''Lady, won't you look at me?''

''Pfft—what was that, all of a sudden? Calling me 'Lady' out of the blue...''

''Well? I just want to let you know... that you are incredibly beautiful, My Lady.''

''I-I see... thank you, I suppose.''

''Seeing you every day is a blessing, My Lady.''

''Me too. I like seeing you every day!''

''I'm sincere.''

''Huh? Um... ah—w-what are you saying now... silly.''

''Fufu... would you like to go on a walk?''

''Alright...''

''Grab my hand.''

''Mhm.''

Love.

This was a concept Kierra had pondered for centuries. It was a strange feeling—suffocating, needlessly dramatic, yet strangely beautiful. When she turned twenty, she had her first taste of love.

It was when August suddenly changed the way she treated Kierra. No, maybe it wasn't sudden. August would frequently probe around the archwizard and attempt more intimate acts, constantly sending subliminal toward her. Even an idiot like Kierra would notice in a short time.

Initially, Kierra treated August as a precious big sister—someone who would support her whenever she needed it and, ultimately, her savior. Yet, she could hardly resist August's advances. She would feel her heart flutter terribly when faced with the affectionate eyes of 'big sister.'

After a few years, love finally blossomed between the two.

They became partners for life, promising an eternity to each other.

'Ironically.'

Kierra laughed inwardly.

Time was a cruel thing. At some point, her relationship with August took a grim turn. She wouldn't know why, how, or when it really happened.

Even right now, as she exchanged attack after attack with August, she could not put a rest to the turbulence in her heart. Her colorful magic collided with August's brilliant sword, and with each exchange, she could see her old lover's face clearly.

A face of longing.

Kierra had spent hundreds of years with this woman. There was no way she wouldn't know what she was thinking right now. She knew that August's love was as unblemished as the day she confessed, and she knew August was hurting because of their separation.

But what about her?

Thinking back, Kierra had honestly not been as faithful. A few decades after breaking up with August, she made a new fate—a serious one, even if August thought it was just a farce.

'Faithful?'

Not 'faithful.' She had already declared her breakup. If so, why did she feel like she was cheating?

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Right, she was still in love with August, no matter what. She still yearned for her warmth, her touch, and her love for centuries. However, what about the second lover?

The one who indulged Kierra in an endless rain of sweetness, the one who healed Kierra every time she felt down, and the one who loved Kierra unconditionally.

Kierra loved her. That was for sure.

So, in the end, what was the problem?

The more Kierra asked herself this question, the more conflicted she felt. Was she naturally a fickle woman? Was loving multiple people at once wrong?

Kierra was fine with it. She was confident she could love many women at once. However... August.

In many ways, August was a bad candidate for Kierra's current arrangement. If she were to get back with the Sword Empress, Kierra would need her to make several compromises.

'Alright.'

In an instant, her heart became clear. As soon as she boiled the matter down, there was no reason to hesitate.

With a resolute gesture, Kierra swiped her finger horizontally from left to right, leaving behind a blue trail. Heeding her command, mana began to pour out from her heart, enveloping a vast area.

Kierra snapped her finger, and at that moment, a gust of wind so strong it made August's gait slightly faltered descended. From absolutely nowhere, snow began to fall. It quickly escalated to become an intense blizzard, obstructing August's greatly.

⌈BLIZZARD—8★⌋

August squinted her eyes.

As she was about to explode her mana to repel the snow, she suddenly felt her limbs being tied to the ground. In reality, she was being held in place by numerous metallic chains, ones that were significantly sturdier than the last.

''What...'' She muttered.

There was no sign of it whatsoever. Even if Kierra got stronger, there should be no way she would miss a mana sign...

'Ah.'

August belatedly realized—it was qi. Before she could properly react, however, a figure emerged from within the blinding blizzard. Just like before, Kierra grabbed the Sword Empress's chin.

''Hey.'' She called. ''Do you still love me?''

''What are you saying? Of course, I still love you to death.'' August replied with no hesitation. ''It's even stronger than before.''

''...Do you still want to... lock me up? Or whatever?''

Seeing Kierra's solemn eyes, August chuckled.

''I wish I could break your legs and put you in a cage so that you would only look at me, my love.''

''That's violent.''

''I know. If possible, I don't want to use that method.''

''Can't you love me like normal?''

''What's normal for you isn't necessarily normal for me.''

''My normal, then.''

''...I can try.''

''...''

''...''

Huh?

Wasn't that... a positive answer?

Kierra was stunned. She didn't know August would just comply if she asked for it! Now that she remembered, she might have forgotten to state her reason for the breakup...

Her head was dizzy.

After a brief pause, the archwizard opened her mouth again.

''Then... what if I love... other women when I'm with you?''

In an instant, August's face turned cold. Her golden eyes lost their luster, and her subtle smile disappeared entirely.

''It's not funny even as a joke, darling.''

Hearing August's chilling tone, Kierra involuntarily shivered. A pang of guilt hit her heart, and she felt like hiding underground for a moment.

Right. There was no way this could work. In the first place, they had promised to dedicate their whole to the other person, so this was out from the get-go.

''...''

''...''

For a while, Kierra just gazed at August's ambiguous face, contemplating her choices. If she chose to cut this fate, she would probably end up with another woman soon, but if she were to embrace August here...

If she were to have August by her side...

Clutching the brim of her hat, Kierra eventually gave it up to her heart. Gritting her teeth, she retreated her mana entirely, letting the sea of stars shine through between the two again.

''...I'll take it.''

''Huh?''

August couldn't believe her ears. When she saw the archwizard's soft smile and somewhat sentimental hints in her eyes, the Sword Empress felt her heart jumping wildly.

''I'll become yours again... if you still want me,'' Kierra added. ''I won't look for other women, but you have to keep your promise.''

''Of course.''

With an inexplicably joyful heart, August threw her sword aside and embraced Kierra. The archwizard also ran her arms around her now lover's back, and the two stayed still for a long time.

The stars shone on them.

''...Lady, won't you look at me?''

''Huh... fufu, what's with you, all of a sudden?''

The two giggled together.

''Well? I just want to let you know... that you are the most charming person in existence. It's a miracle that I can see you.''

''The scale of the worship has gone up.''

''So has my heart for you. It's inevitable.''

''Cheeky.''

''Don't you love it?''

''Mhm...''

''Let's go on a walk. Grab my hand.''

''Alright.''