Spoiler I Become The Wife of The Male Lead

Aristes · Sep 29, 2021

Chapter 25 of the manhwa:
She seems to have fun

eynabananey · Sep 29, 2021

bebobi said: ↑

Yes, at the end of book 3 she calleds Abel father for the first time. She calls him father a lot after that
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Thank you so much for the spoilers! you're such an angel!

sushiigirl · Sep 29, 2021

bebobi said: ↑

THE REST OF BOOK 5!!! Damn what a rollercoaster. I actually cried while translating.

Carl couldn’t remember his father but he remembered his mother and aunt very well. They were very close sisters so when his aunt, Calia, became pregnant with the emperor’s child, his mother was her greatest supporter and helped her escaped. Sigrun, Carl and their mothers were on the run for a long time and Sigruna and Carl became good friends. Although it was difficult, they were happy. However, in the end, Carl’s mother was killed and he was separated from Sigrun and his aunt. Carl didn’t blame his aunt though.

Carl became an orphan on the streets and lived a harsh life. He tried not to blame or hate anyone because his mother always told him to be kind to others. However, unfortunately, Carl had a pretty face. One night, a man ripped his clothes and Carl retaliated. He killed a man several times his size. From then on, no one bothered him anymore.

A man then approaches him and tells him not to get hung up on just one human life. Although the opposite of what his mother taught him, Carl went with the man who he called Master. Carl’s master taught him how to assassinate, how to deal with information, making and selling drugs, blackmail, money laundering and how to get away with murder.

Carl gradually became insensitive to everything and didn’t miss Sigrun or his aunt anymore. Only one thing was left – his anger towards those who killed his mother.

After he grew up, he met Sigrun again who was with the nobles of the north. Carl secretly made contact with him. He learned that Sigrun was in love with a girl which surprised Carl. The two of them couldn’t go back to how they were anymore.

Sigrun only had one request of Carl – to not get close to Fiona. Hearing Sigrun say that made Carl want to do the opposite. Carl convinced Sigrun not to tell Fiona about their relationship and Carl even inflated the rumors himself. He thought Fiona would break up with Sigrun because he doesn’t think much of love but she didn’t. Fiona still considered Sigrun precious and Sigrun would smile like a child in front of her.

Carl felt jealous of Sigrun who was able to smile so innocently again. He also wanted Fiona to disappear.

******

Carl admits to Fiona that he had wanted to kill her from before she told him about her “involvement” with his mother’s death. Fiona is taken aback – so this is why Sigrun told her to stay away from Carl. However, Carl gradually got to know Fiona and didn’t want to kill her anymore. Fiona is shocked at first and becomes wary of Carl.

Fiona decides to still trust Carl anyway. Carl moves over to Fiona and kisses her on the cheek.

It is at this moment that Sigrun suddenly approaches them. Carl laughs at Fiona and runs away. Fiona is left to deal with Sigrun who is approaching with killing intent.

******

I was very upset, so I protested to Sigrun.

“Carl is a bad guy!”

“Yeah, I know. You should have done some background research too, Fiona.”

“I didn’t know he was that bad!”

“Then you should’ve listened when I told you not to get close to him.”

“Sigrun, put me down!”

Sigrun had draped Fiona over his shoulder like a potato sack.

Sigrun replied sarcastically to my protests.

“You cheat on me with my cousin?”

Hey, why do you say it so dramatically?!

“I have more to say! Did you encourage it?”

“Me? With Carl? Are you kidding me?”

“By the way, how did you get in when father has banned you from Halon Mansion?”

“I have my ways.”

In a nutshell, it means that our prince has invaded this peasant family illegally.

“...but where are we going right now?”

“Your. Room.”

I tried to stay civil.

“Ahaha, the reason must be to just gently drop me down on my bed, right?”

“Yes, I will be resting with you too.”

Ugh, doesn’t that sound a bit lewd?

“Are we really taking a rest?”

“No way.”

How is this trespasser so arrogant?

Now, I am mad!

“Sigrun, it’s the middle of the day!”

“Its okay, we will do it until night.”

‘Oh my god, what is he saying.’

“I’ll tell you I don’t want to see your shadow like last time!”

I remembered when I thought Carl was a woman and the things I had said to him.

Sigrun grinned.

“No, I won’t. Besides, I don’t want your shadow to be alone.”

Uwak, I blushed at Sigrun’s unexpected words. I remembered what happened last time.

“Hey, let’s have good thoughts at least during the day!”

“I do have good thoughts, Fiona.”

After walking for a while, we finally arrived at my room.

As promised, Sigrun carefully laid me down on the bed.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

“Wait, the sun hasn’t se... mmf.”

He grabbed my chin and kissed me. The words I was about to say were swallowed and sucked up by his lips.

“Mmmm...”

It was a very urgent kiss unlike usual.

I rolled my eyes as we kissed.

Is he really mad?

Perhaps he noticed what I was thinking. Sigrun parted his lips for a moment.

“You should focus on me, Fiona.”

As if in protest, he lowered his head and lightly nipped on my collarbone.

I shrugged my shoulder involuntarily. It tickled.

‘No, I need to focus.’

I was about to be swept up in the moment without realizing.

First of all, we needed to talk.

“Wait, Sigrun, I don’t have any special feelings for Carl. Besides, the reason for wanting to be close to him wasn’t-”

“I know, of course, that’s not the reason.”

He hesitated, then spoke slowly.

“...it’s just because of your kindness and your underlying guilt.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“If you know then why are you showing such an anxious attitude...”

What was there to worry about.

“Because knowing why and being jealous are too different things.”

Sigrun tucked my hair behind my ear with a gentle hand.

“Besides, he is a lonely guy too.”

“Huh?”

What does that mean? If you’re lonely you would want to be with me?

When I opened my eyes, Sigrun smiled.

“What I mean is, even if you don’t, Carl might.”

“You mean he will want to be with me because he is lonely?”

“Yes, you have that kind of power, a comforting heart. When you’re by my side, I feel warm.”

Is that how Sigrun felt when he was with me? My heart swelled.

“Do you think that’s how Carl feels too?”

“Yes, more than that... you make me feel like I want you all to myself.”

“I don’t think I’m that great...”

“It’s not like that. You have no idea what effect you have on me, who was alone, or how comforting it is to have someone like you by my side.”

Then Sigrun hugged me tight, as if I was going to disappear at any moment.

“And sadly Fiona, there are a lot of people who are alone in this world...”

“......”

That sounded so sad.

I quietly patted him on the back.

Sigrun whispered softly.

“But you are the only one in this world.”

He kissed my cheek like a feather.

“So, I won’t lose you to anyone.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Sigrun closed his eyes and rested his forehead on mine.

I felt his warmth.

That was solid proof that he was by my side.

“Who knows, I am not sure about that.”

… don’t you have any trust in me?

Suddenly, I felt a surge of need.

I kissed his lips.

After a brief pause, he responded more enthusiastically than me.

After opening my mouth to breathe for a moment, I soon realized one thing.

“Ah, contraception.”

Then Sigrun, thought about it for a moment and opened the chest of drawers next to my bed.

“......”

Surprisingly, there was a contraceptive drug.

Wait, I don’t remember putting it there?

“Sigrun, did you put that there?”

I laughed bitterly.

“No way. Maybe it was Celine who treats you like a granddaughter. I opened it just in case.”

In my head I could hear Celine’s playful voice ‘Oh hoho, miss. You should use contraception and enjoy.’. I smiled softly.

Is this the warm care of the elderly?

‘How embarrassing!’

Celine is a hundred times more mature than Abel, she must have predicted such a situation.

As I struggled on the bed in embarrassment, Sigrun took the lid off and drank it.

Then he slowly began to take off his shirt. It slowly revealed his body.

I looked at his muscles and stroked them involuntarily.

Sigrun blinked, staring at me, smiled and then kissed me again.

“......”

When I came back to my senses, my dress had been pulled down to my chest.

I stroked his collarbone and the rough scars.

“It's ugly.”

I answered firmly.

“Not at all.”

“......”

I could feel Sigrun, who stayed silent, stroking me with his long fingers.

My heart was pounding louder and louder. I breathed heavily.

With things at this point, there was no time to be embarrassed.

“...Fiona, are you okay?”

“y-yeh...”

Breathing in, I replied slowly, and he lightly supported my waist with his arm.

I looked up at him.

As he stretched out his arms, Sigrun gently lowered his body.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and closed my eyes.

Faces flashed behind my eyelids. Sigrun was right. There were many lonely people in the world.

‘But I hope that at least the man I love doesn’t feel lonely.’

“Fiona, I love you.”

“...me too.”

Longing for my wish to be true, I hugged Sigrun tightly.

******

After the incident with Carl, Fiona decided to keep her distance. Carl had become more polite yet cheeky as well.

Fiona goes to visit Eri. Eri is doing well. Carl even bakes and sends her cookies. Eri can tell Fiona wants to ask her something and Fiona checks if she is okay first.

Fiona asks Eri if she noticed anything while she was taken. Eri tells her that they said they were going to absorb her.

Fiona deduces that the dark Fiona and Crown Prince are gathering sacrifices to gain more power.

******

They gather for a meeting.

Abel asks why Carl is there and Carl says Fiona has forgiven him but Abel is still unhappy. Fiona says they need Carl’s help. Carl is useful in collecting information.

Sigrun has been very quiet and Fiona asks him what he thinks. He just agrees with Fiona.

They need to gather as much information as possible. Who else is working with the Crown prince and the Marquis of Erez? In order to do this they need Carl’s skills. Sigrun orders Carl to go collect information.

Carl goes up to Fiona and puts her hand on his forehead as if swearing an oath of allegiance to her.

“I will do my best, miss.”

Although Sigrun gave the order, Carl had replied to Fiona. Sigrun’s eyes flashed. The temperature in the room dropped 2 degrees in an instant.

The two cousins immediately started fighting. Fiona hid behind Abel and Abel guided her out.

“Fiona, just enjoy watching the two of them play.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“Ahaha...”

I wish I could, father.

They are at a ball. Fiona and Sigrun are dancing while Carl is being social. He is dressed as a woman again.

Carl’s new identity is ‘Mia Yen’. A young girl from a small noble family in the north. She entered the capital’s social circle with help from the Duke of Halon. Fiona was worried he would be recognized but he looks completely different.

Fiona asks why Carl has to collect information as a woman again. Sigrun kisses Fiona’s cheek at the question. Obviously because men are weaker against a pretty face.

Fiona asks Carl how he is doing and Sigrun stands between them asking if Lady Yen had found out anything interesting.

Carl says they should ask Cain Erez for more information but Sigrun is reluctant. Fiona thinks it might be worth a try.

Carl and Sigrun go to dance. Livia asks Fiona who that young lady is. Livia is outraged for Fiona. She calms her down.

Fiona takes Livia to have a chat with her. She asks if there has been any interesting news. Livia says some noblewomen have been having regular meetings but she doesn’t know why. Fiona asks Livia if she is in any trouble as the Crown prince’s reputation has improved again. Livia says she is fine but she hopes Fiona will do something about it. Fiona says she is on it.

Livia asks if Fiona is really okay (about Sigrun dancing with another girl) and Fiona. Livia makes a joke.

“If you want the property of the Duke of Priscilla, you can always come to me.”

Livia smiles and winks at Fiona.

Fiona is speechless. Livia just implied that the two of THEM get married.

Fiona smiles and shakes her head.

******

Carl and Fiona sift through the information they gathered.

Sigrun asks what Enoch and the darkness would do with the sacrifices. Fiona replies they would be able to create multiple dead lands at once. They need Eunice’s help to deal with dead lands.

Fiona is reluctant to ask Eunice for help since Eunice is living her own life.

They both note that Fiona seems to really care about Eunice. Fiona thinks that is because she was the original female lead but she can’t say anything because it would upset Sigrun.

Fiona decides to investigate the meetings Livia told her about with the help of young lady ‘Mia Yen’. Sigrun isn’t happy about that though. Fiona hugs Sigrun to try to comfort him. Sigrun kisses Fiona.

******

Carl and Fiona do their best to get into their meeting but it isn’t easy.

They go to Gonther to ask for his help.

Fiona’s plan is:

To hire some mercenaries who will disguise themselves as road robbers. Then she wants them to pretend to raid a carriage, after which, Fiona will show up and rescue them.

Gonther replies that they are mercenaries not actors! Gonther is also worried that Fiona might accidently kill his mercenaries.

Gonther wonder’s if it was Abel’s idea because he feels the plan is a bit extreme.

Gonther reluctantly accepts as Fiona will pay any amount he asks.

******

Instead of Carl, Sigrun goes with Fiona. Carl apparently plans to go seduce Cain Erez.

The target for the plan is Count Stear and his wife.

Their carriage gets attacked right on cue. Fiona gives Sigrun the cue and they jump out. Fiona notices one of the mercenaries is actually Gonther himself. Gonther attacks Sigrun.

Fiona notices the Count and Countess watching out of the carriage. She shouts out for them not to worry and she will protect them. They recognize her.

Fiona drops a small lightning bolt nearby and the pavement breaks. A mercenary is on the ground nearby with a bluish face – he wasn’t acting. Fiona apologizes inwardly. The mercenaries scatter as Fiona approaches. There are more mercenaries than Fiona expected.

It turns out that a real band of robbers had also appeared and wanted to raid the carriage!

Gonther and Sigrun are STILL fighting. When they all realize another band of robbers has appeared, they turn on them and Fiona gets to unleash her magic.

******

Fiona is exhausted at home. Carl knocks on her door and asks how her plan went.

Fiona replies that something unexpected happened and asks Carl how he went with Cain Erez.

Carl smiles saying he has a date set up. Poor Cain.

Carl says they should go eat out for lunch but Fiona doesn’t want to since there are lots of nobles about and they might annoy her. However, she looks at Carl who looks a bit pale. He had lost a lot of weight to dress up as a woman again. Fiona decides they will go eat Carl’s favorite food.

******

Fiona feels food tastes better when you eat with a friend.

Fiona asks Carl what he likes to eat. Carl has never been asked this before or thought about it so he doesn’t really know. He doesn’t have a favorite place to eat either.

Fiona asks what his favorite color is. He doesn’t have one.

Fiona asks what his favorite number is. He doesn’t have one.

Fiona puts her hand on his cheek and sighs. She asks him if he’s ever thought about what he likes or what makes him happy.

Talking to Carl like this reminds Fiona of Sigrun when he was younger.

Fionar ealizes she can’t leave Carl alone because he reminds her so much of Sigrun when he was younger.

Fiona drags Carl out to the market. She won’t give up until he finds something he likes.

“Let’s go.”

******

They eat a sandwich with meat and sauce. Fiona think it is very delicious. Carl thinks it is tasty too. She then makes him eat a fruit skewer. Carl asks Fiona if she took Sigrun out like this before. She replies that she did in Halon a lot.

Fiona keeps buying stuff for Carl to eat. He asks if she is trying to gain weight.

They eat some pudding and Fiona gives Carl homework – he has to find the answer to her question. Carl laments getting homework at his age. Fiona is very persistent. Carl says she is acting like his mother and laughs.

Carl asks Fiona how she can be so compassionate after living the life she has lived. Fiona says if she didn’t know him she wouldn’t care as much. She wants the people close to her to be happy. She asks if Carl wants to be alone, if so, she will respect his wishes. Carl slowly shakes his head. No, that’s not what he wants.

Fiona smiles and says she will check his homework in a month.

******

Sigrun and Cain are sparring. Sigrun warns Cain not to get caught up with a woman and Cain thinks he is a hypocrite for saying that. Cain wonders how Sigrun knows he has a date. Cain asks Sigrun if he is jealous that he is dating Mia.

Sigrun stops him and tells him to just think about it.

Cain is convinced that Sigrun is two-timing on Fiona. Cain tells Sigrun that he is sincere about Mia.

Sigrun says just take his advice and Cain runs away saying he is off duty.

Sigrun angrily kicks some stones on the floor.

******

Fiona tells Carl that Cain Erez is a good guy so not to be too hard on him.

Carl goes out in disguise as Mia to meet Cain.

Fiona looks at the information they gathered – noble families have been adopting orphaned children. She wonders if it is related to the Crown prince somehow. Fiona goes to bed early that day.

The next day, she runs into Carl. She asks Carl if he gained anything. Carl says no. Fiona is glad that Cain doesn’t seem involved. She asks if they should investigate Marquis Erez some more.

Carl puts Fiona’s hand on his forehead again – like before. Fiona is nervous that Sigrun will see it again.

Carl just smiles.

“It’s my very own expression of love, my lady.”

******

Fiona goes to Countess Stear’s gathering with Carl disguised as Mia.

They make conversation. Carl and Fiona talk about how they want to learn the capital’s fashion since they are both from the North. They ask Countess Stear if there’s anything fun to do as well since they have been bored lately.

Countess Stears thinks for a moment and says she will tell them about a new hobby that aristocrats have been getting into lately.

******

The Countess takes them to an old mansion. It turns out to be the abandoned Green family mansion. It looked shabby on the outside but very different on the inside. There were a lot of children inside.

The nobles were treating the children like “dolls”. They competed in who could decorate their “dolls” the most beautifully. Some of the children are starving so they could wear tighter clothes. It was a classic case of child abuse.

Carl grabs Fiona’s hand and tells her to be patient. Fiona does her best not to show her disgust. Carl asks how they can get a doll as well. The Countess says she can introduce them to a broker.

They use the fact that they don’t have a “doll” yet to justify leaving.

Carl reminds Fiona to be patient. She clenches her fists so tightly that her nails dig into ther palms.

“I know.”
******

They had intended to find out more about the Crown Prince and the sacrifices for the darkness but found something else instead. There might be a chance that the Crown prince is involved in the trafficking of the children.

Fiona thinks about Carl’s pretty face and how he might have experienced something similar as a child.

******

Fiona tells Sigrun about their findings and he says they should prepare for a raid. They have to be careful as they might start holding the children as hostages if they felt threatened.

Sigrun tells Fiona that he has noticed she has been worried about Carl a lot more recently. She doesn’t deny it and tells him it’s because Carl reminds her a lot of Sigrun when he was younger. SHe just wants everyone to be happy.

Sigrun laughs, this is just how Fiona is. Fiona encourages Sigrun to be friends with Carl too so she doesn’t have to worry as much. Sigrun says he will try.

Fiona is glad she has a lover that listens to her although he doesn’t always do what she asks.

******

They proceed with their plan of getting Fiona and Carl to go in with Sigrun waiting outside with others.

They meet the brokers. They lead them to the children and they pretend to choose one. They pretend to be reluctant and the broker explains that it is handled like an adoption so they won’t be caught.

The children are all kept in cages but fortunately look healthy. There are quite a few of them. Fiona asks if any records are kept. The man says of course not and explains he has been doing this for many years. This means he is experienced and must have a back up plan if something happens. However, even though he said no, he probably had a secret ledger just in case.

Fiona can’t stand it anymore and starts moving her magic.

“Everyone, attack!”

******

The knights waiting outside all came barging in, fighting the mercenaries hired by the broker.

The broker makes a run for it. Carl chases after him telling Fiona to stay to protect the children. Fiona notices that Carl is pale and sweating as he runs away. She is worried about him and at this moment she sees Sir Cain. She asks him to protect the children. Cain shouts that Sigrun had ordered him to stay with Fiona but she runs off after Carl.

What she worried about had happened. The broker had grabbed Carl around the neck and Carl’s dagger was on the floor. Carl’s face was swollen and red. Fiona couldn’t use her magic as the two of them were too close.

Fiona takes off the high heels she is wearing and uses them as a weapon. She hits the man with the heel and he staggers back. Fiona is furious. She throws some lightning and the broker falls and gets knocked out. She orders the knights to arrest them all.

She goes to Carl and asks if he is okay. He was curled up in fetus position and could barely breathe.

She tries to soothe him by rubbing his back. Fiona wonders if the sight of the broker reminded him of some horrific childhood trauma.

Carl’s eyes are out of focus. Fiona puts her hands around his cheeks and whispers.

“Can you see me Carl? You are not alone.”

Fiona stares into Carl’s violet eyes.

“Nothing will happen to you. You are safe.”

Carl gradually regained his composure and looked into Fiona’s eyes.

“...Miss?”

“Yes, I am here.”

Fiona rubs his cold hands.

“Are you okay now?”

“......”

“Everything went as planned. Your face is swollen, we should apply something cold later -”

Carl hugged Fiona tightly.

“Wait, Carl.”

Fiona resists but doesn’t want to hurt Carl who might be injured.

‘Does it look like two women hugging each other?’ Fiona wonders.

Fiona feels embarrassed.

“Carl, I know you’re shocked but we are not alone. When you come to your sense later, you’d be pretty embarrassed about this too, right?”

Carl laughs.

“... I don’t think I will regret it.”

“But I think I will regret it a little...”

Fiona was become more desperate because Sigrun was walking their way.

‘Why does my fiance always show up at the wrong time!’

“Carl...? If you have calmed down, can you let me go...”

The face of my approaching lover was becoming more terrifying.

“I’m sorry.”

Fortunately, Carl calmed down and let me go. Of course, it was already too late.

Sigrun and Cain, who came with him, saw us.

“Lady Mia Yen?”

Kane asked.

“Fiona.”

Of course, this was Sigrun.

“......”

I was reluctant to look at Sigrun’s face.

******

From Cain’s point of view he is witnessing a tense love triangle between Fiona, Mia and Sigrun. He thought that Sigrun was engaged to Fiona but liked Mia as well and now he just witnessed those two hugging each other desperately. Cain grew inreasingly confused as he thought about it. Wouldn’t it actually be a love square since he had dated Mia as well?

Seeing Cain’s confused face. Carl grins at him and greets him

“To answer the Lord’s question, the triangle is correct.”

“Yes? So do you really care about his majesty, Sigrun?”

Carl and Sigrun both have a difficult look on their faces but Cain doesn’t notice.

“It’s not his majesty, it’s Lady Fiona.”

Carl grabs Fiona’s hand.

Sigrun frowns and Cain has a headache.

“Hold on, didn’t you go on a date with me”

“Yes.”

Carl smiles and continues.

“You’re my former date so I will tell you something as a basic courtesy.”

Carl starts to undress and Cain turns screaming.

Cain slowly looks again and immediately regrets it.

‘Where is the girl I dated...?’

Beyond confusion, Cain Erez’s spirit flew away somewhere.

******

After a moment Cain regains his senses and wants to hit Carl.

Sigrun pats him on the shoulder and tells him to go find the broker’s book but Cain won’t be distracted that easily.

He asks what the relationship between them is. Sigrun replies that he is cousins with Carl. Cain asks Carl if he approached him on purpose.

Carl admits he was investigating his family. Cain doesn’t know what's going on with anything so Carl tells him to ask his father.

Sigrun grabs Cain and drags him away and orders him to find the ledger.

Fiona isn’t sure what just happened – did she just get confessed to? Fiona tells herself surely he just meant as a friend.

Carl says they better talk about it later but Fiona wants to know now.

“Don’t be so anxious, lady.”

Carl quietly kissed the back of Fiona’s hand.

“Because I have no intention of making trouble for you.”

“Okay...”

“Instead, please ask me what I promised you last time.”

“What promise?”

Fiona asked curiously and Carl laughed.

“You said you would ask me what I fell in love with after a month.”

“......?!”

Oh, the homework that I had set for Carl!

Somehow, she had dug her own grave. She had a headache.

Carl looked at Fiona and just smiled.

There were no ledgers inside the location they had raided but Fiona physically convinced the broker to tell her where it was. It was in his house. Sigrun sent some soldiers to the house to get it as well as free some children that were at his house.

The children are terrified of the adults. Fiona says “let’s go home” but they ask her where that is? The broker had approached them offering a home and family as well.

Fiona says she can’t promise they will have a family or home but she won’t abandon them.

She makes eye contact with each child and tells them she will protect each one. A child starts crying from starvation. Fiona thinks of her own childhood.

Fiona hugs each child. Some of the children cry. Some of the Knights are moved to tears.

Cain Erez sniffles and leans on Sigrun.

“Don’t lean on me”

“......”

Sigrun watches Fiona – the woman he loves the most in the world. Sigrun has a terrible feeling that Fiona will sacrifice herself for others one day. He has always had anxiety over this.

Sigrun thinks how he would risk his life to stop her because his life would have no meaning without her.

Fiona beckons. Sigrun walks over to her.

******

After everything was settled, Fiona goes to find Sigrun.

Fiona immediately says she had nothing to do with anything because she is afraid Sigrun is mad about Carl. However, Sigrun seems calm. Fiona thinks this is weird, she would be mad if anything woman confessed to Sigrun in front of her.

“Carl probably... was expressing his friendship?”

“I hope so too.”

“Sigrun, don’t just laugh, say something...”

It was more frightening that he wasn’t jealous like usual.

Sigrun pulled me towards him and kissed my forehead lightly.

“Don’t worry, Fiona. I am not angry. I was just thinking about something.”

“What?”

I looked at Sigrun with a puzzled look.

“Wondering what I am thinking?”

I nodded vigorously.

“Of course!”

It was a big deal if he was thinking of breaking up or leaving.

“......”

Sigrun tucked my hair behind my ear and smiled.

He whispered in my ear.

“I was thinking that we should get married.”

******

Fiona, Abel and Carl were having breakfast as usual in the Halon Mansion. However, one thing was different. Fiona Halon was in a daze.

Abel asks if she is okay. Fiona is so out of it, she doesn’t even hear. She just mechanically spoons food into her mouth.

Both Abel and Carl look at her concerned.

Abel asks if it is because of Sigrun and if she wants him to teach him a lesson. Fiona replies no, it’s nothing, father.

Of course, she had a lot on her mind – Carl had made a confession-like statement and Sigrun had suggested they get married. She wonders if Carl would give up once she marries Sigrun. She felt sorry for both the men at this thought. Although she loves Sigrun and always wants to be with him, she doesn’t want to marry him for such a trivial reason.

“Father, Sigrun said we should get married.”

Puk!

The sound of Abel’s fork stabbing a tomato echoed through the dining hall.

“...I see.”

‘Did I just say that out loud.’

When Fiona saw Abel’s reaction, she immediately regretted it.

My adoptive father asked in a cruel tone.

“Then should I prepare for a wedding, or should I prepare to get rid of Sigrun?”

… why are these the only choices!

“Why would you kill Sigrun!?”

“This is what I will do if Sigrun is forcing you to get married.”

Abel pretended to slice his throat with his fork.

Fiona shook her head.

“No, he isn’t forcing me!”

Abel had a sad expression on his face and asked with a clenched jaw.

“Then what are you worrying about? You two are already engaged.”

Yes, there was no need to panic about marriage.

“That...nevermind. It’s nothing.”

“Don’t give me such a boring answer. Tell me if you have any problems. Is Sigrun the problem?”

His conclusion was always ‘Sigrun is the problem’.

In the end, Fiona once again denied it.

“That’s not it, I just want to prepare for the wedding a little slower.”

I want to sort out my relationship with Carl and deal with the darkness first.

Abel asked what the problem was.

“Then you should tell that to Sigrun. If he doesn’t like it, tell me.”

It was really a simple answer.

Fiona looked at her adoptive father with a strangely envious gaze.

“I wish I could live like father.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“If you live with such simple thoughts, you will never die from -”

“Are you saying that your father lives simply and ignorantly?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

As revenge, Abel palced a pile of eggs and bacon on Fiona’s plate.

“I can’t eat this much!”

He ignored her.

“Eat more. Eat a lot and grow taller.”

“I am already fully grown!”

“You are as small as a mouse.”

I can’t get any bigger than this...

Seeing Fiona grumbling like that, Abel immediately turned his gaze to the other side.

“......”

Carl bowed his head with a stiff face.

The moment he saw this, Abel grasped the circumstances of this hellish triangle.

‘Now what are you going to do?’

However, it is a concern that my daughter is too popular.

Abel, who looked at Fiona and Carl alternately, continued eating with a troubled face.

******

The broker’s secret ledger was finally found. Fiona and Carl went to look at it. Naturally, both Sigrun and Cain were there as well.

Sigrun threatens this might be the end for the Erez family. Cain is nervous. He had asked his father and his father had just told him that he didn’t need to know. They looked through every page of the ledger. There was no trace of the Erez family or Crown Prince on the ledger.

Sigrun, Fiona and Carl are all a little disappointed, but Cain is relieved. Cain asks again what Carl had meant about asking his father and he just tells him to ask his father again. Carl leaves.

Sigrun tells Cain to take the ledger and arrest the nobles involved. Cain has still been calling Carl, Mia, so he asks Sigrun what Carl’s name is. Cain asks why Carl doesn’t like him very much but Sigrun just smiles bitterly. He couldn’t just tell him that his father was the reason his mother and aunt died.

Sigrun wraps his arms around Fiona’s shoulder and guides her out.

Cain, who is left alone, sadly goes through the ledger.

******

Dark Fiona is currently in the Erez family basement. She is absorbing the vitality of some death-row inmates.

No matter how much dark Fiona absorbs, she isn’t satisfied. She is still lonely.

The two men thought she was cooperating with them but they misunderstood. The two of them were dreaming of becoming heroes by spreading and ending the darkness but the darkness had plans of its own – it would never stop spreading.

Dark Fiona stumbles down the halls begging for someone to end her loneliness.

She realizes she wants to be loved but no one has ever loved her.

Then if she can’t have love, she wants all the hatred and anger in the world. Then everyone will remember her. Existing is better than nothing.

She looks up at the moonlight, black tears slowly gather in the corner of her eyes.

Eventually dawn came.

******

Carl flashes back to when he was a child. He was caught and used as a doll when he was young. He was whipped when he didn’t make the correct posture.

When he was confronting the broker all his memories and emotions from that time flooded back and engulfed his body. There was a loud ringing in his ears and his body became covered in sweat.

When Fiona gave the attack order, Carl immediately chased after the broker who had run away. However, he was caught instead. In an instant, one memory came back to mind. The man who tried to rip his clothes off when he was young.

Carl had killed that man but the pain from his first murder had been buried deep inside him.

His body betrayed him and he couldn’t muster any power.

Suddenly, Fiona appeared and stabbed the man with the heel of her shoe. Seeing this, Carl wanted to smile.

Her voice calmed him down and Carl hugged her without realizing. Holding her felt so reassuring that he almost kissed her as well. He wanted to kiss those lips that whispered those gentle words and dig into her sweetly smelling nape and bite it.

He broke out of the delusion when he felt Fiona stiffen in his arms.

From that day on, Carl unconsciously began to follow Fiona with his eyes. Every time he saw her, she became more beautiful- her silver hair that moved softly with the wind and shone like moonlight. Her eyes were more beautiful than roses. Her voice sounded like an angel was singing. When she was near him, he would smile.

It was a very serious condition.

It was then that Carl had no choice but to admit it.

He had fallen in love.

******

A few weeks passed by after capturing the nobles in the ledger. Fiona has been living relatively peacefully but well, it hasn’t all been peaceful.

“My lady, would you like to try this? Come on, say ah and open your mouth.”

“......”

“Shut up, Carl. Get away from Fiona right now.”

How did I get in this situation?

I honestly don’t know.

For a moment, I lookd at Sigrun and Carl.

‘Can they never be friends?’

Of course, the reason they were fighting was me.

Carl had become more proactive around Fiona. Although she had two beautiful men vying for her affections, she couldn’t say she was happy.

‘What should I do...’

Fiona was the one who had told Carl to find something that he liked.

‘But I didn’t mean you should like me.’

It would be three more days until the day Fiona had promised to ask Carl.

Marriage talks with Sigrun had also been put on hold. The situation was very messed up.

‘This can’t go on.’

I had turned into a rare piece of rubbish with two beautiful people on both sides.

Firstly, I ate the pudding on the spoon that Carl held out.

“Oh...”

Carl put on a bewildered expression.

Oh, he asked me to do it, but I guess he didn’t expect me to actually do it.

‘Seems like the men around me feel embarrassed when I reciprocate.’

I didn’t understand.

I swallowed the pudding and took turns looking at the two men.

“Carl, I’m sorry but let’s stop tea time here. I have something to talk to Sigrun about.”

“I...understand.”

Carl, who barely regained his composure, nodded his head.

After watching Carl leave, I took Sigrun to my room.

Sigrun, who followed me without complaint, looked at me curiously.

“Fiona, what do you want to talk about?”

Better to take care of him first.

I spoke candidly.

“Sigrun, I made a promise with Carl a while ago.”

“Promise?”

“After a month, Carl would tell me what he liked. Food or things... stuff like that.”

“......”

As I continued, his expression grew darker with each word.

“- that was the reason but now there are three more days until the promised date.”

“And?”

I looked into his eyes and responded.

“So I am going to spend the next three days with Carl... I am letting you know in advance.”

Sigrun approached.

As I looked up, our eyes met.

He asked in a low voice.

“...Are you going to leave me for Carl?”

“No!”

I didn’t know he would ask this.

I quickly shook my head.

“Absolutely not.”

“Then?”

“Rather than that, I want to give Carl space to make up his mind.”

I know that Carl likes me.

Of course, I cannot accept his feelings.

Also, Carl is well aware of the fact that he will be rejected.

I person as savvy as him wouldn’t not know.

Thinking that far, I took a deep breath.

“I want to be good friends with Carl. I actually tried.”

“But Carl has come to like you.”

“Correct and I know it will be difficult for me to remain friends with him after rejecting his confession.”

“......”

I explained the situation as objectively as possible.

“Carl will lose his only friend and the woman he loves in three days.”

As I said, it was a cruel fact for Carl.

But since I already have Sigrun, this was unavoidable.

“Sigrun, I know that Carl is clumsy in life so I want to give him time to make up his mind.”

“The next 3 days?”

“Yes.”

This will be the best and last consideration I can give Carl.

“I swear I won’t do anything to offend you. Also, if you tell me not to, I won’t.”

“Fiona”

Sigrun gently stroked my cheek.

“...truthfully, I also want Carl to be happy. He encountered a lot of trouble after meeting me.”

He smiled bitterly.

“So I know this is good for Carl. Yes, he needs some room to clear his mind. He is clumsy in many ways.”

“......”

Sigrun rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes.

We were almost close enough for our eyelashes to touch.

“All of it, I understand it, but I am still jealous.”

“Sigrun...”

I could feel his trembling breath.

“But do what you want. For Carl... he needs more time with you.”

I gently stroked his cheeks and muttered.

“... thank you, Sigrun.”

“But promise me that you will come back to me.”

“I swear.”

I closed my eyes with our foreheads pressed together.

“Sigrun, wherever you are, I will surely return to you.”

“......”

He gently caressed me as if he were handling glass and hugged me tightly.

I whispered into Sigrun’s ear.

“Oh, and let’s start preparing for our wedding now.”

As if my words had relieved the tension, Sigrun let out a short laugh.

“Say that first next time, Fiona.”

“Actually, I was waiting for the right time but you’re so serious – ahk!”

Sigrun lifted me and hugged me.

He held me in a princess hold and I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck.

When our eyes met, Sigrun’s blue-grey eyes were brighter than usual.

“I was waiting for an answer all this time. I thought you had forgotten because you didn’t say anything.”

I hope I am not crazy enough to forget to marry you.

“Father has been too intense and paying attention...”

I still remember Abel stabbing that tomato with his fork.

“I thought you wouldn’t marry me until you dealt with the darkness.”

Well, I was thinking about that too.

I kissed his cheek.

“No matter what happens in the future, Sigrun, I will get through it together with you.”

So I thought it would be good to get married.

“Well, I mean, you know...”

It’s a bit embarrassing to say this again. My cheeks heated up.

“I just love you so much.”

Sigrun smiled as he gently laid me on the bed.

His body slowly cast a shadow over me.

Forehead, eyes, nose, mouth... one by one he left a gentle kiss.

“......”

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I was wearing a dress that covered my neck.

Sigrun had made marks much higher than usual.

‘It’s barely covered...’

This was clearly Sigrun holding a grudge.

I had to talk to Carl, so he left a mark like this. Fiona wonders whether Sigrun is worried about whether Abel will see it.

Carl knocks on the door and Fiona tells him to enter.

Carl looks at Fiona and tilts his head with a smile.

“Aren’t you hot?”

I flinched.

S-surely, he didn’t notice?

“Yes... for some reason, my throat is sore today.”

Whether he believed my weird excuse or not, he changed the subject with ease.

“Lady, are you free today?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Good, there is a festival in the capital today...”

Carl continued speaking with a pretty smile.

“So why don’t you come play with me?”

It’s coming.

The quick-witted Carl must already know what I was thinking.

“Okay, Carl.”

Rather than a person being asked on a date, I responded militantly.

“Let’s go play!”

******

When Carl asked me out on a date, I was a little confident because Carl doesn’t have any friends. However, my confidence quickly disappeared.

“Carl... why are you so good at this. Have you had a lot of girlfriends?”

I asked, taking a cup of juice from Carl.

Carl smiled brightly at my question and only exercised his right to remain silent.

Well, they do say to never judge a book by its cover.

“True, it is your private life so it must be hard to say...”

Carl grinned at my murmuring.

“There are people who taught me many things.”

“Who?”

He replied softly.

“I don’t know their real name, but I called them Master.”

Looking at Carl’s face, I wondered if I should ask more but it seemed like they were good memories.

“He was a really bad person. He taught me a lot of bad things.”

Now I was worried! Was it good or bad?

“That... can I ask about it?”

“Sure.”

He replied lightly.

“What did your master teach you?”

“From pickpocketing to fighting, and how you can skillfully defraud your opponent.”

Wait, he was such a bad person.

I saw Carl’s face.

Rarely did he have an expression of reminiscing about long-lost memories.

I was relieved to see that face.

“Thankfully... you weren’t alone the whole time.”

He smiled awkwardly.

“Hey, is that the only impression you have after listening to me now?”

“Well, I thought he was a bad person too.”

Then I looked up at him and smiled.

“But the fact that you weren’t alone is more important.”

Suddenly, Carl’s face hardened as he looked down at me.

“......”

He immediately turned his head away.

‘Did my words offend you?’

Confused, I pulled on his cuff.

“Carl? Did I say something wrong?”

He shook his head and waved his hand.

“No, not at all, miss.”

It was a tone that was mixed with embarrassment. But no expression.

‘Are you mad?!’

I quickly moved and stood in front of him.

“Ah...”

When I saw Carl’s face, I was startled.

“Carl, why are you blushing?”

Then he covered his face with both hands, shamefully.

“That’s why I said not to look...”

“I thought you were angry.”

Still covering his face, he murmured.

“I can’t be mad at you. Just looking at you makes me smile. I am in big trouble...”

Ugh, even I am a little embarrassed to hear this.

“R-really?!’

When he calmed down, Carl put his hands down.

“You may not know but I am more serious than you realize.”

“What?”

“I am a little love-sick.”

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I heard right, and Carl smiled beautifully.

I made this beautiful person love sick?!

I could imagine Carl making someone else love sick but not the other way around!

Perhaps reading my thoughts, Carl opened his mouth.

“The young lady must have broken a lot of hearts before.”

It looks like the knife is stuck in the bean pod. (*means that someone is blinded by love and doesn’t see any flaws in the other person).

I told him the truth.

“I... the first person to confess to me was Sigrun.”

No one else had ever approached her before.

“Wasn’t that because everyone was afraid of his majesty and the duke?”

“Surely not...”

Rather, I was more surprised that Carl had fallen for me.

I looked up at him and asked.

“Carl, why do you like me?”

He put on a troubled smile.

“Are you asking such a question in this situation?”

“Sorry if I didn’t read the atmosphere correctly...”

It might be a harsh question but I wondered if Carl loved me more than I realized.

“If you like me a lot-.”

“Shhh, miss.”

Carl quickly pressed his index finger on my lips.

“I still have two days left.”

“......”

“Didn’t you have a long conversation with His Majesty to give me some time?”

So Carl had noticed.

I bowed my head.

He whispered softly as he fiddled with the collar wrapped around my neck.

“You already talked to his majesty for a long time... please don’t push me away already.”

Instantly, my face heated up.

‘The condition of my neck, you must have noticed!’

Next time I see Sigrun I have to be firm.

Then Carl dropped his hand and spoke in a fresh tone, unlike before.

“Come on, let’s take a look around, miss.”

I felt like I would be caught by Carl if we kept going.

I felt worried when I thought about the rejection.

******

“M-mar-riage preparationnnn?”

Abel spit out a strange sentence in my room.

“Why are you doing this again? I told you last time.”

My stepfather lamented.

“It breaks my heart for this father to say that he has to prepare.”

He was clearly sulking.

I glanced at him gently.

“Are you kidding me?

“I am sincere. It hasn’t been long since you become my formal adoptive daughter, now you are leaving this father, don’t you have any loyalty?”

Ugh, I was sorry to hear that.

“And what if Sigrun ascends to the throne?”

It was a valid question.

I nodded.

“... Oh yeah.”

It was a problem I had forgotten about since I had been so busy these days.

Abel was stunned at my reaction.

“You are the only young lady who isn’t excited about maybe becoming the Empress.”

After all, it was a position that young girls were anxious to get.

‘No, but this is serious.’

“Father, would I be a good Empress?”

Abel laughed.

“You are more suited to be an Emperor, not an Empress.”

“Really?”

Damn, then there was another problem too.

“After Sigrun becomes Emperor, he would have to have concubines other than the Empress, how would you deal with that?”

I replied seriously.

“...I would get rid of them all.”

Polygamy.

It was absolutely unacceptable.

Abel made a look.

“Right? So don’t you think breaking up would be the right answer?”

“Yes you... no! Why is the story going there all of a sudden!”

It was such a natural flow that I almost unintentionally agreed with it!

Abel clicked his tongue lightly as if it was a pity.

After all, he often acted like a child.

“This and that are completely different matters!”

“Then what are you going to do about Carl? Isn’t he courting you?”

What do you mean courting me? Can’t you use a different expression?

Thinking of Carl, I sighed.

“...I will take care of it.”

As usual, the extreme Abel pretended to slit his throat.

“If he bothers you, will you handle it?”

I shook my head.

“That will never happen...”

“Tell me if you need my help.”

Well, I don’t think I would ever need father’s extreme method.

Either way, Abel patted my head.

“Fiona, I am always on your side.”

In any case, my foster father was always like this, I couldn’t hate him.

“No matter how warm-hearted my father is, I will prepare for the wedding.”

“...Tch.”

Abel clicked his tongue again.

I shrugged my shoulders.

It really felt like I was dealing with a child sometimes.

******

Recently, the emperor had gotten very ill. He called for Sigrun and Enoch.

Enoch arrived first. Enoch asks the Emperor about bringing the Empress back but emperor says he has the Queen by his side. The Queen is Arya’s mother.

Sigrun enters after and apologizes for being late. Enoch tells Sigrun off for being slow like a slug.

The Emperor announces that he will start sharing his duties with the two of them. Enoch says he can handle it alone but the Emperor asks Sigrun what he thinks. Of course, Sigrun doesn’t want any of the duties or the throne. He just wants to spend time with Fiona. He instead recommends that Princess Arya help.

Sigrun tells the emperor that Arya is smart and young but has a lot of potential. He further adds that since her mother had taken such care of the emperor, Arya was raised by someone who was very attentive and cared for others.

Arya would owe Sigrun after today. She was smart and could take it from there.

The emperor agrees and decides that Enoch and Arya will help take care of duties while Sigrun continues to focus on the defense of the capital.

******

Sigrun informs Halon of the current state in the Imperial palace.

Abel is mad at this. Abel had worked hard to make Sigrun the emperor.

Sigrun reminds Abel that the point wasn’t to put him on the throne per se but to put someone capable on the throne. Abel had predicted that Enoch would destroy the empire if he became Emperor.

Abel asks why he thinks Arya will be a better choice. Sigrun replies as a starter, she actually wants the throne whereas he does not.

Abel asks what he wants to do in the future then. Sigrun just says he wants to be Fiona’s husband.

Fiona, who was listening quietly, interrupts them.

“Excuse me... I hope you don’t forget that I am still here.”

Carl cut in as well.

“Me too.”

Fiona calms Abel down.

Fiona hints that the emperor is likely to die soon. Carl and Sigrun both think the emperor should die a painful death rather than peacefully surrounded by his children. They make Fiona anxious.

Sigrun however doesn’t want to risk anything because he doesn’t want to make Fiona suffer. Carl understands as well. He doesn’t want Fiona to get hurt either.

Fiona listens anxiously. Tomorrow is the promised deadline with Carl.

******

The relationship between Cain and Marquis Erez was getting worse. Cain had moved to a separate mansion and visited sparingly.

Today, Cain returned home after a long time but the atmosphere in the mansion was strange.

The grass in the garden was all dried up and dead, there was a gloomy energy around the mansion as well. Normally, staff would have jumped out and greeted him but not today.

Cain walked around calling out names until he noticed a strange smell that led him to the basement.

It was like a scene from hell. Bodies were everywhere and a bone powder filled the air.

“Father, what have you done...?”

******

Fiona fiddled with her dragon orb earrings. She was nervous as she was about to see Carl.

Seeing Carl approach, he smiled as brightly as possible to not show nervousness.

“Hello Carl”

“Hello miss”

“Where shall we go today?”

“Well.”

Carl skillfully escorted me. I hadn’t asked whether he had had many girlfriends for no reason.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Let’s go wherever you want to.”

Unexpectedly, the initiative of the date was passed to me.

“......”

I was troubled.

‘What do we do.’

After today, it might become awkward with Carl.

I wanted to give him a good memory at least.

‘Would this be the best place to make Carl happy?’

I established a ‘plan to please Carl’ plan in my head.

******

The street festival was still ongoing so that’s where they go. They stop at a stall where you throw daggers to win prizes.

“Carl, have you ever done that before?”

I liked it.

Besides, I’m not proud of it but I am pretty good at it. This was because I took Sigrun to the festival in Halon a lot.

Of course, when I couldn’t win the prize I wanted, Sigrun won it for me.

First, I asked confidently.

“Is there anything you want?”

Carl laughed briefly.

“Then I want that teddy bear.”

A teddy bear? Do you like bears?

With that in mind, I paid the shopkeeper and received my toy dagger.

“Okay, I’ll get it!’

Of course, I answered this nicely but the result...

Was not cool.

While trying to hit the teddy bear, I missed and ended up getting the rabbit doll nearby.

I saw a sullen cute bunny doll.

‘Rabbits are cute but...’

Carl wanted the bear so I decided to try another time.

Then, Carl stepped up.

“This time, I will do it, miss.”

“This is harder than it looks...”

But a few minutes later, I immediately regretted what I said.

He got the teddy bear in one try.

“Wow...”

He even accurately hit the teddy bear’s forehead.

Seriously?!

Carl still had three toy daggers left.

“is there anything you want?”

“Then the hamster doll?”

A small hamster doll was smiling.

It was smaller than the bear so it would be harder to hit.

“But it looks difficult, if it’s too har-”

Pak!

Before I could finish my sentence, the smiling doll was hit in the forehead and fell.

“... you’re good.”

He replied humble.

“Because daggers are my specialty.”

So in a nutshell, I had worried needlessly...

Anyway, I thought the store owner might cry if we won more than this so I decided to omit the rest.

Carl picked up the rabbit doll I hit.

“Because my lady got this for me.”

He talked really well.

We gave the hamster doll to a cute kid passing by.

It was time to eat so I thought about what Carl would like.

“...Is there anything you want to eat?”

Carl smiled at me as if I was cute.

“I decided last time so you should decide this time.”

Well well, he’s given the initiative to me a lot to day.

‘Okay, then I will decide.’

I thought about what food Carl might like. I couldn’t think of anything special.

“Then food from my home... not the same but we can eat something similar?”

Of course, my hometown as Fiona Halon was the capital. But my soul was different, it had a separate hometown?

Even though my expression might have been questioned, Carl replied obediently.

“Okay.”

For this reason, I took Carl to a restaurant in an alley. Unlike other restaurants, there were many kinds of spicy and salty food.

The taste wasn’t identical but it was quite nostalgic.

Seeing me accustomed to ordering, Carl asked curiously.

“How did you know about this place?”

“Gonther told me before.”

This restaurant was often visited by mercenaries. I recognised some of them here but they just sat quietly in a corner.

“Bon appetite”

After a while the food came out.

“Carl, by the way, it might be a little spicy.”

“That’s okay.”

Ignoring my warning, he ate well.

‘He’s surprisingly good with spicy food.’

Of course, I also enjoyed it.

However, as I ate, a bitter feeling sat in the corner of my heart.

It had tasted delicious a while ago.

******

As I left the restaurant, I bought herbal wine that I had made myself.

The sun set and our surroundings became dark.

They returned to the mansion as it had become night time. Fiona recklessly takes Carl to the kitchen. It was empty as the workers had already gone home.

She took out two cups.

“Let’s drink!”

Carl laughed as I waved the bottle.

“That drink must have a higher alcohol content than I thought. Are you sure you won’t get drunk in front of me?”

It might be dangerous, Carl muttered languidly.

I responded confidently.

“Is Carl drunk in front of me?”

“Is it possible? All right, let’s drink.”

Carl accepted my challenge.

We poured drinks and clinked our glasses.

Come to think of it, I had promised myself that I would never drink again in the past.

‘Well, whatever.’

I drank the bitter drink.

Oh, it was more delicious than I thought.

I decided to forget the promises of the past.

After drinking a few cups in a row, I got drunk.

Suddenly I remember old food.

“I need snacks.”

“Yes?”

“Dalgona... I’m drunk so let’s eat dalgona.” (*it’s like honeycomb)

“Miss?”

Carl panicked as I jumped up.

All you need to make dalgona is a ladle, baking soda and sugar.

“Miss, that’s salt.”

“Oh, I got the wrong one.”

I laughed. Hehehehe.

Carl sighed.

“My lady, you are drunk.”

“Ah, I got drunk...”

Funnily enough, I remembered how to make dalgona very clearly.

I used to do it often with my mum when I was young.

Pour sugar into the ladle, melt it gently over a fire and add a little baking soda.

After pouring the thick brown liquid, you take out a cookie mold and stamp a picture on it. We made rabbits.

“Come on, Carl, eat it! It's a sweet snack.”

He received the dalgona with a curious face.

“Thank you, but...”

Carl took my drink.

“Stop drinking now. If you drink too much, I don’t think you can handle it.”

It was too much, really.

I frowned and tried to grab the glass but it was all in vain.

In the end I sat down at a small table in the kitchen and chewed only dalgona.

Seeing this, Carl grinned and sat down next to me.

“Now the day is over.”

“So...”

“I think I can understand Sigrun’s feelings now. This must be why it took him so many years to confess.”

“Me?”

Carl put a jacket over my shoulders and said.

“You don’t have the talent to set the mood.”

No, really. Everyone says they can’t get the mood just by looking at me!

As soon as I received this familiar criticism, I started to feel more drunk.

“I’ll take you to your room, miss.”

He took my arm as he guided me.

To get to my room from the kitchen, we had to go through a long hallway.

When I smelled the cold wind coming through the window in the hallway, the intoxication slowly disappeared.

Staring blankly at the round moon through the windows I asked.

“...Carl, did you have fun today?

He turned slowly. His purple eyes were clear.

“Yes, it was a lot of fun.”

I pushed off the jacket Carl put around my shoulders.

I asked him the question I had wondered about all day.

“Today, why did you entrust everything to me?”

I was genuinely curious.

It seemed like he had done it on purpose.

“This way you would be preoccupied with ways to entertain me all day long.”

“Well of course but...”

Carl laughed softly.

“Did you think about Sigrun at all with me today?”

“No, I was thinking about where to go with Carl-”

Ah, then I realized what Carl meant.

“Did you realize?”

Carl gently stroked my hair.

“Until now, I was the only one in your head.”

I nodded slowly.

“...You’re right.”

“You were just thinking about how to please me and make me happy. It was very lovely.”

He grabbed a handful of my hair and kissed it.

“So at least for today you were completely mine.”

His possessive eyes stared at me.

“I have decided to be content with that.”

“......”

“I took but one day in my lady’s life.”

The more I listened to him, the sadder I felt.

What a sad unrequited love, Carl.

‘You idiot.’

Tears welled up in my eyes without me realizing.

“Don’t cry, miss. If you cry, I will think I am mistaken.”

“......”

Carl whispered as he carefully wiped my tears.

“Now, the promised time has come, miss.”

He looked at me with a sad and beautiful smile.

“Ask me what, or who, I fell in love with.”

A soft kiss touched my forehead and a soft whisper entered my ear.

“I will be happy to answer.”

“......”

I opened my mouth slowly.

The next day, Carl left Halon mansion.

After seeing his home devastated, Cain took a vacation to find his father. Before he left, someone familiar approached him.

“...Carl?” (with honorifics)

Carl tells Cain to just call him without honorifics. Cain asks why he was here, was he sent by Sigrun? Carl says no, he knows where Marquis Erez is, he will take him to him.

Marquis Erez had fled to an abandoned mansion. Marquis Erez is terrified, the darkness had attacked everyone. He and the Crown prince had created a monster.

The Darkness wasn’t satisfied with just the inmates, she started to swallow others in the mansion. The Marquis had run away.

Cain asks if the CP knows yet and the marquis replies no. The Marquis had thought the darkness only wanted revenge on Fiona but it actually wants revenge on the whole world.

Cain asks the Marquis if he knows Carl but the marquis shrugs his shoulders and looks away.

“He is the one who killed my mother and aunt by the order of the Empress.”

“......”

Cain who had many surprises today, was at a loss for words.

“Wait, then why are you so hostile to me?”

“Isn’t it natural for the son of my enemy?”

Cain suddenly understands why Sigrun was suspicious of him.

Cain asks Carl if he is going to kill the two of them but Carl doesn’t know because Fiona has changed him.

Carl says he won’t kill them but the Marquis needs to take responsibility for what he did.

Cain and Carl decide to work together.

******

A famous designer shows up at Halon mansion. Sigrun brings an army of maids and tailors with him to pamper Fiona.

Sigrun says he’s been jealous and he needed to use his power to pamper Fiona.

Abel even drops by and tells them to take care of Fiona.

They help her take a bath and then take her measurements for her wedding dress.

Fiona asks why she is the only one going through this.

Sigrun is punishing her for thinking of another man.

Fiona wonders if Carl is okay. Is he eating well?

******

They finish taking her measurements and deciding on the fabrics.

The designers all leave and Sigrun and Fiona are left alone.

Fiona puts a white flower on Sigrun’s head. It suited him.

“Don’t worry about Carl.”

“Why?”

“He isn’t a child with no home and no money. Don’t worry, he has a stronger foundation now.”

“I’m worried about whether he is eating well...”

Sigrun was dumbfounded.

“Why are you worried about that?”

I was serious.

“It’s important for people to eat well.”

Someone knocked on the door.

“My lady, the Duke is calling. There are guests.”

It was Celine’s voice.

They go to Abel’s office.

Cain and Marquis Erez are there.

Marquis Erez tells them the whole story.

Abel banged his desk.

“Death sentence inmates? You use them?”

“Father, calm down.”

To be honest, once Abel got angry, it scared me too.

Abel growled at my words.

“So, Marquis Erez, you are asking for help now things have gone wrong and most of the people in your family are dead.”

The Marquis trembled before Abel.

“I-I didn’t think it would turn out like this...”

My stepfather sarcastically retorted.

“Yeah, of course you didn’t know. If you had known, you wouldn’t have done it.”

Sigrun stood between Abel and the Marquis and asked.

“So, where is the darkness now?”

“I-I don’t know. The Crown Prince might know...”

They consider sending soldiers but the darkness would be too large now.

Fiona says there’s no need to rush. They know the darkness’ goal now. First thing they have to do is protect Eunice.

******

Fiona tells Eunice about the darkness. Eunice isn’t sure she is strong enough to defeat it. Fiona spaces out. In the original novel, the darkness was defeated since it was in her body.

Fiona says she isn’t sure either. She gives Eunice time to think about what she wants to do.

Sigrun approaches Fiona after Eunice leaves. Sigrun asks Fiona why Eunice is so strong. Fiona tells Sigrun that Eunice was his fated partner.

Sigrun is a bit upset. Fiona asks Sigrun if he really feels nothing when he sees her and he denies it. He says its more like Eunice is Fiona’s fated one instead.

He says Fiona is the prettiest in his eyes.

Sigrun says they should go see her dress. Fiona says he should dress up in rainbow colors and Sigrun says he will if that’s what she wants. Fiona immediately regrets making that joke.

They start thinking about a wedding date.

Fiona tells Sigrun she is looking forward to the wedding and Sigrun laughs happily.

Fiona hides the deep guilt inside. She hasn’t told him that the last strategy to defeat the darkness is for her to take it into her body and die with it.

******

Eunice of course agrees to help.

The Marquis of Erez promises to testify against the Crown prince as well to atone for his actions.

Fiona still can’t figure out what the darkness wants though.

Fiona asks Sigrun what he would do if he were Fiona. He says he would hate her enough to kill her and Fiona asks what else. He says maybe he would think that if he can’t have her then no one else can.

Sigrun tells her to stop worrying about and just marry him and they will live happily ever after.

Fiona ignores him and thinks about dark Fiona again. She comes to a realisation that maybe Fiona has a heart that wants to be loved by her?

As Fiona ponders, she rubs her cheek against Sigrun’s shoulder.

******

While Enoch is visiting the Emperor, Sigrun barges in with imperial knights and arrests Enoch. He explains the charges against him and the witness – Marquis Erez.

The emperor is furious at Enoch. Sigrun tells the Emperor it’s his fault Enoch is like this and he confesses to the Emperor he has no interest in taking the throne.

Before he leaves, he whispers to the emperor that he will die soon.

"When you die and meet my mother, I hope you get down on your knees and apologize.”

After that, Sigrun left without hesitation.

******

Enoch is arrested and is screaming at the guards. He tells Dark Fiona to just kill everyone. He doesn’t realize the darkness is weirder than usual.

Enoch vomits blood. The darkness killed him.

‘I still want to be loved.’

I don’t want to be forgotten.

I do not hate being hated.

[So you have to kill them all.]

Now it was time to drink all the wrath and hatred of the world, to never be forgotten.

All the grass in the Imperial Palace withered away and died.

Fiona knows it is the darkness. She tells Abel to go get Eunice.

“Let’s lure the darkness to a place where there are no people.”

Fiona feels the darkness will follow her.

Sigrun asks Fiona to run away if it gets too dangerous.

Fiona lies to him and says she will run away with him, that she won’t leave him.

If she wanted to save the most lives, there was only one way to do that.

******

They go to an uninhabited forest to lure the darkness.

Fiona tells Eunice to run away if it seems impossible. Eunice smiles and says she is fine. She saved Fiona last time after all!

Fiona asks Abel if he needs to be there and he complains that they treat him like an old man already.

Fiona hugs Sigrun and tells him she wants him to be happy always.

He replies “Me too, Fiona.” and kisses her forehead.

Fiona lets go and starts moving her magic to lure dark Fiona.

‘Fiona, come here.’

I cherish you.

So, don’t suffer alone anymore.

******

Fiona could feel the darkness approaching. Unbeknownst to the others, she had no intention of fighting it at all. She understood how much dark Fiona wanted the love of others. The sorrow, and the pain of her loneliness.

“Lady Fiona, step back!”

Black waves circled them.

Eunice shouted in a clear voice.

“I’ll open the way, step back!”

The darkness got closer to me and the people behind me.

If this continued, the fight would undoubtedly begin. ‘Like the original ending.’

But who am I?

‘The original author who seduced the male protagonist!’

The whole story was already different. I couldn’t let it end like the original.

“Fiona...?”

Contrary to the original plan, Sigrun called out to me when he saw that I wasn’t moving.

I ignored his voice.

It was time to start my own plan.

I lifted my hands and moved my magic. The earth rose and a great barrier of earth and rock formed between me and the others.

The wall also separated Sigrun from me.

“Damn it, Fiona! What is this!”

Bang! Crack!

I heard the sound of the huge wall breaking.

Indeed, his power was not normal.

“I’m sorry, Sigrun.”

I said over the wall.

It was probably loud enough for his sensitive ears.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t think of any other way.”

“...what are you talking about?!”

“You’ll see.”

I shouted at Eunice who was trying to protect me still.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Lady Eunice! I don’t want you to get hurt!”

“Don’t say that, come back!”

“Fiona!”

Abel’s cry was also heard.

I laughed at the voice.

“Father, I love you!”

Truthfully, I didn’t bring everyone here for a fight. I just wanted to say goodbye.

‘They would have never let me follow this stupid plan if I had told them.’

I took a step forward.

“You said you would never leave me!”

I stopped at Sigrun’s voice. My heart ached at the sound of his desperate cry.

I shouted back.

“I’m sorry Sigrun! That was a lie! The worst lie of my life!”

“Fiona!”

Please don’t call out for me like that because it’s weakening my resolve.

“But I was serious! I will come back to you!”

“......”

I shouted at the wall with all my might.

“No matter what happens, even if it kills me, I will definitely return to you!”

Thud! Thud! Crash!

Instead of answering, I heard the desperate sounds of the earth wall being broken down.

I built walls even higher and thicker, so they would never be able to reach me.

It was a very thick and lonely wall.

“......”

Eventually, I faced the darkness.

I recited her name.

“Fiona.”

[...why, alone?]

“I came to see you.”

[I hate you.]

“I know, I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

Dark energy spread around me.

When I met her like this, in front of me, I felt suffocated.

Still, without losing my smile, I approached her.

“Do you want to kill people?”

She murmured like a child at my question.

[I don’t want to be forgotten.]

“I won’t forget you.”

She tilted her head slowly.

[Do you love me?]

“Yes.”

[Why, why was I abandoned?]

“I’m sorry.”

[What do you value the most?]

“......”

Fiona stared at me with empty black eye sockets.

[More than him?]

I decided to be honest with her.

There was no point in telling lies.

“No, the one I love the most is Sigrun. That doesn’t change.”

[…...]

Fiona’s face slowly distorted at my words.

It was bizarre.

It was hard to call it a ‘human’ shape anymore.

A humming voice was heard.

[Why did you come to me then?]

“......”

[In the end, you’re going to throw me away just like the original story. I’m going to get rid of all of it]

It was a terrible and miserable appearance.

[I don’t believe you]

The black body hung unsightly.

Just looking at it incited fear.

I wondered why Fiona became like this.

How did she know the original story in advance?

‘The original Fiona ended up with a tormented soul in the dark.’

Was it because of that ending?

If so, it must have been very painful.

“That won’t change. My first love is definitely Sigrun, However,”

I bowed down and hugged the melting dark figure.

Darkness slowly eroded my body.

It was hard to resist moving away.

I started sweating profusely and felt dizzy.

I whispered, enduring the pain.

“I will never leave you alone.”

As if angry, the contorted body suddenly stopped.

“I will be by your side.”

[Sob, sob]

“So now, in the darkness, you don’t have to shout to see yourself. I will not let you suffer forever.”

[…...]

The black energy that crawled through my body swallowed me up.

There was only darkness.

Lying in pitch-black darkness, I reached out my hand.

I didn’t touch anything or see anything.

I tried to speak out loud.

“...Am I dead?”

‘It’s dark.’

I shook my head and a rattling sound echoed near my ear. I was still wearing the dragon orb earrings.

The earrings started shining and my surroundings were illuminated by the orbs of light.

The light pointed her in a direction. She remembered Clemente Eduard. The dragon had told Fiona she might need the orb one day.

Clemente’s wisdom was illuminating the way for Fiona.

After walking for a while, she didn’t know how long or far she had walked. She heard a faint whimpering sound.

“A child?”

In the darkness, a little girl whimpered.

“...who?”

The child raised its head and I was startled to see the girl’s face.

She was around six or seven years old with silvery hair and red eyes.

“Fiona...?”

It was none other than a young Fiona.

“...who are you sister?”

I glanced at the shining orb in the palm of my hand.

I wondered if this Fiona knew the answers to my questions.

“Hello, Fiona.”

I bent down and made eye contact with the child.

I wiped her tears and whispered to her softly.

“I came all the way here to meet you.”

“......!”

Fiona, who was crying in the dark, stopped crying and looked at me with startled rabbit eyes.

******

I took the young Fiona’s hand.

“Lets talk, shall we?”

The child nodded, puzzled by the warmth.

“Why were you crying?”

“I don’t have a mother.”

“Where have you been?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why are you here?”

Young Fiona hesitated and replied.

“I don’t know where else to go...”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I’m not sure.”

Well, that was a difficult question. I asked a different one.

“What happened, Fiona?”

“......”

She looked up at me and said.

“A lot of things.”

“What things?”

Fiona tapped the empty floor with her toe.

“It’s dark out here and something keeps chasing me so I ran away.”

I asked softly.

“Do you remember anything?”

The girl looked at me and tilted her head.

“I guess, maybe, I don’t know. Sister, is that light?”

Fiona pointed to the earring I was holding.

“Yes, it is. My friend gave it to me.”

“Can I see it?”

I hesitated for a moment.

The light on the earring flickered as if telling me to do it.

‘Are you going to give it to Fiona?’

An orb that tells the truth, possessed by a wise dragon.

If this fell into the hands of young Fiona, would she remember anything?

“Can you open your palms?”

At my words, Fiona meekly spread her hands out.

I gently grabbed the little hand and placed the earring on it.

The orb began to shine brighter.

A wave of light seemed to overflow from her tiny hand.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Fiona looked at me with an expressionless face and nodded slowly.

“...I can.”

And beyond the light, something began to appear.

******

There was a story.

A story about a woman and a man who met and became happy.

There was another woman in the story.

A woman who dreamed of happiness but ended up being unhappy.

Each time the first chapter of the story unfolded, the darkness whispered to her.

[Don’t you want that too?]

Even with her dreams twisted, she always hoped for love but eventually died.

That was the end.

Then it repeated.

An unreasonable life in which someone is always loved and some else is always hated.

But the woman did not even know that such a thing was repeating.

She just kept suffering.

Then one day, as always, the woman had another unfortunate ending.

The soul suffered from the existence of darkness.

Without knowing that she had been subjected to this thousands of times, her soul gradually wore out each time.

Until one day she realized the truth.

She was repeating the same life.

This was the beginning of another story.

The woman continued to search for her wish to come true.

A being who will break the rules set in this world and love her.

After realizing the truth, it wasn’t difficult to obtain another soul.

She finally found one.

That’s right, the designer of her world.

She could have hated the designer, but the woman did not.

With her soul locked in the darkness, she called out to the designer with her old body, hoping to be loved.

But that wish did not come true.

The designer found someone else in the world to love.

The woman was so sad that she cried for several days.

No, she probably cried in the dark for longer than that. Maybe a few years.

She finally gave up on finding someone to love her.

Instead, she decided to hate and kill those who abandoned her.

To end this recurring painful life by destroying everything.

“......”

Here she was.

The figure of Fiona who met the same ending repeatedly.

“A lot happened to me”.

My sight returned. I opened my eyes.

In the dark, young Fiona looked at me.

She no longer had the look of a child, instead she had a calm face.

“Now it will all be over. Your sacrifice won’t stop it.”

“...Liar.”

Unlike before, the child had a cynical expression.

“Do you think I am joking?”

“No.”

That wasn’t what I meant. I spoke carefully.

“I meant that you were lying about giving up on being loved.”

“......”

“Now I know who you are and why you are here.”

The dragon orb also showed me the truth.

“You are the soul of Fiona.”

It was so small and young but I could see it clearly.

“A tough, pure piece that has remained after being worn out thosands of times by the dark.”

“... no. I am nothing.”

“That’s not right.”

Faint tears welled up in Fiona’s red eyes.

A hostile gaze was fixed on me.

“No, I couldn’t be anything to anyone. No one cared about me!”

Everything Fiona had done made sense to me now.

She wasn’t trying to hurt me.

She was begging me to see her pain, to notice her bleeding wounds.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize! Nothing will change.”

“No, this is an apology for not noticing earlier.”

I put one knee on the ground and looked at the child with tears in her eyes.

“I wish we had met sooner, do you?”

“...he stole you. I will kill them.”

The ‘he’ here was clearly Sigrun.

“Don’t do that.”

“Why? Because you love him the most in this world?”

“No.”

I said frankly.

“Fiona, making someone unhappy doesn’t bring you happiness.”

“......”

She tilted her head and I wiped her tears again.

“If you make Sigrun suffer, do you think you will find happiness by making him unhappy?”

“...at least I won’t be sad.”

I asked with a soft smile.

“I’ll change the question. Do you think you will be happy if he is unhappy? If that’s the case, then fine...”

“......”

Fiona didn’t answer.

I thought I knew a little bit about her.

Fiona had a kinder and more pure heart than anyone else.

Seeing her like that, I spat out the only words I could think of.

“I will do anything to make you happy. So can you tell me what to do?”

“...liar. You will go back to him.”

“No, I am serious. I will stay here with you.”

The child quietly lowered his head.

“Why now?”

Tears dripped down.

“Only now after I gave up on everything... you say this...”

I hugged Fiona quietly.

The little body trembled. She slowly rested her forehead on my shoulder.

I felt my clothes become wet with tears.

I whispered softly.

“Fiona, what do you want?”

“...take me out of here.”

She cried and spat out her last wish.

“I hate being alone...”

******

There was a white dress lying in an empty room in Halon mansion.

The owner of the room never came back but the housemaids always cleaned this room first.

“......”

Sigrun leaned against the doorway and glanced at the pure white dress.

Nearly a month had passed since Fiona disappeared.

The side facing the darkness was blocked by a very large wall.

For the first few days, Sigrun frantically smashed at the wall.

When he finally got through the wall... there was nothing there.

No body, no trace of her death. He almost went crazy.

Despite this, Sigrun was unable to give up hope. He came here every day and waited for her, looking at the empty room.

Traces of Fiona were all over the room. A bitter feeling rose up.

“Please, come back...”

Without Fiona, his life was meaningless.

It was a life that breathed Fiona.

Her clear laugh, red face and soft scent.

He remembered it all clearly.

Bang!

Sigrun punched the wall with his fist. He felt the pain.

The world was getting harder and harder to bear without her.

“Please come back before I go crazy, Fiona.”

Sigrun murmured and eventually left the room.

The only thing left in the room was the dress.

The finished pure white wedding dress waited for its owner.

******

Fiona and dark Fiona try to figure out a way for them both to leave. OG Fiona and the darkness have become one so if the darkness dies so does OG Fiona.

OG Fiona decides to let Fiona leave with a part of her. She gives Fiona her heart – her first wish that is still untained – to be loved.

Fiona doesn’t want to abandon her but OG Fiona says she isn’t - she is taking her heart with her.

Dark Fiona puts a small round light into Fiona’s palm. It’s the only pure part of OG Fiona left.

Fiona cries for OG Fiona. Why is she the only one who has to pay the price? Darkness smiles at Fiona and they hug.

Dark Fiona tells Fiona that she isn’t leaving her, she is taking her with her.

Fiona grabs the dragon orb.

“...Good bye.”

“Bye.”

Fiona bit her lip.

“I love you.”

“......”

The darkness widened her eyes in surprise and slowly smiled widely.

“I love you too!”

The darkness didn’t feel as lonely as before anymore.

“Okay. Let’s finish everything now.”

Thus, the dark space began to slowly crumble.

******

In the future, a baby will be born to a couple.

A girl with silver hair like moonlight and red eyes like roses.

“... I hear it a lot, that you look a lot like your mother but it’s really the same.”

The child’s father looked at his newborn daughter and whispered.

“No, she doesn’t look like me at all.”

With a small smile, the child’s mother replied.

“Then?”

“She resembles ‘her’.”

“Aha.”

The child’s father chuckled playfully and lightly pressed the baby’s cheek.

“It wasn’t the birth of my daughter but the birth of a lover.”

“Don’t be jealous!”

The couple joked around for a while and burst into sweet laughter.

For a while, there was a pleasant sound of laughter in the room.

The baby slept soundly and in peace, realizing that the first wish she had so long ago had come true.

“......”

This hasn’t happened yet but it was a story that was to begin some day.

Carl entered Sigrun’s room and stopped.

The room was a mess.

Of course, there was only one person brave enough to disturb the prince.

Carl look at Sigrun who was leaning against a wall.

“Can’t you calm down?”

Sigrun shook his head angrily.

“I am calm.”

“Do you hear yourself? Look at this room. You are exuding killing intent to anyone who comes close.”

“......”

Sigrun didn’t deny his words as they were true.

Carl sighed.

He had recently returned to Halon mansion.

Although he had been rejected by Fiona, he wanted to make sure she was safe.

Carl stood with his arms crossed.

“When she comes back, she might be disappointed.”

“......”

“Actually, I hope she is disappointed, then maybe I will have a chance.”

At those words, Sigrun rubbed his face roughly.

“Bastard.”

“That’s right.”

“You behave like a gentle sheep in front of Fiona.”

Carl laughed and smirked.

“Isn’t that the basics of being respectful to the person you are courting?”

“Damn it...”

“Stop swearing at me and get up. The maids are so scared they can’t even clean the room.”

“When did you start nagging so much.”

“I don’t want her to be disappointed when she comes back. I want her to see a smiling face if possible.”

“Damn it.”

Sigrun muttered while covering his face with both hands.

“I think I’m going crazy...”

Those words were not to his cousin.

Carl understood well the meaning of the absence of a subject. ‘Without her.’

Carl felt the same way.

Although it was burdensome, he wanted to see her happy at least.

“So am I.”

“......”

“Now come to your senses.”

Finally, Sigrun sighed and stood up.

******

Princess Arya is decided to be the heir to the throne. Sigrun renounces his claim to the throne. There’s no point without Fiona.

Abel watched Sigrun complete his work like an empty doll.

It has been 4 months since Fiona disappeared.

Abel missed her as well. There was a hole in his chest that couldn’t be filled. He had never felt like that before in his life.

‘I must be a more romantic person than I thought’ Abel smiled bitterly.

Sigrun wasn’t the only one who couldn’t let go.

Abel turned the doorknob of Fiona’s room. Someone was inside.

Abel reached for his sword as he opened the door.

“Who’s there?”

“Ah...”

Abel couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened the door.

“Fi...ona?”

His dear adopted daughter, Fiona, stood there with a surprised expression.

Abel wiped his eyes violently.

“Is this a dream.”

Fiona laughed.

“It’s strange that my cold father would say something like that.”

Let's stay calm. Abel rubbed his eyes again, just in case.

“Is this real?”

“Well.. It's been so long since I went missing-”

Abel hugged Fiona tightly.

He stroked her hair vigorously to make sure it was real.

Just as Fiona was about to complain, Abel said in a trembling voice.

“Late.. You are so late... I was so worried I thought I was going to die.”

“......”

Fiona felt sorry for her adopted father and hugged him back.

“How could you just turn so harshly and leave?”

Fiona whispered.

“... I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? You know you aren’t allowed to stay out overnight.”

“Um, that’s a bit.”

“Ungrateful! You still show no remorse.”

Even though he was joking with me, Abel’s hand trembled slightly.

Fiona wrapped her hands around Abel’s and smiled brightly.

“I’m back, father!”

******

Sigrun walked through the garden.

Red flowers bloomed.

The weather was getting colder so they weren’t roses.

He didn’t know much about flowers but he knew this because Fiona told him.

“This flower blooms in winter. Aren’t you curious?”

He was not interested in flowers, but he was always interested in what Fiona had to say.

“Sigrun, did you know? Each flower has a meaning.”

Her voice sounded like a bird’s song.

“The meaning of this flower is ‘waiting’ and.”

She licked her lips and whispered.

“It also means ‘I love you more than anything.’”

The girl who smiled softly was more beautiful than anyone else – she was the woman he loved the most.

When are you coming back?

How long can I stay sane for?

“Sigrun...”

He thought it was an auditory hallucination at first and didn’t turn around.

A voice continued to call his name.

“Sigrun.”

Am I still hallucinating? He didn’t look back.

“Are you mad?”

Someone approached him from behind.

Slowly, Sigrun questioned himself. Am I dreaming?

“I’m here.”

A trembling voice said behnd him.

“I’m sorry I’m late...”

Sigrun turned around slowly.

A woman was standing there.

A womanw ith silver hair like moonlight and red eyes like the flowers he was holding.

She looked up at him with slightly wet eyes.

“I’m here to keep my promise to come back to you.”

Sigrun’s hand trembled.

He wanted to reach out and touch her but was afraid she would disappear.

She hugged him first.

Sigrun licked his lips.

“Fi...ona?”

He slowly put his hands on her shoulders.

She didn’t disappear.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Her voice whispered. It was real.

“......”

Fiona quickly said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how much time had passed. You may not want to see me-”

In an instant, her mouth was covered.

He bit her lips and explored her mouth with his tongue aggressively.

She felt her breath being swallowed up.

“Uh, ha...”

Fiona, who could barely stand, shuddered.

She took a deep breath and uttered his name.

“Sigrun...?”

He stroked his lover’s flushed cheeks and pressed their foreheads together.

“Is it really you?”

There was terror in his eyes.

Fiona barely responded.

“Yes... sorry I’m late...”

“You are late.”

Eventually, Fiona looked at him.

“Are you mad?”

“Yes, I am.”

“......”

Fiona felt nervous at those words.

Sigrun kissed her forehead, eyelids, cheek and jaw.

Everywhere he touched felt hot.

“But as soon as I saw your face, it all went away.”

He smiled bitterly.

“I thought I was going crazy from missing you, Fiona.”

“... me too.”

Fiona wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I missed you so much.”

Then she kissed his lips.

“Sigrun, I love you.”

“......”

“Now I really swear, I will never leave you again.”

Seeing him frozen in surprise, Fiona laughed.

“So, let’s get married now!”

Damn, I’m going crazy.

Sigrun grunted hard.

“You are too late. Do you know how long ago your dress was finished?”

“Oh, I just saw it in my room. It’s so beautiful!”

Sigrun hugged her gently and smiled at her as she widened her eyes.

“This time, I won’t let you go again.”

Fiona laughed and hugged him.

The two held each other for a long time, confirming each other’s existence with their body temperatures.

Red petal scattered in the wind around them.

As they whispered to each other, their voices quietly echoed in the garden.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The sweet and gentle whispers of the newly reunited lovers continued for a long time in the garden.

The two of them found happiness.

There was nothing in the world to envy.

Nevertheless, their story wasn’t over yet. It was just the beginning of a new one.

FIN.

It's been a wild journey friends! Thanks for joining me
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the spoilers! You're the real MVP!

alaskamaze · Oct 2, 2021

Pinkie Pie said: ↑

So I read the first book with the intention of doing spoilers after I finished. Then I finished and realized there was so much content I dint know where to start. So instead I'm going to do spoils for book 2 as I read book 2.

IM GOING TO PARAPHRASE HEAVILY

The 5 families that run the empire meet. This is where Abel introduces Fiona as his daughter and succeed.

Abel: I hate everyone in this room. Especially Ernest. F**k you Ernest.
Other 5 families: feeling is mutual.
Duke Ernest: who dis
Abel: my daughter and successor
Ernest: ewww she is a pleb. Dislike. No plebs in the 5 families.
Fiona: if I win the monster hunting compition will it prove I am no lame ass pleb?
Ernest: LOL! Sure good luck with that.
*everyone leaves meeting*
Abel: lolololololol f**k those guys. You got this in the bag.... Also call me father.
Fiona: no
Abel:

This matters later.
Click to expand...

LOL. Abel is cute.

NotYourSiren · Oct 6, 2021

Any side stories?

Marchel.Way · Oct 7, 2021

I hope we have side story about interaction between Sigrun, Fiona and their baby

potatohunn · Oct 13, 2021

Why does he have to be this good-looking? My weak heart has been taken away

Shaey · Oct 13, 2021

Do you know if anyone is bringing the novel! I would like to read it from the beginning.

rrchi · Oct 13, 2021

I MLT the full volumes in my website!
https://galxmyxt.wordpress.com/i-became-the-wife-of-the-male-lead/

min2jeon · Oct 13, 2021

Oh my god, thank you so much for the spoilers. It makes me more excited for the upcoming chapters on manhwa☺️

asterice · Oct 17, 2021

A question. Does that mean that ML and FL are not emperor and empress?

KristinaMariaSara · Oct 17, 2021

asterice said: ↑

A question. Does that mean that ML and FL are not emperor and empress?
Click to expand...

ML give up the throne so they remain prince and princess/duke and duchess

Shaey · Oct 17, 2021

rrchi said: ↑

I MLT the full volumes in my website!
https://galxmyxt.wordpress.com/i-became-the-wife-of-the-male-lead/

Click to expand...

Tnks sweeheart :3

Kikim · Oct 21, 2021

rrchi said: ↑

I MLT the full volumes in my website!
Click to expand...

@rrchi, thank you so much for sharing. This story is great.

BrokenLove · Oct 22, 2021

rrchi said: ↑

I MLT the full volumes in my website!
https://galxmyxt.wordpress.com/i-became-the-wife-of-the-male-lead/

Click to expand...

I just read the mtl❤ tysm for the link❤❤❤ hemm~~ after all that epilogue, is there any side story? Idk i just have the feeling, there will be a side stories tho tysm btw

RannSy · Nov 2, 2021

Is there any translation for the side stories? Can you share it with me please? I really wanna read it.

mrs_F · Nov 3, 2021

bebobi said: ↑

THE REST OF BOOK 5!!! Damn what a rollercoaster. I actually cried while translating.

Carl couldn’t remember his father but he remembered his mother and aunt very well. They were very close sisters so when his aunt, Calia, became pregnant with the emperor’s child, his mother was her greatest supporter and helped her escaped. Sigrun, Carl and their mothers were on the run for a long time and Sigruna and Carl became good friends. Although it was difficult, they were happy. However, in the end, Carl’s mother was killed and he was separated from Sigrun and his aunt. Carl didn’t blame his aunt though.

Carl became an orphan on the streets and lived a harsh life. He tried not to blame or hate anyone because his mother always told him to be kind to others. However, unfortunately, Carl had a pretty face. One night, a man ripped his clothes and Carl retaliated. He killed a man several times his size. From then on, no one bothered him anymore.

A man then approaches him and tells him not to get hung up on just one human life. Although the opposite of what his mother taught him, Carl went with the man who he called Master. Carl’s master taught him how to assassinate, how to deal with information, making and selling drugs, blackmail, money laundering and how to get away with murder.

Carl gradually became insensitive to everything and didn’t miss Sigrun or his aunt anymore. Only one thing was left – his anger towards those who killed his mother.

After he grew up, he met Sigrun again who was with the nobles of the north. Carl secretly made contact with him. He learned that Sigrun was in love with a girl which surprised Carl. The two of them couldn’t go back to how they were anymore.

Sigrun only had one request of Carl – to not get close to Fiona. Hearing Sigrun say that made Carl want to do the opposite. Carl convinced Sigrun not to tell Fiona about their relationship and Carl even inflated the rumors himself. He thought Fiona would break up with Sigrun because he doesn’t think much of love but she didn’t. Fiona still considered Sigrun precious and Sigrun would smile like a child in front of her.

Carl felt jealous of Sigrun who was able to smile so innocently again. He also wanted Fiona to disappear.

******

Carl admits to Fiona that he had wanted to kill her from before she told him about her “involvement” with his mother’s death. Fiona is taken aback – so this is why Sigrun told her to stay away from Carl. However, Carl gradually got to know Fiona and didn’t want to kill her anymore. Fiona is shocked at first and becomes wary of Carl.

Fiona decides to still trust Carl anyway. Carl moves over to Fiona and kisses her on the cheek.

It is at this moment that Sigrun suddenly approaches them. Carl laughs at Fiona and runs away. Fiona is left to deal with Sigrun who is approaching with killing intent.

******

I was very upset, so I protested to Sigrun.

“Carl is a bad guy!”

“Yeah, I know. You should have done some background research too, Fiona.”

“I didn’t know he was that bad!”

“Then you should’ve listened when I told you not to get close to him.”

“Sigrun, put me down!”

Sigrun had draped Fiona over his shoulder like a potato sack.

Sigrun replied sarcastically to my protests.

“You cheat on me with my cousin?”

Hey, why do you say it so dramatically?!

“I have more to say! Did you encourage it?”

“Me? With Carl? Are you kidding me?”

“By the way, how did you get in when father has banned you from Halon Mansion?”

“I have my ways.”

In a nutshell, it means that our prince has invaded this peasant family illegally.

“...but where are we going right now?”

“Your. Room.”

I tried to stay civil.

“Ahaha, the reason must be to just gently drop me down on my bed, right?”

“Yes, I will be resting with you too.”

Ugh, doesn’t that sound a bit lewd?

“Are we really taking a rest?”

“No way.”

How is this trespasser so arrogant?

Now, I am mad!

“Sigrun, it’s the middle of the day!”

“Its okay, we will do it until night.”

‘Oh my god, what is he saying.’

“I’ll tell you I don’t want to see your shadow like last time!”

I remembered when I thought Carl was a woman and the things I had said to him.

Sigrun grinned.

“No, I won’t. Besides, I don’t want your shadow to be alone.”

Uwak, I blushed at Sigrun’s unexpected words. I remembered what happened last time.

“Hey, let’s have good thoughts at least during the day!”

“I do have good thoughts, Fiona.”

After walking for a while, we finally arrived at my room.

As promised, Sigrun carefully laid me down on the bed.

Of course, that wasn’t all.

“Wait, the sun hasn’t se... mmf.”

He grabbed my chin and kissed me. The words I was about to say were swallowed and sucked up by his lips.

“Mmmm...”

It was a very urgent kiss unlike usual.

I rolled my eyes as we kissed.

Is he really mad?

Perhaps he noticed what I was thinking. Sigrun parted his lips for a moment.

“You should focus on me, Fiona.”

As if in protest, he lowered his head and lightly nipped on my collarbone.

I shrugged my shoulder involuntarily. It tickled.

‘No, I need to focus.’

I was about to be swept up in the moment without realizing.

First of all, we needed to talk.

“Wait, Sigrun, I don’t have any special feelings for Carl. Besides, the reason for wanting to be close to him wasn’t-”

“I know, of course, that’s not the reason.”

He hesitated, then spoke slowly.

“...it’s just because of your kindness and your underlying guilt.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“If you know then why are you showing such an anxious attitude...”

What was there to worry about.

“Because knowing why and being jealous are too different things.”

Sigrun tucked my hair behind my ear with a gentle hand.

“Besides, he is a lonely guy too.”

“Huh?”

What does that mean? If you’re lonely you would want to be with me?

When I opened my eyes, Sigrun smiled.

“What I mean is, even if you don’t, Carl might.”

“You mean he will want to be with me because he is lonely?”

“Yes, you have that kind of power, a comforting heart. When you’re by my side, I feel warm.”

Is that how Sigrun felt when he was with me? My heart swelled.

“Do you think that’s how Carl feels too?”

“Yes, more than that... you make me feel like I want you all to myself.”

“I don’t think I’m that great...”

“It’s not like that. You have no idea what effect you have on me, who was alone, or how comforting it is to have someone like you by my side.”

Then Sigrun hugged me tight, as if I was going to disappear at any moment.

“And sadly Fiona, there are a lot of people who are alone in this world...”

“......”

That sounded so sad.

I quietly patted him on the back.

Sigrun whispered softly.

“But you are the only one in this world.”

He kissed my cheek like a feather.

“So, I won’t lose you to anyone.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Sigrun closed his eyes and rested his forehead on mine.

I felt his warmth.

That was solid proof that he was by my side.

“Who knows, I am not sure about that.”

… don’t you have any trust in me?

Suddenly, I felt a surge of need.

I kissed his lips.

After a brief pause, he responded more enthusiastically than me.

After opening my mouth to breathe for a moment, I soon realized one thing.

“Ah, contraception.”

Then Sigrun, thought about it for a moment and opened the chest of drawers next to my bed.

“......”

Surprisingly, there was a contraceptive drug.

Wait, I don’t remember putting it there?

“Sigrun, did you put that there?”

I laughed bitterly.

“No way. Maybe it was Celine who treats you like a granddaughter. I opened it just in case.”

In my head I could hear Celine’s playful voice ‘Oh hoho, miss. You should use contraception and enjoy.’. I smiled softly.

Is this the warm care of the elderly?

‘How embarrassing!’

Celine is a hundred times more mature than Abel, she must have predicted such a situation.

As I struggled on the bed in embarrassment, Sigrun took the lid off and drank it.

Then he slowly began to take off his shirt. It slowly revealed his body.

I looked at his muscles and stroked them involuntarily.

Sigrun blinked, staring at me, smiled and then kissed me again.

“......”

When I came back to my senses, my dress had been pulled down to my chest.

I stroked his collarbone and the rough scars.

“It's ugly.”

I answered firmly.

“Not at all.”

“......”

I could feel Sigrun, who stayed silent, stroking me with his long fingers.

My heart was pounding louder and louder. I breathed heavily.

With things at this point, there was no time to be embarrassed.

“...Fiona, are you okay?”

“y-yeh...”

Breathing in, I replied slowly, and he lightly supported my waist with his arm.

I looked up at him.

As he stretched out his arms, Sigrun gently lowered his body.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and closed my eyes.

Faces flashed behind my eyelids. Sigrun was right. There were many lonely people in the world.

‘But I hope that at least the man I love doesn’t feel lonely.’

“Fiona, I love you.”

“...me too.”

Longing for my wish to be true, I hugged Sigrun tightly.

******

After the incident with Carl, Fiona decided to keep her distance. Carl had become more polite yet cheeky as well.

Fiona goes to visit Eri. Eri is doing well. Carl even bakes and sends her cookies. Eri can tell Fiona wants to ask her something and Fiona checks if she is okay first.

Fiona asks Eri if she noticed anything while she was taken. Eri tells her that they said they were going to absorb her.

Fiona deduces that the dark Fiona and Crown Prince are gathering sacrifices to gain more power.

******

They gather for a meeting.

Abel asks why Carl is there and Carl says Fiona has forgiven him but Abel is still unhappy. Fiona says they need Carl’s help. Carl is useful in collecting information.

Sigrun has been very quiet and Fiona asks him what he thinks. He just agrees with Fiona.

They need to gather as much information as possible. Who else is working with the Crown prince and the Marquis of Erez? In order to do this they need Carl’s skills. Sigrun orders Carl to go collect information.

Carl goes up to Fiona and puts her hand on his forehead as if swearing an oath of allegiance to her.

“I will do my best, miss.”

Although Sigrun gave the order, Carl had replied to Fiona. Sigrun’s eyes flashed. The temperature in the room dropped 2 degrees in an instant.

The two cousins immediately started fighting. Fiona hid behind Abel and Abel guided her out.

“Fiona, just enjoy watching the two of them play.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“Ahaha...”

I wish I could, father.

They are at a ball. Fiona and Sigrun are dancing while Carl is being social. He is dressed as a woman again.

Carl’s new identity is ‘Mia Yen’. A young girl from a small noble family in the north. She entered the capital’s social circle with help from the Duke of Halon. Fiona was worried he would be recognized but he looks completely different.

Fiona asks why Carl has to collect information as a woman again. Sigrun kisses Fiona’s cheek at the question. Obviously because men are weaker against a pretty face.

Fiona asks Carl how he is doing and Sigrun stands between them asking if Lady Yen had found out anything interesting.

Carl says they should ask Cain Erez for more information but Sigrun is reluctant. Fiona thinks it might be worth a try.

Carl and Sigrun go to dance. Livia asks Fiona who that young lady is. Livia is outraged for Fiona. She calms her down.

Fiona takes Livia to have a chat with her. She asks if there has been any interesting news. Livia says some noblewomen have been having regular meetings but she doesn’t know why. Fiona asks Livia if she is in any trouble as the Crown prince’s reputation has improved again. Livia says she is fine but she hopes Fiona will do something about it. Fiona says she is on it.

Livia asks if Fiona is really okay (about Sigrun dancing with another girl) and Fiona. Livia makes a joke.

“If you want the property of the Duke of Priscilla, you can always come to me.”

Livia smiles and winks at Fiona.

Fiona is speechless. Livia just implied that the two of THEM get married.

Fiona smiles and shakes her head.

******

Carl and Fiona sift through the information they gathered.

Sigrun asks what Enoch and the darkness would do with the sacrifices. Fiona replies they would be able to create multiple dead lands at once. They need Eunice’s help to deal with dead lands.

Fiona is reluctant to ask Eunice for help since Eunice is living her own life.

They both note that Fiona seems to really care about Eunice. Fiona thinks that is because she was the original female lead but she can’t say anything because it would upset Sigrun.

Fiona decides to investigate the meetings Livia told her about with the help of young lady ‘Mia Yen’. Sigrun isn’t happy about that though. Fiona hugs Sigrun to try to comfort him. Sigrun kisses Fiona.

******

Carl and Fiona do their best to get into their meeting but it isn’t easy.

They go to Gonther to ask for his help.

Fiona’s plan is:

To hire some mercenaries who will disguise themselves as road robbers. Then she wants them to pretend to raid a carriage, after which, Fiona will show up and rescue them.

Gonther replies that they are mercenaries not actors! Gonther is also worried that Fiona might accidently kill his mercenaries.

Gonther wonder’s if it was Abel’s idea because he feels the plan is a bit extreme.

Gonther reluctantly accepts as Fiona will pay any amount he asks.

******

Instead of Carl, Sigrun goes with Fiona. Carl apparently plans to go seduce Cain Erez.

The target for the plan is Count Stear and his wife.

Their carriage gets attacked right on cue. Fiona gives Sigrun the cue and they jump out. Fiona notices one of the mercenaries is actually Gonther himself. Gonther attacks Sigrun.

Fiona notices the Count and Countess watching out of the carriage. She shouts out for them not to worry and she will protect them. They recognize her.

Fiona drops a small lightning bolt nearby and the pavement breaks. A mercenary is on the ground nearby with a bluish face – he wasn’t acting. Fiona apologizes inwardly. The mercenaries scatter as Fiona approaches. There are more mercenaries than Fiona expected.

It turns out that a real band of robbers had also appeared and wanted to raid the carriage!

Gonther and Sigrun are STILL fighting. When they all realize another band of robbers has appeared, they turn on them and Fiona gets to unleash her magic.

******

Fiona is exhausted at home. Carl knocks on her door and asks how her plan went.

Fiona replies that something unexpected happened and asks Carl how he went with Cain Erez.

Carl smiles saying he has a date set up. Poor Cain.

Carl says they should go eat out for lunch but Fiona doesn’t want to since there are lots of nobles about and they might annoy her. However, she looks at Carl who looks a bit pale. He had lost a lot of weight to dress up as a woman again. Fiona decides they will go eat Carl’s favorite food.

******

Fiona feels food tastes better when you eat with a friend.

Fiona asks Carl what he likes to eat. Carl has never been asked this before or thought about it so he doesn’t really know. He doesn’t have a favorite place to eat either.

Fiona asks what his favorite color is. He doesn’t have one.

Fiona asks what his favorite number is. He doesn’t have one.

Fiona puts her hand on his cheek and sighs. She asks him if he’s ever thought about what he likes or what makes him happy.

Talking to Carl like this reminds Fiona of Sigrun when he was younger.

Fionar ealizes she can’t leave Carl alone because he reminds her so much of Sigrun when he was younger.

Fiona drags Carl out to the market. She won’t give up until he finds something he likes.

“Let’s go.”

******

They eat a sandwich with meat and sauce. Fiona think it is very delicious. Carl thinks it is tasty too. She then makes him eat a fruit skewer. Carl asks Fiona if she took Sigrun out like this before. She replies that she did in Halon a lot.

Fiona keeps buying stuff for Carl to eat. He asks if she is trying to gain weight.

They eat some pudding and Fiona gives Carl homework – he has to find the answer to her question. Carl laments getting homework at his age. Fiona is very persistent. Carl says she is acting like his mother and laughs.

Carl asks Fiona how she can be so compassionate after living the life she has lived. Fiona says if she didn’t know him she wouldn’t care as much. She wants the people close to her to be happy. She asks if Carl wants to be alone, if so, she will respect his wishes. Carl slowly shakes his head. No, that’s not what he wants.

Fiona smiles and says she will check his homework in a month.

******

Sigrun and Cain are sparring. Sigrun warns Cain not to get caught up with a woman and Cain thinks he is a hypocrite for saying that. Cain wonders how Sigrun knows he has a date. Cain asks Sigrun if he is jealous that he is dating Mia.

Sigrun stops him and tells him to just think about it.

Cain is convinced that Sigrun is two-timing on Fiona. Cain tells Sigrun that he is sincere about Mia.

Sigrun says just take his advice and Cain runs away saying he is off duty.

Sigrun angrily kicks some stones on the floor.

******

Fiona tells Carl that Cain Erez is a good guy so not to be too hard on him.

Carl goes out in disguise as Mia to meet Cain.

Fiona looks at the information they gathered – noble families have been adopting orphaned children. She wonders if it is related to the Crown prince somehow. Fiona goes to bed early that day.

The next day, she runs into Carl. She asks Carl if he gained anything. Carl says no. Fiona is glad that Cain doesn’t seem involved. She asks if they should investigate Marquis Erez some more.

Carl puts Fiona’s hand on his forehead again – like before. Fiona is nervous that Sigrun will see it again.

Carl just smiles.

“It’s my very own expression of love, my lady.”

******

Fiona goes to Countess Stear’s gathering with Carl disguised as Mia.

They make conversation. Carl and Fiona talk about how they want to learn the capital’s fashion since they are both from the North. They ask Countess Stear if there’s anything fun to do as well since they have been bored lately.

Countess Stears thinks for a moment and says she will tell them about a new hobby that aristocrats have been getting into lately.

******

The Countess takes them to an old mansion. It turns out to be the abandoned Green family mansion. It looked shabby on the outside but very different on the inside. There were a lot of children inside.

The nobles were treating the children like “dolls”. They competed in who could decorate their “dolls” the most beautifully. Some of the children are starving so they could wear tighter clothes. It was a classic case of child abuse.

Carl grabs Fiona’s hand and tells her to be patient. Fiona does her best not to show her disgust. Carl asks how they can get a doll as well. The Countess says she can introduce them to a broker.

They use the fact that they don’t have a “doll” yet to justify leaving.

Carl reminds Fiona to be patient. She clenches her fists so tightly that her nails dig into ther palms.

“I know.”
******

They had intended to find out more about the Crown Prince and the sacrifices for the darkness but found something else instead. There might be a chance that the Crown prince is involved in the trafficking of the children.

Fiona thinks about Carl’s pretty face and how he might have experienced something similar as a child.

******

Fiona tells Sigrun about their findings and he says they should prepare for a raid. They have to be careful as they might start holding the children as hostages if they felt threatened.

Sigrun tells Fiona that he has noticed she has been worried about Carl a lot more recently. She doesn’t deny it and tells him it’s because Carl reminds her a lot of Sigrun when he was younger. SHe just wants everyone to be happy.

Sigrun laughs, this is just how Fiona is. Fiona encourages Sigrun to be friends with Carl too so she doesn’t have to worry as much. Sigrun says he will try.

Fiona is glad she has a lover that listens to her although he doesn’t always do what she asks.

******

They proceed with their plan of getting Fiona and Carl to go in with Sigrun waiting outside with others.

They meet the brokers. They lead them to the children and they pretend to choose one. They pretend to be reluctant and the broker explains that it is handled like an adoption so they won’t be caught.

The children are all kept in cages but fortunately look healthy. There are quite a few of them. Fiona asks if any records are kept. The man says of course not and explains he has been doing this for many years. This means he is experienced and must have a back up plan if something happens. However, even though he said no, he probably had a secret ledger just in case.

Fiona can’t stand it anymore and starts moving her magic.

“Everyone, attack!”

******

The knights waiting outside all came barging in, fighting the mercenaries hired by the broker.

The broker makes a run for it. Carl chases after him telling Fiona to stay to protect the children. Fiona notices that Carl is pale and sweating as he runs away. She is worried about him and at this moment she sees Sir Cain. She asks him to protect the children. Cain shouts that Sigrun had ordered him to stay with Fiona but she runs off after Carl.

What she worried about had happened. The broker had grabbed Carl around the neck and Carl’s dagger was on the floor. Carl’s face was swollen and red. Fiona couldn’t use her magic as the two of them were too close.

Fiona takes off the high heels she is wearing and uses them as a weapon. She hits the man with the heel and he staggers back. Fiona is furious. She throws some lightning and the broker falls and gets knocked out. She orders the knights to arrest them all.

She goes to Carl and asks if he is okay. He was curled up in fetus position and could barely breathe.

She tries to soothe him by rubbing his back. Fiona wonders if the sight of the broker reminded him of some horrific childhood trauma.

Carl’s eyes are out of focus. Fiona puts her hands around his cheeks and whispers.

“Can you see me Carl? You are not alone.”

Fiona stares into Carl’s violet eyes.

“Nothing will happen to you. You are safe.”

Carl gradually regained his composure and looked into Fiona’s eyes.

“...Miss?”

“Yes, I am here.”

Fiona rubs his cold hands.

“Are you okay now?”

“......”

“Everything went as planned. Your face is swollen, we should apply something cold later -”

Carl hugged Fiona tightly.

“Wait, Carl.”

Fiona resists but doesn’t want to hurt Carl who might be injured.

‘Does it look like two women hugging each other?’ Fiona wonders.

Fiona feels embarrassed.

“Carl, I know you’re shocked but we are not alone. When you come to your sense later, you’d be pretty embarrassed about this too, right?”

Carl laughs.

“... I don’t think I will regret it.”

“But I think I will regret it a little...”

Fiona was become more desperate because Sigrun was walking their way.

‘Why does my fiance always show up at the wrong time!’

“Carl...? If you have calmed down, can you let me go...”

The face of my approaching lover was becoming more terrifying.

“I’m sorry.”

Fortunately, Carl calmed down and let me go. Of course, it was already too late.

Sigrun and Cain, who came with him, saw us.

“Lady Mia Yen?”

Kane asked.

“Fiona.”

Of course, this was Sigrun.

“......”

I was reluctant to look at Sigrun’s face.

******

From Cain’s point of view he is witnessing a tense love triangle between Fiona, Mia and Sigrun. He thought that Sigrun was engaged to Fiona but liked Mia as well and now he just witnessed those two hugging each other desperately. Cain grew inreasingly confused as he thought about it. Wouldn’t it actually be a love square since he had dated Mia as well?

Seeing Cain’s confused face. Carl grins at him and greets him

“To answer the Lord’s question, the triangle is correct.”

“Yes? So do you really care about his majesty, Sigrun?”

Carl and Sigrun both have a difficult look on their faces but Cain doesn’t notice.

“It’s not his majesty, it’s Lady Fiona.”

Carl grabs Fiona’s hand.

Sigrun frowns and Cain has a headache.

“Hold on, didn’t you go on a date with me”

“Yes.”

Carl smiles and continues.

“You’re my former date so I will tell you something as a basic courtesy.”

Carl starts to undress and Cain turns screaming.

Cain slowly looks again and immediately regrets it.

‘Where is the girl I dated...?’

Beyond confusion, Cain Erez’s spirit flew away somewhere.

******

After a moment Cain regains his senses and wants to hit Carl.

Sigrun pats him on the shoulder and tells him to go find the broker’s book but Cain won’t be distracted that easily.

He asks what the relationship between them is. Sigrun replies that he is cousins with Carl. Cain asks Carl if he approached him on purpose.

Carl admits he was investigating his family. Cain doesn’t know what's going on with anything so Carl tells him to ask his father.

Sigrun grabs Cain and drags him away and orders him to find the ledger.

Fiona isn’t sure what just happened – did she just get confessed to? Fiona tells herself surely he just meant as a friend.

Carl says they better talk about it later but Fiona wants to know now.

“Don’t be so anxious, lady.”

Carl quietly kissed the back of Fiona’s hand.

“Because I have no intention of making trouble for you.”

“Okay...”

“Instead, please ask me what I promised you last time.”

“What promise?”

Fiona asked curiously and Carl laughed.

“You said you would ask me what I fell in love with after a month.”

“......?!”

Oh, the homework that I had set for Carl!

Somehow, she had dug her own grave. She had a headache.

Carl looked at Fiona and just smiled.

There were no ledgers inside the location they had raided but Fiona physically convinced the broker to tell her where it was. It was in his house. Sigrun sent some soldiers to the house to get it as well as free some children that were at his house.

The children are terrified of the adults. Fiona says “let’s go home” but they ask her where that is? The broker had approached them offering a home and family as well.

Fiona says she can’t promise they will have a family or home but she won’t abandon them.

She makes eye contact with each child and tells them she will protect each one. A child starts crying from starvation. Fiona thinks of her own childhood.

Fiona hugs each child. Some of the children cry. Some of the Knights are moved to tears.

Cain Erez sniffles and leans on Sigrun.

“Don’t lean on me”

“......”

Sigrun watches Fiona – the woman he loves the most in the world. Sigrun has a terrible feeling that Fiona will sacrifice herself for others one day. He has always had anxiety over this.

Sigrun thinks how he would risk his life to stop her because his life would have no meaning without her.

Fiona beckons. Sigrun walks over to her.

******

After everything was settled, Fiona goes to find Sigrun.

Fiona immediately says she had nothing to do with anything because she is afraid Sigrun is mad about Carl. However, Sigrun seems calm. Fiona thinks this is weird, she would be mad if anything woman confessed to Sigrun in front of her.

“Carl probably... was expressing his friendship?”

“I hope so too.”

“Sigrun, don’t just laugh, say something...”

It was more frightening that he wasn’t jealous like usual.

Sigrun pulled me towards him and kissed my forehead lightly.

“Don’t worry, Fiona. I am not angry. I was just thinking about something.”

“What?”

I looked at Sigrun with a puzzled look.

“Wondering what I am thinking?”

I nodded vigorously.

“Of course!”

It was a big deal if he was thinking of breaking up or leaving.

“......”

Sigrun tucked my hair behind my ear and smiled.

He whispered in my ear.

“I was thinking that we should get married.”

******

Fiona, Abel and Carl were having breakfast as usual in the Halon Mansion. However, one thing was different. Fiona Halon was in a daze.

Abel asks if she is okay. Fiona is so out of it, she doesn’t even hear. She just mechanically spoons food into her mouth.

Both Abel and Carl look at her concerned.

Abel asks if it is because of Sigrun and if she wants him to teach him a lesson. Fiona replies no, it’s nothing, father.

Of course, she had a lot on her mind – Carl had made a confession-like statement and Sigrun had suggested they get married. She wonders if Carl would give up once she marries Sigrun. She felt sorry for both the men at this thought. Although she loves Sigrun and always wants to be with him, she doesn’t want to marry him for such a trivial reason.

“Father, Sigrun said we should get married.”

Puk!

The sound of Abel’s fork stabbing a tomato echoed through the dining hall.

“...I see.”

‘Did I just say that out loud.’

When Fiona saw Abel’s reaction, she immediately regretted it.

My adoptive father asked in a cruel tone.

“Then should I prepare for a wedding, or should I prepare to get rid of Sigrun?”

… why are these the only choices!

“Why would you kill Sigrun!?”

“This is what I will do if Sigrun is forcing you to get married.”

Abel pretended to slice his throat with his fork.

Fiona shook her head.

“No, he isn’t forcing me!”

Abel had a sad expression on his face and asked with a clenched jaw.

“Then what are you worrying about? You two are already engaged.”

Yes, there was no need to panic about marriage.

“That...nevermind. It’s nothing.”

“Don’t give me such a boring answer. Tell me if you have any problems. Is Sigrun the problem?”

His conclusion was always ‘Sigrun is the problem’.

In the end, Fiona once again denied it.

“That’s not it, I just want to prepare for the wedding a little slower.”

I want to sort out my relationship with Carl and deal with the darkness first.

Abel asked what the problem was.

“Then you should tell that to Sigrun. If he doesn’t like it, tell me.”

It was really a simple answer.

Fiona looked at her adoptive father with a strangely envious gaze.

“I wish I could live like father.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“If you live with such simple thoughts, you will never die from -”

“Are you saying that your father lives simply and ignorantly?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

As revenge, Abel palced a pile of eggs and bacon on Fiona’s plate.

“I can’t eat this much!”

He ignored her.

“Eat more. Eat a lot and grow taller.”

“I am already fully grown!”

“You are as small as a mouse.”

I can’t get any bigger than this...

Seeing Fiona grumbling like that, Abel immediately turned his gaze to the other side.

“......”

Carl bowed his head with a stiff face.

The moment he saw this, Abel grasped the circumstances of this hellish triangle.

‘Now what are you going to do?’

However, it is a concern that my daughter is too popular.

Abel, who looked at Fiona and Carl alternately, continued eating with a troubled face.

******

The broker’s secret ledger was finally found. Fiona and Carl went to look at it. Naturally, both Sigrun and Cain were there as well.

Sigrun threatens this might be the end for the Erez family. Cain is nervous. He had asked his father and his father had just told him that he didn’t need to know. They looked through every page of the ledger. There was no trace of the Erez family or Crown Prince on the ledger.

Sigrun, Fiona and Carl are all a little disappointed, but Cain is relieved. Cain asks again what Carl had meant about asking his father and he just tells him to ask his father again. Carl leaves.

Sigrun tells Cain to take the ledger and arrest the nobles involved. Cain has still been calling Carl, Mia, so he asks Sigrun what Carl’s name is. Cain asks why Carl doesn’t like him very much but Sigrun just smiles bitterly. He couldn’t just tell him that his father was the reason his mother and aunt died.

Sigrun wraps his arms around Fiona’s shoulder and guides her out.

Cain, who is left alone, sadly goes through the ledger.

******

Dark Fiona is currently in the Erez family basement. She is absorbing the vitality of some death-row inmates.

No matter how much dark Fiona absorbs, she isn’t satisfied. She is still lonely.

The two men thought she was cooperating with them but they misunderstood. The two of them were dreaming of becoming heroes by spreading and ending the darkness but the darkness had plans of its own – it would never stop spreading.

Dark Fiona stumbles down the halls begging for someone to end her loneliness.

She realizes she wants to be loved but no one has ever loved her.

Then if she can’t have love, she wants all the hatred and anger in the world. Then everyone will remember her. Existing is better than nothing.

She looks up at the moonlight, black tears slowly gather in the corner of her eyes.

Eventually dawn came.

******

Carl flashes back to when he was a child. He was caught and used as a doll when he was young. He was whipped when he didn’t make the correct posture.

When he was confronting the broker all his memories and emotions from that time flooded back and engulfed his body. There was a loud ringing in his ears and his body became covered in sweat.

When Fiona gave the attack order, Carl immediately chased after the broker who had run away. However, he was caught instead. In an instant, one memory came back to mind. The man who tried to rip his clothes off when he was young.

Carl had killed that man but the pain from his first murder had been buried deep inside him.

His body betrayed him and he couldn’t muster any power.

Suddenly, Fiona appeared and stabbed the man with the heel of her shoe. Seeing this, Carl wanted to smile.

Her voice calmed him down and Carl hugged her without realizing. Holding her felt so reassuring that he almost kissed her as well. He wanted to kiss those lips that whispered those gentle words and dig into her sweetly smelling nape and bite it.

He broke out of the delusion when he felt Fiona stiffen in his arms.

From that day on, Carl unconsciously began to follow Fiona with his eyes. Every time he saw her, she became more beautiful- her silver hair that moved softly with the wind and shone like moonlight. Her eyes were more beautiful than roses. Her voice sounded like an angel was singing. When she was near him, he would smile.

It was a very serious condition.

It was then that Carl had no choice but to admit it.

He had fallen in love.

******

A few weeks passed by after capturing the nobles in the ledger. Fiona has been living relatively peacefully but well, it hasn’t all been peaceful.

“My lady, would you like to try this? Come on, say ah and open your mouth.”

“......”

“Shut up, Carl. Get away from Fiona right now.”

How did I get in this situation?

I honestly don’t know.

For a moment, I lookd at Sigrun and Carl.

‘Can they never be friends?’

Of course, the reason they were fighting was me.

Carl had become more proactive around Fiona. Although she had two beautiful men vying for her affections, she couldn’t say she was happy.

‘What should I do...’

Fiona was the one who had told Carl to find something that he liked.

‘But I didn’t mean you should like me.’

It would be three more days until the day Fiona had promised to ask Carl.

Marriage talks with Sigrun had also been put on hold. The situation was very messed up.

‘This can’t go on.’

I had turned into a rare piece of rubbish with two beautiful people on both sides.

Firstly, I ate the pudding on the spoon that Carl held out.

“Oh...”

Carl put on a bewildered expression.

Oh, he asked me to do it, but I guess he didn’t expect me to actually do it.

‘Seems like the men around me feel embarrassed when I reciprocate.’

I didn’t understand.

I swallowed the pudding and took turns looking at the two men.

“Carl, I’m sorry but let’s stop tea time here. I have something to talk to Sigrun about.”

“I...understand.”

Carl, who barely regained his composure, nodded his head.

After watching Carl leave, I took Sigrun to my room.

Sigrun, who followed me without complaint, looked at me curiously.

“Fiona, what do you want to talk about?”

Better to take care of him first.

I spoke candidly.

“Sigrun, I made a promise with Carl a while ago.”

“Promise?”

“After a month, Carl would tell me what he liked. Food or things... stuff like that.”

“......”

As I continued, his expression grew darker with each word.

“- that was the reason but now there are three more days until the promised date.”

“And?”

I looked into his eyes and responded.

“So I am going to spend the next three days with Carl... I am letting you know in advance.”

Sigrun approached.

As I looked up, our eyes met.

He asked in a low voice.

“...Are you going to leave me for Carl?”

“No!”

I didn’t know he would ask this.

I quickly shook my head.

“Absolutely not.”

“Then?”

“Rather than that, I want to give Carl space to make up his mind.”

I know that Carl likes me.

Of course, I cannot accept his feelings.

Also, Carl is well aware of the fact that he will be rejected.

I person as savvy as him wouldn’t not know.

Thinking that far, I took a deep breath.

“I want to be good friends with Carl. I actually tried.”

“But Carl has come to like you.”

“Correct and I know it will be difficult for me to remain friends with him after rejecting his confession.”

“......”

I explained the situation as objectively as possible.

“Carl will lose his only friend and the woman he loves in three days.”

As I said, it was a cruel fact for Carl.

But since I already have Sigrun, this was unavoidable.

“Sigrun, I know that Carl is clumsy in life so I want to give him time to make up his mind.”

“The next 3 days?”

“Yes.”

This will be the best and last consideration I can give Carl.

“I swear I won’t do anything to offend you. Also, if you tell me not to, I won’t.”

“Fiona”

Sigrun gently stroked my cheek.

“...truthfully, I also want Carl to be happy. He encountered a lot of trouble after meeting me.”

He smiled bitterly.

“So I know this is good for Carl. Yes, he needs some room to clear his mind. He is clumsy in many ways.”

“......”

Sigrun rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes.

We were almost close enough for our eyelashes to touch.

“All of it, I understand it, but I am still jealous.”

“Sigrun...”

I could feel his trembling breath.

“But do what you want. For Carl... he needs more time with you.”

I gently stroked his cheeks and muttered.

“... thank you, Sigrun.”

“But promise me that you will come back to me.”

“I swear.”

I closed my eyes with our foreheads pressed together.

“Sigrun, wherever you are, I will surely return to you.”

“......”

He gently caressed me as if he were handling glass and hugged me tightly.

I whispered into Sigrun’s ear.

“Oh, and let’s start preparing for our wedding now.”

As if my words had relieved the tension, Sigrun let out a short laugh.

“Say that first next time, Fiona.”

“Actually, I was waiting for the right time but you’re so serious – ahk!”

Sigrun lifted me and hugged me.

He held me in a princess hold and I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck.

When our eyes met, Sigrun’s blue-grey eyes were brighter than usual.

“I was waiting for an answer all this time. I thought you had forgotten because you didn’t say anything.”

I hope I am not crazy enough to forget to marry you.

“Father has been too intense and paying attention...”

I still remember Abel stabbing that tomato with his fork.

“I thought you wouldn’t marry me until you dealt with the darkness.”

Well, I was thinking about that too.

I kissed his cheek.

“No matter what happens in the future, Sigrun, I will get through it together with you.”

So I thought it would be good to get married.

“Well, I mean, you know...”

It’s a bit embarrassing to say this again. My cheeks heated up.

“I just love you so much.”

Sigrun smiled as he gently laid me on the bed.

His body slowly cast a shadow over me.

Forehead, eyes, nose, mouth... one by one he left a gentle kiss.

“......”

I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I was wearing a dress that covered my neck.

Sigrun had made marks much higher than usual.

‘It’s barely covered...’

This was clearly Sigrun holding a grudge.

I had to talk to Carl, so he left a mark like this. Fiona wonders whether Sigrun is worried about whether Abel will see it.

Carl knocks on the door and Fiona tells him to enter.

Carl looks at Fiona and tilts his head with a smile.

“Aren’t you hot?”

I flinched.

S-surely, he didn’t notice?

“Yes... for some reason, my throat is sore today.”

Whether he believed my weird excuse or not, he changed the subject with ease.

“Lady, are you free today?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Good, there is a festival in the capital today...”

Carl continued speaking with a pretty smile.

“So why don’t you come play with me?”

It’s coming.

The quick-witted Carl must already know what I was thinking.

“Okay, Carl.”

Rather than a person being asked on a date, I responded militantly.

“Let’s go play!”

******

When Carl asked me out on a date, I was a little confident because Carl doesn’t have any friends. However, my confidence quickly disappeared.

“Carl... why are you so good at this. Have you had a lot of girlfriends?”

I asked, taking a cup of juice from Carl.

Carl smiled brightly at my question and only exercised his right to remain silent.

Well, they do say to never judge a book by its cover.

“True, it is your private life so it must be hard to say...”

Carl grinned at my murmuring.

“There are people who taught me many things.”

“Who?”

He replied softly.

“I don’t know their real name, but I called them Master.”

Looking at Carl’s face, I wondered if I should ask more but it seemed like they were good memories.

“He was a really bad person. He taught me a lot of bad things.”

Now I was worried! Was it good or bad?

“That... can I ask about it?”

“Sure.”

He replied lightly.

“What did your master teach you?”

“From pickpocketing to fighting, and how you can skillfully defraud your opponent.”

Wait, he was such a bad person.

I saw Carl’s face.

Rarely did he have an expression of reminiscing about long-lost memories.

I was relieved to see that face.

“Thankfully... you weren’t alone the whole time.”

He smiled awkwardly.

“Hey, is that the only impression you have after listening to me now?”

“Well, I thought he was a bad person too.”

Then I looked up at him and smiled.

“But the fact that you weren’t alone is more important.”

Suddenly, Carl’s face hardened as he looked down at me.

“......”

He immediately turned his head away.

‘Did my words offend you?’

Confused, I pulled on his cuff.

“Carl? Did I say something wrong?”

He shook his head and waved his hand.

“No, not at all, miss.”

It was a tone that was mixed with embarrassment. But no expression.

‘Are you mad?!’

I quickly moved and stood in front of him.

“Ah...”

When I saw Carl’s face, I was startled.

“Carl, why are you blushing?”

Then he covered his face with both hands, shamefully.

“That’s why I said not to look...”

“I thought you were angry.”

Still covering his face, he murmured.

“I can’t be mad at you. Just looking at you makes me smile. I am in big trouble...”

Ugh, even I am a little embarrassed to hear this.

“R-really?!’

When he calmed down, Carl put his hands down.

“You may not know but I am more serious than you realize.”

“What?”

“I am a little love-sick.”

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I heard right, and Carl smiled beautifully.

I made this beautiful person love sick?!

I could imagine Carl making someone else love sick but not the other way around!

Perhaps reading my thoughts, Carl opened his mouth.

“The young lady must have broken a lot of hearts before.”

It looks like the knife is stuck in the bean pod. (*means that someone is blinded by love and doesn’t see any flaws in the other person).

I told him the truth.

“I... the first person to confess to me was Sigrun.”

No one else had ever approached her before.

“Wasn’t that because everyone was afraid of his majesty and the duke?”

“Surely not...”

Rather, I was more surprised that Carl had fallen for me.

I looked up at him and asked.

“Carl, why do you like me?”

He put on a troubled smile.

“Are you asking such a question in this situation?”

“Sorry if I didn’t read the atmosphere correctly...”

It might be a harsh question but I wondered if Carl loved me more than I realized.

“If you like me a lot-.”

“Shhh, miss.”

Carl quickly pressed his index finger on my lips.

“I still have two days left.”

“......”

“Didn’t you have a long conversation with His Majesty to give me some time?”

So Carl had noticed.

I bowed my head.

He whispered softly as he fiddled with the collar wrapped around my neck.

“You already talked to his majesty for a long time... please don’t push me away already.”

Instantly, my face heated up.

‘The condition of my neck, you must have noticed!’

Next time I see Sigrun I have to be firm.

Then Carl dropped his hand and spoke in a fresh tone, unlike before.

“Come on, let’s take a look around, miss.”

I felt like I would be caught by Carl if we kept going.

I felt worried when I thought about the rejection.

******

“M-mar-riage preparationnnn?”

Abel spit out a strange sentence in my room.

“Why are you doing this again? I told you last time.”

My stepfather lamented.

“It breaks my heart for this father to say that he has to prepare.”

He was clearly sulking.

I glanced at him gently.

“Are you kidding me?

“I am sincere. It hasn’t been long since you become my formal adoptive daughter, now you are leaving this father, don’t you have any loyalty?”

Ugh, I was sorry to hear that.

“And what if Sigrun ascends to the throne?”

It was a valid question.

I nodded.

“... Oh yeah.”

It was a problem I had forgotten about since I had been so busy these days.

Abel was stunned at my reaction.

“You are the only young lady who isn’t excited about maybe becoming the Empress.”

After all, it was a position that young girls were anxious to get.

‘No, but this is serious.’

“Father, would I be a good Empress?”

Abel laughed.

“You are more suited to be an Emperor, not an Empress.”

“Really?”

Damn, then there was another problem too.

“After Sigrun becomes Emperor, he would have to have concubines other than the Empress, how would you deal with that?”

I replied seriously.

“...I would get rid of them all.”

Polygamy.

It was absolutely unacceptable.

Abel made a look.

“Right? So don’t you think breaking up would be the right answer?”

“Yes you... no! Why is the story going there all of a sudden!”

It was such a natural flow that I almost unintentionally agreed with it!

Abel clicked his tongue lightly as if it was a pity.

After all, he often acted like a child.

“This and that are completely different matters!”

“Then what are you going to do about Carl? Isn’t he courting you?”

What do you mean courting me? Can’t you use a different expression?

Thinking of Carl, I sighed.

“...I will take care of it.”

As usual, the extreme Abel pretended to slit his throat.

“If he bothers you, will you handle it?”

I shook my head.

“That will never happen...”

“Tell me if you need my help.”

Well, I don’t think I would ever need father’s extreme method.

Either way, Abel patted my head.

“Fiona, I am always on your side.”

In any case, my foster father was always like this, I couldn’t hate him.

“No matter how warm-hearted my father is, I will prepare for the wedding.”

“...Tch.”

Abel clicked his tongue again.

I shrugged my shoulders.

It really felt like I was dealing with a child sometimes.

******

Recently, the emperor had gotten very ill. He called for Sigrun and Enoch.

Enoch arrived first. Enoch asks the Emperor about bringing the Empress back but emperor says he has the Queen by his side. The Queen is Arya’s mother.

Sigrun enters after and apologizes for being late. Enoch tells Sigrun off for being slow like a slug.

The Emperor announces that he will start sharing his duties with the two of them. Enoch says he can handle it alone but the Emperor asks Sigrun what he thinks. Of course, Sigrun doesn’t want any of the duties or the throne. He just wants to spend time with Fiona. He instead recommends that Princess Arya help.

Sigrun tells the emperor that Arya is smart and young but has a lot of potential. He further adds that since her mother had taken such care of the emperor, Arya was raised by someone who was very attentive and cared for others.

Arya would owe Sigrun after today. She was smart and could take it from there.

The emperor agrees and decides that Enoch and Arya will help take care of duties while Sigrun continues to focus on the defense of the capital.

******

Sigrun informs Halon of the current state in the Imperial palace.

Abel is mad at this. Abel had worked hard to make Sigrun the emperor.

Sigrun reminds Abel that the point wasn’t to put him on the throne per se but to put someone capable on the throne. Abel had predicted that Enoch would destroy the empire if he became Emperor.

Abel asks why he thinks Arya will be a better choice. Sigrun replies as a starter, she actually wants the throne whereas he does not.

Abel asks what he wants to do in the future then. Sigrun just says he wants to be Fiona’s husband.

Fiona, who was listening quietly, interrupts them.

“Excuse me... I hope you don’t forget that I am still here.”

Carl cut in as well.

“Me too.”

Fiona calms Abel down.

Fiona hints that the emperor is likely to die soon. Carl and Sigrun both think the emperor should die a painful death rather than peacefully surrounded by his children. They make Fiona anxious.

Sigrun however doesn’t want to risk anything because he doesn’t want to make Fiona suffer. Carl understands as well. He doesn’t want Fiona to get hurt either.

Fiona listens anxiously. Tomorrow is the promised deadline with Carl.

******

The relationship between Cain and Marquis Erez was getting worse. Cain had moved to a separate mansion and visited sparingly.

Today, Cain returned home after a long time but the atmosphere in the mansion was strange.

The grass in the garden was all dried up and dead, there was a gloomy energy around the mansion as well. Normally, staff would have jumped out and greeted him but not today.

Cain walked around calling out names until he noticed a strange smell that led him to the basement.

It was like a scene from hell. Bodies were everywhere and a bone powder filled the air.

“Father, what have you done...?”

******

Fiona fiddled with her dragon orb earrings. She was nervous as she was about to see Carl.

Seeing Carl approach, he smiled as brightly as possible to not show nervousness.

“Hello Carl”

“Hello miss”

“Where shall we go today?”

“Well.”

Carl skillfully escorted me. I hadn’t asked whether he had had many girlfriends for no reason.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Let’s go wherever you want to.”

Unexpectedly, the initiative of the date was passed to me.

“......”

I was troubled.

‘What do we do.’

After today, it might become awkward with Carl.

I wanted to give him a good memory at least.

‘Would this be the best place to make Carl happy?’

I established a ‘plan to please Carl’ plan in my head.

******

The street festival was still ongoing so that’s where they go. They stop at a stall where you throw daggers to win prizes.

“Carl, have you ever done that before?”

I liked it.

Besides, I’m not proud of it but I am pretty good at it. This was because I took Sigrun to the festival in Halon a lot.

Of course, when I couldn’t win the prize I wanted, Sigrun won it for me.

First, I asked confidently.

“Is there anything you want?”

Carl laughed briefly.

“Then I want that teddy bear.”

A teddy bear? Do you like bears?

With that in mind, I paid the shopkeeper and received my toy dagger.

“Okay, I’ll get it!’

Of course, I answered this nicely but the result...

Was not cool.

While trying to hit the teddy bear, I missed and ended up getting the rabbit doll nearby.

I saw a sullen cute bunny doll.

‘Rabbits are cute but...’

Carl wanted the bear so I decided to try another time.

Then, Carl stepped up.

“This time, I will do it, miss.”

“This is harder than it looks...”

But a few minutes later, I immediately regretted what I said.

He got the teddy bear in one try.

“Wow...”

He even accurately hit the teddy bear’s forehead.

Seriously?!

Carl still had three toy daggers left.

“is there anything you want?”

“Then the hamster doll?”

A small hamster doll was smiling.

It was smaller than the bear so it would be harder to hit.

“But it looks difficult, if it’s too har-”

Pak!

Before I could finish my sentence, the smiling doll was hit in the forehead and fell.

“... you’re good.”

He replied humble.

“Because daggers are my specialty.”

So in a nutshell, I had worried needlessly...

Anyway, I thought the store owner might cry if we won more than this so I decided to omit the rest.

Carl picked up the rabbit doll I hit.

“Because my lady got this for me.”

He talked really well.

We gave the hamster doll to a cute kid passing by.

It was time to eat so I thought about what Carl would like.

“...Is there anything you want to eat?”

Carl smiled at me as if I was cute.

“I decided last time so you should decide this time.”

Well well, he’s given the initiative to me a lot to day.

‘Okay, then I will decide.’

I thought about what food Carl might like. I couldn’t think of anything special.

“Then food from my home... not the same but we can eat something similar?”

Of course, my hometown as Fiona Halon was the capital. But my soul was different, it had a separate hometown?

Even though my expression might have been questioned, Carl replied obediently.

“Okay.”

For this reason, I took Carl to a restaurant in an alley. Unlike other restaurants, there were many kinds of spicy and salty food.

The taste wasn’t identical but it was quite nostalgic.

Seeing me accustomed to ordering, Carl asked curiously.

“How did you know about this place?”

“Gonther told me before.”

This restaurant was often visited by mercenaries. I recognised some of them here but they just sat quietly in a corner.

“Bon appetite”

After a while the food came out.

“Carl, by the way, it might be a little spicy.”

“That’s okay.”

Ignoring my warning, he ate well.

‘He’s surprisingly good with spicy food.’

Of course, I also enjoyed it.

However, as I ate, a bitter feeling sat in the corner of my heart.

It had tasted delicious a while ago.

******

As I left the restaurant, I bought herbal wine that I had made myself.

The sun set and our surroundings became dark.

They returned to the mansion as it had become night time. Fiona recklessly takes Carl to the kitchen. It was empty as the workers had already gone home.

She took out two cups.

“Let’s drink!”

Carl laughed as I waved the bottle.

“That drink must have a higher alcohol content than I thought. Are you sure you won’t get drunk in front of me?”

It might be dangerous, Carl muttered languidly.

I responded confidently.

“Is Carl drunk in front of me?”

“Is it possible? All right, let’s drink.”

Carl accepted my challenge.

We poured drinks and clinked our glasses.

Come to think of it, I had promised myself that I would never drink again in the past.

‘Well, whatever.’

I drank the bitter drink.

Oh, it was more delicious than I thought.

I decided to forget the promises of the past.

After drinking a few cups in a row, I got drunk.

Suddenly I remember old food.

“I need snacks.”

“Yes?”

“Dalgona... I’m drunk so let’s eat dalgona.” (*it’s like honeycomb)

“Miss?”

Carl panicked as I jumped up.

All you need to make dalgona is a ladle, baking soda and sugar.

“Miss, that’s salt.”

“Oh, I got the wrong one.”

I laughed. Hehehehe.

Carl sighed.

“My lady, you are drunk.”

“Ah, I got drunk...”

Funnily enough, I remembered how to make dalgona very clearly.

I used to do it often with my mum when I was young.

Pour sugar into the ladle, melt it gently over a fire and add a little baking soda.

After pouring the thick brown liquid, you take out a cookie mold and stamp a picture on it. We made rabbits.

“Come on, Carl, eat it! It's a sweet snack.”

He received the dalgona with a curious face.

“Thank you, but...”

Carl took my drink.

“Stop drinking now. If you drink too much, I don’t think you can handle it.”

It was too much, really.

I frowned and tried to grab the glass but it was all in vain.

In the end I sat down at a small table in the kitchen and chewed only dalgona.

Seeing this, Carl grinned and sat down next to me.

“Now the day is over.”

“So...”

“I think I can understand Sigrun’s feelings now. This must be why it took him so many years to confess.”

“Me?”

Carl put a jacket over my shoulders and said.

“You don’t have the talent to set the mood.”

No, really. Everyone says they can’t get the mood just by looking at me!

As soon as I received this familiar criticism, I started to feel more drunk.

“I’ll take you to your room, miss.”

He took my arm as he guided me.

To get to my room from the kitchen, we had to go through a long hallway.

When I smelled the cold wind coming through the window in the hallway, the intoxication slowly disappeared.

Staring blankly at the round moon through the windows I asked.

“...Carl, did you have fun today?

He turned slowly. His purple eyes were clear.

“Yes, it was a lot of fun.”

I pushed off the jacket Carl put around my shoulders.

I asked him the question I had wondered about all day.

“Today, why did you entrust everything to me?”

I was genuinely curious.

It seemed like he had done it on purpose.

“This way you would be preoccupied with ways to entertain me all day long.”

“Well of course but...”

Carl laughed softly.

“Did you think about Sigrun at all with me today?”

“No, I was thinking about where to go with Carl-”

Ah, then I realized what Carl meant.

“Did you realize?”

Carl gently stroked my hair.

“Until now, I was the only one in your head.”

I nodded slowly.

“...You’re right.”

“You were just thinking about how to please me and make me happy. It was very lovely.”

He grabbed a handful of my hair and kissed it.

“So at least for today you were completely mine.”

His possessive eyes stared at me.

“I have decided to be content with that.”

“......”

“I took but one day in my lady’s life.”

The more I listened to him, the sadder I felt.

What a sad unrequited love, Carl.

‘You idiot.’

Tears welled up in my eyes without me realizing.

“Don’t cry, miss. If you cry, I will think I am mistaken.”

“......”

Carl whispered as he carefully wiped my tears.

“Now, the promised time has come, miss.”

He looked at me with a sad and beautiful smile.

“Ask me what, or who, I fell in love with.”

A soft kiss touched my forehead and a soft whisper entered my ear.

“I will be happy to answer.”

“......”

I opened my mouth slowly.

The next day, Carl left Halon mansion.

After seeing his home devastated, Cain took a vacation to find his father. Before he left, someone familiar approached him.

“...Carl?” (with honorifics)

Carl tells Cain to just call him without honorifics. Cain asks why he was here, was he sent by Sigrun? Carl says no, he knows where Marquis Erez is, he will take him to him.

Marquis Erez had fled to an abandoned mansion. Marquis Erez is terrified, the darkness had attacked everyone. He and the Crown prince had created a monster.

The Darkness wasn’t satisfied with just the inmates, she started to swallow others in the mansion. The Marquis had run away.

Cain asks if the CP knows yet and the marquis replies no. The Marquis had thought the darkness only wanted revenge on Fiona but it actually wants revenge on the whole world.

Cain asks the Marquis if he knows Carl but the marquis shrugs his shoulders and looks away.

“He is the one who killed my mother and aunt by the order of the Empress.”

“......”

Cain who had many surprises today, was at a loss for words.

“Wait, then why are you so hostile to me?”

“Isn’t it natural for the son of my enemy?”

Cain suddenly understands why Sigrun was suspicious of him.

Cain asks Carl if he is going to kill the two of them but Carl doesn’t know because Fiona has changed him.

Carl says he won’t kill them but the Marquis needs to take responsibility for what he did.

Cain and Carl decide to work together.

******

A famous designer shows up at Halon mansion. Sigrun brings an army of maids and tailors with him to pamper Fiona.

Sigrun says he’s been jealous and he needed to use his power to pamper Fiona.

Abel even drops by and tells them to take care of Fiona.

They help her take a bath and then take her measurements for her wedding dress.

Fiona asks why she is the only one going through this.

Sigrun is punishing her for thinking of another man.

Fiona wonders if Carl is okay. Is he eating well?

******

They finish taking her measurements and deciding on the fabrics.

The designers all leave and Sigrun and Fiona are left alone.

Fiona puts a white flower on Sigrun’s head. It suited him.

“Don’t worry about Carl.”

“Why?”

“He isn’t a child with no home and no money. Don’t worry, he has a stronger foundation now.”

“I’m worried about whether he is eating well...”

Sigrun was dumbfounded.

“Why are you worried about that?”

I was serious.

“It’s important for people to eat well.”

Someone knocked on the door.

“My lady, the Duke is calling. There are guests.”

It was Celine’s voice.

They go to Abel’s office.

Cain and Marquis Erez are there.

Marquis Erez tells them the whole story.

Abel banged his desk.

“Death sentence inmates? You use them?”

“Father, calm down.”

To be honest, once Abel got angry, it scared me too.

Abel growled at my words.

“So, Marquis Erez, you are asking for help now things have gone wrong and most of the people in your family are dead.”

The Marquis trembled before Abel.

“I-I didn’t think it would turn out like this...”

My stepfather sarcastically retorted.

“Yeah, of course you didn’t know. If you had known, you wouldn’t have done it.”

Sigrun stood between Abel and the Marquis and asked.

“So, where is the darkness now?”

“I-I don’t know. The Crown Prince might know...”

They consider sending soldiers but the darkness would be too large now.

Fiona says there’s no need to rush. They know the darkness’ goal now. First thing they have to do is protect Eunice.

******

Fiona tells Eunice about the darkness. Eunice isn’t sure she is strong enough to defeat it. Fiona spaces out. In the original novel, the darkness was defeated since it was in her body.

Fiona says she isn’t sure either. She gives Eunice time to think about what she wants to do.

Sigrun approaches Fiona after Eunice leaves. Sigrun asks Fiona why Eunice is so strong. Fiona tells Sigrun that Eunice was his fated partner.

Sigrun is a bit upset. Fiona asks Sigrun if he really feels nothing when he sees her and he denies it. He says its more like Eunice is Fiona’s fated one instead.

He says Fiona is the prettiest in his eyes.

Sigrun says they should go see her dress. Fiona says he should dress up in rainbow colors and Sigrun says he will if that’s what she wants. Fiona immediately regrets making that joke.

They start thinking about a wedding date.

Fiona tells Sigrun she is looking forward to the wedding and Sigrun laughs happily.

Fiona hides the deep guilt inside. She hasn’t told him that the last strategy to defeat the darkness is for her to take it into her body and die with it.

******

Eunice of course agrees to help.

The Marquis of Erez promises to testify against the Crown prince as well to atone for his actions.

Fiona still can’t figure out what the darkness wants though.

Fiona asks Sigrun what he would do if he were Fiona. He says he would hate her enough to kill her and Fiona asks what else. He says maybe he would think that if he can’t have her then no one else can.

Sigrun tells her to stop worrying about and just marry him and they will live happily ever after.

Fiona ignores him and thinks about dark Fiona again. She comes to a realisation that maybe Fiona has a heart that wants to be loved by her?

As Fiona ponders, she rubs her cheek against Sigrun’s shoulder.

******

While Enoch is visiting the Emperor, Sigrun barges in with imperial knights and arrests Enoch. He explains the charges against him and the witness – Marquis Erez.

The emperor is furious at Enoch. Sigrun tells the Emperor it’s his fault Enoch is like this and he confesses to the Emperor he has no interest in taking the throne.

Before he leaves, he whispers to the emperor that he will die soon.

"When you die and meet my mother, I hope you get down on your knees and apologize.”

After that, Sigrun left without hesitation.

******

Enoch is arrested and is screaming at the guards. He tells Dark Fiona to just kill everyone. He doesn’t realize the darkness is weirder than usual.

Enoch vomits blood. The darkness killed him.

‘I still want to be loved.’

I don’t want to be forgotten.

I do not hate being hated.

[So you have to kill them all.]

Now it was time to drink all the wrath and hatred of the world, to never be forgotten.

All the grass in the Imperial Palace withered away and died.

Fiona knows it is the darkness. She tells Abel to go get Eunice.

“Let’s lure the darkness to a place where there are no people.”

Fiona feels the darkness will follow her.

Sigrun asks Fiona to run away if it gets too dangerous.

Fiona lies to him and says she will run away with him, that she won’t leave him.

If she wanted to save the most lives, there was only one way to do that.

******

They go to an uninhabited forest to lure the darkness.

Fiona tells Eunice to run away if it seems impossible. Eunice smiles and says she is fine. She saved Fiona last time after all!

Fiona asks Abel if he needs to be there and he complains that they treat him like an old man already.

Fiona hugs Sigrun and tells him she wants him to be happy always.

He replies “Me too, Fiona.” and kisses her forehead.

Fiona lets go and starts moving her magic to lure dark Fiona.

‘Fiona, come here.’

I cherish you.

So, don’t suffer alone anymore.

******

Fiona could feel the darkness approaching. Unbeknownst to the others, she had no intention of fighting it at all. She understood how much dark Fiona wanted the love of others. The sorrow, and the pain of her loneliness.

“Lady Fiona, step back!”

Black waves circled them.

Eunice shouted in a clear voice.

“I’ll open the way, step back!”

The darkness got closer to me and the people behind me.

If this continued, the fight would undoubtedly begin. ‘Like the original ending.’

But who am I?

‘The original author who seduced the male protagonist!’

The whole story was already different. I couldn’t let it end like the original.

“Fiona...?”

Contrary to the original plan, Sigrun called out to me when he saw that I wasn’t moving.

I ignored his voice.

It was time to start my own plan.

I lifted my hands and moved my magic. The earth rose and a great barrier of earth and rock formed between me and the others.

The wall also separated Sigrun from me.

“Damn it, Fiona! What is this!”

Bang! Crack!

I heard the sound of the huge wall breaking.

Indeed, his power was not normal.

“I’m sorry, Sigrun.”

I said over the wall.

It was probably loud enough for his sensitive ears.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t think of any other way.”

“...what are you talking about?!”

“You’ll see.”

I shouted at Eunice who was trying to protect me still.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Lady Eunice! I don’t want you to get hurt!”

“Don’t say that, come back!”

“Fiona!”

Abel’s cry was also heard.

I laughed at the voice.

“Father, I love you!”

Truthfully, I didn’t bring everyone here for a fight. I just wanted to say goodbye.

‘They would have never let me follow this stupid plan if I had told them.’

I took a step forward.

“You said you would never leave me!”

I stopped at Sigrun’s voice. My heart ached at the sound of his desperate cry.

I shouted back.

“I’m sorry Sigrun! That was a lie! The worst lie of my life!”

“Fiona!”

Please don’t call out for me like that because it’s weakening my resolve.

“But I was serious! I will come back to you!”

“......”

I shouted at the wall with all my might.

“No matter what happens, even if it kills me, I will definitely return to you!”

Thud! Thud! Crash!

Instead of answering, I heard the desperate sounds of the earth wall being broken down.

I built walls even higher and thicker, so they would never be able to reach me.

It was a very thick and lonely wall.

“......”

Eventually, I faced the darkness.

I recited her name.

“Fiona.”

[...why, alone?]

“I came to see you.”

[I hate you.]

“I know, I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

Dark energy spread around me.

When I met her like this, in front of me, I felt suffocated.

Still, without losing my smile, I approached her.

“Do you want to kill people?”

She murmured like a child at my question.

[I don’t want to be forgotten.]

“I won’t forget you.”

She tilted her head slowly.

[Do you love me?]

“Yes.”

[Why, why was I abandoned?]

“I’m sorry.”

[What do you value the most?]

“......”

Fiona stared at me with empty black eye sockets.

[More than him?]

I decided to be honest with her.

There was no point in telling lies.

“No, the one I love the most is Sigrun. That doesn’t change.”

[…...]

Fiona’s face slowly distorted at my words.

It was bizarre.

It was hard to call it a ‘human’ shape anymore.

A humming voice was heard.

[Why did you come to me then?]

“......”

[In the end, you’re going to throw me away just like the original story. I’m going to get rid of all of it]

It was a terrible and miserable appearance.

[I don’t believe you]

The black body hung unsightly.

Just looking at it incited fear.

I wondered why Fiona became like this.

How did she know the original story in advance?

‘The original Fiona ended up with a tormented soul in the dark.’

Was it because of that ending?

If so, it must have been very painful.

“That won’t change. My first love is definitely Sigrun, However,”

I bowed down and hugged the melting dark figure.

Darkness slowly eroded my body.

It was hard to resist moving away.

I started sweating profusely and felt dizzy.

I whispered, enduring the pain.

“I will never leave you alone.”

As if angry, the contorted body suddenly stopped.

“I will be by your side.”

[Sob, sob]

“So now, in the darkness, you don’t have to shout to see yourself. I will not let you suffer forever.”

[…...]

The black energy that crawled through my body swallowed me up.

There was only darkness.

Lying in pitch-black darkness, I reached out my hand.

I didn’t touch anything or see anything.

I tried to speak out loud.

“...Am I dead?”

‘It’s dark.’

I shook my head and a rattling sound echoed near my ear. I was still wearing the dragon orb earrings.

The earrings started shining and my surroundings were illuminated by the orbs of light.

The light pointed her in a direction. She remembered Clemente Eduard. The dragon had told Fiona she might need the orb one day.

Clemente’s wisdom was illuminating the way for Fiona.

After walking for a while, she didn’t know how long or far she had walked. She heard a faint whimpering sound.

“A child?”

In the darkness, a little girl whimpered.

“...who?”

The child raised its head and I was startled to see the girl’s face.

She was around six or seven years old with silvery hair and red eyes.

“Fiona...?”

It was none other than a young Fiona.

“...who are you sister?”

I glanced at the shining orb in the palm of my hand.

I wondered if this Fiona knew the answers to my questions.

“Hello, Fiona.”

I bent down and made eye contact with the child.

I wiped her tears and whispered to her softly.

“I came all the way here to meet you.”

“......!”

Fiona, who was crying in the dark, stopped crying and looked at me with startled rabbit eyes.

******

I took the young Fiona’s hand.

“Lets talk, shall we?”

The child nodded, puzzled by the warmth.

“Why were you crying?”

“I don’t have a mother.”

“Where have you been?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then why are you here?”

Young Fiona hesitated and replied.

“I don’t know where else to go...”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I’m not sure.”

Well, that was a difficult question. I asked a different one.

“What happened, Fiona?”

“......”

She looked up at me and said.

“A lot of things.”

“What things?”

Fiona tapped the empty floor with her toe.

“It’s dark out here and something keeps chasing me so I ran away.”

I asked softly.

“Do you remember anything?”

The girl looked at me and tilted her head.

“I guess, maybe, I don’t know. Sister, is that light?”

Fiona pointed to the earring I was holding.

“Yes, it is. My friend gave it to me.”

“Can I see it?”

I hesitated for a moment.

The light on the earring flickered as if telling me to do it.

‘Are you going to give it to Fiona?’

An orb that tells the truth, possessed by a wise dragon.

If this fell into the hands of young Fiona, would she remember anything?

“Can you open your palms?”

At my words, Fiona meekly spread her hands out.

I gently grabbed the little hand and placed the earring on it.

The orb began to shine brighter.

A wave of light seemed to overflow from her tiny hand.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Fiona looked at me with an expressionless face and nodded slowly.

“...I can.”

And beyond the light, something began to appear.

******

There was a story.

A story about a woman and a man who met and became happy.

There was another woman in the story.

A woman who dreamed of happiness but ended up being unhappy.

Each time the first chapter of the story unfolded, the darkness whispered to her.

[Don’t you want that too?]

Even with her dreams twisted, she always hoped for love but eventually died.

That was the end.

Then it repeated.

An unreasonable life in which someone is always loved and some else is always hated.

But the woman did not even know that such a thing was repeating.

She just kept suffering.

Then one day, as always, the woman had another unfortunate ending.

The soul suffered from the existence of darkness.

Without knowing that she had been subjected to this thousands of times, her soul gradually wore out each time.

Until one day she realized the truth.

She was repeating the same life.

This was the beginning of another story.

The woman continued to search for her wish to come true.

A being who will break the rules set in this world and love her.

After realizing the truth, it wasn’t difficult to obtain another soul.

She finally found one.

That’s right, the designer of her world.

She could have hated the designer, but the woman did not.

With her soul locked in the darkness, she called out to the designer with her old body, hoping to be loved.

But that wish did not come true.

The designer found someone else in the world to love.

The woman was so sad that she cried for several days.

No, she probably cried in the dark for longer than that. Maybe a few years.

She finally gave up on finding someone to love her.

Instead, she decided to hate and kill those who abandoned her.

To end this recurring painful life by destroying everything.

“......”

Here she was.

The figure of Fiona who met the same ending repeatedly.

“A lot happened to me”.

My sight returned. I opened my eyes.

In the dark, young Fiona looked at me.

She no longer had the look of a child, instead she had a calm face.

“Now it will all be over. Your sacrifice won’t stop it.”

“...Liar.”

Unlike before, the child had a cynical expression.

“Do you think I am joking?”

“No.”

That wasn’t what I meant. I spoke carefully.

“I meant that you were lying about giving up on being loved.”

“......”

“Now I know who you are and why you are here.”

The dragon orb also showed me the truth.

“You are the soul of Fiona.”

It was so small and young but I could see it clearly.

“A tough, pure piece that has remained after being worn out thosands of times by the dark.”

“... no. I am nothing.”

“That’s not right.”

Faint tears welled up in Fiona’s red eyes.

A hostile gaze was fixed on me.

“No, I couldn’t be anything to anyone. No one cared about me!”

Everything Fiona had done made sense to me now.

She wasn’t trying to hurt me.

She was begging me to see her pain, to notice her bleeding wounds.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize! Nothing will change.”

“No, this is an apology for not noticing earlier.”

I put one knee on the ground and looked at the child with tears in her eyes.

“I wish we had met sooner, do you?”

“...he stole you. I will kill them.”

The ‘he’ here was clearly Sigrun.

“Don’t do that.”

“Why? Because you love him the most in this world?”

“No.”

I said frankly.

“Fiona, making someone unhappy doesn’t bring you happiness.”

“......”

She tilted her head and I wiped her tears again.

“If you make Sigrun suffer, do you think you will find happiness by making him unhappy?”

“...at least I won’t be sad.”

I asked with a soft smile.

“I’ll change the question. Do you think you will be happy if he is unhappy? If that’s the case, then fine...”

“......”

Fiona didn’t answer.

I thought I knew a little bit about her.

Fiona had a kinder and more pure heart than anyone else.

Seeing her like that, I spat out the only words I could think of.

“I will do anything to make you happy. So can you tell me what to do?”

“...liar. You will go back to him.”

“No, I am serious. I will stay here with you.”

The child quietly lowered his head.

“Why now?”

Tears dripped down.

“Only now after I gave up on everything... you say this...”

I hugged Fiona quietly.

The little body trembled. She slowly rested her forehead on my shoulder.

I felt my clothes become wet with tears.

I whispered softly.

“Fiona, what do you want?”

“...take me out of here.”

She cried and spat out her last wish.

“I hate being alone...”

******

There was a white dress lying in an empty room in Halon mansion.

The owner of the room never came back but the housemaids always cleaned this room first.

“......”

Sigrun leaned against the doorway and glanced at the pure white dress.

Nearly a month had passed since Fiona disappeared.

The side facing the darkness was blocked by a very large wall.

For the first few days, Sigrun frantically smashed at the wall.

When he finally got through the wall... there was nothing there.

No body, no trace of her death. He almost went crazy.

Despite this, Sigrun was unable to give up hope. He came here every day and waited for her, looking at the empty room.

Traces of Fiona were all over the room. A bitter feeling rose up.

“Please, come back...”

Without Fiona, his life was meaningless.

It was a life that breathed Fiona.

Her clear laugh, red face and soft scent.

He remembered it all clearly.

Bang!

Sigrun punched the wall with his fist. He felt the pain.

The world was getting harder and harder to bear without her.

“Please come back before I go crazy, Fiona.”

Sigrun murmured and eventually left the room.

The only thing left in the room was the dress.

The finished pure white wedding dress waited for its owner.

******

Fiona and dark Fiona try to figure out a way for them both to leave. OG Fiona and the darkness have become one so if the darkness dies so does OG Fiona.

OG Fiona decides to let Fiona leave with a part of her. She gives Fiona her heart – her first wish that is still untained – to be loved.

Fiona doesn’t want to abandon her but OG Fiona says she isn’t - she is taking her heart with her.

Dark Fiona puts a small round light into Fiona’s palm. It’s the only pure part of OG Fiona left.

Fiona cries for OG Fiona. Why is she the only one who has to pay the price? Darkness smiles at Fiona and they hug.

Dark Fiona tells Fiona that she isn’t leaving her, she is taking her with her.

Fiona grabs the dragon orb.

“...Good bye.”

“Bye.”

Fiona bit her lip.

“I love you.”

“......”

The darkness widened her eyes in surprise and slowly smiled widely.

“I love you too!”

The darkness didn’t feel as lonely as before anymore.

“Okay. Let’s finish everything now.”

Thus, the dark space began to slowly crumble.

******

In the future, a baby will be born to a couple.

A girl with silver hair like moonlight and red eyes like roses.

“... I hear it a lot, that you look a lot like your mother but it’s really the same.”

The child’s father looked at his newborn daughter and whispered.

“No, she doesn’t look like me at all.”

With a small smile, the child’s mother replied.

“Then?”

“She resembles ‘her’.”

“Aha.”

The child’s father chuckled playfully and lightly pressed the baby’s cheek.

“It wasn’t the birth of my daughter but the birth of a lover.”

“Don’t be jealous!”

The couple joked around for a while and burst into sweet laughter.

For a while, there was a pleasant sound of laughter in the room.

The baby slept soundly and in peace, realizing that the first wish she had so long ago had come true.

“......”

This hasn’t happened yet but it was a story that was to begin some day.

Carl entered Sigrun’s room and stopped.

The room was a mess.

Of course, there was only one person brave enough to disturb the prince.

Carl look at Sigrun who was leaning against a wall.

“Can’t you calm down?”

Sigrun shook his head angrily.

“I am calm.”

“Do you hear yourself? Look at this room. You are exuding killing intent to anyone who comes close.”

“......”

Sigrun didn’t deny his words as they were true.

Carl sighed.

He had recently returned to Halon mansion.

Although he had been rejected by Fiona, he wanted to make sure she was safe.

Carl stood with his arms crossed.

“When she comes back, she might be disappointed.”

“......”

“Actually, I hope she is disappointed, then maybe I will have a chance.”

At those words, Sigrun rubbed his face roughly.

“Bastard.”

“That’s right.”

“You behave like a gentle sheep in front of Fiona.”

Carl laughed and smirked.

“Isn’t that the basics of being respectful to the person you are courting?”

“Damn it...”

“Stop swearing at me and get up. The maids are so scared they can’t even clean the room.”

“When did you start nagging so much.”

“I don’t want her to be disappointed when she comes back. I want her to see a smiling face if possible.”

“Damn it.”

Sigrun muttered while covering his face with both hands.

“I think I’m going crazy...”

Those words were not to his cousin.

Carl understood well the meaning of the absence of a subject. ‘Without her.’

Carl felt the same way.

Although it was burdensome, he wanted to see her happy at least.

“So am I.”

“......”

“Now come to your senses.”

Finally, Sigrun sighed and stood up.

******

Princess Arya is decided to be the heir to the throne. Sigrun renounces his claim to the throne. There’s no point without Fiona.

Abel watched Sigrun complete his work like an empty doll.

It has been 4 months since Fiona disappeared.

Abel missed her as well. There was a hole in his chest that couldn’t be filled. He had never felt like that before in his life.

‘I must be a more romantic person than I thought’ Abel smiled bitterly.

Sigrun wasn’t the only one who couldn’t let go.

Abel turned the doorknob of Fiona’s room. Someone was inside.

Abel reached for his sword as he opened the door.

“Who’s there?”

“Ah...”

Abel couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened the door.

“Fi...ona?”

His dear adopted daughter, Fiona, stood there with a surprised expression.

Abel wiped his eyes violently.

“Is this a dream.”

Fiona laughed.

“It’s strange that my cold father would say something like that.”

Let's stay calm. Abel rubbed his eyes again, just in case.

“Is this real?”

“Well.. It's been so long since I went missing-”

Abel hugged Fiona tightly.

He stroked her hair vigorously to make sure it was real.

Just as Fiona was about to complain, Abel said in a trembling voice.

“Late.. You are so late... I was so worried I thought I was going to die.”

“......”

Fiona felt sorry for her adopted father and hugged him back.

“How could you just turn so harshly and leave?”

Fiona whispered.

“... I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? You know you aren’t allowed to stay out overnight.”

“Um, that’s a bit.”

“Ungrateful! You still show no remorse.”

Even though he was joking with me, Abel’s hand trembled slightly.

Fiona wrapped her hands around Abel’s and smiled brightly.

“I’m back, father!”

******

Sigrun walked through the garden.

Red flowers bloomed.

The weather was getting colder so they weren’t roses.

He didn’t know much about flowers but he knew this because Fiona told him.

“This flower blooms in winter. Aren’t you curious?”

He was not interested in flowers, but he was always interested in what Fiona had to say.

“Sigrun, did you know? Each flower has a meaning.”

Her voice sounded like a bird’s song.

“The meaning of this flower is ‘waiting’ and.”

She licked her lips and whispered.

“It also means ‘I love you more than anything.’”

The girl who smiled softly was more beautiful than anyone else – she was the woman he loved the most.

When are you coming back?

How long can I stay sane for?

“Sigrun...”

He thought it was an auditory hallucination at first and didn’t turn around.

A voice continued to call his name.

“Sigrun.”

Am I still hallucinating? He didn’t look back.

“Are you mad?”

Someone approached him from behind.

Slowly, Sigrun questioned himself. Am I dreaming?

“I’m here.”

A trembling voice said behnd him.

“I’m sorry I’m late...”

Sigrun turned around slowly.

A woman was standing there.

A womanw ith silver hair like moonlight and red eyes like the flowers he was holding.

She looked up at him with slightly wet eyes.

“I’m here to keep my promise to come back to you.”

Sigrun’s hand trembled.

He wanted to reach out and touch her but was afraid she would disappear.

She hugged him first.

Sigrun licked his lips.

“Fi...ona?”

He slowly put his hands on her shoulders.

She didn’t disappear.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Her voice whispered. It was real.

“......”

Fiona quickly said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how much time had passed. You may not want to see me-”

In an instant, her mouth was covered.

He bit her lips and explored her mouth with his tongue aggressively.

She felt her breath being swallowed up.

“Uh, ha...”

Fiona, who could barely stand, shuddered.

She took a deep breath and uttered his name.

“Sigrun...?”

He stroked his lover’s flushed cheeks and pressed their foreheads together.

“Is it really you?”

There was terror in his eyes.

Fiona barely responded.

“Yes... sorry I’m late...”

“You are late.”

Eventually, Fiona looked at him.

“Are you mad?”

“Yes, I am.”

“......”

Fiona felt nervous at those words.

Sigrun kissed her forehead, eyelids, cheek and jaw.

Everywhere he touched felt hot.

“But as soon as I saw your face, it all went away.”

He smiled bitterly.

“I thought I was going crazy from missing you, Fiona.”

“... me too.”

Fiona wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I missed you so much.”

Then she kissed his lips.

“Sigrun, I love you.”

“......”

“Now I really swear, I will never leave you again.”

Seeing him frozen in surprise, Fiona laughed.

“So, let’s get married now!”

Damn, I’m going crazy.

Sigrun grunted hard.

“You are too late. Do you know how long ago your dress was finished?”

“Oh, I just saw it in my room. It’s so beautiful!”

Sigrun hugged her gently and smiled at her as she widened her eyes.

“This time, I won’t let you go again.”

Fiona laughed and hugged him.

The two held each other for a long time, confirming each other’s existence with their body temperatures.

Red petal scattered in the wind around them.

As they whispered to each other, their voices quietly echoed in the garden.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The sweet and gentle whispers of the newly reunited lovers continued for a long time in the garden.

The two of them found happiness.

There was nothing in the world to envy.

Nevertheless, their story wasn’t over yet. It was just the beginning of a new one.

FIN.

It's been a wild journey friends! Thanks for joining me
Click to expand...

Thank you so very much for all your hardwork!

I love this novel, such a great story, I cried so much! How awesome is the relationship between Abel and Fiona, wow what a doting father.

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Spoiler I Become The Wife of The Male Lead

Aristes [Archiver of idea], [Harbinger of the Fall]

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Spoiler I Become The Wife of The Male Lead

Aristes [Archiver of idea], [Harbinger of the Fall]

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