“Anna!”
Responding to Ophelia’s command, Anna spun around and cleaved the Skull hiding deep within the alley with a single strike.
That was the last one. They had defended Lower Town.
She wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, the wound beneath the bandages on her left arm throbbing faintly.
Blood seeped steadily through, and before she realized it, the entire bandage was stained red.
“Anna, your wound…”
Ophelia’s fingertips gently touched the injury, and she immediately began chanting Healing Magic—but Anna refused her.
“Your mana is running low, isn’t it, Ophelia?”
Ophelia bit her lip upon hearing this. It was true, but how did Anna know?
“After using that kind of explosive magic with such power, even if you had more mana, you wouldn’t be able to handle it, right?”
Ophelia was still stunned when Anna suddenly crashed into her embrace.
Anna’s hand softly climbed onto Ophelia’s shoulder, her fingers trembling barely perceptibly.
Her face was buried against her chest, and Ophelia could only watch as the silver-white crown of her head nuzzled her like a fledgling clinging to its mother.
Anna… even after all the terrible things she’d done to her, had still stood up to protect Ophelia when she was in danger.
To spare Ophelia’s weary magic reserves, Anna was willing to endure the pain herself.
Anna’s “like” was different from others’.
Other people’s so-called “likes” were lighter than paper, but Anna’s “like” weighed heavier than mountains.
“Anna…”
Ophelia gently stroked Anna’s long hair.
Her chin rested atop Anna’s head, enveloping her entire body in a warm embrace.
“So cunning… Ophelia, you’re so cunning.”
Anna’s voice was muffled and trembling.
“That was my… first confession.”
To have her first heartfelt confession met with ruthless doubt—anyone would feel utterly crushed.
After her courageous confession was dismissed with Ophelia’s “I don’t believe you,” Anna suffered immense torment; she felt as if her heart had died.
She had intended to just lie there until her heart stopped beating.
But when danger approached Ophelia, her body reacted faster than her heart.
When she came to, she had already summoned the Hero’s Broken Sword and dashed out the door.
The sensation of striking bone felt familiar.
Her body moved involuntarily; though there was no longer any meaning to wielding her sword, she charged headlong toward the battlefield she wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen.
Blood splattered across her face, the pain in her wounded arm maddening—but when her gaze swept over Ophelia, her heart suddenly beat with renewed strength.
Ophelia… Ophelia…
Her mind was filled with nothing but Ophelia’s figure.
As expected… she still loved Ophelia. Even though her confession had not been met with the response she hoped for, even though her first love was utterly shattered—still…
She refused to give up on this love.
“Anna, let’s continue our previous conversation. I want to make things clear.”
“No…”
This time it was Anna who evaded.
She no longer had the courage to be rejected by the person she loved again.
So she deliberately didn’t bring it up, wanting to brush aside everything that had happened under the guise of fighting side by side.
It was best to just let this ambiguous state continue.
“Listen to me, Anna.”
No, no more talking.
The fragile self she had just regained, she didn’t want to lose it again over a few careless words.
“Look at me, Anna.”
Her shoulder was seized firmly by Ophelia. Anna instinctively turned to escape but was pressed hard against the rubble.
Long, strong fingers like pincers lifted Anna’s chin, forcing her to meet those deep blue eyes.
Ophelia wanted to speak clearly so she wouldn’t let her slip away easily.
“Don’t say… don’t say anything more… Ophelia… please…”
Her heart, painstakingly pieced back together, was about to shatter again.
Tears spilled from Anna’s eyes as she instinctively pleaded—and all of it stabbed into Ophelia’s heart like a dagger.
She finally understood what kind of feelings Anna had when she confessed.
Back then, Ophelia herself probably wasn’t much better off.
She was the one who shattered Anna’s hard-earned courage.
Now, she was nothing more than a fragile little girl hiding behind a strong shell.
“The ‘like’ Anna told me about—is that romantic love?”
Anna lowered her gaze, refusing to meet Ophelia’s eyes.
The more she looked, the deeper she fell.
“I like you too, Anna. But it’s not the ‘like’ that means love.”
“Is that so? Ophelia, you don’t have to say you like me just to comfort me.”
“I’m not forcing it. I really do like you, Anna.”
“You don’t understand… you don’t understand at all.”
Anna’s body weakened and slid down to the ground, unable to hold back her sobs.
“‘Like’… isn’t something you can just toss around lightly.”
“‘Like’ is a heavy promise, a special existence. Ophelia… I don’t care how you see me… but please don’t waste my ‘like’. I like you so much I’d give my life for you.”
“Do you know? I originally wanted to lie in my room and wait for the demon blades to sever my head. I thought that would be the end. But when I saw you, saw you in danger, my body went out of control, I… I…”
Anna’s sobbing turned into wails.
“I really do… like you… beyond all hope. So please, Ophelia, stop talking like that. Then I can still… stay by your side.”
Ophelia’s heart felt as if gripped tightly by invisible hands.
Her chest was so heavy it felt like it could drip water.
She’d messed up again, once more.
She just wanted to talk things through with Anna, but she had accidentally touched Anna’s fragile heart again.
But even so, she had to speak.
It was Anna who wanted to clarify everything.
Even if these words might end their relationship, she still had to say them. She wanted to properly atone for her mistakes.
“Don’t talk over me, Anna. Listen. When I said that the ‘like’ I have for you isn’t romantic love, it’s because I don’t know what this feeling building inside me really is.”
Ophelia knelt down and gently wiped away Anna’s tears.
She cupped the tear-streaked face and smiled, wanting Anna to see all her tenderness reflected in her eyes.
“Before, many people told me they liked me. I tried to like them back, but whenever I shared my true feelings, they would shy away and keep their distance. So… I don’t know what ‘like’ really feels like.”
“When you said you liked me, Anna, it was to make me your lover, right? But… if I were to enter a half-hearted relationship with you, that would be the true betrayal of your feelings.”
“I don’t want to do that. Anna, you are irreplaceable to me.”
“Ophelia…”
Ophelia pulled Anna close, wanting to embrace her fully.
“So… Anna.”
“What…”
The face in her arms slowly lifted, those red eyes flashing as they met Ophelia’s once more.
“Let me fall in love with you, Anna.”
Ophelia cupped Anna’s face, her eyelashes inching closer and closer.
If Anna was willing to respond, to pout just a little, Ophelia’s lips would meet hers.
“What is this… I mean, I already dumped you…”
“That just makes you cute. Is that not okay, Anna?”
“So cunning… dumping me but still dangling me along…”
Anna turned her face slightly away, and Ophelia’s kiss landed on her cheek.
“Fall in love with me… and then?”
“After that…”
Ophelia forcefully redirected Anna’s lips.
“After that, I want to love you until the end of the world.”
Her kiss fell like a solemn vow.