Chapter 69 – Storm (3)
Chapter 69 – Storm (3)
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 69 – Storm (3)
‘Since when…!’
Diana had entered the mansion.
The Pope and Rudine were too engrossed in their fight to notice anything else, and meanwhile, Isabel stayed holed up in the mansion, indifferent to the chaos outside. In the midst of this insanity, Diana had slipped into the mansion alone.
There was no greater commotion than this.
It was utter chaos with walking bombs causing all kinds of trouble everywhere.
When, how, and why Diana entered the mansion didn’t matter now.
It was too late.
Diana must have already gone inside and found Kyle.
‘What is she planning to do alone?’
Kyle was dead.
And Isabel was there.
That madwoman would never quietly accept Kyle’s death.
She would likely cling to his corpse until the bitter end.
In the past and even now, Kyle’s death was always tied to Isabel.
‘Could she be…’
Diana’s feelings for Kyle were undoubtedly not rational love but blind loyalty.
So she wouldn’t be pleased.
She wouldn’t like anyone obsessively trying to use Kyle’s death.
‘There’s no time to waste.’
She had to follow immediately.
If she didn’t, she might never see Kyle again.
She wouldn’t be able to send him off on his final journey or forever mourn his death.
She had to at least confirm Kyle’s end with her own eyes.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to shake off the lingering attachment.
But.
Clink—
A line of knights blocked Luna’s path.
Under Rudine’s orders, they had surrounded her before she realized it.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t pass any further.”
How ridiculous.
Luna glared at them with a face full of annoyance.
At that moment, a cold voice fell.
“Luna Winfred.”
Rudine stared straight into Luna’s eyes.
Then, she sneered coldly.
“I told you.”
At that moment, a low voice resonated.
“Isabel. and you too.”
She still spoke in a friendly tone.
As if issuing a warning.
“I will make you all pay.”
Her deeply sunken eyes pierced through Luna.
They were filled with a void close to an abyss.
Seeing that, Luna felt a surge of irritation for some reason.
There was no time or leisure to explain the situation.
Ah, how tiresome.
Should I just… kill her?
She seriously thought so.
Luna paused for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha.”
And after a brief moment, her tightly closed lips parted.
“Bullshit.”
At that moment, Luna’s face twisted menacingly.
It was a decision without any filter.
“Your Highness.”
Her lips twisted, and thick veins bulged fiercely on the back of her hand.
A fierce killing intent flared in her blue eyes.
The distance between them closed gradually.
Despite the knights blocking her way, Luna did not stop.
“Please move.”
Luna drew her sword.
Simultaneously, a blue energy so intense it was almost blinding radiated from the tip of her sword.
“If you don’t want to die here.”
****
“…”
There was a commotion outside the mansion.
That wasn’t particularly surprising.
It was probably caused by those who came looking for Kyle.
Isabel slowly closed her eyes.
Then, she gently lowered her head, resting her cheek on Kyle’s hand.
It was cold.
And at the same time, it was soft.
No matter how much time passed, Kyle’s body did not decay.
There was no stench, no rot.
His skin remained soft, and his unique scent only grew stronger.
Even in death, you are special.
She asked with a small laugh rising from deep within.
“Is it comfortable there without me?”
Isabel murmured quietly.
“Saying I miss you… would be greedy, right…?”
She was a disaster for Kyle.
She had denied it despite knowing everything in her mind.
And this was the result.
The obsession disguised as love turned into violence.
Kyle couldn’t endure it and ultimately took his own life.
“I’m sorry…”
The endlessly lightened words of apology dissipated in the air.
Even though her words could never reach the dead, Isabel continued to murmur beside Kyle.
As if fearing she wouldn’t be able to bear it if she didn’t say it even for a moment.
She lifted her head.
She saw her reflection in the mirror in the corner.
Standing at the end of life, she recalled each memory one by one.
Her past self was always dissatisfied and sharp.
She couldn’t remember the detailed reasons.
It was just… Isabel was that kind of person.
Suddenly, Isabel felt anger toward her reflection that had ruined everything.
They could have been happy.
Not this tragic end, but a relationship where they always cared for each other and whispered love… such a common but sweet romance.
She ruined it all.
She slashed Kyle with her venomous tongue, remained selfish until the end.
And yet, she couldn’t let go of her lingering attachment.
It was time to give up.
And time to let Kyle go.
“…”
Every breath Isabel took was filled with burning heat.
Watching Kyle quietly filled her with deep regret that choked her.
“…How is it there?”
Is it comfortable?
At least I’m not there.
“I also…”
I want to go there.
Isabel barely swallowed the words rising to her throat.
She wasn’t particularly afraid.
She had gone through too much to fear death now.
All humans die when their fate ends.
But even the time waiting for that fate to end was a terrible torture for Isabel.
Her throat burned painfully as if she had swallowed a fireball.
And then a cough burst out like she was swallowing an empty breath.
At that moment.
Tap, tap.
The sound of regular footsteps echoed faintly.
“…”
A shadow filled the corridor, gradually growing larger.
The indistinct figure became clearer as it approached.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Someone was coming towards her.
No, they were running.
Isabel blankly stared outside the wide-open door.
And murmured.
“…Diana.”
Kyle’s personal guard.
A model knight who rose to the position of Knight Commander despite being a woman.
“…”
“…”
Diana moved towards Isabel without hesitation.
The irregular footsteps sounded like thunderclaps in her ears.
Isabel’s surprised face contorted violently.
It was the face of someone who was utterly terrified.
“How did you get here…”
“Move aside.”
Diana’s cold voice cut through the air.
Her steps seemed urgent, her face betraying a sense of anxiety.
It was all too clear why Diana had come.
She intended to take Kyle away.
So that no one could ever find him again.
“…No.”
Isabel muttered quietly.
Diana watched her for a moment as if she were appraising her.
Then she spoke in a monotonous voice.
“Master is dead.”
“…What?”
“You saw it with your own eyes. You saw him choose death. You saw his body grow cold.”
Diana paused briefly before continuing.
“For days, you saw it with your own eyes. You shamed him endlessly during that time.”
Diana’s voice was calm, though it simmered with repressed anger.
Isabel swallowed hard and stared at Diana in despair.
As painful as it was, there was no flaw in her words.
It was all true.
“Accept it now.”
Resentment boiled in Diana’s heart.
The suppressed bitterness seeped into her voice.
“Master is dead.”
“…”
“He can never come back.”
Isabel’s eyes reddened.
The reminder of Kyle’s death sent a screaming jolt through her nerves.
She knew.
But she didn’t want to accept it.
Isabel clenched her eyes shut.
Her heated breaths came in harsh gasps.
“No… that can’t be… it can’t be… after a few days, surely…!”
She screamed desperately.
There was nothing else she could do.
At that moment.
Smack—!
With an ear-splitting crack, Isabel collapsed to the floor, unable even to scream.
As Diana crouched to make eye contact, Isabel trembled but didn’t look away, instead glaring at Diana.
“You are not in your right mind.”
“…”
“At least, for once, come to your senses.”
Air hissed from Isabel’s lips as she murmured.
What have I done?
What did I just say?
She scratched at her neck with her nails, tears streaming down her face.
Isabel was completely unhinged.
Diana watched her for a moment, then sighed and turned away.
As she turned, she saw Kyle’s peaceful face.
Diana lifted Kyle in her arms.
And left the room.
“…”
Isabel sat there, watching them leave.
She had no will, no time, no intention to stop them.
Her mind had already been consumed by relentless self-loathing, rendering it incapable of functioning properly.
Like a person whose soul had been extracted, she muttered incoherently, tears streaming down her face.
Her hollow eyes, devoid of direction, wavered.
She desired everything—his black hair, blue eyes, even his breaths.
She wanted to erase the horrific past.
She wanted to be forgiven for everything and start anew.
Is this love?
Having never loved anyone before, she couldn’t tell.
Could this filthy feeling be called love?
If her feelings for Kyle were love, it was ultimately a disaster.
Everything was blurry.
Except for one thing.
One clear fact amidst the chaos in her head.
It was all her fault.
She realized with bone-crushing pain.
If Kyle were alive, she would never repeat the same mistake.
If only he were alive…
If only he were…
“But Kyle… is dead…”
Oh, right.
Kyle is dead.
“I…”
There was no excuse.
Kyle is dead because of me.
“…”
Suddenly, an indescribable sense of unease crawled up the back of her neck.
Why… am I still alive…?
The minor question caused a ripple.
The ripple turned into a giant wave that engulfed Isabel.
Isabel rose weakly, her eyes unfocused.
And she walked.
She just kept walking.
Isabel walked blankly to the balcony.
She stood still and looked around vacantly.
“I want to stop…”
Isabel murmured as she began to climb the railing.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
And then she looked down.
It was high.
Falling from here, without strengthening her body with divine power, would be fatal.
As she murmured incoherently, she lost her balance and slipped from the railing.
The sky turned upside down.
The chaotic noise scattered in her ears.
Isabel closed her eyes.
And murmured one last time.
I’m sorry.
Soon…
I’ll be with you.
[Translator – Peptobismol]