“You really went through a lot.”

“You really did go through a lot, all this time.”

I quietly smiled as I stroked the ring returned to me.

The words “you went through a lot” finally made it all feel real.

Now, we no longer had enemies we had to defeat, or constant, looming anxiety we had to face. We no longer had to risk our lives to protect each other.

And in reverse... it meant we really had gone through a lot.

“You’re not crying. I thought you’d be moved and cry, but you’re just smiling.”

Zahid sounded slightly sulky.

I squeezed his hand tightly and replied.

“It’s just... thinking about how you were probably here, rehearsing every single line, is too cute...”

Maybe he had hoped for the word “moved” instead of “cute,” because Zahid’s eyes narrowed with a pout.

Giggling, I went on.

“And here I was wondering why you weren’t giving me back my ring, not knowing you were secretly planning to return it to me in such a meaningful place...”

At my words, Zahid asked back, a little put out.

“You were actually thinking about it?”

“Of course I was. I even whined to Linna about it. I said now that there’s nothing for me to be wary of, the kid probably doesn’t feel the need to rush in anymore.”

Zahid gave a slight upward twitch of his lips.

“You got it all wrong.”

Then he pinned me down in the chair he was sitting on, met my eyes, and whispered,

“I don’t need any more reason to rush than just you. And...”

His eyes, heated, swept over my exposed collarbone and wrists with a hungry gleam.

“I’m not a kid anymore.”

And so our flashback ended.

“Just for today... rest.”

Because that day, I truly couldn’t rest at all.

* * *

I couldn’t even lift a finger. Even though Zahid helped with everything—from feeding me to washing me—I had no strength left in my body.

“Hey.”

I looked at him as he crept closer again and said seriously,

“Zahid, the way you were so concerned about my condition... that was honestly such a morally upright thing. I’m touched all over again by your thoughtful consideration.”

“...Just say it. What are you really trying to say?”

“Seriously, can you cool it a bit?”

Zahid let out a deep sigh and pulled me into his arms like he was surrendering. With a sleepy face, he murmured,

“I wish I had divine power too.”

“...Huh? All of a sudden?”

“Yeah. That way I could help you recover.”

His violet eyes were full of sincerity.

I shook my head in horror, staring at him.

“You’re insane. So you’d recover me and then do it again and again and again?”

“That’d be grea— wait.”

Zahid squinted and muttered low,

“So that’s why soul marriage was popular at the Temple...”

“Blasphemy in front of the High Priest is forbidden, you.”

I frowned and snapped.

Zahid chuckled and kissed my swollen lips again.

“Then should we just call this... a conversation between spouses?”

“Spouses, my ass.”

I shrugged, pointing to the ring on my finger.

“We only got engaged today... Technically, we’re nothing official yet. So Kevin, who’s harbored his first love for me all this time, confessed his—”

“Enough.”

Zahid growled and furrowed his brow.

“Just thinking about that idiot watching you all throughout the Academy makes me want to flip the entire Rohard viscountcy upside down.”

“It’s not Ohard. It’s Rohard...”

“You remembered that name exactly?”

“Of course. I was top of the class—my memory’s probably better than yours.”

“You’re seriously...”

Zahid rubbed his forehead and shook his head.

Since we were kids, he always made that face while talking to me. And only now did I realize how much I loved that expression of his.

Maybe it was because it was something I could never have seen before the regression.

“Hey, Zahid.”

I quietly leaned into him and whispered.

“Let’s say in the last life, you destroyed the Temple and saved me. Do you think we still could’ve turned out like this?”

No matter how I thought about it, I didn’t think we could’ve lived the way we were now. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I would’ve always had to be grateful to him, and he would’ve always had to care for me.

Could we really have been happy after all the trials were over?

At my question, Zahid’s face twisted in pain.

“What’s wrong? Is that really something you need to struggle with?”

“Yeah.”

He took a breath and muttered.

“I want to say there’s no way you’d have ended up with that dumbass... but then thinking maybe you’d have ended up with someone else pisses me off too...”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he furrowed his brow in turmoil.

Yeah. At this point, it was all just meaningless past.

“I want to get some rest and then head out.”

“Huh? Where? Back to the count’s estate?”

“No...”

I stroked his arm and said,

“I want to visit the Temple. I’m finally outside—feels wrong not to go even once.”

“No. The reconstruction’s not finished yet.”

Zahid immediately refused.

“If you take a wrong turn and end up in a cramped or dark space—”

“I’ll just stop by for a moment. There’s somewhere I want to visit. Just one place.”

“Where?”

“...Where the apprentices lived.”

At that, Zahid lowered his gaze with a complicated expression. Then he sighed deeply and nodded.

“Okay, let’s go.”

I hadn’t expected someone as overprotective as Zahid—on par with the old Julian—to say yes so easily.

When I showed a surprised face, he said quietly,

“Actually, while you were unconscious, the Count and I rescued the apprentices from the lab first.”

Shulva had reported that to me before, but I’d never spoken directly to Zahid about it.

“But seeing it with my own eyes...”

His voice shook slightly.

“Knowing that you... that you lived like that... it hurt so much.”

“Did my brother see it too?”

“No. If Julian Noart had seen it, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold back and would’ve set fire to the Temple.”

“I’m really glad you’re more levelheaded than he is...”

“That’s why I think it’ll be good for you to see it yourself.”

He gently stroked my hair.

“To see how happy the apprentices are now.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded with joy.

Actually, Shulva had told me that once I was awake and visited the Temple, I should meet the new high-ranking priests—like Yuta—first.

But I was never good at following orders.

“I want to go see the apprentices first.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Zahid stood right up, threw on a robe, and pulled the bell cord to order the carriage.

Then he turned back to me and gave a warm smile.

“Rosie.”

“Yeah?”

“...This ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) kind of thing... really suits you.”

His gentle gaze softly swept over my messy appearance.

“Looking after even the lowest in the Temple first.”

“Well, that’s not new...”

“I still remember when you first came to the Noart estate as a child. Shaking, but you stood in front of the maid. Maybe I found you amazing even back then.”

“Zahid... why is that so surprising? I’m incredibly nice—to a frustrating degree—and everyone keeps forgetting that.”

“...Pretty sure I’m not the only one who forgets.”

“That’s true. Why is that, though...”

“Hmm. I think I kinda know.”

Zahid chuckled and held my hand. Then, as if making a vow, he said,

“Until the coronation ceremony, let’s go on dates like a normal couple every day.”

Now, each of our clasped hands wore a ring.

“Visit the Temple, visit each other’s estates, meet friends together. And if there’s a banquet, we’ll go to that too.”

“...Okay.”

Normal couple dates—something we hadn’t done in nine years.

Only now could we finally be together without fear. I really felt that.

“But Zahid, what about after the coronation?”

I tilted my head, confused by his wording.

“Why only until the coronation?”

Zahid replied like I had asked something obvious.

“Because after the coronation, we’re having the engagement ceremony.”

“The engagement ceremoooony?”

Engagement ceremony?! I had never even thought about something like that.

“I actually wanted to do it first, but the coronation is more important, so I’ve been holding back.”

Even as kids, we’d just exchanged rings and sent it to the newspaper—that was it!