Chapter 189
It was already the fifth day today.
Yoseph was huddled on the cold stone floor, crying like an animal. His crooked back was even more strangely distorted in the coarse gray darkness.
It was definitely that day.
The night Arzeletta received the call from the Lord’s castle, in the name of the High Priest.
“How about you just apologize honestly.”
Arzeletta, who had disappeared somewhere at his clumsy advice, wrapped her beautiful hair in a black veil once again two days after that.
The silver utensils on the tray she had prepared were empty, unlike usual.
“Today’s sacrifice is not the death of animals. It’s not anyone’s blood.”
Arzeletta said clearly.
“I’ll be back, Yoseph.”
“Arzeletta…”
“…In case.”
Arzeletta tried to say something but then closed her mouth. Her hesitant, red lips were clear even under the veil.
“In case, I…”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind.”
He could feel Arzeletta smiling. The scent seemed to be conveyed even beyond the veil.
“Yoseph, do you remember? The promise you and I made last time.”
“A promise…”
Yoseph fumbled for his memory. The two of them were not very talkative. And Yoseph was the kind of person who would keep any words he had exchanged with Arzeletta in his heart like a jewel.
She had only used a word as resolute as ‘promise’ once.
“…I remember.”
It was a yellow spring day when flowers were flying over the wall. It was a memory from the day he had traced the marks from the Lord that were left on her body like scars.
“Please don’t forget that promise, Yoseph.”
“……”
“No matter what happens to me, you must not throw away your life because of me.”
“Arzeletta.”
“It’s a promise. Definitely.”
“Why, why are you suddenly saying something like that…”
Yoseph held Arzeletta’s hand. And for a moment, he was flustered.
Arzeletta’s hand was colder than he had ever experienced.
“Yoseph.”
Arzeletta called out to him from behind the veil. As if she had just found that name for the first time.
“My kind person.”
“Arzeletta.”
“I was able to bear it because you were here.”
“……!”
At what followed, Yoseph’s world stopped.
The thing that touched his cheek was Arzeletta’s lips.
Under the rustling thin veil, the sensation of her moist and soft lips was clear.
“Ah, ah…”
The whole world rumbled. His eardrums felt like they would burst.
Yoseph gripped his heart, feeling Arzeletta’s breath on his cheek.
It was a weak heart that had never beaten so explosively, not even once since he was born.
It was neither a metaphor nor a joke.
He truly felt like his heart would burst and he would die just like that if he was not careful.
“Ah…”
“……”
“Arzeletta…”
That day, Yoseph lost his composure at Arzeletta’s kiss. He truly felt as if the ground beneath his feet was floating.
Arzeletta, who had moved away from his cheek, smiled from under her veil.
At the sign of her smile, Yoseph once again staggered like a person who was drunk.
That incident clouded Yoseph’s judgment. He had heard her words that were different from usual, all of which were surely a farewell, but the lingering feeling of the kiss had made him stand there like a fool, soaked only in its afterglow.
“…I’ll be back.”
Arzeletta at that moment looked so peaceful.
And that was the last time.
Arzeletta did not return.
“Arzeletta, Arzeletta…!”
Yoseph wailed like a person whose guts had been cut. As if he was not crying, but spitting up the blood that was filling his stomach.
He should not have let her go that day.
That day!
He should have held onto her somehow and not let her go anywhere!
Yoseph blamed himself.
He should not have trusted the Lord.
He knew it all! What kind of people the nobles were!
“My Lord is a kind person. He is gentle…”
At Arzeletta’s innocent words, he might have unconsciously believed him a little.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.