Chapter 140

 

It had been several days since Duke Denaves and his wife had not returned. The atmosphere in the Denaves household felt as if it were frozen.

They managed to keep the rumors from spreading outside the family, but it was only a matter of time before this became known.

The family members trembled with anxiety. What would happen to the family if they did not return?

On the day when their anxiety reached its peak, as they clasped their hands together, hoping for the safe return of the two,

The moon shone brightly. It was a full moon night, brighter than usual.

They had returned.

“D-Duke, what on earth happened…?”

Ariadeline’s body, completely torn and covered in blood. Carlothian held her.

One person and one corpse.

Carlothian dragged his feet up the stairs, making a sizzling sound.

“Madam, the madam…!”

He did not respond, no matter who spoke to him. His empty eyes reflected nothing.

“Duke, Duke…!”

No matter how desperately they called, he merely continued to mutter something to himself. No one could understand his words.

“She will return, she will, return. Return…”

Creeeak.

He arrived at his room, opening the door. And then, thud. The door closed.

The servants were unable to move in front of the door.

Everywhere the duke walked was soaked in blood.

Carlothian laid Ariadeline on the bed. Then he whispered on her blood-stained cheek.

“It’s okay. Everything will be alright…”

He continued to mutter to himself as if hypnotizing himself.

“Everything will return, Ariadeline. So…”

Come back. Open your eyes. Carlothian laid her on the bed and pulled the blanket over her.

One of the servants, who was gathered in front of his room, bit her lip and entered.

“Duke, what is it…?”

“Call the healer.”

“…Yes?”

“She is badly injured. Since she can’t open her eyes, call for them as quickly as possible.”

“B-but…”

Duke, the madam is already…

No one could voice that thought.

“Hurry.”

At Carlothian’s urging, the servant eventually called for the family healer. The healer was at a loss for words.

“Treat her.”

“…Duke.”

The healer finally managed to speak.

“What is it?”

“Madam, the madam…”

The healer swallowed hard and uttered the words that no one dared to say.

“…has passed away.”

“It cannot be.”

But unexpectedly, Carlothian replied firmly. He spoke as if he were certain.

“She is still alive.”

“Duke…”

“She hasn’t gone back.”

He uttered incomprehensible words and dismissed the healer.

“If you’re going to say that, leave. Bring another healer.”

“Duke, please…”

“Not yet.”

Carlothian took a deep breath. And in that moment, he shouted.

“She is still alive!”

It was a scream so high it felt like his throat would tear. After his roar, the healer and all the servants were driven out of the room.

The bed was stained with congealed blood. Carlothian didn’t care and lay down beside her. He embraced her, who had become stiff and cold.

It was cold. Yet he believed.

“…Open your eyes, Ariadeline.”

It was so terrifying.

It was so painful.

That’s why you aren’t opening your eyes now. In this moment where time hasn’t turned back, you cannot be dead.

Carlothian closed his eyes. He knew that when he opened them, she would look at him in surprise.

Imagining her, startled like a little bird, feeling fear as he touched her, made him feel sorry, but right now, until she opens her eyes, he cannot let go of her. He doesn’t want to.

Anxiety overwhelmed him.

Yet he believed.

That she would open her eyes.

He closed his eyes.

When he woke up, he would meet her gaze. Anticipating that, dreaming a fleeting dream.

Days passed like that.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

“Ariadeline.”

He sat on the edge of the bed where Ariadeline lay, looking out at the terrace.

The outside scenery was reflected in his dark, lifeless eyes.

The autumn landscape, stained red, was beautiful, but the room was quiet and cold.

No, it was filled with the dreadful smell of death.

Within that space, the man who was once called the strongest was withering like a winter gnarled tree.

His parched lips moved once more.

“The leaves have fallen.”

He whispered that as he took her hand. Her fingers were so stiff that it was hard to even clasp them together.

“If you’re okay, let’s take a trip to the villa.”

He pressed his forehead against the back of Ariadeline’s hand. It was cold. No, he felt nothing at all.

“If you don’t want to, I can stay away as long as you like.”

He kissed the back of her hand where his forehead had rested. The dried blood crumbled.

“Just let me see you play.”

Carlothian kept talking to her, pleading.

For days, he endlessly murmured, repeating the apology that felt stuck in his throat.

“…I’ll do anything.”

His voice penetrated.

“So please open your eyes.”

He said to her, pleading. But there was no response. Carlothian believed that she wasn’t opening her eyes because she was very, very hurt and tired and in pain.

“I was powerless.”

I couldn’t protect you.

That’s what made him angry.

Carlothian smiled with a grimace.

It was the smile of someone living in hell.

A gesture of self-condemnation.

With trembling hands, he brushed aside her blood-soaked hair.

“Oh, right.”

The dried blood clung to her hair, making it brittle. Carlothian pulled the bell cord to summon a maid.

“…Yes, Duke.”

The maid cautiously entered the room. Carlothian commanded her.

“We need to wash Ariadeline.”

“Pardon?”

“Draw a bath.”

“B-but, Duke…”

The maid opened her mouth to say something. Carlothian’s expression instantly became fierce as he whispered lowly.

“Do as I say.”

“Yes, yes…”

Carlothian carried her himself to the bathroom. Without anyone’s help, he tenderly washed her body.

The water was cold, but Carlothian felt nothing of the sort. He only gritted his teeth at the sight of the dozens of knife wounds beneath the hardened bloodstains.

“…You’ll be fine.”

He spoke kindly to her. Ariadeline’s closed eyes did not open.

He hoped that she would wake from her deep slumber and look at him as he wiped away all the bloodstains on her body.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

He dried her off and lifted her up. As he entered the room, he asked,

“Yes, that’s right.”

And he spoke as if he had heard a response.

In the meantime, he laid her on the freshly changed bed sheets prepared by the servants.

“It feels a bit cold. Are you okay?”

He stroked her wet hair.

“Would it be better to be a little warmer?”

Carlothian slipped under the sheets and pulled her close.

At that moment, she did not flinch even when he held her. She did not furrow her brow or show any signs of fear.

But Carlothian thought that even if she looked at him in terror, he would still wish for her to open her eyes.

If you intend to punish me, it’s already enough. If only you would open your eyes, I could do anything.

Carlothian closed his eyes while holding her.

In his dreams, the sweetest hell unfolded.

‘Carlothian.’

He opens his eyes and sees her face smiling at him. He imagines her lovely self, raising her hand with a bright smile if he reaches out.

Awakening, he feels a sense of his brain entangling with the reality that is so vastly different from his dream.

“…Ah.”

The blue light of dawn poured into the dark room. The blue light, like her eyes.

Perhaps that’s why his vision, which always seemed shrouded in black mist, suddenly became clear.

He gazes into the void, unable to even think about fixing his disheveled hair.

“Ah…”

And finally, he realizes.

Watching the light cast over her pale face, Carlothian bit his lip until it bled.

His eyes grew hot, and tears began to fall, plop, plop.

“Ariadeline.”

There was no response. Only a chilling cold lingered in the room.

By the time a month had passed, he finally decided to accept it.

She was dead.