Chapter 453
Chapter 453
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 453
Chapter Title: Journey (2)
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1.
Amelia didn't bounce around with joy in front of Siwoo as he accepted her travel proposal.
She didn't flash a knowing smile like she'd expected it, nor did she blush bright red and twist her body bashfully.
She simply turned away with a blank expression, just like when she'd demanded to travel together to Border Town long ago.
Her profile as they walked side by side was utterly unreadable, an impenetrable mask.
Siwoo's most familiar side of Amelia had emerged—her Autonomic Magic, the poker face, in full effect.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Amelia responded to Siwoo's unwavering gaze.
Something's off...
The mood felt different from what he'd anticipated.
The night before, Siwoo and Amelia had shared a heartfelt conversation, unraveling long-standing misunderstandings and lingering resentments over hours of talk.
Stale love-hate had turned to pure affection, and the unbridgeable gap between them had closed into an intimate embrace.
How could he stay still upon learning that his ex, who'd parted on bad terms, had regretted her mistakes, felt remorse, and even gone to Russia to catch king crabs to cover his surgery bills?
If Cohav and Countess Albireo hadn't interrupted midway, they might have shared a lingering kiss amid that tender atmosphere.
And yet...
What was with this distance?
He was walking alongside her, sure, but he had no idea where they were headed.
Amelia wasn't even meeting his eyes, just staring straight ahead and marching steadily. Five minutes of silence had already stretched on.
"Ah..."
Maybe...
The timing had gone completely off the rails?
Let him think this through again.
His connection with Amelia had never been smooth sailing.
First came the public slave days and her early assistant professor phase.
The cold war era when neither could stand the other.
Next, his exclusive slave period and her time as his supervising professor.
The transitional phase where they'd grown close, only to derail in the worst possible way.
Then the boyhood phase and her guardian days.
They'd seemed closest then, but it ended in collapse, followed by years apart without seeing each other.
While separated, their relationship hadn't stagnated—it had regressed repeatedly.
If the mood had carried them to a kiss, that might've been one thing, but after their dramatic reunion was interrupted, and with the trial looming large, they were left in an awkward spot, unsure where to focus among their tangled bonds.
"......"
Or maybe...
Could it be?
Takahashi's five years of accumulated dating wisdom.
The guy chattered endlessly whenever he got bored, so that database was deeply embedded in Siwoo's subconscious.
Takahashi's inner tirade kicked off, drawn from that well.
'Hey, Shin Siwoo. Still got that virgin mindset, huh?'
He stroked his beard as he spoke.
'The assistant professor clearly pined for you desperately. When you finally met and talked, she had a pretty good reaction. Even prickly, scary Amelia looked at you like "Please kiss me right here."'
'Yeah... she did.'
'But do you know about the Romeo and Juliet effect?'
'Romeo and Juliet effect? Didn't you make that up?'
Takahashi crossed his arms, putting on airs.
'Humans are freedom-seeking creatures. The instinct to reclaim suppressed will is so intense it overrides survival! In other words, Amelia, barred from seeing you, rebelled against that by wanting you more than ever!' And last night, her desperate wish came true.
But after the dopamine rush of that dramatic reunion was cut short, and she'd had time for cool reflection, Amelia realized something.
'Huh? I'm not as thrilled as I thought? And he's got all those girlfriends now...?'
In simple terms, it was like craving a pair of shoes in your dreams, only to find they didn't fit once you tried them on!
Those who claim love is eternal are mere idealists!
Love is a candle flame—ignited by trifles, extinguished by the slightest breeze!
Romeo and Juliet might've divorced after a month if their families had just set them up!
Takahashi faded out after his wild rant.
"......"
He'd never say that theory to her face—it was too brutal—but damn if it didn't ring true.
It fit the current situation too perfectly.
But if that were the case, why had she proposed the trip first?
As Siwoo puzzled over it, Amelia was...
'Siwoo and a trip... Siwoo and a trip... Alone with Siwoo... Alone with Siwoo...'
She'd scribbled out what to say to him, barely mustered the words for the proposal, and now that it was accepted, overwhelming tension had her stiffening up like a robot.
2.
Was it pure arrogance to think he'd fully understood Amelia Merigold?
It felt like a stone had lodged in his chest.
He'd told Sharon and the twins it was a done deal, but now it seemed their relationship had reset entirely.
In truth, the time they'd shared "love" like lovers was only from when amnesiac Siwoo hit physical adulthood until he regained his memories.
Just a few days.
Maybe he'd jumped the gun and chugged a whole reservoir of wishful thinking.
But oblivious to Siwoo's turmoil, Amelia arrived with her pre-packed luggage.
A massive travel bag big enough for a grown man to curl up inside.
"Let me carry that for you."
Habit plus the vibe of the place must've kicked in.
His cluttered mind aside, his body moved on autopilot to take her bag.
Amelia whipped around.
"Ah..."
Like she was guarding the bag from him.
Clutching it tightly with both hands, she said warily,
"I'll carry it."
"I can take it instead."
"No, I'll carry it."
Her eyes firm with resolve, Amelia shut down his offer flat.
She even turned fully, shifting the bag out of his reach.
It was a statement of intent.
Walking these spaces laden with their past wasn't just stirring new feelings for Siwoo.
Amelia, too, had reflected on her foolish actions.
Days of denying her feelings, tormenting him, casually invoking the class system to treat him like a slave.
Graciously, he'd understood her childish tantrums and harassments.
But Amelia couldn't leave it at that.
Even a pebble in still water leaves ripples.
How could human karma dissolve so simply?
She vowed never to treat him like a slave again.
From now on, self-reliance—no leaning on him for anything.
If anything, to atone for the five years of torment he'd endured, she'd offer herself as his slave.
Hiding that iron will, Amelia slung the bag behind her and glanced at Siwoo.
"Huh?"
Seeing his shocked expression as expected, a massive sense of accomplishment surged—like a towering cake.
Topped with bittersweet regret: 'I should've done this ages ago.'
Siwoo, clueless to her motives, composed himself and asked,
It was still just speculation.
"Anyway, about the trip... Where are we headed?"
He figured it was set in stone.
The warmest memory with Amelia was that cabin in the gulpinwood forest.
"The mortal world."
But Amelia dropped an unexpected answer.
"I want to see your hometown."
With an embarrassed smile that dispelled his misconceptions.
3.
Could Amelia, essentially on probation, even leave for the mortal world? That worry proved unfounded.
Witch society placed immense trust in "nobles," it seemed.
Though Amelia was a "former" noble now.
Anyway, there was a minor hiccup where she had to face immigration directly, but they crossed without waiting an hour.
After the disorienting warp nausea subsided,
the marble lobby vanished, replaced by the Han River banks.
"Urk..."
A pleasant night breeze, but the usual warp sickness brought dry heaves.
They charged a pretty penny—couldn't they improve the ride?
Meanwhile, Amelia was too engrossed in the scenery to notice Siwoo's state.
"Ah..."
Even if she'd roamed the mortal world for the kill list,
her paths stuck to harsh spots like Antarctica, the Arctic, deserts.
She'd briefly visited a city right before meeting Siwoo once, but nothing compared to Yeouido's glittering skyline and sky-high real estate.
No neck-snapping skyscrapers there like a backdrop.
Of course, her newfound peace of mind let her take it all in leisurely now, too.
Advanced science is no different from magic.
That thought struck Amelia gazing at the glass-clad high-rises.
Artificial lights danced on the dark Han River surface.
Horns blared from passing cars. Amid her dazed awe, Siwoo's words snapped her back.
"Alright... I'll book us a place to stay first."
Accommodation, booking, Siwoo.
Obviously, you need lodging on a trip.
But hadn't she just resolved not to burden him?
That was her bare-minimum atonement.
"I'll do it."
"Huh?"
Not even three hours into her resolve—far from three days—she snatched the smartphone from Siwoo's hand with fierce momentum.
Grabbing the phone Countess Jemernai had gotten her under a false name, Amelia's eyes widened again.
Amelia had never seen a smartphone before.
She'd only grabbed it because Siwoo seemed about to book with it.
It fit in her palm, yet the screen sparkled crystal-clear.
Touching it reacted instantly, like a high-end magic lab's crystal screen.
Peering closer, she saw photos of nearby lodgings—like a catalog.
Amid her fluster at this artifact-like tech, Siwoo awkwardly reached to take it back.
He'd never seen memory-Amelia use modern gadgets, so he assumed she wouldn't know how.
"I'll handle it. I know the area well."
But Amelia hugged it like a squirrel guarding food and shook her head.
"I can do it. Totally."
Taking a deep breath, she scanned the text calmly.
Siwoo was booking from here, so it was a catalog.
Reacting to fingertips? Treat it like lab equipment.
Fumbling clicks to grasp it, she picked the fanciest hotel pic.
Hit reserve, and up popped payment and password screens.
"......"
Amelia loading...
Siwoo peeked since she was shielding the screen, then noticed her frozen in a daze.
"I think I need to take over from there. I know the password."
She replied stubbornly.
Her voice carried faint delight, which puzzled him.
"Tell me, and I'll do it."
"Then it's 3821."
"Three, eight, two, one..."
She tapped like defusing a bomb.
A vibration, then "Reservation complete!"
Done.
She'd helped him without his aid, on her own power.
"Here."
Siwoo took the phone back.
She looked blank at first glance, but Siwoo's "Amelia Reading" skill—maxed from slave days—decoded her micro-expressions.
Rusty from disuse lately, but perfect when she showed visible tells.
Slightly quickened breath.
Bitten lower lip.
Wider eyes, left brow up 15 degrees.
Amelia's emotional breakdown:
[Joy 25%]
[Self-Satisfaction 10%]
[Pride 25%]
[Mild Fatigue 40%]
Something's weird.
Siwoo checked her booking.
"Oh, nice choice."
"Of course. That's nothing for me."
Sure enough.
She'd reserved a hotel on Jeju Island.