I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 108
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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As he lightly kissed the tip of her middle finger, it seemed as if he couldn’t bring himself to kiss her actual fingers or the back of her hand. It looked almost reverent.
“But if you keep… worrying about me…”
Despite feeling nothing but the faintest touch of his lips, Ivonne held her breath for a moment. It was only when his purple eyes, which were usually hidden behind thick glasses but appeared exceptionally clear today, finally turned towards her that she exhaled.
“Can you make me one promise?”
“A promise?”
“Yes. If you make it, I’ll be reassured, and it might help me put in even more effort to keep that promise.”
Is it difficult? Ivonne quickly shook her head at his unspoken question.
“No. It’s fine. Let’s do it. It would be good for both of us to have something to promise each other.”
“Alright.”
“What should we promise? First, I want Rix to come back safely, not get hurt, eat well, wash his hands properly, report any sickness promptly, and…”
The list of promises related to Rix’s well-being seemed to stretch endlessly. After filling up all ten fingers, Ivonne tilted her head and asked, “Is this enough?” Rix couldn’t help but smile at her determination.
While Ivonne was counting off her promises, Rix nodded vigorously, agreeing to each one. His condition was very simple.
“I just… hope you won’t leave.”
Not leaving. Without specifying who or where, just the promise to stay. That was the one condition Rix set after agreeing to all ten of Ivonne’s.
“Not leaving, huh…”
Ivonne was momentarily taken aback but quickly responded.
“Of course. I won’t leave. Where would I go?”
It was a simple promise. But there was no reason it shouldn’t be so. The Tens mansion was her property, and the Azolt Transparent Magic Crystal Mine was in the Sortenic Empire. There was no way she would leave this hard-won peaceful life.
Yet, Rix seemed to have a slightly different view.
“…Really?”
The voice that asked back her question sounded oddly rough, as if it were filled with sand or overflowing with the joy of ‘Finally heard it!’. Ivonne hesitated briefly, just as she had when he had questioned her in the imperial palace, but she quickly nodded in agreement.
“Yes. I’m really not going anywhere. This is our home.”
She intentionally emphasized ‘our’, but Rix likely didn’t notice.
“I’m happy here. I won’t be going anywhere. So, Rix… come back here.”
Her final words were heartfelt, a desperate wish and sentiment that slipped out despite herself. But Rix would likely never know this. Or perhaps he was pretending not to know.
Rix quietly watched Ivonne, who was awkwardly swallowing dry saliva, as if she was a thief caught in the act. His intense gaze seemed to be peering deeply into her soul, making her heart pound despite having done nothing wrong.
When Ivonne didn’t look away, Rix finally responded with a broad, genuine smile, like the shower of smiles she had received from him during their first meeting.
It was then that Ivonne realized.
‘I started to be aware of Rix from the moment I saw that smile.’
It felt like finding her place after a long journey, and oddly enough, it truly felt that way.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
A week had already passed since Rix left. Thanks to the communication device, they could exchange brief messages every night or early morning.
— Sleep well.
“You too, Rix. Make sure to cover yourself with a blanket!”
— Ivonne cover yourself well too.
It was time to end the communication for the night to let Rix get some rest for the next day’s challenges. Ivonne found it hard to let go, lingering with reluctance, and it seemed Rix felt the same.
— Hang up first.
“Rix, hang up first.”
— Ivonne hang up first.
“No, I don’t want to. I hung it up first yesterday.”
—… I miss seeing Ivonne up close when we’re about to finish our communication.
“Ugh, I want to see Rix up close too.”
The two engaged in this teasing back-and-forth for a while, with Ivonne inevitably being the one to concede first.
“Alright, I’m really ending it now.”
— Yes.
“Sleep well, Rix.”
— You too, Ivonne.
It was already the fourth farewell, but it still felt bittersweet. Rix, looking at Ivonne with a smile as if he found her adorable, seemed to be dripping with affection through his thick glasses.
The sight made Ivonne’s heart flutter and her senses itch as if she was surrounded by pollen, causing her to shrink her shoulders as she ended the communication.
The room fell silent again. But there was no time to dawdle.
“Ah, I’m going to be late. I need to hurry.”
Muttering to herself, Ivonne quickly gathered her communication device and pre-packed belongings, and teleported away with practiced ease.
She arrived at a very quiet rural farmhouse, where, surprisingly, she found.
“I’m here, Senior Isaac!”
“Oh, welcome, Junior.”
It was Isaac, the Western Tower Master who was supposed to be executed.
