“What if the flower scent hasn’t gone away yet? Let the Archbishop in for now.”
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At my words, Enoch and Kayden hurriedly grabbed Ruzef and dragged him into the room. We shut the door tightly.
Ruzef then pushed Enoch and Kayden away, rushed to me, and took my hand.
“What happened? Young Lady, you are safe!”
He leaned his forehead on the back of my hand as if praying and let out a sigh of relief. I looked at him with a bewildered face.
After a while, he suddenly raised his head and shouted, “How could you leave us so suddenly!”
Ruzef had a face full of anger. No, is that a sad expression? Anyways, he glared at me with a frown and pulled my hand into his embrace.
“……I was worried.”
His body trembled with his face buried in my shoulder.
I looked at Enoch and Kayden while being hugged by Ruzef. Enoch stood still with his arms crossed while Kayden just watched, shrugging.
“What happened? What about Sir Diego? Why are you all separate?”
“Well… to find you, we split our team into two: His Highness and Lord, Sir Diego and I.”
To my question, Ruzef glanced at Enoch and Kayden before answering. Enoch nodded his head in response.
Ruzef explained the situation. “Sir Diego, who was scouting the forest with me, suddenly disappeared without a sound. I found this place while wandering through the forest alone.”
“Did he suddenly disappear? Could something have happened?”
“I don’t know how it happened either,” answered Ruzaf confusedly while rubbing his tired face.
Come to think of it, he looks quite haggard. Looks like he’s not sleeping properly.
-growling.
Ruzef’s belly rang out loud, signaling hunger. His face turned red, probably embarrassed. Surprised and confused, he lowered his head.
“I am… very hungry.”
His words made me hungry too. I got canned food here, but not Enoch, Kayden, or Ruzef.
I think the last meal they had was right before the giant anaconda monsters came out.
There’s nothing strange about anyone fainting right away.
“Shall we talk after we eat?”
At my words, Ruzef asked, “Do you have anything to eat?”
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Enoch and Kayden also looked at me curiously. I grabbed my bag and took out the canned food I had packed.
In the end, we decided to eat first before assessing the situation and coming up with a plan. I sat down on the floor, opened canned food, and handed it out to everyone.
“What is this? How does it taste like this?”
After eating canned ham, Ruzef opened his eyes and was delighted as if he had met a new world. It just makes me proud.
On the other hand, Kayden and Enoch were eating with rather subtle expressions. I looked at them with a puzzled face and asked, “Is it not good?”
“Huh……?” Kayden looked at me with a puzzled face and then averted his gaze. “It’s not like that……”
“Originally, I wanted to talk to you separately with Lord. However, it’s fine with the Archbishop as well.”
Enoch answered on behalf of Kayden, who hesitated at the end of his words. Ruzef, who was called out by name suddenly, blinked his eyes, not knowing why.
Enoch looked at me calmly. “Margaret, there’s something else I’d like to ask of you.”
When the atmosphere became serious, the confused Ruzef looked at me with a face that seemed to have just realized something.
What’s wrong?
Unknowingly, I tensed up. Eunji, who had been dozing off nearby, slithered over to me and rested on my lap.
Enoch calmly said, “That damn wizard said there’s another soul in you.”
“……what?”
Surprised, I froze in place. Kayden sighed and added, “We only believe what you say, Margaret. So tell us the truth.”
My heart sank.
I put down the canned food I was holding. I tried to keep my face calm, but it felt like my blood was running cold.
I looked at Enoch, Kayden, and Ruzef in turn. All of them are watching me.
I’m scared.
Are they disappointed?
Do they feel betrayed by me? Or are they doubting me?
I racked my brain hard to find the right words. What should I say to them so they can understand me?
As I thought about that, my eyes became hot and tears welled up in my eyes.
Before long, tears dripped down my cheeks uncontrollably, and the three men looked at me in panic.
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“If that’s true, will you hate me?”
My tears kept flowing.
At first, I tried to survive on my own, but how did it end up like this?
This is the first time I have ever opened my heart to someone else. I don’t know what Margaret was like, but the current me isn’t Lee Jin-ju either.
There’s no denying that I like them. Rational feelings aside, I just like them as human beings.
I wiped away tears with the back of my hand and looked at the three of them.
“Sorry for lying……”
Unable to finish my words, I furrowed my eyebrows. I burst into sobs again that I couldn’t speak.
‘I was the one who lied all along.’
I knew that at some point they started to believe me. Even so, it was me who consciously kept a step away cowardly.
I was afraid of being hated by those I first gave my heart to, but now I can’t avoid it anymore.
Can telling the truth and sharing secrets lead to a genuine relationship?
Only my sobbing filled the room for a while.
“Margaret, I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”
The first to break the silence was Kayden. He didn’t know what to do and apologized to me.
However, once my tears burst out, they did not stop easily. Even wiping tears with my hands is not enough.
In the end, Enoch brought an extra shirt from the hanger. He examined my face carefully before wiping the tears from my face.
He didn’t say anything, but for some reason, his gentle touch made me feel even more sad.
Even though he kept wiping away my tears, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing from my eyes.
Enoch sighed and lowered his hand. He seems to have realized that wiping away my tears is not the problem.
Ruzef and Kayden stood on either side of me, moving hesitantly like broken robots.
“Margaret.”
I sniffed and looked at Enoch. As if asking for an answer to the question he had just asked, his gaze was tenacious.
I finally managed to hold back the tears and opened my mouth. “Did Jenas say anything else?”
“There is another soul within you, you are deceiving us all. That’s all I’ve heard.”
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It seems that he said that to stir up a riot. Does Jenas know that I am Lee Jin-ju? Did Anata say that? How far does Jenas know me?
I think he doesn’t know the truth that I was the ‘real’ Margaret.
As I thinking about that, Enoch said, “I know he said that to drive a rift between us, so don’t worry too much.”
“But, it is true,” I mumbled despondently.
Kayden grabbed my shoulder with a surprised face at my honest answer.
“Are you really not Margaret?” he asked.
I felt a bit sad when Kayden looked at me with an expression of disbelief. I’ve had emotional exchanges with him, but he doesn’t seem to like me anymore because I’m not Margaret.
“Do you hate me because I’m not Margaret?”
I lowered my eyes helplessly. I don’t have the confidence to see Kayden’s expression. I still have a conscience, so I don’t expect anything.
While I was waiting for his answer with such an empty mind, Kayden grabbed my chin.
“Why do you say that? How could I hate you? It won’t happen unless the world ends and I die.” Kayden comforted me very sweetly.
Embarrassed by the absurdly exaggerated words, I ended up bursting out laughing. It feels like being pulled up at once after sinking deep into a faraway swamp.
I could see Ruzef, who was standing still, sighing with relief at my reaction.
Enoch looked at me with calm, still eyes. I don’t know what he’s thinking with those eyes. Then he called me.
“Margaret.”
“Yes?”
“I originally despised Margaret Rose Floné. You know that too, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
I nodded in bewilderment. Because I don’t know why he’s talking about this all of a sudden. Kayden looked at my anxious face and carefully grabbed my hand.
Enoch glanced at my hand clasped with Kayden’s. He stared at our hands for a long time before asking me.
“You seem to have memories of Margaret as well, seeing as you confirmed that you are someone else.”
“……I also have memories of Margaret. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I am Margaret, but I am not Margaret. To be precise, rather than being a different person, it’s more likely that Margaret has changed and become me.”
Enoch crossed his arms and tilted his head. There was no expression on his face, so he looked even more indifferent and cool, but that actually made me shrink.
“I know this is unrealistic. I can’t believe this is happening either. Who am I? I don’t know……”
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While explaining, I became sad again, so I stopped, speechless.
How can I explain this understandably? To be honest, I don’t know what my identity is even as I say this.
Enoch stared at me with an expressionless face and then opened his mouth.
“Speaking of unrealistic, I’m even less realistic to be so crazy about the woman I despised.”
I was so nervous that he might blame me, but I opened my eyes wide in surprise at the unexpected words I heard.
Kayden and Ruzef looked at Enoch with a slight nod, their eyes seemed to say ‘Yes, you are.’
Enoch looked straight at me with a calm gaze without any prejudice.
“All I want to know are objective facts. That way I can completely protect you. Did you think I would change just because of that?”
“Ah……”
Hearing those unexpected words, I froze dazed like an idiot.
Kayden, who was holding my hand, pulled me gently as if asking me to look at him.
“Now tell me what you think, Margaret. Were all your feelings and attitude toward us a lie?”
I hurriedly shook my head at Kayden’s question.
“No, absolutely not.”
“That’s all right then.”
Kayden gave such a simple answer and then stepped back. He, like Enoch, is as steadfast as a tree.
How can these men be like this? How can they be so unwavering?
“I believe in you too,” said Ruzef, who had been watching in silence.
And at Ruzef’s words, Kayden frowned and glared at him.
“Hey, Ddaggari. You are a Margaret fanatic.”
“What humiliation is that? I am loyal to my God.”
“Yeah, you are.”
When Kayden answered nonchalantly, Ruzef exploded in anger. Seeing the two starting to bicker again, I shook my head and smiled.
Somehow, I felt as if the curtains that covered my vision were lifted and finally bright light poured in.
“What if the flower scent hasn’t gone away yet? Let the Archbishop in for now.”
Sponsored Content
At my words, Enoch and Kayden hurriedly grabbed Ruzef and dragged him into the room. We shut the door tightly.
Ruzef then pushed Enoch and Kayden away, rushed to me, and took my hand.
“What happened? Young Lady, you are safe!”
He leaned his forehead on the back of my hand as if praying and let out a sigh of relief. I looked at him with a bewildered face.
After a while, he suddenly raised his head and shouted, “How could you leave us so suddenly!”
Ruzef had a face full of anger. No, is that a sad expression? Anyways, he glared at me with a frown and pulled my hand into his embrace.
“……I was worried.”
His body trembled with his face buried in my shoulder.
I looked at Enoch and Kayden while being hugged by Ruzef. Enoch stood still with his arms crossed while Kayden just watched, shrugging.
“What happened? What about Sir Diego? Why are you all separate?”
“Well… to find you, we split our team into two: His Highness and Lord, Sir Diego and I.”
To my question, Ruzef glanced at Enoch and Kayden before answering. Enoch nodded his head in response.
Ruzef explained the situation. “Sir Diego, who was scouting the forest with me, suddenly disappeared without a sound. I found this place while wandering through the forest alone.”
“Did he suddenly disappear? Could something have happened?”
“I don’t know how it happened either,” answered Ruzaf confusedly while rubbing his tired face.
Come to think of it, he looks quite haggard. Looks like he’s not sleeping properly.
-growling.
Ruzef’s belly rang out loud, signaling hunger. His face turned red, probably embarrassed. Surprised and confused, he lowered his head.
“I am… very hungry.”
His words made me hungry too. I got canned food here, but not Enoch, Kayden, or Ruzef.
I think the last meal they had was right before the giant anaconda monsters came out.
There’s nothing strange about anyone fainting right away.
“Shall we talk after we eat?”
At my words, Ruzef asked, “Do you have anything to eat?”
Sponsored Content
Enoch and Kayden also looked at me curiously. I grabbed my bag and took out the canned food I had packed.
In the end, we decided to eat first before assessing the situation and coming up with a plan. I sat down on the floor, opened canned food, and handed it out to everyone.
“What is this? How does it taste like this?”
After eating canned ham, Ruzef opened his eyes and was delighted as if he had met a new world. It just makes me proud.
On the other hand, Kayden and Enoch were eating with rather subtle expressions. I looked at them with a puzzled face and asked, “Is it not good?”
“Huh……?” Kayden looked at me with a puzzled face and then averted his gaze. “It’s not like that……”
“Originally, I wanted to talk to you separately with Lord. However, it’s fine with the Archbishop as well.”
Enoch answered on behalf of Kayden, who hesitated at the end of his words. Ruzef, who was called out by name suddenly, blinked his eyes, not knowing why.
Enoch looked at me calmly. “Margaret, there’s something else I’d like to ask of you.”
When the atmosphere became serious, the confused Ruzef looked at me with a face that seemed to have just realized something.
What’s wrong?
Unknowingly, I tensed up. Eunji, who had been dozing off nearby, slithered over to me and rested on my lap.
Enoch calmly said, “That damn wizard said there’s another soul in you.”
“……what?”
Surprised, I froze in place. Kayden sighed and added, “We only believe what you say, Margaret. So tell us the truth.”
My heart sank.
I put down the canned food I was holding. I tried to keep my face calm, but it felt like my blood was running cold.
I looked at Enoch, Kayden, and Ruzef in turn. All of them are watching me.
I’m scared.
Are they disappointed?
Do they feel betrayed by me? Or are they doubting me?
I racked my brain hard to find the right words. What should I say to them so they can understand me?
As I thought about that, my eyes became hot and tears welled up in my eyes.
Before long, tears dripped down my cheeks uncontrollably, and the three men looked at me in panic.
Sponsored Content
“If that’s true, will you hate me?”
My tears kept flowing.
At first, I tried to survive on my own, but how did it end up like this?
This is the first time I have ever opened my heart to someone else. I don’t know what Margaret was like, but the current me isn’t Lee Jin-ju either.
There’s no denying that I like them. Rational feelings aside, I just like them as human beings.
I wiped away tears with the back of my hand and looked at the three of them.
“Sorry for lying……”
Unable to finish my words, I furrowed my eyebrows. I burst into sobs again that I couldn’t speak.
‘I was the one who lied all along.’
I knew that at some point they started to believe me. Even so, it was me who consciously kept a step away cowardly.
I was afraid of being hated by those I first gave my heart to, but now I can’t avoid it anymore.
Can telling the truth and sharing secrets lead to a genuine relationship?
Only my sobbing filled the room for a while.
“Margaret, I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”
The first to break the silence was Kayden. He didn’t know what to do and apologized to me.
However, once my tears burst out, they did not stop easily. Even wiping tears with my hands is not enough.
In the end, Enoch brought an extra shirt from the hanger. He examined my face carefully before wiping the tears from my face.
He didn’t say anything, but for some reason, his gentle touch made me feel even more sad.
Even though he kept wiping away my tears, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing from my eyes.
Enoch sighed and lowered his hand. He seems to have realized that wiping away my tears is not the problem.
Ruzef and Kayden stood on either side of me, moving hesitantly like broken robots.
“Margaret.”
I sniffed and looked at Enoch. As if asking for an answer to the question he had just asked, his gaze was tenacious.
I finally managed to hold back the tears and opened my mouth. “Did Jenas say anything else?”
“There is another soul within you, you are deceiving us all. That’s all I’ve heard.”
Sponsored Content
It seems that he said that to stir up a riot. Does Jenas know that I am Lee Jin-ju? Did Anata say that? How far does Jenas know me?
I think he doesn’t know the truth that I was the ‘real’ Margaret.
As I thinking about that, Enoch said, “I know he said that to drive a rift between us, so don’t worry too much.”
“But, it is true,” I mumbled despondently.
Kayden grabbed my shoulder with a surprised face at my honest answer.
“Are you really not Margaret?” he asked.
I felt a bit sad when Kayden looked at me with an expression of disbelief. I’ve had emotional exchanges with him, but he doesn’t seem to like me anymore because I’m not Margaret.
“Do you hate me because I’m not Margaret?”
I lowered my eyes helplessly. I don’t have the confidence to see Kayden’s expression. I still have a conscience, so I don’t expect anything.
While I was waiting for his answer with such an empty mind, Kayden grabbed my chin.
“Why do you say that? How could I hate you? It won’t happen unless the world ends and I die.” Kayden comforted me very sweetly.
Embarrassed by the absurdly exaggerated words, I ended up bursting out laughing. It feels like being pulled up at once after sinking deep into a faraway swamp.
I could see Ruzef, who was standing still, sighing with relief at my reaction.
Enoch looked at me with calm, still eyes. I don’t know what he’s thinking with those eyes. Then he called me.
“Margaret.”
“Yes?”
“I originally despised Margaret Rose Floné. You know that too, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
I nodded in bewilderment. Because I don’t know why he’s talking about this all of a sudden. Kayden looked at my anxious face and carefully grabbed my hand.
Enoch glanced at my hand clasped with Kayden’s. He stared at our hands for a long time before asking me.
“You seem to have memories of Margaret as well, seeing as you confirmed that you are someone else.”
“……I also have memories of Margaret. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I am Margaret, but I am not Margaret. To be precise, rather than being a different person, it’s more likely that Margaret has changed and become me.”
Enoch crossed his arms and tilted his head. There was no expression on his face, so he looked even more indifferent and cool, but that actually made me shrink.
“I know this is unrealistic. I can’t believe this is happening either. Who am I? I don’t know……”
Sponsored Content
While explaining, I became sad again, so I stopped, speechless.
How can I explain this understandably? To be honest, I don’t know what my identity is even as I say this.
Enoch stared at me with an expressionless face and then opened his mouth.
“Speaking of unrealistic, I’m even less realistic to be so crazy about the woman I despised.”
I was so nervous that he might blame me, but I opened my eyes wide in surprise at the unexpected words I heard.
Kayden and Ruzef looked at Enoch with a slight nod, their eyes seemed to say ‘Yes, you are.’
Enoch looked straight at me with a calm gaze without any prejudice.
“All I want to know are objective facts. That way I can completely protect you. Did you think I would change just because of that?”
“Ah……”
Hearing those unexpected words, I froze dazed like an idiot.
Kayden, who was holding my hand, pulled me gently as if asking me to look at him.
“Now tell me what you think, Margaret. Were all your feelings and attitude toward us a lie?”
I hurriedly shook my head at Kayden’s question.
“No, absolutely not.”
“That’s all right then.”
Kayden gave such a simple answer and then stepped back. He, like Enoch, is as steadfast as a tree.
How can these men be like this? How can they be so unwavering?
“I believe in you too,” said Ruzef, who had been watching in silence.
And at Ruzef’s words, Kayden frowned and glared at him.
“Hey, Ddaggari. You are a Margaret fanatic.”
“What humiliation is that? I am loyal to my God.”
“Yeah, you are.”
When Kayden answered nonchalantly, Ruzef exploded in anger. Seeing the two starting to bicker again, I shook my head and smiled.
Somehow, I felt as if the curtains that covered my vision were lifted and finally bright light poured in.
