Chapter 679

Terrace on the third floor of the Central Palace. Despite the beginning of a confusing political situation, there is no disturbance reaching the Central Palace. Harry and I were drinking tea after a long time. "Sigh... I still can't believe it. I don't even know what's going to happen..." Like Olivia, Harry also let out a deep sigh. Despite saying that, Harry used magic to shorten astronomical costs and time. In fact, with that magic, he annihilated countless numbers of monsters and saved countless people. If we were to line up the greatest wizards in history, Harry would be among the first. As time goes by, he will become more and more like that. In fact, from now on, almost all judgments will be made by Charlotte. I am in a position to decide whether to approve them or not. During the war, we were the busiest, but now Charlotte will be the busiest. Harry is exceptional in many ways, but he has no knowledge of politics. It is better not to use my or Harry's power anymore. Of course, when the political situation stabilizes, we will have to build a new warp gate, so Harry will have to come forward again. In many ways, Harry has become an indispensable presence. Harry looked out the window with his arms crossed. Where did the arrogance and contempt that were in his eyes go? Now it is full of worries and concerns about what will happen and what has already happened. How much time has passed while we were drinking tea? Harry's gaze seemed to be gradually calming down. I don't know what he's thinking. "Reinhardt." Suddenly, Harry called me. "...Huh?" "Let's talk." With that one word, I felt a chill down my spine. "Uh, um...okay..." I got up from my seat, watching Harry walk away. Why did he say let's talk...? I'm so scared! He was already talking, so he must have meant let's talk about something else, right? Trembling with an inexplicable fear, I followed Harry's back as he walked somewhere. Wasn't it better to talk where we were sitting before? Harry took me to a door somewhere and opened it abruptly, looking around before gesturing for me to come in. I don't know whose it was, but it was a bedroom. It wasn't the emperor's bedroom where I had been staying since I came to Tetra. It was one of the many empty rooms. And as soon as I entered, Harry closed the door and locked it. Why did he lock it...? Standing in front of the door with his back against it, Harry looked at me. "...?" And Harry just stared at me, who was trembling with fear. Let's talk. That short sentence was more terrifying than any declaration of war, reminding me of a sobering truth. What's the problem? Did I do something wrong? What should I do? "I couldn't figure out if I had done something wrong or not in these moments where there was no time to spare. There were so many things that made me feel uneasy, like things I should have taken care of but didn't. It's not that I didn't do anything wrong, but rather that I did so many things wrong that I couldn't even guess where to start. My heart was pounding. '...Are you scared?' 'Uh...' Did Harry read my expression and ask me that? Of course. I can't count how many times I've been scared in my life, but feeling an inexplicable fear like this is something new. I don't even know why I'm scared, I just am. Or maybe it's not scared, it's something else. I'm terrified. If I did something wrong, can't he just tell me what I did wrong? I'm confident enough to kneel down! But if I kneel down and admit my mistakes, he'll just counter with what I did wrong! If I were to list all my mistakes, it would be like building a castle, and I wouldn't know where to start if he started saying things that made me feel uneasy. 'No answer?' Harry asks quietly. Why...why is he suddenly like this when he wasn't before? Is this something I used to do when I was in the Temple? 'S-sca...scared...' I couldn't help but nod my head with a trembling expression at Harry's question. Harry tilts his head at my admission of fear. 'Why are you scared?' I feel like I'm going crazy. 'If I get scolded by you, am I scared?' It's cute to say, but just thinking about that scene makes me scared. Harry has never been angry with me except for once in the first semester of our freshman year, before we became close. It's not just that he's angry, it's that he always understands me, always accepts me, and always does something for me. Thinking that Harry is going to point out my mistakes and get angry with me makes everything in front of me seem distant. I don't even know what to apologize for. 'Uh...I'm scared.' So I could only nod my head. If he keeps going like this, I might bite my tongue and die. 'Why are you scared when there's nothing that would make you get scolded by me?' This seems serious to me. What is he trying to say? Of course there's nothing that would make me get scolded by him. But...it's scary, you know?" The person who didn't get angry is angry, or something like that. It doesn't matter if someone who has nothing to do with it gets angry... "It's because it's you." Because it's not someone who has nothing to do with it. It's natural to be scared when someone like that gets angry. Did the words that popped out in the cold air please me? Harry sits on top of me, who is sitting on the bed, with his body pressed against mine, looking into my eyes from a distance of almost touching noses. Why is he doing this...! But his actions and words were so different. "I've been away from my family for too long." "I see..." "So, now that I've almost finished what I need to do..." Harry looks out the window for a moment. "I want to go back to the kingdom for a few years. You don't need me right now." It felt like a stone had fallen into my heart at those words. I understand. I know exactly what he means. I can't help feeling that way. I know that Harry really loves and misses his family. But like this? Not for a moment, but for a few years? Harry asks, "Is that okay?" He has already done enough. He has done so much that no one else but Harry could have done. Asking for more than this... isn't it too much? He's not saying he'll never come back. He'll come back anytime he needs to. But he won't be by my side, as close to me as he is now, as if it's natural. He was always within reach. He was always there, as if it was natural, in a place where he could talk to me and watch me worry. He was the first to hear my stories and the closest to me. He said he wouldn't live like he had until now. But is it okay? He's not scolding me. He's asking for permission. Harry was saying goodbye, so close that we could feel each other's breath. Harry asks, "Do you hate it?" Of course I hate it. That's... I hate it. But asking for something more and asking me to stay by my side as if it's natural is too much. But in the end... "I hate it... Of course." It was a pathetic answer, but it was an acknowledgement of something. Harry laughs at my answer. It was a laugh that made me wonder if he could ever laugh like that. Harry presses his body closer to mine. And before he can say anything else, Harry's lips overlap with mine. In a situation where I felt like I was losing my mind, how long did we kiss? Harry moves away from me. He looks at me and laughs. "I actually knew." "What...?" He whispers quietly in my ear, smiling. "If I do this... you won't be able to push me away." "I've known since there was a time when I saw you unable to resist me when I spoke a little louder." "Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing this because I feel sorry for you." "I'm not doing this because I feel sorry for you. I knew what to do a long time ago. But... it's cowardly. It's pathetic. That's why I didn't do it. But... I won't keep doing this forever. Now, I'll become a coward and a pathetic person too, in my own way. Marry me. Harry whispers in my ear. If you don't, you won't see me for the rest of your life. Was that his way of bargaining? But... wait... did he not want to do it? Harry looks clearly surprised by my words. Of course, we have to do it. Isn't it obvious? Marriage. We're supposed to do it, right? But... this is strange. He's making me say it. He's even making me say such dog-like things. And... this may sound strange, but... will I only be with you? Harry's expression stiffens as he realizes that his imagination may be different from reality. I'll be with Charlotte and Olivia too. Of course! I'm the emperor! I have to create power, even if it doesn't exist through marriage. I might have to do more than that! Whether I do it or not is not up to me. It's obvious that I have to do it! If I don't, it'll be even weirder! Harry nods his head absentmindedly. And then, his expression gradually cools down. In the end, it's still a garbage-like thing to say. In front of the guy who said let's get married with a big heart. Yes, I'll be with you and other people too. That's what he said. In the end, Harry, who is on top of me, becomes a tearful expression. And then, finally... snap! My neck starts to tighten. You... you! I hate you the most in the world! Harry's eyes finally fill with tears. There was nothing I could say, even if I had ten mouths. So I just fell asleep with my neck being strangled." "Then! Then do it with me first! You said to do it with me first, you trash bastard!" Harry yelled, saying that if she didn't do it, she would die right there.