ICTV - Chapter 34

ICTV - Chapter 34

I Changed The Villain

“Uh, I’m resting.”

They didn't move so much that even the wary hares and squirrels were tapping their bodies or climbing up and down like trees. 

Beryl held Taksha in one arm.

“What are they really doing?”

“Isn’t this just practicing silence, Master? it’s a new word I learned while studying with the maids.”

“You're such a gifted child. It’s a perfect fit for this situation.”

"Hehehe..."

Taksha smiled shyly. The two approached Rose. Rose and the weasel must have felt the presence of interest, but they didn't even move their eyes. 

Beryl had no choice but to shout out loud.

“Hey. Wake up!”

However, the only things that moved were the small animals on Rose's body. The animals go into the bush and disappear in an instant. 

Beryl gently grabbed Rose's shoulder and shook her.

“Let’s go home?”

“You seem to be thinking deeply today.”

“What are your thoughts? Just blanking out only."

Can not help it. He guesses he'll just have to carry her on his back. Beryl raised his head. Perhaps because it was a forest, the sun was already setting.

“You take charge of the weasel.”

“Yes, Master.”

Beryl placed the weasel in Taksha's arms and then put Rose on his back. The two, each carrying a pack of luggage, walked away.

"Oh. Come to think of it, Young master.” 

“… Did you remember to ask another question?"

“No, I suddenly remembered something. I’m sure you said it while you were camping.”

Because of the shade of the trees, it is dark everywhere, as if it is the middle of the night. However, the two, who had become accustomed to the geography of the forest, walked without hesitation.

“Sometimes people say they see ghosts here.”

“Oh, that’s right. There was more than one witness, so people who live around here don’t even come out when it gets dark.”

Ghost? 

Rose's body moved slightly.

“But I think it’s a rumor. Even though we camped out and ate dinner, they never showed up in front of me.”

“I couldn’t even see it with my own eyes.”

Even while the two were talking, they didn't stop. The six legs walked diligently. At that time, I, who had been silently staring to the side, opened my mouth.

“You two are not the least bit afraid of ghosts. Isn’t that why it doesn’t show up?”

Taksha responds to my sudden words. He was very surprised.

“The Lady finally came to her senses."

“...What do you mean I've been silent all this time?”

I said regardless.

“I heard somewhere that ghosts are strong and don’t go near people who aren’t afraid of them.”

Taksha immediately asked a question.

“Then do they immediately appear in front of people who are weak or timid?”

"Yes. It’s not enough for them to just show up right away, they follow them around and harass them.”

Taksha was immediately disgusted by those words.

“Uh, they're following us around at all? I don't like that."

"Yes. I hate it so much. Not some kind of stalker. Ghosts are different from humans, so you can't report them anywhere. That's why."

I'm going to say something stupid again. The moment Beryl became instinctively anxious, I spoke.

“I think ghosts can also be considered a representative example of strength and weakness.”

"...What are you talking about?”

“Literally. For strong people who can not hear the sound and get stronger in front of the evil person. Representative of lipid person characteristic."

The ghost of this world is not different from the ghosts in Wanland. You should be cursed to someone to be tied to a specific place. I do not want to go to the posting world because I have made something else.

"I said. The ghost is not a faith of the Ghost, and the augmented person dies, right?"

"Legally what steps can they take? Doesn't the ghost know that there isn't anything? They know that they can’t do anything about humans, so they harass them.”

It's not wrong. 

“Cowards.”

Beryl knew it was nonsense, but on the other hand, he had no choice but to admit it. I continued speaking.

“You have to figure out a way to get revenge directly on the culprit who put you in that situation. I don't know why they only pick on the weak and bully them. The ghost is the Han River, no, it's the country next door that was slapped in the Avalon Empire."

“It’s like taking out your anger in the Ravian country.”

And here's one more reason why ghosts are annoying. As I continued speaking, two of the six legs became slower and slower.

“They say if ghosts run rampant there, house prices and land prices will drop. What if the land belongs to the person who made it that way? What if it belongs to someone else? Property such as a house or land is like life. What are the landowners really guilty of?”

"..."

“You know how painful it is to experience something unreasonable, but you return that pain in return. How are you different from the people who made you like that?”

Slowly, the village lights began to come into view. Beryl asked.

“It’s true in every detail, but why? Are you suddenly saying something like that?”

“That’s right, I’m curious about the reason too, Miss."

Now only four legs were moving. I shifted my gaze from the side to the front of the road.

“I’m just curious about the reaction. Still, it's a bit disappointing. I was curious what would happen if they followed me to the real mansion."

“Anyway, you always say things I don’t understand. Even ghosts don’t know how to deal with someone like you, so they’ll run away.”

Beryl clicked his tongue and lifted Rose onto his back.

After that day, the villagers no longer saw ghosts in the forest.

***

“It doesn’t matter what the budget is. I want to make it as flashy as possible.”

“Even if we don’t have to be extravagant, everyone will know that the Duke and Lady Rose are engaged.”

“It’s because I want to give Rose only the best things.”

I walked away from Belial, who was talking to James. In the Serenity family's garden, extensive construction was underway for the engagement ceremony.

Gardeners were planting roses of various varieties in each section, and sculptors were carving thorn bushes in relief on the pillars of the white pavilion. I looked at the people across the river as if in awe.

'...What do you do when you decide to die?'

There's no progress. If this goes on, I won't actually get married. I wanted to roar. They said he was very possessive. They say he was obsessed, and I tried to fix people but it wasn't...! 

Rose squinted at Belial.

"..."

It is difficult for people to change. There's no way I don't know that. The fact that bad habits do not pop out even when they are stuck together like this means that they are suppressing their nature with superhuman strength and are persevering. 

Even if Belial makes a fuss about breaking up with me now, and even if he humiliates me by swearing all kinds of things because he doesn't like people like me, I'm sure he will let me go with tears in his eyes. 

Like the day he gave me a yellow rose and told me to break up.

"But honestly.”

It was pretty to see him crying. I was so distracted at the time that I just didn't feel it. Because he was a cool-headed man, the sight of him crying seemed calm, but the sight of him crying was so beautiful that even a person with a heart of steel would be shaken.

“Certainly, it is better to say that Belial is beautiful rather than wonderful.”

“What is that? Those words were made for you. No one is as beautiful as you.”

It's not surprising anymore. I suddenly looked at Belial who was standing next to me.

“Rose, are you free tomorrow?”

“It’s a lot of time. What’s going on?” 

“I decided on a formal attire right away when I have time. I'd like to, but I have a dressing room in mind."

“There is one place I looked around, but it doesn’t have to be there.”

“Then I will go to the place I had in mind.”

“Where is it?”

Belial spoke in my ear and told me the name of the clothing room. My eyes opened wide.

“It’s a very famous place because it specializes in making costumes for members of the imperial family. They say it's hard to make a reservation. It will take longer, especially since the formal clothes are made to order.”

Belial answered wisely.

“Money is not everything in life, but it can solve most problems."

“That’s a famous saying.”

“And if possible..."

Belial's face became rosy. 

“I hope to get your wedding dress tailored there later.”

"Oh."

His face is so red that I can't tell who is Rose. I felt confident that I would not be surprised if the gardener took the Duke Serenity and planted it in the ground. And I also thought it was really bad. 

I stared at Belial’s face. Belial continued speaking without paying attention to the piercing gaze.

“The wedding dress will be made so extravagant that it cannot be compared to the engagement gown. Imagine yourself wearing a gorgeous wedding dress and a veil.”

Belial's face was not enough, and now his eyes were even red. Belial slightly wiped the corners of his eyes. Transparent tears wet his long eyelashes.

“I’m so happy I’m crying like this."

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me. But...."

The moment Rose trailed off, James called Belial.

“Duke Serenity. Please come here for a moment.”

“Oh, wait a minute, Rose.”

Belial turned to James. My eyes followed Belial. A strange thought occurred to me.

Earlier, I thought that going to a wedding was the most hopeless development.

But I don't feel that way right now. I just have strange thoughts. Usually, at weddings, the groom wears black to set off the bride in a pure white dress. Belial is also willing to wear black robes to make myself stand out.

I checked what dress I was wearing today. I happened to be wearing a black dress, so I will be able to check it out today. I suddenly grabbed Belial's hand. 

Belial, who interpreted the action in a different way, held his hand and spoke kindly.

“Okay, Rose. Let’s go have lunch. I told you to bake a lot of Mont Blanc for dessert.”

“No, that’s not important right now.”

Seeing me looking more serious than ever, Belial also became more serious. 

“So what’s important now?”

“Veil.”

"Yes?"

I asked, pulling Belial's arm.

“Do you have a veil?”

Why is she suddenly looking for that? Although Belial was puzzled, he answered steadily.

“I only have one in my room.”

“Okay. Let’s go now.”

Belial was dragged by me despite his reputation as the world's strongest. I crossed the long hallway and climbed the high stairs without hesitation. 

Belial, who was looking at my narrow back, called out to me softly.

"Rose."

I turned my head instead of answering. 

Belial was momentarily stunned. Because Rose, looking down at him from the top of the stairs, was so beautiful that he was miserable. Rose will probably be beautiful in any situation. Really under any circumstances. Belial strengthened his joined hands.

“Why don’t you ask anything?”

Previous            Next

Support Novellate!