There was no way she would accept such a pathetic confession.
He had hurt Romiya countless times. And now, to claim it was all because of some hidden affection?
He’d be lucky if he didn’t get slapped.
Sigmund, writhing in self-loathing, barely managed to lift his gaze.
The start of his confession had been pitiful, but he had to finish it well. Even if he was rejected, he needed to meet her eyes.
“You’re saying Sir Sig likes me?”
But Romiya, once again, threw him off with her unexpected response.
Her face, which had been filled with bewilderment, suddenly flushed as red as a beet.
It turned so red, so quickly, that Sigmund began to worry if there was something wrong with her health.
Her mouth opened and closed, as if she was trying to speak, and then she barely managed to ask,
“Re-really?”
Sigmund, frozen, could only nod in response.
Though he might have been ignorant of the human world and felt pitiful in the face of love, he wasn’t completely oblivious.
Someone about to slap him because of an unwelcome confession wouldn’t have that kind of expression.
A wild hope started to fill his mind.
“Lo-love… You’re saying Sir Sig likes me…”
Romiya, half-dazed and muttering to herself, didn’t look displeased at all.
Her flushed face made her appear more embarrassed than angry.
As Sigmund watched her intently, his mouth became unbearably dry.
Not even when he first wielded the powers of a transcendent had he been this nervous.
“So, all this time, the reason you pushed me away was because you really… liked me?”
“I’m sor-sorry. I didn’t know how to deal with these feelings, it’s the first time for me, and I…!”
Sigmund couldn’t finish his sentence.
In an instant, Romiya’s large eyes filled with tears. From her blue eyes, tears began to fall, one after the other.
It felt like the clear sky above him was collapsing. Romiya was silently crying, and his heart was being torn apart.
Did my confession really upset her that much?
The hope that had momentarily eased his breath turned to dust. In its place, a deep, aching despair settled in. His face twisted with anguish.
“Romiya, I… I don’t know much about this world, so I don’t even know how to properly confess…”
“It’s not that…”
Romiya broke into sobs. Wiping her tears with both hands, she finally spoke.
“I think I like you, too.”
“…What?”
“I think I like Sir Sig, too. That’s why I felt so hurt.”
Her thin arms suddenly wrapped around Sigmund, pulling him into a tight embrace.
With her face buried in his chest, Romiya cried harder.
“I kept wanting to see you, and I wanted to stay by your side. I think that’s because I like you.”
“W-what are you saying?”
“That’s why… when you didn’t understand my feelings and only said hurtful things, do you know how much it made me feel sad?”
Sigmund, his arms still outstretched towards her, froze, unable to do anything. Romiya wept like a child, pouring out her long-held sorrow onto him.
“A moment ago, I was really upset. I wanted to quit everything, being your guide and all. But it turns out, I only felt that way because I like you… Why didn’t you say something sooner? Do you know how scared I’ve been all this time, afraid you’d abandon me?”
“Ah.”
Sigmund closed his eyes tightly.
It felt as if he had gone to the gates of hell and barely been dragged back to life by Romiya. He suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice trembling as he spoke.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how petty and selfish I truly was.”
“You really are too much.”
“I was wrong. I’ve learned my lesson this time, so I swear I won’t repeat the same mistake. From now on, I won’t resist my feelings of affection ever again. I’ll confess my love as soon as I feel it.”
“What on earth are you saying? You just confessed to me! Now you’re talking about confessing again? Who are you planning to confess to?”
“Why would I confess to anyone else? There’s no other woman I’ve ever had feelings for, except you.”
“But you just said you wouldn’t resist your feelings anymore and would confess right away. So, who else are you planning to confess to?”
“Did I say that? Forgive me. I must not be in my right mind and am just babbling nonsense. Please understand.”
“It’s hard to believe you when you’re saying it with a smile.”
“Smile? Who’s smiling?”
“Sir Sigmund, you are. Why have you been smiling since earlier?”
“Am I smiling right now?”
Sigmund lifted his hand to touch his face. He hadn’t even realized it, but just as Romiya said, the corners of his mouth were lifted into a smile.
“Understood. I’ll stop smiling now.”
He said that, trying to force his expression to become serious, but it wasn’t easy. In the end, Sigmund gave up controlling his expression and burst into laughter.
“It seems I can’t help it.”
“Pardon?”
Sigmund, still smiling, gently wiped away Romiya’s tears. He wanted to press his lips against her soft, warm cheek.
“I thought you’d slap me. But knowing your feelings are the same as mine, I can’t help but laugh.”
“W-what are you saying?”
It didn’t seem like she was displeased, though, as Romiya’s cheeks turned a little red.
“Sir Sig, did you know that you’ve been acting really strange? Are all dragons like you?”
“Of course not.”
Sigmund pulled Romiya into his arms once more. Romiya grumbled, telling him to let go, but still held him tightly in return. Sigmund closed his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion.
The cool desert breeze enveloped them both. The burdens that had been weighing down Sigmund’s heart for so long seemed to be carried away with the wind.
He wished he had confessed his feelings sooner.
He had never imagined how liberating it would be to acknowledge his affection.
Unable to suppress the rising emotions, Sigmund whispered once again,
“I love you, Romiya. You keep filling my heart.”
“…You’re making me embarrassed, why do you keep saying the same thing?”
“I never knew being loved by you would make me so happy.”
“I-I didn’t say I love you! I only said I like you.”
“It sounds the same to me.”
“It’s not the same!”
“Then teach me. In this world, how does one win the love of their beloved?”
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Aren’t you my guide? You said you’d solve all my difficulties in this world.”
“I’m thinking of quitting being your guide. What’s so special about a strange dragon like you…”
It was a day full of new lessons. Sigmund had never realized how happy it could be to bicker with a lover. He sensed once again that today, Romiya had left another mark on him—a mark that would never easily fade. Gently lifting her chin, Sigmund whispered softly,
“May I kiss you?”
Romiya felt dizzy. His magnificent, golden eyes were filled with only her. The intensity of his affection was overwhelming, and it made her heart swell. Unable to bear the weight of his gaze, she tightly shut her eyes.
Sigmund smiled gently.
He knew that the mark she had etched onto his soul was growing deeper.
But what could he do?
There was no longer any need to run away, nor any thought of turning back. Whatever the outcome of this feeling, he would accept it. That was the only path left for him to choose.
Sigmund slowly tilted his head. Romiya’s lips parted slightly in nervous anticipation. Her warm breath brushed against his lips, and finally, their lips met.
Her tear-streaked lips were softer and sweeter than he had ever imagined.
* * *
From that day onward, their days were truly radiant.
Though Sigmund had lived a long life as a transcendent being, the time that followed felt so overwhelmingly full that it made all his previous existence seem meaningless.
Romiya, who had already been so dear to him as his guide, became even more precious as his lover, beyond anything he could compare.
He loved everything about her.
He loved the way she eagerly explained all she knew about the human world to him, who still remained largely ignorant of it. He loved how she struggled with thick books, trying to learn more just so she could help him.
Her voice, her gaze, her passion.
Her soft, red lips and her small frame that fit perfectly into his arms. The way her laughter would resonate through his body when she laughed while nestled in his embrace.
He loved everything about her, but what made him the happiest was learning the ways of human love from her.
Sigmund let Romiya take the lead in their relationship most of the time.
The reason was that he needed to learn about human affection, and though Romiya was initially awkward with his request, she soon, as always, did her best.
Of course, there wasn’t much to teach when it came to what lovers do together.
They were always together, and their bond deepened rapidly.
Not long after they became lovers, they shared everything they could with one another.
Those were their days.
Every day felt new and intensely fulfilling.
Even the tasks Sigmund had to accomplish in the human world progressed smoothly.
Once word spread that a transcendent like Sigmund was working on behalf of humans, even human rulers sought to aid him.
The temples that had caused chaos in the world quickly vanished, and the evil priests who had run them hid away in fear of Sigmund.
Perfect days followed.
For both Romiya and Sigmund.
It felt like this happiness could last forever.
Of course, Sigmund knew that it couldn’t.
They were not like ordinary human lovers.
Unlike humans, who could spend a lifetime together, the two of them would inevitably have to part one day.
More specifically, the day would come when Romiya would leave him.
But he hadn’t spoken that truth aloud.
To Sigmund, Romiya’s lifespan was already a settled matter. Though he feared the time after she would be gone, for now, he decided to focus on the time they had together. If he hadn’t made that decision, he never would have confessed his love to her in the first place.
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