Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 22

‘Why is Ian here?’

I must have heard wrong.

I desperately clung to this impossible hope, certain that must be the case.

How foolish. The gods had never once taken my side.

I squeezed my eyes shut and slowly turned around.

Then I forced myself to open my eyes toward the warmth approaching me.

“Did something happen?”

Sure enough. Even in the deep darkness, Ian stood there, dazzling like the moon. It was frustrating how handsome he looked, at all times.

This is terrible.

I shuddered thinking about how my ferociously clenched teeth must have been clearly visible in Ian’s blue eyes.

“What happened to your arm? Are you hurt?”

His kind gaze quickly examined the arm I was clutching.

I let my hand drop lifelessly, half resigned.

Unlike the roughly torn dress, there wasn’t even a scratch or faint scar left on my forearm.

While Ian carefully examined my arm, I secretly rolled my eyes to survey our surroundings.

There was no sign of anyone around us. I couldn’t find anything like the dagger that had grazed my arm.

The only traces of the attack were my ruined dress and the blood stains remaining like flower petals between the tears.

‘How should I explain an arm without a single wound?’

I carefully studied Ian’s face.

I couldn’t think of what lie to tell this man to hide my truth.

Just as my head was starting to spin from not being able to come up with a suitable excuse.

“Did you get caught on a tree branch?”

Ian let out a calm sigh of relief.

He seemed grateful that I had no serious injuries.

“Pardon?”

I questioned back, unable to easily accept his assumption.

Ian shrugged and nodded toward our surroundings.

“The temple garden has more dangerous vegetation than it appears. There are trees left untrimmed for research purposes, and you can often spot rare species too.”

Indeed, even in the darkened garden after sunset, there were noticeably sharp branches and bushes.

“Since my brother carefully manages this place as it’s perfect for growing medicinal herbs, I remember getting scratched here a few times myself.”

Ian scratched his cheek somewhat sheepishly.

As if reminiscing about small memories, wondering ‘I used to get scars around here, I wonder if they’re still there?’

Even so, it’s just a tree branch after all.

‘Getting scratched on the cheek and having a dress torn like this seem completely different.’

Though thinking this, I hurriedly agreed with Ian’s naive assumption.

“Ah… Yes! That’s right.”

“Don’t worry too much about just ruining a dress.”

When I hastily affirmed his reasoning, Ian narrowed his brows and tilted his head.

“Still, you’re the future Grand Duke’s fiancée. It makes me more upset to see you so gloomy over just a dress or two.”

“…Right.”

I had to laugh – what noble lady would turn her dress to rags just by getting caught on tree branches?

A dress torn accidentally by getting caught on trees – it seemed like the perfect excuse prepared just for me.

“Hubert came to find me urgently and told me. That you weren’t feeling well and headed to the temple.”

Ian changed the subject while explaining why he came to the temple.

“When I heard that, I couldn’t bear the worry… so I came to escort you instead. Is that alright?”

His face showed pure innocence, as if he hadn’t noticed anything suspicious about this situation.

“…Yes, thanks to the High Priest, I’m fine now. I made you worry for nothing.”

“That’s a relief then.”

The silence that had settled throughout the temple crept coldly through the tears in my dress.

While it was fortunate that no more attacks followed, my mind was troubled.

Who would target me? Why?

Were they trying to kill me, or threaten me?

If not that, were they trying to expose my true nature to Ian?

‘Even so, I could erase his memories if I used my power.’

Or was their goal to make me use my ‘power’ on Ian?

My head felt like it would explode trying to understand their intentions.

“Even in spring, the night air is still cold.”

Ian naturally took off his jacket as easily as breathing and draped it over my shoulders.

Its warmth stopped my trembling as if by magic.

“Shall we head back? It’s getting late.”

A gentle hand extended suddenly beneath my eyes. I slowly raised my head to examine Ian.

As always, he maintained his splendid composure, still asking nothing.

I deliberately took his hand with feigned composure. With that, we turned our backs to the temple.

Though I should have felt reassured by Ian’s consistently gentle attitude, why was it?

My steps toward the carriage felt heavy, as if weighed down by elegant clothing.

***

On a peaceful night when all colors had settled.

Hubert received Ian’s jacket while touching his chest.

He made seemingly casual remarks about how fortunate it was that Lady Haine’s condition wasn’t serious, and how he should call for a dressmaker tomorrow to order a new dress.

The old butler’s tone was gentle, and Ian’s face remained as peaceful as ever.

A mountain of documents awaited him on the office desk.

Ian smiled bitterly, considering it his karma, then suddenly turned his head.

“That day at the temple.”

Hubert’s footsteps stopped as he was quietly leaving the room.

The butler closed the door he had opened and respectfully listened to his master, whose eyes were as blue as dawn.

Ian rose and walked to the window, facing the night sky.

Just as the old butler was beginning to tense up, unable to gauge his master’s expression or state of mind, a characteristically gentle tone was heard.

“Was it Dekiel who helped Haine?”

“Ah, if you’re referring to the fountain incident at the temple, yes, that’s correct.”

“…”

“He quickly rescued the young lady when she fell into the fountain. He was very attentive, saying we should hurry to attend to her.”

“Yes, that’s what was said.”

Ian lowered his eyes indifferently and fell into thought for a moment.

“Pleased to meet you.”

Dekiel had lied.

‘What could have been the reason?’

There’s no way his friend wouldn’t have recognized Haine.

Not only because Haine had an unforgettable appearance, but also because this was Dekiel after all.

That man wasn’t the type to forget the face of someone he had personally saved.

‘Did he pretend not to know her on purpose?’

Why, specifically? He couldn’t understand the reason no matter how much he thought about it.

His friend, who had always been by his side helping as he wished, had acted like he was meeting Haine for the first time, for some reason.

That day, Hubert had reported the temple incident to Ian in great detail.

Although Haine had asked to keep the fountain incident secret, Hubert’s priority was Ian’s order to report everything about Haine.

“She slipped, they say. Fortunately, Lord Dekiel quickly supported her.”

“The young lady insisted several times.”

“She said not to tell anyone because she didn’t want to cause worry.”

Thus, he could fully understand why Haine had to pretend not to know Dekiel.

If she had revealed that it wasn’t their first meeting, she would have had to explain the incident of slipping into the fountain as well.

Haine’s pretense had a reasonable explanation.

‘But why Dekiel?’

Had Haine perhaps asked him to pretend they were meeting for the first time when they met later since she wanted to keep the temple incident secret?

Or if not that, had he casually played along knowing Haine would want to keep it secret?

The room, which had been filled with silence as thick as darkness for a moment, broke its stillness with the master’s kind voice typically used with servants.

“The hunting festival will be held soon, right?”

Hubert’s eyes turned to the documents piled on Ian’s desk.

“Yes. In fact, half of those documents are related to that…”

“I’d like preparations made so Haine can accompany me.”

Hubert, who already regarded Haine as more than just an ordinary noble lady, quickly expressed his concern.

“Will the young lady… be alright? Many people attend the hunting festival, and even today she…”

“She said she was curious about social circles. And I want to give Haine everything she wants.”

The master’s smile was impossibly gentle.

“Besides, being overly worried isn’t good for Haine either.”

Hubert’s eyes sparkled with emotion, perhaps struck anew by how the young master showed such sincere consideration for his lover, before silently bowing.

“I will prepare everything without fail. Have a peaceful night.”

The old butler delivered his master’s desired response, gave his regards, and left the room.

Ian leaned against the window and pictured Haine.

Her clutched arm, the unusual state of her dress.

But more than anything else, what caught his eye most was Haine’s expression when she looked as if her secret had been discovered.

Even the look of despair as she feared what words might come from his mouth.

That’s why Ian couldn’t ask anything.

‘Whatever you’re hiding, I want to be the one person on your side.’

If Haine wished it, he could pretend not to notice everything and let it pass lightly.

‘I hope someday you’ll want to be with me.’

Ian’s hand gently stroked the glass window.

Haine’s smile flickered in his eyes like a porcelain doll.