Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 184
“Are you really my child?”
“Of course. I’m your only son.”
For the first time, the boy smiled. That smile resembled Burt’s so much. No wonder he felt familiar from the start. Now that she looked closely, aside from the eyes, the boy resembled Burt a great deal.
‘His eyes are like mine.’
Because of that, he gave off a softer impression than Burt.
“No.”
Irene shook Burt’s hand off and stepped back. Burt let her go without resistance, but his face was filled with confusion. He seemed startled by her sudden reaction.
‘There’s no way this future could be real.’
All of this was a scheme by Camille to enchant her.
‘I might be dying soon,’ Irene thought, rubbing her face with both hands before lifting her head again. But nothing changed. Even when she clasped her hands together in prayer, the vision remained.
“Mom?”
“Irene?”
Both of them looked at her with puzzled expressions.
“This is an illusion.”
She said aloud. But then, a whisper came from somewhere.
[It’s not an illusion.]
“It’s an illusion!”
[Oh, Irene, poor child. All of this is the future you’ll have.]
“Lies!”
[It’s not a lie. As long as you don’t die, you will have all of this—an always kind husband, a beloved child you worked hard to have.]
Camille chuckled softly.
[In a world where I reign, Burt wouldn’t be a king, and you wouldn’t be a saintess, but you’d still be happy. This is all real. I swear it on my name.]
“Does your name even hold that much worth?”
[Of course. You may think of me as a false goddess, but I’m the only one who’s come close to the truth. I’m not human. The power in my name is not the same as a human’s. After all, wasn’t it the goddess who gave me my name?]
Her wicked tongue wove sweet words.
[Abandon the sleeping goddess. Come and join me. Even Burt would follow you, and together you’ll create this beautiful future.]
“You’re quite the chatterbox.”
[It’s been a while since I’ve met a human I can speak with. Ramiel is useful, but not much of a person who could handle conversations. That’s how fanatics are.]
“Irene?”
Burt called Irene’s name again.
“Mom?”
The child in her arms was so adorable that, even though she had just met him, her heart wavered.
[How about it? Isn’t it time to change your mind?]
“Is this world truly the future?”
[Yes, it is. Though, I can’t keep it up for long. Even for a goddess, peering into the future isn’t an easy feat.]
Unconsciously, Irene placed her hand on her stomach. She didn’t know much about having children or what came after. But she had blessed pregnant women before.
She remembered the couple who had struggled to conceive and how they had smiled so happily. Irene had felt envious watching them.
Two entirely different people meeting and creating a family—it seemed like a miracle. She had always believed that such a thing would never happen for her.
[No, you can be happy too.]
Something surged from deep within her, an overwhelming emotion that made tears flow down her cheeks.
“Yes, I suppose I could be happy too.”
I’m sorry, Irene apologized in her heart. If this wasn’t just Camille’s trick, if this was indeed a possible future, she owed an apology.
‘I’m sorry that I won’t be able to give birth to you.’
The person standing by Burt’s side would not be her, but someone else. Someone who could make him happier than she ever could.
[Are you crying?]
Camille, thinking that Irene had almost given in, curled her lips into a smile.
[Why are you crying? Is it because all your efforts feel futile? Or because you feel guilty about betraying the goddess?]
She was wrong on all counts.
“I was always a miserable person with nothing. I was hated by everyone, so I resented the world and wanted revenge.”
But, you know, at some point, my thoughts changed.
“Now, I can wish for someone else’s happiness.”
Camille remained silent.
“So…”
Irene, with tears streaming down her face, unleashed her divine power. The ground beneath her feet began to crumble as the world around her started to change.
Burt and the child, startled, reached out for Irene. She could have easily reached back and grabbed their hands, but she didn’t.
“This is how it should be.”
Irene smiled at the two as they drifted away.
When she regained her senses, she was back in the original place. Nearby, the priests were supporting her with their strength, and the knights were standing guard in front of her.
Irene let out a small smile. The false goddess Camille did not lie.
After returning to reality, she realized that what she had seen could have been one of her possible futures. But even so, her heart didn’t waver.
The clouds parted in the once gloomy sky, and beams of light poured down through the gaps. The wounded were healed, and everyone’s minds cleared.
The light did not distinguish between ally or foe.
