Chapter 194
And then, I cupped his face with my hands.
Trapped between them, unable to do anything, his gaze locked onto mine.
“You tend to be too harsh on yourself. Don’t you think so too?”
“I believe it’s only natural.”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying this.”
Though I could be strict with myself too, compared to Isaac, I wasn’t even in the same league.
“It might sound strange, but…… I see my Guardians as equals. I want to.”
“…….”
“So don’t blame yourself alone. I’m fine with it.”
Even after my words, Isaac remained silent.
‘Was convincing him impossible?’
Seeing him stubbornly press his lips together, I couldn’t help but think so. Well, if words alone could sway him, his affection level would’ve risen long ago.
Just as I was about to give up on this futile conversation and focus on the present—Isaac’s tightly sealed lips finally parted.
“Are you truly fine with it? With me… daring to desire equality with you?”
Isaac covered my hands holding his face and added,
“Even if it means… daring to desire you.”
Huh?
I doubted my ears.
What did Isaac just say—?
“May I… dare to cherish Your Highness?”
His next words erased all doubt, spoken more firmly than before, laced with unmistakable emotion.
My heart raced at the sudden confession. I never expected to hear such words from Isaac—shocking, yet something I’d secretly wanted. Excitement surged over my initial surprise.
A fleeting worry—Should I really allow this?—crossed my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
“Why wouldn’t you?”
Unable to hold back, I kissed him first. Through our connected lips, I felt Isaac shudder subtly.
His stiffened face and posture betrayed his tension.
‘Even though it’s not his first time.’
His tightly sealed lips gradually softened, much like the hidden feelings he’d just revealed.
Honestly, I didn’t understand why Isaac had changed like this—but I didn’t want to ask. This was a hard-won opportunity. If I questioned him, he might retreat.
A faint notification chime sounded, and a message window flickered before my eyes. Having seen it often, I knew it was related to affection levels.
But too absorbed in kissing Isaac, I dismissed it without reading properly.
Right now, I didn’t want to see anything. I just wanted to lose myself in this moment.
* * *
Even with Isaac’s heart opening, things didn’t become as passionate as with Reno. As usual, he neatly dressed in his uniform once satisfied, preparing to leave.
“You can stay longer.”
I hinted at the offer, but it was futile. He still couldn’t cross that line. After he left, exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I fell asleep immediately.
Only the next day did I open the system window I’d deliberately ignored last night.
‘Isaac’s affection level…….’
I was curious, but fear gripped me when I finally checked. Despite last night’s events, I couldn’t shake the anxiety.
What if, after all that, it only went up by 1 like usual?
Even a single point would be something to be grateful for, but if that was all… it would still sting.
But I couldn’t avoid checking forever. After a deep breath, I opened the affection window.
Pop—the window materialized midair. I squeezed my eyes shut before slowly opening them.
Then, against my will, my eyelashes fluttered uncontrollably as I read.
“This can’t be real……!”
[<Character> Isaac Harsen
―Affection: 89 / 100 (Intimate)]
Disbelieving, I blinked repeatedly, checking again. Thinking it might be an error, I closed and reopened the window multiple times.
But the number remained unchanged.
No error. No mistake.
“Wow…….”
So affection could rise this much.
Sure, Killis’s affection had skyrocketed before too. But Isaac’s had been so stubborn—making this increase all the more astonishing.
Yet, the longer I stared, greed crept in. If it’s going to rise, couldn’t it have reached 90?
That frustratingly close number…
‘Was it because of that earlier quest?’
I opened the quest log from the beginning—the one demanding absurd items like “Dragon’s Heart” and “Mermaid’s Tears.”
[<Quest> Restore the Damaged Mana Circuit.]
Scrolling down to check the rewards and penalties, I sighed.
[―Success Reward: Significant increase in Isaac’s affection, ability to freely use and unlock magic.
―Failure: Decrease in Isaac’s affection.]
Isaac’s affection was explicitly mentioned.
‘So that’s why.’
Even after confessing, his affection couldn’t max out.
A man who imposed such strict restraints on himself would never reach the end without resolving this.
Still, the situation had improved. Unlike early days trapped in the palace, I’d soon be able to venture outside.
* * *
The day to leave the palace felt distant yet arrived swiftly. The week before departure kept me busy packing.
Extra funds for expenses, clothing, and supplies for the potentially harsh journey to meet other races—I prepared meticulously.
But since this wasn’t a leisure trip, overpacking would be problematic, so I stuck to essentials.
Books on other races, paper bundles, and pens for idle moments all went into my inventory.
Now’s the time to use it. When else?
I even tried stuffing a travel bag in, but whether due to capacity or other limits, it wouldn’t fit.
Just as I resigned myself to minimizing luggage, an unexpected solution appeared—Killis.
Busy with capital departure preparations, he’d been absent but finally visited. Hearing my dilemma, he answered plainly:
“No need to force yourself to pack light. You can store items in my dimensional pocket.”
“Dimensional pocket?”
“Think of it as a mage’s secret storage. Capacity depends on mana reserves.”
From his description, it sounded identical to my inventory function, just under a different name.
“If it’s mana-based, can I use it too?”
“Theoretically, yes. But with Your Highness’s unstable mana circuits, I assumed you couldn’t.”
“Is that so…….?”
I nearly demonstrated my inventory but reconsidered.
System messages and windows were visible only to me. Using my inventory might resemble his dimensional pocket to outsiders.
But since Nephelli supposedly couldn’t use it, showing it might raise unnecessary suspicion.
Worse, it could expose me as an imposter.
‘I’ll need to be cautious using it around Killis.’
Hiding my thoughts, I asked about his pocket’s capacity and handed him the bag my inventory rejected. Unlike mine, his pocket easily accommodated it.
Watching the bag vanish and reappear at his gesture left me awed.
“My pocket has ample space, so pack freely without worry.”
His assurance was a relief, letting me prepare without constraints.
Finally, the day arrived. We stood on the grand bridge stretching from the palace’s heart to its gates—
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