Chapter 40 Confession
Evelyn's POV
I tapped the lid lightly with my finger, a little confused. "Kane, did you notice? This box... it doesn't seem to have an opening?"
Indeed, the entire box was seamless, with no gaps, no keyhole, and no visible seam at the edge of the lid.
It was a perfect sealed container, shut tight, as if it meant to lock the secrets inside forever.
"Could it really be opened?"
I muttered as I held the box, turning it over in my hands and looking at it from every angle.
"No keyhole, no gaps." Kane leaned closer, his deep golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
"That means the key to opening it isn't on the box itself."
Kane and I said at the same time, then looked at each other.
Our eyes fell on the box again as we wondered what the academy was really up to.
Kane suddenly placed his hand on the other end of the box. Before I could ask if he'd found something, the once-smooth surface suddenly rippled like water. Then faint silver text slowly appeared on the lid, as if rising from thin air.
"They really pulled this trick?" I blurted out when I saw the text.
But once the words became clear, I immediately regretted bringing Kane to this ball.
It wasn't a simple spell test or a complicated puzzle. It was an extremely elaborate set of instructions.
"First Seal: Words of Praise. Only praise from the heart can open the first door."
"Second Seal: Sincere Vow. Only a wholehearted confession can unlock the final lock."
"Warning: No going through the motions or fake your feelings. This box contains mind-reading magic. If it detects a lie, it will lock permanently and count as a failure."
After reading that, I suddenly wanted to switch boxes. I looked around and thought, "Do other people have the same task?"
But unfortunately, I didn't know the others, so there was no one I could ask.
"Could Professor Williams be playing a prank? Are we sure we should open this box? If not, should we just give up?" I asked, a little afraid to look at Kane.
"Since we found it, why not try?" Kane seemed to respect my choice. I was sure that if I didn't agree, he definitely wouldn't continue.
I could even hear amusement in his voice. I couldn't tell why Kane wasn't refusing.
"This first challenge is just praising each other. It shouldn't be too hard..."
Before I could finish, Kane cut in. "Then let's start!"
I thought to myself. "Who could say that out loud in front of you?"
"Don't I have any good points you could mention?" Kane asked, sounding deliberately provocative.
"Kane!" I called, a hint of annoyance in my voice.
"Then just say what you really feel," Kane said gently, his voice guiding me. He stared at me, leaving me no room to escape.
His gaze was so focused that I still wanted to look away.
"Kane, you're very gentle. Even though you always seem so serious and hard to approach, I can feel the warmth beneath your cold exterior."
"You always notice when I'm uneasy, and you quietly protect me."
"You're very patient with me. Even though I keep causing you trouble, you've never really been annoyed with me."
After I started, it became easier to continue. I hesitated for a moment, then went on.
"When I'm with you, I feel at ease. No one else can give me that sense of security. It's like... as long as you're there, every problem can be solved."
"Your gentleness shows in the little things every day. You're cold on the outside, but warm and dependable on the inside."
After saying all this, I felt embarrassed and lowered my head, not daring to meet his eyes.
The air seemed to freeze. I couldn't hear anything around us, but I could clearly hear my heart pounding like thunder.
"So I'm a gentle person? This is the first time anyone has said that to me!"
There was surprise in Kane's voice. I could feel his gaze on me.
He paused. When I still refused to lift my head, he continued.
"Then I guess it's my turn!"
His voice rang out in the evening breeze, low and deep. "Evelyn, do you know how kind you are?"
I froze and shook my head.
"If it weren't for your optimism and kindness, we might never have gotten to know each other."
"When I first met you, you saved me."
"Gradually, I realized that your lack of defensiveness is one of your most precious quality."
"Evelyn. Thank you for existing so beautifully."
Listening to Kane's words, I finally understood what I meant to him. Aside from when he helped unlock my identity information, he would even use so many words to praise me.
I had thought he would only say things like, “You’re good!”
"Do we need to keep praising each other?" I asked, feeling a little embarrassed and not knowing what else to say.
"The box flashed just now. We should be able to move on to the second challenge."
He didn't call me out. He just went along with what I said.I didn't know if he really hadn't noticed or was pretending not to, but either way, I was grateful he didn't embarrass me.
"Sincere Vow. A wholehearted confession."
Thinking about the second requirement, I regretted ending the first challenge so quickly. This task was even more...
"I'll go first this time!" Kane said, surprising me again.
"Evelyn."
Kane suddenly grew serious. He held my hand tightly, his voice low and firm.
"I don't want to wait anymore. Since this challenge is about confessing, I can say what’s in my heart."
"Even though I said before that I could wait for you, but tonight, at this moment, I don't want to hide my feelings anymore."
"I like you."
"Not the kind of liking between friends, but the way a man likes a woman. The kind where I want to keep you all to myself, want to protect you, want to be with you forever."
"Will you have me?"
These words, direct and passionate, with no embellishment, struck straight to my heart.
I gathered my courage and looked into his deep golden eyes. They reflected my image and his undisguised love.
I knew I hadn't been wrong.
He was serious.
I opened my mouth, my voice trembling slightly. "I will."
"I like you too, Kane."
As soon as I said those words, the text on the box suddenly burst into a dazzling silver light.
That light flowed like water, gently wrapping around us.
I didn't know if the people around us could see what was happening here.
But then, the box made a soft click.
The seamless box slowly opened.
"It actually just opened like that?" I looked at the box in disbelief.