Chapter 14.2

“Brienne.”  

His laughter faded, and the low tone of his voice resonated through Brienne’s body. Thinking he was joking again, Brienne paused with a puzzled expression.  

A tender kiss touched the inside of her softly guided wrist, and the thin sleeve slipped down to her elbow.  

“You have no idea how happy I am that you came back to me like this.”  

Herace whispered quietly, his lips pressed against her pale skin. The warmth in his breath conveyed the deep emotions he had held back.  

Brienne placed her hand on Herace’s chest, her gaze loosening.  

The strong heartbeat she felt beneath her palm was so precious that a soft smile escaped her lips.  

“……It’s the same for me.”  

She didn’t know how many days and nights she had cried, holding Herace’s soul in that terrible vision.  

She had begged desperately to have him brought back, even if it meant her own soul being taken instead.  

As those earnest feelings resurfaced, tears welled up again.  

If she hadn’t awakened her magic at that time, she wouldn’t be able to see Herace now. She would still be waiting endlessly, unable to let go of his soul.  

Just thinking about it made Brienne’s heart sink.  

So the happiness she felt now was incomparable.  

He was here, and she was with him.  

Brienne gently stroked Herace’s hair as he still buried his face in her wrist.  

“You know, Herace, I can feel magic now.”  

“……”  

“Zen said it first. That I’d become a great mage, and he was looking forward to that day.”  

Brienne smiled awkwardly, shrugging her shoulders.  

“At the time, I thought he was just saying it. But now I think maybe it could happen, if I work hard enough.”  

‘So please watch over me until then.’

Brienne whispered softly, resting her hand on Herace’s cheek.  

“I’ll become a great mage like you and surprise you. Then, together, we’ll……”  

But Brienne couldn’t finish her sentence.  

She sensed Herace hesitate, even though she expected him to celebrate as if it were his own achievement.  

“Herace, what’s wrong?”  

She asked curiously, and his dark gray eyes, which had been watching her, turned away uneasily.  

Brienne, noticing his odd reaction, finally realized something was wrong.  

‘Come to think of it……’  

‘How did I come back to life?’  

She had chosen death in Herace’s place.  

She had thought she would simply die at that moment.  

Brienne’s expression slowly hardened.  

She’d been so focused on the joy of meeting Herace again that she had missed something important.  

“……You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”  

Brienne’s eyes darkened as she withdrew her hand from Herace’s face.  

Herace, as if struggling with something important he needed to say, avoided her gaze with a bitter smile.  

“I’m afraid of how you’ll react……”  

Would she be angry, would she cry?  

Or would she be disappointed, asking why he did such a thing?  

When the arrow flew toward Brienne in Demekia’s vision, all he could think about was saving her.  

His arm moved first, his feet followed, and his body wrapped around her.  

He hadn’t considered what would happen to himself. The future came after. In that moment, nothing mattered if it was for Brienne.  

But when he went to the Deputy Priest to request the permanent closure of his mana circuit, it wasn’t out of impulse.  

It was all planned.  

“……It’s okay. Please tell me honestly.”  

Brienne’s gentle voice coaxed him.  

Herace finally looked up.  

“Brienne, I’m sorry, but I can’t stay at the academy with you anymore.”  

“……What do you mean?”  

“It means I lost my qualification as an assistant instructor. The Mage Association revoked my credentials.”  

Brienne’s eyes, narrowing in confusion, began to tremble.  

So……  

‘Does that mean Herace lost his mage qualification?’  

Why?  

The thought barely formed before Brienne began to grasp the reason.  

‘No way……’  

Brienne suddenly spoke.  

“……Herace, did you give up magic to save me?”  

Herace gave a bitter smile in response.  

There are things in the world that happen without any reason.  

For him, loving Brienne was like that.  

Just as there is malice with no reason, there is also love that is endlessly blind.  

He realized this after meeting Brienne.  

His life, once smooth and peaceful, became difficult, unfamiliar, and awkward after she entered it.  

But it also became special.  

Just the memory of meeting her as a child was enough for Herace to endure hard times.  

He was curious about her, wanted to see her, wanted to get closer.  

He endured the pain, hoping to meet her again.  

So giving up the only talent he had achieved for Brienne Ford was not so hard.  

<To ask for your mana circuit to be permanently closed, do you even know what that means?>  

The Deputy Priest, faced with his sudden request, frowned in confusion for a long time.  

<All for love? What a foolish choice. Demekia god would not want your sacrifice.>  

<It is what I wish for.>  

<……Are you sure you won’t regret it?>  

Herace laughed coldly at the Deputy Priest’s question.  

There was only one thing he regretted.  

Not approaching young Brienne, leaving her alone.  

Not doing anything as Brienne was hurt by the words and actions of Kaiden Bannon, who couldn’t even handle his own feelings.  

<Deputy Priest, I am only glad to give everything for the person I love.>  

That one fact was true in the past and would be true in the future.  

Herace spoke slowly.  

“I didn’t give up.”  

“……”  

“I just chose what was most precious to me.”  

Confronted by his calm answer, Brienne bit her lip.  

So that’s how it was.  

‘In the end, Herace once again, for me……’  

The Young Master of Rontiano, who graduated top of the magic department at Roeta Academy.  

The great mage who was considered a candidate for the next Mage Tower Master, receiving everyone’s expectations.  

That Herace Belif was gone.  

Attending the academy, Brienne had learned how impressive the titles attached to Herace’s name were, and how much effort was needed to earn them. She asked in a trembling voice,  

“Why…… Why did you do it, Herace? That talent was too precious to throw away. You worked so hard for it.”  

Herace swept his hand over Brienne’s eyes.  

“It’s nothing compared to you. There’s nothing more important to me than being with you now, Brienne.”  

So—  

“If you’re worried, just take responsibility for me for the rest of your life.”  

‘Please don’t leave my side.’ 

‘Be with me for as long as this life allows.’  

As Herace whispered, Brienne slowly reached out her arms. As she embraced his large body, which had shielded her from a shower of arrows, tears welled up again in her eyes.  

“……I will.”  

Her breath, full of emotion, touched his neck.  

“No matter what happens, I’ll keep you safe, Herace. I promise.”  

At her sweet whisper, Herace smiled and gently stroked Brienne’s hair with his large hand.  

“I wasn’t talking about protecting my body, Brienne.”  

“……I know. Still, I want to protect you.”  

“I appreciate the sentiment. But I worry that all the promises you’ve made to me might be too much of a burden.”  

Promises.  

Brienne’s chest rose and fell with the slow, gentle touch.  

After a moment’s thought, Brienne lifted her head slightly.  

“Then, should we start getting rid of them one by one?”  

“……”  

“Those promises.”  

Brienne bravely moved her hand to Herace’s nape.  

Her quiet voice continued between their joined lips.  

That she loved him.  

That her feelings couldn’t be expressed with mere words.  

Smiling softly, Brienne carefully tugged at the knot of her chemise. Holding the thin strap that slipped off her shoulder, she looked at Herace’s shirt.  

Herace hurriedly sat up.  

“Brienne, you’ve only just woken up today, so maybe we shouldn’t overdo it……”  

“No, I know my own body best. So Herace, just stay still.”  

Brienne placed her hand on Herace’s lips, which seemed quite flustered.  

Then she slowly traced his smooth jawline, touching his prominent Adam’s apple.  

Herace’s eyebrows knitted slightly.  

“……Just so you know, I think it’s best not to go any lower.”  

“Why?”  

“Well……”  

Her fingers, which had been fiddling with his shirt collar, stopped on his firm chest.  

Brienne unconsciously looked down, staring at his body.  

She already knew Herace was well-built from treating him before, but now that she felt the solid muscles beneath her palm, she thought again how beautiful he was.  

So it was only natural that she wanted to unbutton his shirt.  

As Brienne began to lightly touch the buttons, Herace let out a hot sigh.  

“……Even now, it’s hard enough. If you go any further, I really won’t be able to hold back.”  

“Then don’t hold back.”  

“……”  

“Just as you said, I’ll find out if this is my preference, too.”  

With that smile, Brienne pushed Herace’s body back.  

Unaware that she wouldn’t have time to find out her preferences at all.  

That night, Brienne burned with heat until morning.  

Her vision shifted again and again, and she clung to him, barely able to sob between clenched teeth, relying on his warm hands that soothed her back.  

Desperately, as much as she had waited.  

Their urgent, breathless hearts reached for each other, coloring the faraway night with clear hues.