Chapter 100
How many days of her life were left now?
What was written on the button necklace she had left in the estate?
‘248…’
She had about eight months left to live. That much time still remained.
‘I’m still okay. I’ve only lived together with him for only four months. It’s too early to despair…’
The sky stretched out like black silk before her eyes. Freesia stared blankly at the sky, and a thought came to her.
Come to think of it.
‘The last night of my previous life, there weren’t any stars either.’
And this world, too, turned completely black.
* * *
“Damn it!”
Albireo’s heart pounded furiously as he returned to the banquet hall. His vision was flushed with red from the sight he had left behind.
‘What on earth happened?’
He had been making excuses, wandering around the mansion like a bumpkin because she hadn’t returned.
But then… he felt the remnants of a spell he recognized from shaking hands with the lady, coming from the bushes. It seemed impossible, but as he moved, the sight before his eyes made his blood run cold.
And the face that had smiled so blissfully, only to twist into despair.
<Why did you come?>
<It wasn’t you, my lord, whom I wanted to come.>
“…Damn it.”
Of course, it should be her husband and his party searching frantically for her! All he needed to do was promise never to reveal what he had witnessed today.
Yet, when she spoke those words, it felt as if she had stabbed a dagger into his heart.
‘Get a grip, Albireo…’
Albireo hurriedly looked around. It would be best if he could carry her inside, but if anyone saw them on the way, her honor would be ruined.
‘The lady’s maid… She must be the same one who came from her hometown, right?’
The servants who came with each household were probably in the servants’ waiting room by now. Only the household staff hosting the banquet could move freely within the mansion.
He would have to press his servant to find her maid. If the lady had indeed suffered harm at the hands of the Antares…
‘…No way.’
No matter if she was an illegitimate daughter, could they really do such a thing in a place filled with so many people?
His heart ached with fear. Regardless, he needed to summon someone who was not from this household.
At that moment, as he turned the corner of the corridor, he encountered the one person who could resolve this situation the quickest.
“Duke Arcturus!”
“Lord Deneb.”
Izar frowned at the man blocking his path.
He was already in a foul mood, delayed by Atria’s insistence on another confirmation.
<My dear sister is probably sleeping in an empty rest area by now. Our maids are looking after her.>
He knew which room it was, so this was no time to be held up.
But not wanting to lose his temper again, he deliberately ordered Albireo coldly and briefly.
“Move aside, Lord Deneb.”
“Ha…”
Albireo’s lips twisted into a bitter smile at the absurdity of the situation. He could see clearly who was standing at the end of the corridor.
There was no mistaking the blonde woman with such striking hair—it was Atria. She had been looking at Izar with a smile and then leisurely turned away.
‘What’s this? Were they having a rendezvous?’
Was it a chance meeting? At a time when everyone else was noisily laughing and chatting in the banquet hall?
At this very moment, Izar’s wife was suffering alone outside, drenched in cold sweat and tears.
That woman had mistaken him for Izar and smiled so tearfully and brightly…
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
Izar’s steps halted abruptly as Albireo tried to pass him.
Having owed a debt to the Denebs due to the incident with the shepherdess, he had tolerated this fool, but now he was glaring at him without fear.
‘A lunatic obsessed with a woman.’
His hand involuntarily reached out and grabbed Albireo by the collar.
“How dare you…!”
“Your wife has collapsed!”
“…!”
“And what have you been doing until now…!”
“Where is she now?”
At Izar’s urgent question, Albireo, who had been caught in a panic, regained his senses.
If the Duke had shown any indifference, he would have exploded in rage, even if his father and brother punished him later.
“Answer me! Where is she?”
But now, every feature of Izar’s face was filled with emotion.
His eyes, visible below his furrowed brows, were so fierce that Albireo felt they might burn everything to ashes if stared at for more than a few seconds.
‘The lady must have wanted to see that expression from the Duke.’
Instead of being helped by a third party like himself.
Albireo swallowed the bitter, acrid taste rising in his throat. There was no time for these thoughts.
Only the man before him could help the lady now.
“Follow me. Hurry, this way!”
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.