68 - Limits
For a moment, Mariana forgot how to breathe.
Not because of the way the garden looked—though it was beautiful. Not because of the quiet or the soft wind brushing past the flowers.
But because of him. Because of the way Zafiel was looking at her. That gaze, focused. Unwavering. Possessive in a way that wasn’t loud… but absolute.
And suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. Not fear alone. Recognition.
“O-Oh no…” She whispered under her breath.
Because she knew that look. She had seen it before. Not here. Not in this world.
But in the countless stories she devoured in her past life—manhwas, novels, anime—yandere male leads.
The obsessive ones. The ones who loved too deeply.
Too intensely. Too dangerously. The ones she used to squeal over.
The ones she used to adore. The ones she thought were romantic. Exciting. Thrilling. Safe.
Because they weren’t real. Because they existed behind screens. Between pages. Controlled. Predictable. Fictional. But now, her gaze lifted slowly to meet his again. And her breath caught.
This isn’t fiction. This is real.
And the man standing in front of her? He wasn’t just any yandere archetype. He was the Crown Prince. The strongest person in the Empire. A man who could actually do everything those fictional characters threatened to do.
Her fingers curled slightly. Her pulse quickened.
This isn’t something I can laugh off... This isn’t something I can “enjoy” safely... This is dangerous. Truly dangerous...!
And for the first time, Mariana felt something she hadn’t allowed herself to fully acknowledge before. Fear. Not just of him. But of the situation. Of the inevitability quietly creeping in.
Because deep down, she knew. If things continued like this… If she let herself be swept away by his pace… she wouldn’t be able to escape. At all.
And that thought, that realization snapped something into place inside her.
No...
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
No, I won’t let that happen.
Her heartbeat steadied—not completely, but enough. Because she wasn’t powerless.
She had been acting like she was. Reacting. Panicking. Getting swept up in his rhythm. But that wasn’t the truth. Not anymore. Her mind raced.
After being isekai’d into this world… after discovering my mana… after meeting the five Archmages… after learning the truth about my heart...
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Her mana heart. A rare anomaly. A phenomenon that allowed her to convert mana into faith. A bridge between two entirely different systems of power. Magic and divinity.
Which meant, she wasn’t just a mage. She wasn’t just a noble. She wasn’t just some “target.” She was a potential Saintess. A candidate acknowledged by the Temple. Someone the Magic Tower had already taken interest in.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then why am I acting like I have no options? Why am I running away from that? Why am I rejecting it?
She had been trying to avoid it. Avoid the attention. Avoid the responsibility. Avoid the weight. But now? Now she saw it differently. No, that was wrong. Very wrong.
Because those positions—Saintess. Archmage. They weren’t chains. They were shields. Power. Influence. Leverage. And most importantly—limits. Limits that even the imperial family couldn’t easily cross.
Because no matter how powerful Zafiel was, even he couldn’t openly defy the Temple of Astrid. Even he couldn’t provoke the Magic Tower without consequences.
Unless...
Her eyes flickered slightly.
Unless he’s completely insane.
A pause.
Her gaze shifted back to him. He was still watching her. Still calm. Still composed. Still… utterly focused. And for a split second, she reconsidered that last thought.
… okay, maybe that’s not impossible...
Still, that didn’t change her decision. Her resolve hardened.
Then I just have to become something he can’t control. Something he can’t claim so easily. Something that forces the entire Empire to hesitate.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
If she embraced both paths—Saintess and Archmage—then her position wouldn’t just be “important.” It would be untouchable. And if she became untouchable, then she would have space. Room to breathe. Room to move. Room to escape.
Her heartbeat steadied further.
Yes, that’s the plan. That’s how I survive this. That’s how I get out.
For the first time since arriving in this world, she felt like she had direction. Like she had control. Like she had a way forward.
And then, “You’re planning something.”
Her entire body froze. Her thoughts shattered. Mariana blinked. Slowly. Very slowly, she looked up. And met his gaze.
Zafiel was smiling. Not broadly. Not mockingly. But knowingly. Dangerously. Like he had just read her thoughts.
“Wha-What?” She asked, her voice slightly strained.
His head tilted slightly. “Your expression changed.” That wasn’t an answer. That was worse.
“That’s… normal...” She said quickly. “People think.”
“They do.”
“Ye-Yes.”
Silence.
Then, “You’re thinking about leaving.”
Her breath hitched. Her heart skipped, hard. “I—”
She couldn’t even deny it properly. Because of the way he said it. Not as a question. But as a fact. His gaze didn’t waver. Didn’t soften. Didn’t give her room to escape the statement.
“Yo-You’re overthinking...” She tried weakly.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“No.” The word was quiet. Final. And then, he stepped closer. Not enough to corner her. Not enough to trap her. But enough. Enough to make her pulse spike again. Enough to make the air feel heavier.“You’re trying to find a way out.”
Her throat went dry. “Tha-That’s ridiculous...” She said, but it lacked conviction.
Zafiel’s smile deepened slightly. Not amused. Not mocking. Certain. “You can try.” The words were soft. Calm. Almost gentle. But they hit harder than anything he’d said before. “Try anything you want.”
Mariana’s fingers trembled slightly. Her resolve still there.
But now, tested. Because of the way he was looking at her. Because of the way he wasn’t stopping her. Wasn’t forbidding her. Wasn’t restraining her. Just... allowing. As if he already knew the outcome.
“As long as it makes you feel better." He continued quietly.
Her chest tightened.
That tone, it wasn’t dismissive. It wasn’t cruel. It was worse. It was indulgent. Like he was humoring her. Like he was letting her struggle, because he knew it wouldn’t change anything.
And then, his hand lifted. Slowly. Gently. His fingers brushed lightly against the side of her neck. Just beneath the necklace. The spider lily.
Her breath caught.
“But in the end,” he murmured softly, his gaze locking onto hers. Unbreakable. Unyielding. “You’ll go nowhere but me.”
Silence. Absolute.
Her heartbeat roared in her ears. Her thoughts scattered again. But this time, not just from fluster. Not just from confusion. But from the weight of his certainty.
Because he believed it. Completely. Utterly. Without a shred of doubt. And that was the most terrifying part.
Mariana swallowed. Her resolve still there. Still burning.
But now, facing something far greater than she had anticipated. Because escaping someone like him wouldn’t just be difficult. It would be a war.