Chapter 304
…When he woke, there was no loud exclamation or clamor.
That was because the one caring for him, Freesia, had steadfastly maintained her unwavering conviction.
That Izar would wake up soon.
Moved by her unshaken demeanor, the attendants also quieted their footsteps and hurried to summon the physicians.
Had Nova happened to be awake at that moment, things might have been a bit more chaotic.
“Mmm…”
But the child had curled up and fallen asleep beside her father, and so missed the moment he awoke.
Thus, in the moment of reunion, Freesia and Izar quietly held each other.
There were so many things they wanted to say, and yet not a word was spoken.
But at last, Izar managed to speak the name he had so longed for.
“Freesia.”
“Yes, Izar.”
“Your lifespan?”
“……”
Freesia opened her mouth several times, lips trembling.
She had already decided what she would say when he woke.
‘The day my lifespan was supposed to reach zero has passed, but I’m still alive, Izar.’
The number that had diminished day by day had disappeared altogether.
And the body that had been in ruins before she was dragged away by Canopus had completely healed.
‘As expected… you did something, didn’t you?’
But her throat tightened, and no words came out.
Everything she wanted to say was blocked in her throat like hot tears.
Instead, Freesia pressed the button pendant into his hand.
“It’s gone.”
“……”
“The number. It’s not there anymore…”
The two of them stared down at the silver button nestled in his large palm without speaking for a long time.
Then Freesia embraced him tightly.
“Izar. I had wished… that when I died this time, you would shed even just one tear.”
“……”
“I thought… showing visible grief meant you truly cared…”
If the one she loved would cry for her, then even such a pitiful life might be blessed with a single ray of radiant sunlight.
At first, she had hoped he would cry from sorrow at her death.
Later, she’d even hoped he might cry in despair.
“But you’re not the kind of person who cries in the face of sorrow or despair, are you.”
“Freesia…”
Freesia traced her fingertips gently under his eyes and gave a tender smile.
But the moment she felt moisture on her hand, her lips trembled, unable to hold that smile.
From the moment he confirmed that her lifespan was no longer in danger, his golden eyes had begun to waver with tears.
‘Just like dewdrops caught in the stars.’
She was finally seeing what she had yearned for so deeply.
And yet, instead of joy, what welled up was a quiet ache.
“You were always the kind of person who cried when you were happy…”
With those words, Freesia said no more.
She simply threw her arms around Izar as tightly as she could.
Why is it that we fall in love, even when we don’t fully know the other person?
‘When I know so little about the other side of him…’
Just as no one knows what lies on the far side of a shining star…
Freesia closed her eyes in the arms of the man holding her.
From above, Izar’s voice, hoarse with emotion, reached her ears.
“Thank God.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Truly…”
But just then, both of them fell silent at the sound coming from beside them.
“Mmm… Mama…?”
Nova, just waking up from sleep, rubbed her eyes with a drowsy face.
But as soon as she noticed the her father who had been lying beside her was now sitting up, her large golden eyes slowly widened.
“Huh…?”
Still groggy, the child looked around, confused, unsure what to do.
Izar reached out and gently pulled her close.
“Come here, Nova.”
Unlike the dream son, this child—alive and blinking—made his heart swell unbearably.
Freesia also pulled the child into the middle and whispered softly,
“Nova, don’t you have something to say?”
“Yeah, ah… Papa!”
Finally coming to her senses, Nova shouted to Izar just as she had promised Freesia, even as her face turned red with embarrassment.
Freesia closed her eyes as she basked in the warmth of her child and the embrace of Izar.
And she dreamed a dream that was possible only because she was alive.
That she would watch the countless spring night skies yet to come with Izar and their daughter.
A night where no flowers on earth would be trampled again, and the stars would sing peacefully above the lake.
– [Come and Cry at My Funeral], Main Story End –
—Marmalade’s notes:
Gosh, for all the ups and downs that this novel took us to, this journey was undoubtedly beautiful. I could still vividly remember all the heartache I felt alongside Freesia, and now we could also be happy beside her, Izar and Nova.
More side stories to come! I’ll try to complete them soon too!
Discussion
4 CommentsOzzych
milano0
Listen i don't side with Canopus but his reason for wanting to destroy the empire is reasonable.
I hate that no one acknowledges that what the Emperor allowed Izars father to do and all the noble manors was a bad thing.
I am happy for Freesia and Nova but im still meh about Izar.
marmalade
milano0