Chapter 238

To my world

The tone was patronizing. As expected, I could not hide my surprise, but I soon calmed down.

“Then maybe…….”

G.o.d gave a nod at my ensuing question. That means it was possible.

Soon, after a few more talks, G.o.d sent me back. It was not my original world, but the place where I had been before, the s.p.a.ce where Ricdorian and the roses had been.

“Iana? Iana!”

As soon as I descended into the s.p.a.ce, Ricdorian saw me and came running. He paused for a moment when he saw the light spreading behind me. I came closer for a moment.

“Ricdorian, I’m here to say goodbye.”

I don’t know what kind of message this will be. I just smiled broadly. Saying that, Ricdorian’s face seemed to blur, and soon tears welled up again. The neat face seemed like it would fall out of my eyes at any moment.

“I…… I don’t want to, Iana. Without you…… my life…….”

“Ricdorian.”

“I don’t want to. Iana. There’s no point in living without you. I don’t want to…….”

“RIcdorian.”

Calling out to him firmly, I grabbed his cheeks. Eyes full of tears looked at me.

“Will you give me a chance to talk too? I haven’t said anything yet. What kind of message will this be.”

In the future, his answer will determine what kind of goodbye this will be. I smiled sweetly and finally spoke.

“You see, Ricdorian.”

Now, this question may be a question that will shake all of his life and the basis of ut.

“What would you…… give up for me?”

Ricdorian, whose cheeks were held by me, blinked. Then, he smiled broadly as if he had thought of something crazy. It was a dazzlingly bright smile.

“Everything.”

He didn’t even hesitate for a second before he said that. Like he spoke of something natural.

Even if G.o.d said it was okay to take any soul, there should not be a hint of hesitation. All he had to give up was everything he had accomplished in this world. He was going to the unknown.

I slowly turned my head.

There stood Francia and Lenag. I went to Francia first after alternating between the two.

“Francia.”

The time G.o.d gave me was not that long. Francia spoke first before my words came.

“I will stay here. Sister.”

“…… What?”

Francia seemed to meet Lenag’s gaze for a moment, then she took a step forward.

“I don’t know why, but someone whispered in my head. Someone has to stay here and balance it out. That way, Sister doesn’t get lost and can come back this way?”

She said that and smiled.

“They seem to be kind enough to Sister to do something for Sister that is difficult to say.”

She said she was relieved, and added one more word.

“Me and the Yellow Rose will protect this place.”

“…… I have not expressed a single word of my opinion, White Rose.”

“What. Didn’t you hear that too? Is there more than me and you when the terms are just needing two people?”

“…….”

Lenag was silent for a moment and looked away. Instead of answering Francia, he seemed to have chosen to turn to me.

Francia clicked her tongue and stepped aside. It didn’t take long for Lenag to fill the spot.

He hesitated, but carefully stretched out his hand. Even so, his hand could not reach me. I reached out and took his hand. He then grabbed my hand and bowed his head.

“You are back. I,”

He paused for a moment, like his throat was choked.

“Miss, I …….”

His lips lingered on the back of my hand for a long time. I pretended not to know what had flowed down his cheek.

“I will remain as your milestone.”

I thought he was the same till the end. Even though his farewell was so simple, he was considerate of me until the end.

“Take care of yourself. Until I come back.”

I answered softly and smiled.

“I will definitely come back.”

“…… Yes. I’ll wait. My King.”

I don’t think I’ll ever forget those eyes without gla.s.ses.

“Sister, My king.”

Francia came over and held me tightly in her arms. The hug felt childish, wanting to be hug rather than be the one who hugged.

“I will always be by your side.”

I closed my eyes tightly in her arms.

Eventually, the given time pa.s.sed. The bluish light promised by G.o.d enveloped Ricdorian and I. It is said that the shorter the parting is better. But even though I know that I will come back someday, the parting that is too short leaves a scar on my heart.

That’s how I left the world together and crossed the dimension.

***

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a very familiar huge building.

Neither the old-fashioned mansion nor the majestic castle were in sight.

Those walking down the street did not wear uniforms with sharp swords or maid uniforms with lace.

A little stuffy air filled my lungs. Only then did I realize that I had come to another world.

Everyone glanced at us as they pa.s.sed by us. There were also those who looked at me in daze.

Maybe…… Rather than me, it seemed that the person next to me took their attention.

When I turned my head, there was a man who couldn’t take his eyes off me. His eyes were fixed only on me.

“Hey, Ricdorian.”

“Yes.”

“That…… Do you want to look around? It’s a different world.”

“…… Should I?”

“Oh, is it not amazing?”

“Amazing……. I don’t know what’s amazing, but I like having Iana by my side.”

When I took his hand, he held my hand immediately.

“Your hair is black, Iana.”

“Yes. Why is yours the same…….”

Why is he the only person who remains the same and did not look like a person from this world?

“You know, think carefully. Now that it’s just the two of us, I’ll be alone with you all day, so what if you get tired of it?”

Ricdorian tilted his head.

“I don’t think I’ll be bored all day just by looking at Iana.”

I burst into laughter at those words.

“Um, that sounds good. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I don’t feel like I’m familiar with the neighborhoods?”

This was the world I used to live in. However, I had become a person who no longer had any family or relatives here. My gutted chest hurt. Strangely, it really hurts.

“G.o.d has no conscience. There are many things to consider, such as resident registration…… real estate…… Ah, really.”

“Um, I’ll do something about it.”

“No, this is a little shameless, but I have to tell G.o.d to take responsibility. It is fortunate that at least our right to live was guaranteed.”

I smiled and turned my head.

“Then, shall we go?”

Maybe my family won’t remember I’m here. Because the traces and existence of ‘me’ who lived in this world had disappeared.

I have only vague memories of having a family. There was a feeling of emptiness in the place where those memories had gone. Regret was stuck there too. And a sharp pain. It will probably be a pain for the rest of my life.

But I accepted my choice.

Now all that remains is to live with this man who gave up everything for me.

“Um, Ricdorian. There will be a lot to adapt to in the future.”

“Yes.”

“Ah. Should I start with a name? Something like Cheol-sik, Cheol-su. Sorry.”

“I don’t know what you’re sorry about, but everything is fine, Iana.”

The hand holding me was firm. We moved with light steps toward his and my house, which G.o.d gave as a last favor.

“Anywhere with you. And whatever. All good.”

Under the pouring sunlight of an early summer day.

“Oh, I guess it’s here. Not a bad place.”

An unfamiliar house. When I open the door, what comes next to me is a smile as bright as this fresh sky.

A rose in full bloom who loves me.

No, three roses.

And the man I love

“How about it? It’s not a fancy castle, though. I will make it not bad for the Grand Duke to live in.”

“It’s okay to sleep on the ground if Iana and I are together. But I can’t put Iana to sleep on the ground. I’ll do anything. And let me serve you.”

“What is it, then shall we serve each other?”

The cost of choice was harsh, but I did not regret it. I will protect my solid ground.

“I love you.”

I stopped.

“I really love you, Ricdorian.”

Blinking his eyes for a moment, he immediately leaned his upper body.

When I closed my eyes, his lips, rough and close to raw, dug into me. An impatient but loving gesture.

I finally escaped all the prisons that held me.

After this escape, there will be a path that I will make.

“Haa, I love you too. Iana.”

And the name of that path…….

“Forever.”

Happiness.

After the long kiss, I saw a neat face dyed red.

“The days are going to be long. To see your face.”

His face, open like a forget-me-not that had just bloomed, was full of joy.

“…… Will the days be long?”

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s something to say while blushing, Ricdorian.”

I laughed because I loved the man who blushed and always made shy confessions like the day we first met.

“Ricdorian. Maybe the moment right before being happy is more valuable than the happy moment itself.”

I was happy.

“Because I am full of expectations that I will be happy all the time.”

My rose, who had been smiling brightly, kissed me again.

“Ricdorian, someday…….”

The day when the flowers had just withered and the green summer leaves were fluttering down.

“I will propose on the day we return to our world.”

To you.

The day you and I love will continue to be the same.