Chapter 134. A Night with Beautiful Moonlight

“Tomorrow afternoon’s schedule includes a garden room tea party at the Rubery family. Would you like to choose your outfit in advance?”

“Yes, let’s do that. And did you get the item I asked for before?”

“Of course. I’ve wrapped it nicely.”

The item Ellen had asked Jasmine to get was none other than Roelyn’s birthday present. April 23rd was Roelyn’s birthday, and with only two days left, all preparations, including the banquet, had to be completed perfectly.

Since staying at Evitern Castle, Roelyn had shown quite a different side of herself. She now got along well with Marchioness Reditch, with whom she initially had a rocky relationship, and had also become much closer to Ellen, forming an amicable relationship.

However, she still seemed unaware of Angela’s true nature and apparently still exchanged letters with her. Well, even Enoch couldn’t interfere with that. For Roelyn, Angela was her only friend, so it wouldn’t be easy to cut ties.

“Then I’ll take my leave now. Laila is on duty tonight, so ring the bell if you need anything.”

“Alright, thank you, Jasmine. You’ve worked hard.”

After Jasmine left the room, Ellen waited a bit before ringing the bell to call Laila.

Laila’s complexion, as she quietly entered the room and faced Ellen, couldn’t be described as good even as a white lie. It was because she had to keep to herself the fact that the person she served was secretly coughing up blood, unable to tell anyone. Ellen gave an awkward smile, feeling deeply apologetic.

“Sit down. I have something important to tell you.”

“To, to me…?”

“Yes. It’s about my symptoms of coughing up blood.”

“……!”

Laila flinched, bit her lip hard, and then sat on the sofa with a tearful expression. Her eyes, fixed on Ellen sitting across from her, were full of worry. Ellen, feeling apologetic as always, began to speak.

“Laila, please listen without being shocked.”

“Your Highness…”

“The truth is… I’m terminally ill.”

“……!”

Laila’s eyes widened at the sudden confession.

The color gradually drained from her face, until it became as pale as a dying person’s. Laila, who had been moving her lips several times, asked in a voice as fragile as if it might break.

“Is, is that… really true? Your Highness…”

“It’s true. It’s a secret no one knows… well, now you know. It’s a secret only you and I know. Even His Grace the Grand Duke doesn’t know.”

“Not even His Grace…?”

“Yes. And I want him to continue not knowing.”

“……”

Laila blinked blankly. She seemed quite shocked by the situation that was beyond her understanding. Ellen quietly gazed at Laila, then began to share the story she had organized in her mind countless times.

“Where should I start… First, shall I talk about myself? Laila, as you know, I wasn’t very happy when I was young.”

Ellen told Laila her life story in a calm tone.

A foreign mixed-blood mother, and her with that mixed blood. A mad woman locked in a room who couldn’t take a single step outside, and her daughter. An unfortunate and deprived story.

“…So I proposed to His Grace. I said I would use foresight magic for him if he would love me for just one year… If he would let me be his wife for just one year.”

“……”

“I didn’t bother to mention that the price for foresight was my lifespan. At that time… I thought if I said such a thing, my value would decrease. And I didn’t want to burden someone who was forced to love me with something like guilt. I didn’t want to experience a situation where everyone knew I was terminally ill, turning it into some kind of melodrama.”

That’s why she had been preparing for the end alone, resigned to her fate.

So that on that day when the magic wears off and the fake love dissipates like foam, she could disappear like a ghost.

As if she never existed in the first place.

“That’s what I want.”

“……”

“I don’t want to face Enoch when he comes to hate me.”

“……”

“It might seem cowardly in a way. But it’s better than spending the last of my life in sorrow and despair.”

So… Laila, can you help me?

She asked, approaching and holding both of Laila’s hands tightly.

Laila’s sorrowful gaze quietly reached Ellen as she choked back tears.

“Is there… Your Highness, is there truly no way for you to live?”

“…Yes, unfortunately that’s the case.”

“Why…”

Laila felt like she wanted to dare to reproach Ellen, asking why she had made such a choice.

But she couldn’t bring herself to do so, because deep down she understood why Ellen had to do it.

Everyone wants to live as they desire. The same goes for death. While death is said to be fair to all, aren’t there more miserable deaths in this world? In such a world, wanting to end one’s life with dignity as a human being is a wish everyone shares.

Laila understood Ellen’s choice. She was not unfamiliar with what a life and death like that of livestock stripped of rights meant.

Therefore, the answer she had to give was as good as predetermined.

“…I understand, Your Highness.”

“……”

“I… I will help you, Your Highness.”

So that you can meet the death you desire.

Laila’s tear-filled black eyes shone with determination.

* * *

Roelyn’s birthday banquet was held successfully. There was a minor issue with Angela’s attendance, but fortunately, it passed without any significant incidents.

As darkness fell, Ellen quietly gazed at the calendar hanging on the wall in a room dimly lit by the faint glow of a gas lamp.

Today was April 23rd. And the day the love spell on Enoch would break was May 27th. There really wasn’t much time left.

And the day her lifespan would end was June 16th, was it? No, it could be even earlier.

The future is fluid, and she had used foresight magic dozens of times since glimpsing that June 16th… Her lifespan might have shortened even more since then.

So, the period she could expect was at least about a month.

Then when should she leave? Before May 27th? The day right before? Or even earlier?

Or… right after the love spell breaks?

To see with her own eyes if he truly comes to hate her?

“……”

Having thought that far, Ellen ended up laughing dejectedly.

Oh me, still unable to let go of such shallow hope.

‘Let’s leave generously around May 20th or 21st. I’ll prepare thoroughly from now on.’

She had asked Laila to create a magical item imbued with a sleep spell. She had also prepared sufficient travel expenses, accommodation fees, and food costs, and had already decided on her destination.

The Duchy of Asir.

From Rheinfelden Station, she could take a train to the Baile Canal, and follow that waterway to the border of the Duchy of Asir. From there, it would be a bit troublesome as she’d have to take a carriage, but she heard there were many travel carriage businesses operating at the border of the Duchy of Asir, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

‘Once I arrive at the capital of the Duchy of Asir, then…’

I should look for the Raman family members.

I do want to meet them at least once. Mother’s family.

‘And after that…’

She planned to go further south to prepare for death.

She would be alone, so it would surely be lonely.

But it’s okay. She had already prepared herself for this.

However, there was one thing that bothered her…

‘Felix…’

Why was Felix by her side in the future she had glimpsed before?

And Felix…

‘…has feelings for me.’

Ellen was uncomfortable with this fact. While it remained true that Felix was her dear friend, she couldn’t think of him as comfortably as before. For some reason, he felt distant, and even unfamiliar like a complete stranger.

If she were to accidentally encounter Felix in the Duchy of Asir… she wasn’t sure if she could treat him as warmly as before.

Ellen sighed and moved away from the calendar. It was almost time for Enoch to arrive.

The power of magic was incredible. For months now, Enoch had remained unchanged, or perhaps even increasingly yearned for Ellen, unable to sleep when she wasn’t by his side.

This was almost like an addiction. Though she had never experienced addiction to anything, she could be certain that this feeling was nearly identical.

Enoch tightly embraced Ellen, who was panting beneath him, with both arms. Her body was damp with sweat from their intense lovemaking, flushed with heat. Her blue eyes, hazily meeting his, were clouded with pleasure, and her rose-tinted cheeks were lovely.

“You’re really beautiful, Ellen.”

“……”

“I think you’re becoming more beautiful as time goes by.”

And he was becoming increasingly shameless. Whether Ellen glanced at him coyly or not, Enoch smiled pleasantly as he gently captured her lips and licked them. Her soft, moist lips tasted of the light rose wine she had drunk just before.

“I want to play you the piece I composed for you. I finally finished it recently.”

“…You managed to complete it even in the midst of your busy schedule…”

“Of course. It’s a piece for you, after all.”

He grinned and helped her sit up. Then, after kissing her forehead, he said,

“I’ll wash you. Let’s get cleaned up, change clothes, and go to the piano room. It’s a night with beautiful moonlight, after all.”

“……”

Enoch gently lifted Ellen, who nodded silently. His steps towards the bathroom were as light as a feather. Just like his own elated mood, as if he could fly.

* * *