Chapter 81

81

A scream echoed from the end of the corridor. It came from the direction of the parlor.

‘No way...!’

I ran there, panting, my heart sinking at the thought that Theodore might have really killed Adeline.

‘No, if Albinis were to become hostile to Valentin because of this...’

But an even bigger problem was that Theodore might face a murder trial. If that happened, the Valentin family would be shaken to its core. After all, Theodore was the only direct descendant who could enter into a contract with a spirit.

To prove that his killing was justified, we would have to reveal that Adeline had cursed me. But that wouldn't be easy. Adeline, who was meticulous, wouldn't have left any traces of the curse.

‘That’s why I was planning to use Somnia’s power to drive Adeline mad...’

I never would have dreamed that Theodore would take such a sudden action. Of all people, Theodore Valentin... to commit murder to save me?

Even though Adeline was his childhood friend. I thought he quite liked her...

Though it wasn’t romantic. Still, Theodore found her a bit annoying but not unpleasant.

...And yet, he was trying to kill Adeline just to save me? I couldn’t believe it. Maybe it was just my fear, but the scream from the parlor was undeniable.

“Ugh...”

“Madam!”

Charlotte quickly supported me as I stumbled at the parlor door. I paused to catch my breath. My breathing was labored, and dizziness washed over me. I had only just recovered from the poison, so it was a natural result of running here.

“...I’m fine, Charlotte.”

“Madam...”

After calming down a bit, I reassured the worried Charlotte and reached for the doorknob.

Right then,

“Screeech!!”

Another shrill scream erupted from the other side of the door. Reacting instinctively, I quickly opened it.

As I entered, a strong smell of blood hit me.

“...”

The scene that unfolded before me left me speechless.

Theodore had Adeline pinned against the wall, swinging his sword at her wildly. The sword, wrapped in Serafin’s blue flames.

“Aaaah! Ah! Huh, huh...!”

Adeline was covered in blood, with wounds all over her body. She was screaming hoarsely, tears streaming down her face.

In Theodore’s eyes, there was... no trace of reason. Instead, a terrifying madness filled his gaze.

“A, it hurts, ah...”

Adeline, who had been moaning and crying, paused when she saw me. Her eyes widened in shock.

“L, Lily...”

As Adeline stammered my name, Theodore, who had frozen, turned to look at me. He seemed to have just noticed my presence. ...It was unlike him. He must have really lost his mind.

‘...Now that I think about it, he looks much thinner and more haggard than usual.’

His eyes were dark with lack of sleep, and his complexion was pale. His hollow eyes were filled with venom and anger, making him look like a demon returned from hell.

I stared at him, feeling as if my breath had been taken away. ...This is Theodore Valentin. No one would believe it.

“L, Lily...!”

At that moment, Adeline began to crawl towards me. In a completely disheveled state, she pleaded desperately, bowing before me.

“Lily, please, save me. No, please, save me. I’ll definitely lift the curse...!”

“...”

Adeline seemed to have lost her mind as well. She was in a state of extreme fear, unable to think clearly. Not only had she confessed, but she was also begging me, whom she despised so much.

I looked down at Adeline in silence and then spoke.

“You look terrible, Adeline.”

“...!”

“A noble lady raised in luxury, to experience such a terrifying thing... It must be very painful.”

“...Y, yes, it’s so scary, please help me. I was wrong... please...”

Adeline, trying to grab my dress, reached out her hand. I stepped back and shook her off. Adeline, her hand reaching into the air, looked dazed.

The sight was quite something to see.

I mocked her and then turned my back. I faced Theodore, who stood motionless in front of me.

“...”

He was looking at me with a blank expression, his sword lowered. He was also covered in blood, but it was Adeline’s, not his. Theodore slowly blinked. The madness in his eyes seemed to gradually fade, and suddenly, a brilliant blue flame enveloped his entire body.

“...!”

Startled, I flinched and watched him. After a moment, the flames dissipated, revealing his clean appearance. ...The flames had erased all the blood.

Theodore, hesitating, spoke.

“...I apologize for showing you such a terrible sight.”

“...”

I couldn’t find the words to respond, my mouth only moving. The fact that he was covered in blood wasn’t the important part... Anyway, I needed to calm him down. As I cautiously approached him, I spoke softly.

“Killing Adeline like this isn’t a good choice.”

“...Then you’re saying I shouldn’t kill her? She tried to harm you twice. She deserves to die. Most importantly, I need to kill her to save you.”

“No, that’s not what I mean...”

I suppressed a sigh that threatened to escape. I thought his sanity had returned a little, but it seemed not. His eyes were still filled with murderous intent. He even referred to Adeline as ‘that woman,’ as if it was revolting to call her by name.

...I couldn’t believe it. The Theodore I knew was always kind to Adeline, even if she annoyed him a bit.

Had he gone so mad that he forgot their childhood friendship? Or was my perception of their relationship completely wrong?

In the midst of this confusing turmoil, I moistened my lips and spoke gently, trying to reason with Theodore.

“...What I mean is, you don’t need to kill Adeline with your own hands.”

“...But, this might be the only chance.”

“I know what you’re worried about.”

If Adeline escaped, she would surely hide in the Albinis mansion. Theodore must be worried about that. But he didn’t need to take such drastic action.

This is my revenge.

And...

“I blame you, but I don’t want you to destroy yourself like this.”

“...”

“Snap out of it, Theodore. If you kill Adeline, the Duke of Albinis won’t let it go.”

A faint light flickered in Theodore’s eyes. He finally seemed to understand what I was saying. However, he still looked anxious as he asked.

“If this isn’t the way... is there another method? A way to lift Adeline’s curse on you?”

It seemed more important to him than anything else. His expression was serious and stubborn, with a deep sense of unease. The way he looked at me was both precarious and filled with an incomprehensible passion.

...I didn’t know what to say. He seemed to be in a different kind of abnormal state.

“...Of course there is a way.”

I answered and then turned my gaze to Adeline, who was trembling in fear, watching us.

‘...I never thought I’d see Adeline Albinis in such a state.’

Adeline was always bright and confident. She was a radiant person who got everything she wanted and made everyone bow before her.

Of course, there was one person she couldn’t get: Theodore.

‘That’s why she’s so obsessed with Theodore.’

So, she must hate me. Because I have what she couldn’t have. ...To be honest, the word ‘have’ is a bit misleading. But I was enough to irritate her. However, that doesn’t mean...

“You can’t kill someone, especially not twice.”

“...I, I was wrong! I’ll lift the curse I put on you, I promise! Please, send me back to the Albinis mansion! I’ll lift the curse as soon as I get there!”

I smiled slightly.

And with a pitying look, I said,

“Alright, Adeline.”

“...!”

“Here, take this teleportation device. Use it to return to the Albinis mansion. Theodore isn’t in his right mind right now... so run away quickly.”

Adeline snatched the device without a word of thanks. She quickly backed away and activated the device.

With a mix of resignation and malice, Adeline said,

“Theodore, I’m really disappointed in you. I’ll tell Father everything. That you’ve destroyed Valentin with your own hands! When Father finds out, you and your family will suffer greatly. And Lily Everett, I’m not sorry to you. You’re just stupid. I wish you would die. Theodore’s state is all your fault—”

Adeline paused, finally realizing something was wrong.

Her stiffened body slowly lowered its head.

“This... why...”

Her eyes, looking at the device in her hand, were vacant. I laughed, feeling like a deflated balloon. Who was calling who stupid?

I knew she would be too terrified to think clearly.

“You’re the one who’s stupid, Adeline.”

“You...”

“I wouldn’t give you a real teleportation device.”

What I gave Adeline was a broken device.

Adeline’s face turned pale. Her legs trembled, and she collapsed on the spot. Her eyes, filled with terror, were not on me but on Theodore behind me.

I was a bit taken aback.

“The person you should fear is me, not him.”

“W, what...?”

“The person you tried to kill is me.”

“...!”

“And the person who will now take revenge on you is me.”

The rule when using the power of Somnia, the spirit of dreams.

If someone tries to harm me, I can return the same to them.

Since Adeline tried to kill me, I can repay her with death.

If you try to sink someone, you risk sinking yourself.

So, this is what you deserve.

There are surely people in this world who forgive those who wrong them.

But I am not one of them.

“...I can’t be a saint.”

I muttered, a bit self-deprecatingly. I could feel Somnia awakening within me, descending into the real world.

As the purple night mist slowly spread in the air, Adeline’s eyes widened.

Her black pupils, contracting, were filled with starlight.

Soon, Somnia enveloped Adeline. Embracing her gently, yet swallowing her whole.

Not even a scream could escape from beyond the embrace of dreams.