“…Liz”
A hoarse voice came out amidst intermittent breathing.
Franz wrapped his hand around Elisia's neck and pulled her towards him.
As if this kiss was the last goodbye to this world.
Elysia closed her eyes tightly.
She knew that she should push Franz away, but as soon as his cold, ice-like body touched hers, her strength completely failed.
The metallic taste of blood coming from his lips made her chest tighten.
Elisia furrowed her eyebrows.
Franz's desperate hand tangled in her hair, and her whole body froze.
Or maybe it was just her heart, beating violently.
“Liz...”
Franz whispered breathlessly, still holding Elisia's lips like a prisoner.
His voice was so faint that only she could hear him—because their bodies were connected.
“Huh...”
Franz leaned his forehead against hers, and placed his palm on her cheek.
His hands, encircling her, were cold.
Elysia slowly opened her eyes.
Misty golden eyes stared at her.
His gaze seemed to be restricting her, so Elisia quickly tried to sit up.
But Franz's hoarse voice came back again.
"…Thank you."
"For what?"
Elysia trembled as she tried to push his hand away.
I stopped midway and looked at him.
“What do you mean...?”
"I'm sorry."
Elisia stared at him in amazement.
He didn't seem fully conscious.
It seemed like he didn't even know what he was saying.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so raving.
His eyes, fixed on her, were filled with tears.
Elysia looked at her in disbelief, seeing the flash in his golden irises.
"Thanks?"
Her gaze shifted—from his eyes to his sharp nose, then to his bloodstained lips.
"Sorry?"
Her face convulsed.
His lips were covered in blood.
From the kissing and rubbing, his face became a mess.
Franz was looking at her desperately, as if there was no one else in his world.
Blood...
When Elisia looked at his lips, she involuntarily raised her hand to her mouth.
She realized that his blood must have been on her lips as well.
But, before she could wipe it away, Franz grabbed her hand.
I was startled and looked at him—and he gently raised his head.
Then he started licking her lips.
As if he was cleaning the blood off her.
With every movement, a shiver ran down her spine.
Elysia shuddered at the strange sensation, and opened her lips.
“...Stop...
Ah!”
When she opened her lips to push him in, he slipped inside.
Elisia fell into another kiss, helpless.
She closed her eyes.
The moment she did so, a faint red light emanated between their lips.
It gradually started to get brighter until it illuminated the entire room.
Elizia was startled by the bright light and opened her eyes.
It felt as if they were exchanging a ball of light through the kiss.
Warmth returned to Franz's face, and the expression of pain faded and was replaced by calm.
"What is this?"
Elisia's face turned pale when she realized what was happening.
Neutralize mana.
She was neutralizing Manah without knowing it.
"to stop…!"
She screamed in terror, pushing Franz away.
She wiped her lips violently with the back of her hand.
Neutralize mana?
It's more than just a loss of control.
She never imagined something like this would happen.
Her heart and body no longer responded to her will.
Elisia gasped, then gave him an angry look and began screaming at him.
"What are you doing to me?
What the hell?"
“Liz, I…”
Franz's pale lips moved as he responded tiredly.
But he couldn't follow up.
He said nothing but confusion in his eyes.
I realize now—he was hallucinating.
He was not fully conscious.
“That's enough.
I'm leaving.”
To be disturbed by Franz again—this must end now.
There was nothing more to say.
I got out of bed resolutely.
But when she was about to leave, Franz took her hand.
He clung to her desperately.
“Don't leave.”
Anger flared in Alicia's chest at his plea.
She looked at him sharply and shouted:
"Why are you clinging to me?
You've used me enough.
To neutralize mana, all by yourf!"
"no."
Franz desperately grabbed the sleeve of her dress.
His trembling hand gripped hers.
“Mana neutralization can't happen if you don't want it.
I didn't do it.
It wasn't me.”
“...what?”
Elisia's face paled at his words.
She felt like someone slapped her on the head.
Wasn't he?
So there is only one explanation left.
So it was me?
She felt as if the blood had been drained from her body.
'Don't hesitate, Liz.
Franz doesn't think clearly.
He doesn't even know what he's saying.'
Elisia froze and stared at Franz.
His eyes were clearer than before.
It seemed that the purification had helped him recover somewhat, even though his body was still struggling.
His cough was violent, shaking his broad shoulders.
Blood splattered on the bed sheet.
Elisia furrowed her brow as she watched the deep redness spread across the fabric.
“I… cough… I didn’t… do that.”
Even as he coughed, Franz did not let go of her hand.
He seemed afraid she would leave him.
“This...it can't be.”
Elisia whispered as if she was stunned.
Franz filled her entire field of vision.
He was panting, each cough causing his golden hair to fall forward.
His almost naked body looked as if it would collapse at any moment.
“Cough!”
With every shake of cough, Elisia's fingers trembled.
She involuntarily extended her hand—and then recoiled in horror.
She had moved unconsciously.
Towards him.
For him.
Is it possible that I...?
The last thing she wanted to believe pierced her heart like a knife.
Neutralize his mana — by her own will?
If this is true, it is devastating.
Neutralizing mana is not a voluntary act.
It comes from the depths of the soul.
That is why the partner in this act is called the “spiritual bond.”
Elisia thought that this bond with Franz was broken when she went back in time.
She thought she no longer loved him—that she had become immune to his presence.
But to do this unconsciously?
Her soul responded before her mind.
And now, here she is suffering from his pain.
And longing to ease it.
What does this mean?
Is it possible...that I still love him?
both.
Alicia gritted her teeth.
Not possible.
You must not love him.
Not while she still remembers the child she lost.
Her face twisted in pain.
She couldn't move.
As if an abyss of despair had opened beneath her feet.
She looked at Franz with stifling helplessness.
“Liz...”
Her face was reflected in his sparkling golden eyes.
His pale, ghost-like face had a worried expression.
"Are you well?"
He extended his hand towards her.
He's still coughing.
He's still bleeding.
But as if it was the only thing that mattered to him.
“I...”
The world revolved in Elisia's eyes.
I staggered, trying to get away.
But she couldn't.
His gaze bound her body like chains.
She froze in place.
“I, I...”
You shuddered, panting.
Then she fell on the bed.
She couldn't forgive herf.
How did this happen?
All her promises of revenge were empty.
She still loves Franz.
She could not erase the love engraved in her soul.
She was not shaken by him.
But because her heart never left him.
Elysia belonged to Franz.
Without realizing it, she dared to dream of revenge.
She dared to think she was over him.
“Ugh…”
Elisia put her hand to her mouth.
She was disgusted with herf.
This is the height of hypocrisy.
If she was never going to be free from him—why did she swear revenge?
When she returned to the past, she should have ended it then.
To be abandoned, to be ignored, to be insulted—and yet to love him?
How can she do that?
Such a petty creature does not deserve to live.
“Ugh… hah… gasp…”
“Liz!”
When Elisia bent over vomiting, Franz pulled her to his chest.
“Don't touch me!”
She pushed him instinctively.
His cold touch made her skin tingle—and at the same time, it gave her solace.
I can no longer tolerate this contradiction.
"Let me.
Let me die!"
She shouted, not knowing what to say.
Her neck tightened with force, and her cries exploded like a storm.
"I should have stayed dead!
I should have died then!"
"no!"
When she started to stumble, Franz grabbed her shoulders.
Then he kissed her deeply.
He did not stop until her outburst calmed down, until her turmoil eased.
Then he whispered: “Never think about dying again.”
His lips passed the corners of her eyes.
He licked her tears and added: “This time, I will not allow it.”
Franz closed his eyes.
He embraced Elysia—gently, protectively.
“I will never lose you again.”
His trembling hands held her fragile body.
Franz, with teary eyes, kissed Elisia again.
In that kiss, strange memories began to flow into Elisia's mind.
Familiar memories...yet strange--from a distant past.