I Will Die for You, My Darling! - Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Cold sweat slicked her palms. The lukewarm warmth of her skin melted the pills a little further, leaving a residue of white powder. If she failed today, another chance would be even harder to come by. Even someone as carefree as Arietta couldn’t help but feel the tension.
For countless years, Isaac had personally overseen every aspect of the Remains Investigation Team’s visits—their welcoming ceremonies, explorations, security, and departures. But this time, everything was different. Isaac’s watchful gaze, usually gleaming with suspicion towards the Sky City dwellers, was fixed solely on Arietta. He didn’t directly observe the foreigners’ activities on his land. He only received reports, his attention laser-focused on her. As if she were the only thing that needed his scrutiny.
He’d been spending considerably more time in the annex. Normally, she would have been delighted. But the current circumstances were far from normal, and Arietta couldn’t feign her usual joy. This only amplified his suspicion. Under his constant surveillance, Arietta grew weary. Though months remained, and she tried to believe an opportunity would arise if she remained cautious, it wasn’t easy. What if, while she idled, that day arrived yet again? A sense of foreboding washed over her. She had a premonition that if she died by Isaac’s hand on New Year’s Eve once more, she would become powerless, utterly incapable of action.
Perhaps it was just paranoia, fueled by the anxiety of being under Isaac’s constant watch, unable to make a move. Logically, each recurrence was a new opportunity. After New Year’s Eve, when time rewound, Isaac, with his lost memories, would be completely unguarded in the next cycle. Then, she could devise a more intricate plan.
Even so, there was no reason to wait. Time had looped countless times. She’d tried everything except actively seeking death before New Year’s Eve. And at this point, it was the only thing left to occupy her.
Arietta sat on the bed, steadying her breath. Isaac was in the next room, a space intended as her hobby room but left unfinished, furnished only with a table. He was receiving reports there. Arietta was grateful for his restraint, for not having reached the point of demanding her presence on his lap during these reports. If it had come to that, any clandestine action would have been nearly impossible. She glanced at the clock. Isaac would return in about thirty minutes. It was time to gamble.
Several of Isaac’s preferred indulgences lay on the table: strong tobacco and even stronger liquor. Arietta opened the crystal decanter. The golden liquor shimmered like Isaac’s eyes. Carefully, she tilted the bottle, letting a single drop fall onto her tongue. A strange warmth bloomed from that point. It was bitter.
She crushed four of the seven sleeping pills, letting the resulting powder dissolve into the liquor. The drink remained unchanged, the alteration undetectable. She tasted another drop, detecting no difference. Isaac, immune to the effects of alcohol, was susceptible to his physician’s medications. That was the physician’s sole purpose. Arietta prayed he wouldn’t notice the addition to his drink. Tense, she waited. The ticking of the clock seemed to resonate within her own heart.
Finally, Isaac returned, having received all the reports and issued instructions for the following day. Arietta rubbed her pale cheeks where they couldn’t be seen.
“Staying the night again?”
Golden eyes narrowed, sweeping over her.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Arietta kept her voice even, a skill honed over countless repetitions.
“Want a drink?” she asked, pouring the golden liquor into a glass. Isaac never refused a drink. He accepted the glass without a word. Arietta’s heart pounded. Her gaze locked on his lips as he took a sip.
