Chapter 459
Chapter 459
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 459
Chapter Title: Travel (8)
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No matter how enjoyable something is, every moment must come to an end.
Announcements signaling the closing of the amusement park echoed throughout, accompanied by the park's farewell song.
The moment they hopped on the hot air balloon for a quick spin around the area, it was already 10 p.m.
"In the end, we didn't make it to the aquarium."
"It's okay."
Siwoo and Amelia walked out the exit, hand in hand like affectionate lovers, blending into the crowd.
The department store lights, still blazing undimmed against the cold night air, waved them off from behind like a fond farewell.
Siwoo slipped their clasped hands into his coat pocket, parting the frosty breath hanging in the air.
It was a little warmer, at least.
"......"
Siwoo noticed Amelia floating in a different way than before.
Her profile beside him was steeped in the lingering afterglow of joy and excitement, like someone waking from a deeply happy dream.
She didn't glance around or say a word, merely wiggling her fingers occasionally inside the pocket.
So Siwoo wasn't entirely unaffected either.
It was hard to pin down the feeling exactly, but if he had to name it, it was awkwardness.
He'd felt it faintly throughout their brief trip together, but now it stood out more sharply than ever...
Wasn't the point of a date supposed to be that it brought people closer afterward?
In that way, the two retraced their steps back to the hotel.
His chilled ears regained sensation in the warm indoor air.
Turning on the heater before they left had been the right call.
"Siwoo."
"Yes, Lady Amelia."
As he hung up his coat on the hanger to avoid wrinkles, Amelia finally spoke after a thirty-minute silence.
It was a welcome break from the unfamiliar, awkward quiet.
"Thank you."
It was a short expression of gratitude, but it carried immense weight.
So much meaning lay embedded within that it was hard to even imagine the full extent.
"From now on, instead of saying 'sorry' to each other, I hope we can say 'thank you' more often."
At those words, Amelia gave a small nod, a faint smile on her lips.
It somehow looked a little sad.
2.
Amelia was a witch with no regular sleep habits.
As a spiritual being, her body rarely demanded rest from ordinary activities, but when physical, mental, or magical exertion crossed a certain threshold, she needed a soft bed and warm pillow for recovery.
It was a kind of mental reset.
Yet even while wandering the mortal world to carry out the Ledger of Slaughter, she hadn't slept unless she was on the verge of collapse.
And even then, it was on rough ground, not a plush bed. Back in Gehenna, she hadn't slept at all until the trials concluded.
But perhaps because the last misunderstanding with Siwoo had cleared up and they'd spent such good times together, fully relaxing her tensions?
As Amelia showered under the warm water, she felt a deep fatigue like she hadn't since her apprentice days.
The kind that made her want to fling herself onto the bed, bury her head in the pillow, and sleep soundly right then and there.
"......"
Today with Siwoo had been so incredibly happy.
The harsh flavors of mortal food had tormented her tongue, and the unexpected thrills of the rides had drained her energy, but holding his hand as they strolled the streets, fully savoring the feeling of being lovers—it was a happiness too profound for words alone.
She was this joyful.
Her heart brimmed to overflowing with happiness, yet melancholy and a faint sorrow mingled in.
It might sound contradictory, but that was precisely because of the happiness.
When walking in the same direction as him.
When eating with him.
Even in the moments of casual conversation with him, Amelia felt the growing weight accumulating.
Guilt.
A remorse she couldn't shake off, no matter how much Siwoo insisted it was fine.
She'd chased him from the lodging, stuffing him into a shabby stable with a pile of straw.
She'd lorded over him with condescending "kindness," handing him cake and cigarettes while he ate hard bread and watery porridge without a proper meal.
She'd issued absurd orders like hunting deer in the forest on a whim.
She'd stripped him bare and forced him to plead his case before the twins.
She'd made him do cleaning jobs she could finish with a gesture, dragging them out for hours as overtime.
No matter how much Siwoo said it was okay, no matter how firmly Amelia vowed to make it up to him someday.
The unforgivable sins echoed terrifyingly clearly in her ears.
"Do you even deserve to be happy after all that?"
Amelia bit her lip.
Maybe it was all just excuses.
Amelia Merigold wasn't accustomed to happiness.
On the other hand, she knew better than anyone how sharply it shattered—like fine glasswork—when beautiful happiness broke apart.
That's why, even with promised happiness right before her eyes, she hesitated to reach out.
In the end, it was just frightening.
This unfamiliar, novel emotion had come unbidden, and she only wanted to watch it from afar for a while.
Realizing that, a wry sigh escaped her.
3.
Siwoo, who had showered first before Amelia washed up, was leaning against the bed in a restless mood.
He fiddled with his phone, ostensibly searching for places to go tomorrow, but he couldn't focus on a single thing.
Shhhhhh...
The sound of Amelia washing up was incredibly distracting.
"This is ridiculous..."
He considered their morning reconciliation that day as true reconciliation.
They'd kissed before, but now he truly understood her thoughts, unburdening the pent-up feelings inside.
And not just that—they'd gone on a date like a real couple.
But if someone asked, "What's the next step?" he'd want to dodge the question.
He didn't have the confidence for a clear answer.
Amelia and Siwoo had never actually been "lovers" in the past.
Kiss + hold hands on a date + share a hotel room = ?
Anyone might assume the obvious answer followed, but with Amelia as the counterpart, it became an unexpectedly complex equation.
Of course, feeling this pensive while listening to the water was proof of his anticipation.
Any man would feel desire gazing upon Amelia's beauty.
But Siwoo couldn't bring himself to show that anticipation to her.
For one, besides Amelia, there were Sharon, the twins, and his master. And then there was his promised arrangement with Yesod Count.
He'd been upfront about it with Amelia, and she'd brushed it off without much protest.
But that didn't mean it didn't bother her at all.
She hadn't mentioned his "other lovers" even once since then, unnaturally so.
"Enough."
He decided to let go of any lingering hopes.
The others had accepted Siwoo's chaotic romantic entanglements in their own ways.
Expecting Amelia to do the same would be a grave discourtesy to her.
As he reminded himself that aligning his heart with hers was the best he could do...
-Click!
The bathroom door swung open.
A wry smile tugged at his lips.
He'd told himself not to think about it, to abandon any hopes, yet the instant the door opened, his eyes flicked straight over.
"......"
Of course, she wasn't naked or in a robe.
Instead, it was Amelia in her pajamas, a sight he hadn't seen in a while.
The airy dress-style nightgown, laden with lace trims, seemed more suited to a doll than a person.
But as they say, beauty completes any fashion—Amelia wore it so effortlessly.
He idly wondered if she modeled for an online shop, would refund requests pour in from customers disillusioned by reality?
Without such silly fantasies, he wasn't sure he could endure the returning awkwardness.
Her hair was fluffy from drying after the shower, but she couldn't hide the flush on her cheeks heated by the hot water.
Amelia glanced at Siwoo before turning off all the room lights.
She could now turn off lights on her own.
The bedside lamp had a separate switch, though, casting a soft glow over the dim room.
Amelia approached Siwoo's bed.
His heart raced anew, evidence of his unresolved lingering feelings.
Amelia sat gingerly on the empty spot beside him, avoiding his eyes.
"Can I... hug you?"
In the twilight glow, Amelia asked in a fragile voice.
With a mix of disbelief and hope, he nodded, and her arms slipped under his, embracing him.
Her cheek pressed against his chest, like hugging a giant teddy bear.
He worried if his pounding heartbeat was too loud, but beneath her thin fabric, her body was astonishingly soft.
"I want to go back to Gehenna tomorrow."
"Huh? What about the trip?"
"I want to take care of something first. There's still unfinished business."
Siwoo had wanted to show her more of the mortal world, but what could he do if that's what she wished?
The trip would end much sooner than expected.
Amelia nuzzled her cheek against his chest like a spoiled child as she spoke.
"Thank you for showing me around everywhere on this trip."
"No, thank you. I was happy to be with you."
"I'll never forget it. The scenery you showed me."
Amelia's voice was thick with drowsy languor, on the verge of sleep.
She breathed softly, like a bird finding sanctuary after long wandering.
Siwoo hesitantly reached out, gently stroking her rounded nape.
This much should be fine without asking permission, right?
Amelia shivered slightly, then carefully met his gaze.
"It's greedy, but... can I ask one more thing?"
"What is it?"
"Even after we return to Gehenna... can you hold me like this sometimes?"
Of course, Amelia's "hold me" was clearly platonic, nothing more, but to Siwoo—still tangled in the anxieties of a teenage boy—it sounded incredibly suggestive.
Her fully relaxed breathing and voice even carried a seductive undertone.
"Of course I will."
His reply came late because of it, but Amelia didn't notice the delay.
She just repeated "Thank you, thank you, Siwoo..." over and over, as if relieved.
With those words, her breathing evened out completely.
No matter the size difference, he couldn't be softer than a pillow.
Yet Amelia fell straight into dreamland the moment she nestled into his arms, as if it were heavenly bedding.
"Lady Amelia."
"......"
"Lady Amelia."
"......"
After checking a couple times that she was truly asleep, Siwoo finally let out a long sigh.
"This is driving me crazy..."
Below him, Amelia's peacefully sleeping face came into view.
He couldn't sleep like this.
Even when she first clung to him, he'd been careful not to inhale her scent too deeply.
Who knew what bizarre effects breathing it in while asleep might trigger?
Still, disturbing her sound sleep felt wrong, and prying her off felt worse...
Siwoo stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, carefully supporting her head so it wouldn't slip.
"She really is soft..."
Without any lewd intent, the fact that he could hold her body—softer than any cushion—was his sole consolation.