Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Chapter 40
After being left alone, I could feel a unique silence.
“It’s the first time I’ve been alone since the possession…”
Because I was always with Declan, it was awkward being alone now.
“…Lonely.”
I laughed in vain at the strange feeling that I could suddenly feel and muttered to myself.
“What should I do now?”
There was no more anger, though I was still confused.
“If I live like this, can I change the original story? What if I can’t…?”
The future ahead was bleak and terrifying. Just thinking about it, I slumped to the floor and folded my knees.
“Well, should I tell him?”
Without realizing it, I shouted that I missed my parents and that I wanted to go back like that…
“It would have been strange for anyone to see.”
Ha, no matter how much you lose your reason, why would you say something like that? If I tell him the truth, will he believe me? What if he doubted or found it strange…?
‘He might find out that I’ve never been with Chloe.”
Now, I really have no other place other than here. Fear came over me as if I had become a lost child.
“Huh? What…?”
Then, I felt something tickling my nerves.
Even though I was still afraid, as I could feel the strange sensation out of nowhere, goosebumps rose. I glanced around the area, but nothing had changed from when I first came in.
‘Should I go to the office?’
Rather than disappearing, the strange sensation lingered around and stimulated my nerves.
‘Should I…check it myself first?’
Since it could be dangerous for Declan by any chance, thinking about it gave me a little courage. Eventually, I forcibly got up and looked around, but there was nothing like black smoke.
Still, something kept calling me.
As I focused on that feeling, my footsteps moved naturally.
“This—”
At the place where I stopped moving as if possessed was the Mazvin.
‘It’s a holy relic of the Ielro Kingdom…’
At first, I was curious, so I looked around. However, there was nothing special about it except that it made my heart feel more comfortable when I touched it. Even if Declan tried to move it with strength, it didn’t even budge, so he gradually lost interest.
“Why am I so concerned today?”
It was as if the Mazvin was calling me to see it.
What kind of power does this old scrap metal have?
I couldn’t even take my eyes off it when I tried to turn my head away at that thought. At that moment, as I stared meaninglessly, a white light began to fade faintly in the Mazvin.
“Wh, what?”
Although I’ve seen black smoke before, this was the first time I’d seen a light like this.
‘Is this also related to Declan?’
Fearful, I took a step back from the Mazvin.
Nevertheless, I still couldn’t take my eyes off it. In addition, from the moment I saw the white light, a strong desire to touch it rose.
“They said it’s a holy relic, so it’s probably not harmful. Maybe…”
Eventually, unable to resist the temptation, I reached out to the Mazvin.
The moment I quietly held out my hand…
“Gasp—!”
I was startled and stepped back. It was because the Mazvin suddenly moved as soon as my hand touched it. The two circles in the center began to spin like the clock-like hour hand moved slowly.
“Why is this happening? Maybe I broke it?!”
No, how can a soul touch it…!
Even if it was absurd, I carefully looked at the Mazvin to rectify the situation that had happened.
At some point, the circle spinning in the center stopped, and letters could be seen through the hole.
“I can’t read this…”
Read?
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t read it. But, why?
“Are…you, lost?”
I fumbled through the letters that could be seen through the hole. How did it know that I seemed to be lost?
“If, if you’re a ghost, go away!”
I took a step back from the Mazvin and raised my hands into a defensive position. Even though I had been there for a while, only a faint light was flowing from it.
“Hmmhmm.”
Frustrated, I straightened my posture and approached cautiously.
“Lost…”
Then, I remembered what Andre had said at the banquet.
“It is said that God assists the owner of the holy relic in need.”
…God.
“You mean it was a real holy thing…?”
Still staring at it, I couldn’t deny that I thought it was only just an antique with that mumbo-jumbo until now.
“There was nothing like this in the original story…”
Of course, No relics or divine compass were even mentioned.
“Do I really possessed by the novel I read?”
It seemed that, at this point, the original story was no longer believable.
“Haha… I’m really lost.”
As I spoke those words quietly, somehow, the light from the Mazvin seemed to have gotten stronger.
“Are you waiting for my answer?”
The Mazvin stayed still.
Seeing that, my worries didn’t last long. “Yeah, it doesn’t matter if it’s a god or a devil, as long as I can find a way.”
First of all, shouldn’t we live and see for now?
After taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on the Mazvin.
“I’m lost. So, please help me find the way.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the Mazvin started moving again.
“Pur…..ah, purpose!”
What appeared this time were words.
“I want to be a person…”
It took a little while this time when I put my hand on the Mazvin and muttered. Eventually, the letters appeared from the Mazvin.
“Ielro?”
Why did Ielro appear out of the blue?
“Can I become a human if I go to Ielro?”
I asked the Mazvin again, but this time it didn’t move. The white light had already disappeared.
“I wonder what’s in there… Maybe, the original female lead has an answer?”
Until now, I was preventing Stella from coming to the Empire.
“If she comes here, Declan will die.”
I covered my head and sat down on the floor. It seemed that I pondered so much that my head felt like it was going to explode later.
“Erica?”
I raised my head at the sudden voice.
“What’s going on? Are you sick?”
I blinked blankly as I saw Declan rushing towards me.
“Erica? Are you okay?”
Saying so, he hurriedly put his doll aside and knelt down in front of me. Then, my dazed head slowly turned.
“Have you finished your work already?”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Looking out of the window, the sky was already dark. I was so absorbed in my worries that I didn’t even know that time had passed.
“…I thought you would come to the office.”
The small mumbled words quickly dispersed in the air.
‘Was he waiting for me?’
Even though I blamed him and said strange things like that…
Thinking so, it felt as though tears were about to flow out at any second.
“Why are you here?”
I wanted to be embraced by that friendly voice and to complain to my heart’s content. It’s so scary. I’m nervous…
Then, I remembered the situation that I couldn’t hug him, and it made me even sadder.
“…I’m thinking about it.”
“What made it difficult for you?”
Normally, I would have grumbled with an adult-like tone, but now I feel more at ease. When I was about to say something, I didn’t know what to say.
‘Can I say I’m not from this world?”
I wasn’t sure about the Mazvin either.
“Give me some time.”
Not having the courage to make eye contact with him, I bowed my head and mumbled.
“Take your time. But, remember this one thing.”
Declan lowered his head and met my gaze. I hesitated and slowly lifted my head as he continued his words.
“I’m by your side. Don’t forget that.”
There was anxiety in the dark green eyes.
“…Your Majesty, I don’t want to sleep alone today.”
I felt lonely because it felt like I was thrown out in a place where I couldn’t see anything. Right now, I need someone’s warmth.
As he stared at me silently, Declan reached out his hand and stroked my hair.
“I want to hug you, but I can’t. It’s sadder today.”
“I’m going into the doll, so will you hug me? I think I’ll be relieved.”
“All right.”
It seemed a hundred times better than feeling miserable watching me go through his body…
Eventually, Declan, who was ready to go to bed, grabbed the doll and sat on the bed.
“I don’t think I can sing a lullaby today.”
“Okay.”
Lying on the bed, he lay on his side and held the doll in his arms before softly patting my back. The mere fact that I was in his arms gave me relief.
‘Today was very difficult.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes quietly.
In the quiet room, the sound of breathing and the small sound of patting the doll resounded peacefully.
At first glance through the canopy, it was already bright outside. After patting me for a while, Declan fell asleep and didn’t seem to wake up yet.
‘…Should I apologize properly?’
After how I pushed him. Even an apology a hundred times was not enough.
‘How should I explain the possession?’
I’ve been thinking about this issue all night, although I haven’t been able to come to a conclusion.
“Did you sleep well?”
Maybe it was because he had just woken up, but his low-pitched voice had subsided even more.
“Dolls don’t sleep.”
“I know. It’s just a morning greeting.”
I smiled softly, and he smiled along with me.
“How can you say good morning without sleeping?”
“You’re back. Grumpy Erica.”
“What do you mean, grumpy? Excuse me, it’s Lady.”
As I turned my head, he let out a small laugh.
“You’re laughing right now, aren’t you?”
“Um, no matter how angry you look, you only look cute, so it’s a big deal,” Declan said as he was laughing and tapped my nose.
“If I just go out of the doll…”
“Wait a minute.”
He took hold of the doll’s hand.
“Why?”
“I want to stay like this a little longer.”
As I tilted my head, he hugged me tighter.
“Being like this makes me feel relieved.”
Was he worried about when I, the soul, would disappear…?
‘…You don’t want me to disappear?’
The words rose up to my neck, though it didn’t open as easily as if a lock had been put in my mouth.
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