Chapter 1248 – #290_Proposal(9)

#1242

1.
A society of honor.

If you were to ask what kind of community Gehenna is, it could be summed up in that one word.
One of the Gehenna proverbs that well reflects this social aspect is, “A witch lives for magic, but dies for honor.”

At first glance, it may seem irrational, but it’s not just due to emotional reasons like pride or a sense of privilege.

Rather, there are more practical reasons.

Due to the witch’s stigma system, the ‘witch name’ is passed down through generations.
The honor accumulated by the ancestors is passed down to the descendants, and conversely, the dishonor of the ancestors becomes a yoke for the descendants.

Also, as this structure has been in place for a long time, ‘honor and trust’ in Gehenna have come to play a role similar to a credit rating for modern people.
It becomes a measure of evaluating an individual when engaging in various social activities, starting a business, or even in private interactions.

In fact, when applying for a loan at a vault bank, it’s not an unusual sight in Gehenna to consider ‘how honorable’ the witch is.

Therefore, witches make various efforts to raise their honor (and credit rating).

They show their sense of duty as a witch through consistent academic activities within the academy, donate a large sum of money for public projects, or strive to maintain trust in all matters.

It is common to steadily build honor over decades or even hundreds of years, but there is a system that semi-automatically guarantees this important honor…

That is the ‘title’.

The name value of being a noble belonging to the Tree of Sephirot is solid enough to be recognized anywhere.
Moreover, compared to the times when both the present world and Gehenna were in a golden age, the status of the current titles has become very high.

As they maintain a very small quorum of 32 Barons, 7 Counts, and 3 Dukes, if a T/O opens up, they will be eagerly vying for the vacant position.

In that sense, with Duke Erelim declaring his retirement and Count Hesed being promoted to Duke, the question of who would be awarded the vacant Count title became a matter of great interest.

From witches who were originally Barons to witches who dreamed of rising in status on this occasion.
Originally, a fierce battle of wits and political maneuvering should have lasted at least six months, but…

Well…
It ended surprisingly easily.

“I, R’lyeh Nukelavee, the Witch of the Deep Sea, swear upon my witch name to uphold the supreme traditions and strict order of Gehenna and to fulfill my responsibilities as a Count.”

Everyone, give a standing ovation!

2.
The reason R’lyeh was confirmed to be awarded the Count title was not exactly due to the influence of the powerful figures behind her, such as Duke Shin Siwoo, Duke Tiferet, and former Duke Erelim.

It was a matter that was decided as smoothly as flowing water, due to various interests and R’lyeh’s achievements in this war.

She had single-handedly faced one front, and R’lyeh’s performance, which was neck and neck with the Witch of Time, was by far the most outstanding in this war.

However, there would have been many other strong candidates, but the reason R’lyeh won the trophy was due to the recent reforms in Gehenna’s political situation.

This is a time when many exiles who have not accumulated many sins in this era or have received immunity are returning to Gehenna.
It means that two different liquids are mixing.

The fact that R’lyeh, who is an exile, is awarded the Count title acted as a political neutralizer.

It’s good to eliminate the grumbling that ‘they’re all doing it among themselves’.
Also, since she is the lover of Duke Shin Siwoo, it’s good that it’s not an uncontrollable award.
Her abilities and merits are also certain, so there will be no unnecessary grumbling.

And, although it might be missed due to her usual behavior, R’lyeh was aware of all these facts.

Although she may lack some social skills, R’lyeh, as a proper witch, has the political insight and ability to read the trends.

“Congratulations, really!”
“It’s just a stroke of luck that the timing was right. What’s there to be so excited about just because the Queen of the Nukelavee Dynasty has become a Count in a quiet rural kingdom?”
“It’s okay for the Queen of the Nukelavee Dynasty to receive other titles?”
“It is not uncommon historically for a monarch of one country to receive a title from another country.”
“Ah.”

The reason she answered Siwoo with a sulky tone, who was happier than when she became a Count, was for the same reason.

That was about the extent of R’lyeh’s feelings about receiving the Count title.
If she were to look further, it would be the pleasure of having flattened the noses of the twins who were talking about her as the ‘Count’s successor’?

There is something else that bothers her more than receiving the Count title.

It’s that she has taken a 1-night, 2-day trip to Akula alone with Siwoo for the first time in a long time.

It’s for the proposal today!

In fact, for R’lyeh, the proposal was just a formality.
They had already exchanged vows of love and their relationship was strong.

A wedding ceremony would be a more noteworthy event, but in R’lyeh’s opinion, a proposal was like a confession between lovers.

Well, after the two of them fool around in Akula, when the atmosphere is ripe, she just needs to say one cool line, ‘Will you be my husband?’ and that’s it.

So, rather than anticipation or nervousness about the proposal, she was more happy to have Siwoo all to herself for the first time in a long time.
In this Akula, where their first meeting began.

Thus began the Akula full course arranged by R’lyeh.

“Mwahaha! You’ll need a hundred years to catch up to me!”
“Wow, you’re really good. Do you want to play a game of pool?”
“You’re better at pool, so I won’t.”
“……”

First, they enjoyed some electronic games at the arcade.

“No matter how excellent the cuisine of Gehenna is, it cannot match Akula’s seafood dishes. Enjoy it to your heart’s content!”
“Wow, the sea urchin today is so rich, it melts in my mouth.”

After that, they ate a wonderful seafood meal prepared by Chef Anastasia.

“Here, take this. It’s my favorite champagne.”
“To R’lyeh Nukelavee, the Queen of the Nukelavee Dynasty and the Count of Gehenna…”
“Cheers!”

They go to the malt bar and open the most delicious champagne R’lyeh has.

“Ugh, this is good…”

After that, they went straight to the bathhouse.
They competitively sweated in the sauna and cooled off in a bathtub filled with cold water, fooling around.

Even the cold milk that washes away the drowsy energy.
It was a very smooth progression, happily carried out within the script.

“It’s nice even though it’s been a while.”
“Hmph, it’s only natural. Isn’t it a full course that I’m treating you to?”

Siwoo also seemed to be in a good mood, and a strange current was flowing between the two.
It was a tropical current called ‘the heated atmosphere of a couple in love’ that the former hikikomori R’lyeh in the submarine did not know.

“Hmm, I want to enjoy it more, but it’s already this late.”
“Wow, it really is. It’s been a while since I’ve relaxed comfortably.”
“It would be nice to go to bed a little early today.”
“Hmm, I was thinking of having another drink… That’s fine too.”

Seeing Siwoo glancing at R’lyeh’s swimsuit, she became even more certain.

What was the reason for placing the sauna course at the end?

When you wear revealing clothing like a swimsuit and spend time in the same space, watching the sticky sweat beads on your skin, even non-existent lust will arise.

After enjoying it to the fullest, it was already 10 PM, the time when lovers become the most passionate.

Moreover, they had walked through every corner of Akula together, reviving the memories of the two of them, so Siwoo’s heart must have ripened considerably.

Now, all that’s left is to lead him to the bedroom and propose.

For reference, all preparations have already been completed in R’lyeh’s bedroom.

On the emperor-sized bed, which is larger than a king-size bed, romantic rose petals were scattered, and there was also wine, fancy lighting, and a letter that R’lyeh had carefully written to create a more romantic atmosphere.

She just needs to call Siwoo there and say, ‘Let’s get married!’
After that, she can have a passionate love affair with him in the romantically decorated bedroom.

“……”
“R’lyeh?”

R’lyeh, who was standing in front of the bedroom door, suddenly stopped.

It’s definitely nothing.
It’s nothing, but…
Why is she suddenly so breathless?

Why is her heart pounding as if she had an arrhythmia?

Is this really okay?
Shouldn’t she have prepared something more fancy and elaborate?

For a very long time, Akula was R’lyeh’s world.
Anyone who wanted to be born had to destroy a submarine.

Led by Siwoo, R’lyeh came out of Akula.

The world he showed her was amazing.
It was amazingly beautiful.

She had her first peer friend.
The arrogant twin apprentice witches are now reliable rivals who she would miss too much if they were gone.

She had a family other than Dorothy.
Grateful people who warmly embraced her, who was lacking in many ways.

She learned how to understand the hearts of others and how to honestly acknowledge her own feelings.
She learned that the boredom she had always felt in Akula was loneliness.

To be honest, she’s a bit shy and embarrassed to express it properly, but she learned that the possessiveness she felt towards him was love.

Although it was a relationship that started with a kidnapping, R’lyeh’s life trajectory would have been different if she had not met Siwoo.

“Aren’t we going in?”
“……”

Only then does she see the cause of her anxiety.
Come to think of it, this proposal might just be a formality for R’lyeh, but it might not be for Siwoo, right?

What if the proposal, which she had prepared with some care, falls short of his expectations and gives him a strange sense of disappointment?

She can’t take it back.
Isn’t a proposal something that only happens once in a lifetime?

Siwoo is a kind man who always cares for R’lyeh, so he won’t show any signs of disappointment.

That’s the bigger problem.

Normally, R’lyeh doesn’t care about anyone’s feelings.
At the same time, R’lyeh is also the type who feels a subtle burden and wants to run away when given a heavy task.

Just like she has subtly avoided the ‘trials’ left by her ancestors.
Therefore, the sudden urge to run away now, this hesitation and anxiety, are all R’lyeh’s weaknesses.

“R’lyeh?”

But Siwoo also taught her.
The intense feeling that makes her squeeze out the courage in the corner of her heart and face it bravely in the moment she wants to run away.

“I have something I want to say to you.”

R’lyeh’s small hand firmly grips the bedroom doorknob.
Her navy blue eyes were looking straight up at Siwoo.

“I think I’m glad that you were the first person I met in the submarine.”

She feels like if she doesn’t say it now, she’ll run away like a fool again.
It seems like she has to say it now.

“Shin Siwoo. I love you. More than this sea.”

She cut off the hesitation that was holding her back and opened the door, saying,

“Will you marry me?”