Chapter 34
“Yuka…?”
Yuka had gone completely still, her head bowed. Her uncle, Kiyoharu, was restrained by Ell—after being relentlessly struck by Yuka’s lightning, he was barely breathing, let alone capable of escape. If not for his undead nature, he’d have died a dozen times over.
But right now, Yuka worries me more than this half-dead wretch. Was she hesitating? Even after everything, killing someone tied to her by blood might still haunt her.
“Yuka, what’s wrong?”
I stepped closer. Her eyes seemed distant, unfocused. Then—
Thud.
“Wha—? Hey, what’s up?”
“……”
She’d suddenly clung to me. No answer, just her arms tightening around me like she was confirming something real. Occasionally, she nuzzled her cheek against mine, desperate. I was confused, but… it wasn’t unpleasant. I didn’t push her away.
“…Ah, this warmth. I’ve… I’ve wanted this for so long. I’ve longed to see you again…”
“Huh?”
Finally, she spoke—but tears welled in her eyes, large and heavy. I didn’t understand why, yet I wiped them away with my handkerchief. Then Yuuka whispered:
“…It’s been ages, Noir-sama. I’m Lumière. Do you… remember me?”
Lumière. The name meant nothing to me, yet it stirred something nostalgic, almost tender. Had I forgotten something? Or—
Flash.
“Ah, my beloved wife, Lumière… If I’m reborn, I’d wish to meet you again…”
“No matter how many lifetimes it takes, I’ll find you, Noir-sama! So please—wait for me!”
“I see… I love you, Lumière.”
“And I love you too, Noire-sama! With all my heart!”
The scenes flooded my mind—a man named Noir on his deathbed, a girl called Lumière weeping at his side. I didn’t know them. But I remembered. These were…
“My past life…? Is this mine?”
“! Noir-sama, you… remember?”
“…No. Just fragments. But… are you—”
“Yes. I was your wife, Lumière. I’ve… borrowed Yuka-san’s body temporarily to speak with you.”
“Yuka-san’s”? Weird phrasing, but I’d unpack that later. So Noir was my past self, and Lumière was Yuka’s.
“Borrowed her body? Why?”
“Noir-sama—no, Albert-sama. I came to protect you. From the calamity that will soon arrive. I needed to tell you… directly.”
Through the transparent barrier, Yuka and I watched the scene outside.
"Ah, she's hugging him."
"So passionate~"
"Kinda embarrassing to watch, honestly."
"You always look away during love scenes in dramas too."
"Don't call me out like that—it's embarrassing!"
"Guess I'm still a rookie at heart."
"Heh. Well, you are a certified virgin."
"Is that something to brag about?"
"Not at all."
"Then why even bring it up?"
For a while, we just watched Lord Albert and Lumière-san embrace—though from Lumière-san's perspective, we could only see Lord Albert.
"Hey, something's been bugging me..."
"I think I know what you're gonna say."
"Yeah... Why did I end up as the reincarnation of a drop-dead gorgeous beauty? Like, sorry for being such a downgrade?"
"Pfft. Nah, it's fine! I mean, sure, being compared to that level hurts a bit, but we clean up okay. Probably."
"'Probably'? You can't even say it with confidence?"
"Well, if we're being objective, we're not bad-looking..."
"I wish I'd been reborn as a beauty too."
"Wouldn't 'handsome' work fine for you?"
"Nah, I'm a girl now."
"Is that really the issue here?"
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