“…… Yes, I do.”
Elysia’s words made Eleon’s heart thump like crazy.
“You do?”
He didn’t expect her to respond positively. Eleon was somewhat dumbfounded.
“Do you remember?”
“Of course.”
But something was strange.
Her tone was cold and her expression remained rigid.
Her eyes lacked any hint of affection for him.
This book was full of their memories.
Rona, don’t go.
Please stay with me.
The night without you is so long and lonely.
My darkness has no hope of dawn.
Can’t you stay with me?
Instead of telling her the many times he wanted to hold on to her, he showed her a book.
“This book was written by my father.”
“What?”
Eleon’s expression became bewildered.
He had considered sponsoring the author as a thank-you for letting Rona stay by his side, but hadn’t paid attention to the author’s name at the time.
Yurion Jilter.
Eleon was also well aware of the fact that the Duke of Yuter’s name was ‘Gillian’.
“My father wasn’t interested in politics or managing territories. He was interested in archaeology and history research from a young age, and my grandfather didn’t like that.”
They were the words of the former Duke of Yuter. Elysia added.
“This book was written by my father before he married my mother. Before he became a duke. He used this name as a pen name back then.”
“You’re lying?”
As if Eleon weren’t listening, Elysia finished her story in an unwavering voice.
“After my grandfather passed away, he goes by the name G. Yuter.”
“Nonsense.”
“I have no reason to lie.”
Eleon’s shoulders slumped. He stood there for a while, disheartened, before looking at Elysia.
“Elysia.”
He said firmly, with no hint of disappointment in his gaze.
“I’m not going to give up on you.”
Elysia’s eyes widened.
“So you should be the one to give up.”
With those words, Eleon dropped the book he was holding onto the table as if throwing it, and disappeared out of the room.
Bang!
As soon as the door closed, Elysia staggered and slumped to the spot where she was standing.
“Sob.”
Tears that she had barely held back slipped down her cheeks.
Eleon had just declared war on her, and the moment she saw his eyes, she was certain he meant it when he said he wouldn’t give up on her.
Looking at the thick book on the table, Elysia sobbed.
She really wished she had lost her memory. If she had, she wouldn’t be in this much pain right now.
“How can I forget this?”
Elysia said, trying to reach for the book with tears in her eyes.
Crackle!
A black flame suddenly arose and began to devour the thick book.
“Ah……!”
Elysia, whose fingertips were nearly burned by the flames, took a step back and collapsed to the ground again.
Knock, knock!
There was a light knock at the door, which opened immediately.
“Elysia, daughter. Are not you hungry?”
Mariela entered and almost screamed at the sight of her crying daughter, but quickly shut the door.
“Elysia, Elysia, are you okay?!
Mariela hugged her daughter tightly.
“Uh, Mom.”
“It’s okay, my baby. Mom is here for you.”
Their time had stopped when Elysia left for Hadunsha.
“I’ll protect you. I will…”
“Mom, I’m scared.”
Elysia admitted, afraid that death was gradually coming closer to her.
“I will not go to Hadunsha.”
She was afraid that her ending would not change even if it wasn’t by Sabiel’s hand.
“Please prepare the ship quickly. The flames got much bigger. I want to get out of the original story as soon as possible.”
Mariela nodded.
“Yes, I’ll see if we can leave immediately. Just wait a bit.”
Elysia leaned on her mother’s warmth.
She wanted to live, in the past and now. Behind the mother and daughter who were sobbing, the memories of Eleon and Elysia turned into scattered ashes.
* * * * *
Late at night, a carriage sent by Sabiel arrived at Count Harrington’s manor.
The Count and his wife, who came out to see off Karina, stared blankly at the sight of the new carriage.
The men driving the carriage looked rough and ferocious, and there were no decorations or imperial crests.
“Is it really sent by His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes.”
The tall coachman, dressed in black, snapped back.
There was nothing more to say if the carriage was sent by Sabiel.
“Have a safe trip.”
Karina silently nodded at the Countess’s words and got into the carriage with a maid.
Tak-tak-tak!
The carriage seemed to melt into the midnight streets as it started running..
Karina held a short dagger tightly hidden under her cloak, her nerves on edge.
I can’t trust Sabiel.
He had been avoiding her all the time and yet he willingly sent her a carriage.
When she returned to the Count’s residence, Sabiel’s behavior seemed too strange, and she had a bad feeling.
I can’t just bring up the situation first and then not go.
Fortunately, she wasn’t alone and had brought a maid with her.
The Countess was a little suspicious. Karina had always met Sabiel without a maid or chaperone, but the Countess didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
“Shall I go out and take a look, My Lady?”
“Will you?”
The maid cautiously opened the carriage door and peered out.
“Ack!”
In that moment, something outside the carriage grabbed the maid, pulled her out, and threw her onto the road.
It all happened so fast.
The door slammed shut, and the carriage quickly continued on its way.
“My Lady! My Lady!”
The maid’s voice faded away.
Karina felt dizzy.
The carriage was running incredibly fast, and the scenery outside the narrow window passed by in a blur.
If I jump, will something bad happen?
Karina didn’t know what to do.
Finally, the carriage turned from a wide street into a narrow alley and came to a stop.
“Get off.”
“I-I don’t want to.”
“Keep quiet and follow me.”
Outside the carriage, another carriage stood at a distance.
“What is this? Where are you taking me?”
As Karina was holding on in the carriage, the man forcefully pulled her out of the carriage.
“He-help me!”
A rough hand covered her mouth, but she bit him.
Swish!
Suddenly, the sound of a dagger being wielded could be heard.
* * * * *
Eleon wandered the capital’s streets at night, the cool early summer breeze blowing around him.
He retraced the path Elysia had taken when she heard he had gone blind again.
But no matter how far he walked, the frustration in his heart did not lessen.
Elysia had initially planned to return to Hadunsha, but then changed her mind and decided to leave for another country, leaving Eleon behind.
The thought of her departure felt like a thousand needles piercing his heart, making his decision seem pointless.
What’s the point if Elysia leaves?
Despite Lev and Mariela’s conversations, Elysia remained at the Grand Duke’s residence and didn’t return to the duke’s manor.
Eleon longed to talk to her, but Lev was always by her side, making it difficult to get a moment alone with her.
My mother wouldn’t know the relationship between Elysia and me.
Lev was always glued to Elysia, and she didn’t remember Eleon or seem familiar with the grand duke’s residence, much to Bernard’s surprise.
It was hard to ask Lev to move away from Elysia, even though Eleon wanted to be close to her.
After five days. No, now it was just four days.
Elysia stayed away from everyone, waiting for her departure day to arrive.
Most of the time, Elysia was secluded in her designated bedroom, praying.
Whenever she left the room, Lev was always by her side.
I see, God doesn’t give you everything.
They always take something from me.
I lost my sight after winning on the battlefield where I was victorious.
When I got my sight back, Rona was gone.
I won Elysia’s heart but lost Elysia’s existence.
It didn’t seem fair.
The gods of this world were cruel, with no regard for dreams or hopes.
I never imagined that my house where Elysia stayed would be such a difficult place to breathe.
She’s there, but I can’t see her, talk to her, or even touch her.
How can I just stand still and send her off?
I keep wanting to take her and lock her up somewhere.
She would hate me, but I want to hide her in a place where no one in this world knows.
Only those irrational thoughts filled my head.
Eleon hated himself for feeling this way.
If Elysia knew, she would be very disappointed.
Obsession was not love. But love can lead to obsession.
I feel like Elysia, who once whispered love to me, is still somewhere.
What was so clear has disappeared so emptily.
Every time Eleon met Elysia for a moment, his heart would break.
The sleepless nights continued.
I couldn’t sleep in my room, where I hugged Elysia and we lay together, so I walked through the cold streets all night.
As soon as it’s dawn, I go home and sleep for a few hours as if I just passed out.
Needless to say, my unnecessarily healthy and superior body recovers in just a few hours, and for the rest of the time, my attention is focused on Elysia.
It was then.
Swoosh!
Something flew towards him.
Eleon instantly drew his sword and quickly blocked it. He felt a sense of déjà vu.
I’m sure this is…….
Bang!
A blood red smoke spread over the black night.
My eyes!
Instantly, Eleon closed his eyes tightly.
Thump, thump, thump!
Surprised, he quickly left the place with his eyes closed.
“Gasp. Gasp.”
He was someone who was not easily shocked by most things, but what had just happened triggered Eleon’s trauma.
“What is this……?”
Eleon stopped talking and kept his mouth shut.
The first time it happened, he covered his nose and mouth, but not his eyes.
He now reflexively closed his eyes at the red smoke, but his throat and chest, which had breathed in the smoke, heated as if on fire.
“……No way.”
It was poison.
An ominous sensation ran through his veins.
“Damn it….”
Soon his head started to get hot from the inside. It felt like someone was hitting him with a hot piece of iron.
“Agh!”
Eleon cried out in pain as he clutched his head in the cold night street.
After a while, his pain subsided and Eleon slowly stood up.
“What was I doing?”
Feeling confused, he looked around.
“Where am I? I can’t even tell.”
He couldn’t remember why he was wandering outside at such a time.
“It’s not even sleepwalking.”
His head and chest still felt numb, as if he had cut out a part of himself. Eleon rubbed his chest with his hand, feeling strange.
There was no pain in his body, but he felt an odd tightness in his chest.
Kyah!!
Suddenly, Eleon heard a woman’s scream nearby and without hesitation, he ran towards the source of the sound.
“He-help me!”
He witnessed what clearly looked like a kidnapping scene.
The woman with a hood was swinging a short dagger, but as she was hit on the wrist, the dagger fell from her hand.
Eleon quickly swung his sword towards the attacker.
“Ahh!”
“Aagh!”
In an instant, the ligaments in the attacker’s shoulders and knees were cut, leaving only Eleon and the woman standing.
The woman rushed towards him, and as her hood fell off, he recognized her.
It was Karina Drepain Harrington, her silver hair shining bright in the moonlight.
Her green eyes were filled with tears as she pleaded with him.
“Please save me. Please help me.”
Inadvertently, Eleon opened his arms and hugged her.
“Sob. huhuhuk..”
He could feel her trembling in his arms as she cried into his chest.
It was you. You were the person I was looking for.
It was as if this woman had filled the empty space that he had felt just moments ago.
“…… Don’t cry. Rena.”
A tear fell from Eleon’s eye.
“I will protect you.”
“…… Yes, I do.”
Elysia’s words made Eleon’s heart thump like crazy.
“You do?”
He didn’t expect her to respond positively. Eleon was somewhat dumbfounded.
“Do you remember?”
“Of course.”
But something was strange.
Her tone was cold and her expression remained rigid.
Her eyes lacked any hint of affection for him.
This book was full of their memories.
Rona, don’t go.
Please stay with me.
The night without you is so long and lonely.
My darkness has no hope of dawn.
Can’t you stay with me?
Instead of telling her the many times he wanted to hold on to her, he showed her a book.
“This book was written by my father.”
“What?”
Eleon’s expression became bewildered.
He had considered sponsoring the author as a thank-you for letting Rona stay by his side, but hadn’t paid attention to the author’s name at the time.
Yurion Jilter.
Eleon was also well aware of the fact that the Duke of Yuter’s name was ‘Gillian’.
“My father wasn’t interested in politics or managing territories. He was interested in archaeology and history research from a young age, and my grandfather didn’t like that.”
They were the words of the former Duke of Yuter. Elysia added.
“This book was written by my father before he married my mother. Before he became a duke. He used this name as a pen name back then.”
“You’re lying?”
As if Eleon weren’t listening, Elysia finished her story in an unwavering voice.
“After my grandfather passed away, he goes by the name G. Yuter.”
“Nonsense.”
“I have no reason to lie.”
Eleon’s shoulders slumped. He stood there for a while, disheartened, before looking at Elysia.
“Elysia.”
He said firmly, with no hint of disappointment in his gaze.
“I’m not going to give up on you.”
Elysia’s eyes widened.
“So you should be the one to give up.”
With those words, Eleon dropped the book he was holding onto the table as if throwing it, and disappeared out of the room.
Bang!
As soon as the door closed, Elysia staggered and slumped to the spot where she was standing.
“Sob.”
Tears that she had barely held back slipped down her cheeks.
Eleon had just declared war on her, and the moment she saw his eyes, she was certain he meant it when he said he wouldn’t give up on her.
Looking at the thick book on the table, Elysia sobbed.
She really wished she had lost her memory. If she had, she wouldn’t be in this much pain right now.
“How can I forget this?”
Elysia said, trying to reach for the book with tears in her eyes.
Crackle!
A black flame suddenly arose and began to devour the thick book.
“Ah……!”
Elysia, whose fingertips were nearly burned by the flames, took a step back and collapsed to the ground again.
Knock, knock!
There was a light knock at the door, which opened immediately.
“Elysia, daughter. Are not you hungry?”
Mariela entered and almost screamed at the sight of her crying daughter, but quickly shut the door.
“Elysia, Elysia, are you okay?!
Mariela hugged her daughter tightly.
“Uh, Mom.”
“It’s okay, my baby. Mom is here for you.”
Their time had stopped when Elysia left for Hadunsha.
“I’ll protect you. I will…”
“Mom, I’m scared.”
Elysia admitted, afraid that death was gradually coming closer to her.
“I will not go to Hadunsha.”
She was afraid that her ending would not change even if it wasn’t by Sabiel’s hand.
“Please prepare the ship quickly. The flames got much bigger. I want to get out of the original story as soon as possible.”
Mariela nodded.
“Yes, I’ll see if we can leave immediately. Just wait a bit.”
Elysia leaned on her mother’s warmth.
She wanted to live, in the past and now. Behind the mother and daughter who were sobbing, the memories of Eleon and Elysia turned into scattered ashes.
* * * * *
Late at night, a carriage sent by Sabiel arrived at Count Harrington’s manor.
The Count and his wife, who came out to see off Karina, stared blankly at the sight of the new carriage.
The men driving the carriage looked rough and ferocious, and there were no decorations or imperial crests.
“Is it really sent by His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes.”
The tall coachman, dressed in black, snapped back.
There was nothing more to say if the carriage was sent by Sabiel.
“Have a safe trip.”
Karina silently nodded at the Countess’s words and got into the carriage with a maid.
Tak-tak-tak!
The carriage seemed to melt into the midnight streets as it started running..
Karina held a short dagger tightly hidden under her cloak, her nerves on edge.
I can’t trust Sabiel.
He had been avoiding her all the time and yet he willingly sent her a carriage.
When she returned to the Count’s residence, Sabiel’s behavior seemed too strange, and she had a bad feeling.
I can’t just bring up the situation first and then not go.
Fortunately, she wasn’t alone and had brought a maid with her.
The Countess was a little suspicious. Karina had always met Sabiel without a maid or chaperone, but the Countess didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
“Shall I go out and take a look, My Lady?”
“Will you?”
The maid cautiously opened the carriage door and peered out.
“Ack!”
In that moment, something outside the carriage grabbed the maid, pulled her out, and threw her onto the road.
It all happened so fast.
The door slammed shut, and the carriage quickly continued on its way.
“My Lady! My Lady!”
The maid’s voice faded away.
Karina felt dizzy.
The carriage was running incredibly fast, and the scenery outside the narrow window passed by in a blur.
If I jump, will something bad happen?
Karina didn’t know what to do.
Finally, the carriage turned from a wide street into a narrow alley and came to a stop.
“Get off.”
“I-I don’t want to.”
“Keep quiet and follow me.”
Outside the carriage, another carriage stood at a distance.
“What is this? Where are you taking me?”
As Karina was holding on in the carriage, the man forcefully pulled her out of the carriage.
“He-help me!”
A rough hand covered her mouth, but she bit him.
Swish!
Suddenly, the sound of a dagger being wielded could be heard.
* * * * *
Eleon wandered the capital’s streets at night, the cool early summer breeze blowing around him.
He retraced the path Elysia had taken when she heard he had gone blind again.
But no matter how far he walked, the frustration in his heart did not lessen.
Elysia had initially planned to return to Hadunsha, but then changed her mind and decided to leave for another country, leaving Eleon behind.
The thought of her departure felt like a thousand needles piercing his heart, making his decision seem pointless.
What’s the point if Elysia leaves?
Despite Lev and Mariela’s conversations, Elysia remained at the Grand Duke’s residence and didn’t return to the duke’s manor.
Eleon longed to talk to her, but Lev was always by her side, making it difficult to get a moment alone with her.
My mother wouldn’t know the relationship between Elysia and me.
Lev was always glued to Elysia, and she didn’t remember Eleon or seem familiar with the grand duke’s residence, much to Bernard’s surprise.
It was hard to ask Lev to move away from Elysia, even though Eleon wanted to be close to her.
After five days. No, now it was just four days.
Elysia stayed away from everyone, waiting for her departure day to arrive.
Most of the time, Elysia was secluded in her designated bedroom, praying.
Whenever she left the room, Lev was always by her side.
I see, God doesn’t give you everything.
They always take something from me.
I lost my sight after winning on the battlefield where I was victorious.
When I got my sight back, Rona was gone.
I won Elysia’s heart but lost Elysia’s existence.
It didn’t seem fair.
The gods of this world were cruel, with no regard for dreams or hopes.
I never imagined that my house where Elysia stayed would be such a difficult place to breathe.
She’s there, but I can’t see her, talk to her, or even touch her.
How can I just stand still and send her off?
I keep wanting to take her and lock her up somewhere.
She would hate me, but I want to hide her in a place where no one in this world knows.
Only those irrational thoughts filled my head.
Eleon hated himself for feeling this way.
If Elysia knew, she would be very disappointed.
Obsession was not love. But love can lead to obsession.
I feel like Elysia, who once whispered love to me, is still somewhere.
What was so clear has disappeared so emptily.
Every time Eleon met Elysia for a moment, his heart would break.
The sleepless nights continued.
I couldn’t sleep in my room, where I hugged Elysia and we lay together, so I walked through the cold streets all night.
As soon as it’s dawn, I go home and sleep for a few hours as if I just passed out.
Needless to say, my unnecessarily healthy and superior body recovers in just a few hours, and for the rest of the time, my attention is focused on Elysia.
It was then.
Swoosh!
Something flew towards him.
Eleon instantly drew his sword and quickly blocked it. He felt a sense of déjà vu.
I’m sure this is…….
Bang!
A blood red smoke spread over the black night.
My eyes!
Instantly, Eleon closed his eyes tightly.
Thump, thump, thump!
Surprised, he quickly left the place with his eyes closed.
“Gasp. Gasp.”
He was someone who was not easily shocked by most things, but what had just happened triggered Eleon’s trauma.
“What is this……?”
Eleon stopped talking and kept his mouth shut.
The first time it happened, he covered his nose and mouth, but not his eyes.
He now reflexively closed his eyes at the red smoke, but his throat and chest, which had breathed in the smoke, heated as if on fire.
“……No way.”
It was poison.
An ominous sensation ran through his veins.
“Damn it….”
Soon his head started to get hot from the inside. It felt like someone was hitting him with a hot piece of iron.
“Agh!”
Eleon cried out in pain as he clutched his head in the cold night street.
After a while, his pain subsided and Eleon slowly stood up.
“What was I doing?”
Feeling confused, he looked around.
“Where am I? I can’t even tell.”
He couldn’t remember why he was wandering outside at such a time.
“It’s not even sleepwalking.”
His head and chest still felt numb, as if he had cut out a part of himself. Eleon rubbed his chest with his hand, feeling strange.
There was no pain in his body, but he felt an odd tightness in his chest.
Kyah!!
Suddenly, Eleon heard a woman’s scream nearby and without hesitation, he ran towards the source of the sound.
“He-help me!”
He witnessed what clearly looked like a kidnapping scene.
The woman with a hood was swinging a short dagger, but as she was hit on the wrist, the dagger fell from her hand.
Eleon quickly swung his sword towards the attacker.
“Ahh!”
“Aagh!”
In an instant, the ligaments in the attacker’s shoulders and knees were cut, leaving only Eleon and the woman standing.
The woman rushed towards him, and as her hood fell off, he recognized her.
It was Karina Drepain Harrington, her silver hair shining bright in the moonlight.
Her green eyes were filled with tears as she pleaded with him.
“Please save me. Please help me.”
Inadvertently, Eleon opened his arms and hugged her.
“Sob. huhuhuk..”
He could feel her trembling in his arms as she cried into his chest.
It was you. You were the person I was looking for.
It was as if this woman had filled the empty space that he had felt just moments ago.
“…… Don’t cry. Rena.”
A tear fell from Eleon’s eye.
“I will protect you.”
