454 A promise

His tone then changed to one of berating when the door closed. "You idiot! Why have you shown your face? I told you to be careful! Now it's impossible to get you out with all the guards here! What are we going to do now?!"

Lamir's voice was so loud as he berated Evie, but he might as well be invisible, for Ren's attention was only on Evie's ice-sculpted face. She was sitting on a stool by the window. His slender fingers were playing with her cup of tea.

And like always, Ren's concentration was all jumbled, thanks to her.

Pale skin as white as snow but smooth as silk and almost breakable like porcelain. Oval-shaped flawless face paired with a straight nose and thin pinkish lips.

And those eyes.

What an incredibly amazing pair of silvery eyes, almost like the moon, but it sometimes turned white with the light like the first snow of winter.

"Ren . . ." Evie was shocked at first. She thought she was merely hallucinating.

She was dreaming of him every time she closed her eyes, and even heard his voice. She saw him in every corner of her room, and she was about to touch him when he disappeared from sight.

And now, there was another Ren standing right before her.

"Ren?" she called again, unmoving. She was afraid that if she did, Ren would disappear again. She couldn't handle the depression and longing if that happened.

"Evie . . . ," Ren said, and he was the one who closed the gap, and he held her close and kissed her forehead. "I'm so glad you're safe."

It was only when Evie blinked and the tears she tried to repressed fell on her cheeks.

"You too," she replied and hugged him back. "I'm so glad you're okay."

The couple hugged while Lamir batted his eyes and shook his head as he went to the mini snack bar and grabbed a drink.

"Go ahead. Just continue what you're doing like I'm not here. You can even go to bed if you like, and I'll just be here drinking wine while watching you two," he said and gave a toast to Ren and Evie's way.

Despite the situation, Evie managed a laugh and wiped away her tears. "I'm glad to see you too, Lamir."

"Really?" Lamir eyes widened, faking a surprise. "I thought for sure that you forgot all about me now that your boyfriend is here."

Ren and Evie ignored Lamir.

"How did you get here?" asked Evie.

Ren then proceeded to explain everything about how he already knew the truth and how he got here and ended right in front of her.

"Evie . . . ," Ren said seriously. "I will acquire that money and get you out of here. I promise."

Ren only said those simple words, but it was all it took for Evie's walls to break. She wanted to tell Ren to stop. To move on. To not think about her anymore and live a happy life. She didn't want him to suffer because of her problems.

But despite everything, she was so happy that he was here and still pursuing her. She felt all her problems dissolve with the promise he made and felt her worries disappear with every soft caresses of his fingers on the back of her palm.

Ren pulled something in his pocket, and with his two knees on the ground, he showed the diamond ring parched on the little crystal box in his hand.

"So until that happens . . . will you wait for me?"

Evie covered her mouth when a choke almost made her sob uncontrollably, and there was no stopping her emotions from bursting forth when she said.

"Yes."

Ren slid the diamond onto Evie's ring finger. It was more than a stone. It was the symbol of love, of hope, and promise to be together no matter what would happen.

At the side, Lamir could only squeak in envy and jealousy. He congratulated the couple to no end, like he was not the fiancé and merely a friend.

-----

When Ren and Ragnar returned, the former didn't have time to rest and immediately messaged Angelica and Joker to meet up.

Before he went into the game again, he needed to clear some things first.

Inside a popular café in one of the private rooms, Ren, Angelica, and Joker were sitting on the sofa, and in front of them were all kinds of sweets and snacks.

Ren didn't waste time and said, "Are you two reincarnators as well?"

Instead of being surprised and looked at him like he had lost his mind Angelica merely giggled and sipped her tea before answering.

"Is that what you came up with after meeting with a developer?"

"Just answer my question."

Joker munched a sandwich first before he said with a matter fact tone, "Yeah. We're originals, too, just like you. But it's not the way you think."

"What do you mean?"

At Ren's earnest voice, the two looked at each other.

It was Angelica who explained further, "This is my third time reincarnating."

"This is my second," chimed Joker.

Ren thought that he was ready to hear the truth, but he was greatly mistaken.

Angelica gently placed her cup on the table and prompted her head over her crossing fingers. "And I believe . . . this is just your first time, right? Though you reincarnated with your memory intact, you don't seem to know the truth of this world. The truth of this universe.

"You're a mystery that even I . . . a third-time reincarnator, couldn't comprehend."

Looking at her blazing red eyes, Ren knew that she was telling the truth. He had lived two times. He could discern whether people were telling the truth or not.

"Wait . . . you're telling me that . . . you reincarnated multiple times?"

Joker laughed at Ren's constipated face. "I know it's hard to swallow, but that's the truth."

"How did that happen?"

"Well . . ."

Angelica stopped Joker from speaking with a hard gaze before she sweetly smiled at Ren.

"As of the moment, we can't tell you more than that, for the truth would surely influence your decision and it might lead you to a bad end. Just continue playing the game, and there will be a time that all will be clear."