Chapter 787 - 122 - Awakening And The True Reunion (3)
After that reunion with the three of them, which turned out to be deeply emotional, Zeruel and I found ourselves alone at last, sharing a rare, quiet moment together.
We ended up sitting side by side on a small, ornate bench built just for two. Its old wooden frame creaked faintly under us, while the distant hum of voices and soft rustling of leaves filled the silence around us. Though I felt unexpectedly calm, Zeruel was visibly struggling to hide her embarrassment. Her cheeks glowed a deep crimson, and her breathing came out a little quicker than normal.
For a while, neither of us spoke. Then, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of her skirt, she finally managed to break the silence.
"Um, I’m really thankful to you for this," she said softly. Her words were simple, but the way she spoke them with her shoulders slightly hunched, gaze lowered yet peeking at me from under her lashes—made her gratitude feel heavy, honest, and raw.
The truth was, I didn’t feel like I had done anything that deserved such thanks. Sure, I’d funded the whole thing, poured in money to make it happen, but the real effort had come from Natasha and Trisha. They had handled everything from planning to execution. Compared to them, I’d barely lifted a finger.
Still, watching Zeruel like this—how deeply it seemed to matter to her—I realized arguing would only hurt her feelings. So, instead, I simply accepted her thanks, letting her have this moment.
"I-I don’t really know how to thank you... I mean, I don’t think I can give you something that you don’t already have..." she continued, her voice trembling as her eyes fell to her lap. Her fingers twisted the fabric of her skirt so tightly her knuckles turned white. "B-But... if you’re willing... then I’d gladly become your woman too. I-I don’t mean as lovers or anything. I-I’m fine with being some sort of mistress you can use from time to time."
The words spilled out in a rush—half shy and half desperate—but her eyes, when she dared to look up, were clear and unwavering. She truly meant it.
It caught me off guard, the seriousness in her expression blending with the vulnerability in her blush. For a moment, I simply stared at her, letting the meaning of what she offered sink in.
Of course, I planned to take her seriously—but definitely not like that. The thought of treating her as nothing more than a convenient body, someone I could take and discard whenever the urge struck, left a bitter taste in my mouth. She was worth far more than that.
Slowly, I reached out, gently wrapping my hands around hers. Her skin felt slightly cold, maybe from nerves, but it softened under my touch.
"I don’t think that’s really necessary," I told her quietly.