I, the Female Lead, Ruined the Original Chapter 161

“I will love you with everything I have.”

 

The man’s deep blue eyes looking down at Selleana, shimmered with emotions as turbulent as the waves she had seen in the sea earlier that day. His burning passion glowed like the spray that erupted every time it clashed against Tirtayana’s grave.

 

“It might not be enough for you. It might seem strange or out of place. But… I just hope you understand that it’s the best I have to give.”

 

“Of course.” Smiling, Selleana looked up at him and gently caressed his cheek.

 

“I will devote myself to you unconditionally and live my entire life for you…”

 

“Mmm.”

 

“If you want me to be a blindly loyal dog who looks only at you all my life, I’ll do that. If you want me to be an unabashed lover who throws himself at you every single day, I’ll do that too. I’ll be your hands and feet, your little daily joy. And…” As if reaffirming his resolve, Rakrensius’s throat moved with a swallow. “If you ask me to be the father of your child, I’ll try my best.”

 

“Aha.”

 

“You might think my way of expressing it is crude or old-fashioned… But I’ll love you the way fate has given me.”

 

Fate. Rakrensius’s expression was more determined than ever as he spoke that word.

 

“The saintess told me I had no fate, but now I know?”

 

“Really?”

 

“My fate… was to meet you in the end and to follow your love.” Rakrensius’s large hand trembled slightly as he tenderly touched Selleana’s cheek. It was a careful touch as if he were handling the most precious thing in the world. “As you said, the only good thing about going to the imperial palace was meeting you.”

 

“Mr. Sword’s going to be offended.”

 

“Thanks to it, I met you.”

 

Whether Di was already lost in its own world or simply knew better than to interrupt, it remained silent.

 

“So, Lea.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Since I was a child, staring out at the vast sea, dreaming of a future I never lived… I’ve been waiting for you.” His voice trailed off as Rakrensius slowly leaned down.

 

Perhaps it was the gravity of his presence— Selleana couldn’t smile, couldn’t make a sound. She simply accepted his kiss.

 

* * *

The sunlight piercing her closed eyes was dazzling.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Feeling how dry her mouth was, Selleana slowly opened her eyes. Blink, blink. As her vision adjusted, what she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. She thought the situation felt strangely familiar.

 

Rolling her eyes sideways, she spotted Rakrensius standing by the window. He had drawn the thick curtain just slightly so as not to disturb her sleep and was gazing quietly outside. It seemed sunlight had slipped through that gap.

 

“…Darling.”

 

“Oh, you’re awake?” Startled, Rakrensius quickly pulled the curtain shut.

 

“No, it’s fine. Open it.”

 

“Are you going to get up?”

 

“Water.”

 

Anticipating her needs, Rakrensius had already fetched water from a nearby stream after she fell asleep. As he poured it from the jug he’d prepared, Selleana yawned and walked over to him.

 

“Were you looking outside? Let me see too.”

 

She rubbed her eyes adorably, and Rakrensius pressed a kiss firmly to her forehead. After handing her the glass, he cautiously pulled the curtains open, carefully adjusting the angle of the sunlight so it wouldn’t fall directly on her face.

 

“Ah, refreshing. You even sneaked out to get me water. My loving husband.”

 

Selleana set the glass down on the windowsill, wrapped her arms around his waist, and nuzzled against his chest. Looking down at his affectionate wife, Rakrensius chuckled softly.

 

“…You’re adorable.”

 

He ran his thumb along her eyelid. Her eyes were still a little puffy from crying the night before.

 

“Like a goldfish.”

 

“Hmph!” At his teasing tone, Selleana rubbed her nose against his chest with exaggerated force. “Must be the prettiest goldfish in the world.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“What were you looking at… whoa.”

 

As she lifted her head from his chest and looked out the window, the view spread wide: The deep blue sea below the hill. It was a different sea from what they had seen at Tirtayana’s grave.

 

Without thinking, Selleana pushed open the window. Thanks to the preservation magic cast years ago, the hinges weren’t rusted, and the wooden-framed glass swung open smoothly. A gentle sea breeze flowed in.

 

It must’ve been facing east, as the sun already high above the horizon scattered brilliant sparkles across the rippling sea. The light reflected wildly with every wave.

 

“Was the house built right above a cliff?”

 

“Pretty much.”

 

“She left us a house with a view like this… I’m so, so grateful to your mother. My darling was loved so much.”

 

Leaning against the windowsill, Selleana spoke, and Rakrensius smiled softly as he placed his hands beside hers.

 

“Shall we stay here for a few weeks?”

 

“A few weeks?”

 

“I’m curious about the maelstrom storm.”

 

“If that’s what you want, then let’s do it.”

 

“Just the two of us, trapped in a storm… the idea alone is thrilling.”

 

Resting her chin in her hands and giggling, Selleana made Rakrensius lean down and kiss the crown of her head. She really did set his heart ablaze without warning.

 

“And after that, where should we go?”

 

Tilting her head back to look up at him, his silver hair drifting down like chiffon curtains tickling her face.

 

“Since it would be the Victory Festival… exploring the capital could be fun. Shall we attend the Wilshe masquerade again? Mr. Sword isn’t mad at me again for calling it a ‘plagiarist, and it promised to write a new story.”

 

“Well… actually, Di has been focused on fairy tales lately.”

 

“Fairy tales?”

 

“He keeps wondering how we’d communicate with our child if we had one.”

 

“Ooooh, Mr. Sword~”

 

Selleana’s grin widened, dimples forming on both cheeks as her lips curled up. Rakrensius couldn’t resist—he leaned down and kissed her nose.

 

“When we leave Arancha… there’s somewhere I want to visit before returning to the capital.”

 

“Where?”

 

“The sea.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Not this one. The Southern Sea praised by great writers.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Unlike the deep blue Arancha waters, it must be the coral seas in the south, where vacationers flock from all over the continent.

 

“When you’ve had your fill of this sea, we’ll leave. I want to capture your image in every corner of this world.”

 

His whispered confession fell like a sigh beside her ear. Giggling at the ticklish sound, Selleana turned around to face him.

 

“Me too.”

 

Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, and as if he’d been waiting, Rakrensius scooped her up, holding her back and legs.

 

“We still have over two months left. Let’s go everywhere—beautiful places, scenic places. Let’s go to the Kinorta Mountains, to the Atnan range too.”

 

“If we circle the continent clockwise, we’ll pass through the capital again before reaching Atnan. We should stop there to pack our winter gear.”

 

“Then I should meet Michi again. I wonder how things are going with Brother Theo.”

 

“By then, Lady Glen’s status should be sorted out too.”

 

“And…” Locking eyes with him as he gently set her down on the bed, Selleana added softly, “Let’s go to the Penders territory too.”

 

Penders—the hometown of Momo Penders, Rakrensius’s first servant. Hearing that name, Rakrensius’s face tensed awkwardly.

 

“He might not remember you, but we can still thank him.”

 

“…”

 

“And who knows? Now that the saintess’s power is broken, maybe his memories have returned.”

 

Though she said it lightly, Rakrensius’s expression remained dark. Trying to thaw his mood, Selleana gently tapped his cheek.

 

“Doli said he’s living devotedly with the wife he fell for at first sight, and they have three kids. He may not be the imperial servant anymore, but he serves his wife like one. Sounds like he got his dream, so you don’t need to feel guilty, Darling.”

 

“Haha…”

 

“So… let’s go together, okay?”

 

Watching his face carefully, Selleana’s eyes sparkled with that certain glow. And Rakrensius knew from experience—when her eyes gleamed like that, she always got what she wanted. Just like she gave up her title as crown princess. Just like she made an indecisive, awkward man her lover—and her husband.

 

“If you wish it, I’ll do anything.”

 

Most of all, Rakrensius could never go against Selleana. Nor did he have the will to.

 

“I love you, my angel.”

 

“I love you more.”

 

“Probably not.”

 

Overwhelmed by the sunlight pouring into the place where the angel in his life had swept away the storm clouds, Rakrensius laughed through tears.

 

The End of Side Story 2