Volume 4 Chapter 13 Part 4 (2/2)

For a moment I didn’t know what was going on, but then I felt a soft sensation on my lips. The boy looked at me while my face was turning red, looking just like a child that managed to succeed in some kind of a new mischief.

「It was so simple that it kept on eluding me this whole time. The solution for removing the curse was to kiss the one you love the most in the entire world.」

It sounded just like something taken straight out of a fairy tale. But soon enough, there was a magic circle appearing right under the boy’s feet, and the magic runes on the walls and the floor started to shine as well.

「Please don’t forget. Even though I will no longer be the little “me”, I’m still me. And I……」

The boy wanted to say something, but I wasn’t able to hear him anymore. The magical light wrapped around him, making me unable to hear or see anything for a moment.

Then, my hands that were wrapped around the boy’s hands not so long ago, were now being wrapped by a pair of hands that was larger than mine.

「In other words, it’s something like that.」

Finally, I opened my eyes hearing a familiar voice that I knew so well. Seeing the beautiful features of the man standing right in front of me, I found myself at a loss for words. His eyes full of warmth and magical light, he closes his hands tighter around mine, and I can feel the warmth of his body being passed to me.

「––––– Edi?」

「Yes. I’m sorry it took so long, Filmina.」

When I call out his name, he answers like that and smiles so brightly that not even the sun could hope to compare with him right about now. The man then let go of my hands and hugged me tightly, as if to show me that he was not an illusion or anything of the sort. Honestly, he hugged me so tightly that it hurt just a little bit, but it was not important for the moment.

「Edi………」

My field of vision was distorted. What was that? Is it possible for one man to have this much warmth inside of him? I pressed my face against the man’s chest so that he wouldn’t see my tears. He would certainly laugh at me if he saw me like that right now. And it was anything but a laughing matter. And when he indeed laughed I couldn’t possibly be mad at him, knowing that there was no ill intent behind that laugh. Somehow, I was also glad that he wore his normal clothes before we came here, but I would never tell him that I was worried about what would have happened if his old ones didn’t fit him right now. It was also amazing just how clearly I could hear and feel the beating of his heart when we were hugging like that right now.

(ILLUSTRATION HERE)

Feeling a sudden surge of relief coursing through me, I separated from the man and looked at him. I wanted him to see that everything was alright, so I wiped the remnants of my tears with my fingers and flashed him a smile. The man then nodded his head and turned his gaze towards Juri, embracing me around my waist with one hand.

「Now then, do you understand? Juri-dono, Miss Governess.」

「––––Yeah, I get it. I get it all too well.」

His voice was really quiet. Also, he was looking straight at me instead of at the man. I’m not sure, but I thought that for a moment there I saw a light of envy in Juri-kun’s eyes, and I didn’t know what to say to him. The pleasant warmth was wrapping itself all around me. In this warmth, I was unsure whether I’d be able to tell him anything that would bring him back the long lost hope.

「Juri-kun…… No, Jurionosol-sama. You said that your current predicament is a result of Elizabel’s hatred towards you, but I don’t believe that’s the case.」

「………?」

The Governess’s eyes looked as though she didn’t know what I meant by that. I cast her a quick glance and then continued.

「Even if Elizabel-sama harbored some sort of hatred towards you, she still wanted you to live, right?