The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 76

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Chapter 76

He wondered how someone could just occasionally cough up blood, but he himself had sometimes bled before collapsing. Somehow, it made sense. So, Dale didn’t press the matter further.

After the whirlwind of events, a new question arose in Dale’s mind.

Why can only my daughter-in-law see me? Why?

“[How can you see me?]”

As soon as he spoke the words, Dale’s mind, as if freshly oiled, whirred to life.

The savior of his son and his daughter-in-law. The sweet girl he had mistaken for a fairy.

Could it be…?

And she could even see him in this spectral form?

It seemed that ‘could it be’ wasn’t just a hunch.

As this realization dawned on him, his ethereal body, which should have been light as air, felt heavy, as if weighed down.

He instinctively knew the reason. He was undoubtedly feeling the stiffness of his physical body, bedridden for so long.

If this continues, perhaps…

Perhaps he could wake up. No, surely he would return to his body. Realizing the state of his physical form, Dale delicately covered his mouth with his hand. A gold nugget, no, a golden fairy had descended upon his house!

Like Minerva, Dale felt immense gratitude towards Ailee for saving his son. Because of this, even before meeting her, his fondness for his daughter-in-law had been incredibly, incredibly high.

And now, she might even be able to wake him.

But wait. Was the blood she coughed up because of me? No, that can’t be. What do I do? What medicine did she say she was taking? I need to know.

With these thoughts, Dale racked his brain. At the same time, he pondered what gift he could give her.

First, he’d commission a golden statue of Ailee in his territory. This blessed daughter-in-law deserved to be revered by all. And he needed to strengthen their forces to protect her from the royal family’s covetous eyes.

If his dear girl awakened him, news of her extraordinary ability would spread like wildfire. The royals would undoubtedly try to get their hands on her. Not only that, they would covet her power and eventually try to take her away!

Considering how the Blashir bloodline had been ruthlessly conscripted into war from a young age, it was a distinct possibility.

Those greedy royals! How dare they even think about our daughter-in-law!

No one had shown interest in Ailee yet, but Dale already felt a deep rage towards those who would exploit her abilities. He trembled.

While Dale was lost in thought, Ailee, in the same space, was preoccupied with different concerns.

***

Why could I see Father?

Considering how the window had rattled at Father’s gesture, what I was seeing wasn’t a hallucination. That left only one possibility.

It’s my ability.

But I couldn’t believe it.

I really have an ability…and that’s why I can see Father?

That I possessed an unprecedented ability, one that allowed me to see Father. I couldn’t accept that so easily. Kin believed I had saved him, and Mother believed it too, but I was afraid.

What if, just like the Count’s family had always said, it was all nonsense? What if the idea of me having an ability was just Kin trying to comfort me?

I couldn’t trust myself.

But regardless of my self-doubt, there was no other explanation for why I could see Father when no one else could. The fact that only I could see him meant only one thing.

My ability, or a hallucination.

Was there any other possibility?

I asked myself, but no matter how much I thought, there was no other explanation. Like black and white, my mind was sharply divided, waging war between the possibilities of having an ability or not. Caught in this internal conflict, I wavered, unsure. Then, suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the confusion.

“You have no ability! I told you to stop with that nonsense!”

My mother’s harsh voice felt like a slap across my face. It wasn’t her sharp tone or imposing demeanor that frightened me. I was afraid that, just as she said, it was all nonsense. I was afraid of pretending to be someone I wasn’t, only to crumble in the end. Like a sandcastle built on illusions, collapsing irrevocably.

What if, just like Mother said, I’m nothing?

What if, even if I had an ability, this was all it amounted to? I might be giving Father false hope.

Perhaps a distrustful, hateful glare would be better. It would be better to show from the start that I was nothing, rather than raise expectations only to reveal my inadequacy.

And, I knew. I wouldn’t be here much longer. It would be better for both of us if I didn’t stir things up. It was time to stop getting close.

Hesitantly, I answered Father, who seemed lost in thought.

“I… I don’t know.”

Father’s bright eyes narrowed.

“[That can’t be right.]”

He seemed to know something I didn’t.

“[Dear girl, be honest with me.]”

Honestly, I really didn’t know.

Seeing my blank expression, Father thought for a moment, then nodded in acceptance.

“[Hmm, I suppose that makes sense, considering what Minerva told me.]”

Mother had spoken about me. I wondered what she had said. I hoped it was something good.

“[Since you say you don’t know, let me tell you what I think. Don’t be scared; I won’t scold you for not knowing.]”

Father suddenly winked at me.

“[I could only move around within my room in the tower. But the moment you came near, I felt this… pang, like something sinking in my chest, and now I can meet you like this. Ailee, you say you don’t know, but I think this is your ability. It’s just that you don’t seem to realize you’re using it. …Does that make you a genius, my dear?]”

“What?”

Father’s sudden, strange leap in logic startled an involuntary question from me.

“[This is it! I’m right! Our dear girl is an incredible genius with an exceptional ability!]”

Father, you said you’d tell me what you thought…

As time passed, I glanced behind me. Kin hadn’t found me yet.

Well, I had hidden the blood, and Father didn’t seem like he’d suddenly start fretting over my health. Even if I ran into Kin, I could face him with a clear conscience. Still, I couldn’t help but look back.

Father floated in the air, dancing. He spun in a circle before regaining his composure. He seemed so happy that I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt.

“[My genius daughter-in-law, listen closely. For the past five years, I haven’t felt any physical sensations. Now that I think about it, my body has been subtly changing since the day you arrived.]”

Since I arrived?

Father couldn’t leave his room, so how could he know… Oh, Mother must have told him.

I listened intently to Father’s words.