For the heart - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 46

 

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It was pitch-black darkness.

 

Young Casian had gone to Crum Dungeon to find the glowing orb that could prove his mother wasn’t a witch.

 

Though he was scared, he desperately wanted to find that luminous orb and return home.

 

He was angry and sad because the false rumors were making his mother suffer.

 

But he had gotten lost inside the pitch-black cave.

 

At that moment when he couldn’t even tell where the entrance was and crouched in fear, trembling.

 

“Casian! Casian!!”

 

“M-Mother!!”

 

“…Casian…. My child. You must never remember what happens today….”

 

His mother’s voice calling for him and the light, the black shadow that attacked her from behind, the long blade that pierced through her frail body. And that sorrowful voice telling him he must never remember what happens today.

 

That moment when he couldn’t protect his mother flickered repeatedly in the darkness.

 

“Gasp!”

 

Casian opened his eyes, gasping for the breath that had been blocked as if the blade had pierced through his own body.

 

And as soon as he opened his eyes, hellish pain came flooding in.

 

Not just his arms and legs, but every bone in his body—his spine, ribs, even his neck bones—felt completely shattered.

 

Thud, thudthud, thudthudthud.

 

As he instinctively activated his healing power, he heard the sound of arrows that had been embedded in his back, arms, and legs being pushed out and falling as his flesh rapidly healed.

 

His body, which couldn’t move even a finger, was gradually coming back to life.

 

Along with his body’s recovery, fragments of old memories repeatedly tangled with illusions, and only after they subsided did his mind fully return.

 

Only when Casian could breathe properly again did he realize that the body embracing him was Nina.

 

“Nina….”

 

Her back was far too small to serve as a shield.

 

Yet dozens of arrows were densely embedded in that back.

 

Her combat uniform was soaked with blood from how much she had bled, making it sticky.

 

How far had she endured this terrible pain?

 

One thing was certain—she had lost consciousness later than he had.

 

Casian separated her from his embrace, took her hand, and pressed his cheek against hers.

 

She must have chosen to embrace him and fall off the cliff to prevent the arrow from piercing his heart.

 

Casian poured all his healing power into Nina, drawing out everything he had.

 

Strangely, he felt like he might cry.

 

“I told you not to do that. I told you not to die in front of me….”

 

He knew Nina hadn’t died because she had an immortal body.

 

But Casian thought Nina had once again chosen death in his place.

 

Like his mother. For his helpless sake.

 

“Nina…. Open your eyes, Nina….”

 

The arrows that had been densely embedded fell out one by one, but Nina didn’t regain consciousness.

 

‘Strange. Her recovery speed has slowed down.’

 

Even when she was crushed under the chandelier in Nortanica, and when she was attacked by Kushis in the town square, Nina had lost consciousness.

 

Even then, he had vaguely thought Nina’s recovery seemed slower.

 

Now he could be certain.

 

Casian looked up at the dizzying height of the cliff from which he and Nina had fallen.

 

Anyone else wouldn’t have been able to distinguish where was where, but his eyes gauged the height of the cliff even in the darkness.

 

Nina had fallen from that great height while embracing him. The impact her body received must have been tremendous.

 

‘Is that why it’s so slow….’

 

Casian deeply embraced Nina’s body, from which all the arrows had fallen out, like holding a child.

 

No warmth circulated through her cold cheeks at all.

 

After pouring this much healing power into her, warm heat should definitely have spread by now….

 

Casian’s eyes darkened.

 

If Nina didn’t wake up like this, he would have to use another method.

 

A way to deliver healing power more deeply than now.

 

Casian pressed his hands as much as possible against the skin visible through the tears in Nina’s clothes, pressed his cheek against hers again, and whispered.

 

“Nina…. Please open your eyes. Please….”

 

His desperate voice flowed out earnestly.

 

What was he to her? That she would jump off that high cliff with him to save his life?

 

What should he do with this reckless, foolish woman….

 

“Casian….”

 

“Nina?!”

 

At Nina’s small voice calling him, Casian quickly pulled his cheek away.

 

“Are you, conscious?”

 

Nina nodded.

 

Whew….

 

A long, deep breath of relief escaped from him.

 

His deeply sunken voice resonated low.

 

“Is there anywhere that hurts?”

 

“No. Not at all.”

 

“Why did you jump off the cliff?”

 

“Was there another way? We both survived like this. So it worked out.”

 

“Hah….”

 

Casian sat up and let out a frustrated breath at Nina’s answer.

 

Though she had saved his life, an inexplicable anger kept boiling up inside his chest.

 

Perhaps it was because of how powerless he felt in the face of life and death.

 

“Why do you keep calling me Nina?”

 

Nina, leaning against the stone wall, looked up at Casian and asked.

 

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Casian couldn’t answer immediately.

 

Did I do that?

 

Yes. I did. I had been calling Nina Arsed, the Princess of Arsed and commander of the knighthood, simply ‘Nina’ without any title or surname.

 

Despite being a hostage.

 

I didn’t know the reason myself. It was just a name that came out naturally.

 

Since she asked ‘why do you keep,’ she must have noticed I had called her that before and tolerated it.

 

“I was being rude—”

 

“It’s strange. Even when I lose consciousness, I can hear your voice calling me. If I keep following that voice, I eventually come to my senses. Only then do I realize that the terrible pain has disappeared.”

 

As if she hadn’t been seeking an apology, Nina continued in a calm tone.

 

“Someday you’ll become Arsed’s consort and seize the power you want, and I’ll obtain the peaceful life I desire. After that, things like this won’t happen anymore.”

 

“…”

 

“Until that time comes… I have too many things to resolve. It’s a bit… overwhelming…”

 

Nina’s voice, saying it was overwhelming, was clearly tinged with exhaustion.

 

“The fact that the oracle is false, and that my parents might not be my real parents… you’re the only one besides me who knows. We’re… allies…”

 

Nina Arsed, who was always emotionlessly upright, looked at Casian with a somehow desperate expression.

 

To Casian, she seemed like a child left all alone.

 

Nina was the one who had saved his life, yet she was cautiously extending her hand, afraid of being rejected by him.

 

A strange heat gathered in Casian’s eyes as uncontrolled desire wavered within them.

 

And from Nina came words she had never spoken before, flowing out awkwardly.

 

“Will you… help me? Alone, I…”

 

Nina’s eyes widened as she failed to finish her words.

 

The man standing before her suddenly leaned down, and large hands cupped her cheeks as his lips met hers.

 

The moment warm, soft lips covered her cold ones, Nina held her breath.

 

His breath, carrying a subtle cedar scent, spread shallowly. His head was slowly tilting.

 

At the same time, Casian’s lips parted slightly as he gently bit Nina’s lower lip.

 

Feeling his hot breath trying not to become disheveled, Nina unconsciously closed her eyes.

 

The large hands that had cupped her cheeks moved to the back of her neck. With a gentle pulling force, Nina’s head tilted back and her lips opened a little more.

 

What invaded her mouth next was something hot and moist.

 

Nina’s hands had somehow found their way onto Casian’s chest.

 

She wanted to push away that solid wall she could feel rising and falling greatly, but strangely, no strength would enter her arms.

 

Nina was helplessly swept away by his hot movements that conquered her lips and then her mouth.

 

Only then did Nina realize that she was sharing something called a kiss with Casian.

 

Why was he kissing her?

 

He was going to marry Lillien…

 

Kisses were something lovers did, so why…

 

She couldn’t understand how her plea for help had led to a kiss, but the sensation that was both careful and deeply penetrating made it impossible to think of anything else.

 

The moment the man’s strength and breathing became rough enough to feel dangerous, Casian pulled away from Nina.

 

Like someone who had barely managed to separate his uncontrollable self, he gasped for breath while gripping Nina’s shoulders tightly.

 

Even so, he pressed two more small kisses against her lips.

 

Though light, those touches felt somehow desperate, making Nina’s eyelashes flutter.

 

When she opened her eyes, his forehead dropped onto Nina’s delicate shoulder.

 

From the hot warmth felt through his forehead, she could tell how heated his body had become.

 

Casian’s large body swelled greatly before slowly, very slowly, subsiding.

 

Nina wasn’t the only one who had broken down from their first kiss.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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