Chapter 229: Love’s Island
Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Love’s Island
Chapter 229 – Love’s Island
Cassius walked through the Outer Ring, heading straight for Street Mbegeul, known to be mostly empty.
However, there was one thing on that street that made it a hotspot for those strong enough to live within a world of crafted illusion.
The Fantasy Dream.
A building created by the past Palatine of a Fifth Year, years ago, whose mastery of illusion had reached a level almost impossible to distinguish from reality itself.
It was into that building that Cassius, carrying Isolde, who acted the part of a helpless princess, walked. He paid 200 EP for a full hour of a lived experience within Love’s Island — a crafted reality for couples.
"This is incredible." Cassius whispered, looking around.
They stood on an island shaped like a heart, pink sand glistening beneath a beautiful starry night.
Pink and white water surrounded the island on all sides, giving it a stunning appearance.
Cassius was amazed by how real the illusion felt. In fact, if he hadn’t known it was an illusion, he wouldn’t have been able to tell.
He shuddered inwardly, realising this kind of power could pose a serious problem if he ever faced someone who wielded it.
However, all those thoughts dissipated like mist under a howling wind the moment Isolde took his hand.
"I didn’t bring you here to think about how to break this illusion, Cass." She said, her feet sinking into the pink sand. "I brought you here to look at me, and talk to me."
Cassius smiled at her words. He shook his head, realising that lately all he’d been thinking about was power, power, and power.
He hadn’t taken a single second to think about what to do for Isolde, or when to visit his siblings, or even to talk with his friends.
He had so much to talk to them about.
Klaus, Natalia... and Keisha, whom he’d promised a talk months ago and still hadn’t followed through on.
Then there was his uncle and aunt, Meadow and Sarah.
All of them, at the very least, deserved some attention for what they meant to him.
And yet...
’...I’ve been too absorbed with power.’ He sighed under his breath. He knew he couldn’t blame himself, considering what awaited him.
But he couldn’t go on like this.
Gathering himself, Cassius crouched down and took off his shoes. He stood back up, stretched his hand toward Isolde, and smiled.
"I’m all yours tonight."
"Finally." Isolde said, taking his hand and leading him toward the water’s edge.
The sound of rippling water, the whispering wind, and the crunch of feet on sand — combined with the sweet, salty scent of the sea touched with rose — made the island even more pleasant.
The two lovers walked side by side, their footprints trailing behind them, thinking nothing of the burdens awaiting them outside this well-crafted illusion.
"How have you been lately?" Cassius asked, watching pink lotus blossoms swirl through the sky.
"I’m doing well. The Fourth Year is quite different. Soon, the Dean will open the Mirror Dimension for us to step into the Third rank." She smiled. "I want to obtain the fruit before then."
"When will you go?"
"I’m thinking next week. Probably."
"Be careful." Cassius said gently, holding her hand tighter. "I don’t want anything happening to you."
"I’ll be fine." She reassured him. "You? You’ve been busy, haven’t you?"
Cassius nodded with a dry smile. "So many things have happened I don’t even know where to start."
"Doesn’t matter. Throw random pieces at me, I’ll manage to piece them together."
And so he told her.
He told her about the Dean, about the Legacy he’d obtained from his ancestor, though he didn’t go into detail about Earth or how she might be connected to any of it.
Not yet.
He didn’t want to say anything he wasn’t certain of.
However, his worry proved needless. It was true Isolde was interested in all of it, but her mind couldn’t help but fixate on one thing.
"...you share Fate with the Dean?" Isolde stopped mid-step, looking deep into Cassius’s eyes with a kind of look that promised nothing good.
Deeply, profoundly blank.
Cassius’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of it.
He immediately tried to explain. "I didn’t have a choice. It was either that, or she would have certainly killed me."
"I understand that." Isolde whispered dangerously, closing the distance between them. "And I know you had no choice. But that doesn’t change the fact that I hate this, Cassius."
He opened his mouth, then closed it again, seeing she wasn’t finished yet.
"What would you think, or feel, if you realised I was linked to another man? That if that man died... I would die too?"
His heart dropped. His stomach knotted into a ball of stress and anxiety at the mere thought of that situation.
Without a doubt, he would hate that deeply and would do anything to sever the connection.
Only then did he truly understand what Isolde was feeling. And it made his heart ache with pain and guilt.
"I’m sorry." He whispered, lowering his head slightly and pulling her into his embrace. "I didn’t want this. I know it’s not the excuse you want to hear, but forgive me, because I have no other excuse to give you."
"It was supposed to be me." She said, her tone cold yet deeply pained. "Me, Cassius. Not the Dean. Fuck, I want to kill her. But if I do..."
She fell silent, unable to finish.
"That’s what I wanted at first too. But not anymore." Cassius said, prompting Isolde to snap her head up, glaring at him with anger.
"What?" She hissed. "You prefer that old woman?"
"You know well that’s not the case." He replied, caressing her cheek. "But I don’t want you to die if I die. I want you to keep living. To live for yourself. To live for me."
He smiled faintly.
"Can you imagine if we had a family together? What if we had a little Isolde with your purple eyes? Let me tell you right now, our daughter will be the most spoiled girl in this world!"
"Not on my watch." Isolde scoffed, unable to suppress a laugh despite her anger.
"Oh no, you’ll never touch her! You can beat our son whenever, but not my daughter!" Cassius shook his head vehemently.
"You don’t even have one yet, and you’re already choosing her over me?"
"That’s how precious a daughter is to a father." He smiled, remembering how, back on Earth, his own father would do anything for Stella. Even working extra hours to buy her the toy she wanted.
"That’s why, darling, I could never bear living in this world, dragging you down with me, leaving our children alone. That would be unfair."
"Why are you talking as if you’re going to die in the future, Cassius?" Isolde asked with a deep frown, not liking his tone at all. "If you’re worried about the matter with your ancestors, don’t be."
Cassius said nothing, only smiling.
"I’m with you. I’ll grow strong enough to be with you until the end."
"You don’t need to be strong to be with me until the end." Cassius shook his head softly. "I couldn’t be without you anyway. You know people need their heart to live."
He caressed her cheek. "How would I live without you, then?"
"Your sweet words won’t save you today, husband." She muttered, blushing slightly.
Cassius barked a loud laugh. "Have mercy, darling. I’m truly sorry. How can I make it up to you?"
"Just don’t die." Isolde said instantly, pressing her forehead to his. "Don’t die, Cassius. You know I’ll follow you if you do. I don’t care what you think about it."
"What about your life?"
"There is no life without you."
"Darling, stop reading that harem novel. You’re getting far too smooth lately. I’m losing my cool here."
Isolde laughed. "I’m not joking, Cass."
Cassius nodded lightly. "...I know."
"I’ll be strong and protect you." Isolde grinned. "I am older than you, aren’t I?"
"Indeed you are. Can you be my sugar mommy? Spoil me rotten."
Isolde laughed again, feeling oddly at peace now. Cassius, this time, couldn’t stop himself.
He leaned in and tasted her lips.
The kiss didn’t last long, but long enough to send both their body temperatures surging.
They stared at each other, breathing shallow, faces pink with arousal.
"I don’t like your fate being linked to another woman," Isolde whispered, "but I’ll try to see the benefits of it, and not wish to kill the Dean every single second."
"Thank you for your understanding, darling."
"I’ll also find a way to sever that Fate without harming you."
"I’d be grateful if you did."
"You’re mine, Cassius."
"I am."
"And I’m done being nice. I’ll kill every single bitch who thinks she can challenge me for your love."
Cassius smiled. "Just do it quietly."
Isolde grinned coldly. "You’re talking to an assassin, husband."
"A nasty one."
"Nasty only for you."
"Darling," Cassius’s lips twitched, "just tell me what you’ve been reading lately. I promise I won’t judge this time."
Isolde laughed and took off running through the pink sand, dragging Cassius with her.
"Will you really not?" She shouted as the wind slapped her face.
"Queen’s skirt on me!"
[...]
"It’s a book titled The Way of Degeneracy, Part I, written by a certain Cultured Writer."
"Huh? Are you fucking serious? That’s what you’re reading?"
"You said you wouldn’t judge."
"I lied."
"Fuck you, Cass."
"Right back at you, darling."
—End of Chapter 229—