523 Love Confession (2)
ââŠFiona, did you know all this time?â
âYes, I noticed from the time I joined the party.â
Apparently, she knew from the beginning.
Oh, lordâŠ
Fiona knew of Lilyâs feelings from the moment they met⊠At that time, Iâd been living with Lily for three months. The word âdenseâ couldnât even describe me by this pointâŠ
âDammit, why am I⊠LilyââŠâ fđ§eeđđđđ§à«ŠŃ”eÆ.cđ°đ¶
I was truly at a loss. What should I say to apologize? No, more importantly, it was lame that I needed someone else to spell it out for me.
Itâd have been meaningless if I hadnât realized it myself.
No, even if so, I doubted Iâd actually realize it. After all, even with Reki and Ursulaâs kindness, it wasnât until leaving the village that I realized it.
âChrono, do you want to go after Lily?â
I didnât think I had the right to do so.
StillâŠ
âYes. Now that Iâve found out, I canât just let it be.â
Do I love Lily?
I didnât think that I saw her as a member of the opposite sexâŠ
âŠStill, without realizing it, Iâd become too attached to her.
However, that didnât erase all of my doubts. I felt like I cherished her like a sister⊠At the very least, I couldnât bear the sight of her crying?
âIâll go look for Lily.â
âI wonât let you.â
When I turned to leave, there was a light impact on my back. Judging from the sensation, I could feel that Fiona was embracing me from behind. Her white arms encircled my belly.
âWhy did you stop me?â
âHey, Chrono⊠If I was the one who left tearfully, would you come after me?â
I didnât understand the meaning of her question.
âWhat are you talking about? I have to hurry and find Lilyââ
ââWhat do you think? Between me and Lily, whoâd you choose?â
Fiona had been calmly listening until now. In the first place, from the moment we were reunited, she probably had a rough understanding about Sariel and I.
Therefore, it was difficult to imagine Fiona crying in shock.
âWhat are you talking about, Fiona? Now isnât the timeâŠâ
âIf you canât answer, well, thatâs fine, too. Anyhow, is it really wise to be in such a hurry? Lily needs some alone time. Surely, Chrono will understand?â
When she put it like that, I couldnât help but nod.
After the battle to defend Alsace, life in Spada began to take a plunge into the depths of despair. It was only in the beginning that I was able to muster a bravado. Said petty sense of justice was reduced into nothing when I saw the surviving refugees.
At that time, thanks to Miaâs immediate appearance, I was able to sort out my thoughts. Above all, I managed to find hope. But without that, itâd take a long time before I could fully recover.
Or maybe⊠I truly had changed. A ruthless, selfish, and above all, cowardly man who cut down all but his precious companions without ever looking back.
âAlright⊠Iâll leave Lily alone for tonight.â
As soon as I nodded, Fiona released her grasp on me. But then, she approached me from the front. We werenât exactly hugging, but close enough. On my chest, was the enigmatically beautiful Fiona.
âChrono, in truth, even Iâm shocked by thisâto the same extent as Lily, even. Itâs just that I have more rationality than her.â
âIâm sorry, youâre rightâŠâ
Although, it was one thing to understand, but whether or not she could forgive me was another matter. As for Fiona, I thought she followed me this far precisely because she trusted meâŠ
My actions were unforgivableâboth as a companion and a man.
âThatâs right, Chrono, youâre the worst.â
For the first time, her curse words pierced my heart.
Even if I was aware of itâeven if I admitted to it, to hear that from her was still shocking.
âTo help our enemy, the apostle, out of selfish personal feelings⊠Even if you were to say that Sariel seduced you with her good looks and shackled you, thereâs no excuse.â
Certainly, if my deeds were known, the general consensus was as such. After all, even though Sariel and I hailed from the same town, we were only acquaintances. We werenât friends, much else a couple.
âŠNo, even if Shirasaki and I were married for a long time, I had no way of proving that.
After all, it was Sarielâthe apostleâwhom I chose to spare. That fact alone made me a sitting duck to all kinds of slanders.
âIf Chrono had realized Lilyâs feelings sooner, then you might be able to proceed with killing Sariel.â
While it was nothing more than a theory, I thought that it was possible.
If I had noticed her feelings sooner, whatâd I do? But thinking about it was useless, since I couldnât respond to said feelings.
âThen, if I had a lover by the name of Lily, would I be able to kill Sariel that day? Even if I thought about it, I couldnât find an answer. Even so, there was no doubt that Iâd be more inclined to end her.
âSariel shouldâve been killed. Chrono, who failed to do so, is to blame.â
âYes, I know, Iâm selfishâŠâ
By keeping Sariel alive, I had overlooked the risks that came with it. Fortunately, coincidences overlapped, and Sariel wasnât only able to be rid of her divine protection, but also received the divine protection of the Dark Knight Freesia, eliminating the possibility of her ever being revived as an apostle ever again.
Still, the act itself could be considered a rebellion thatâd put Sparda itself in jeopardy. That was what it meant to save an apostle. The level of danger was completely different than merely allowing Linfelt to escape.
âNevertheless, Chrono still proceeded with the selfish acts, and even betrayed Lilyâs feelings in the process.â
She was right.
Even now, I had no intention of slaying Sariel. As much as I was reluctant to admit it, my heart had accepted Sarielâs existence in the momentary peace I spent at the cultivation village.
ââŠâ
Even at such a time, I glanced at Sariel, who remained expressionless. Despite my showdown with Fiona, she just sat there and listenedâŠ
In such a chaotic situation, I wondered what went through Sarielâs headâŠ
âPlease look this way, Chrono.â
Fionaâs white hand reached for my cheek, forcing me to look forward. Her golden eyes were right in front of me, drawing me in.
âUhârryâŠâ
âIs this woman that important to you?â
It was as if I was being tested. While her half-eyed gaze was as laidback as ever, I felt that way.
ââŠYes, just as Lily said, I chose memories. Even though not even a single trace of Shirasaki remains in Sariel, and that sheâs nothing more than an empty husk⊠But even so, I donât want Sariel to die. Iâve decided to protect her.â
âI see. Itâs the worst answer. After all, youâre the worst.â
Seeing Fiona exhale, I realized.
Would it be the end of my alliance with the Element Master?
Fiona didnât forgive me. In the first place, what I had committed was unforgivable. I was aware of that, too. I shouldâve seen it coming.
âIâm so sorry, Fiona. If this is the endââ
âSuddenly, Fionaâs face approached. Before I knew it, no distance remained.
Soft.
Our lips overlapped.
âWhat, are youâŠ?â
Fiona pulled back as if nothing had happened. Only then did I realize that Iâve been kissed.
âChrono, youâre the worst, but I forgive you.â
ââŠHuh?â
I made a stupid noise. It didnât make any sense. In the first place, I was still wrapping my head around the fact that Fiona had just kissed me⊠đđ§đŠđŠweđŁđŁđ°đđČl.com
Boomâ!
My heart was pounding.
âI forgive youâdo you know why?â
âWhyâŠ?â
âShouldnât that be obvious? Because I love you.â
What kind of expression was I making?
âThe truth is, you already know, donât you?â
After all, Fiona had kissed me. That alone proved that she wasnât simply playing around.
âChrono, I love you.â
A heartfelt confession.
Just as Elina told me before she departed for the Galahad War, Fionaâs words were so straightforward and crisp that I couldnât mishear itâŠ
âFiona, IâŠâ
I couldnât give an immediate answer. I knew that I was being lameâeven so, it was impossible for me!
In Elinaâs case, I turned her down right away. Since I was concerned about myself and the future, it wasnât difficult.
But what about now?
Fiona accompanied me in the decisive battle with Sariel. Without her, weâd have lost the Galahad War. Iâd be helpless against the apostle.
In the first place, her strength was necessary for me in future battles. After all, Fiona was a rare companion who could go with the crusaders on the bloody battlefield of Hell.
For such a person to love me⊠Moreover, she was also ridiculously beautiful. Iâd lost count as to how many times Iâd been struck by her beauty. If I wasnât this pathetic, Iâd make a move on her.
In short, a girl named Fiona was a very rare existence whoâd love a brute like me⊠Originally, I should be the one to bow and confess to her.
So why wasnât I tempted to do so until now? Because Lily was there.
Now that Fiona had confessed to me, why did my worry and distress outweigh the happiness? Because Lily was there.
Despite knowing that Lily loved me, Fiona still confessed to meâŠ
âIs that what you mean by âchooseâ?â
âYes.â
A cruel affirmation, where neither lies nor deceit could be found.
âPlease choose me.â
Was it a wish, or an order? Once again, Fionaâs face approached mine.
âWait!â
I managed to prevent the second kiss.
I didnât shove her, and instead pushed her shoulders back.
âAm I not good enough?â
âNo, itâs not about thatâŠâ
I didnât understand what I was saying. Still, I didnât think itâd be right to let her kiss meâŠ
âLily wonât forgive you, Chrono. To be more precise, she wouldnât be able to forgive Sarielâs existence. Once she returns, sheâs more likely to point her blade at her again.â
But that was only a speculationâŠ
Surely, if Lily cooled her head, sheâd come to an understandingâ
âwas a very wishful and convenient thought from me.
âBut if itâs me, I will. Itâs alright if you donât want to kill Sariel, I can overlook that. Of course, itâll take some time before I can forgive you. Even so, I can handle itâas long as you become my lover.â
âŠTo forgive the unforgivable, is that the power of love?
Fionaâs words were filled with love. Was that her honest feelings? Was that truly what she thought?
âIf I donât choose Fiona, whatâll happen?â
âDo you have the confidence to turn me and Lily into enemies for the sake of Sariel?â
Chill went down my spine.
It was a familiar feeling to me, whoâd fought countless life-threatening battles. However, it was the first time for me to feel that even though I wasnât in danger.
Fiona was serious.
âPlease choose me, Chrono. That way, I can grant your wishes.â
Apparently, a threat can sound so sweet, tooâŠ
âMy instinct told me to not give in.
To not give up.
There must be other, better alternatives.
My rationality cried.
âBecause I love you dearly, I can forgive me for anything, anytime.â
Fiona reached for my face again. I couldnât stop her. My arms, still holding onto her shoulders, didnât move in the slightest, as if Iâd been petrified by her demonic gaze.
âNow, answer me, Chrono.â
Fiona closed in for the third time akin to a beast that relentlessly pursued her prey.
However, no matter how many times I beheld the face of this girl, who threatened me amidst her love confession, she was still beautiful.
Somehow, I just couldnât believe it. Did I truly fight alongside such a beautiful girl until now?
One early summer day, when I first met her, she laid defenselessly on the side of the highway in the middle of evening; the memories of surviving Alsace; living in Spada; and facing the decisive battle of Galahadâthose memories flashed across my mind.
Always, no matter what, sheâd be sure to look at me with that sleepy, expressionless face.
Iâ
ââAlright, Fiona. Letâs get closer. No, if youâre alright with me, why donât we go out? From now on, as a lover, and not a friend.â
âOf course, Chrono.â
Thus, I accepted the second kiss.
As we locked lips together in a trance, tears overflowed from her face.