Siani had been in a slightly dazed state ever since she was embraced by Redian. Perhaps because her tension had eased, she fell into a deep sleep as soon as she got into the carriage.
“Milord.”
At that moment, the black smoke that had followed them transformed into a human shape. It was Ipos, Redian’s aide.
“…”
But Ipos stopped speaking and looked inside the carriage for a moment. Seeing Redian’s gaze fixed solely on the woman, he realized there was no point in reporting now.
“It seems she overexerted herself.”
Though Ipos spoke politely, he thought inwardly that the rumors were true: she was tough.
“Even lasting this long is impressive,” Redian replied as he carefully laid Siani down.
Even if Siani regained her memory, she couldn’t go back to the beginning. Anyway, this woman now was not Theia but Siani. That meant containing divinity in a human body was inherently overwhelming. Moreover, she must have absorbed magic today as well… The fact that she could endure for several hours with such a frail body was thanks to Siani’s mental strength.
“The task you ordered has been completed safely.”
“…”
Though they had set a one-hour limit, dawn was already breaking. Yet Redian seemed uninterested in Ipos’s report. Instead,
“What did master talk about with Ash Benio?” He asked while deeply inhaling Siani’s scent from her collarbone.
The sweet scent he left in various places remained unchanged. But today, there was a faint, irritating trace mixed in. Did Ash Benio touch her? Or did she extend her hand to him?
“She just watched without saying anything.”
“…And her expression?”
Was there sympathy in her eyes? Did she hesitate even for a moment when turning away from Ash?
“She had her usual indifferent expression.”
Only after hearing satisfactory answers to all his questions did Redian murmur quietly. “Good, it should be that way.”
A smile brushed his lips as he kissed Siani’s eyelids while she slept.
“It’s already winter.”
Confirming that Siani was deeply asleep, Redian got out of the carriage. The founding festival held at the end of the season was always cold enough for snow, so the time seemed to be approaching.
“Wait here for a moment.” Looking up at the pale sky, Redian commanded.
Siani, inside the carriage, would be lost in sweet dreams for a while. While she wandered in her dream, eyes and ears closed, Redian had unfinished business.
“Having come this far…” His gaze turned back to the east wing’s window. “I feel regret just leaving like this.”
* * *
“Damn it!”
Ash threw everything within reach against the wall. The glass shattered with a clattering sound, scattering in pieces.
“Damn it…”
Amidst the mess, Ash’s hands, veins popping, fumbled for a bottle in the cabinet. Shards stuck in his hands and feet, but he felt no pain. His heart raced too fast, and he wouldn’t make it through the night without some hallucination or alcohol.
“Ha!”
Finally finding a bottle after a long while, Ash’s hands, embedded with glass, wouldn’t obey. Bang! Unable to open the lid, Ash smashed the bottle’s neck on the table’s edge. A sharp scent spilled out.
“Help me…”
But Ash couldn’t bring the overflowing glass to his lips.
“It’s too cold here. Please, save me, Siani…”
He felt as if his skin was peeling away from the cold. Since Siani turned away from him, leaving him alone, his body had been shivering as if his blood was flowing backward.
“It’s very, very cold.”
Clutching the bottle, Ash sank to the floor. The forcibly swallowed alcohol spilled like blood from his red lips.
“Siani, soon you will understand too.” He muttered, staring at his reflection in the mirror opposite. “Your place is right here, by my side.”
The only one conversing with him tonight was the bloodshot eyes in the mirror.
“This is just a trial and hardship to strengthen our love. Isn’t it?”
The Siani who used to hold his hand whenever he collapsed like this was no longer there.
“It’s a test from God to bless our love, so don’t worry.”
Perhaps that’s why he felt the night was bone-chillingly cold.
“I will definitely get you back.” He mumbled as if possessed, vowing again and again to retrieve her.
It was at that moment.
“What are you talking about getting back?”
A cold shiver passed over his head.
“Ah, as expected…” Ash stared intently at the long shadow cast on the floor. “I wondered why you didn’t appear when Siani came all the way here. You always follow her like a dog, don’t you?” Though he lacked the strength to lift his head, he knew who was there.
“…Tsk.”
But Redian looked indifferent to whatever Ash was mumbling. He merely glanced at the spilled alcohol, glass shards, and torn paintings on the floor.
“What a mess.”
Clicking his tongue low as he surveyed the wrecked room.
“Master must have been very disappointed.”
Then Redian pressed down on the scattered glass pieces with his foot.
“Given that even the guy who was once her fiancé looks like this.”
Until they were crushed into powder without a trace.
“I didn’t expect you to be this bad either.”
“…”
Finally, Redian lifted a glass overflowing with alcohol and looked down at Ash. “Should I thank you?”
At the same time, their gazes met in the air. Ash’s eyes, glaring through his long golden hair, were sharp.
“Crazy b*stard.”
But Ash soon changed his expression and laughed.
“Feeling uneasy?”
“…”
“You know it too, don’t you? Siani’s love always goes to the most pitiful and pathetic ones.”
As Redian’s face hardened, Ash’s smile grew more sinister.
“The reason Siani looked at you that day was because you were so pitiful and pathetic.”
The more he spoke, the clearer his tone became.
“That’s why I pretended to fall to the bottom like you… And today, how sympathetic Siani looked at me.”
“…”
“You should have seen her red eyes.”
Ash knew. The only weak point to provoke Redian was Siani. The only part he didn’t want to lose was Siani.
“If I crumble to the bottom, Siani will eventually come back to me.”
But Redian said nothing. He just stared at Ash with an emotionless look for a long time.
“What does crumbling to the bottom mean?”
Suddenly, Redian gave a strange smile.
“Is it struggling with a bottle of alcohol? Or staying locked in a room all night drawing paintings?”
“…You.” Ash tried to retort but couldn’t open his mouth.
“No, let me ask again.” At that moment, Redian showed his palm right in front of Ash. “Can you do it?”
“…!”
There was a deep scar that was clearly visible.
“Every night, I stabbed myself and tore the wounds to prevent them from healing.”
What was more horrifying than the scar was the calm tone as if talking about someone else.
“Can you do this to gain Siani Felicite’s attention?”
Ash’s eyes sharpened as he glared at the scar.
“Well, since it has come to this…” Then Redian lowered his head to make eye contact with Ash. “I’ll tell you a secret my master doesn’t know.” He whispered in a very low voice. “From the moment Siani opened the underground castle’s door, I could have escaped anytime.”
“…!”
“Then why do you think I stayed trapped in there like an idiot?”
Redian revealed an old secret, thinking about the day Siani first appeared before him. Once the barrier of the underground castle was broken, he could disappear without a trace at any time. But he waited for the woman to come, tearing at his own flesh, and even trembled with his eyes closed despite the nightmare he was so sick of…
“Do you understand, Ash Benio?” Redian’s lips curled into a crooked smile. “If you’re pretending to be pitiful to gain Siani’s sympathy…” Then he poured the strong alcohol over Ash’s head. “You should have done at least this.”
Paradoxically, Redian’s words were filled with certainty. The certainty that no one could do what he did.
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