Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 30
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“High Priest, a moment.”
One of the priests secretly called for Feiden.
Feiden, who had been busy bestowing meaningless blessings, hid his irritation and turned around.
The priest’s green eyes fell on Dekiel standing not far away.
‘He just exchanged words with Ian like a greeting, saying he’d aim for victory this time.’
Dekiel seemed to have no intention of participating in the hunting festival, merely waiting for him with a face full of composure, shrugging his shoulders.
‘What’s going on?’
He had a somewhat bad feeling about this.
Feiden finished his conversation with those he had been chatting with, wearing a sparkling fake smile.
Then he hurriedly headed toward the Viente duchy’s pavilion, following Dekiel who had already disappeared.
“Perhaps because it was where the young head of House Viente, a ducal family worthy of mention alongside the Grand Ducal family, was staying, the large pavilion’s interior was as splendid as if a room from a mansion had been transported there.”
However, the surroundings were quiet without a single guard.
It was unclear what he was plotting, having already dismissed everyone.
“I assume you didn’t call the busiest person at this hunting festival just for idle chat…”
Feiden, who had been speaking casually while entering the pavilion, briefly paused.
Dekiel was waiting for him, seated in a chair covered in red velvet.
He was covering half his face and breathing more roughly than usual.
Unlike the composure he had shown earlier when calling for Feiden, which must have been thoroughly fabricated, the young duke appeared undeniably precarious.
Eyes swallowing red pain.
A chest heaving with uneven breaths.
It was completely different from the confident young duke they had seen at the opening ceremony.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
As Feiden hurriedly approached Dekiel, he managed a languid smile even while breaking into a cold sweat.
“You came quickly, Feiden.”
The young duke greeted Feiden informally. Although Feiden was both the eldest son of House Fortena and held the position of High Priest, to Dekiel, he was both Ian’s blood relative and like an older brother figure.
“Remember? When I told you about having nightmares.”
At those words spoken in an almost drunken tone, Feiden swallowed his breath, feeling his heart sink.
Those nightmares that came from Dekiel’s lips.
Those terrible memories.
He knew all too well that they weren’t merely dreams.
Feiden, trying to maintain his composure, asked flatly.
“The medicine I gave you… have you been taking it properly?”
“Of course. I can only sleep peacefully when I take it.”
Dekiel answered faintly, slowly tilting his head back.
And finally closed his eyes, hiding his red irises.
“It’s strange. Those dreams were clearly just nightmares. Why do they feel more and more real?”
“…”
“I think I’m going mad.”
Feiden deliberately denied those words playfully.
“Going mad? The people of House Viente would faint if they heard that.”
“Would you believe me if I said these dreams make me hate someone enough to want to kill an innocent person?”
Though his voice was fading as if he might fall asleep at any moment, Dekiel calmly confessed the terrible truth.
“Perhaps this sounds like incoherent complaining.”
Contrary to Dekiel’s muttered expectations, Feiden completely understood his pain.
The recurring dreams and the person he wanted to kill.
Knowing who was the target of Dekiel’s tormenting hatred, Feiden’s usually composed face turned pale.
The High Priest quickly hid his anxiously pounding heart.
Finally, he spoke lightly.
“Yes, it sounds like complaining. What did You expect? You’re stressed. You’ve been busy preparing for the hunting festival.”
“What if rumors start spreading about a mad duke?”
“Don’t joke about that.”
“I’m serious. There are times when I wonder if I’ve finally lost my mind.”
Feiden deliberately avoided asking about when those times were.
Pretending to be even more casual than usual, he quietly approached behind Dekiel.
“Increase the dosage for now. I’ll make you something more effective next time, so don’t push yourself too hard.”
Then he placed his hand on Dekiel’s broad shoulders.
“Rest for a while. You’ll feel better.”
As the young duke closed his eyes from fatigue, the High Priest swallowed a dry breath and brightened his eyes.
Even knowing that the golden power filling him would not easily affect this man.
It was in hopes of burying those memories, even if just a little.
***
I pretended to hesitate before finally waving to Canabeil.
Whatever was in this forest, I was willing to play along with the stage she had prepared for me.
When my steps finally headed toward the forest, Canabeil turned away after seeing me off with a lovely smile for quite a while.
‘Will I get shot by an arrow?’
Or perhaps there were thugs waiting in ambush.
‘It would be troublesome if I were to die.’
If so, my dress would be ruined again this time.
Ian might not overlook it with clouded eyes anymore either.
I, who had been excitedly guessing what game Canabeil had prepared, gradually slowed my steps.
Suddenly remembering the handkerchief that little bird had given as a gift, I took it out from my pocket where I had pretended to keep it preciously.
‘Usually, such handkerchiefs are handed over with poison on them.’
But seeing as she handed it over personally, that probably wasn’t it.
Considering how she asked me to cherish it just for today, she must have planned something with it.
‘What could she have schemed?’
As I carefully examined the handkerchief, I recalled that this was the hunting festival grounds.
Dantea had explained that they sometimes use special fragrances to lure beasts.
It was what she had warned while pointing to nobles who were busy preparing by dropping oil into their scent pouches.
“My lady must never touch such things.”
“Even though it might look like just sweet honey, they say it’s a scent that particularly stimulates beasts.”
‘Ah, so that’s what it was.’
I raised the handkerchief Canabeil had personally gifted me to my eye level.
The scent that spread with the fluttering wind might have already stimulated some beast’s nose.
I found it touching that Canabeil’s scheme was determined to entertain me, even if it meant I might have to prepare to be torn apart today.
And I looked forward to it.
‘What expression will you show with that cute face of yours when I appear not dead?’
I tossed the handkerchief I had been holding precariously with my fingertips into the air without any regret.
The lightweight handkerchief floated in the air for just a moment.
Surprisingly, it was a black leopard that snatched it just as it seemed about to fall gently to the ground.
Given how it had approached without a sound and lunged forward, my neck might have been snatched instead.
I clutched my startled chest for quite a while.
‘How much fragrance did you apply?’
The black leopard was already busy tearing and biting repeatedly at the handkerchief that had become rags.
For a beast to rush in so quickly like this, even Canabeil must have taken quite a risk carrying the handkerchief.
She didn’t seem like a young lady who would readily accept such a threat.
As the leopard that had been chewing on the handkerchief quietly rose and fixed its gaze on me, I brightened my golden eyes to use his power.
At the same time, I reached the answer.
‘Ah, the syrup.’
So that’s what it was.
The moment the beast met eyes identical to its own golden ones, it lowered its tail and passed by my side docilely like a puppy.
It was thanks to subduing it to make it return to the depths as if it hadn’t seen me.
‘No wonder she awkwardly spilled syrup. That wasn’t syrup, it was fragrance.’
I wondered what kind of trick she was trying to pull, what if I had drunk it in my tea.
Even after that, several beasts approached growling, but with no handkerchief left and his power, I could pass by without much difficulty.
Finding it somewhat boring now, I thought there was no need to stay in this forest anymore and took steps with a mindset of taking a stroll.
This level of forest wouldn’t even count as a maze for me, so I should be able to get out quickly.
By now, Dantea might be melting with worry.
Or perhaps Canabeil has prepared another scheme and is already making me out to be dead.
‘I need to get out before Ian finds out.’
If it’s him, he might shed tears in front of many people out of worry for me.
Because he cherishes me with such a pure heart.
Just as I was about to pick up my pace with such thoughts.
“Kyaah!”
I slid down into some pit with a short scream.
