Chapter 399 Choice [Pt 1]

“Who is she?”

I was utterly speechless.

“Lewis… who is this?” At this point, even Karlia was asking me.

Both women sharply stared at me, demanding an explanation.

But, what could I say?

This was not at all what I had imagined my newly established peaceful life to turn out. Their stares turned into glares, and my heart squeezed in response.

‘What should I do? What do I say?!’ My brain was in overdrive, wondering how to handle the situation.

As the algorithms ran in my head, the only paths I saw in front of me were incredibly bleak.

All routes literally led to doom.

Fortunately—or, rather, unfortunately—I never got to answer that question.

“I am Lewis’ wife! Who are you?” Emilia took the lead instead, stepping forward to challenge the equally attractive, but more seductive Succubus

I could only watch in timidity.

“What? I-is that true? It’s not true, right? Right?” Karlia looked at me with disbelief.

My heart nearly crumbled from her gaze. I truly wished I didn’t exist as her eyes begged me to deny the truth.

“I-it’s true…” I was forced to admit.

Those words of mine seemed to break Karlia.

For someone who had endured unimaginable pain—horrors I could not even begin to fathom—and who only had me as her tether…

… Hearing me affirm that I was no longer hers was something that would ruin her.

“N-no… it can’t be. You’re lying… you’re lying…”

Watching such a beautiful and perfect woman break down before me was something that only brought more sorrow to my heart.

And so, I could only watch… and endure.

“Lewis, you’re lying, aren’t you? She’s lying! You’re not hers! You’re mine! You said so, remember! Those moments we spent together… those years… I endured everything for you! You… you…”

At this point, Emilia was already casting glances at me.

I knew I was in serious trouble, but the most important matter to deal with couldn’t allow any more distractions from me.

“K-Karlia, calm yourself. The truth is—”

“You two-timer! Cheat! Traitor! Liar! Bastard! You…”

The atmosphere grew intense, and even Emilia was pushed back by the pressure being emitted by Karlia.

The compound trembled, and the surging power coming from the enraged Succubus only increased.

“Keuk!” My wife bitterly groaned as the wild energy pushed her further back.

For some reason, I felt none of the lashes caused by Karlia’s outburst. Was it an intentional effort on her part?

Or perhaps it was subconscious. Either way, everything else was devastated except for me.

“You… you’re mine, Lewis… you said so. We promised. We bonded. I love you, Lewis! You said you love me too!”

Her overflowing emotions were getting too dangerous. If I didn’t do anything, it was going to escalate beyond my control.

“I did! I truly loved you, Karlia! B-but…” I fought with all my energy to shout, straining my voice despite the strong howling of the heavy wind.

“But what? You love me, Lewis, right? That means I’m yours and you’re mine! Hey, let’s get out of here! Let’s leave and do what we’ve always done—what we wanted to do!”

Karlia began saying so many things that I had told her in the past.

Even conversations that I hardly remembered were brought up by her.

“I never forgot any of them! We are meant for each other, Lewis! You think so too, right?”

Emilia was already feeling suppressed by the level of Miasma Karlia was releasing, but none of that bothered the Succubus in the slightest.

Her attention was on me and nothing else.

“Urgh… Lewis… stop her… she’s… she’s out of control.” Emilia whispered as she fell weakly to her knees.

Elves were extremely weak to Miasma, and Emilia was no exception.

My wife was powerless before Karlia, and if this went on, she would most likely die.

Perhaps that was even what my previous lover wanted.

Still, I couldn’t have that!

It became a decisive moment in my life, and I had to choose—once and for all—whose side I was on.

“Karlia, stop it! I don’t love you anymore! I love Emilia. She’s my one and only wife. Stop hurting her!” With trembling in my voice, I raised my blade and pointed it at the woman I loved with everything I had.

No matter how much I loved Emilia, I couldn’t deny the throbbing in my heart as I stared at Karlia as well.

However, no matter how one tried, they couldn’t possess everything. There was no way fate would allow me to have the two of them.

As such, I was forced to choose.

Rather than stretching my hand for something, it was better I kept holding onto what I already had.

I made my choice as a result of this rationale.

“N-no… Lewis. You don’t mean that. You don’t…”

“I DO!”

Rushing to Emilia’s side, I embraced the coughing Elf tightly, burying her in my arms. My blade was still pointed at Karlia as I comforted the wife I had.

“I… see…”

The look Karlia had on her face… I could never forget it.

A cold gaze, filled with an immense pressure I couldn’t fathom suddenly took over.

“… So, you chose her…”

It felt like I would die—as though it was truly the end.

“… You don’t love me anymore.”

I tightly embraced Emilia, awaiting whatever justified action Karlia would mete out on me.

However… the attack never came.

>FWOOSH<

The Succubus’ wings flapped as she took to the sky.

“Farewell, Lewis…” I lifted my face to the sky as she said those final words.

After that, she flew beyond the blue and white expanse above me, disappearing from sight.

I never saw her again after that day.

I never heard of her as well.

Not until the final moments of my life…

And, even if the pangs of my heart didn’t cease as I watched Karlia go, my wife was the top priority.

Her shivering stopped, but I never let her go as she crumbled into my arms.

“I’m sorry, Emilia… I’m so sorry!”

With trembling emotions, and tearful eyes, I sat there with the love of my life.

Tightly locked in an embrace with Emilia, I never let go, even until I passed out.