Episode 1056
Chapter 251: The Rivals (6)
Sniff, sniffle, sniff…!
The hidden companions barely managed to stifle their laughter. Murakan was so tense that he didn’t even notice the faint sounds they were making.
Gilly was the same. She slammed the door shut with a bang.
“J-just wait a moment, please.”
“Uh? Oh, of course. Take your time!”
Murakan stared at the closed door, while Gilly leaned against it, trying to calm her racing heart.
For both of them, this was a first. Wearing their best clothes and either asking someone out on a date—or being asked out—was uncharted territory. Murakan had always been reckless in his past relationships.
And Gilly? She had never experienced romance even once in her life.
Her life could be summed up in three parts: being adopted by the Macloran family, chosen as a nanny by Runcandel, and the adventures she shared with Jin.
Meeting someone, falling in love, building a family—she had never even imagined it. She wasn’t completely unaware of Murakan’s feelings, but she had never fully understood them.
No matter how much Murakan expressed his love, she had always thought it was impossible for them to be together. Besides, it went against the family’s rules.
Did I fail? Did I get rejected? Was I dumped?
What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?
Soon, Gilly straightened her posture and smoothed her clothes, steeling herself.
In that moment, Jin came to mind—her everything, her little lord. Surely, in all the countless lives across multiple worlds, she had always lived for Jin.
She and Murakan were, without a doubt, Jin’s true parents.
She had never once hated that life.
But to say there was never a single grain of sadness or emptiness deep inside her heart would be a lie.
Suddenly, Gilly thought maybe going on an “official” date with Murakan wasn’t so strange after all. This time, she felt it was okay to follow her heart.
Guided by her feelings, she opened the door again.
“All right, Murakan. Let’s go out—have a meal, take a walk, maybe have some drinks.”
Ooooh!
Their companions held their breath in admiration. Their voices were loud enough for anyone nearby to hear now, but Gilly and Murakan still couldn’t hear them.
As they locked eyes, the two felt as if the whole world had shrunk until only they remained.
“Let’s go!”
“Y-yeah! Let’s go!”
They started down the hallway.
Their companions tried to follow smoothly but stopped when Ban held them back.
“It’s best we watch only this far. Let’s bless the two of them and have a glass of jewel wine.”
“Wise words, Sir Ban.”
“You did a great job. You really cleaned Murakan up nicely. Maybe you could help out our brothers sometime?”
“Of course.”
The first thing Gilly and Murakan did after leaving the palace was… hesitate.
The confident, bold attitude they’d shown just moments ago was gone. They blushed and acted awkward the entire walk.
“Ahem, the weather’s really nice. Isn’t that right, Strawberry Pie?”
“That’s right, Murakan. The sky is so clear…”
A brief silence followed, then they started talking about the shapes of clouds—an awkward disaster that lasted the first twenty minutes of their date.
Why is this so awkward? I feel like I’m shrinking. But Strawberry Pie is always pretty, and today she’s especially stunning.
Am I making things awkward? Is Murakan feeling awkward too? Murakan… he’s so handsome.
Following her heart.
Amid the fluster, Gilly kept repeating that thought to steady herself. What does my heart want right now? The question didn’t take long to answer.
Suddenly!
Gilly grabbed Murakan’s hand. Murakan jumped like a startled cat, glancing back and forth between her face and their joined hands.
“Ah, well… I just wanted to hold it… Is that weird?”
“No, no, no! Hold it tighter, hold it more firmly. Wait, what am I even saying? I mean, it’s great. Haha… suddenly I’m feeling warm all over.”
They both burst out laughing.
They’d been together for over ten years. Yet, holding hands still made their hearts flutter like it was the first time.
“All right, then. Let’s hold hands tighter and keep walking. Which restaurant should we go to? I heard there are some great places on the second floor. And maybe we shouldn’t be so awkward with each other—just like usual. Please, just like usual.”
The moment Murakan heard “which restaurant,” he fumbled to find the note Hedda had given him. But when Gilly said “just like usual,” he stopped and took a deep breath.
Murakan always approached Gilly head-on. He had never been this unsure of himself while shouting “Strawberry Pie!”
“…Right, Strawberry Pie. I was so nervous I made a fool of myself.”
“You weren’t a fool. If I said you were cute, would that break the family rules?”
“Ha! What rules? In Runcandel, the kid’s the law and I am the law. If anyone tries to hurt you while I’m around, it’s summary execution. Strawberry Pie! Actually, the guy with the physique recommended a few places, but the restaurant we should go to was decided from the start.”
“Hahaha, I feel like a tyrant now. But what do you mean, decided from the start?”
“Remember the cocktail and shrimp dish we had the first time we came to Tikan?”
“I feel like everything will go well in Tikan. Getting this kind of luck right after arriving… Oh my, this cocktail and shrimp are delicious, my lord. Should I order more?”
“Goodness, Gilly. Why do you even ask? Order more, quickly.”
Nine years ago, on July 2nd, 1795.
Jin, Murakan, and Gilly had visited the finest inn in Tikan, recommended by Alisa. It was also where they first met Kashimir, but Murakan had an even more important memory.
That day, Gilly was visibly excited. She hummed happily while sipping cocktails and seemed ready to share her story for the first time.
Gilly smiled brightly, recalling that day.
“How could I forget? I love it! Let’s go there! How have we never been before? It hasn’t disappeared since Tikan’s reorganization, right?”
“No, it’s still there. I’ve seen it from time to time. Well, technically it’s an inn, not a restaurant. Don’t get the wrong idea—I don’t have any ulterior motives.”
Gilly was already tugging his hand, quickening her pace. She looked more excited than ever.
Kashimir’s intuition was extraordinary.
As soon as Murakan and Gilly set out on their date, he realized they’d head straight to that inn. So, just like nine years ago, he had reserved the entire place.
The inn also remembered Jin’s party’s visit—it was the proudest moment in its history.
“Welcome back, Murakan, Gilly. You two are heroes of the Kingdom of Tikan, so today we will serve you with all our heart. It’s an honor to have you again. Please let us know if you need anything.”
“First, cocktails! And shrimp dishes.”
“Shall we prepare everything just like nine years ago?”
“Perfect. You really know your stuff, don’t you, Strawberry Pie?”
Following the manager’s lead, they naturally went up to the same room they stayed in before—a room with a wide view of the sea.
“Your drinks and dishes will be ready soon. Please enjoy your time.”
“Wait, manager. I think there’s a misunderstanding. We came to eat, so just the first floor…”
“Please order plenty of shrimp dishes.”
“Understood!”
The manager left. Gilly stepped out onto the balcony, soaking in the dazzling sea and warm breeze.
“Wow! It’s still so beautiful. I wonder how stunning it’ll be at sunset. Such memories.”
Murakan watched her from behind, then mustered the courage to stroke her hair. Gathering even more courage, he gently wrapped his arm around her waist.
“…This view will be beautiful now, at sunset, and when the moon rises. Just like Strawberry Pie.”
“Oh my, that sounds a little cheesy.”
“Ahem, did I go too far?”
“Just kidding. When you say things that sweetly, I don’t know how to respond or what to say back, so I end up joking. As you know, I’m a bit clumsy.”
Soon, the staff began bringing their food and drinks. The two sat at the table on the balcony, enjoying their meal.
Like any other couple.
They laughed and chatted happily. Murakan made a funny face with shrimp whiskers, and Gilly’s face stayed bright red from laughing.
With every emptied glass, the space between their chairs grew smaller. When their shoulders finally touched, Gilly rested her head on Murakan’s shoulder.
“…Murakan.”
“Yeah, Strawberry Pie?”
“I’m getting older now. Of course, by human standards. But when I’m an old lady, you’ll still treat me the same, right?”
“Of course. That goes without saying.”
“That’s why I’m even more afraid. Your time, Murakan, is practically eternal, but my life is just a fleeting moment in comparison.”
“Unforgettable memories are eternal. In that sense, you are already my forever, Strawberry Pie.”
If you ever leave, I won’t love anyone else.
Murakan swallowed the words left unspoken and looked at Gilly. Her eyes were red as she gazed up at him.
“Just promise me one thing.”
“I can promise you ten, a hundred things if you want.”
“Even to stop collecting those erotic paintings…?”
“That’s a bit much.”
“Wow, can love really be this shallow? Even I, a beginner at this, know that’s not right.”
“I’ll get rid of them.”
“Ahahaha! Wipe your tears before you speak. What I want to ask is simple: in the war that’s about to start again, please don’t die. You and the young master will be fighting the most dangerous enemies, so please, survive until the very end and spend the rest of my life with me.”
“I, Murakan the Black Dragon, swear on the name of Solderet and the honor of my contractor. I vow to my beloved that I will do just that. Not only will I not die, but I will protect that little brat to the very end.”
Gilly pulled Murakan’s neck closer.
He closed his eyes, feeling her unbelievably warm and gentle lips cover his own.
After that, the two of them stayed together, watching the sunset outside the window, the rising moon, and finally the morning sun before returning home.