I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 115
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Eldis gently rubbed his cheek against the warmth of the hand cupping his face.
He had broken that slender neck, cut down that delicate body countless times. It would be natural to foster hatred after enduring such cruelties more than ten times—yet this person said he would forgive him.
“Are you foolish or just kind-hearted…?”
From all Eldis had seen of Yeshion so far, it was surely due to his excessively gentle heart. If it had been forgiveness towards someone else, Eldis might have stopped him. But selfishly, Eldis was deeply grateful for this forgiveness.
“If… you forgive me this easily, I might cling even more tenaciously.”
“Cling…?”
“Yes. I’m the type to stick relentlessly to someone I care for.”
At Eldis’s words, Yeshion blinked slowly. Soon enough, one particular word seemed to stick in his mind, causing the back of his neck to flush bright red.
Yeshion moistened his dry lips, swallowed nervously, and subtly averted the gaze he’d been holding.
Was he trying to pretend he hadn’t heard?
When Yeshion bit his lips, uncertain of how to react or what to say, Eldis repeated himself clearly, leaving no doubt.
“You’ll soon see it much more often.”
“W-what… will I?”
“Me clinging to you.”
Even a fool would be able to grasp the meaning of his words. Yeshion opened his mouth but failed to speak, swallowing dryly before asking hesitantly.
“…Why?”
“Because I like you.”
A blunt yet unmistakable confession.
Though Eldis’s voice was dry as ever, similar to his usual manner, the sincerity behind those words was undeniable. Rather, the golden eyes staring intensely at him blazed so hotly that Yeshion instinctively clenched his fists tightly.
‘Eldis… likes me?’
The two gongs from the original story—Eldis and Adelio—had considered Rosaline their salvation. Yet in the novel, neither had ever once uttered the words “I like you” to Rosaline.
Yet now, one of them was openly declaring his feelings to him.
“…Don’t tease me.”
Yeshion wasn’t implying that Eldis was incapable of love.
“Tease you? You think I’m joking?”
“If you saying you like me isn’t teasing, then what is?”
Just, simply just…
“How strange. I wasn’t joking at all.”
“You saying it wasn’t a joke feels even more like one. You’ve never shown any signs of liking me before.”
Not noticing even the slightest hint was the very reason Yeshion found it so hard to accept Eldis’s sudden confession.
“…Do you really believe there were none?”
No matter how hard Eldis might try to hide or suppress his emotions, there was always something he couldn’t conceal.
His actions toward Yeshion.
“If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t have healed you.”
Eldis pressed his cheek against that soft palm once more. Then, gently opening his mouth, he lightly bit the tender skin beneath Yeshion’s thumb.
Startled, Yeshion instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but Eldis’s larger hand quickly covered his, holding it gently yet firmly in place.
“I would’ve hated even this slight touch with you.”
His gaze grew openly heated as it locked onto Yeshion’s eyes.
Pressing a soft kiss against the spot he’d just bitten, Eldis slowly rose from where he’d been sitting. Though he was slightly disappointed as Yeshion’s warmth left his cheek, it didn’t matter—he simply had to draw nearer to him again.
Reaching out, Eldis grasped Yeshion’s shoulders and slowly pulled him closer. As that comforting warmth filled his embrace, Eldis felt an indescribable joy rising within him.
The joy of Yeshion being alive. The happiness of Yeshion being with him—alive and present—caused his heart to overflow.
Eldis whispered softly, embracing him fully.
“I also wouldn’t have let you into my bed.”
At that moment, Yeshion’s face turned bright red, as though about to burst.
He’d managed to withstand the meaningful gaze and languid voice until now, but the word ‘bed’ brought on a sudden wave of embarrassment. He was certain that, on that day…
