Yeri laughed. "I thought it had been a millennium."
Shin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Did you miss me, Hexi?"
"Don't call me that," Shin said, gently playing with her hair.
Yeri raised an eyebrow. "It seems you enjoyed this world more than the world you once ruled. Does that mean you prefer the incomplete me?"
"It's still you."
Yeri smiled brightly and tilted her head. "Why go so far as leaving the demon realm just to bring me back? Is it really because of love, or is it revenge because I abandoned you?"
Shin's gaze sharpened as his hand came to rest against her cheek. "Both."
Yeri "..."
"It's not fair for you to leave just like that and leave me alone with the torment and despair you shackled me with, don't you think?"
"You were the one who insisted on it and crowned me your empress despite all the demons warning you," she refuted.
"The curse began even before I sat upon the throne. You knew that from the moment I first laid eyes on you." His fingers brushed her cheek. "It wasn't anything but coincidence. Your sudden appearance, your actions, your words, and everything you did... they were all within your calculations."
Yeri pondered his words. She didn't possess all of Jewel's memories yet, but at least now she understood why she had needed to die back then.
"Then you should've been liberated from that curse after my death, right?" she asked. "I got what I had long yearned for, and the same should've been true for you."
"Except I wasn't." Shin's hold on her tightened. "Don't make it sound like it was for both our sakes. You lied to me. You deliberately pushed me and instigated me into wanting you dead countless times. You knew you had power over my emotions."
Yeri's smile vanished.
"You didn't die because of my sword." His voice grew colder. "You died because of my love for you."
"I know that now..." She paused. "Guess that means I owe you?"
"Don't you remember what you said to me before you died?"
Shin leaned closer.
"I gave you what you wanted," he whispered against her ear. "I fulfilled your wish. So now it's your turn to give me what I want."
Yeri raised her hand and touched his face.
The excitement she'd felt from regaining her memories gradually faded.
"Since you remember now, that means I no longer have to restrain myself, right?" Shin's eyes remained fixed on hers. "No more pretense. No more hiding, and lies."
"And what you want is to tie yourself to me again?" Yeri chuckled uneasily. "Haven't you had enough of our past? I think we're not meant for each other."
Suddenly, Shin grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss.
When he finally pulled away, his gaze remained locked with hers.
"It's different now. You're not someone devoid of emotions anymore. You have a family. You have friends. You know what it means to love someone."
With their gazes locked, she saw the obsession, the madness, the demon emperor who had once ruled an entire realm.
It lurked beneath Shin's calm exterior, making him seem almost dangerous if she dared to defy him.
Shin took her hands and placed them against his face.
The shackles that had bound the demon emperor for a thousand years were reflected in his eyes.
No more suppressing his feelings.
No more pretending he was merely Shin Keir.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.
"Welcome back...my empress." His voice carried the weight of a thousand years.
Yeri's eyes flickered as she felt something tug at her heart.
But he was right.
Had this been before this moment, his words would have meant nothing more than another game to her.
"Tell me you love me again," Shin asked.
"I love you."
"You mean it?" Shin asked, almost anticipating her answer.
Yeri blinked before nodding. "I do feel a strong attraction to you, both emotionally and physically, so yes, I mean it. It's just different from the strong, nurturing bond I feel with my family."
Shin's expression immediately soured. "Are you trying to piss me off?"
"What's wrong with what I said?"
"You're comparing me with others. With humans."
Yeri frowned. Was she?
"Spare me the scrutiny. You know how I was as a demon, and being human didn't exactly make me an expert on relationships. I never dated anyone apart from you."
Instead of calming him, however, her answer only made Shin's expression even more dangerous.
"Are you implying you should experience dating other men?"
Yeri swallowed, immediately regretting running her mouth.
Just then, Shin's phone rang, interrupting them.
He remained still, showing no intention of answering it, so Yeri reached out to pick it up.
"You think you can deflect answering me?" Shin said, tightening his grip on her when she tried to stand.
Yeri covered the phone's microphone with her hand. "It's a guy from Hexion. He says he has something urgent to tell you."
"Speaker."
Yeri obeyed.
The person on the other end, hearing Shin's confirmation, immediately reported that news had come from the prison.
Bryce Gate had escaped. The police and military were still searching for him.
"He sure is tough. Didn't you say before that he was in bad shape?" Yeri asked after the call ended.
Shin couldn't be bothered with Bryce at the moment.
He checked his watch before reminding her, "We have a dress fitting in an hour for the wedding."
"Again?"
Yeri suddenly felt exhausted at the thought of it, especially now that she finally had a chance to get off his lap.
"Go change. We'll go straight to the company afterward," Shin said.
Yeri thought she'd heard him wrong. "Company? You mean you're going straight to work?"
"Hmm. With you."
"Why?" She looked confused.
"Why not? You've graduated and have nothing to do this summer. I'm allowing you to follow me."
Yeri stared at him. "Fine. Just this once. I have other things to do later."
"And what is that?" Shin asked.
Yeri's mind buzzed.
"What are you interrogating me for? I have an ongoing case hearing and a contract with SJ Entertainment. I also have to see my parents and friends from time to time."
"I'm going with you to the hearing. As for SJ, I reviewed your contract, and there's nothing that requires you to report to the agency."
Shin's expression remained completely composed.
"Besides, your friends and family aren't going anywhere. What do you need to visit them for?"
Yeri "..."
"Or are you making excuses to stay away from me?"
Yeri couldn't be more speechless.
When he said he wouldn't restrain himself anymore, apparently, he had meant it. He was already doing exactly that.
"Not changing yet?" Shin reminded her.
Yeri stomped her feet before hurriedly leaving.
Then she suddenly stopped.
"Wait." She turned around. "This is my first time here, and there's already clothes and other things for me here. Since when did you prepare all of this?"
"When you were asleep for two days."
Yeri stared at him intently. "Did you intend to lock me up here?"
Shin didn't deny it in the slightest. Instead, he answered casually, "In case you changed your mind about getting married. At least you wouldn't get bored here."
"You don't trust me?"
Shin looked at her meaningfully. "Not the version of you who was a succubus. Regaining your memories doesn't make them just memories. Habits and character aren't easy to change."
Yeri couldn't exactly refute him.
When she'd woken up earlier, she'd genuinely felt as though she had merged with the Jewel from her memories.
Rather than argue, she simply turned around and went to change.
When she emerged, Shin paused.
She was wearing a knee-length, fitted red dress that accentuated her figure and complexion.
"What?" Yeri asked, catching his expression. "Are you going to start telling me how to dress too?"
Shin chuckled. "You look great."
--
At a wedding boutique known for its extravagant couture wedding dresses, Yeri was assisted by several designers as they helped her into her wedding gown.
Standing before the mirror, she stared at her reflection in awe.
The dress was covered in delicate diamonds and intricate embellishments. It probably cost more than a house and a piece of land.
"Miss Zhi, you're absolutely stunning. Would you like to show it to Young Master Keir?"
Before Yeri could agree, another assistant chimed in.
"Isn't it bad luck to show the dress to the groom before the wedding?"
Yeri didn't believe in that kind of human nonsense.
She made her way toward the waiting area anyway, only to stop halfway.
"This is too uncomfortable to drag around. Can you remove the veil?"
Once it was removed, Yeri realized just how ridiculously long it was. It practically stretched across the floor like a carpet.
She frowned.
Why would anyone willingly wear this?
At the waiting area, Shin was also being fitted for his suit.
He happened to glance at the mirror and saw Yeri approaching.
"What do you think?"
Shin turned, and for a moment, he simply stared.
Admiration and affection filled his eyes, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed.
Demons didn't have weddings.
Their union was marked by a ritual, and certainly not one involving a white dress.
But none of that mattered.
Wedding or ritual, human tradition or demon custom, he would gladly follow any of it.
Anything, as long as it was with her.
Yeri lifted her chin and smiled seductively. "Am I too beautiful?"
"Hmm. Very beautiful," Shin murmured.
The nearby assistants watched the two of them with barely concealed curiosity.
Weren't these two supposedly fighting?
According to the rumors online, their relationship had supposedly reached the breaking point. There had even been speculation that the wedding would be canceled.
Then there was the rumor that Yeri was pregnant. Yet there wasn't the slightest sign of it.
The assistants had helped her into the dress themselves. Her stomach was completely flat, with no stretch marks or signs of recent surgery.
Whatever the internet detectives were investigating, the evidence in front of them certainly didn't match the rumors.
When the designer eventually brought over the list of bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party to confirm the arrangements, Yeri scanned through it.
Then she paused.
"Xati isn't on here."
Shin almost said, 'Good.'
Instead, he calmly replied, "He's a guest."
"No. I want him included in the ceremony. He can replace the ring bearer."
Shin's expression tightened. "The fittings were done months ago, and the invitations have already been sent. It would be awkward to replace the child who's already been assigned."