Even Death Was Taken Away by That Obsession - Chapter 40

It was late in the night when all had fallen into slumber.

The Grand Duke’s residence stood at the heart of Bonasea.

Among its many chambers, Ian’s room was particularly enveloped in a deep blue darkness.

It was a calm space where quiet air and peaceful breathing regularly made soft sounds.

Even in his deep slumber, Ian seemed to shine with clarity.

At that moment, his door opened without making the slightest sound.

Through the opened door, a man walked in, concealing his presence.

He carefully approached Ian’s bedside and stood still for a long while.

It was quite different from his appearance as the High Priest whom the people of Bonasea respected.

Feiden swallowed a deep sigh with emotionless eyes and looked down at the sleeping Ian.

‘Sleeping well, my fake brother.’

The faint light that seeped in illuminated Feiden’s face.

Beneath his worn expression, a dry hand lightly brushed through Ian’s hair.

It was a night when he felt particularly sorry for dragging him into this tragedy.

‘What have I done to someone as good as you.’

In this secretive hour, Feiden’s eyes filled with a golden light like a moon piercing through darkness.

Though not as vivid as Haine’s, it was a natural color like that of a wild beast.

“Ian, I hope you’ll be Haine’s last man.”

His conscience had long since worn away through the lengthy years.

“Keep loving her just like now. Trust and follow Haine. Don’t doubt me either.”

That’s your role, Feiden muttered, turning his indifferent eyes to the wall connecting to the next room.

Somewhere beyond that, Haine would be sleeping beautifully like a doll.

‘Did she drink the medicine?’

Would she be suffering from the memories that surfaced?

Or would she be enjoying them?

“Ian… never give up. On that woman.”

Feiden’s face, having returned to its green eyes, changed to appear benevolent, as if blessing a devout believer.

Though it seemed noble at a glance, it was ultimately pity.

Feiden, who had been rubbing his eyes with a tired expression, quietly coughed up blood that had suddenly risen.

Though he barely managed to hold back making a loud sound, the blood that burst through his fingers stained the floor.

It was indeed burdensome for him to handle the power like Haine did, even though he hadn’t directly received that ‘power’.

Feiden rolled his green eyes, unconcerned about his own condition.

Ian remained soundly asleep, still unaware of everything.

‘Just keep doing exactly as you are now.’

Feiden thought everything would be simple.

The perfect being he had found with such difficulty just needed to act as he was now, without raising any particular questions to Haine.

Then the bet could be won.

A winnable fight.

‘This is just the beginning, Haine.’

He could almost hear her peaceful breathing from far away.

She must be dreaming.

The well-crafted dream of memories that he had carefully prepared.

***

The time when I first met Feiden wasn’t too distant in the past.

It was a time when I had changed much since first meeting Dekiel, when the world no longer blindly revered Dekiel regardless of circumstances.

People were wiser than before, and their clothes, food, and the appearance of their dwellings had changed significantly.

-An immortal body, how interesting.

Feiden, that crazy fellow, wasn’t particularly surprised by my existence or his.

-You don’t die but fall asleep? Those eyes can control people’s will too?

The end of his numerous questions was a manic request: ‘Would you mind if I research this?’

He asked boldly while brushing back his light brown hair, not fearing me at all.

It wasn’t because he didn’t believe in this power. Nor was he pretending to be nonchalant.

His curiosity simply outweighed the fear that humans should naturally have.

So I became greedy.

-Would you like me to give you immortality?

-What?

-It’s the power to never die unless he kills you.

-Really? To me?

I was surprised by Feiden’s attitude, rejoicing so easily as if he had been waiting for this.

I couldn’t believe that the suffocating weight of immortality that I found so burdensome could be so light to someone else.

-To have a body like yours would be quite a gift for someone ordinary like me, right?

-It won’t feel like a gift once time passes.

-I’ll experience it and tell you my impressions. I should record it in great detail.

-This power isn’t given freely.

-Ah, they say nothing in the world is free. What do you want?

The unknown red leaves he was crushing stopped between his fingers.

Outside the window, snow was falling. It was the season when poinsettia decorations hung in every house and soft music flowed.

-Make me a medicine that can free me from Dekiel.

-What, didn’t I tell you to ask for something I could actually do?

-I think you could do it. This power enables many things besides controlling people’s subconscious.

-Many things?

-I merely manipulate people’s hearts and memories, but well. If used properly, you might find a way.

-Now that’s interesting.

-Whether it’s medicine or another method. Deceive Dekiel somehow, by any means. If that’s not possible, then rather…

Make me a medicine that will kill me.

Though I cried out in my heart many times, that day was an unusually warm winter afternoon.

Small snowflakes accumulated warmly, making everywhere shine white.

Peaceful songs echoed gently, and the world was full of blessings.

As if I were the only unhappy one in this world, I forcefully swallowed my words.

Perhaps knowing what I had swallowed, Feiden quietly drew back the curtains.

The window revealed a scene of pure white snow falling.

As I blankly stared at the quiet world, I suddenly wanted to visit a freezing place where snow was always piled up.

To a place where I seemed to have stayed very long ago. It was because I suddenly felt nostalgic.

So I ran away very far.

This time, to a place where he surely couldn’t find me.

***

The lands beyond Dekiel’s sight were mostly remote and small.

The freezing territory I found this way was a place that remained frozen white for half the year.

Life as the lady of the house, paired with the lord of this barren land, was modest and simple.

I rather cherished that quiet time. Even though it ended after just a year.

-Lady Haine.

It was a night when everyone was sleeping peacefully under the white snow of the freezing winter.

This time, it was Raul, Dekiel’s hunting dog, who came to capture me.

-You must wake up.

His voice urging me was as proper as a mansion’s butler.

Because of this, I failed to recognize him and mindlessly rose while rubbing my eyes.

It was only after blinking several times that I realized the man’s identity and bit my lip.

-So it’s you.

Raul, black from his hair to his skin and clothes.

Often called the ‘Black Dog’ more than his own name, he quietly soothed me, still not fully awake.

-It’s time to return.

It wasn’t difficult to grasp the situation.

I glanced at the bed beside me, but this wide bed that couldn’t have been used alone held only my presence.

Someone I must have exchanged ordinary night greetings with and fallen asleep beside was probably already growing cold like the winter, because of someone…

The air around was too hot for a winter night.

‘But why is the room so hot?’

This land could never be warm.

Wondering about this, I listened carefully.

Screams of both men and women mixed with sounds of things falling and crumbling, and crackling noises could be heard.

Finally realizing the reality, I brushed back my disheveled hair and asked.

-Did you set it on fire?

Raul nodded without changing his expression, even amidst the flames he had set.

How strange that the one who had set fire to the mansion could look so calm and neat.

-Yes, it was you.

The one he sent, you, have once again completely stolen my peace.

I closed my eyes briefly to savor this place that I could never return to.

As if to disturb my final moments, screams of agony kept repeating.

Gentle cries of those searching for me in concern also faintly echoed.

-So this is how it ends this time.

I muttered lightly, like a wandering poet reciting verses against their screams as background.

‘I have less lingering attachment than I thought.’

I had thought I would cry loudly again when the end came.

‘Why am I like this?’

I tilted my head and laughed bleakly like a mad woman.

Though it was just a year, everyone was kind and for once, I quite liked my companion.

Even last night, we shared sweet kisses while wishing for good dreams.

So why do I feel rather happy now that the end has been declared?

I found the answer while staring out the broken window.

Perhaps thanks to the freezing dawn air, the answer came surprisingly quickly.