She took deep breaths, her body rising and falling noticeably, when she felt a hand behind her, gently caressing her sweat-slicked back. His hand radiated warmth, preventing her body from cooling down.

“…Vienny”

 McClart murmured, pressing himself close against her as he brushed his lips along her shoulder.

Following the prominent line of her bone, he traced it with his tongue, occasionally sucking hard to leave marks, each movement carefully controlled.

Regardless, Vienny simply buried her head, focusing on catching her breath.

No matter how many times they were together, she could never match McClart’s stamina. It was undoubtedly a fundamental difference between them.

And yet, even then, whenever McClart made a little effort to caress her, her body was quickly enveloped in heat again. It was clear that her body had become quite used to him.

” Huh…”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you so… good at this?

As her senses gradually returned, a feeling of frustration washed over her. Why was it that after all these years, she was still the one who was carried away by the pleasure he gave her?

“Did you take special lessons for this too?”

Whatever emotion he sensed in her voice, McClart let out a low laugh while his lips were still pressed against her back.

The laughter rumbling in his throat was irresistibly charming. Feeling her face grow warm for no particular reason, she lowered her head a little more. But her attempt to hide was in vain as McClart flipped her over easily in one swift motion.

Her vision cleared, and she found herself looking up at his sweat-covered face. His gaze, clouded with desire, stared directly at her.

“Some people say they learn it.”

“Then…”

“What do you think men talk about the most when they’re in a group?”

McClart continued casually, brushing back her damp hair from her forehead.

“I led soldiers for a long time. They used to tell all sorts of lewd stories.”

She remembered a story he had once told her.

From the time he was first taken in by the temple, he had been raised to be an inquisitor. He had said that because of his strong divine power, there had never been any other option for him.

Though it wasn’t widely known, he was of high priestly lineage, so he had to achieve the highest marks in every area.

So he became a leader at an early age, living alongside soldiers and knights. Until he almost became a heretic for Vienny, his world was probably limited to that.

” Eventually, when I heard those conversations, I found myself putting you in them.”

He said this casually, as if it were nothing, while he picked at the strands of hair that clung to her cheek.

“I couldn’t test it out myself, so I figured I might as well gather as much information as I could, even if it was secondhand.”

In the end, it seemed his skill came from plenty of eavesdropping. She wasn’t quite sure how just listening could translate into such remarkable results in practice, but… considering how quickly he learned anything, it was easier just to accept it.

As she quietly accepted his gentle touch, which was fixing her hair, Vienny decided to satisfy another curiosity instead.

“Since when did you start imagining me?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then what kinds of imaginations did you have?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Then you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Though he spoke lightly, it didn’t sound like a joke, likely due to the piercing gleam in his eyes.

Vienny swallowed dryly and quickly shook her head.

McClart frowned, as if genuinely disappointed, but seeing her alarmed expression, he didn’t insist on proving his point.

“Whenever you’re curious, just let me know. I’ll make each one come true.”

So… does that mean he hasn’t acted on any of them yet? Vienny almost asked this out of curiosity but held back. She sensed that if she got a positive answer, she truly wouldn’t be able to stop him.

Instead, she rubbed her forehead against his hand like a child seeking affection.

McClart let out a soft laugh at the gesture. He murmured something about her becoming sly, but there was no hint of displeasure—if anything, he looked slightly amused.

She enjoyed seeing him happy.

Somewhere along the way, Vienny found herself feeling joyful whenever McClart was. When he was content, so was she. Even after realizing her own feelings, the happiness lingered, unchanged.

…If this wasn’t love, what else could she call this strange feeling?

***

“Ma’am, all the locks are secured.”

Startled from her thoughts, Vienny looked up quickly.

“Right. Thank you, Corinne. You can go ahead and rest.”

Corinne, who had peeked in to report, nodded and left, leaving only silence behind.

Vienny rested her forehead against the window, quietly gazing outside once more. The cool glass soothed her forehead.

As she closed her eyes calmly, the smooth sensation of the cool glass against her skin became more pronounced.

How long had she lived in this mansion? Five years, perhaps? With each passing day, McClart’s trips became more frequent. In time, he might not return at all, spending whole nights away.

All of McClart’s efforts were probably a struggle to protect the small, everyday life they had built here. How long could they hold on to this way of life?

Their hard-earned home, the lovingly tended garden and the beautiful sunset views – these were the things that anchored them here, along with the journey through pregnancy and childbirth. But inevitably the time would come when they’d have to move. Somehow the traces of the Heretic and the Great Witch had begun to be exposed to the outside world.

Suddenly, Vienny opened her eyes. She heard a faint barking sound; it seemed another strange animal had wandered close to the mansion. Hopefully, this one would be a bit stronger.

Although a wild predator cannot be tamed without blood, it would be ideal if it could help protect the mansion. Even after the Great Witch’s power had faded, Vienny’s affinity with animals remained, and she intended to use it to her advantage.

Having communicated with all sorts of creatures, Vienny knew how sensitive they were and how they reacted to danger. Surely the various animals that had been brought to the mansion would be helpful in some way. If even that could ease McClart’s worries, so much the better.

Even this morning he had risen early and quietly left his bedroom. Despite the loss of his divine power, he continued his dawn prayers.

Once Vienny had seen him praying from a distance and asked him gently what he was praying for. Since he no longer served the gods, whatever he was offering probably wasn’t a prayer of repentance.

“To call it a prayer isn’t quite right. It’s more like talking to myself,” he had replied, pressing his fingers against her lips in his usual way.

“But…”

“You’re here. Who else would I pray to?”

Without a change in expression, he answered her question with a simple kiss. His lips, having just finished his so-called “self-talk,” tasted of the cold dawn air.

“I’m merely listing the sins I’ve committed to prevent misguided judgment.”

His explanation was brief, but Vienny easily understood it as his way of trying to shoulder everything alone.

After that, Vienny decided not to hesitate to use the animals to ensure their safety. If sins were to be committed, they should be committed together. The once powerful Great Witch, though now powerless, would still bear the guilt with an evil heart and sacrifice for their survival. And perhaps, even in death, she’d be at the side of the heretic.

Then, contrary to his fears, the life they shared would never be subject to misguided judgment.

Vienny pressed her fingertip firmly against the cold glass, rubbing it slowly. Life itself was fleeting, and her peace was like this glass wall before her – fragile, ready to shatter at any moment.

But so what? If they could keep moving forward, even if precariously, she would layer that thin glass wall over and over again.

She still loved the sunsets over the sea here, although they were no longer her favourite. Now, who she shared the sunset with was far more important than the view itself, and the slight changes in the scenery no longer seemed so important.

Today she would tell him that. She would tell him that no matter where they lived, as long as they were together, they could find happiness.

Just then, she saw a large figure approaching the mansion, parting the darkness as he walked with steady, confident strides.

He noticed the bedroom lights shining brightly and lifted his head. From a distance, she thought she saw a faint smile on his face. Vienny smiled back in return.

Climbing down from the windowsill, Vienny hurried along, her pace quickening as the heavy echo of footsteps resounded in the quiet mansion hallway.

The moment she spotted McClart striding inside, she instinctively stretched out her arms. He responded immediately, lifting her into his embrace.

She expected him to put her down right away, but instead, he simply stood there, holding her around the waist like one might hold a doll.

“What are you doing, still awake?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

From McClart’s embrace, she caught a faint trace of blood that he hadn’t been able to wash off. Feigning ignorance, Vienny buried her face in his shoulder. She could feel McClart’s gaze on her, watching her intently.

“Do you feel suffocated? Do you want to go out into the garden for some fresh air?”

“Aren’t you tired?”

Vienny asked.

“It won’t matter if I sleep a little later. I can sleep in tomorrow.”

Vienny let out a small laugh. Sleeping in? He had never once slept late. If Corinne heard that, she’d definitely call him a liar with a pout.

After a brief hesitation, Vienny tapped his shoulder lightly.

“Put me down. I’ll get a shawl.”

She quickly grabbed her usual shawl, draping it around herself before heading back out. McClart, waiting for her in the lobby, watched her with a slightly disapproving look.

Without a word, he suddenly took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. The lingering warmth from it enveloped her completely.

“A shawl would’ve been enough.”

“The night air’s cold.”

“But this coat is too long. How am I supposed to walk like this?”

Vienny looked down at her feet. If she tried to walk, the hem of her coat would definitely drag on the ground and worn out.

As she looked around uncertainly, McClart asked, a little confused.

“Why do you have to walk?”

Before she could respond, McClart lifted her effortlessly—a position she had grown quite accustomed to by now.

Vienny’s brow furrowed a little more. A pang of guilt crept into her as she worried that she might be burdening him after his long day, all because of a momentary impulse. Of course, it was quite comfortable to be carried, to be honest. And with the energy he always seemed to have, especially in bed, it probably wasn’t much for him. Still, what if she got too used to it and became lazy?

Or was that perhaps his intention all along? Knowing McClart, he was certainly capable of such sly motives.

“Moiria told you not to carry me like this.”

“That was because you needed to exercise during your pregnancy.”

As if worried someone might take her away, he held her even more securely in his arms.

Vienny, who had been considering trying to convince him otherwise, eventually gave in and settled quietly into his embrace.

“Did everything go well today?

“Yeah.”

“Then you absolutely must sleep in tomorrow, okay?”

“Absolutely?”

He sounded slightly puzzled, finding it odd that she was so insistent. Remaining quietly in his arms, Vienny reached out and gently placed her hand on McClart’s cheek, which was close by. The chill of the outside air lingered on his skin, and her fingertips felt its coolness.

As her blue eyes met his, an indescribable feeling welled up in her chest.

“I want to wake up and see you still asleep, Mac.”

“Were you feeling especially lonely today?”

He asked, though even if he didn’t fully understand her, he seemed pleased by her gesture.

Knowing he would enjoy it, she reached out, and when she saw him smile in response, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Encouraged, Vienny gently stroked his cheek. Unable to use both hands since he was holding her, he simply leaned his cheek further into her palm, smiling.

He was still the only beast, the only god, who had given her the gift of a normal life.

“If you’re feeling lonely, maybe we should plant irises a little earlier?”

“There’s you, and there’s Ivelis too. I’m not lonely.”

Hearing that, McClart frowned, looking unexpectedly troubled.

“If you keep being so sweet, I won’t be able to let you sleep peacefully.”

Seeing Vienny press her lips together gently, McClart laughed quietly and shook his head.

As he looked around for a garden bench, Vienny let out a soft breath. If there really was an all-powerful being, she wanted to pray. Her wish was simple: just enough room for this man and her small child to lay their heads. That was all she wanted in her life.

Vienny closed her eyes, comforted by the warmth of the man holding her, his firm strength soothing her heart. And so her sincere hope rose – much like his own silent prayers, desperate even when no one was listening.

You can take away my strength, throw me into hellfire when I die, it doesn’t matter.

My God, my world,

Please do not destroy it.

***Epilogue Complete***