The Devil is the Villainess (COMPLETED)

Chapter XL: Lycoris radiata

Caelus's eyes widened slightly, the name resonating with ancient power and significance. "Lycoris radiata," he repeated, the name rolling off his tongue with reverence. 

Medea pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away, feeling uncomfortable and awkward the moment he spoke her name. As her eyes wavered, she took another sip of her wine. The thought of someone calling her by that name made her unsettled, perhaps because no one aside from the Deity she despised most had ever called her Lycoris. She wasn't used to it.

"I think we should talk about this somewhere else where no one can hear," she suggested, her voice tinged with unease.

Caelus nodded in agreement. "Alright. Let's go somewhere private." 

He took her hand in his and activated his magic to teleport them both. A faint light enveloped them, shimmering softly before they vanished from the balcony. The transition felt like a gentle breeze sweeping through them, leaving the bustling hall behind.

When Medea opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by the familiar, serene beauty of the garden where they had first danced. The sweet fragrance of various flowers mingled in the cool night air, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The moonlight bathed the garden in a soft, ethereal glow, making the dewdrops on the petals glisten like tiny diamonds.

Feeling more at ease, Medea pulled Caelus close to the fountain and sat on its edge. "I will be honest," she began, still holding his hand. Caelus stood in front of her, his eyes patient and attentive. 

"I don't remember much about my past," she confessed, her voice tinged with sadness. "It's not completely blank, but it's not vivid enough to remember clearly."

The sound of water trickling from the fountain echoed softly in the moment of silence. "Truth be told," she continued, a bitter smile playing on her lips, "Lycoris radiata isn't my true name. It was just a name I created after I emerged into this world."

Caelus's eyes widened at the revelation, but he quickly composed himself. "You mean, you don't have a name?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.

Medea took a deep breath and nodded. "Well, some people call me 'the Devil', some call me the 'morning star', 'the fallen angel', and so on... I have many names that define me. I just don't have a single name that can be called original, aside from Lycoris radiata."

Caelus sat beside her, looking up at the night sky filled with countless sparkling stars. "Like some kind of birth name?" he asked, his curiosity evident.

Medea chuckled softly. "Yes, I don't have that. My origin is unknown. I felt like I was some kind of bubble that appeared in the world."

She tore her gaze away from him, but Caelus was captivated by her side profile, the way the moonlight highlighted her features. He looked down at their intertwined fingers before speaking again to break the silence. 

"I have a question," he said, catching her attention once more. "Why did you come up with the name 'Lycoris radiata'? It seems like an odd name to pick."

Medea contemplated whether to answer him or not, but then she remembered that it wouldn't hurt to share. She trusted him, after all. With a deep sigh, she finally answered, her face reflecting deep thought. 

"When I first came into the world in the physical form I borrowed, I was completely clueless, like a newborn baby. While wandering around, I caught sight of a certain spider-like flower. Out of curiosity, I asked a passerby what kind of flower it was. He told me it was called Lycoris radiata, also known as the red-spider lily or corpse flower, and that it symbolizes death. For the first time, I felt amused because humans hated death, they despised it. So I decided to take the name Lycoris radiata and become a reminder of every living being's inevitable demise."