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4.25/5

[novel chapters: 114-176/601]

The review contains spoilers!

The third book gave me so many feels. I was either kicking my feet and blushing at Cárcel being so in love with Inés or crying to the point of getting a headache. We got so many beautiful and heartbreaking moments in this volume. I absolutely loved how much their relationship has already progressed. Not only their relationship but both Inés and Cárcel as individuals, too.

The action still takes place in Caltzea, but this time we got to see more scenes of the main characters socializing, attending banquets, and inviting people over, which sometimes led to problems. We also get glimpses into their second and third lifetimes, mostly from Inés's perspective. Once again, I have to say that she is truly one of the strongest heroines I have ever read about. I just want her to find happiness in her fourth life with Cárcel. She deserves it so much after everything she's been through.

This book made me realize just how much I love Cárcel. I'll probably say this in every review from now on, but seriously, this man makes me blush in every single chapter. I need to list everything this man did in this book that made me love him even more, so let's get right to them.
�� Cárcel cried when he found out that Inés's mom called her a defective product. This scene was so precious, because it showed how much he loves her.
�� This man literally notices the smallest details about her.

"Cárcel seemed the kind of man who didn't care about remembering details, and yet when it concerned Inés, his memory exhibited meticulous precision like the sharp, heavy bayonet he wielded"

�� He almost bought the entire jewelry store for Inés, because he couldn’t decide on the color of the gems because she looked beautiful in all of them for him. It was also the first gift he ever gave to any woman.
�� His love language is without a doubt physical touch. If he only could, he’d spend every moment of the day kissing—especially covering her face with kisses, holding her, and keeping her close.
�� He is trying to find the best possible doctor for Inés, because he worries about her health. In fact, if he could, he would carry her everywhere because he's scared something might happen to her.

"While Inés seemed to consider her condition a great weakness that would be nothing but a burden to her husband, Cárcel was the kind of man who would welcome such a burden with open arms. In fact, considering his blind affection, his strong obsession, and his slightly perverted interest in her, Raúl imagined that Cárcel might even go above and beyond that."

This man truly lived by the "in sickness and in health" vow.

�� Cárcel smokes his cigar outside on the balcony, even when it’s freezing cold, because he thinks Inés doesn’t like the smell. She doesn’t mind the smell though.
�� This man was over the moon every time he found out that she was worried about him.

"What else happened? What other adorable things did Inés do because she was so worried about me?"

"She even checked to see if you were breathing and lifted your eyelids," he added.
"That's adorable," Cárcel commented.
"She also fumed when we told her you were merely sleeping," Raúl continued.
"So precious..."
"��…], she insisted on staying to watch over you."
"She couldn't keep her eyes off of me," Cárcel muttered"

�� Just every moment when Cárcel was completely smitten with her.

"He shoved a piece of bread in her mouth before she could argue back. She chewed the food first, and he watched her like the most adorable sight in the world.
"You're so cute when you chew. I wish you could see how adorable you look-"
��…]
"I'm not cute," mumbled Inés. Even despite her sleepiness, her firm voice sounded annoyed.
Cárcel chuckled and pulled her closer to him, duvet and all. "Your cuteness will be the death of me,"

"I don't want to leave because you are too adorable," said Cárcel."

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"When she hung her head low, Cárcel continued to kiss her hair. "I like it when you call me your husband, Inés... My heart melts every time I hear you say that."

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"All he talks about is you. In the morning, his orders are about you. When he gets home, he asks about you. Before bed, he also..."

"If he confessed his emotions and she turned her back on him, he would wish for nothing but to drop dead.
Without her, none of this would matter. He wouldn't feel this way if not for her.
Indeed, he loved her."

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"It doesn't matter if you don't care about her betrayal. I don't care whether you care for me or not," Cárcel added, turning to face her with his back to the sunset. "What matter is that I love you."

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"Cárcel continued to ramble on like a madman. "I might die of a heart attack induced by her sheer adorableness. Incredibly endearing."
Raúl grew genuinely concerned for Cárcel. At this rate, if he discovered Inés had indeed spied on him for a while, he might suffer a heart attack from overexcitement."

"Damn it, your mistress is too adorable," muttered Cárcel. "She really knows how to throw me off my feet."
��…]
"So adorable...I want to chew her up from head to toe."
��…]please keep this a secret from her."
"A secret. How adorable."

THIS MAN. THIS MAN.

"He could hardly imagine how heavenly it would be to be loved by his wife.
The thought alone was enough to make Cárcel feel like he was walking on air."

"But just looking at you brings me joy," Cárcel muttered despondently"

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"I can't dictate what you say," she pointed out.
"Why not? Go ahead," Cárcel urged.
Inés raised her slightly reddened face and grimaced, stating firmly, "No. I refuse."
She looked endearing even when she was showing such blatant aversion to his words.
"I find it stimulating when you order me around," Cárcel confessed.
"So it's solely for your benefit," she said with a huff. "I won't indulge."
"Please, Inés, command me."

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"Kiss me, Inés."
She looked at him with a hint of irritation and leaned in to kiss him.
The whole universe was telling him one thing: this had to be love"

I wasn't planning to write another long review again.. but I just need to mention some of my favorite moments from this book so I don’t forget them. Let's get to those now then.
�� Chapters 126 and 127 were so damn hot. Like, seriously.
�� Inés getting revenge on the two officers who spoke badly about Cárcel at the banquet.
�� Cárcel throwing Iglesias' jacket off the balcony because he was jealous.
�� The carriage scene when Inés kissed Cárcel for the first time on her own and when they had that talk. I'm so sad it wasn’t in the manhwa.
�� Maybe not my favorite moment, but I was literally crying reading chapters 159 and 160. I absolutely despise Oscar. I wish him the most painful death.
�� The moment Inés realized Cárcel loved her in their second life—or, as far as she knows, their first life. I was crying so hard.

Again.

"At last, the truth dawned on her: he had been in love with Inés Valeztena. Always."

�� When Inés asked Raul to check on Cárcel because she was afraid she got him sick.
�� The kiss Inés initiated when Cárcel was sick.
�� The study scene where she was reading, and Cárcel just looked at her like she was his whole world.

"For a while now, he had been sitting with his chín resting on his hands and his clear blue eyes fixed intently on his wife's face, smiling from ear to ear.
"Inés," he called out, seeking her attention.
She ignored him, her focus on the pages before her.
"Look over here, Inés."
"Why?" she asked.
"Just because," he replied, a playful lilt in his voice."
��…] Cárcel's bright smile didn't wane even as her gaze shifted away from him. Look at my dear Inés, dedicated to her reading when she's already so brilliant, Cárcel mused inwardly."

He is so cute and in love that I just wanna

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�� The scene where Cárcel was worried about Inés hurting her hands, even though she was the one who slapped him while he was unconscious. Get yourself a man who doesn’t care that you slapped him, but only worries about whether you hurt your hand doing it.
�� The chapter where they were together watching the fountain, and Cárcel’s thoughts about Inés then. The whole chapter was just absolutely gorgeous.

"Perhaps the mermaid reminded him of her because he loved her just the way the soldier loved the mermaid. He didn't mind drowning to spend the rest of his life with her. He forgot to breathe sometimes when he was with her. He was so foolishly in love with her. But-she didn't have feelings for him, just as the mermaid did not love the soldier back."

I'm so close to catching up with the manhwa, so I'm really really excited to read the next book. It's also the last book that's fully translated so far on Tappytoon, so I'll probably have to take a short break from this series, but I can't wait to devour it regardless.