Lin Yue felt a jolt.
He tried to get up, but his body was drained of strength.
As he turned his head, he slipped again, his face landing squarely against Isabella’s chest.
‘So soft…’
That was the only thought left in his mind.
After experiencing the legendary “face-wash” treatment, he felt he could die without regrets… but he didn’t actually want to die.
“Ah! You… don’t move around so much.”
Isabella’s voice held a hint of a scolding tone, but she wasn’t truly upset.
She was mostly worried he would fall or had been injured elsewhere.
He tried to explain, but Isabella’s hand covered his eyes.
The bleeding wounds on his body that hadn’t closed yet began to heal.
Gentle red mana surrounded his body, mending his exhausted flesh and soul.
Isabella looked down at Lin Yue leaning against her chest, the tips of her ears turning slightly red.
She knew the position was ambiguous, but… she didn’t dislike it at all.
In fact, she almost hoped Lin Yue’s mind would wander a bit.
“Calm down. I… I’m helping you heal…”
Actually, she was the one who was the least calm.
That was why she covered Lin Yue’s eyes—she didn’t want him to see her face, which was flushed with embarrassment.
“I thought you were going to burn me to death…” Lin Yue said, sighing in relief after hearing her words.
“Am I really that scary? Honestly… just what kind of image do you have of me in your heart?”
Perhaps because the atmosphere hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time, Isabella had many things she wanted to say to this annoying guy.
They had never had the chance to talk properly, leading to many misunderstandings.
She hadn’t expected they would only be able to share their true feelings in an environment like this.
If Mordecai hadn’t amplified the desires in her heart, she wouldn’t have dared to speak so boldly just now.
They likely would have remained estranged until death…
Lin Yue considered the question seriously, his tone natural as he spoke.
“Let me think… willful, stubborn, and short-tempered…”
‘And a bit of a tsundere?’
She was completely different from the determined, unyielding older sister character from his first encounter in the game.
It was a bit of a disillusionment.
“Ah… you’re just saying bad things about me. You really do hate me!”
Isabella suddenly pinched a bit of flesh on his stomach, making him jump.
“Ssh! Wait, I haven’t finished!”
Having been caught by his weakness, Lin Yue immediately changed his tune.
“But there’s an unexpected side… uh, like how gentle you are when using healing magic.”
In the game, the first magic Isabella encountered wasn’t fire, but healing magic.
Her vines had also branched out from her study of healing magic.
“This mana… I felt it clearly while I was unconscious. During the exam, you saved my life, didn’t you?”
With his eyes covered, he suddenly remembered being pulled out of the pitch-black void by two different types of mana.
The feeling was identical to what he felt now.
“It’s only because you were being a busybody. You should have just left me alone, but you had to act cool. I was already drained of mana, but I still had to use my energy to save you…”
Did he think taking a hit from Alan’s Law Blade was as simple as getting a few bruises?
If she hadn’t saved him, he would have been a goner.
“The way you worry about people is really unique.”
“I wasn’t worried about you! If you died, the Hawk family would hold us accountable. The Varianne family can’t afford that.”
“I’m truly sorry for having such a powerful family background…”
Though he hadn’t enjoyed it for long before being kicked out.
He opened his eyes.
Isabella’s hand was only loosely covering them, so he could vaguely see her expression.
He noticed her pouting slightly, as if she hadn’t heard enough.
As expected, everyone liked hearing praise.
He decided to coax her a bit more…
Lin Yue hadn’t expected such a cute personality to be hidden under her cold exterior. It was quite a surprise.
“By the way, when Euann was causing me trouble, you also stepped in for me. That left a deep impression… It shows you’re a person of principle. You’re worth being friends with.”
In short—she was genuine.
“At least you have some taste.”
Hearing Lin Yue’s recognition, Isabella’s small vanity was finally satisfied.
She let go of the flesh on his stomach.
But something felt off… The incident with Euann… Ah!
He saw through her!
“Wait! That was because Euann was using my family’s name to challenge people. It wasn’t because of you… fine, I was a little worried…”
Her voice grew smaller, her confidence wavering.
‘Yep, a classic tsundere line.’
This should prove that their relationship was actually quite good.
Lin Yue didn’t reply, simply smiling as he enjoyed this rare moment of peace.
After lying there for a while, he felt a bit sleepy.
It was too comfortable—a sensation he had never experienced in the real world.
To be fair, he had slept in Airella’s arms before, but the feeling was different.
Isabella was softer, and her scent was entirely different.
Airella’s scent was very fresh; she clearly didn’t like using perfume.
Isabella’s scent was a special kind of fragrance—not cloying at all—making one want to bury their nose in her chest and nuzzle it.
Well… he’d need to find a burial urn first, as Isabella would kindly burn him to ashes.
While healing Lin Yue, Isabella reflected on her recent actions…
‘If you don’t even have the ability to protect the people and things important to you, then you are causing harm to those you care about. That is true incompetence!’
Now, she finally understood the true meaning of Lin Yue’s words.
‘I won’t run away anymore.’
She made a quiet resolution.
Regardless of the punishments or accusations she might face once this was over, she wouldn’t flee.
She wouldn’t belittle herself or choose to abandon magic.
While it couldn’t be called atonement, leaving irresponsibly would be even worse.
She realized she could no longer be someone so easily controlled.
Not just for Lin Yue or her sister, but for herself.
The Church…
A cold light flashed in Isabella’s eyes.
She finally understood why Lin Yue’s family was so resistant to the Church.
This incident had left a mark on her heart, and she wouldn’t let it go.
Before that, she had to keep getting stronger and show no mercy!
A seed belonging solely to Isabella—the heart of a powerful expert—quietly sprouted.
“Next time, I’ll be the first one to stand by your side…” Isabella mumbled.
Mana poured from the hand covering his eyes, healing the wound on his brow.
“What did you say?”
Lin Yue hadn’t heard her clearly.
“Nothing. I’m telling you to be careful in the future. If something happens, tell me directly. Don’t go hiding things on your own.”
Seeing the cold, aloof young lady worrying over him so much, Lin Yue’s heart softened.
He looked up at the sky covered in red light.
Yeah… he had to be careful.
“Back at you!”
He knew Isabella’s style was quite similar to his—they both liked to be lone wolves.
If no one looked after her, her chances of ending up as a corpse in the wilderness were about the same as his.
So, he might have to pay more attention to her from now on.
Having adjusted her mindset, Isabella let go of Lin Yue and allowed him to lie on her lap.
“Was… what you said earlier true?”
She looked anxious, still seemingly uncertain.
“What words?”
“The stuff about… the marriage arrangement, and saying I’m irreplaceable…”
She feared he had just said those things in a moment of excitement or desperation.
“Yes, there wasn’t a hint of a lie in them.”
Lin Yue wasn’t making empty promises.
He really intended to watch over her growth; that had been his plan from the start.
However, the future format might have to change.
Isabella was the type who couldn’t be left to her own devices; it was better to check in on her every now and then.
“I see.”
Hearing him admit it personally, the corners of Isabella’s mouth couldn’t help but turn up.
A blush crept onto her cheeks, and her beautiful eyes didn’t know where to look.
Her hand reached out almost instinctively toward Lin Yue’s slightly trembling palm, wanting to test his thoughts.
‘Hmm?’
Lin Yue felt the softness in his hand and couldn’t help but feel confused.
‘Did she realize I’m shaken because I killed someone, so she’s comforting me this way?’
He had to admit, his heart felt much more at peace.
Well… this girl was becoming more and more gentle.
He gripped Isabella’s hand back, accepting her kindness.
Seeing Lin Yue respond to her, a wave of joy she had never felt before surged through Isabella’s heart.
She squeezed his hand tightly, as if she were grasping her entire world…
He had no idea that for Isabella, those words were no different from a confession.
“Then… after we go back, how about…”
‘How about talking to the family again?’ She wanted to say that.
She had indeed resisted the marriage arrangement at first.
But now… the situation was completely different.
“How about what?”
“Nothing… Just keep lying there!”
She fell into love without even realizing it.
No one could stop her… she was already a goner.
“Oh.”
Lin Yue responded and obediently lay back down.
Looking at Lin Yue, who was as obedient as a baby, Isabella’s heart softened.
‘Even though he usually acts like he doesn’t care about anything, when I really need him, he always appears by my side like a hero.’
‘Thank you for accepting someone as willful as me… Thank you for saying I’m irreplaceable…’
‘Thank you for letting me know that even someone as terrible as me can have such a wonderful person tolerate me. From now on, I’ll be good too. I’ll take this feeling and become stronger for your expectations…’
In her eyes, that annoying playboy had completely vanished from her mind.
Now, he was Isabella’s own… special…
Her inner resistance to growth finally disappeared.
She understood that everything was because of the guy lying on her lap.
Looking at Lin Yue, whose eyes were closed and whose face was calm, a sudden impulse flashed through Isabella’s mind.
She leaned down gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her burning ear.
She wanted to try kissing him again while she was conscious.
‘He… shouldn’t refuse, right?’
Isabella closed her eyes with determination, preparing to put her plan into action.
Suddenly, an ethereal voice reached Lin Yue’s ear.
“So, you’re Lin Yue…”