Chapter 186 - The Emotion of Love

“Don’t you know what happened to the three wizards of the beginning? You’d do well to remember why the magic civilization turned into hell.” Ofeq cupped his chin. “They all ended up that way because they were blinded by darn love and went mad because of jealousy. Oh darn, that resembles your state right now, doesn’t it?”

“…Am I being jealous?” Rhema asked.

Despite asking this question, Rhema already knew the answer. ‘The blond man who danced with Azriel, the hand that grabbed hers, her eyes looking up at him, the long conversation they had behind the curtains, the blue-haired woman’s remark, saying that Azriel was going to become a queen… No.’ Azriel said that Rhema was the most important person. She did not answer his question asking if she wanted to become a queen, either, even though he did not listen to her answer by making her fall asleep.

“Why, do you think it’s not jealousy? If you’re in doubt, why don’t you meet her? I think she has grown quite close to that man,” Ofeq said.

“…”

“My, your condition will be worth seeing when you meet her. The already dangerous egg might just end up being crushed that day.” Ofeq giggled.

Hearing that, Rhema covered his face with one hand. It was natural for Azriel to meet people that she valued more than him. He made her cry many times and made her suffer for years because he forcibly left her. Because of his duty, he couldn’t always take action. Thus, he could not make her happy. Many people would be better for her. It was natural. However, it was hard to endure.

Ofeq smirked and continued, “Rhema Reshith, weren’t you stuck in the lab because you knew your condition was not stable?”

Rhema went upstairs, passing by Ofeq who was floating in the air. His staggering steps headed to his room on the second floor. There was an old, faded mirror on one side of the room. Silver threads like a spider web spread from his body as he approached the mirror. It was the mana reflected on his dragon eye. He touched the mirror with his hand that was wrapped in those threads. The surface of the mirror swayed like the surface of the water. It became transparent and showed something inside. Inside that, there laid a neatly folded wrapper and a pocket watch. Resting in the mirror and not being affected by time, the pocket watch shined like new. That watch was the first birthday gift Azriel gave him. Rhema vacantly looked at it. His finger that was placed on the glass was bent. He wanted to touch it but suppressed his desire. While he was apart from her, he never touched it because he did not want to wear it out, and also he might miss her if he did. After he reunited with her, he did not particularly miss it because Azriel was there. She smiled at him, asked questions with bright eyes, and fell deep in thought with a chess piece in her hand.

Rhema Reshith was a very precious person to Azriel Esthera. She liked him to the point that she would not leave him even though he said that he might end up killing her—and to the point that she would find ways not to be miserable even if she stayed next to him. Looking into his face reflected on the shiny surface of his pocket watch, Rhema inwardly chewed over that fact. She clearly valued him the most. So, it was fine even if he did not become her everything. He could be patient. However, if she found a person whom she valued more than him… the blond man who could give her humanly happiness.

‘Should I just get rid of him?’

‘Should I kill him and erase Azriel’s memories of him? No, what if I get rid of all the people in the list of “the people she knows” and leave only myself in her memory? Should I plant false memories so that she will shun others and avoid being among people? Should I fill her with betrayal and hurt to the point that she will only trust Rhema Reshith? Then, Azriel will only see me as precious even if I don’t imprison her force. She won’t give affection to other people or pity those I kill for my duty. If I do that, if she only looks at me, the egg might not crack anymore. Then, I can naturally help her to become a watchman. Then, we can live together forever in a life where only we exist.’