Chapter 82

82

Adelaine, who had visited the Valentinno Manor, went mad.

She was the forbidden leaf of the Albinis Dukedom, the youngest daughter cherished by the Duke.

"Adelaine, what on earth happened...?"

"Hahaha... Hehehe..."

Despite the Duke of Albinis' question, Adelaine only laughed blankly. Her eyes, staring into space, were hazy, and saliva dripped from her slack mouth.

Seeing her in such a state, the Duke of Albinis swallowed hard. She had always been well-fed and shown only the best things. For her to end up like this was heartbreaking.

'Did she really encounter bandits on her way back from Valentinno Castle... or is it a lie fabricated by the Duke of Valentinno?'

The Duke of Albinis fell into thought. Adelaine was not particularly talented in magic, but she was not incompetent. She was capable of defending herself. Moreover, with the protective magic he had layered around her, she should not have been easily injured.

Furthermore, he had given her a teleportation magic tool, and she claimed to have lost it? It seemed strange no matter how he thought about it. Adelaine was not the type to lose important items.

'There was a dangerous person in the bandit group. I believe it was he who harmed Adelaine, though I don't know much about it.'

The Duke of Valentinno had said this, claiming to have rescued Adelaine from the bandits, while the knights who accompanied her had no memory of the incident.

It was unbelievable. Was there really someone in the bandit group who could use such bizarre methods? But how could a mere bandit...

'I need to capture that bandit to find any clues...'

The search had made no progress. It was becoming doubtful whether the bandit group even existed. If the Duke of Valentinno was lying, the question was why. There was no reason for him to harm Adelaine...

"..."

The Duke of Albinis, who had been silently watching his daughter, who was giggling while staring into space, sighed deeply. With a worried expression, he stood up and spoke to her as he always did.

"Adel, no matter who did this to you, I will find them and avenge you."

"Hehehe..."

"..."

Shaking his head at his daughter, who was laughing mindlessly, the Duke of Albinis slowly turned away.

After he left the room, Adelaine, left alone, got out of bed as if in a trance.

She opened the bottom drawer and took something out. It was a high-end teleportation magic tool, a pendant made of pure gold with a gemstone embedded in it.

Holding it, she walked barefoot and whispered to herself.

"I have to go... I have to go and meet him..."

A moment later, she disappeared from the bedroom.

Using the teleportation magic tool, Adelaine arrived at a desolate wasteland where not a single blade of grass grew.

She slowly walked towards a deep pit in the center.

Her expression was not one of fear. Instead, she smiled happily and spread her arms wide in front of the pit.

"I'm going to fly, soar through the air..."

Her body, speaking as if singing, slowly leaned towards the pit.

Her feet left the ground, and she began to fall headfirst.

In an instant, Adelaine's figure was swallowed by the deep darkness.

* * *

"...As I reported, Lady Albinis has been missing for two days, and the search continues, but there are no traces to be found."

"..."

Theodore, who had been listening to Carmen's report, put down the coin he had been rolling in his hand. The desk was piled high with documents that had accumulated while he was away from his fief.

Although he was mechanically processing the documents one by one, it seemed he could not focus on his work at all.

However, his face, which had been drained of energy for days, now had a bit of color.

But his eyes... seemed to be staring at something far away, as if in a daze.

He looked like someone under the influence of drugs. It was disrespectful to think such things about his lord, but what else could Carmen do? He fidgeted awkwardly.

"I will continue to keep an eye on the Albinis Dukedom as you ordered. And regarding the matter you entrusted me to investigate before... "

Theodore, who had not been interested in Lady Albinis, finally showed a reaction. His eyes sparkled as he looked at Carmen. Carmen continued calmly.

"I have discovered the past actions of Lady Seymour."

* * *

That day, what Adelaine had given me to drink was a love potion.

I had been suspicious from the start because of her suspicious behavior. Still, I drank the tea to make her commit more sins.

So she would not rest even in death.

After sending Adelaine back to the Albinis Manor, I had Derrick analyze the tea.

The results revealed that the tea contained a love potion.

'This potion, when consumed, makes one deeply fall for the first person they see... but it seems to have had a completely different effect on you, my lord.'

Derrick had said this.

I guessed that Adelaine had given it to me hoping the potion's effect would work on her.

However, the person the potion affected was none other than Lily.

I thought of Lily, longed for Lily, and wanted Lily. The more I yearned for her, the more unbearable it became.

Even in my dreams, Lily appeared. She would shed tears, accusing me, or run away to some distant place. In my dreams, she was always just out of reach. ...No, it wasn't just in dreams. In reality, her existence felt precarious, as if it could disappear at any moment.

Even though she is by my side now, I feel a distance, as if she could leave at any time.

This distance drove Theodore mad.

I don't want to lose her, I don't want to let her go like this, I can't let her leave forever.

He was seized by a fear he had never known before. The realization that the person he desired saw him as insignificant, not special or unique, was clearly maddening.

I am now nothing to her.

'But it wasn't always like this.'

That's right, but now it has come to this.

There is no longer the same tenderness in her eyes when she looks at me.

Only resignation, deep-seated resentment, and immeasurable sorrow.

What words can I use to ask for forgiveness? I am the one who ignored her, leading to this situation...

...There are only a few things I can do: share my life force to help her recover, ensure she is comfortable at Valentinno Castle, and...

"Open it."

"Yes."

Untangling the knots of the past.

Creak—

The iron door opened with a screech. A beam of light seeped through the crack, and the person imprisoned in the solitary cell slowly lifted her head.

"Aunt."

Theodore called her as he always did and entered the cell. Lady Seymour blinked and stared at him blankly. Her emaciated body, dry skin, and disheveled hair showed how broken she was.

"I know why you have gone mad, Aunt."

Theodore began softly. A cold chill, like that of winter, emanated from his voice. His eyes, looking at Lady Seymour, were the same.

"Revenge on my wife was justified. You dared to try to kill her."

"..."

Lady Seymour's unfocused eyes searched Theodore's figure. Completely mad, she did not seem to recognize who was in front of her.

"But in your current state, you cannot feel shame or humiliation."

"..."

"That's why... I will let her judge you again."

"..."

"About everything you have done."

Staring blankly at Theodore, Lady Seymour reached out to him, but Theodore coldly brushed her hand away and turned his back.

A voice devoid of any mercy echoed in the cell.

"Take her out."

* * *

After driving Adelaine mad and breaking her curse, I had to suffer for a while due to my physical limits.

Somnia was very dissatisfied with my weakened body. She nagged at me constantly, whether I was taking medicine or eating.

"Finish all your medicine. Don't you hate the taste? Still, finish it."

"Why do you stop eating the yolk? Finish it! Don't you know it's full of nutrients?"

"Are you a rabbit? Why do you only eat vegetables? Eat some meat! You need to build up your strength!"

"Physical strength and mental strength are connected. If you want to use my power properly, you need to build up your strength. You'll keep collapsing every time you use it."

At this point, I felt like I had a mischievous demon rather than a spirit attached to me. The nagging was so constant that my ears were about to fall off. I even felt like giving up on health management out of spite.

But that was just my mood; I had no intention of giving up on my health. I planned to endure and push through, even if I didn't have much time left.

'I have to do something with Somnia's power.'

"Madam, you ate a lot today? I'm really glad you're eating well."

...Charlotte seemed pleased with my changes. Sometimes she would even tear up when looking at me, which made me a bit uncomfortable.

"Try to eat a bit more. Even one more piece of fruit..."

Charlotte was trying to persuade me with sparkling eyes when there was a knock on the door.

Startled, Charlotte frowned and then asked the door.

"Is something wrong? Madam is having a meal right now."

"It's urgent... A message from the master."

...Theodore? I narrowed my eyes in confusion. What could be so urgent? After a moment of thought, I said to Charlotte,

"Let him in. We need to hear what it is."

"...Yes, Madam."

Charlotte opened the door reluctantly. Soon, a servant entered.

The servant bowed to me and said in a very polite tone,

"Master is looking for you regarding Lady Seymour. If it's convenient, he would like you to come to Avery Hall..."

"..."

My eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected news.

Lady Seymour had been confined to a solitary cell since the incident where she tried to poison me. Why was her name being mentioned again?

"..."

After a moment of thought, I nodded and stood up.

Whatever it was, it would be better to hear the details from Theodore.

"Charlotte, bring me a coat and comfortable shoes. I'm going to Avery Hall."

"Are you sure you're okay? Madam? You should rest more..."

Concerned, I smiled at Charlotte. She was always worried about me, and lately, she treated me like a newborn. The shock of me coughing up blood must have been significant. I patted her shoulder and said calmly,

"I'm fine. I'm really feeling better lately. It's a bit strange, actually."

"...If you say so, I'm glad... but..."

Charlotte reluctantly prepared my coat and shoes.

After getting ready, I stepped into the hallway, where an unexpected person was waiting for me.

"..."

He stood guard in front of the door, like a watchdog.

His blue eyes, slowly lifting to meet mine, were warmer than usual. ...No, he has been looking at me with such eyes lately. Burning, as if he couldn't control the heat within.

His unfamiliarity... made me feel something indescribable.

"...I'm here to escort you. I'll carry you down to the first floor."

"No, that's not necessary..."

I tried to refuse as Theodore approached me closely. As he got closer, I felt a suffocating sensation. He was tall, and I had to look up at him, making him seem even more towering.

Was my heart racing because of his imposing presence, or because of a strange unease growing in my heart... I couldn't tell yet.

What was clear was that he had changed.

His eyes, his attitude, everything about him.

It was different from before.

And that change... strangely made me uneasy.

Why, when my resolve for the future was already firm.

Perhaps it was because I could sense his change but couldn't grasp his deeper thoughts.

I couldn't understand what Theodore was thinking.

"...I'm fine, I can go down by myself."

"..."

As I tried to slip past him, Theodore grabbed me.

"!"

And in an instant, he scooped me up.

I was speechless, staring at him. Theodore was expressionless. His face was cold, but his eyes were burning as he looked at me and said,

"Don't think of me as a person."

"...?"

"Think of me as a vehicle."

...What does that mean?

While I was still stunned, Theodore started walking. With a smooth, gentle, and flexible gait.