I Summoned the Demon King and Got a Dad - Chapter 94
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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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94. The Beginning of a New Contract
Elisia, who had been watching Theodor talking with Shuria and Kan, quietly lowered her gaze.
It was because the words he had said during the earlier sparring match kept circling in her head.
Elisia, who had been quietly leaning against the sofa with her eyes closed, slowly moved her steps.
As she left through the door, the commotion faded away as if a layer had been peeled off.
The cold night air of early spring had quietly settled down.
That was the moment.
“Eli.”
Theodor’s voice was heard.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m tired today, so you should go play with the children more.”
Elisia found herself unconsciously avoiding his gaze.
But Theodor had already taken large steps to approach her side.
She felt the now-familiar body temperature beneath his hand.
“I will escort you.”
Elisia did not respond to his words.
Because she now knew that no matter what she said, he would be with her.
The two walked silently through the now-familiar ducal palace garden.
The wind blew.
A light breeze that barely brushed through her hair.
But Theodor took off his outer garment and covered her with it.
In the quietly settled moonlight and the scent of grass in the garden, Elisia slowly exhaled.
“…Today.”
She opened her mouth, then paused for a moment.
Because she didn’t know what to say.
Yet she wanted to share some words.
“I’m glad you’re still strong.”
She awkwardly offered a compliment.
And at Elisia’s words, Theodor smiled.
That leisurely appearance, so different from herself, was both annoying and pleasant.
“Didn’t I say I would protect you?”
“…I can protect my own body too.”
So she ended up speaking more curtly.
A moment of silence.
Elisia turned her gaze away.
She wasn’t angry or disappointed with him.
But because she didn’t know how to express these feelings.
She found herself unconsciously speaking curtly.
Elisia, who belatedly noticed her slip of tongue, observed Theodor’s expression.
But strangely, his mood didn’t seem bad.
Watching Theodor who was still smiling as he looked at her, Elisia hesitated before opening her mouth.
“Do you really like me?”
“Yes, I love you.”
At the answer that came without a moment’s hesitation, Elisia’s face instantly turned red.
Theodor smiled tenderly as he watched such Elisia.
To think he could become someone who could say such things.
It was all thanks to Shuria.
Thanks to the love I received from you, I became able to love someone else and give love.
“I love you, Eli.”
At his quiet confession, Elisia closed her mouth.
She was certainly happy, but she hadn’t wanted words to that extent.
No, she had wanted them, but.
Now wasn’t the time.
Her heart was beating too fast and pounding.
It was almost unbearable.
“…”
The two naturally passed through the manor’s gate without any words, as if by promise.
It was simply good.
The time they spent together.
And the fact that they were beside each other.
It was both familiar and strange.
The fountain where Shuria often played came into view.
Trees and flowers touched by human hands placed around the marble sculpture that sparkled in the moonlight.
They were things Elisia had tended to.
At some point, most of the manor had been touched by Elisia’s hands.
The two headed toward the back of the manor.
A quiet space where they could be a little more honest.
The moment the moonlight was obscured by clouds and darkness settled between them, Elisia stopped walking.
To just keep walking, this current distance and atmosphere were too vivid.
“…”
Theodor also stopped following her.
And.
He looked at her without saying anything.
Feeling that gaze, Elisia ultimately couldn’t lift her head.
The heat of their touching hands was too hot.
The body temperature transmitted through their fingertips was too clear.
That alone made her heart overflow.
“…Eli.”
At the quietly called nickname, her shoulders trembled slightly.
She should respond.
But her mouth wouldn’t open.
Theodor watched her for a moment, then carefully put strength into his hand.
As if telling her not to run away.
“Do you dislike being called this?”
It sounded like teasing, but.
Elisia could feel the tension contained within it.
So.
This time she didn’t run away.
“…You know there’s no way I could dislike it.”
Words uttered quietly, really quietly like a murmur.
But that one sentence was enough.
Theodor’s eyes wavered very subtly.
And Elisia, who didn’t miss that brief change, found herself smiling.
He hadn’t been composed.
It was because she realized that unlike herself, he was simply accustomed to expressing himself.
For some reason, Shuria came to mind.
That pure child who had shown her clear affection from the moment they first met.
He resembled her.
So she felt like she could speak now.
Elisia turned their joined hands to interlock their fingers and met his eyes.
“…I love you too, Theo.”
Though that didn’t mean she wasn’t trembling.
As soon as she finished speaking, Elisia lowered her head, and Theodor burst into laughter watching her.
She was so lovable that he couldn’t bear it.
Theodor let out a short breath.
“Eli.”
Unlike usual, his serious and low voice reached her ears.
The distance between them grew a little closer.
While holding her hand, Theodor took one more step closer to her.
“When you call me that… it strangely makes me more greedy.”
Elisia’s heart sank.
Greed.
At that one simple and honest word.
Her breath caught for no reason.
“…What kind of greed.”
She tried to ask as if nothing was wrong, but her voice was still trembling.
“The greed to spend a lifetime with you.”
Elisia’s gaze wavered.
But it wasn’t because of confusion or bewilderment.
Elisia didn’t avoid him.
She stood there and waited for Theodor’s words and actions that would follow.
They both knew that was her answer.
Theodor’s hand slowly pulled her hand toward him.
Theodor, who had been very carefully reaching out to Elisia, stopped right there.
Meeting Elisia’s eyes, he moved his lips slightly and gently stroked her face with some guilt and apology.
“I will never leave you alone again.”
“…Yes.”
A short answer.
But a definite choice.
At that moment.
The distance between the two completely collapsed.
Theodor’s hand, which had been holding Elisia’s hand, fell away.
Past her wrist.
It stopped lightly near her cheek.
Theodor’s both hands gently cupped Elisia’s face.
“Eli.”
At the affectionate voice that followed, Elisia could no longer hold on and closed her eyes.
Elisia didn’t know that her name could feel this sweet.
Her heart was beating so loudly that it seemed like it would reach him completely.
What if nothing happens.
The moment that thought crossed her mind.
“Am I acceptable to you.”
A low voice heard right in front of her.
Elisia slightly opened her eyes.
Really right in front.
Close enough for their breaths to touch.
The man who had been stronger than anyone was in front of her, having given up everything.
Elisia knew all too well how much great meaning those words held for him.
That’s why Elisia turned her head and kissed his left hand.
And then she turned her gaze to meet Theodor’s eyes.
Under the soft moonlight, she could see Theodor’s reddened face.
Elisia smiled and this time rubbed her face against his hand.
“I’ve never thought of anyone other than you.”
And this time she lifted her head.
It was permission.
At that moment.
Theodor’s hand lightly supported her neck.
There was no more hesitation.
Their lips quietly touched.
They both would have known.
The fact that they had been drawn to each other from the moment they first met.
It felt like they had come a long and distant way around.
After the brief kiss, Theodor quietly knelt down in front of Elisia.
He took out a small ring from his chest.
“When I returned from the Demon Realm… I was going to tell you right away.”
It was a quiet voice.
But it clearly contained regret.
“I made you wait again.”
Elisia’s eyes shook very subtly.
He looked at her like that, then carefully lifted her hand.
The hesitation didn’t last long.
The ring was naturally placed on her ring finger.
Theodor lightly kissed it.
“If the reason I stayed in the Mortal Realm was Shuria… the reason I became human is you, Eli.”
Elisia’s fingertips trembled.
She couldn’t say anything and just looked down at him.
“I want to live my whole life with you.”
Words spoken calmly.
But it was a promise heavier than any confession.
For a moment, no sound could be heard.
As if the wind and leaves were all holding their breath.
Elisia slowly breathed in.
Small tears had already gathered in her eyes.
The answer had always been only one.
Elisia embraced him without hesitation.
Under the moonlight, two shadows became one.
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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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