Chapter 458: The Third Party
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 458: The Third Party
The stars descended upon the mortal world like the prelude to a round dance.
Brilliant points of light drifted through the dim expanse of the Holy Garden, weaving together a hallucinatory tapestry that reflected in a deep, tranquil pool.
Those were the eyes of a young girl.
But as that gaze flickered alongside the stars, shimmering with unshed tears, the image mirrored within was a handsome face that seemed to belong to eternity.
Outside were the stars.
Within her eyes were also stars.
The stars outside were created by an Illumination Spell, controlled with a precision so chilling it could make one shudder.
But the stars in her eyes... were her stars.
"So many stars... you must have used a lot of mana."
Liya raised her hand, wiping the fine beads of sweat from his forehead. A faint Holy Light circulated in her palm, brushing away his fatigue.
"It’s alright. Not enough to leave me completely drained."
Muen gently took Liya’s hand and smiled tenderly. "So, how about now? Still think I'm stingy?"
"..."
Liya’s pretty face flushed slightly.
"Hmph."
She was a bit embarrassed to admit it, so she gave her slender waist a light twist and turned her head away, pouting daintily. "To use all your mana on a boring little trick like this... you're so stupid."
"But is it beautiful?"
"...It is."
"Are you happy?"
"...I am."
Muen mischievously leaned in, chasing after Liya’s face. "Truly happy?"
"..."
Liya stomped her foot in bashful annoyance, glaring fiercely at the villain who loved to tease her. Yet, there wasn't a hint of malice in her eyes—only joy and a thick, flowing affection that seemed to melt into water.
"Yes, I can tell you're very happy. However... I actually hope you won't be too happy for a moment."
"Eh?"
Liya tilted her head, not quite understanding Muen’s words.
Don't be too happy for a moment?
Why?
Didn't he do all this just to make me happy?
"Because..."
Muen gave a mysterious smile and suddenly let go of Liya’s small hand, which he had been secretly holding.
"It’s not over yet."
"Not over?"
Perhaps these fallen stars were too dreamlike, leaving Liya too immersed in the moment, or perhaps the heat in her face and the fluttering in her heart occupied too much of her brain's capacity. It wasn't until now that Liya noticed a touch of coolness that had appeared on her wrist at some point.
She raised her hand, staring blankly.
Upon that snowy-white wrist, within her hazy vision, she saw that the stars had broken the boundary between illusion and reality to hang upon her arm.
The light wasn't blinding, yet it remained brilliant.
Like a small scoop taken from the Milky Way.
"This... this is..."
"A Star Stone."
Muen gently pulled Liya into his arms, kissing away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"They say they are stars that fell from the sky. I thought it suited you perfectly, so I found the best craftsman in the Holy City to turn it into a bracelet."
"A bracelet?"
"Yes. Actually, I originally wanted to make it into other jewelry—earrings, or a necklace. But on second thought, you are Her Highness the Saintess. Jewelry that is too conspicuous might negatively affect you. So, I made a bracelet."
Muen asked softly, "You don't think a bracelet is less precious, do you?"
Liya shook her head. "Star Stones are very expensive."
"That’s good. But there’s one more reason I chose a bracelet."
Muen suddenly lowered his head, taking both of Liya’s small hands and folding them over her lower abdomen.
"A Saintess usually has to maintain an elegant posture, so this is your most common pose. See? When your hands are folded together like this, you can touch the bracelet I gave you whenever you want."
"..."
Liya gazed at the bracelet that looked like a string of brilliant stars. It felt cold to the touch, but her heart was burning with an intense heat.
A heavy weight of emotion traveled from the bracelet to her skin. She could almost imagine how Muen must have tirelessly described his vision to the high-priced craftsman to turn a raw gemstone into something so breathtakingly beautiful.
"You..."
After a long silence, Liya finally looked up at Muen, her eyes rimmed with red.
However, she didn't continue the topic of the bracelet. Instead, she asked, "You’re leaving, aren't you?"
"...Yes."
Muen went silent for a moment before answering, "I have a place I must return to. As you know, the Holy City does not belong to me."
"To Belland... right?"
Liya bit her lip. In that moment, a wicked thought actually sprouted in her heart—to use her authority as the Saintess to forcibly keep her beloved here and stay with her forever.
But the thought flashed for only a split second before she completely erased it.
She wouldn't do that.
Because her knight was so radiant precisely because he always moved toward his goals without hesitation.
He was like the sun, so warm.
She would not become his obstacle, nor would she selfishly shroud his light, even though she knew his light would shine upon many others.
"Then... will you come back?"
"Of course, my Lady."
Muen gazed into the girl's eyes, answering with a smile that was both playful and sincere. "At your command, your knight will always return to cut through all thorns for you."
"No matter when?"
"No matter when."
Muen added, "No matter where."
"..."
The Holy Garden remained silent, yet it felt as if a fire were rising.
Amidst those emotions as hot as flame, the girl cupped Muen’s cheeks and sighed softly in frustration. "You're clearly so bad, and yet... I just can't bring myself to hate you."
Muen also caressed Liya’s face, chuckling at her words. "Just 'can't bring yourself to hate me'?"
"...No."
Her cheeks were still flushed like sunset clouds, but this time the girl did not shrink back. She stood on her tiptoes, getting as close as possible to the scent she craved.
She whispered softly, "I love you, Muen."
Without waiting for a response, the girl forcefully sealed those warm lips.
Lips met, breaths mingled, and tongues entwined.
Though they had tasted each other many times before, an electric sensation still surged through their bodies.
They held each other tighter, greedily drinking in each other's scent, their hands tracing the contours of each other's bodies as if trying to imprint every detail into the depths of their souls.
It was a long, deep kiss.
After a long while, their lips parted, and they looked at each other.
Then, they smiled simultaneously.
Liya’s palm continued to gently stroke Muen’s cheek, a sudden flash of playfulness appearing in her eyes. "You worked so hard today. It seems I’ll have to reward you properly later."
"Really? And how does Her Highness the Saintess plan to reward me?"
"Well... I’ve prepared a few new outfits. Want to go take a look?"
"New outfits? What style?"
"Guess."
"You little vixen. Stop learning from Senior Sister."
Muen laughed and cursed playfully, struggling to suppress the fire that was truly beginning to burn within him. He gave Liya’s pert bottom a firm pat and spun her around by her slender waist. "Heading back?"
"Mm."
Liya took one last intoxicated look at the brilliant stars surrounding them and nodded. "Let's go back."
"Don't worry. If you want to see them, I can... perform for you again anytime..."
Muen waved his hand, slowly gathering the points of light.
But as the light converged and grew brighter, illuminating the surroundings, Muen looked toward a certain spot, and his smiling words gradually died away.
His expression slowly froze.
"What’s wrong?"
Seeing Muen suddenly turn into a wooden statue, Liya tilted her head curiously and followed his gaze.
Then, she froze as well.
Because there, amidst the dense flowers and shrubs, in the most inconspicuous corner... stood a figure holding a bouquet of flowers.
The gathered starlight illuminated the figure’s pale, stunned face.
Ariel!