina, completely unaware of Calvin’s exasperated expression, turned back toward the window.
It had been a day since Dehan’s confession.
And ever since then, Shekina had been like this—mentally checked out.
– I sincerely like you, Lady Shekina.
She knew.
She had always known that Dehan liked her.
After all, wasn’t that something she had learned from living through the past decades?
But… somehow, this time, it felt different.
Dehan didn’t seem to be acting according to a predetermined script.
This time, it felt like he was truly following his heart.
‘And that’s what’s driving me crazy.’
Shekina let out a long sigh, tilting her head back.
She was caught between two major dilemmas.
With things as they were, her plan to throw away the role of Dehan’s lover and live was in ruins.
Now, she was stuck being ‘Dehan’s lover’—which meant she was one step closer to death.
I had struggled so desperately just to survive…! Damn it…!
And on top of that, my second problem was—
‘Why does my heart keep racing?’
Shekina had lived for a long time. She had repeated endless regressions and reincarnations, living through countless lives.
So, she had a vague understanding of what she was feeling right now.
‘Do I… like Dehan too?’
A chilling sensation ran through her, as if the blood was draining from her face.
No, of course not.
She liked Dehan, but she had always thought of it as a simple fondness.
Like “He’s such a hardworking kid. Poor thing. Alright, let’s do our best together to survive.”
That’s all it was—at least, that’s what she thought.
But ever since he confessed, her heart hadn’t stopped racing, and she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
‘Does that mean I still like Dehan?’
The situation was starting to feel more serious than she had anticipated.
“Ugh… ah… Stupid Shekina.”
She buried her head in her arms and groaned.
After everything—after dying because of Dehan, after swearing never to repeat the same mistake—was she really falling for him again?
Argh!
“No. No. This must be a misunderstanding. I was just caught off guard and surprised, that’s all.”
Shekina muttered to herself, shaking her head as if casting a spell on herself.
“So it’s fine. I don’t like him. I don’t like him, and I won’t die. That’s not me. That’s not me….”
With enough self-persuasion, the overwhelming emotions started to settle.
Yes. That was the right answer.
She didn’t like Dehan. She could ignore his feelings.
That’s all she had to think.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m totally fine…!”
If she just avoided Dehan for a while, it would be easier to sort out her emotions.
The thought reassured her a little, and she even managed a small smile.
She felt like she had finally solved the problem that had been bothering her.
But then—
“Lady Shekina, are you here?”
Dehan entered the room.
“Ack!”
Shekina flinched in surprise, her shoulders tensing.
“There you are.”
Dehan smiled brightly as he walked toward her, holding out a neatly wrapped bouquet of violets. The fresh scent filled the air.
“I was looking at these and thought of you… so I brought them.”
Shekina opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“You… you…!”
How could he look so calm?
She had been agonizing over this since yesterday, but he seemed completely unfazed!
Shekina stared at Dehan with a mix of frustration and disbelief.
Dehan tilted his head, then curved his lips into a knowing smile.
“Oh, are you wondering if I feel embarrassed about visiting after confessing to you?”
He scratched the back of his head, then took another step closer to her.
“Well, that’s because you don’t like me.”
He gently placed the bouquet in her arms.
“So, I’ve decided to work on making you like me.”
The rich scent of flowers filled Shekina’s senses, overwhelming her.
“I won’t give up.”
