Edgar Shortiras knew the advantages of his appearance very well.

Melissa, on the other hand, had no immunity to such aspects.

‘What should I do……’

Looking back at the life she had lived, this was a natural result.

In her past life, she had been confined to the Shortiras ducal residence waiting only for Edgar, and in this life, she had spent most of her time struggling not to live exactly like her past life.

She had boldly initiated a kiss shortly after reuniting with Edgar, but that was it.

She couldn’t even remember what state of mind she had been in when she did that.

In any case, she had no immunity to affectionate relationships between men and women.

“Haah……”

Melissa couldn’t endure anymore and tightly closed her eyes.

She wanted to take back her decision to seduce Edgar and use him.

Use him?

……Who would be using whom?

Anyone who knew Melissa and Edgar would certainly laugh upon hearing this. Her mind went blank.

‘Was Edgar always like this?’

He definitely didn’t seem this way before.

It wasn’t simply a matter of whether he acted aggressively in a romantic relationship or not. Melissa was referring to Edgar Shortiras’s basic personality.

From what Melissa remembered, when they were very young, back when difficult terms like ‘magic contract’ and ‘the price of precognition’ were far from their minds, he was somewhat different from now.

He ran around more actively than other children, laughed a lot, and made many friends. The handsome, good-natured, and only heir to the Shortiras ducal family was always popular even at a young age.

Though not as much as when she inherited the power of precognition, Melissa, who couldn’t go outside often due to Lionel’s restrictions, felt disappointed about this several times.

Then one day, he changed a bit.

That point was probably…

‘When his magic power went berserk.’

When Edgar, born with vast magical power, fell ill due to an awakening period that came too early.

Edgar was truly on the verge of death then.

The ducal family’s physician shook his head, saying it was a matter for a mage, and the mage they hastily brought in saw the overflowing magical power in Edgar’s room and quickly left the ducal residence, claiming it was beyond his jurisdiction.

Of course, that mage didn’t actually do nothing. He had said something to Lionel before leaving.

A method to cure Edgar.

He mentioned it but said they probably couldn’t do it, so it would be better not to worry and just give up.

The method involved staying right beside the berserk Edgar, providing stability so he could properly accept and control his magical power.

Lionel was devastated by those words, as if he had lost the world.

He tried recruiting volunteers, but no servant in the ducal family was brave enough to risk death by entering the young master’s room where sharp magical power was swirling.

If even Lionel couldn’t do it, how could anyone else?

In fact, since the duchess had lost her life giving birth to Edgar for similar reasons, people’s fear had reached its peak. Everyone was anxious about when things might go wrong.

Watching all this, Melissa ran quickly by herself and opened the door to Edgar’s room.

Then she immediately jumped to his side.

As a result, Melissa hovered between life and death for several days. Moreover, a long scar remained on her arm. It was somewhat reckless behavior, but she had no regrets. At that time, Melissa thought it was worth it because Edgar had survived.

She even called the scar a medal she was proud.

Looking at Melissa, he had made an indecipherable expression.

Yes, it seemed to start from exactly that moment.

When Edgar began to change.

‘They say people change after nearly dying, and I guess that’s really true.’

Well, when you think about it, wasn’t Melissa a similar case?

The problem was that she had actually died.

Melissa laughed softly with her eyes still closed.

In that moment, something soft touched her lips and then withdrew.

Surprised, she opened her eyes to see her own reflection in those blue irises. Not expecting him to be this close, Melissa unconsciously moved backward and lost her balance.

Edgar pulled the hand he was holding and drew her back to him.

“Were you thinking of something else?”

“I was just briefly reminded of the past……”

“I see you’re now comfortable with light kisses. You even know how to act relaxed.”

“……The one acting relaxed would be you, Edgar Shortiras.”

Even now, that was the case.

How could he act so skillfully?

He must have gained all sorts of experiences while traveling around after going to the Magic Tower. That must be why rumors circulated about him and Tower Master Everden Armus.

Recalling that incident suddenly dampened her mood.

Melissa avoided his gaze and bit her lip.

But Edgar, watching her, answered calmly.

“That’s not true.”

“What isn’t?”

Melissa tilted her head.

Edgar smiled slightly and pulled her hand to place it on the left side of his chest.

“I’m not relaxed at all.”

Thump. Thump.

Thump.

Following Edgar’s words, a vigorous heartbeat transmitted through her hand.

So fast and strong that she worried it might burst.

It was, as he said, not relaxed at all.

“I’ve never been that way in front of you.”

“……”

“Never.”

Edgar smiled gently, curving his eye corners.

Seeing him like this, Melissa had to acknowledge it.

That Edgar Shortiras in this life truly had fallen in love with her.

Though unexpected, this might be welcome news for Melissa, who needed to use him.

But before feeling welcome or happy, Melissa felt a different emotion.

‘How should I put it? It’s a little……’

……annoying.

Yes, she felt annoyed rather than happy.

If he could be like this now, what was so different in her past life that made him coldly abandon her? She wanted to grab Edgar and ask him even now.

Why did you come to the prison just to mock me?

What did I do wrong to make you act so coldly?

Why am I the only one who remembers the past life?

‘While you smile innocently, looking like you know nothing.’

How wonderful it would have been if she could accept his feelings without knowing anything, without any worries. She would certainly have been very happy.

Like those common fairy tales she read as a child.

“Edgar.”

“Yes?”

“Kiss me.”

Without this inexplicable heaviness.

The moment she finished speaking, Edgar pulled Melissa’s hand.

Her strength-drained body collapsed into his arms.

Edgar carefully cradled the back of her head, and soon their lips overlapped perfectly. Melissa simply followed his lead.

Even when embarrassing sounds reached her ears and her breath became short, Melissa didn’t ask him to stop. She preferred it this way.

Her mind was as tangled as a ball of thread.

If she knew Edgar truly loved her unlike in her past life, if he was a different person from the one who abandoned her…

Should she forgive him?

No, was that even the right question to begin with?

The Edgar who had smiled coldly no longer existed.

Then how could this knot in her heart completely disappear? When would she be able to smile without a trace of pain? Melissa didn’t know.

Her chest felt tight.

“Ugh……”

Melissa let out a painful groan.

She seemed to have reached the point where it was difficult for her body to endure due to lack of breath.

Just as Melissa was about to suggest they stop, Edgar slowly moved away from hers. Looking at Melissa, who was struggling to catch her breath, he briefly kissed her again and embraced her.

Edgar murmured against Melissa’s ear.

“I know you don’t trust me, Melissa.”

Melissa opened her eyes wide.

What did he know to say that?

Or was it simply because of his father, Lionel?

She tried to pull away to check Edgar’s face, but he held her in his embrace and wouldn’t let go.

In that position, Edgar continued.

“You probably think my promise to break the magic contract might be a lie. Anyone can make empty promises.”

He slowly stroked the back of Melissa’s head.

She remained frozen, receiving his touch.

She felt confused as each of Edgar’s words seemed to read her inner thoughts.

She truly thought that.

That the promise wouldn’t be kept.

That he was someone who had promised to save her hundreds of times in her past life, yet had abandoned her so miserably.

“I want to be someone you can trust, but I’m not that great a person, so it might be impossible for you to ever trust me completely.”

“……”

“So instead, I want to give you definitive proof.”

“What……”

“The magic contract.”

But this time was different.

Before Melissa could speak, blue magical power began to surge around them.

It was a beautiful magic power, as if studded with stars.

“I, Edgar Shortiras, hereby promise to break the magic contract with the Lucid clan by any means necessary.”

The moment he finished speaking, the light that had been circling around the room flew directly into Melissa and Edgar’s bodies. She flinched in momentary surprise, but there was no pain.

When she came to her senses, the magical power had already disappeared.

But Melissa could tell.