Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 3

“Um, Lady Haine?”

A young voice was heard. It was a careful attempt to wake me up.

‘Ah, I must have fallen asleep.’

I gently blinked my eyes and raised my body which had dozed off.

A comfortable space that felt like my own room came into view.

It was a neat room filled with things that ordinary young ladies would typically like.

‘The Grand Duchy of Aintz, that’s what this place was called.’

I had become the benefactor brought in by the young master of the grand mansion.

Quickly organizing my memories, I looked out the window.

The sky beyond the tall window was still dark.

“I thought it would be better if you changed into comfortable clothes and slept.”

A black-haired maid respectfully held out silk pajamas with both hands.

It was for me, who had fallen asleep still wearing the dress.

“Um, I’m Bonnie. If you need anything, please let me know right away. I’ll prepare it……”

Bonnie, the maid’s voice became small and frightened.

I was puzzled why she was suddenly trembling but soon understood.

My eyes are as red as a beast’s.

A color that makes people feel fear even with the slightest expressionless face.

I quickly rubbed around my eyes, pretending to be still half-asleep.

Then I kindly took Bonnie’s hand that was holding out the pajamas.

“Thank you for taking care of me. I’d like to wash up now, is it too late?”

“Oh, no! If you wish, it’s possible even in the deep dawn.”

With just one easily given smile, Bonnie’s face bloomed.

Her brightening expression was no different from a pet’s.

“Then, could you guide me to the bathroom?”

“Yes, this way… Oh, just a moment. I’ll be right back when it’s ready!”

As soon as Bonnie left the room, I quickly erased the smile I had put on.

‘Right. I’m grateful that he disguised me as a benefactor for now. But what should I do from here on?’

I was pondering my situation, knowing I couldn’t just stay here indefinitely, when suddenly someone opened the door without permission.

It was a man with pale green eyes I had never seen before.

Before I could ask who he was, he entered the room without hesitation and locked the door.

Cold sweat formed at the sound of the lock clicking.

It was a fear my body remembered even if my mind didn’t.

“Nice to meet you, Haine.”

The man’s hair was a dull beige color, like an abandoned wheat field.

That messy color was so different from Ian’s noble black hair that I instinctively became wary of him, like an animal sensing danger.

This person should be a stranger I’ve never seen before. That’s how it should be.

But a strange familiarity, as if we had met more than once or twice, sent a thin chill up my spine.

“I’m Feiden, the High Priest of the Aintz Temple. I’m also Ian’s older brother.”

Feiden.

The man who introduced himself as such bowed perfunctorily in greeting.

“I’ve come… to help you?”

At this late hour?

Tension instantly filled me up to my chin. My frightened self was reflected in his green eyes.

Feiden closed the distance quickly with strides a bit too large for a High Priest’s gait.

Only when his pure white suit worn under the white gown filled my vision did I finally recall what Ian had briefly mentioned.

“My brother is the High Priest of Bonasea, the capital city here.”

“He’s also an excellent doctor, so he’ll come right away to examine you.”

Right, that man is definitely Ian’s older brother.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to treat me casually or enter this room without anyone’s restraint.

Feiden’s features were quite well-balanced and not unpleasant to look at.

Although he was said to be the older brother and High Priest, the age difference didn’t seem large, and at a glance, he could be mistaken for Ian’s peer.

Right, Ian’s brother.

‘Really… his brother?’

The pure white attire Feiden wore was undeniably sacred to anyone who saw it.

The meticulously tailored gown covered his tall body, gleaming white, and the banner draped over his shoulders proudly displayed his position as High Priest.

Strangely, this sacred appearance made me quite uncomfortable.

It was because of the peculiar gaze that seemed to whisper, ‘Long time no see, Haine.’

“I……”

“Well, no need for introductions, young lady. I already know you quite well.”

“……”

“Very well, indeed.”

He interrupted me, twisting his lips slightly.

Then, carefully bending down, he kissed the back of my hand.

“Your name is Haine. The fragile and sickly benefactor my dear brother brought… what nonsense.”

Pfft, I flinched like a startled rabbit at his words that ended with an obvious sneer.

Feiden shook his head, pleading his good intentions.

“Don’t be so wary. I told you, didn’t I? I came to help you. Haven’t you lost your memory, young lady?”

He knows I’ve lost my memory too?

Did Ian go that far in his explanation?

“For your information, I didn’t hear about the ‘memory’ from Ian.”

Feiden quickly added an explanation, as if my thoughts were obvious to him.

“Then how……”

“I told you, Haine.”

Before my question could finish, he leaned in and pressed his lips close to my ear.

“I know you very well.”

It was a voice that concealed poison like a secretive snake.

The man who had shaken me at will quickly straightened up and took something out of his gown pocket.

It was a glass vial sealed with a cork that anyone would find suspicious.

“It’s medicine.”

“What?”

“Medicine that will restore your memories.”

“Suddenly, what……”

“Come now, take it. Surely you won’t stubbornly refuse to drink it without knowing your situation.”

He held out the vial, smiling crookedly as always.

It was a skewed threat in contrast to his sacred appearance.

As I stood frozen in bewilderment, Feiden personally opened the cork stopper of the vial.

His cold eyes seemed quite eager to see me swallow the medicine.

Everything was suspicious, but I didn’t have much choice in the matter either.

‘Even if he says it’s medicine to restore memories… how can I trust this person?’

No matter if he’s Ian’s brother, isn’t he too suspicious?

He’s a High Priest, so he probably won’t kill people easily, but.

‘No, maybe as a High Priest, he’s noticed something and is trying to punish me.’

Yes, if he were to let me die, I should rather be glad…

‘What am I thinking right now?’

My eyes, half-closed from the sweet scent of the medicine, suddenly flew open as if stabbed by a knife.

It was because of the incomprehensible thought that had crossed my mind.

Feiden spoke quietly in a low tone.

“Come now, I’m trying to help you. The bet between you and ‘him’ has already begun.”

My fingers trembled. I barely swallowed the medicine I was about to spit out, feeling as if I were swallowing stones.

“Haine… you.”

As Feiden’s whisper grew gentler, my face, in contrast, turned increasingly pale.

“Still pretending to be innocent, aren’t you?”

With languid mockery, my vision went dark.

Soon, distant memories came flooding in like a tide.

***

If there is a god in this world, it would be ‘him’.

A transcendent ruler beyond the word Emperor. He was a being that existed outside the flow of time.

He recovers quickly even when injured and doesn’t sustain major wounds, so he doesn’t die even if killed.

Perhaps that’s why. In my memory, he was a being who killed people without hesitation.

“I really don’t want to meet him, that person called the Emperor.”

“Haine, he’s not a person. He’s a noble god.”

“Huh? A god?”

I snorted at the words admonishing me with serious eyes. His blind praise was laughable.

Well, I had always thought he was closer to a monster than a god.

“Have you heard? They say the god is really, really wonderful.”

“Hmm.”

“They say you’d fall in love at first sight! If only I could meet him.”

“Well, aren’t you scared?”

“Not at all! How wonderful it would be if I could become his companion!”

“But I heard it’s already the nth time his partner has changed.”

The stories I heard were mostly similar.

With only slight variations in packaging, they were all stories of him taking and discarding someone.

Love stories that didn’t seem like love at all.

I couldn’t understand why people got so excited about these miserable stories, but they would regularly gossip about him with enthusiasm.

I vividly remember how dominant his existence was.

They said he had a young and captivating appearance.

That he was incomparably perfect and easily stole hearts, so just being with him would bring happiness.

But no one could stay by his side for long.

“Did he send another one back?”

“Yeah, that returned companion, I heard they’re almost insane?”

“Insane?”

“They say they’re crying and making a fuss, missing him. Desperate to go back, apparently?”

Those chosen would return to where they came from after at most a few months, usually about a month or two.

It was a one-sided abandonment.

I found it amusing that this being, said to be no different from a god, couldn’t keep his heart in one place.

How could something that couldn’t even handle its own heart be called a god?

“Anyway, it’s good for us. It means there’s a chance.”

“A chance to be abandoned?”

“How can you say such blasphemous things!”

I just whistled, not caring.

It was a distant matter that had nothing to do with me anyway.

Sometime after that, sitting by the lake, I thought as I swirled my legs around.

That he, who acted as fleeting as leaves floating on water, was truly a pitiful being.

“Congratulations……”

And I became quite pitiful too.