Chapter 27 : Between “Like” and “Love” (2)

“This is my first time doing a pajama party too.”

Charlotte held Morgan’s hand and climbed up onto the bed with her.

“There weren’t any girls my age at the cathedral, and even in the Hero’s party, we never really gathered just us girls.”

The two of them got on the large bed, sharing a blanket and placing a lamp between them.

“Morgan?”

“Yes!”

Charlotte spoke to Morgan, who had turned red and couldn’t say a word.

“Morgan?”

Morgan stayed silent for a moment, then glanced at Charlotte and gave a shy smile.

“It’s my first time too. Even when I was little, I never got to do something like this.”

It was hard to imagine Morgan as a child. Wasn’t she that muscular giant before? And now that all that muscle was gone,

a soft, delicate girl had appeared.

It was confusing. Morgan was clearly older than Charlotte, but why did she look so young and fragile?

“That’s why I’m really happy. Firsts are always scary, but being with you makes it really nice.”

Charlotte could hear Morgan’s voice trembling slightly.

“…Me too.”

After another silence, Charlotte finally spoke.

“Morgan… why are you so kind to me?”

Morgan’s reply was on the tip of her tongue, but after a pause, she said something else instead.

“Do you remember when we first met?”

“You mean at the academy? Or… when I…?”

Charlotte mimed swinging a mace in the air.

“Hehe… when we met at the Demon King’s Castle.”

Morgan made a horn shape above her head with her fingers.

“Do you know what kind of face you had back then?”

“Face…?”

Charlotte thought for a bit, then replied uncertainly.

“Well… it was during a fight, so probably serious?”

Morgan reached out and gently touched Charlotte’s eyelid.

The warmth of her hand spread across Charlotte’s face.

“Do you know why I held back from attacking you even when I fought the others?”

Come to think of it, that was true. The reason Charlotte had been able to defeat Morgan was because, by the end, only she

had been left standing.

“Actually, before you entered the room, I already had information on all of you.”

Morgan began to slowly talk about what she remembered.

“Hmm… Alec? That hero was just prideful and fresh out of the academy, still wet behind the ears.”

“That’s accurate.”

“I didn’t expect Garua to come back in pieces after begging me to let him fight.”

Morgan let out a small sigh, clearly annoyed.

“Karl, the warrior? He used to be an imperial knight and then became a mercenary for some reason… and Sierra? She was

part of the Royal Guard… hmm, I can’t remember much else.”

It was all true. Charlotte had learned those facts from her companions herself, so it surprised her that even the Demon

King Morgan knew.

“I remember it clearly. When the throne room doors opened, the hero looked determined, the warrior looked scared, and

the archer was tense.”

Charlotte remembered it too. The doors opening, the overwhelming demonic aura—it was terrifying.

“The mage was smiling. And Charlotte… your face looked like you had given up on everything, like you felt nothing.”

“Eris was smiling?”

“Yes, I clearly remember her smiling behind the hero.”

More than Morgan saying she had looked resigned, Charlotte was more shocked that Eris had smiled—Eris, who had been

so scared and trembling.

“Anyway, I found your expression interesting. Even the humans who came to my room 500 years ago never had that

look.”

“I see…”

“Honestly, I was a little excited when I heard you beat Garua. But even if I wanted to let you win, it was hard to fake it.”

Morgan smiled sweetly, but Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to laugh. Back then, she had really thought she was going to

die.

“Even as your teammates fell, you didn’t change expression and just kept healing with holy power… that was new for me.”

“So it’s a power even the demon world doesn’t have, huh…”

Charlotte gathered holy power in her hand, and a faint golden glow appeared.

“That’s why… I wanted to see it again. I gave you a chance. A chance to kill me.”

“When humans kill someone, their true emotions come out. What they feel, why they’re here—it all shows.”

Morgan gently stroked Charlotte’s cheek as she continued.

“I was curious. What kind of emotion you would show when you killed me.”

Maybe it was Morgan’s unique way of thinking, since she could revive whenever she wanted. Charlotte didn’t really get it,

but accepted it anyway.

“I still remember your expression.”

“Expression?”

Morgan’s hand moved from her cheek, down to her eyelids, then brushed over her lips.

“It looked like… you were finally free from all chains and were happy enough to die.”

Charlotte felt her heart go cold. Me? Sure, she had felt excited after finishing it, but…

Morgan’s hand moved down to her neck and rested on her shoulder.

“I’ve never seen someone look so happy while killing me.”

“I… did that?”

“Yes, Charlotte.”

Morgan’s hand slid through Charlotte’s hair and kissed it gently.

“At first, I was just curious… but now I don’t care anymore.”

“I’ve heard your story, so now I understand.”

Still holding Charlotte’s hair, Morgan closed her eyes.

“That’s why I’m kind to you.”

Charlotte couldn’t understand. Why would trying to kill her be the reason to treat me kindly?

“Then… what was with that line at the end?”

“What!?”

Morgan suddenly turned bright red and looked away.

“You know… the one about giving me half the world…”

Morgan covered her ears and shouted, clearly embarrassed. Charlotte found it so cute she kept teasing her.

“Wait, Saintess! Half the world—”

When Charlotte imitated her, Morgan jumped on top of her and clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Please stop…”

It was fun. Charlotte wanted to tease her more, but seeing Morgan’s red face, she thought Morgan might actually cry.

“Are you… really curious?”

“Well… I am, but if it’s hard to say…”

Morgan got off and pulled the blanket up over her head.

“That line… it’s what demon kings used to say when they… confessed.”

“What?”

“It means… ‘I’ll give you half the world, so please come to me’…”

Morgan couldn’t finish her sentence and buried herself deeper in the blanket. Even in the dark, her ears were glowing red.

Only now did Charlotte realize everything. The reason Morgan wanted to see her expression, why she clung to her, why

she was so kind…

Even a fool would get it now. The moment she figured it out, she fully understood how Morgan felt about her.

Silence fell. Charlotte, feeling awkward, spoke up first.

“Um… thank you, but I don’t really…”

“Do you… not like me?”

Morgan replied in a trembling voice, still looking away.

“No… I do like you…”

It was true. But… she didn’t know if it was love. She had never thought of Morgan that way.

“No… I…”

Morgan gently intertwined her fingers with Charlotte’s, one by one, slowly. Charlotte flinched.

After a pause, Morgan spoke softly again.

“I don’t think I can live without you, Charlotte.”

When their hands were fully intertwined, all of Charlotte’s attention was focused on them.

She stared, unsure of what to do.

“That ‘like’ you said… it’s not the same as mine.”

She could feel the warmth in their joined hands.

“I love you, Charlotte.”

Morgan didn’t hold her tightly. Charlotte could’ve pulled away—but she didn’t.

The honesty in Morgan’s words and touch wouldn’t let her.

She couldn’t run away.

Charlotte didn’t pull away or say anything.

Morgan leaned in closer.

Charlotte’s raised hand brushed against Morgan’s soft chest.

“Charlotte… I’m serious.”

She could feel Morgan’s heartbeat through the thin pajamas.

When she looked up, Morgan’s red eyes were focused only on her.

Morgan spoke as if she already knew what Charlotte was going to say.

“I can wait as long as you need.”

Morgan’s straightforward love was overwhelming. Charlotte could barely breathe.

Even when she looked away, Morgan’s gaze seemed to press on her heart.

Eventually, Morgan let go and backed away a little.

Morgan’s gentle voice—the one that always said she liked her—rang clearly in Charlotte’s ears.

“Is it okay… if I wait for you?”

Morgan brushed Charlotte’s hair back gently and continued.

“Is it okay… if I try hard to be someone your heart can accept?”

Even from far away, Morgan’s strong heartbeat reached Charlotte.

Something inside her grew uncontrollably. Was it guilt? Or…

Was it finally love?

Charlotte, her heart clenched by Morgan’s confession, finally revealed her deepest guilt.

“I… don’t deserve to be loved by you.”

Morgan already knew. She knew the guilt Charlotte felt.

But it didn’t matter to her.

Morgan just smiled and wiped away Charlotte’s unnoticed tears.

“I’ll wait. I can always wait.”

Charlotte shook her head, clearly overwhelmed.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I might never be able to answer your feelings.”

Morgan stayed silent and listened to her crying.

Charlotte’s yellow eyes, usually as bright as gold, no longer looked at Morgan.

Her face looked like she was about to fall apart.