Chapter 130. A Mad Dog That’s Dangerous to Bite

‘June 16th…….’

I lived longer than I thought.

Ellen laughed hollowly inside. The warm warmth holding her hand was Felix’s. His face, when she looked up, was a mess, drenched in tears.

“Ellen, please, please hold on for a few more days. I’ll find a way. Okay? Please…….”

“……Felix…….”

Her voice, coming out between her lips, felt so hoarse that it seemed unfamiliar. Not only her voice, but her heavy body that didn’t move as she willed was also foreign.

So this is what it feels like to be close to death. Ellen suddenly recalled the future she had glimpsed before. In that future, she was also dying…… How strange, the background here is different.

Even Felix is by my side.

It’s the same future where I’m dying, yet why are there differences in the details? Unsolvable questions filled Ellen’s mind.

“Ellen, if you die, I can’t live. You are…… so precious to me.”

“I also…… think of you…… as precious……. Fel…….”

For some reason, Felix’s mouth moved slightly at Ellen’s words. His amber eyes were filled with indescribable emotions.

“……Of course, you would think of me as precious ‘as a friend’. But, Elle, I…….”

He grasped her hand a bit more firmly, as though he was trying to muster the courage to say something important.

“I like you as a woman.”

“……!”

Ellen’s eyes widened. Both the Ellen in this future vision and the real Ellen watching this scene were shocked to the point of fainting.

“I like you, Ellen. No, I love you. I love you more than anything in this world…… You are precious to me.”

“…….”

It was a sudden confession. Ellen couldn’t hear what her other self said in response, as the vision soon started to shake and scatter like fragments.

Returning to reality a moment later, Ellen collapsed powerlessly onto the bathroom floor. The mirror of foresight floated lightly around her like clouds.

As the price for seeing the future, her lifespan was reduced, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart along with stomach pain. Soon, hot blood surged up her throat, and Ellen hurriedly ran to the sink to spit it out.

She had become quite accustomed to vomiting blood now, so she could spit it out without staining her clothes.

Turning on the faucet to let the water flow, Ellen rinsed her mouth with cold water. Her face reflected in the mirror looked ghostly pale.

Ellen stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.

‘Felix…… likes me…….’

So, Enoch’s words were true? She thought he was just overly cautious…….

‘I thought Felix only saw me as a friend, just as I saw him. ……But it wasn’t like that…….’

Her heart pounded irregularly. It wasn’t because she was thrilled by Felix’s confession. She was confused about how to face him from now on.

‘I don’t know what expression to make when I see Felix again.’

Ellen sighed heavily and washed her face with cold water. The refreshing feeling seemed to clear her head a bit.

She decided to think about Felix later, as she still had futures to glimpse.

Today was Monday, and she had the duty to inform Enoch of the week’s future, as she did every week.

Ellen stood up straight and faced the mirror of foresight again. Reaching out to the ominously shimmering, colorful mirror surface, it immediately rose like a wave and engulfed her.

* * *

“Ceres will turn against Atreos?”

“Yes, in the future I saw, that’s what happened. Probably around Friday, the Ceres royal family will contact Your Highness unofficially.”

“……You’re calling me that again.”

“Pardon……?”

“‘Your Highness’. It’s so formal.”

“Ah…….”

“When you report the future to me, your tone always becomes so stiff. As if I’m your superior.”

Ellen could only give an awkward smile at the pointed remark. Calling him ‘Your Highness’ was a kind of defense mechanism. It was an unconscious habit born out of the desire to keep her heart from being hurt as much as possible by keeping a distance.

Though this man might not have noticed such a fact, it was better not to let her guard down, as he had an instinct as sharp as a wild animal.

Thinking so, Ellen skillfully hid her true feelings as always. She concealed her fragile core within a hard shell, hiding her resignation, her lingering feelings, her love…… so that he wouldn’t notice any of it.

“But there’s one thing I don’t understand.”

“Pardon? What…….”

Ellen tilted her head and asked, wondering if it was about the lack of information on Ceres. Should she use foresight again? As she retraced her thoughts, Enoch’s voice, tinged with curiosity, continued.

“Why did Navaroa and Pyrene Castile kidnap your maid? Their target was you alone, wasn’t it?”

At that moment, Ellen almost flinched but managed to control herself. Pretending to think for a moment, she spoke softly.

“Maybe it was a mistake? Laila was the closest to me at that time.”

“Really? Hmm……”

Enoch didn’t know that Pyrene Castile’s trap only worked on mages.

And he must never know. Ellen had no intention of telling him. Laila being a mage, and possessing the magic of sleep, had to remain a secret.

Because…… someday, she would need that magic to escape from this Evitern castle safely.

“It’s strange that Pyrene Castile made such a basic mistake, but I suppose it’s possible.”

Enoch concluded nonchalantly as he picked a grape from the fruit bowl on the table and popped it into Ellen’s mouth.

Ellen, who had become accustomed to being fed like a baby bird, chewed the grape indifferently. The plump flesh burst, spreading a sweet and tangy flavor in her mouth.

“You’re cute, Ellen.”

“…….”

These days, he often said she was cute, lovely, or that he wanted to lock her up. It seemed clear that the symptoms caused by the love magic were getting worse. If it got more intense, would it eventually turn into hatred?

Feeling a chill, Ellen couldn’t just be thrilled by his affection.

“Eat more.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“I want to watch you eat.”

“…….”

It seemed his tastes were a bit strange. That wasn’t due to the magic but his original inclination. Come to think of it, even in bed……

Ellen stopped thinking, unable to bear the shame. Instead, she picked a grape and popped it into his mouth.

They were sitting side by side on the sofa, already very close. Enoch, with a grape in his mouth, laughed and then suddenly pulled her into his arms, lowering his head.

“……!”

He burst the grape in his mouth and kissed her, letting the sweet and sour juice flow into her mouth, soaking her tongue.

Ellen, who had never imagined sharing a grape this way, was flustered and didn’t know what to do. Yet, she swallowed the juice that filled her mouth.

After finishing a grape together, they fell onto the sofa, continuing their kiss. Naturally, it was Enoch who pushed her down. He trapped Ellen in his arms and persistently licked and sucked.

Finally, looking down at her disheveled state beneath him, he smiled like a satisfied predator.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“Pervert…….”

He had heard that ‘pervert’ comment over twenty times, but no matter how many times he heard it, it was only sweet. Enoch willingly became a pervert, thoroughly enjoying the soft skin and sweet scent of the woman trapped in his arms.

* * *

The last guests to leave Evitern castle were Julian Berstein and Ikram Halmatiya.

Julian had annoyed Ellen throughout his stay, constantly clashing with Enoch, while Ikram had more meticulously tried to get close to Ellen.

However, his attempts to get close felt impure in many ways. It might have just been her feeling, but Ellen responded to Ikram’s farewell with polite kindness.

“It’s a shame to part ways like this, Ellenore. If you don’t mind, I’d like to continue our interactions……”

“Of course, as much as you like―”

“No, you can’t.”

Unable to refuse the prince of an allied country, Ellen was about to politely accept, but Enoch interrupted abruptly, with a rather rude attitude.

“You want to keep in touch with my wife privately? Don’t be ridiculous, Ikram.”

“Why so wary? I’m simply trying to build a friendship with her.”

“Whether you want to build a friendship or a romance with Ellen, I can’t tell. Considering your past actions, it’s highly suspicious.”

“You shouldn’t accuse people so hastily. Ellenore, would you like to visit Katar with me someday? I’m sure you’ll like Katar. It’s a much freer country than Freuden.”

“Ikram Halmatiya.”

Enoch warned sternly. Ikram reluctantly stepped back, showing regret. His large, puppy-like black eyes were full of disappointment.

“You’re quite the tyrant, Enoch Bayern.”

“Shut up. Don’t hit on my woman.”

“Why so sensitive? You know Katar is a free-spirited place. I was just raised that way.”

“This is Freuden, I’m the Grand Duke of Freuden, and Ellen is my wife. Last warning, don’t hit on my woman. As you know, I’m a crazy bastard who sees nothing when I lose my temper.”

When Enoch growled fiercely, Ikram laughed helplessly and raised his hands in surrender. Yet, he couldn’t help but provoke Enoch.

“You’re more possessive than you look, Grand Duke Bayern. Be careful, or the Grand Duchess might get scared and run away.”

“She won’t run if I don’t let her.”

“……How will you stop her?”

“Want to know?”

He replied with a fierce laugh, his eyes had already turned.

He’s definitely crazy. A mad dog that will cause big trouble if bitten.

Ikram cursed inwardly and slowly backed away. Though he had more than a casual interest in Ellenore, provoking a mad dog for her was not worth it.

After all the guests had left, Evitern castle finally regained its peace.

Although there was still the troublesome issue of Princess Roelyn, whom everyone found difficult to deal with…….

* * *