Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate!-Chapter 241: Apologize

Using [Shadow Steps], I silently scaled the outer wall of the grand Winterfell estate. My destination was clear—the third floor. That’s where Serena’s room was.

"You really do look like a thief right now, Nao. Hahaha! Maybe I should start calling you The King of Sneaking into Beautiful Girl’s Rooms at Night!" Envi’s voice rang out inside my head, laughing mockingly.

"Oh, shut up already! I’m trying to focus here!" I whispered, flustered and slightly annoyed. Though... as much as I hated to admit it, he had a point.

Honestly, I should have just come in through the front door and asked to speak with Serena properly. But knowing her father, Lord Sieg—so protective he might as well be a dragon guarding treasure—I would’ve been turned away without even a chance to speak.

This was the only way. If I wanted to talk to her seriously and in private, I had no choice.

I steeled myself and finally reached the third-floor ledge. I deactivated my dark magic to reduce the risk of being detected and crept slowly through the shadows, carefully avoiding the maids who still roamed the hall.

I couldn’t risk using any more magic. Lyra had an uncanny sensitivity to magical signatures. Even the slightest leak of my mana might alert her. If she caught me here, it’d all be over.

Eventually, I found her room.

It was just past 9 PM. Most of the staff had gone to bed by now—perfect. I double-checked the door just to be safe. I still remembered that embarrassing time I accidentally snuck into Lyra’s room. Her room was on the left. Serena’s should be... yes, to the right.

Serena had told me earlier that she would leave her door unlocked at this hour, just in case I really came.

I tried the handle. It turned easily.

The door creaked open quietly, and I slipped inside.

"...Naoki, you actually came... I can’t believe it..." Serena greeted me with a soft laugh, her voice filled with relief and a bit of disbelief.

I froze as my eyes met her figure.

She looked... breathtaking.

Like a goddess who had descended under the moonlight. Her long, snowy-white hair flowed freely down her back. She wore the earrings and necklace I’d gifted her. They shimmered softly in the warm lighting of the room.

Her face was radiant, her cheeks tinged a delicate shade of pink, likely from embarrassment. She wore a simple, pure white dress that hugged her slender figure—elegant, yet dangerously alluring.

Wait... I looked again.

That dress—it accentuated her curves far more than I expected. Her body... so graceful. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

"You perv~ are you that fascinated by my body?" Serena teased, covering her chest playfully, her face turning even redder as she smirked mischievously.

Ah, God, I might pass out.

I had to cover my nose to stop a nosebleed.

"FOCUS, NAO! REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE HERE!" Envi shouted in my mind like a coach motivating his player in overtime.

"LET’S DO THIS! YOU CAN FINALLY MAKE LOV-"

"SHUT UP AND GO OFFLINE!!" I cut him off before he could finish that sentence.

Stupid perverted system. He always made things worse in moments like this.

"Pff, whatever. Good luck, you hopeless virgin," Envi muttered before disappearing from my mind, finally silent.

Thank the heavens.

Now that I could think clearly again, I turned to Serena, who had stepped closer, concern in her eyes.

"Naoki? You’ve been spacing out. Are you feeling okay?" she asked softly, placing a gentle hand on my forehead.

She was so close... I could smell her sweet, delicate scent. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Ah, no... I’m fine. Just... lost in how beautiful you are," I said with an awkward chuckle.

Serena giggled, her cheeks glowing red. She gently took my hand and led me to sit beside her on her bed.

"Come here, Naoki. What did you want to talk about?"

I sat down, and she leaned against my shoulder. Her warmth seeped into me. I gently ran my hand along her back, taking in the moment.

Then, I turned to face her, my expression turning serious. I placed my hand on her shoulder and met her gaze.

"Serena... I..."

"Naoki..." Her eyes sparkled with emotion. Her lips trembled slightly. Then she slowly closed her eyes.

"I came to apologize," I said, lowering my gaze, my voice heavy with guilt.

Her eyes opened in surprise, confusion dancing across her face.

"Apologize...? What do you mean?"

I took a breath, steadying my voice. "I broke our promise. I told you I’d only love you. I told you I’d stay loyal to you and only you. That I’d never hurt you."

I clenched my fists, ashamed to look at her.

"But I couldn’t keep that promise. Yesterday, I didn’t cancel my engagement with Amelia. Instead, I asked to be engaged to both of you."

I remember that with annoyance and disappointment, even though it was Envi’s action that took over my body, but I was still wrong.

"I was such an idiot..."

Just then, I felt her hand lift my chin gently. She guided my eyes back to hers.

She was smiling softly. "You’re right. You are an idiot."

And before I could say anything else—she kissed me.

Her lips pressed against mine gently, warmly, like a whisper of forgiveness. I froze, stunned by the sudden kiss.

She pulled away just a bit and looked into my eyes.

"Did I ever ask you to break off your engagement with Amelia?" she asked, her voice calm.

"No..." I shook my head slowly.

"Did I ever tell you to ignore Amelia’s feelings?"

"No..."

"Did I forbid you from having any relationship with her?"

"...No."

She touched my cheek and wiped away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen.

"Naoki... do you still love me?"

I reached out, holding her hand gently.

"I love you, Serena. I love you more than anything."

Her smile deepened, glowing with warmth.

"And will you stay loyal to me? Love me until the very end?"

"Yes. I swear it. Until my last breath."

Her cheeks flushed, and mine did too.

"One last question," she said with a playful glint in her eyes. "Who do you love more—me or Amelia?"

"...Of course it’s you, Serena von Winterfell. You’re the one I love most in this entire world."

I leaned in close to her.

"That’s all I needed to hear. I forgive you, Naoki...." She pulled me into her arms and gently leaned back onto the bed, bringing me down with her.

Now I was on top of her, her snowy hair spread like silk across the sheets. Her flushed face was radiant. Her soft pink lips were impossibly tempting.

Then she looked at me mischievously and said, "I do forgive you... but if you get another fiancée... then I might actually freeze you completely, hehe. This is serious.."

She said this with a small laugh.

"I understand..." I replied nervously.

"I love you, Naoki... thank you for apologizing to me..." She said this, closing her eyes and smiling happily.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I kissed her again, slowly and tenderly.

She kissed me back, her arms wrapping around my neck. We held each other close, wrapped in the stillness of the night.

My lips moved to her neck. She gasped and hugged me tighter.

"Naoki..." she whispered, her voice sweet and full of longing.

"Serena..."

Without thinking, my hand reached for the strap of her dress—but then...

"Hehe... don’t rush.. I’m not ready yet.." she giggled, summoning a thin edge of ice magic at her fingertip and pressing it lightly against the back of my neck.

A cold chill ran through me.

"Hikh!" I yelped in surprise.

Her face was bright red, and she quickly withdrew the spell.

I remembered then—she once told me that if I ever pushed her too far, she wouldn’t hesitate to freeze me in place.

"If the time comes... I’ll let you do anything you want," Serena whispered, resting a hand over her chest.

She was so beautiful. So sweet. So tempting.

But no... I had to hold back.

I didn’t want to hurt her pride.

I wanted to respect her, not rush things.

So I leaned down again, gently kissed her lips, and smiled. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"All right... just this is enough for now."

We held each other tightly under the covers that night, her body warm against mine. It was perfect. Peaceful. Full of love.

...

I stayed in Serena’s arms, lying beside her in the warmth of her bed. She held me tightly, her breathing soft and calm against my chest.

This moment felt perfect. Peaceful. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to stay like this—with her—forever.

Then, I noticed her eyes slowly flutter open.

"Naoki... did you know?" she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "Amelia already knew. She knew you were thinking about breaking off your engagement with her."

I blinked, startled. My heart skipped a beat.

"What...? What do you mean?" I asked, pulling back slightly to look at her. "How do you know that?"

Serena paused for a moment, then gave a small sigh and began to explain.

It happened right after I had walked out of the Alliance Council room with her father, Lord Sieg. While I was occupied with that tense meeting, Serena had taken Amelia aside and invited her for a private conversation outside the room.

Serena had done something incredibly brave—she confessed to Amelia that she was in a relationship with me.

At first, Amelia was shocked. Her expression said everything. But then, Serena told me, Amelia smiled. A soft, sad kind of smile. And she said... she had already suspected it.

"She told me it was only a matter of time before it happened," Serena said quietly, looking up at me.

I listened, stunned.

Serena had apologized to her. But Amelia had simply shaken her head and smiled again.

"She said the decision was yours to make," Serena continued. "And that she would respect it, no matter what."

She had asked Serena to wait—to see what I would ultimately choose.

And then... that was when everything spiraled out of my control.

That was when Envi took over.

He hijacked my body in front of everyone and declared I wanted to be engaged to both of them, claiming I loved both of them.

So that’s what really happened.

"I see..." I said finally, giving her a small, uneasy smile. "So that’s how it went..."

Serena giggled gently, her arms still wrapped around me.

"You really are a playboy, Naoki," she teased. "But... as long as I’m the one you love the most, I don’t mind. That’s enough for me."

And with that, she kissed me again.

Softly. Sweetly.

My heart melted all over again.

Truly... this was a night I would never forget.

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