City ​​of Witches 459

Chapter 459 – #96_Travel(8)

#458

1.
No matter how enjoyable something is, every moment must come to an end.
Throughout the department store, announcements signaling closing time played along with the store’s jingle.
It was already 10 PM, barely after taking a short ride around the area in a hot air balloon.

“We didn’t get to go to the aquarium after all.”
“It’s okay.”

Shiwoo and Amelia walked out towards the exit, hand in hand like a loving couple, blending into the crowd.
The department store lights, which hadn’t dimmed despite the cold night air, waved goodbye from behind them.
They tucked their clasped hands into Shiwoo’s coat pocket, their breath misting in the air.
It was a little warmer there.

“……”

Shiwoo noticed that Amelia seemed more detached than usual.
Her profile, still basking in the afterglow of joy and excitement, was like someone who had just woken up from a very happy dream.

She didn’t look around or say anything, only occasionally fidgeting her fingers in his pocket.

So, it wasn’t that Shiwoo was completely unaffected.
It was a feeling hard to describe, but if he had to put a word to it, it would be awkwardness.

He had felt this throughout their short trip together, but now it felt particularly pronounced.
Wasn’t the point of a date to strengthen the bond between two people?

And so, the two of them retraced their steps back to the hotel together.
Their ears, which had been frozen cold, regained their senses in the warm indoor temperature.
Choosing to leave the heater on had been the right decision.

“Shiwoo.”
“Yes, Amelia.”

Amelia spoke after 30 minutes, just as Shiwoo was hanging his coat on a hanger to avoid wrinkles.
It was a welcome sound in the strange and awkward silence.

“Thank you.”

It was a short expression of gratitude, but it carried a heavy weight.
It was hard to imagine how many meanings were hidden within it.

“I hope that instead of saying sorry, we can start saying thank you to each other more often.”

Amelia gave a small smile at his words and nodded slightly.
It was a smile that seemed a little sad.

2.
Amelia was a witch who didn’t have a regular sleep schedule.

While it was true that spirits didn’t require sleep after most activities, if their physical, mental, or magical exhaustion exceeded a certain point, they needed a soft bed and a warm pillow to recover.
It was a kind of mental reset.

However, when Amelia was wandering the mortal realm to carry out her hit list, she didn’t fall asleep unless she was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.
Even then, it wasn’t on a soft bed but on the rough ground, and she hadn’t slept at all after returning to Gehenna until her trial was over.

But perhaps it was because her last misunderstanding with Shiwoo had been resolved and she had spent a good time with him, completely releasing her tension?
As Amelia showered in warm water, she felt a deep fatigue, as if she had returned to her days as a novice witch.
She wanted nothing more than to throw herself onto the bed, lay her head down, and sleep soundly.

“……”

Today, spent with Shiwoo, had been so happy.
Although the harsh taste of mortal food had tormented her tongue, and the unexpected thrill of the rides had completely drained her energy, the time she spent holding his hand, walking the streets, and enjoying the feeling of being a couple was hard to express with just the word ‘happiness.’

She was so happy.
She felt a sense of melancholy and sadness at the same time, even though her heart was bursting with joy.
It might sound contradictory, but the reason was probably because she was happy.

When they walked in the same direction.
When they ate together.
Even in the moments when they shared small conversations, Amelia felt a growing weight.

Guilt.
No matter how much Shiwoo said it was okay, it was a sense of regret she couldn’t shake off.

She had kicked him out of his room and thrown him into a shabby barn and a pile of straw.
She had given him cake and cigarettes as a gesture of kindness while he couldn’t even have a decent meal, eating hard bread and watery porridge.
She had also given him absurd orders, like suddenly telling him to catch a deer in the forest.
She had forced him to stand naked in front of the twins and coerced him into explaining his situation.
She had also forced him to do hours of overtime cleaning, something Amelia could have finished with a single gesture.

No matter how much Shiwoo said it was okay, and no matter how much Amelia vowed to make it up to him in the future, the indelible mistakes echoed in Amelia’s ears with terrifying clarity.
‘Do you even deserve to be happy?’ they seemed to ask.
Amelia bit her lip.

Perhaps it was all just an excuse.

Amelia Merrygold was not used to happiness.
On the other hand, she knew better than anyone how sharply the beautiful, glass-like happiness shattered when it broke.
That was why she hesitated to reach out, even when happiness was promised right in front of her.

In the end, she was just scared.
She simply wanted to watch and see what would happen with this unfamiliar and strange emotion that had suddenly appeared.
As she realized this, a self-deprecating sigh escaped her lips.

3.
Shiwoo, who had finished showering before Amelia, was leaning against the bed with a restless feeling.
On the surface, he was searching for places to visit tomorrow on his phone, but in reality, he couldn’t focus at all.

-Swish, swish, swish

The sound of Amelia showering was bothering him a lot.

“This is…”

He considered that they had truly reconciled this morning.
They had kissed before, but now he knew what Amelia was thinking and she had opened up about her inner feelings.
Not only that, but they had also gone on a date together, as if they were really a couple.

But if someone asked, ‘What’s the next step?’ he would want to avoid answering.
He wasn’t confident in giving a definite answer.

Amelia and Shiwoo had never been ‘lovers’ in the past.

Kissing + holding hands and dating + staying in a hotel together = ?.
You might think the answer is obvious, but because the other person was Amelia, it became a difficult equation that wasn’t so obvious.

Of course, the fact that he was feeling restless while listening to the sound of the water was proof of his anticipation.
As a man, anyone would be attracted to Amelia’s beauty.

But Shiwoo couldn’t bring himself to show that anticipation to Amelia.
First of all, there was Sharon, the twins, and his teacher. Furthermore, he had a promised relationship with Count Yesod.

He had clearly told Amelia about this, and she had moved on without much of a response.
However, that didn’t mean she didn’t care at all.
Since then, Amelia had never mentioned Shiwoo’s ‘other lovers,’ as if it were unnatural.

“That’s enough.”

He decided to just let go of his lingering feelings.
The others had accepted Shiwoo’s promiscuity, which was close to a polyamorous relationship, in their own ways.
But to expect Amelia to accept it too would be a great disrespect to her.

He reminded himself that the best course of action was to match his pace with Amelia’s.

-Bang!

The bathroom door opened.

At the same time, a bitter smile appeared on his face.
He had told himself not to care and to let go of his lingering feelings, but as soon as he heard the door open, his gaze immediately turned towards it.

“……”

Of course, she wasn’t naked or wearing a bathrobe.
Instead, she was wearing her pajamas, which he hadn’t seen in a long time.
The frilly, flowing, one-piece dress with lace embellishments seemed more suitable for a doll than a person.

However, Amelia pulled it off so naturally, as if the completion of fashion was ultimately about looks.
He suddenly had a silly fantasy that if she worked as a model for an online shopping mall, there would be a flood of refund requests from customers who had realized the reality.

He had to have these kinds of silly fantasies to endure the awkwardness that had returned.

Her hair was fluffy, as if she had dried it inside, but she couldn’t hide the heat on her cheeks, which had been warmed by the hot water.
Amelia glanced at Shiwoo and then turned off all the lights in the hotel room.

Amelia was now capable of turning off the lights herself.
However, the bedside lamp had a separate switch, so it softly illuminated the dimly lit room.

Amelia approached Shiwoo’s bed.
His heart pounded, as if it were proof of the lingering feelings he still hadn’t let go of.
Amelia couldn’t meet Shiwoo’s eyes and carefully sat down in the empty space next to him.

“Can I… hug you?”

In the dim light, Amelia asked in a frail voice.
He nodded, half in disbelief, and Amelia’s arms snaked under his armpits.

Her cheek rested on Shiwoo’s chest as he was hugged like a large teddy bear.
He worried that his pounding heart might be too loud, and he was surprised by how soft her body was under the thin fabric.

“I want to go back to Gehenna tomorrow.”
“What? What about the trip?”
“I want to do what I need to do first. There are still things I haven’t finished.”

Shiwoo wanted to show her more of the mortal realm, but what could he do when she said that?
It seemed like the trip would end much sooner than expected.

Amelia rubbed her cheek against Shiwoo’s chest, as if she were being spoiled.

“Thank you for showing me around during this trip.”
“It’s nothing. I was happy to be with you too.”
“I will never forget it. The scenery you showed me.”

Amelia’s voice was full of the languidness of someone about to fall asleep.
She breathed softly, like a bird that had found a resting place after a long wandering.
Shiwoo hesitantly reached out and gently stroked the back of Amelia’s round head.

He figured he didn’t need to ask for permission for this much, right?
Amelia flinched and then carefully met his gaze.

“It’s greedy, but… can I ask for one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“Even when we go back to Gehenna… can you hug me like this sometimes?”

Of course, Amelia’s ‘hug me’ was clearly different, meaning it was very platonic, but for Shiwoo, who was struggling with the worries of a teenage boy, it sounded very suggestive.
Even Amelia’s completely relaxed breathing and voice had a hint of seductiveness.

“Of course, I will.”

His answer was delayed because of that, but Amelia didn’t notice the delay.
She just kept repeating, “Thank you, thank you, Shiwoo…” as if she was relieved.

With those words, Amelia’s breathing became very even.
Even if there was a difference in their physiques, he couldn’t be softer than a pillow.
As if she had found a heavenly bed, Amelia fell asleep as soon as she was in Shiwoo’s arms.

“Amelia.”
“……”
“Amelia.”
“……”

After checking a couple of times to make sure she was really asleep, Shiwoo finally let out a sigh.

“I’m going crazy…”

He could see Amelia’s face, fast asleep below him.
He couldn’t sleep like this.
He had already been careful not to let her smell his scent the moment she had clung to him.
It was even more unpredictable what kind of strange phenomenon might occur if she inhaled it in her sleep.

But she was sleeping so soundly, it was hard to disturb her, and it was hard to move her away…
Shiwoo supported Amelia’s head so it wouldn’t fall, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

“She is soft, though…”

The only consolation was that he could hold her body, which was softer than any cushion, without any lewd intentions.