I Will Die for You, My Darling! - Chapter 77

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Chapter 77

“All right, fine.” Arietta looked directly into Benjamin’s eyes, their gazes locking. “Take me up there.”

She’d agreed to his offer, but that didn’t mean she was surrendering herself to him entirely. It simply meant she was allowing him to extend his favor. Benjamin, completely oblivious to her thoughts, smiled faintly, like mist. He felt as though he’d finally obtained the beautiful treasure he’d longed for. He carefully studied Arietta’s face, her eyes the color of new leaves, as if determined never to forget the sight.

***

Isaac pulled the handle of the annex library at the Glass Dome mansion, now devoid of Arietta’s presence. The luxurious door opened silently, welcoming him in. Hands clasped behind his back, he slowly stepped into the empty house, his eyes meticulously scanning the interior.

It’s different from the main house. Strikingly so… he thought. Unlike the austere and functional main house, the annex was opulent and beautiful, meticulously tailored to Arietta’s taste. Paintings awash in vibrant colors, delicate tapestries depicting various figures and flora, and the intricately patterned carpet underfoot… Isaac didn’t know the value of most of these items. Nor did anyone else.

Probably none of the staff working here would recognize how luxurious the carpet was, or why the paintings were so valuable. The ornate artwork that filled the house was entirely for Arietta’s own satisfaction. The only person who could appreciate the value of the art was gone. No, could it even be called “gone”? She had declared Isaac monstrous and left. It wasn’t a departure; it was an escape. In other words, the incident implied she had no intention of returning. Isaac had initially dismissed her declaration as a bluff, but now, with time, his perspective had shifted.

Standing alone in the desolate hall of the annex, Isaac thought of Arietta. What was I expecting? he wondered. He’d visited the Relic Investigation Team’s quarters today. He knew Arietta was there; he’d heard that Viscount Lenota had found her, incapacitated, and taken her in.

Isaac had expected her to come down to see him. To be more honest, he’d expected her to run into his arms, telling him how much she’d missed him. That was the Arietta he knew. But she hadn’t made a single move, despite knowing they were in the same place. More than that, she’d completely concealed her presence, like prey hiding from a hunter. And then there was Viscount Benjamin Lenota’s reaction.

Arietta, a human? The thought brought a sneer to his lips. She was the daughter of a witch, different from other humans. Crucial parts of her humanity were faint, or missing altogether. He was confident that not many could endure such a deficiency. Isaac recalled Benjamin’s composed, arrogant face.

“Being with you was dreadful,” the resolute voice echoed in his mind. “I find being trapped here dreadful now.”

Arietta’s words resonated from somewhere very close. Isaac instinctively covered his ears, but the voice wasn’t external. Arietta’s voice echoed within him like a storm. Amidst the chaos, a possibility struck him.

Perhaps… she told him that. That Isaac had kept her locked away. That living like that was dreadful, so she escaped. That even on the verge of death, she didn’t want to return… Was that why Benjamin had said those things? The newly emerged possibility left Isaac feeling as if he’d been struck in the back of the head.

Somewhat pale, he stood motionless in the empty hall, thinking of Benjamin and Arietta. The memory of holding Arietta close as she spoke cruel words felt like a scene from a distant past. Recognizing the worst-case scenario and grasping the situation, his fingertips grew cold. A chill ran through his body. The path to Arietta’s bedroom wasn’t long, but today it felt several times longer than usual.