Cough!
Blood gushed from the Marquis' mouth.
"What...!"
We all opened our eyes wide and couldn't hide our bewilderment at the unexpected turn of events.
But the real confusion started from now on.
“Ugh, kulk, ugh!”
The Marquis' body, which had been spitting out blood in gaggles, began to swell and in an instant, it grew to almost three times its size.
'Can a human body grow that large?'
It felt like seeing a golem just like you see in fantasy novels.
At that moment, I unconsciously took a step back at that strange sight.
Pop-!
A loud noise that seemed to pierce my eardrums rang out, and then the Marquis' body exploded.
As if he was hiding a bomb inside his body.
I stared blankly into space at the events that happened in an instant.
The sight of the Ibis minerals that made up his body and the internal organs inside it being torn apart into pieces and scattered like snow was completely unrealistic.
If it weren't for the screams of two people that followed, I would have thought I was dreaming.
“Oh, Father! Father!”
“No! Father!”
The two sons of Marquis Zenger, who witnessed their father's limbs bursting apart before their eyes, screamed with shocked expressions before fainting.
Well, it must have been too horrible a situation to remain sane.
I was blankly staring at them sprawled on the floor when I suddenly felt something damp and wiped my forehead with the back of my hand.
It was only when I saw the flesh that seemed to be the Marquis of Zenger's intestines soaking in blood that I realized that the Marquis was dead.
As I was looking down at my trembling hands, someone suddenly grabbed my hand.
It was Bayen.
He wiped my hands with a white handkerchief and spoke in a soft voice.
“It seems that there was a clause attached to the oath they made.”
“If there is a clause...”
“It was probably something like, if you betray your master, you will die with your limbs torn off.”
I burst out laughing at those words.
“She really is a terrible woman.”
I felt this way with Count Gus and Melina, but she was a woman who didn't know how to care for people at all.
To make such a treaty even with the first servant you appointed.
'What good is that guy that you would risk your life for?'
I was laughing in vain and stared at the place where Marquis Zenger had been with hardened eyes.
The Marquis' last words naturally crossed my mind.
'A combination of light and darkness...'
What on earth is that?
It was a word whose meaning I couldn't understand at all.
'Ha.'
I even postponed my mother's revenge for the sake of a greater cause, but all I got was these vague words.
I feel completely drained of strength.
I no longer had the strength to stand and collapsed to the floor, but the Crown Prince quickly helped me up.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded my head weakly.
“I need to get some rest.”
“I will take you to your room.”
“It’s okay. I can go by myself.”
I let go of the Crown Prince's hand that was holding my arm and headed to the room where I was staying.
I felt bad for always being indebted to Count Ganeth, but I was in no position to leave this place right now.
I entered the room exhausted and immediately collapsed on the bed.
It still doesn't feel real.
That my mother was a candidate for sainthood, that she was not killed by accident but was intentionally murdered by someone, and that the person who did it was the Marquis of Zenger, whom I had followed so closely.
Even though you understand it in your head, you may not be able to fully accept the fact because of guilt.
Guilt over only now discovering the terrible secret of my mother's death.
'But still, mother...'
I burst into tears when I thought of my mother who had come to me a little while ago and shown me a way to overcome the crisis.
Didn't you hate that pitiful daughter who followed her enemy around without even knowing how her mother passed away?
How could he have been so encouraging?
Don't scold me even once.
Don't be angry.
Then my heart wouldn't have been so torn apart.
I gritted my teeth to hold back the tears that kept threatening to spill out.
A child like me had no right to cry.
As I was whining and twisting the poor sheet, I felt someone's hand pat my shoulder.
When I looked up, I saw the Crown Prince standing at the bedside, gently patting my shoulder, wondering when he had come in.
“Your Highness, when...”
I tried to hurriedly wipe away my tears, thinking that I had put on an embarrassing appearance, but the Crown Prince grabbed my wrist tightly.
“Just cry.”
“...”
“What child wouldn’t shed tears when they found out the secret behind their parents’ deaths? It’s not shameful, so don’t hold back and cry as much as you want.”
A hollow laugh burst out at the warm comfort.
“What qualifications do I have?”
“...”
“I, a daughter who didn’t know anything for 13 long years after my mother passed away, and who couldn’t even take revenge after finding out, and who left her wandering the underworld worrying about her child even after she passed away, what right do I have to cry?”
“...Shayne.”
“I can’t cry. If I cry, my mother will worry about me. She won’t be able to rest in peace. I can’t cry.”
I even covered up the occasional sobs that escaped my lips, in case my mother heard them.
The Crown Prince, who had been staring blankly at the sight, let out a short sigh.
Then he pulled me by the shoulders and made me settle into his arms.
“Then, cry in my arms. I will hold everything in my chest so that the young Duchess cannot hear it. So, don’t worry about anything and just empty your chest. So that nothing remains in your chest.”
As he said that, the Crown Prince hugged me even more tightly.
As if trying to keep his word that he would hold all of my tears and cries in his arms.
Those words sounded strangely believable, and I ended up crying like a child.
Three days later, Chihara recovered.
It was a serious injury that took away his vitality and made him lose consciousness, but he was able to get up from his seat in just three days. It seems that an archangel is truly an archangel.
Still, I was worried that the legitimate archangel would fall into a sense of inferiority since he was defeated by a servant of a heretic goddess, but fortunately, that did not seem to be the case.
He was astonished, saying that it was the first time in his life that he had collapsed for three days.
And the farewell ceremony for Heath, which had been ruined by the attack of the Marquis of Zenger, was held again.
This separation seemed especially difficult, perhaps because the bond between the mother and son had deepened over the past three days, but we were still able to send Heath off smoothly.
After finishing everything, we prepared to leave.
“Have a nice stay, ma’am. I know you must have been upset about your husband, but thank you for taking care of me in so many ways.”
“You are most welcome. As Countess Ganeth, it is my great honor to welcome you, the Holy Lady, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as my final guests. May your journey be peaceful.”
"Thank you."
After hurriedly finishing my preparations and coming out to the front door, I exchanged a brief greeting with Countess Ganeth, who had come to see me off, and then headed to the waiting carriage.
But soon, when My eyes met with the Crown Prince standing in front of the carriage door, I flinched and stopped.
'Oh, that's awkward.'
Three days ago, I cried a lot in his arms and was so exhausted that I just lay there sick.
Although I was unable to even get out of bed, the Crown Prince took good care of me, even feeding me porridge himself.
At that time, I was so grateful for his kindness and consideration, but strangely, after I regained my energy, I found it difficult to meet his gaze.
'What kind of ungrateful attitude is this?'
As I was criticizing myself, the Crown Prince, who was looking over my attire, furrowed his brow as if he was displeased.
“Are you planning on going out dressed like that? Even though it’s summer, you might still have chills after being sick.”
“No chills. No, I’m fine.”
I answered as if nothing had happened, but I still rolled my eyes without meeting his gaze.
Then the Crown Prince nodded as if to ask what was going on.
I walked towards him, hesitantly.
It was still awkward, and as the distance between us grew closer, I felt my chest tighten strangely, but I couldn't help but ride the carriage.
'Why is it so hot all of a sudden?'
In the end, I got on the carriage, holding his hand, and it was at that moment that I was fanning myself with my hand to cool down from the heat that was rushing in.
"For a moment."
Blood gushed from the Marquis' mouth.
"What...!"
We all opened our eyes wide and couldn't hide our bewilderment at the unexpected turn of events.
But the real confusion started from now on.
“Ugh, kulk, ugh!”
The Marquis' body, which had been spitting out blood in gaggles, began to swell and in an instant, it grew to almost three times its size.
'Can a human body grow that large?'
It felt like seeing a golem just like you see in fantasy novels.
At that moment, I unconsciously took a step back at that strange sight.
Pop-!
A loud noise that seemed to pierce my eardrums rang out, and then the Marquis' body exploded.
As if he was hiding a bomb inside his body.
I stared blankly into space at the events that happened in an instant.
The sight of the Ibis minerals that made up his body and the internal organs inside it being torn apart into pieces and scattered like snow was completely unrealistic.
If it weren't for the screams of two people that followed, I would have thought I was dreaming.
“Oh, Father! Father!”
“No! Father!”
The two sons of Marquis Zenger, who witnessed their father's limbs bursting apart before their eyes, screamed with shocked expressions before fainting.
Well, it must have been too horrible a situation to remain sane.
I was blankly staring at them sprawled on the floor when I suddenly felt something damp and wiped my forehead with the back of my hand.
It was only when I saw the flesh that seemed to be the Marquis of Zenger's intestines soaking in blood that I realized that the Marquis was dead.
As I was looking down at my trembling hands, someone suddenly grabbed my hand.
It was Bayen.
He wiped my hands with a white handkerchief and spoke in a soft voice.
“It seems that there was a clause attached to the oath they made.”
“If there is a clause...”
“It was probably something like, if you betray your master, you will die with your limbs torn off.”
I burst out laughing at those words.
“She really is a terrible woman.”
I felt this way with Count Gus and Melina, but she was a woman who didn't know how to care for people at all.
To make such a treaty even with the first servant you appointed.
'What good is that guy that you would risk your life for?'
I was laughing in vain and stared at the place where Marquis Zenger had been with hardened eyes.
The Marquis' last words naturally crossed my mind.
'A combination of light and darkness...'
What on earth is that?
It was a word whose meaning I couldn't understand at all.
'Ha.'
I even postponed my mother's revenge for the sake of a greater cause, but all I got was these vague words.
I feel completely drained of strength.
I no longer had the strength to stand and collapsed to the floor, but the Crown Prince quickly helped me up.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded my head weakly.
“I need to get some rest.”
“I will take you to your room.”
“It’s okay. I can go by myself.”
I let go of the Crown Prince's hand that was holding my arm and headed to the room where I was staying.
I felt bad for always being indebted to Count Ganeth, but I was in no position to leave this place right now.
I entered the room exhausted and immediately collapsed on the bed.
It still doesn't feel real.
That my mother was a candidate for sainthood, that she was not killed by accident but was intentionally murdered by someone, and that the person who did it was the Marquis of Zenger, whom I had followed so closely.
Even though you understand it in your head, you may not be able to fully accept the fact because of guilt.
Guilt over only now discovering the terrible secret of my mother's death.
'But still, mother...'
I burst into tears when I thought of my mother who had come to me a little while ago and shown me a way to overcome the crisis.
Didn't you hate that pitiful daughter who followed her enemy around without even knowing how her mother passed away?
How could he have been so encouraging?
Don't scold me even once.
Don't be angry.
Then my heart wouldn't have been so torn apart.
I gritted my teeth to hold back the tears that kept threatening to spill out.
A child like me had no right to cry.
As I was whining and twisting the poor sheet, I felt someone's hand pat my shoulder.
When I looked up, I saw the Crown Prince standing at the bedside, gently patting my shoulder, wondering when he had come in.
“Your Highness, when...”
I tried to hurriedly wipe away my tears, thinking that I had put on an embarrassing appearance, but the Crown Prince grabbed my wrist tightly.
“Just cry.”
“...”
“What child wouldn’t shed tears when they found out the secret behind their parents’ deaths? It’s not shameful, so don’t hold back and cry as much as you want.”
A hollow laugh burst out at the warm comfort.
“What qualifications do I have?”
“...”
“I, a daughter who didn’t know anything for 13 long years after my mother passed away, and who couldn’t even take revenge after finding out, and who left her wandering the underworld worrying about her child even after she passed away, what right do I have to cry?”
“...Shayne.”
“I can’t cry. If I cry, my mother will worry about me. She won’t be able to rest in peace. I can’t cry.”
I even covered up the occasional sobs that escaped my lips, in case my mother heard them.
The Crown Prince, who had been staring blankly at the sight, let out a short sigh.
Then he pulled me by the shoulders and made me settle into his arms.
“Then, cry in my arms. I will hold everything in my chest so that the young Duchess cannot hear it. So, don’t worry about anything and just empty your chest. So that nothing remains in your chest.”
As he said that, the Crown Prince hugged me even more tightly.
As if trying to keep his word that he would hold all of my tears and cries in his arms.
Those words sounded strangely believable, and I ended up crying like a child.
***
Three days later, Chihara recovered.
It was a serious injury that took away his vitality and made him lose consciousness, but he was able to get up from his seat in just three days. It seems that an archangel is truly an archangel.
Still, I was worried that the legitimate archangel would fall into a sense of inferiority since he was defeated by a servant of a heretic goddess, but fortunately, that did not seem to be the case.
He was astonished, saying that it was the first time in his life that he had collapsed for three days.
And the farewell ceremony for Heath, which had been ruined by the attack of the Marquis of Zenger, was held again.
This separation seemed especially difficult, perhaps because the bond between the mother and son had deepened over the past three days, but we were still able to send Heath off smoothly.
After finishing everything, we prepared to leave.
“Have a nice stay, ma’am. I know you must have been upset about your husband, but thank you for taking care of me in so many ways.”
“You are most welcome. As Countess Ganeth, it is my great honor to welcome you, the Holy Lady, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as my final guests. May your journey be peaceful.”
"Thank you."
After hurriedly finishing my preparations and coming out to the front door, I exchanged a brief greeting with Countess Ganeth, who had come to see me off, and then headed to the waiting carriage.
But soon, when My eyes met with the Crown Prince standing in front of the carriage door, I flinched and stopped.
'Oh, that's awkward.'
Three days ago, I cried a lot in his arms and was so exhausted that I just lay there sick.
Although I was unable to even get out of bed, the Crown Prince took good care of me, even feeding me porridge himself.
At that time, I was so grateful for his kindness and consideration, but strangely, after I regained my energy, I found it difficult to meet his gaze.
'What kind of ungrateful attitude is this?'
As I was criticizing myself, the Crown Prince, who was looking over my attire, furrowed his brow as if he was displeased.
“Are you planning on going out dressed like that? Even though it’s summer, you might still have chills after being sick.”
“No chills. No, I’m fine.”
I answered as if nothing had happened, but I still rolled my eyes without meeting his gaze.
Then the Crown Prince nodded as if to ask what was going on.
I walked towards him, hesitantly.
It was still awkward, and as the distance between us grew closer, I felt my chest tighten strangely, but I couldn't help but ride the carriage.
'Why is it so hot all of a sudden?'
In the end, I got on the carriage, holding his hand, and it was at that moment that I was fanning myself with my hand to cool down from the heat that was rushing in.
"For a moment."
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment