TAPGB - Chapter 76

 TAPGB - Chapter 76

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

I slowly unpacked my luggage starting from the first floor. To be precise, it would be closer to organizing it so that no trace of it remains.

But it was difficult to touch anything hastily.

After living for nearly 300 years, it was difficult to tell which things were mine and which were not, and many things contained memories of Lucian.

[... Haha, right. He used to play with this too.]

I found a toy that had fallen behind the bookshelf. Maybe it was when Lucian was 8 or 9 years old. After all, he had been playing with it since he had just arrived here.

[One day, his toy suddenly disappeared and he cried. I never thought this would be here.]

I was fiddling with the soldier dolI that fit comfortably in my hand and wondered where I should put it.

In the back, there was a box where I had gathered my things to organize them.

After looking at it for a while, I ended up dragging a new box and making it a dedicated box for Lucian.

[I have to sort out Lucian's things anyway.]

Since I don't know when he will come here, shouldn't I keep it in his room? 

As I searched the room one by one, like breaking a seal, I found several boxes.

It's not mine, it's Lucian's.

Even though it had been five years since Lucian left here, many of his traces still remained.

[Do you think you can organize everything in Lucian's room?]

Just as the rooms such as the music room and training room were decorated to suit the tastes of the people who lived here, the room Lucian used will also be made in the same way.

Since I used the largest room, I could organize it somehow, but some things would inevitably end up going to the storage room.

Since I know everything about how and when Lucian used it, it would be a shame to keep it locked away in a box.

[Okay, then the next room is...]

I, who was about to move to the next room, discovered a cool kitchen.

I was silent for a moment and then went inside with a heavy heart.

[Haha... It's awkward.]

The kitchen was as cold as when Lucian had not come to the mansion.

Since there was no one here to eat food, it was natural not to cook, but the heavy silence was unfamiliar.

[When Lucian was there, I was here half the day.]

What delicious food should I make for him? What exactly is nutritious food? Would you like to try a new dish? etc.

I was always busy here making dishes just for Lucian. I guess it was just annoying at first.

[I guess I was enjoying it before I knew it.]

I touched the kitchen counter. It had not been cleaned for a long time, so there was a cloud of dust sitting there, and the seasonings were strangely browned as if they had gone bad.

What about the ingredients... It couldn't have happened.

[But thanks to that, there's nothing to clean up.] 

I came out of my shallow sentiments by thinking positively.

When I glanced back briefly before heading out, I seemed to see Lucian and myself bickering while cooking.

'Leah! It's so delicious!'

However, the illusion did not last longer than 10 seconds. When I saw that I was back in the colorless kitchen, I finally got out of there.

I spent almost a day like that.

Every time I moved from room to room and put away my and Lucian's luggage, I saw visions of Lucian several times and felt lonely several times.

However, as Lucian's luggage increased, I was able to organize my memories every time I organized them one by one in his room.

[Now this is the last one.]

After putting Lucian's favorite quill on the desk, his room was finally filled with memories of him.

I looked around the room blankly.

'Leah.'

'Leah?'

'Leah...!'

‘Hahahaha, Leah!!'

People of various ages, from 8-year-old Lucian to 18-year-old Lucian, called out to me everywhere.

But unfortunately, there was no picture of what Lucian would look like after he turned 18.

I just have the delusion that his jawline has become thicker and his voice tone has become lower. Lucian's complete face could not be drawn and disappeared like a mirage.

[This is it...]

Although I have lived for over 300 years, the 10 years I spent with Lucian were the most precious and happiest times of my life.

Even though I couldn't meet Lucian, I feel like I can leave this world without any regrets just because of the 10 years of memories I had with him.

Finally, I roughly organized my things in my room and came downstairs with new stationery, a collection of Lucian's drawings I had drawn so far, and the letter Lucian had sent me.

I take turns looking at the letters and picture books containing Lucian's current situation and imagine him growing up well.

After being lost in the lingering thoughts for a moment, I finally picked up the quill.

< To Lucian

Hello, Lucian. It's been a while since I wrote a letter.

How have you been?

It's already been 5 years since you became Crown Prince as Leopold's substitute.

The last time I sent you a letter, you said you were very busy.

As expected, since you're the Crown Prince of an empire, you have a lot to do. I'm afraid Leopold will have to wake up quickly to help ease your burden.

Are you eating well? Are you sleeping well?

No matter how busy you are, I hope you take care of your health. Because you don't even eat properly unless someone is nearby to take care of you. >

As I asked about his well-being and concerns below, the post became longer. I decided to leave it at that and wrote down the main point.

< Actually, the reason I am writing you this letter is because I hope you will be surprised to find me gone when you return to the mansion. 

Lucian... If you find this letter and don't see me, I may have disappeared from this world.

Since I've lived for over 300 years, I thought I'd be tied up in the mansion for a few hundred more years, but I guess that wasn't the case. My body has been acting weird lately. The cycle of losing consciousness is gradually increasing, and recently I woke up after 3 months.

I guess nothing lasts forever. Still, I thought I would stay until Lucian became a grandfather.

I thought that one day I would be around to see you marry a great woman, have children, and welcome grandchildren, but it seems like my time is running out.

For 300 years, in this colorless place where I repeated the same routine every day and no one recognized me, I encountered hope called you.

The 10 years I spent with you are the happiest moments in my life, more than the 300 or so years I lived my whole life.

Of course, the time I spent with Caesar was even more special. Still, just in case, you shouldn't show this letter to Caesar. Because I'm sure he'll get upset.

I have no regrets more than this. I'm just happy to be able to spend the last 10 years with you.

So please don't be sad, don't cry, and don't be angry that I'm gone.

Because I'm just going where I need to be. >

I paused while writing the letter. I wanted to continue writing in detail after this, but it felt like I was passing on my regrets to him.

[It would probably be better to be concise.]

So that Lucian does not regret breaking up with me.

Of course, Lucian may have forgotten me by now.

< The person I love most in this world is you, Lucian.

I hope you stay happy and healthy, and live long and well.

I love you, Lucian.

Lucian's only witch, Leah. >

Only after putting a period in it did I slowly take my eyes off the letter.

It wasn't enough to put my last feelings into this small letter, but my sincerity will be fully conveyed.

[That's enough...]

I folded the letter neatly and put it in an envelope. As the letter got longer, the envelope was quite thick.

I briefly kissed the letter and turned it to the side. Now it's time to leave a letter to Caesar.

There was a lot I wanted to say to him too.

< I usually find fault and complain about trivial things, but I know that you actually give more for me than anyone else. 

Even before Lucian came, you came to see me every time, and even after Lucian left, you visited me periodically to check on my condition. Caesar, I think I was able to live without falling apart until I met Lucian because you supported me.

I haven't been able to express it in words that I am embarrassed and unfamiliar with, but you are the first friend in my life and the only dragon with whom I can share everything. Thank you for not giving up and reaching out to me. Since you are a dragon, you will live longer than Lucian.

I hope you enjoy the world as long as possible.

Oh, and you wanted some of the antiques in the mansion.

Except for Lucian's room, you can take whatever you want. No, you have to own the mansion. I think they said it was on imperial property, but it was neglected anyway, so it wouldn't matter if you used it.

I hope it becomes a comfortable haven for you.

My only close friend and beloved red dragon.

I hope that when you see the end of the world, you will release your bundle of stories to me.

Caesar's only close friend, Leah. >

After I finished writing it, I felt like Caesar would be angry when he saw this.

The last time I contacted him, he was very angry when he found out that Lucian hadn't sent a letter for a long time.

[Just in case, I should write about forgiving Lucian.]

No, considering Caesar's personality, it might actually have the opposite effect.

Let's leave it like this for now.

[But I can still meet Caesar and leave.]

I don't know when I'll be able to contact Lucian or when he'll come, but Caesar will be able to talk about my story as long as he contacts me through the crystal ball.

I closed my eyes while looking at the two neatly folded letters. The image of Lucian and Caesar came to mind vividly.

In the back of a familiar mansion, two men boasting handsome stature were standing with their backs to me.

One of them was caressing his white hair and chattering about something, and the other one next to him was listening to the white-haired man with his long red hair flowing.

Although it's just my imagination, it's a sight I miss so much that it makes my heart ache.

Soon, the two people turned their heads this way, as if they felt something was happening.

'Arya!'

'Witch! What are you doing there?

But something is strange.

The two people I thought were Lucian and Caesar turned into strangers.

The person assumed to be Lucian had a slightly gentler expression than Lucian, and the person assumed to be Caesar had sharper and harsher eyes.

***

[Huh!]

My eyes brightened momentarily.

When I turned my head, the sky where the sunset was setting became dark. I checked the time and it was exactly midnight.

[Did I lose my mind again in the meantime?]

It's not like several months have passed this time, right?

Worried, I looked around and found the two letters I had written a while ago lying there.

Seeing as there wasn't much difference from before I lost consciousness, it seemed like only a few hours had passed at most.

[However... What on earth did I see?]

These weren't the two people I knew.

But what was also strange was that although it must have been an extremely unfamiliar face, it felt somehow familiar and I felt a longing for it.

[Come to think of it... I think this situation has happened a few times.]

When I lose consciousness and wake up, sometimes I am consumed by something. After a while, I forgot all about it.

[It feels like I had a dream.]

But isn't it true that I  can't dream because I am a ghost?

Did something strange happen when it was time for extinction?

[Ah... I really don't have time.]  

I discovered that half of my lower body was missing. My hands and arms also blinked, disappearing and appearing again and again. Above all, I had a strong intuition.

[I am disappearing today.]

I was just filled with that confidence. I had less than 12 hours left.

Before I knew it, my left leg was gone.

Little by little, my body parts are disappearing from this world.

I realized that I didn't have much time left, so I got up, grabbed the art book and Caesar's crystal ball, and headed toward the front door.

And I sat in front of it, on the steps of the front door.

[... I want to see your faces one last time.]

I found Lucian and Caesar smiling broadly in the picture book and stroking their faces.

I don't know if those two people will come to me after passing that fence, but I'm guessing they'll be waiting here to greet me and say my final goodbyes.

That was the last affection I could give them.

Huaaaa, I'm crying 😭

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