The Baby Fairy Is A Villain [EN]: Chapter 196

A field overgrown with vibrant, unidentifiable wildflowers shimmered with an ethereal white light.

Two figures materialized within the radiant glow, bathed in its luminescence.

It was Chesha and Hাইল론, bound together by the Chains of Judgment.

The chains dissolved with a soft, metallic rustle, and the light that had rippled across the ground dissipated.

Finally, they were back in reality.

Perhaps it was because they had been in the Phantasmal Domain [a realm of illusions and dreams] for so long.

Reality felt strangely alien.

Feeling the familiar caress of air against her skin, Chesha inhaled deeply.

Then, she cautiously tested her voice.

“We’re back, right?”

Hাইল론 offered a terse reply.

“Maybe.”

He and Chesha surveyed their surroundings with unfamiliar eyes for a moment.

Seeing the empty coffin lying abandoned, it was clear they were in the Black Forest.

But it was a Black Forest transformed beyond recognition.

The oppressive gloom was gone, vanished without a trace.

The scene, now awash in deep green hues, was indistinguishable from any other peaceful forest.

Instead of the eerie growls of monsters, the clear, melodic sound of birdsong filled the air.

The forest had undergone a complete metamorphosis, now brimming with life.

It was a landscape that seemed to mock the name Black Forest.

Drinking in the sight of the lush forest, Chesha instinctively checked her own body.

‘My power is back?’

Along with her vitality, all of the fairy’s lost power had returned to its original state.

It seemed that all the fairies who had been captured had been freed.

Since Hাইল론 had been trapped in the crack of time [a temporal anomaly], it seemed that the three brothers or Duke Evroyel had taken action in their absence.

She lightly conjured a flower as a test.

Chesha, having created a pristine white lily, inhaled its fresh, delicate scent.

After confirming that it was a perfect fairy flower, she held it out to Hাইল론.

“…….”

Hাইল론 merely stared at the lily, making no move to accept it.

Chesha, feeling a flush of embarrassment at her outstretched hand, averted her eyes and apologized as she offered the flower again.

“Sorry for lying.”

Hাইল론 crossed his arms and looked down at Chesha with a sidelong glance.

Chesha felt increasingly ashamed under his unwavering gaze.

Finally, Hাইল론 broke the silence.

“Lichessia.”

Her heart fluttered at the sound of her name on his lips.

Chesha waited for Hাইল론’s words, filled with apprehension.

She had committed so many transgressions that she feared the harsh words she was about to hear.

But instead of reciting a litany of Chesha’s past misdeeds, Hাইল론 uttered a single, unexpected sentence.

“Don’t die carelessly.”

His words struck her as profoundly strange.

Because those were the very words Chesha had spoken to Hাইল론.

“You’re my prey, Hাইল론.”

“So don’t die carelessly.”

Hাইল론 slowly reached out, echoing the words Chesha had used while branding him with the fairy’s mark.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for a blow.

But instead of pain, a soft touch grazed her cheek.

Surprised, Chesha opened her eyes.

As she widened her eyes in astonishment, he, who was gently cupping both cheeks, slowly lowered his head.

“Uh…….”

Chesha made a small, bewildered sound.

Beneath his long, silver eyelashes, his intense blue eyes stared directly into Chesha’s.

Even though she could have easily avoided it, she simply stared back at him, transfixed, as he drew closer.

His lips brushed against Chesha’s forehead, trapping her within the depths of his blue gaze.

It was a soft but deeply felt kiss.

Chesha held her breath as his lips lingered against her skin.

And finally, when the lingering kiss ended.

Only then did she gasp for air.

She covered her forehead with her hand and looked up at Hাইল론.

“You, you…….”

Her face flushed crimson, as if it were about to burst into flames.

She didn’t need a mirror to know that her face was completely red.

Unlike the flustered Chesha, Hাইল론 remained composed.

“Can’t you revert to Lichessia’s form now? If you remain in this form… I only need to wait about two years for you to reach adulthood.”

After calculating Chesha’s growth period in his mind, he asked in a calm voice.

“Are you satisfied if I become the Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire [a powerful political and religious leader]?”

“What?”

“I mean, would you be satisfied enough with me as your husband?”

“…What?”

“I want to marry you.”

“…What?!”

There had been a complex history between Hাইল론 and her.

He clearly regarded her as special, and she had also come to think of Hাইল론 as a significant person in her life.

But that was the extent of it.

Chesha had never even considered the possibility of taking their relationship to the next level.

As if sensing Chesha’s inner turmoil, Hাইল론 pressed forward relentlessly.

He continued to speak, still gently holding Chesha’s cheeks.

“I’ll prepare a proper proposal. I’ll formally propose after I secure the position of Holy Emperor.”

“No, wait a minute…….”

“The reason I’m telling you now is…”

Hাইল론 paused for a moment.

Chesha, who was struggling to formulate a response to his overwhelming declaration, also fell silent.

Their eyes met.

As always, his gaze was fixed solely on Chesha.

“Because I don’t want anyone else by your side during those two years.”

Hাইল론 reiterated his proposal to Chesha, who remained speechless.

“Take me as your husband and place me as your first priority.”

“So, Hাইল론…….”

“Is there anyone else who could possibly be by your side besides me?”

“That’s not it!”

Chesha instinctively grabbed his wrist.

She felt the cool touch of a bracelet beneath her palm.

It was Hাইল론’s holy relic, the Chains of Judgment.

Feeling the cool sensation emanating from the bracelet, she asked him.

“Are you… okay with it?”

“With what?”

“With the things I did… and everything else…….”

There were countless times she had deceived Hাইল론.

To be honest, she had been prepared for him to lash out at her.

‘Because I truly did wrong.’

Every time she feigned ignorance in front of Hাইল론, who was worried about Lichessia and desperately searching for her, her conscience gnawed at her even more.

She was even prepared to be bound by the Chains of Judgment and subjected to punishment, but she couldn’t comprehend why Hাইল론 was willing to overlook everything.

Chesha cautiously awaited Hাইল론’s answer.

Hাইল론 replied as if all of Chesha’s worries were unfounded, without even a moment’s hesitation.

“I don’t care as long as you’re by my side.”

“If it’s just being by your side, I don’t necessarily have to marry you…….”

“I like you.”

“…….”

She was rendered speechless by his confession, delivered in a calm voice, as if reciting a prayer.

Hайл론 no longer allowed Chesha any room to escape.

He had perfectly cornered Chesha and made his feelings unequivocally clear.

When Chesha remained unable to respond, Hайл론’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He paused for a moment and asked.

“Do you dislike me?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll change if you tell me what you want. Like, if you don’t like that I’m too obsessive…….”

“That’s… not it.”

Chesha’s face grew hotter and hotter, and now even her neck was flushed red.

The memories she shared with him flashed through her mind.

The moments when he always came to find her.

If it hadn’t been for Hайл론 this time, she wouldn’t have been able to escape from the crack of time.

And because he was there…….

Chesha was also able to find courage.

“…!”

Suddenly, her body was pulled forward.

Hайл론 enveloped her in a tight embrace.

The wind picked up, causing the entire forest to rustle.

Amid the scattering leaves and petals, he whispered softly in her ear.

“Don’t leave me again. Stay by my side, Lichessia.”

She couldn’t readily promise that she would.

But she couldn’t deny that she wanted to either.

Chesha thought of Rose and Kieren, who had gone astray.

A single choice could ruin everything, or it could transform everything for the better.

If a relationship goes sour within a finite amount of time, they might never have the chance to reconnect.

Chesha’s decision now would shape the future that would unfold.

‘I hope Hайл론 will be there in the future too.’

Hайл론 had also witnessed everything alongside Chesha within the crack of time.

That’s why he must have resolved to never let Chesha go again.

After hesitating for a long moment, Chesha returned Hайл론’s embrace.

And she blurted out words that she might later regret.

“…I will.”

Marriage.

The thought that Kieren and the three brothers would be furious flashed through her mind, but she said it nonetheless.

Because Chesha also desired to be by his side.

Amid the swirling petals and leaves, Chesha remained held in Hайл론’s arms for a long time.