“What kind of relationship? We…”

Strangely, the words wouldn’t come out. I should answer that we’re in love with each other, so stop being sulky and look at me…

Are we really in love with each other?

Perhaps this is deception toward you, who doesn’t remember me.

Do I dare call myself your lover?

“What’s this, you really can’t say it?”

Seeing him like that, Ga-eul snorted.

“What kind of lovers are we? We’re just in a situationship.”

“Ga-eul.”

“Go away. I don’t do this kind of thing with someone I’m just casually seeing.”

Ga-eul pushed Niel’s body away and got out of bed.

It was a cute tantrum.

But Niel’s eyes darkened as he looked at her.

Since first expressing his feelings for Ga-eul, they had exchanged affection and love every day.

They visited each other’s homes and at some point even began living together.

But as she said.

While naturally becoming intimate and whispering words of love, they had never once defined their relationship.

They had never even exchanged the common phrase “let’s date” from her country.

Occasionally, when she mentioned the future, he would subtly change the subject, and even though he knew the perceptive Ga-eul was dissatisfied, Niel never gave her the words she wanted.

Saying “I love you” was easy, but saying “let’s be together for a long time” felt so difficult.

That was probably because he knew her end.

Ga-eul’s end.

Recently, thinking about it made his heart ache.

Even knowing that her end meant another birth, it still hurt.

Love with a predetermined end was this painful and agonizing.

“I’m sorry, Ga-eul. I was momentarily distracted and couldn’t answer.”

“Hmph.”

“Can’t I be your boyfriend again instead of just someone you’re seeing?”

“No, you can’t.”

Ga-eul, thoroughly upset, looked at Niel with narrowed eyes.

‘This is serious.’

It seemed it wouldn’t be easy to appease her anger.

“Then what do I need to do to become Kim Ga-eul’s boyfriend again?”

He asked in a gentle voice while embracing her waist from behind.

He could feel her sharp energy loosening slightly.

Niel didn’t miss the opportunity and pulled her onto his lap, planting kisses on her exposed nape.

“I love Kim Ga-eul. How can it not work?”

“I have no intention of making you my boyfriend again.”

Ga-eul replied in an indifferent voice.

“But I could make you something else besides a boyfriend.”

As she said this, Ga-eul’s earlobe turned slightly red.

Realizing she was hiding what she really wanted to say, Niel smiled gently and asked.

“Something else? What is it?”

“…Oppa.”

Turning toward Niel again, Ga-eul called him with a deliberately solemn voice.

“Yes, Ga-eul.”

Niel smiled and played with her soft earlobe.

“You know, we…”

Ga-eul hesitated, trailing off.

Despite her uncharacteristic hesitation, Niel didn’t rush her and waited.

But he couldn’t help freezing at her next words.

“Should we get married?”

***

“You know, Oppa, I grew up without a family. Maybe that’s why. I never had any particular fantasies about marriage, but I thought that with you, it might be okay to become a family.”

That day, Ga-eul said she wanted to become family with him. That with him, becoming family might be okay.

“Family…”

Niel muttered while checking his appearance in the mirror.

In his past life, he had gotten engaged under the guidance of adults.

Naturally, there had been no romantic proposal between them.

There were several times when they were about to have a wedding ceremony, but each time it was overturned by her refusal.

Then, finally after Yuria’s appearance, it led to a broken engagement…

“…”

His usually smooth brow furrowed as he recalled that time when he severed their connection with his own hands.

But it was only for a fleeting moment.

Niel Alpenhayer, who always maintained perfection even when alone, immediately composed his expression and checked his appearance once more.

His attire was neat and tidy as usual, but it seemed he had taken extra care.

He elegantly turned from the mirror and headed toward the entrance.

Sometimes, even knowing that Jella’s soul, having lost her physical body, was waiting for him in another dimension, Niel would suddenly feel the urge to stay with Ga-eul forever in this place.

Perhaps the language of promise for the future that Ga-eul wanted to hear was what he truly desired.

The time spent with Ga-eul here, the moments seeing her not disliking him, were so wonderful.

His fiancée who didn’t remember him therefore didn’t dislike him, and so he didn’t have to put on a brave front before her.

The past where they had hurt each other became nonexistent, and he could finally love her completely.

So he was happy. Although there was no longer the wealth and glory of his past life, the days where he could love her wholly were tearfully happy.

Going down to the parking lot, he started the car and clenched his fist upon noticing the date on the vehicle display.

Until her death, only 2 years and 6 months remain.

Even in this moment, time was not waiting for them but flowing by every second.

Suddenly, he had a thought.

Could I prevent Ga-eul’s death?

Being born human, one cannot prevent the end of life. But if even slightly, just slightly, he could delay that end.

If instead of the time of suffering she would experience after one death and rebirth, he could make her smile more here…

I’ll love you with all my best until the remaining days, Ga-eul.

Although I know that end will come someday, nevertheless, I’ll fill your remaining time with laughter. Ga-eul.

With such thoughts, Niel decided on a proposal.

Putting his decision into action was very quick.

He reserved a restaurant famous for its floor-to-ceiling windows in the tallest building in the area.

Even when she was an empress, she had always liked looking down from high places, and her taste remained consistent.

In the back seat lay a neatly prepared bouquet.

It was made of purple roses and ranunculus tied together.

He remembered the bouquet he had made long ago for the young empress returning from the Holy Nation, tying it together without realizing his fingers were stained with colorful flower dyes.

In the end, it never touched the empress’s hands and was carried away somewhere by a maid.

Compared to then, isn’t this truly excessive happiness?

Niel smiled wryly and gently drove toward her school.

After parking, he deliberately walked to the building where her classes were held and waited for her. It was almost time for her to finish class.

The gradually darkening sky began to sprinkle unexpected snow.

Niel unconsciously twitched his eyes.

He didn’t like snow.

It was probably because of a certain memory embedded in his mind.

While trying to shake off the fearful memory as he waited for Ga-eul.

“Oppa!”

In the distance, Ga-eul called out to him and came running.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, not at all.”

Niel smiled and held out the bouquet toward her.

“You said we’d just have dinner, why the flowers?”

Ga-eul, who had been smiling brightly with her nose buried in the vibrant petals, soon asked in a puzzled voice.

“Well, that’s…”

It was when Niel was choosing his words while fingering the ring box in his coat pocket.

“Don’t tell me, am I getting a proposal today?”

At her sharp question, Niel let out a deep sigh.

“…Really, Kim Ga-eul. You never pretend not to know.”

At this, Ga-eul, who had been asking playfully, was startled and looked at Niel with eyes wide like a rabbit’s.

“Uh…? Really…?”

“…”

At her completely unexpected reaction, Niel let out a silent sigh.

So Ga-eul hadn’t actually noticed his proposal; she was just taking a shot in the dark. How perceptive indeed.

“Since it’s come to this, it might lack some style, but Ga-eul.”

Niel smiled wryly and took out the ring box from his pocket. A pair of rings emerged from inside.

“…!”

Ga-eul’s eyes grew even rounder upon seeing the rings.

“I promise to make you laugh more in the time we have left.”

He smiled gently at Ga-eul and held out his hand.

Ga-eul stared at him blankly, then reached her hand toward his palm.

“So we…”

It was just as Niel was about to speak, looking at Ga-eul’s hand resting on his palm.