#101

I hadn’t realized how many times I told him, but I didn’t know he would go this far. I lost my mind responding to his repeated requests to listen, relentlessly asking me to say it. My throat trembled, and when I cleared my throat, my lips, which had been touching my ear, fell. Diart, who had been looking down at me with a scrutinizing gaze, asked.

“Shall I get some water?”

I nodded my head, and Diart, who had his lips against my cheek, stood up. My gaze naturally followed his well-toned back and caught sight of the wound on his shoulder. It looks like scratches from my constant clinging. I turned my eyes away, cooling my burning cheek with my hand.

Diart came back with water and helped me sit up. My hand, which held onto his arm, felt strength. I thought I had become quite familiar with my relationship with Diart, but it seems I wasn’t. The lacerations below throbbed from frequent friction.

Ignoring my hand that was reaching towards the glass of water, Diart put the glass to my lips. The water kept flowing in more than I expected because I was quite thirsty. After emptying one glass, Diart lightly kissed my lips and put the glass on the bedside table before climbing onto the bed. He gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders and tried to lay me down. I shook my head at Diart, indicating that I wanted to sit.

“Wouldn’t it be difficult for you?”

“I’m fine.”

If I lie down now, it will be even more difficult. I swallowed the rest of my words. Diart tilted his head in confusion and then moved his body. He shifted his position behind me and rested my back against his chest. Since I was still sweating, I struggled to get away, but it only made us stick together more tightly. Diart seemed determined as if he couldn’t stand it unless some part of our skin touched.

Suddenly, the memory of our first night came to mind. I feel a rush of anxiety at the natural flow of events.

“Tell me again.”

Diart, who had his face buried in my neck, demanded it as if it were obvious. I pretended not to notice the rising heat on my skin every time his breath touched me, and I immediately told him what Diart wanted to hear.

“I love you.”

I internally let out a hollow laugh at the almost reflexive response.

At this rate, it’s like I’m brainwashing Diart, or am I the one being brainwashed? Now I understand why repetitive learning can be scary for people.

I could feel without even looking that his lips, which were pressed against the nape of my neck, was drawing a satisfied smile. I do feel happy because I like him, but why does it feel like I’m the one losing?

Upon careful consideration, I realized that this man, despite receiving countless declarations of love from me, never reciprocated. A sense of injustice washed over me. Diart, who keenly sensed my change in mood, gently caressed the area around my belly button that he had been soothing.

“Why.”

His voice was soft, as if he would listen to anything I had to say. It meant that he was in a very good mood. Diart froze as if urging me to speak. His hand moved discreetly and tickled me.

When he asked me to speak, I couldn’t help but respond immediately.

“Why don’t you do the same for me?”

“What?”

He said, seeming like he didn’t understood what I said. As Diart tilted his head, his silver hair tickled the back of my neck. He straightened his hunched shoulders and spoke.

“I said I love you.”

“Yeah.”

Even at this moment, Diart’s voice, which always made him feel good, came to mind. It was fascinating how he could listen to it countless times and still enjoy it, but at the same time, it was annoying. Do you only care if you’re happy?

“Is that it? Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Diart let out a low sigh in response to my question. It seemed he hadn’t thought of it yet. Fortunately, he was a quick-witted man. I was about to ask him why he never told me he loved me. But then Diart hugged me tighter and buried his face in my hair.

“I forgot because it’s so obvious.”

He whispered in a soft voice.

“I love you. Even I’m surprised by how much.”

My ears tingled at the pleasant words. I didn’t know that one cliché phrase could make my heart race so much. Diart, who could feel my heart beating loudly, chuckled softly and his rough fingers caressed my nape.

“I love you more than you think.”

That’s why Diart kept asking me to say it again. Every time I heard it, I felt a feeling of fullness in my chest.

“Since some time ago, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. The curiosity about the changed you quickly turned into affection. It didn’t take long for affection to turn into love. At some point, I loved you so much that I couldn’t control my emotions. Sometimes I feel strange about myself, but I like it. I like you.”

Each word he spoke contained a heavy amount of sincerity. Diart pressed his lips against my neck. Suddenly, I remembered our first meeting. I couldn’t imagine the contemptuous look he had when he looked down on me. As he once said, Diart, who fell in love with me, has really changed a lot.

“Aren’t you the man who had the servant kick me out of the bedroom?”

Diart swallowed a groan at my playful sarcasm.

“Can’t you forget about that now?”

“I can’t forget the scornful looks you gave me when I made a joke about my repentance.”

“Roeni….”

“It’s okay. I still like your ‘face’.”¹this is in reference to the joke she said in Chapter 4

Diart shook his head helplessly with a creaking sound. He wrapped me up tightly with his strong thighs and begged for forgiveness.

“It won’t happen again. I swear.”

“You don’t have to swear, just take good care of your face. The biggest reason I’m weak to you is because of that handsome face of yours. If it becomes less attractive, who knows how I’ll change?”

“I’ll try my best. And I also like your face.”

“I’m pretty, right?”

“It doesn’t matter if you become ugly. You’ll still be beautiful even when you get wrinkles as you age.”

“Sounds like you want me to stick around until I’m a grandmother.”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted?”

Diart’s hand moved with an obvious intention as his hand wandered around my belly button. When I slapped his ominous hand away, Diart pretended not to notice and kissed my neck.

“I’ll make you the happiest bride in the world.”

A warm and affectionate breath touched my ear.

“No one will ever talk nonsense about you. You’ll be a wife who is loved by her husband more than any other woman.”

So this was why Diart wanted to get married again after his divorce. He wanted to cover up my unhappy past marriage, where I was ridiculed as a wife who was ignored by her husband, with happy memories.

“From now on, all my time belongs to you. Use it as you please.”

It was a voice filled with a wish, hoping that it would come true.

“What if I annoy you?”

“That’s what I want. Annoy me to your heart’s content.”

Diart’s sincerity towards me reached me, and a smile formed on my face involuntarily.

“Is this a proposal?”

“…I guess it was uncool.”

I could see Diart biting his lip, as if he thought it was a proposal without flowers or sincerity.

“It’s so much better than receiving it publicly, surrounded by people.”

“…Did you know?”

“Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t notice when everyone was making it so obvious? I realized it as soon as we set sail. Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn’t really a good idea for me to try to endure it just because I love you. I even briefly considered running away.”

The man bit her shoulder painfully, sensitive to the word ‘run away’. I quickly added a comforting remark.

“The important thing is what was said before. That I tried to endure it because I love you.”

“By the way, you were also planning to propose to me.”

In an instant, my field of view shifted. Diart, who was so agile, quickly brought me down and straddled me from above. His lips curled up in amusement.

“I actually liked the proposal you were going to do.”

Diart flicked my lips with his thumb. It was a touch filled with subtle energy. My dry lips became moist in an instant, and my saliva pooled in my mouth due to the sudden change in air.

“Can’t you do it now?”

“There’s nothing important going on right now.”

My voice trembled involuntarily. Diart, who was looking down at me from above, was incredibly sexy. His shadowy golden eyes were glinting seductively. I had to make an effort not to show my throat to his face which was asking if there was anything wrong.

“A ring. I was going to put it in my mouth and kiss you with it.”

“What a shame.”

Diart narrowed his eyes in genuine regret. He smiled as if he was imagining the scene of receiving a proposal. It was definitely a wicked smile, but I was completely captivated by the determined gaze that seemed to want to bewitch people.

“But there’s something more important in that proposal, isn’t there?”

“…What is it?”

Diart’s smile deepened at my slow question. Instead of answering, he softly bit my lower lip and dug even deeper. My mind went blank as I was swept away by the entangled tongues.

“That’s right, this is the most important thing.”

I threw my arms around his neck and closed my eyes.

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  this is in reference to the joke she said in Chapter 4