Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 35
After getting out of the carriage, Feiden headed not toward the mansion but toward the Grand Duke’s rear garden.
That garden full of all kinds of roses was coiled in the deepest part of this mansion’s vast grounds.
Dantea had excitedly chattered about how Feiden particularly took care of the area full of white roses.
‘Yes, I can see him there.’
That arrogant one who pretended nothing was wrong when I asked about Duke Viente.
He was standing in the middle of the garden.
“Feiden!”
As I ran with all my might, the distant silhouette gradually drew closer.
Next to the white roses, Feiden looked both like a devil trying to covet the roses and an angel trying to protect them.
Perhaps intending to rest his body tired from the hunting festival, he wasn’t wearing his usual High Priest’s ceremonial robes.
In a loose white shirt and dark pants, he briefly looked like an ordinary nobleman.
Even after managing to call his name, I couldn’t continue speaking as I had to catch my breath with a deep “haa.”
I must have run too hard; I even felt dizzy.
“I heard you went through something rough today.”
Feiden supported me with a rather worried face as I stumbled unsteadily.
Exhausted from being plagued by troubled thoughts all day, I collapsed right into Feiden’s arms.
We fell onto the lawn like lovers having a secret meeting.
In reality, we’d be fortunate if we didn’t end up stabbing each other in the back.
“From what I hear, Ian must be quite sad. My noble brother was so heartbroken.”
Feiden reproached me while showing genuine concern for his fake blood relative.
“I told you to stay quietly by Ian’s side. Why did you end up in such a state wandering through the forest?”
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh burst out at Feiden’s incredibly brazen attitude.
And I felt relieved.
Seeing him tell me again to stay by Ian’s side, Ian surely couldn’t be ‘him’.
‘Then is Duke Viente that man?’
I swallowed my question while barely restraining my desire to strangle Feiden.
Even if he couldn’t tell me who ‘he’ was, he could have at least warned me to be careful.
I grabbed Feiden’s shirt tightly, filled with resentment.
He blinked his seemingly benevolent green eyes and calmly helped both of us stand up.
I coldly rejected that kindness and got straight to the point.
“I received a confession.”
“A confession? Suddenly from whom? Ian?”
Behind Feiden, who was lightly dusting off his clothes, a cold air shook the garden.
A strong wind unsuited to the spring night knocked down white rose petals.
“No. Duke Viente.”
Dekiel’s face, which I had recalled dozens of times just today, came to mind again.
Thinking of those fierce eyes flashing under that brilliant gold, tears suddenly welled up and finally spilled over.
Perhaps startled by my sudden tears, Feiden reached for my face.
I coldly brushed off that kindness and asked.
“It’s him, isn’t it?”
Even without memories, he was someone who could break me just by thinking of him.
A man who made me swallow despair just by encountering him.
“The one who stole death from me – ‘him’.”
Feiden remained silent.
Understanding that silence as affirmation, I weakly struck his chest with my already exhausted body.
“I knew it. You knew everything. Who that Duke ‘is’.”
Yes, Feiden must have known.
Feiden knew that he had already been freely moving through Aintz and staying near Ian.
He knew everything – how Feiden had deliberately revealed himself to me, as if mocking my brief moment of peace, waiting until I had finally found happiness with Ian before making his presence known.
Even as tears ran down my cheeks, I desperately waited.
I hoped Feiden would give some plausible excuse or explanation I could accept.
“…Oh dear.”
But Feiden just briefly showed his discomfort, running his hand through his hair as if perplexed.
Finally, I turned deathly pale as if I had swallowed poison.
“Ha…! I knew it!”
And I glared at him with venomous eyes.
“You knew.”
“Calm down. I told you I couldn’t tell you about him.”
“Even though you knew, even though you knew…!”
“Haine.”
“Why didn’t you tell me!?”
“Let me explain, first…”
“That man is already here!”
Even as I thrashed about as if my feet were on fire, Feiden remained detached.
Rather, his action of calmly rubbing his chin even showed composure.
“I said calm down. I told you, didn’t I? That I’m the savior who will lead you to victory in this wager.”
That handsome face reciting such words didn’t even pretend to consider my state of mind.
The hand I raised was meant to strike and distort that face once and for all.
But as if he could easily predict my actions, he effortlessly caught my wrist mid-strike.
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
Eventually, he firmly held both my arms to prevent me from easily breaking free.
“He doesn’t know you. My ‘medicine’ is blocking his memories.”
And he dangled hope before me.
“It’s still fine for now.”
“For now…?”
Even with his resolute voice, I couldn’t find my center.
Though my body, mixed with creeping emotions, still shook violently, it was laughable.
Just a handful.
For just a glimpse of visible hope, I was once again throwing my whole body into it.
***
Duke Viente’s forest was as bright as day. It was due to the hunting festival’s afterparty still continuing.
The night in the elaborately decorated forest was so splendid it was hard to tell whether we were indoors or outdoors.
The nobles, melted into the spring night’s mood, all had flushed red faces, repeatedly sharing today’s episodes with their drink-loosened tongues.
Stories of nearly caught beasts that got away, how the harvest was better than expected, or how they thought they would die when facing a huge bear.
Tales mixed with truth, lies, and exaggeration that would end up being laughed off.
Ian and Dekiel, who had been mingling among them, exchanged glances and quietly made their way to the hunting grounds.
As soon as they left the banquet hall, light became scarce.
The entrance to the gloomy forest was lit by Ian and Dekiel’s guards, numbering less than ten.
The Grand Duke’s heir and the young Duke headed to where Haine had fallen into the mysterious trap.
The small group including the two men and their guards thoroughly searched the surroundings.
However, there were no traces left, making it impossible to figure out who had created this now.
Right after Haine headed to the mansion, Dekiel had sought out Ian.
“There was a strange pit dug there.”
“Your fiancée had fallen in.”
“She seemed to want to treat it as nothing, but I find it rather strange.”
Why that trap was there.
How the Grand Duke’s heir’s fiancée happened to enter the hunting grounds’ territory.
Why, who would do such a thing?
He had explained the circumstances of finding Haine, and seriously contemplated the perpetrator, proposing to investigate together.
Ian, who had been unable to do anything due to worry, shook off his anxiety, thanked his friend, and devoted himself to the investigation.
But now that no one could be held responsible, he wanted to confront Canabeil.
If he had proudly taken Haine away to spend time together, shouldn’t he have escorted her back properly?
‘What was he doing until Haine entered that dangerous path alone?’
Honestly, when she disappeared, he had wanted to immediately find Canabeil and demand answers.
He barely contained his anger only because Haine had insisted she was fine and hadn’t suffered any injuries.
“We won’t find anything more even if we keep looking.”
Just as Dekiel, who had been seriously examining the surroundings, gently suggested ending the investigation.
Someone quietly pushed through the bushes and entered. It was Hubert, who had joined late.
The old butler respectfully bowed to Ian and Dekiel, then politely whispered in Ian’s ear.
“The young lady has been in her room all day. Young Master Feiden also said he would look after her, so please don’t worry too much.”
Ian’s deeply furrowed face relaxed at the butler’s calm whisper.
And he found his own relief strange.
Was it such a relief that Haine was staying quietly in the mansion?
Why was he so anxious, as if she might run away somewhere?
‘It’s not about running away, I’m worried she might end up in another dangerous situation.’
Running away, what an absurd thought.
Ian nodded with a feeling like swallowing bitter medicine. His heart remained unsettled.
Reading that uncertainty, Dekiel patted Ian’s shoulder while hiding his smile like a shadow.
