#116. Last Encounter
Olivia froze. Ioannis was Asherad's right-hand man. If he is here, Asherad is here... He will be here!
"Asherad is not here."
Ioannis said, as if he had read the thought.
"I came here alone."
Despite Ioannis' words, Olivia and Derek did not relax. Ioannis let out a small sigh and looked at Ian, looking at him in surprise. He is more wary of their children.
"He was looking for his mom in the rain."
“...”
"I couldn't just let it go."
"I only talk about business."
Olivia said coldly, and Ioannis nodded.
"Wait, could you spare me some time?"
Olivia hesitated. Could it be that they are dragging out time for Asherad to arrive? Even if you think so, Ian is with Ioannis anyway. It was a position that she couldn't refuse. Derek tried to step up, but Olivia stopped him. Ioannis' eyes narrowed at the sight of Derek.
"Let's go."
Ioannis nodded at Olivia's words. Then Derek said,
"At home."
“...”
"Talk at home. I'll be guarding the outside."
"But, the location of the house..."
"If he knew the child, I would have found out about the location of the house."
He was right. If he had known about Ian's existence and had come here on his own, he would have already found out everything. Ioannis looked at him as if he agreed, and he nodded happily.
“Yes. Let’s talk at home.”
They headed home as if they had made a promise. Before entering the house, Ioannis let go of Ian. Derek hugged the child. Ioannis looked around Olivia's house as if it were a wonder. Six years later, the traces of their time were still there.
They sat down at the table. Olivia seemed hesitant, then brought out some water. Ioannis looked at the cup.
“Is he your husband?”
It was a question that came out of nowhere. Olivia neither nodded nor shook her head. Ioannis narrowed his eyes and said,
“He seems like a very dependable person. Which child of the Count of Locania is he...”
“Don’t do anything to that person.”
Ioannis said with those firm words.
“I don’t have any plans to do anything in particular.”
“...”
“Your son has grown up well. He has taken Asherad with him.”
After all, that was the isolation between her and Asherad, who held a grudge. That was the reason.
"What a tearful loyalty."
"That's one reason... I wanted you to run away."
Ioannis saw Olivia's eyes of disbelief and said.
"You don't believe it. And for good reason. I won't try to convince you."
Olivia decided to run away after the conversation. Ioannis just let herself run away because of it? Because of such human kindness?
If so, why didn't he give it to her earlier? If he had given it a little sooner, she would have had less trauma about Asherad.
"Then I tracked down your escape route. I didn't expect you to take root in the port city of the War Nation."
“How on earth is Ian...”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
"Yes?"
“I hired someone to spy on you.”
Olivia was left speechless by those bold words.
“I know that the child’s name is Ian, and that your name is Olivia now.”
Olivia kept her mouth shut. Was it really impossible to escape? Could she really believe that Asherad didn't know?
“Aren’t you sure Asherad doesn’t know?”
“Yes. He really doesn’t know. If he had known, would he have just stayed quiet?”
That was right. Asherad would let Daphne go for six years, but that was impossible. Olivia said with a pale face.
Olivia froze. Ioannis was Asherad's right-hand man. If he is here, Asherad is here... He will be here!
"Asherad is not here."
Ioannis said, as if he had read the thought.
"I came here alone."
Despite Ioannis' words, Olivia and Derek did not relax. Ioannis let out a small sigh and looked at Ian, looking at him in surprise. He is more wary of their children.
"He was looking for his mom in the rain."
“...”
"I couldn't just let it go."
"I only talk about business."
Olivia said coldly, and Ioannis nodded.
"Wait, could you spare me some time?"
Olivia hesitated. Could it be that they are dragging out time for Asherad to arrive? Even if you think so, Ian is with Ioannis anyway. It was a position that she couldn't refuse. Derek tried to step up, but Olivia stopped him. Ioannis' eyes narrowed at the sight of Derek.
"Let's go."
Ioannis nodded at Olivia's words. Then Derek said,
"At home."
“...”
"Talk at home. I'll be guarding the outside."
"But, the location of the house..."
"If he knew the child, I would have found out about the location of the house."
He was right. If he had known about Ian's existence and had come here on his own, he would have already found out everything. Ioannis looked at him as if he agreed, and he nodded happily.
“Yes. Let’s talk at home.”
They headed home as if they had made a promise. Before entering the house, Ioannis let go of Ian. Derek hugged the child. Ioannis looked around Olivia's house as if it were a wonder. Six years later, the traces of their time were still there.
They sat down at the table. Olivia seemed hesitant, then brought out some water. Ioannis looked at the cup.
“Is he your husband?”
It was a question that came out of nowhere. Olivia neither nodded nor shook her head. Ioannis narrowed his eyes and said,
“He seems like a very dependable person. Which child of the Count of Locania is he...”
“Don’t do anything to that person.”
Ioannis said with those firm words.
“I don’t have any plans to do anything in particular.”
“...”
“Your son has grown up well. He has taken Asherad with him.”
Ioannis' words made Olivia flinch. Is he really trying to take Ian away? Perhaps aware of the fear, Ioannis said, touching the cup.
"I do not cause any harm to you or your son."
“...”
"What are you thinking? Is Asherad really unaware? Why do you know?"
Ioannis said.
"Because I was the one who covered up your escape route."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you to run away."
Olivia stared at him blankly. For what? He was truly an unknown person. She used to think that she was someone who didn't know what he was thinking...
However, he was Asherad's best friend more than anyone else. He was also one of the people who treated 'Daphne' as a new one.
“If you had stayed, you would have killed him, and he would have accepted that.”
"I do not cause any harm to you or your son."
“...”
"What are you thinking? Is Asherad really unaware? Why do you know?"
Ioannis said.
"Because I was the one who covered up your escape route."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you to run away."
Olivia stared at him blankly. For what? He was truly an unknown person. She used to think that she was someone who didn't know what he was thinking...
However, he was Asherad's best friend more than anyone else. He was also one of the people who treated 'Daphne' as a new one.
“If you had stayed, you would have killed him, and he would have accepted that.”
After all, that was the isolation between her and Asherad, who held a grudge. That was the reason.
"What a tearful loyalty."
"That's one reason... I wanted you to run away."
Ioannis saw Olivia's eyes of disbelief and said.
"You don't believe it. And for good reason. I won't try to convince you."
Olivia decided to run away after the conversation. Ioannis just let herself run away because of it? Because of such human kindness?
If so, why didn't he give it to her earlier? If he had given it a little sooner, she would have had less trauma about Asherad.
"Then I tracked down your escape route. I didn't expect you to take root in the port city of the War Nation."
“How on earth is Ian...”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
"Yes?"
“I hired someone to spy on you.”
Olivia was left speechless by those bold words.
“I know that the child’s name is Ian, and that your name is Olivia now.”
Olivia kept her mouth shut. Was it really impossible to escape? Could she really believe that Asherad didn't know?
“Aren’t you sure Asherad doesn’t know?”
“Yes. He really doesn’t know. If he had known, would he have just stayed quiet?”
That was right. Asherad would let Daphne go for six years, but that was impossible. Olivia said with a pale face.
"Then how is he doing?"
It was Olivia's first interest in Asherad. Ioannis lowered his eyes and said with his usual blank expression.
"He grows like a poisonous plant."
"Poison?"
"He lives like a poisonous plant. He lost his reason, he looked only for you, and he lost a lot of things, and it's a repetition."
“...”
"At first, I thought he would forget about you quickly, but as time went on, his mania got worse."
Olivia thought. A man who was so confident as he was arrogant... It has turned into a poisonous plant. Because of her. She left.
Ioannis widened his eyes as if he could see something incredible. The corners of Olivia's mouth went up and down for a moment.
"Did you get the revenge you wanted?"
Ioannis' words made Olivia shake her head. Revenge. Revenge...
"It's not revenge to suffer from the loss of me. Just the price he has to pay. I'm here because I didn't want to be next to him."
If this was revenge, it was the revenge of the Count of Locania. Why is Daphne's departure from Asherad revenge? It just wasn't what she wanted. If that is revenge, then it is natural to be by Asherad's side.
"Unless he experiences and feels the same thing as I... That would not be revenge."
Ioannis asked bluntly.
"Do you have any intention of dying?"
Ioannis glared at her. Still, he was telling her to stay by Asherad's side. After all, that's why...
"No, it's not. I didn't come here to persuade you of that. I asked you about your intentions."
“...”
"If Asherad continues like that, the Empire will surely be doomed. I am also preparing for it."
I see. Olivia saw Ioannis. Is it a trace of war? It was strange to see him wearing an eye patch, but the danger of it was such that even a high-ranking person could become like that.
Will Asherad be like that?
Olivia lowered her eyes.
"I just want him to be happy."
“...”
"I want him to forget about things like me."
Ioannis didn't respond to Olivia's words. Do you really want that? Really, does this woman want Asherad to be happy?
He rummaged through his arms and held out his pocket.
"This..."
"It's a gold coin."
"This... Why?"
Ioannis smiled and shrugged.
"This will be the last time you see me."
"...”
"I hope you will not live uncomfortably and live a rich life. Your torment must have been terrible."
"I am..."
"After all, you know that what you received from Asherad in the past is valuable. Think of it as cashing out."
"No, here!"
Ioannis stood up. He left home despite Olivia's protests. Olivia held up a bag of gold coins. She didn't have any desire for it.
"Ioannis! Take it!"
Nevertheless, Ioannis was adamant. He opened the front door, looked back, and smiled at the corner of his mouth.
"Daphne."
"Yes."
"It's nice to see you living comfortably."
Looks good? Do you know that Ioannis can say such things? At that moment, he said as if he had remembered.
"Well, a maid named Sarah also ran away and is doing well."
His last words were false, but Olivia could smile brightly. Although she ran away from her selfish desires, she always had a concern for Sarah in the back of her mind. If it wasn't for Sarah, Olivia wouldn't have been able to escape.
"The death of the people around you is not your responsibility."
“...”
"So, get out of now."
When she heard that, she had tears in her eyes. Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes.
"I hope you and that child will be happy."
He bowed and bowed to Olivia. The first of the Dukes. He is a nobleman among nobles. He bowed and bowed.
Olivia doesn't know what that means. Ioannis made a refreshing visit, but without any warmth, he vanished, leaving behind only a bag of gold coins.
And Ioannis did keep his promise.
This was really the 'last' meeting.
It was Olivia's first interest in Asherad. Ioannis lowered his eyes and said with his usual blank expression.
"He grows like a poisonous plant."
"Poison?"
"He lives like a poisonous plant. He lost his reason, he looked only for you, and he lost a lot of things, and it's a repetition."
“...”
"At first, I thought he would forget about you quickly, but as time went on, his mania got worse."
Olivia thought. A man who was so confident as he was arrogant... It has turned into a poisonous plant. Because of her. She left.
Ioannis widened his eyes as if he could see something incredible. The corners of Olivia's mouth went up and down for a moment.
"Did you get the revenge you wanted?"
Ioannis' words made Olivia shake her head. Revenge. Revenge...
"It's not revenge to suffer from the loss of me. Just the price he has to pay. I'm here because I didn't want to be next to him."
If this was revenge, it was the revenge of the Count of Locania. Why is Daphne's departure from Asherad revenge? It just wasn't what she wanted. If that is revenge, then it is natural to be by Asherad's side.
"Unless he experiences and feels the same thing as I... That would not be revenge."
Ioannis asked bluntly.
"Do you have any intention of dying?"
Ioannis glared at her. Still, he was telling her to stay by Asherad's side. After all, that's why...
"No, it's not. I didn't come here to persuade you of that. I asked you about your intentions."
“...”
"If Asherad continues like that, the Empire will surely be doomed. I am also preparing for it."
I see. Olivia saw Ioannis. Is it a trace of war? It was strange to see him wearing an eye patch, but the danger of it was such that even a high-ranking person could become like that.
Will Asherad be like that?
Olivia lowered her eyes.
"I just want him to be happy."
“...”
"I want him to forget about things like me."
Ioannis didn't respond to Olivia's words. Do you really want that? Really, does this woman want Asherad to be happy?
He rummaged through his arms and held out his pocket.
"This..."
"It's a gold coin."
"This... Why?"
Ioannis smiled and shrugged.
"This will be the last time you see me."
"...”
"I hope you will not live uncomfortably and live a rich life. Your torment must have been terrible."
"I am..."
"After all, you know that what you received from Asherad in the past is valuable. Think of it as cashing out."
"No, here!"
Ioannis stood up. He left home despite Olivia's protests. Olivia held up a bag of gold coins. She didn't have any desire for it.
"Ioannis! Take it!"
Nevertheless, Ioannis was adamant. He opened the front door, looked back, and smiled at the corner of his mouth.
"Daphne."
"Yes."
"It's nice to see you living comfortably."
Looks good? Do you know that Ioannis can say such things? At that moment, he said as if he had remembered.
"Well, a maid named Sarah also ran away and is doing well."
His last words were false, but Olivia could smile brightly. Although she ran away from her selfish desires, she always had a concern for Sarah in the back of her mind. If it wasn't for Sarah, Olivia wouldn't have been able to escape.
"The death of the people around you is not your responsibility."
“...”
"So, get out of now."
When she heard that, she had tears in her eyes. Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes.
"I hope you and that child will be happy."
He bowed and bowed to Olivia. The first of the Dukes. He is a nobleman among nobles. He bowed and bowed.
Olivia doesn't know what that means. Ioannis made a refreshing visit, but without any warmth, he vanished, leaving behind only a bag of gold coins.
And Ioannis did keep his promise.
This was really the 'last' meeting.
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