Chapter 105: The Color of Freedom

“Speaking of which, that thing I mentioned a while ago… have you given it much thought?”

After their somewhat subtle ‘interaction,’ the two found themselves strolling aimlessly across this open field, a gentle breeze rustling around them.

“Hmm? What are you talking about? That thing from a while ago?”

Lamia turned her head, her long purple hair fanning out behind her in the direction of the wind.

Her crimson pupils, a glimmering red, peeked out from beneath those strands of hair. Wade found himself involuntarily focusing harder, straining to clearly see her face.

“…It’s about—what I said before, about liking things.”

“Oh, I like you.”

“—That’s not what I meant!”

Wade instinctively denied it. He always felt that Lamia’s ‘liking’ was merely a formality, a necessity. She liked him because she was his wife, and she adopted this persona to complete her mission.

‘Please, Lamia, just be yourself. It doesn’t matter what you like—as long as you like something, that’s a good start.’

‘Don’t be swayed by formulaic answers like “I like you”…!’

“…”

Observing Wade’s slight displeasure, Lamia took two steps back, positioning herself parallel to him.

“If I say I like you, does that make you unhappy?”

“Hmm?”

This question seemed rather sharp.

‘Unhappy? No, not exactly…’

‘When you say you like me, my heart races. I get excited by your simplest confession. I’ve never reacted like this before, but now… I…’

‘No, but.’

‘But, Lamia—’

“—I just want to hear your true voice.”

‘Yes, that’s it. Rather than reciting a fixed line, tell me your real thoughts. That is your true voice.’

Wade’s expression had been somewhat heavy, but when Lamia uttered those words, his surprise was so profound that his brows unfurrowed completely.

“What, does that sound unpleasant?”

“No, no—it’s just…”

“Just—why?”

‘You actually like me…?’

Wade had always harbored a peculiar mix of confidence and lack of self-assurance.

His confidence stemmed from his strong professionalism and formidable abilities. He could resolve many issues and knew he was far more powerful than ordinary humans, leading to a profound sense of self-assurance, even pride, in that regard.

However, when it came to his feelings for Lamia, he could never quite shake off his insecurity.

Perhaps it was because he knew who she was, knew that her approach to him had a purpose. Because of her identity, he couldn’t feel confident in her affections.

‘What if I hadn’t possessed mind-reading abilities from the start?’

‘What if I hadn’t known Lamia’s true identity?’

‘If I had remained oblivious, would my feelings have been different?’

‘To wholeheartedly accept Lamia’s love, to simply live together as husband and wife for a long time—’

‘—Ha, that’s impossible, of course.’

Their story was destined not to have such a blissful beginning.

‘But… we can try for a different ending.’

‘To twist this damned conspiracy story around—right?’

‘A knight’s duty is to protect, and what must be protected also includes one’s own life…!’

“What’s wrong, Wade?”

Wade’s words had trailed off mid-sentence. After several seconds passed with no further response, Lamia could only call out to him, pulling him from the depths of his thoughts.

“…Nothing.”

Wade sighed, his ears perked to catch Lamia’s inner voice.

‘Hmm, alright.’

[The White Knight is truly a strange fellow. I’ve already told him I like him, so what’s there to be unhappy about?]

‘Ah, you see? I knew it.’

‘The so-called ‘liking’ was merely a fixed line to be spoken.’

Yet, Lamia’s gaze was so… focused, strikingly disconnected from the voice within her heart.

“’Like’… that word is complicated. I’m not talking about ‘liking you liking me’ kind of like—I want something, you know, literally, like—hmm, like a color?”

Wade was genuinely preparing for the wedding. If he was to arrange a wedding for Lamia, he needed to choose a theme she liked, or at the very least, settle on a theme color.

“A color?”

“Yes, a color. Any color—red, orange, yellow, green, anything.”

Wade regretted mentioning those colors casually, fearing that Lamia, in her excitement, might blurt out something unexpected.

For instance, green or black. Green would be fine; he could hold an outdoor lawn wedding, or arrange more flower baskets and greenery. But a black wedding… Wade had truly never encountered one. He had attended countless weddings over the years but had never seen a proper ceremony with black as the main theme color.

‘Considering Lamia is the “Black” Demon Lord, and her previous armor was also black, what if she really chose that color—’

‘Well, if she did, I’d just have to do my best.’

“Hmm… a color…”

Lamia mumbled, tapping her chin with her finger. She then instinctively looked up at the sky.

She raised her hand, fingers pressed together, to shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight.

“—Blue.”

For the first time, when it came to her preferences, she gave such a precise answer.

‘I like blue, Wade. The color of the sky, the color of nature, the color of freedom.’

She lifted her head, spreading her arms as if embracing the untouchable heavens.

Terrestrial spirits always harbored an unconscious longing for the sky. The Demon Lord’s tower was tall, but not so high that it could touch the heavens.

As a part of the earth, she had, of course, yearned to embrace the sky that always hung above, even as her feet remained firmly on the ground.

Simultaneously, blue was also the color of rivers. Clear blue, transparent blue… each wave symbolizing freedom.

It symbolized the freedom that was slowly awakening within Lamia’s heart.

‘This blue—’

‘It’s also the color of your eyes.’

‘Beautiful and pure blue, reflecting my smiling face. I love how my reflection appears in your eyes, like a pristine mirror.’

As Lamia spoke, she linked her arm through Wade’s, watching him slowly recover from his stunned state.

“Blue, right…?”

“Yes, blue. Sky blue, sea blue, and your lake blue. I love them all.”

The clear blue in her eyes contrasted with the redness at the corners of Wade’s.

He blinked, wanting to shift his gaze to ease his embarrassment, yet he couldn’t bear to look away from Lamia’s direct stare.

“Good.”

Wade spoke the word with a helpless smile in his voice. He reached out his other hand and gently patted Lamia’s head.

“Then… let your liking for me begin with this blue, too. Let it begin with my eyes.”