"Isn't that why you decided to marry the Duke of Belfort in the first place?"
"A land that borders Kelvetia. In a way, it's the perfect land to die 'naturally'."
As Randall listened to David, things that felt like gnats on the tip of his finger in his memory came back to me one by one.
"Hey, hey, it's a monster!"
At the first banquet held in the North after their marriage, Sylvia blocked Rubia's path without hesitation.
"I will protect my pride."
During the rebellion of Marquis Glever, she walked deep into the forest with Jeffrey.
"I am ashamed to say that I have caused trouble to your schedule for subduing the demons. I apologize."
The incident where he followed the demon 'Bella' he met on the road without hesitation.
"If I fall asleep, wake me up."
Every time he saw Sylvia sleeping, he felt uneasy as if she might stop breathing at any moment. Things that he had thought were 'strange' in a corner of his subconscious came to mind in a chain reaction as if they had been prepared.
"...If."
What if... really, all of those things were Sylvia’s own actions? What if she had accepted to marry him to die in the first place? To her, he was just a means to an end... ‘death’? The look in her eyes, her expression, her actions, even her voice. Was it all just acting to achieve her end, which was death?
"Ugh."
In an instant, he felt a surge of disgust. A sense of betrayal and despair of having lost his place surged through his body. But at the same time, Randall wanted to erase all of his doubts. He just wanted to dismiss them as David's ridiculous nonsense and forget about them. But soon, the door to the living room opened. The moment his eyes met Sylvia's over David's shoulder.
"...Randall?"
"A land that borders Kelvetia. In a way, it's the perfect land to die 'naturally'."
As Randall listened to David, things that felt like gnats on the tip of his finger in his memory came back to me one by one.
"Hey, hey, it's a monster!"
At the first banquet held in the North after their marriage, Sylvia blocked Rubia's path without hesitation.
"I will protect my pride."
During the rebellion of Marquis Glever, she walked deep into the forest with Jeffrey.
"I am ashamed to say that I have caused trouble to your schedule for subduing the demons. I apologize."
The incident where he followed the demon 'Bella' he met on the road without hesitation.
"If I fall asleep, wake me up."
Every time he saw Sylvia sleeping, he felt uneasy as if she might stop breathing at any moment. Things that he had thought were 'strange' in a corner of his subconscious came to mind in a chain reaction as if they had been prepared.
"...If."
What if... really, all of those things were Sylvia’s own actions? What if she had accepted to marry him to die in the first place? To her, he was just a means to an end... ‘death’? The look in her eyes, her expression, her actions, even her voice. Was it all just acting to achieve her end, which was death?
"Ugh."
In an instant, he felt a surge of disgust. A sense of betrayal and despair of having lost his place surged through his body. But at the same time, Randall wanted to erase all of his doubts. He just wanted to dismiss them as David's ridiculous nonsense and forget about them. But soon, the door to the living room opened. The moment his eyes met Sylvia's over David's shoulder.
"...Randall?"
Randall clearly saw her face crumble for a split second.
"When...did you come?"
Sylvia seemed to be trying to hide it, but Randall was already able to tell her condition just by the slightest breath. Seeing her anxiously looking at him as if she had committed a crime, further denial was meaningless. When he acknowledged it, his heart calmed down. Only one certainty remained in his confused mind.
"I'm sorry. I was just about to open the door when His Highness the Crown Prince came out, so I was a little... startled."
There was no way Sylvia would have made such a choice without a reason. The Sylvia Florette Belfort he knows is not like that.
Randall burst into tears and spoke quickly.
“Was I really that ugly?”
“...”
“So my love wasn’t worth trusting you even a little bit in the end?”
Randall finally twisted his face in agony and screamed loudly. At his scream mixed with tears, Sylvia, who had been dazed the whole time, came to her senses.
"...No."
Her breathing became rapid as if she was crying. Sylvia clutched her chest, feeling as if her heart was being torn apart into a thousand pieces at the sight of Randall crying. Sylvia desperately tried to continue speaking between her gasping breaths.
“No. It’s not that I don’t trust you...”
I just don't want you to know my ugly appearance...
Anyway, from the beginning, it was a relationship that would have ended if Philia herself had let go. More precisely, it was a relationship that should have been let go long ago. Philia alone held on to the relationship that should have been let go long ago due to feelings of regret and guilt. Now, she finally thinks that maybe that behavior was just poking Jeffrey's wounds.
"Nice to meet you, Young Lady Seicrine. My name is Osmond Limbert."
Osmond Limbert, whom she met that way, was a very nice young man, almost apologetic. He waited for her at the café where they had met, and when she arrived, he stood up, greeted her politely, and pulled out a chair for her.
“It’s okay. I’ll be back really soon.”
The coachman spoke worriedly, but Philia shrugged her shoulders and entered the park alone. After walking through the park and taking deep breaths, the strange feeling finally went away.
'I'm feeling a little better now. It's still a little cold though...'
It was a little chilly because she was dressed up for the appointment. Filia unconsciously stroked her arm with her hand and walked absentmindedly. At that time.
“Philia.”
A soft but clear call pierced her ears. For a moment, Philia doubted her ears at the voice that could not possibly be heard here.
'This is an obsession.'
She looked back briefly, mocking herself, and then stopped moving.
“...Jeffrey?”
It wasn't a fantasy, it was real. In her fantasy, Jeffrey always had a smiling face, but the young man in front of her was just plain.
Jeffrey slowly walked towards Philia. He stopped in front of her and quietly scolded her.
“What am I supposed to do if you go out alone like this without a maid?”
Jeffrey spoke without hesitation, took off his jacket, and placed it on Philia's shoulders. Philia, who had been standing there blankly, belatedly came to her senses at the scent and body heat of Jeffrey who had come close to her. She chewed hard on the inside of her cheek and muttered to herself.
'No.'
She has to break it off. She really has to break it off now.
“And even if it’s just a coincidence, I would like you to try not to talk to me. It wouldn’t be good if rumors spread that I was alone with another person before my wedding.”
"When...did you come?"
Sylvia seemed to be trying to hide it, but Randall was already able to tell her condition just by the slightest breath. Seeing her anxiously looking at him as if she had committed a crime, further denial was meaningless. When he acknowledged it, his heart calmed down. Only one certainty remained in his confused mind.
"I'm sorry. I was just about to open the door when His Highness the Crown Prince came out, so I was a little... startled."
There was no way Sylvia would have made such a choice without a reason. The Sylvia Florette Belfort he knows is not like that.
Randall repeated this to himself, desperately trying to pull himself together. He didn’t want to think that all the affection he felt in Sylvia’s eyes was fake. So he waited. Why on earth did she want to die?
She would explain to him someday. She would believe in him someday. She would love him... someday. But the price of waiting was miserable.
"Master?"
A little while ago, Randall returned to the castle earlier than usual. Thelma ran out, looking flustered. Randall instinctively realized that her fluster was not just because of his early return home, and questioned her. In the end, Thelma took out the note that Sylvia had asked her to deliver to Randall exactly one hour ago.
"Master?"
A little while ago, Randall returned to the castle earlier than usual. Thelma ran out, looking flustered. Randall instinctively realized that her fluster was not just because of his early return home, and questioned her. In the end, Thelma took out the note that Sylvia had asked her to deliver to Randall exactly one hour ago.
“...You must be fine without me.
- Sylvia Florette Belfort.”
The moment he read the last phrase, which was like a will, his heart sank. Since what Sylvia wanted was a ‘natural death,’ it never occurred to him that she would not announce her death so blatantly. Randall kicked the ground without even having time to think.
Boom!
"Oh, surprise!"
The moment he opened the door to the master bedroom, he felt a faint trembling of magic in front of Auston, who was screaming. It was as if someone had just disappeared from this room using teleportation magic. Randall was finally certain that it was Sylvia who had let Bella escape that night when he had tried to arrest her.
"Where did she go?"
"Yes? I, I don't quite understand what you're saying..."
"I asked where Sylvia had moved to using the teleportation magic. Even if you didn't know, track her."
"My lord, how do you know that?"
Randall finally let out a hollow laugh when Auston showed signs of knowing about Sylvia's magical abilities. He teased Auston to find out where Sylvia was headed and used his magic to reach the forest entrance and follow Sylvia's trail. What he saw was Sylvia's back as she stretched her legs over the cliff.
"Sylvia!"
At that moment, for the first time, Randall was truly angry at Sylvia. Randall shed tears without stopping, a smile twisted by anger and despair. Slowly, he bit the hand that was holding Sylvia's arm and opened his mouth.
“...I was anxious.”
Every minute, every second since he found out the truth, he was afraid that Sylvia would abandon him at any moment. The longer he waited for Sylvia to tell him the truth, the more he saw aspects of her that he didn't know. Even as they touched each other, their bodies touched, and their lips touched, the feeling of anxiety did not disappear like a shadow, but hovered around him.
“But I waited for you to tell me. I was ready to believe whatever nonsense you said...!”
"Oh, surprise!"
The moment he opened the door to the master bedroom, he felt a faint trembling of magic in front of Auston, who was screaming. It was as if someone had just disappeared from this room using teleportation magic. Randall was finally certain that it was Sylvia who had let Bella escape that night when he had tried to arrest her.
"Where did she go?"
"Yes? I, I don't quite understand what you're saying..."
"I asked where Sylvia had moved to using the teleportation magic. Even if you didn't know, track her."
"My lord, how do you know that?"
Randall finally let out a hollow laugh when Auston showed signs of knowing about Sylvia's magical abilities. He teased Auston to find out where Sylvia was headed and used his magic to reach the forest entrance and follow Sylvia's trail. What he saw was Sylvia's back as she stretched her legs over the cliff.
"Sylvia!"
At that moment, for the first time, Randall was truly angry at Sylvia. Randall shed tears without stopping, a smile twisted by anger and despair. Slowly, he bit the hand that was holding Sylvia's arm and opened his mouth.
“...I was anxious.”
Every minute, every second since he found out the truth, he was afraid that Sylvia would abandon him at any moment. The longer he waited for Sylvia to tell him the truth, the more he saw aspects of her that he didn't know. Even as they touched each other, their bodies touched, and their lips touched, the feeling of anxiety did not disappear like a shadow, but hovered around him.
“But I waited for you to tell me. I was ready to believe whatever nonsense you said...!”
Randall burst into tears and spoke quickly.
“Was I really that ugly?”
“...”
“So my love wasn’t worth trusting you even a little bit in the end?”
Randall finally twisted his face in agony and screamed loudly. At his scream mixed with tears, Sylvia, who had been dazed the whole time, came to her senses.
"...No."
Her breathing became rapid as if she was crying. Sylvia clutched her chest, feeling as if her heart was being torn apart into a thousand pieces at the sight of Randall crying. Sylvia desperately tried to continue speaking between her gasping breaths.
“No. It’s not that I don’t trust you...”
I just don't want you to know my ugly appearance...
Sylvia was about to open her mouth to say something.
Crack.
The ground suddenly shook, and the edge of the cliff where Randall and Sylvia were standing split open with an eerie sound. A clear line appeared on the ground beneath their feet as if drawn with a brush.
Randall and Sylvia's eyes met as they had promised. Immediately afterward, the ground where Sylvia was standing collapsed, and her body swayed backward.
“Sylvia!”
Randall reached out his hand in amazement. The moment he was about to grab Sylvia's wrist, the magic circle that had been swinging dangerously behind her back suddenly glowed brightly, engulfing both their bodies together.
“Sylvia!”
Randall reached out his hand in amazement. The moment he was about to grab Sylvia's wrist, the magic circle that had been swinging dangerously behind her back suddenly glowed brightly, engulfing both their bodies together.
***
CLANG.
“...!”
Philia stared blankly out the window, then came to her senses suddenly as the carriage shook. It must have been broad daylight just a moment ago when she had gotten into the carriage. In that brief moment, the world had been dyed in the color of sunset.
“Oh, I was absentminded.”
She muttered softly and let out a deep sigh. Philia, who was riding alone in the carriage, was dressed more carefully than usual. The dress she was wearing was new, and it was far from the 'simple' design she usually preferred. She was wearing earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet, so much so that her body felt heavy.
"I'm tired..."
Philia leaned her head against the wall of the carriage and closed her eyes. It was an action to clear her mind of thoughts, but as she closed her eyes, the events of the day took over her mind again.
"Dad, please make an appointment with Lord Limbert."
Two days ago. After meeting Sylvia at Belfort Castle, Philia, who had been locked in her room for several days, was lost in thought when she went to see the Marquis. Philia spoke calmly to the surprised Marquis.
"Mom, Dad, you're right. I think I was being too selfish. I'll meet Lord Limbert to get married."
"...Philia, are you really okay?"
"...Yes. I’m really okay."
“...!”
Philia stared blankly out the window, then came to her senses suddenly as the carriage shook. It must have been broad daylight just a moment ago when she had gotten into the carriage. In that brief moment, the world had been dyed in the color of sunset.
“Oh, I was absentminded.”
She muttered softly and let out a deep sigh. Philia, who was riding alone in the carriage, was dressed more carefully than usual. The dress she was wearing was new, and it was far from the 'simple' design she usually preferred. She was wearing earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet, so much so that her body felt heavy.
"I'm tired..."
Philia leaned her head against the wall of the carriage and closed her eyes. It was an action to clear her mind of thoughts, but as she closed her eyes, the events of the day took over her mind again.
"Dad, please make an appointment with Lord Limbert."
Two days ago. After meeting Sylvia at Belfort Castle, Philia, who had been locked in her room for several days, was lost in thought when she went to see the Marquis. Philia spoke calmly to the surprised Marquis.
"Mom, Dad, you're right. I think I was being too selfish. I'll meet Lord Limbert to get married."
"...Philia, are you really okay?"
"...Yes. I’m really okay."
Anyway, from the beginning, it was a relationship that would have ended if Philia herself had let go. More precisely, it was a relationship that should have been let go long ago. Philia alone held on to the relationship that should have been let go long ago due to feelings of regret and guilt. Now, she finally thinks that maybe that behavior was just poking Jeffrey's wounds.
"Nice to meet you, Young Lady Seicrine. My name is Osmond Limbert."
Osmond Limbert, whom she met that way, was a very nice young man, almost apologetic. He waited for her at the café where they had met, and when she arrived, he stood up, greeted her politely, and pulled out a chair for her.
Limbert heard that Philia was uncomfortable with this marriage proposal, so he avoided the topic and just asked her about her. What she liked. What kind of person she was. Philia was able to let down her guard a little and talk to him because he was so easygoing as if he was just a close friend. Osmond Limbert was really a nice person. That was why she was uncomfortable. Because he was too nice.
"I'll take you to the mansion."
"Oh, no. That's a bit..."
After leaving the café, Philia instinctively showed her rejection at Osmond's words and said, "Oh no." However, Osmond simply smiled gently and nodded without showing any sign of embarrassment.
"Okay. Then, please be careful on your way home, Young Lady."
'He was a good person.'
The sight of the village, dyed in crimson, slowly moving away came into view. Philia opened her closed eyes and looked at the scenery, then suddenly thought.
‘...If I live with someone like that.’
Wouldn’t it be nice to naturally like that person, too?
"I'll take you to the mansion."
"Oh, no. That's a bit..."
After leaving the café, Philia instinctively showed her rejection at Osmond's words and said, "Oh no." However, Osmond simply smiled gently and nodded without showing any sign of embarrassment.
"Okay. Then, please be careful on your way home, Young Lady."
'He was a good person.'
The sight of the village, dyed in crimson, slowly moving away came into view. Philia opened her closed eyes and looked at the scenery, then suddenly thought.
‘...If I live with someone like that.’
Wouldn’t it be nice to naturally like that person, too?
Not with a heart that is longing, impatient, or burning like a flame. Just living with a heart that is comfortable and familiar with being by his side... wouldn’t it be nice?
Philia tried to imagine herself and Osmond walking down the street, arm in arm, affectionately, through the carriage window. But as if her mind had gone blank, nothing came to mind.
“Ugh.”
Philia suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, grimaced, and placed her hand on her chest. However, no matter how hard she tried to catch her breath, the feeling of being out of breath did not go away.
“Wait a minute. Isn’t there a park nearby?”
Finally, Philia knocked on the carriage wall and ordered the coachman to change the destination to a nearby park. Fortunately, there was a quiet park not far away. After getting out of the carriage and stepping on the ground, breathing became much easier. However, the tight feeling in her chest still remained.
“Wait here.”
“But, My Lady, it will be set soon, but by yourself...”
“Ugh.”
Philia suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, grimaced, and placed her hand on her chest. However, no matter how hard she tried to catch her breath, the feeling of being out of breath did not go away.
“Wait a minute. Isn’t there a park nearby?”
Finally, Philia knocked on the carriage wall and ordered the coachman to change the destination to a nearby park. Fortunately, there was a quiet park not far away. After getting out of the carriage and stepping on the ground, breathing became much easier. However, the tight feeling in her chest still remained.
“Wait here.”
“But, My Lady, it will be set soon, but by yourself...”
“It’s okay. I’ll be back really soon.”
The coachman spoke worriedly, but Philia shrugged her shoulders and entered the park alone. After walking through the park and taking deep breaths, the strange feeling finally went away.
'I'm feeling a little better now. It's still a little cold though...'
It was a little chilly because she was dressed up for the appointment. Filia unconsciously stroked her arm with her hand and walked absentmindedly. At that time.
“Philia.”
A soft but clear call pierced her ears. For a moment, Philia doubted her ears at the voice that could not possibly be heard here.
'This is an obsession.'
She looked back briefly, mocking herself, and then stopped moving.
“...Jeffrey?”
It wasn't a fantasy, it was real. In her fantasy, Jeffrey always had a smiling face, but the young man in front of her was just plain.
Jeffrey slowly walked towards Philia. He stopped in front of her and quietly scolded her.
“What am I supposed to do if you go out alone like this without a maid?”
Jeffrey spoke without hesitation, took off his jacket, and placed it on Philia's shoulders. Philia, who had been standing there blankly, belatedly came to her senses at the scent and body heat of Jeffrey who had come close to her. She chewed hard on the inside of her cheek and muttered to herself.
'No.'
She has to break it off. She really has to break it off now.
Philia grabbed the jacket draped over her shoulders tightly, then took it off and held it out to Jeffrey. Her face was expressionless and cold.
“Take it, I don’t need it.”
“Take it, I don’t need it.”
“...”
“And even if it’s just a coincidence, I would like you to try not to talk to me. It wouldn’t be good if rumors spread that I was alone with another person before my wedding.”
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