Hearing her dejected tone, Lin Yue couldn’t help but frown.
He looked at Mapell with a gaze filled with doubt, one that she didn’t dare meet.
‘Is she… worried about my safety?’
“…”
Mapell looked away, unable to face him.
“Just treat it… as a joke.”
“A community of destiny? Life and death together?”
She whispered mockingly to herself.
‘How could I possibly… Why would I have the right to ask someone to go that far for me?’
That kind of symbiotic relationship was something that even blood relatives might not share.
How could it be easy to ask someone to make such a momentous choice for her?
Given their current relationship, was it even possible?
Thinking about it carefully, there was a way: the method she had used at the beginning and the one she was best at—finding leverage over someone.
….
However, she had been unable to use that on Lin Yue for a long time.
There was a resistance in her heart, and she even felt some regret for her actions back then…
Mapell took a deep breath, returning to her usual mischievous, vixen-like self as she said to Lin Yue, “Yeah, I lied to you again, hee-hee.”
“The whole ‘community of destiny’ thing was fake, just to tease you… I’m just that wicked. Is this your first day knowing me?”
She tried to curl her lips into a playful expression as she usually did, but her face felt stiff from the effort.
“What… do you feel cheated? I won’t take back the token. Take it and use it however you want as compensation.”
“Thank you for everything you did for me today… really.”
She spoke rapidly in a forced, casual tone, her words coming out fast as if she were fleeing something.
She slowly turned her head away, not wanting Lin Yue to see her embarrassed expression.
Lin Yue picked up the token at his waist and glanced at it.
It was shining and incredibly precious.
This was something only those of the direct Keris bloodline were qualified to possess.
The owner could use this token to mobilize the Chamber of Commerce’s power without limit to find rare treasures, enter any high-end establishment within the Keris sphere of influence for free, and enjoy visa-free entry into many countries.
They even had the right to bypass the person in charge and directly intervene in business matters.
It was a world-class pass.
To some extent… these benefits were far stronger than the spatial magic Liya had taught him.
As long as the Keris Chamber of Commerce existed, he could live the rest of his life without any worries, and he wouldn’t even have to worry about cultivation materials; people would constantly deliver them to his door…
This was also the best thing Mapell could give him.
It could be said that all the benefits she had struggled for nearly half her life were being given to Lin Yue all at once.
Even if Lin Yue turned around and left now, he would have made a massive profit.
He would have been paid back ten… no, 100 times over for the grievances he had suffered from Mapell before.
“In the end, our relationship was based on mutual exploitation from the start. How could there be any trust between us—”
The fact that he was willing to expose his identity for her and take action without knowing the full story was already enough to make her weep with gratitude.
She didn’t dare wish for more.
“When that time comes… run away quickly. Whatever you do, don’t look back…”
She muttered softly, no longer willing to let him risk his life for her castle-in-the-air dreams.
Then, she finally uttered the words that had been swirling in her heart and now had to be said: “Just leave.”
“Leave now, before things reach a point of no return. Leave the Keris Chamber of Commerce, leave the Royal Capital, and go back to Avelina… get far away from me.”
She turned her head away, her voice muffled and carrying a suppressed tremble.
“I know you’ve always disliked being used by me and disliked being involved in these troubles… I’m sorry. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble during this time.”
“I’ll handle the rest of it myself.”
So…
Leave.
The farther away, the better.
Please…
Stop looking at me.
And don’t look back.
She had nowhere to rest her gaze, yet she couldn’t help but steal a glance out of the corner of her eye at the silent figure behind her.
1 second, 2 seconds… he was still standing there.
This silence was more oppressive than any words, easily crushing the fragile mental defense she had just built.
She took a small, panicked step back.
The disguise and acting she had always been proud of were now completely falling apart.
Mapell had always been good at using her facial expressions as a weapon.
Now, she didn’t even know what expression to make.
She only felt a surge of emotions churning her thoughts into ripples.
The complexity rising from her heart hit her like a tsunami, leaving her at a loss.
She turned around completely and lowered her head, her arms trembling as she hugged herself.
She buried her face in her chest, not daring to look into his eyes again.
“…”
After a long time… she could feel that Lin Yue was still standing there.
Traffic flowed slowly in the distance.
The noise of the Royal Capital came from far away like a blurred background sound.
On this quiet rooftop, there was only the sound of the wind past her ears and their clearly audible, unsteady breathing.
Time passed second by second, each one feeling like a silent interrogation.
Mapell seemed unable to take it any longer.
She took a deep breath and decided to harden her heart.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
With a dark expression, she looked up at the sky.
Her voice trembled, carrying an irrepressible sob and a hint of anger… yet no one could see the torment deep in her heart.
She received no response as more time passed.
This continuous silence was finally the last straw that broke her.
An emotion mixed with despair, grievance, unwillingness, and a sliver of expectation that she herself couldn’t understand suddenly burst through the dam.
Mapell spun around and rushed back to Lin Yue.
She almost slammed into his chest, her hands tightly clutching his collar.
She forced herself to look up, her eyes no longer showing any allure, only an overflow of emotions as she glared at him.
Her voice was thick with tears and accusations.
“I… didn’t I tell you I was lying to you! Why are you so stupid? Can’t you understand plain speech!”
She didn’t dare look into his eyes, afraid of seeing disgust or pity there.
That would be more painful than any mockery.
“Who allowed you to stay? Who do you think you are! You’re going to face Prince Virgil! He’s the future Emperor of the empire! How do you expect to fight him?”
“You weren’t even willing to let me take a little advantage of you before, and you were disgusted whenever I touched you… but now you’re acting all saintly and won’t leave… stop looking down on people!”
The stubbornness she had used as a disguise was like a porcelain mask that wouldn’t come off.
With every word she spoke, it fell away and shattered bit by bit.
She couldn’t drive away this fool who didn’t even know how to avoid suspicion and just quietly watched her emotional breakdown.
She could only clench her fists and weakly pound on his chest.
“I’ve already given you everything I can… what more do you want!”
“Leave! Just leave!”
Punch after punch… yet she couldn’t bring herself to use any real force.
Like her tangled and painful heart, she was knocking on the door called powerlessness.
“Do you have to see me like this… this disgusting state to be satisfied…”
She couldn’t understand why this strange man still dared to stand by her side.
Wasn’t this bottomless pit deep enough?
She didn’t understand.
She really didn’t.
This abyss was clearly bottomless and bone-chillingly cold.
Why was he still standing on the edge, refusing to leave?
From the beginning, it had nothing to do with him!
She was the one who had forced him into this.
She was the one who had used threats against him.
She was the one who had made that incredibly heavy promise.
But why… now that it had come to this, was she the one most afraid of him fulfilling that promise?
Finally, her strength was exhausted.
Her last punch missed as her body lost its balance, and she began to fall forward.
Thud.
Mapell froze, feeling her wrist suddenly caught.
She slowly raised her head, only to see those still-calm brown eyes.
“Why…”
She whispered softly, not only asking Lin Yue but also questioning herself.
Lin Yue tightened his grip on her wrist, but his gaze went over her shoulder toward the dusty coffee machine inside—the one that seemed to symbolize all her warm memories and cold reality.
It was also the deepest connection between the two of them.
He had been interrogating his own heart at every moment, calculating everything, yet he ultimately couldn’t win against his inner conscience.
Scenes from the past flashed through his mind.
This woman who acted like a good girl, a vixen, and a sophisticated ‘bad woman’ was currently just like his former pathetic self—wandering aimlessly in a maze she couldn’t escape.
Threats, shrewdness, and schemes… were they not just her protective colors?
She was afraid of pulling what she cherished into the abyss, yet she hoped for a sliver of salvation.
He finally made up his mind.
His voice was soft, but it carried a resolute certainty.
“Because… you trust me. That isn’t easy for you. I can tell…”
Hearing Lin Yue’s words, Mapell, who had been suppressing her emotions, felt her heart skip a beat.
“Originally, I did plan to leave…”
“I don’t know if you remember when we saved Airella…”
He pulled out a token, which also had the word [Cris] on it.
“Only you and Renault have this, right? If I’m recognized, the Chamber will be dragged into it as well…”
He recalled the inspiration he had received from that boy just now.
“So… I’ve changed my mind.”
He looked toward the horizon as if he were talking about something ordinary.
He had been in this position before.
Facing a shattered reality, unachievable goals, and wishes that were harder than climbing to heaven.
He had already experienced the pain and unwillingness in reality that could torture a heart until it shattered.
A community of destiny… Was this not the kind of relationship Lin Yue, who had been alone all this time, yearned for the most?
“It isn’t disgusting to suffer because you can’t finish what was started. Instead, it’s brave. You aren’t ugly at all… you don’t need to say that about yourself. I’m the same.”
Lin Yue’s eyes were firm as he used his words to respond to her expectations bit by bit.
“Besides… when did I ever say I wasn’t willing to let you take advantage of me?”
“The hand you reached out that day and those feelings… I believe they definitely weren’t fake.”
His tone was so gentle, for fear that being any sharper would hurt the girl’s pride.
“So this time…”
He let go of Mapell’s hands and took a step back, leaning against the railing.
Like a gentleman inviting a beautiful lady to a dance, or like he was hosting his former, powerless self…
“I’ll be the one to invite you.”
‘You’re lying…’
Mapell slowly raised her head.
Her eyes, which had been radiating charm at all times, suddenly filled with tears that slid down like silk threads.
She couldn’t believe there was actually someone in the world who would make such an incredible move.
Her logic was fighting to refuse, but her emotions had already collapsed.
She looked at the sunset glow about to be swallowed by darkness, and then at the steadfast brown eyes reflecting that light.
He pulled off the wig on his head and tossed it aside, revealing his own black hair.
He reached out, radiating a magic that was impossible to refuse, just like the night she had fallen.
“Mapell Christolier.”
This was the first time Lin Yue had said her full name.
It was clear, slow, and incredibly solemn.
For him, if he was truly going to forge an unshakeable covenant, he had to call upon the complete, true her.
He had to accept everything about her—her present and past, her weakness and her strength.
Mapell’s pupils dilated slightly, her heart beating so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest.
Almost uncontrollably, she reached out her trembling hand.
Her fingertips lightly touched his long fingers.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible gravity, their fingers interlaced, gripping each other tightly without a single gap.
His palm was warm and dry, firmly enveloping her cool fingers.
Then, she heard him speak in a calm and solemn voice that sounded like a vow.
“Please… accompany me in life and death.”
The last syllable fell.
It was the promise they had made to each other not long ago.
In an instant, Mapell felt the string that had been stretched to its limit in her mind snap.
All her disguises, concerns, and fears collapsed in that moment.
She suddenly took a step forward.
No longer just placing her hand in his palm, she threw herself directly into his arms.
Her arms tightly encircled his waist as she buried her face deep in his chest.
That determined force carried all her weight and trust, as if she were dragging him away from this suffocating reality.
Lin Yue instinctively held her.
As the sun set, the silhouettes of the two embracing people leaned over the railing, looking as if they were falling into the heavenly abyss.
In the cool autumn wind, it was as if they had truly become dance partners heading toward an unknown depths.
They had fallen again… yet it was as if they had finally found a harbor for their lonely boats.
They sank together into that bottomless, yet no longer lonely, sea formed by their vow.