A sacrifice is required

It was a gentle kiss to reassure him and dispel any unease he would have.

But like Kiryu just said, for some reason, he was confident. He could confidently say he loved her and that she loved him back.

He didn't know what to do after he left the room. Maybe he ought to head back to the room and sleep? But Haruka recalled the look in her eyes after she kissed him. She even mumbled quietly. 'Wait for me.'

Haruka paced back and forth in front of the door, and while doing so, he caught the heavy scent of blood coming from the room. He felt his heartbeat increase.

Huh? What is this feeling? Why does it smell so sweet? This is her blood, right? How unusual, whenever Lila got a cut in the past, her blood did not smell like this. Or maybe it was because he focused more on covering up her wound.

Is it because Kiryu is drinking a lot?

How would it feel if he drank from his wife's neck? Whenever she got a cut on her finger, she would make him drink her blood. But he still found it weird, so he tried not to do it often. However, he wondered how it would feel if he pierced his strangely sharp teeth onto her neck?

How would her blood taste?

As these questions ran through his head, the doors suddenly opened, revealing Kiryu. Unlike earlier, the man's complexion was a lot better.

"You can go back inside."

"Right."

"Hey, listen." Kiryu trailed off. "It's true I still like her, but I won't take her from you."

"Why?"

"It is already too late for us."

Haruka did not get a chance to say anything since Kiryu quickly left. It is already too late, huh? However, whenever he watched his wife's actions towards Kiryu,, he felt that was not the case. But without any memories, it was difficult for him to feel jealous or even bitter.

He re-entered the room, and the moment he did, she slumped into his arms. Haruka patted her back. "Do you want to lie down?"

"Are you mad?"

"Huh?"

"In the past, you would get angry at me," Lila mumbled.

"Is that so?"

'He truly was a petty person in the past. No matter how jealous I am, I should have supported her.'

But he is in that state because of me. So I want to do something to help.

"I understand, my wife; you're a good person."

At those words, Lila laughed. "I don't know about that-" She gently caresses his cheek. "At least when it comes to you, I can be quite greedy and selfish."

'Those words don't suit her at all.'

Before he could say those words to her, the girl suddenly pushed him down onto the ground. She is kissing him passionately before he can process what is happening.

'Kissing her is so nice.' From the first day he saw her, he wanted to jump on her, but at the same time, something held him back. It was a thought that he did not understand very well.

'I am dirty. I do not deserve her.'

Did he do something in the past that led to this thought? Haruka tried to recall those articles he read online. It did seem like he lived a terrible lifestyle before he met her. There were many rumors and he read every one of the online articles to better understand the past.

If he was truly a bad person, how could he earn the love of somebody like her? Somebody like her reminds him exactly of the su- his thoughts broke off when she felt her pretty hands tug on his clothing.

But realizing that the living room doors were still open, he lightly moved her hand away. Unfortunately, that only leads to her slamming her hand beside him.

"Do you," Lila said slowly. "-not find me beautiful anymore?"

Huh? Haruka looked at her, puzzled. What on earth is she saying now?

"What are you-" His sentence fell short when she loosened her nightgown, revealing her beautiful bare ski- no, there was something there.

The other side of her body had awful purple-colored marks that looked similar to bruises and whiplashes. Huh? Haruka sat up, alarmed, and grabbed hold of her shoulders.

"Did you get hurt?" Haruka asked her, alarmed.

How could she get hurt without him noticing?

At those words, Lila shook her head. "No, this isn't an injury." She trailed off. "You see, Haruka, for this world to return to normal. This world needs to use a powerful medium, the life of a human who is loved so deeply."

His eyes widened, and he felt his face color turn pale. "Is it because I love you?"

Lila laughed softly. "Your feelings are very strong, but no, this is because I was an idol. I am somebody who has received the love of the people, and I have darkness inside me. With this, I fit the requirements. In the past, there was no Queen who survived. Their body is needed to fix the ruined world."

No, he can't allow that. He can't let her do something so dangerous.

'What use is this world if she is not around?'

'Then, we have a deal. You will join me.'

His thoughts broke off as a conversation played in his mind. He recognized himself all badly beaten up in an alleyway, and the person who just 'saved' him turned around—a man with long black, no white-colored hair, and azure-colored eyes.

A deal? Moreover, 'she?' Haruka looked towards his wife. Perhaps the past him already knew about this. Then that man in his vision just now, perhaps he asked help from that person?

"Haruka? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, can we cuddle?"

"Mm, but-" Her gaze darted towards the kitchen curiously. "What are you doing?"

"I was planning something romantic."

He almost forgot about it due to seeing Austin Kiryu in that state. Haruka looked towards the door. "Do you think he will be okay? Should you not stay with him?"

For some reason, the moment he said those words, Haruka wanted to immediately take it back.

To his surprise, Lila suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer.

"I love you so much, Haruka," Lila mumbled in his neck. "That is why this time around, I will do anything to make sure you are safe from them."

Haruka could not miss the murderous tone in her voice when she said 'them.' But he did not answer her, knowing that what she needed right now was to be held tightly, and that is what he did.