I Was Reborn in Another World, But I Awoke Inside a Corpse

Chapter 146: I'm Not a Girl Anymore

The sun dipped low beyond Yggdrasil's canopy, its golden rays softening into cool blues and quiet lavender. The capital was winding down. Light laughter and distant music faded into stillness as the evening deepened.

Isaac stood at the overlook near the reflecting pond, watching glowing petals drift along the water's surface.

"You're easy to find when you're brooding," said a voice behind him.

He turned, unsurprised.

Lira approached, hands in her pockets, walking with her usual casual bounce—but there was something different in her eyes.

She wasn't hiding behind a grin tonight.

She stood beside him, then slowly lowered herself to sit at the edge of the ledge, her boots tapping the stone.

"Today's my birthday," she said.

He blinked. "Happy birthday."

"Eighteen."

He didn't say anything right away.

"Back home, that means I'm officially an adult. I can fight in wars, marry, make stupid decisions legally… that sort of thing."

She leaned forward slightly, arms resting on her knees.

"I've been following you since I was sixteen. You probably didn't notice me much at first—just a loud girl tagging along because she thought you were cool."

Isaac smiled faintly. "You were loud."

Lira gave a breathy laugh. "I was also falling for you."

The words hung in the air.

She didn't look at him. She stared straight ahead at the shimmering pond.

"You were so far ahead. Strong, smart, weirdly calm. I thought... 'I'll never catch up to that.' But I kept following anyway."

"And even when you chose Sylvalen, I told myself it was fine. That I was okay just being near you."

She finally turned.

"But it's not fine anymore."

Isaac's eyes met hers.

"I'm not a girl anymore. I'm not your sidekick. I'm your equal. I want to be your partner. Your lover. Not someday. Not maybe. Just… now."

She inhaled, steadying her voice.

"I'm ready to walk beside you. If you'll let me."

Silence stretched for a long moment.

Then Isaac turned toward her fully, his expression soft but serious.

"You've never been 'just' anything to me."

"You were there when no one else was. You stayed through the worst parts. You made me laugh when the world was falling apart."

"I didn't choose Sylvalen over you. I just… hadn't realized you were standing right next to me the whole time."

Lira's breath caught.

He reached out and gently cupped her cheek, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"If you want to be my partner, then that's what you are. No conditions. No comparisons. Just you."

Her eyes shimmered—not with tears, but something stronger.

He leaned in slowly.

She met him halfway.

And under the silver branches of Yggdrasil, beneath a starlit sky, Isaac kissed Lira.

It wasn't rushed. It wasn't uncertain.

It was the kind of kiss that felt like a promise. One spoken in silence.

When they finally pulled apart, she was smiling—fully, brightly, the way she hadn't smiled in a long time.

"Took you long enough," she whispered.

"I had to wait for you to grow up," he teased.

She elbowed him.

Then took his hand and didn't let go.

A Little Later…

They returned to the palace together, walking side by side.

Sylvalen was waiting in the entry corridor, her gaze calm as always, though a soft smile tugged at her lips when she saw them.

Lira opened her mouth to speak—but Sylvalen stepped forward and gently took her hands.

"Happy birthday," she said simply.

Lira blinked.

Sylvalen's gaze flicked between them, then nodded with a quiet certainty.

"You've always stood with him," she said. "I'm glad you finally stood for yourself."

Lira's eyes widened. "You're… not upset?"

Sylvalen smiled, serene and warm.

"No. I'm happy."

She looked at Isaac.

"Because he needs both of us."

Isaac exhaled softly, and—for just a moment—everything felt complete.