IYAMD 117

IYAMD 117

As the tension in his shoulders caused them to tremble, Jaha carefully placed his hand on Marsilia’s shoulder.

“Mar, Mar? What’s wrong…?”

The muscles in Marsilia’s jaw twitched. When he didn’t answer, Jaha embraced him and gently placed his face close to his.

“What’s wrong…? Hmm?”

Marsilia couldn’t say anything as he tried to suppress the storm rising within him. It felt like the tower he had painstakingly built was collapsing, and his footing was unsteady.

“Shh, it’s okay. Mar, it’s all okay.”

Hearing Jaha’s soothing voice, as if he had an inkling of what was happening, Marsilia managed to steady the falling tower within him.

When he lifted his head, Jaha gently pulled back and inspected ​unauthorized copy​his face. Marsilia, looking at Jaha’s concerned gaze, tried hard to smile.

How should he smile? Was he really smiling properly? Marsilia couldn’t confirm as his reflection didn’t show in Jaha’s light eyes.

“What should I do, Jaha?”

Jaha raised his eyebrows at Marsilia’s words. Marsilia, observing Jaha’s face, answered the question he had been waiting for.

“Your mark has disappeared.”

Saying it out loud only made Marsilia feel even more like he was collapsing.

Why, of all things, had Jaha’s Soul Mark disappeared? Had the Archduke’s curse been aimed at him instead?

Why now, of all times? With only one day left.

Marsilia kept his lips tightly pressed ​unauthorized copy​together and locked eyes with the man who was looking at him.

After quietly scanning his face, Jaha reached out and placed his hand on Marsilia’s cheek, asking,

“Did you like me because of that mark?”

“No, no. That’s not it.”

Marsilia shook his head firmly, answering as though speaking to himself.

At first, it was true that he had been drawn to Jaha because of it. Marsilia had always longed for a companion, someone he could love.

However, when he first met Jaha and began to doubt the significance of the soulmate, it became a burden. He had even wondered whether to kill him or let him live, seeing Jaha’s deteriorating condition.

The first time Marsilia felt new emotions for Jaha was when he saw him cry. A wave of sympathy overwhelmed him, and that’s when he began to truly see Jaha in a different light.

It didn’t stop there. As they spent more time together, Jaha’s kindness and affection began to ​stolen content​fill his heart. When Marsilia showed him his vulnerabilities, the emotions reflected in Jaha’s eyes were so warm and comforting.

How could he not love a man who was mature for his age, confident, and so understanding? Marsilia often found himself overwhelmed with feelings as he watched Jaha’s back while he protected others. How could he not love him?

Jaha, hearing that answer, smiled quietly. He then took Marsilia’s hand, raised it, and rubbed his cheek against it.

“That’s enough, Mar. Nothing has changed.” His calm response blurred his face. Marsilia swallowed the heat rising in his throat and hesitated before asking,

“Really? Do you think so?”

“Yes. If your feelings haven’t changed, nothing else has changed.”

A sigh escaped Marsilia. A mix of relief and anxiety flowed through him. He felt the fog in his mind begin to lift, and at the same time, he could feel the tears trailing down his cheek.

The moment Jaha’s fingertips brushed against his cheek, Marsilia closed his eyes. His fingers traced the path left by the tears, and soon, he felt the warmth of Jaha’s palm gently cupping his face.

“Mar.”

“Yes.”

“I like you a lot.”

Marsilia, his eyes closed, smiled softly. When he opened them, he was met with Jaha’s lovely golden gaze. Looking into those eyes, he felt at ease, realizing he could now smile more naturally.

“I feel the same, Jaha.”

Even though his mark had disappeared, his heart remained unchanged. And with that, Marsilia whispered, burying his lips deeply into Jaha’s hand that cradled his cheek,

“I will love only you.”

The proof of that still remained in his chest. Unlike his mother, who turned her back on the world, Jaha was here beside him.

So it would be alright. He wouldn’t be like his father. He wanted to believe that.

Jaha let out a sigh, his expression filled with helplessness. He leaned forward toward Marsilia, who had lowered himself below Jaha’s gaze. The man, as if diving in, embraced Marsilia and whispered softly.

“I’d like to know what you’re thinking.”

But Marsilia couldn’t answer. He couldn’t ask Jaha to participate in deceiving others to tie him down.

Marsilia had discussed this matter privately with Serez. The only thing Marsilia had asked his assistant was this:

“Deceive the temple so that the confirmation of the Soul Mark can be skipped.”

Serez had been taken aback, but he didn’t ask about the Emperor’s intentions. He simply looked at Marsilia with deeply sunken eyes before bowing low and leaving.

While Marsilia held a meeting, Serez was trying to persuade the priests at the temple.

It seemed that things weren’t going as smoothly as expected, since he hadn’t returned yet.

However, Marsilia didn’t feel anxious. It’s Serez, he would surely bring about the result Marsilia wanted, even if it meant resorting to trickery.

That’s why he had asked Jaha for help. He just wanted Jaha to follow his lead.

The scheme Marsilia was about to pull off was quite large. Not only would it deceive all the nobles and the temple, but eventually, the entire empire itself would be deceived.

Marsilia intended to use his mark as proof today and publicly announce that Jaha was his soulmate.

Normally, he would have to undergo confirmation from the temple High Priest before the banquet, but Marsilia planned to bypass this procedure.

He wanted everyone to believe that Jaha still had his mark remaining.

Someone would surely begin to question it. There had never been a time when it had not been publicly verified. However, Marsilia had no intention of being swayed by such doubts.

If anyone doubted Jaha’s legitimacy, he would silence them by any means necessary.

So, Marsilia only wished for Jaha to hold his hand. He didn’t want him to be anxious or worried about anything.

Later, much later, he would tell him everything. For now, Jaha just needed to stay by his side.

Jaha looked up and gazed down at Marsilia. He smiled faintly, his expression unreadable, before quietly asking,

“So you want me to just smile like a fool while you handle everything? You think it wouldn’t matter if I understood?”

At Jaha’s calm but biting words, Marsilia widened his eyes and opened his mouth.

“No, that’s not it, Jaha.”

Jaha’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Of course, I hope that’s not the case. If you don’t want to tell me, I won’t press you. If you ever decide [unauthorized copy]to speak, I’ll wait. But just know, you’ve left me feeling disappointed. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this in.”

Marsilia swallowed dryly, and Jaha’s eyes narrowed even further.

“Do you want to protect me, or do you want to ignore me? I’m so confused. It doesn’t matter which, but if this is all you wanted from a partner, I’ll be deeply disappointed in you.”

Jaha continued speaking, his tone steady and even, without raising his voice.

“Still, I won’t be able to stop loving you. Maybe that’s why you’re treating me like this, knowing I feel this way.”

His hand brushed gently against Marsilia’s cheek, as tender as ever. But Marsilia realized that Jaha was angry.

As Jaha gazed at the sky, Marsilia was about to speak when Jaha leaned in and kissed him.

“Do what you have to do. I’ll hold off for now.”

“Jaha.”

“You need to prepare for the banquet, right?“

Jaha quietly pushed Marsilia’s hand away, standing up from the windowsill. He smiled, his back to the light, with the sunlight streaming over him. He looked so casual, so gentle, as if nothing were wrong.

“I’ll see you at the inner palace, Marsilia.”

With those words, he disappeared out the window, his figure vanishing over the palace roof in an instant. Marsilia felt a chill run down his spine as he realized that Jaha must be furious.

Marsilia couldn’t even guess how angry Jaha was.

Marsilia could never bring himself to be angry with Jaha, but the idea that Jaha had gotten so angry that he left without a word was unthinkable. Marsilia stood frozen by the window, his hand pressed against it, watching Jaha disappear.

How could he have made Jaha so upset? He hadn’t even been trying to make him angry—he just didn’t want him to worry.

Marsilia, waiting for Serez’s visit our sitereturn, could do nothing but fret, unable to follow after Jaha right away.

“How long is it going to take Serez to come back?”