Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 1
‘I want to live!’
On a night when darkness had settled beautifully.
‘I feel like I’m dying, I can’t breathe!’
In a lake devoid of any light. My predicament was far from beautiful.
‘Why am I in a place like this……!’
The sound of water droplets popped beyond the deeply submerged coffin.
It was frustrating to be on the verge of drowning as soon as I opened my eyes.
I don’t even know why I’m trapped in a coffin, or why I’m sinking in a lake.
Lamenting my miserable fate, I desperately knocked on the heavy coffin lid.
Fortunately, as if loosened by the passage of time, the coffin easily released me.
‘I need to hurry……!’
I swam up with all my might. I was desperate, feeling like I would lose my breath at any moment.
Just before being swallowed by the dark and distant lake, I barely made it to the surface and gasped for air.
“Haa……!”
As I finally dragged my body to the shore, all strength left me.
My arms and legs, unused for so long, collapsed as if giving way.
The cold air, fitting for the dark night, swept desolately through the forest. My wet body shivered.
I hugged my naked body and carefully surveyed my surroundings.
The lake was as calm as a sea where time flows slowly, and the forest surrounding it was eerily quiet.
‘Where is this?’
Judging by the lush spring trees and well-maintained paths, it doesn’t seem to be a very remote place, but it’s not exactly somewhere that feels warm with human presence either.
‘Why am I in a place like this?’
Unlike my confused state, the neatly shaped moon gently filled the surface of the water.
As I leisurely admired the softly reflected silver light, I belatedly examined my face.
It was because I couldn’t even remember who I was.
Long, chilling silver hair reflected in the lake.
Red eyes that shone intensely as if they were embedded in my heart, my face was startlingly clear.
I briefly touched my eyes, nose, and mouth, as if they weren’t my own, seeing them for the first time in so long.
I could also see my white body, stretched out so thinly it seemed it would melt if touched.
Just as I was confirming my features, someone’s voice engulfed me.
“You want to escape from me?”
“I have no intention of letting you go.”
“Even if you lose your memories, you’ll come to love me.”
“Keep struggling. That sight is beautiful too.”
“You’ll never escape me anyway.”
Cold sweat ran down my body at these words that pierced me like arrows.
A chilly wind rushed in, shaking the trees by the lakeside.
“You can’t escape.”
The low-pitched voice echoed terrifyingly in my head, making me breathe roughly with a confused mind.
Meanwhile, a faint rustling sound could be heard along the grassy path. It was clearly the presence of someone.
I instinctively raised my head and held my breath, tensed up.
Soon, a man appeared not far away.
He was a gentleman with black hair and blue eyes, quite fitting for this elegant night.
I stared quietly at the gentleman, forgetting even the fact that I had been shivering.
I was startled by how his neat appearance was handsome enough to catch anyone’s eye easily.
“Are you alright?”
The gentleman seemed just as flustered by me as I was, but soon showed kind concern.
“You look like you need help.”
His clear eyes sparkled mysteriously.
Instead of answering, I hurriedly covered my naked body and hesitated.
“Ah, my lady, you’re currently…….”
The gentleman deliberately averted his gaze from my exposed body and half-covered his face with his large hand.
Then, as if embarrassed, he blushed faintly and muttered softly.
“It must be troubling to have a strange man suddenly approach you…….”
I’m the one standing here naked, why are you the one being shy?
I secretly smiled, arbitrarily finding the gentleman before me cute.
The unexpected purity, completely unanticipated from his charming appearance, made my tension ease.
“It’s dangerous for you to be alone in a place like this.”
The gentleman, who had barely cleared his throat, gently narrowed the distance.
He approached, either out of consideration for my barely covered state, or to carefully offer his own coat.
“For now, this…….”
I simply couldn’t take my eyes off the unfamiliar gentleman.
Hair darker than the night and eyes as blue as if the midday sky had been embedded in them.
Even his faintly blushing cheeks that couldn’t quite hide his shyness, everything held me captive like chasing clouds that bothered me.
Suddenly, I was curious. I wanted to know who this gentleman was, why he was here.
“Where is… this place?”
I finally managed to open my mouth. Though I was wearing the gentleman’s coat, I was still embarrassed by my barely covered skin and overly exposed body.
“This is the Grand Duchy of Aintz.”
The gentleman adjusted my posture as I awkwardly wore the upper garment.
It was a gentle touch, firmly wrapping the large coat around me.
‘The Grand Duchy of Aintz?’
I’ve never heard of it. But then again, in my position of not even knowing who I am, that’s to be expected.
The gentleman, like a noble priest, suppressed the night and carefully waited for my words.
Though I wanted to answer quickly, seeing the curiosity in his seemingly innocent face, I was truly at a loss.
‘I don’t remember, but I think I escaped from someone who was holding me captive. I don’t know who that someone is.’
If I were to say such things to a stranger, wouldn’t I be dragged away as a madwoman?
Should I pretend to be a pitiful lady who lost her memories in an accident? Or perhaps a runaway maid?
As I struggled, unable to come up with a good story, the gentleman calmly assessed my situation.
“It seems you’re in quite a difficult situation.”
When I neither confirmed nor denied his words, he didn’t press for an answer.
“I am ‘Ian’.”
“……”
“You look as if you’re hearing my name for the first time, my lady.”
Ian, that man, seemed to have gained certainty from my silence.
“It’s rare for someone in this grand duchy not to know my name.”
He added with a clear laugh. It felt like a gentle dawn.
The gentleman who introduced himself as Ian tidied my silver hair that was pressed under the coat.
“Unless you’ve lost your memories, perhaps……”
It was a careful touch and a careful question, but Ian had pierced through to the truth with startling accuracy.
“Am I correct?”
His eyes clearly showed that he had already determined the answer before asking.
I gave up on any flimsy lies and nodded, confirming his guess.
Ian, with a satisfied expression, gently extended his hand.
“I can’t ignore someone in danger. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to help.”
His kindness was offered as if he had been waiting for this moment. His lips, promising to bestow favor, were particularly smooth.
At that moment, our eyes met.
They were incredibly clear, and unfortunately, very beautiful eyes.
“I’ll help you as much as you need, so please, won’t you rely on me?”
A warm invitation, enough to thaw my cold body, planted seeds of complacency in my mind.
I thought, since I’ve lost my memories anyway, it might be okay to accept such kind help.
I desperately clung to hope.
It was a hope as faint as the moon, but one I had to cherish as if it were the sun.
My hesitant lips found peace.
The reason that told me to be cautious had already quietly disappeared.
“As you said, I’ve lost my memories. All that remains is……”
I looked up to face him.
Seeing myself reflected in the gentleman’s blue eyes, a name that had been so elusive suddenly came to mind.
“Heine.”
I was as clear as the name I distinctly uttered in his eyes. Perhaps that’s why I was drawn to him.
“Only my name.”
Regarding our first meeting as simply beautiful.
