“What?”
“To be honest, I feel like meeting people who come to the castle is a waste of time.”
Laila felt she had wasted time again today. When she revealed her true feelings, Sion’s face stiffened.
Laila looked at Sion’s expression and thought,
…Maybe I shouldn’t have said that?
No, but it’s the truth.
Laila opened her mouth, deciding to say everything she had been holding back.
“I only have five months left to live.”
“Laila.”
“I want to do nothing but what I want while I’m alive.”
“…You’re not going to die. Even after five months, even after a year, you’ll still be alive. I’ll make sure of it.”
Sion added. Laila stared at Sion, who had spoken with determination. and her lips quivered.
“I’m going to die.”
“The High Priest isn’t a god. There’s no need to absolutely believe everything the High Priest says.”
Laila smiled faintly.
The high priest spoke the truth.
Something that exists in her heart.
It must surely be the regression stone.
‘I knew the day would come when the regression stone would reach the end of its lifespan.’
But to think the result would be like this…
But what can be done about the results that have already come?
Laila accepted the situation with an unexpected calmness, even surprising herself.
There’s no helping it.
Beneath her acceptance lay that thought.
“Sion, people have destinies.”
“Are you saying your destiny is to die in five months?”
“……”
“There’s no such destiny, Laila. Even if there were, I’d erase it.”
“Why are you so worked up when you’re not the one dying?”
Oh, no. I misspoke. Seeing Sion’s expression, Laila quickly added an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Just say you want to live.”
“……”
“Order me to find a way for you to live.”
“But…”
Why do you have to go so far for me?
Even so, you…
Laila pressed her lips together tightly.
She understood the emotion she was feeling. It was defiance.
But why am I feeling defiant in this situation?
While Laila remained silent for a moment, Sion stood up from the sofa.
His gaze and words fell upon Laila’s shoulders.
“We’ll leave tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Since, as you said, the Naiton territory is quite far from here, get some rest.”
“Wait, Sion!”
Laila grabbed Sion as he turned to leave. Sion looked at Laila’s hand clutching his clothes and then slowly removed her hand from his clothing.
Laila’s hand grasped at empty air before falling down.
“I’m going.”
Soon, Sion exited the reception room.
Laila sat on the sofa, letting out a sigh.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
She visited the Naiton Territory.
She gained nothing.
Laila calculated the time she had left.
Four months.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Laila spent her time sequestered in the library.
The library in the duke’s castle was quite spacious. In fact, it was extremely large.
When Laila first entered the library, she had thought it resembled a small library.
“Hmm…”
Sitting at a wooden table and chair in the library, Laila closed the book she had just finished reading.
The title engraved on the cover of the book was:
<What Comes After Death?>
“If the claims in this book are correct, then I’m not going to see my family again…”
Laila rested her chin on her hand.
The author of <What Comes After Death?> claimed that:
There are many worlds that exist after death.
And the world one goes to is determined by the sins committed during their lifetime.
In short, people who have committed a sin, no matter how small, are sent to the world of ‘1’.
People who have committed two sins go to the world of ‘2’, those who have committed three sins go to the world of ‘3’…
The book Laila read suggested that countless worlds exist, each suited to the number of sins a person has committed.
Laila fell into thought.
Her family members who had died when she was young—her mother, sister, and brothers.
They would, of course, be in the world for those who committed zero sins.
Then what about me?
Which world will I end up in, having committed how many sins?
Assuming the maximum number of sins a person can commit is 100…
‘Maybe around 70?’
Could it be more?
‘But surely not 100.’
Laila found herself resting her chin in her hands.
She recalled the sins she had committed.
First, she had killed her father, violating the natural order.
And she had driven her siblings to their deaths.
Even though they were half siblings…
‘The 100; I’ll leave that to the villain. As for me, I’ll settle for something between 80 and 90, generously speaking.’
Those who committed zero sins and those who committed 90 will never meet in the afterlife.
Well, that’s assuming the book’s claims are correct.
Laila set the book aside and stood up. She suddenly wanted to look outside.
Moving away from the table and chair, she stood by the window and gazed outside.
She looked up at the sky. It was clear. Very clear.
…She felt strangely unsettled.
She hadn’t expected the end to come like this.
It seemed both abrupt and oddly considerate—giving her six months to prepare for her final moments, though only four remained now.
Laila stood by the window, lost in thought.
‘I wish I could see my family just once after I die.’
She wanted to apologize to her sister.
Sorry for not keeping her promise and for not fulfilling her last wishes.
After saying that, she would probably offer an excuse.
But listen, sister. Marquis Hildegarde is dead. His children are all gone.
Those who caused our mother, sister, and brothers to die.
And those who turned a blind eye and pointed fingers at the innocent deaths have all disappeared from this world.
I made it happen.
……What would my sister say after hearing this? She probably wouldn’t be happy.
She might be deeply saddened by the fact that her younger sibling has become a murderer.
Yet, even anticipating such a reaction, she would still convey Hildegarde’s downfall to her family. Then, carrying the weight of her sins, she would go to a world where she would never see her family again.
Laila imagined what might come after death and then turned away from the window.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Do people become impulsive when facing their own death?
In the deep early morning, Laila, having awoken, left her bedroom with a candle.
She crossed the dark hallway and headed toward Sion’s bedroom.
Standing in front of Sion’s bedroom, Laila hesitated.
A sudden realization hit her—what on earth was she doing?
‘But I miss him so much…’
She wanted to see Sion’s face. Right away.
‘…I’ll just take a quick look. Sion will understand.’
After all, she was about to die soon.
Giving in to the impulse, Laila grasped the door handle and slowly opened the bedroom door.
The room was quiet. Laila walked softly toward the large bed.
She placed the candle on the nightstand next to the bed and gazed at the sleeping Sion.
‘He looks handsome.’
She smiled quietly at the thought.
In the past, Sion’s looks had often annoyed and frustrated her…
Laila lowered her gaze halfway.
How did it come to this?
She found her feelings fascinating.
She had hated him so much—disliked, feared, and been scared of him.
But now…
Laila moved closer to the bed and reached out toward Sion’s face, bathed in the soft light.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch his smooth nose…
“…!”
Laila was startled. Sion’s hand grabbed her wrist.
Sion slowly opened his eyes, revealing his dark pupils. He stared at Laila.
Laila’s mind raced. Now what… should she say?
Was it too honest to say she suddenly missed him?
Should she say she came to check if he was sleeping well? Why would she need to check?
Or should she admit she wanted to hit him while he was asleep because of past grievances… No, that’s not right.
Laila decided to stay silent. Sion, who had been quietly observing her, sat up on the bed.
He pulled Laila’s wrist toward him.
Такая грустная глава 😢💔