Chapter 136. Becoming Ashes Once Again

The beautiful fairy tale woven with fake love came to an end.

Earlier than expected.

Ellen stared at Enoch for a long time. Her mind was blank, unable to think of anything. I need to pull myself together. Suddenly, only such self-reproach came to mind. Then, all of a sudden, fear overwhelmed her.

The fear that he might wake up.

‘……No.’

Her stomach churned. She felt like she might vomit. No, I don’t want to see it. Something like you hating me. Such a sight.

Stumbling out of bed, Ellen hurriedly opened the bottom drawer of the bedside table. The thing hidden deep inside. The magical tool containing the sleep spell.

Holding it in her hand, she faced Enoch again.

……She felt like she might cry.

No, hot streams were already flowing down her cheeks.

Even though it was something she had prepared for, something she had been ready for, resigned to, and prepared for for so long……

That it would hurt this much.

Why.

Why……

Why did the magic break so quickly?

Is it a trick of fate? Is it punishment for violating the taboo of foresight magic and disturbing someone else’s heart with love magic?

The hand holding the magical tool trembled. She knows. That she must use this quickly…… She knows, but…… Even though she knows……

‘……Foolish Ellenore.’

In the end.

In the end, you truly, deeply loved this man. You ended up falling in love. That’s why you still can’t let go of lingering feelings and hope.

In case something might change……

Even though you know that such miracles won’t happen in your wretched life.

‘……I’m sorry, I really……’

I’ve committed a great wrong against you.

Come to think of it, that’s right. To dare to love and desire you, someone like me……

For a year, I’ve toyed with your emotions. I’ve made you into a fool in love. You, of all people.

A lofty and noble person, like a star.

Ellen tightly grasped her clothes, holding back the sobs trying to escape from between her lips.

She had become ashes once again.

With the magic broken, back to…… the original Ellenore.

The ash-covered Ellenore who was all gray even in that brilliant spring.

‘……I’m sorry, Your Grace.’

For daring to covet you……

And for trying to leave so cowardly, without even offering you a proper apology.

But I, I don’t have the courage to face you despising and hating me.

If I did, it feels like my heart would shatter into pieces.

It feels like I would…… just die.

Ellen, swallowing her tears, stretched out her hand holding the magical tool.

And…… used it. Without hesitating any longer.

Raising magical power, activating the circuits inside.

An act as easy as breathing for a mage.

With just that simple action, the power flowing from the magical tool envelops Enoch, making him fall into a deep sleep.

“……”

The quiet stillness of the night embraced the dark space.

Ellen let both her hands drop limply. Her legs trembled, and tears fell in drops from her eyes.

She quietly gazed at the man deeply asleep by magical power for a long time.

Until all the hope and lingering feelings left in her heart faded, even if just a little……

* * *

There were only two servants standing guard in the corridor. Ellen slightly opened the door, used sleep magic on them as well, and then came out.

She hurried her steps towards her room. Even so, she looked back at the couple’s bedroom several times. She kept thinking about Enoch sleeping alone, and her feet were reluctant to leave.

Upon reaching her room, she packed her bags simply and wrote a letter to Enoch. Although it was merely writing down words she had thought of in advance, her vision kept blurring with tears, so she had to stop and start again several times. Lest tears might fall on the letter, she kept wiping them away with a handkerchief.

She didn’t want to leave behind a letter stained with tear marks.

‘If he sees tear stains, Enoch will think of me as even more detestable.’

A self-deprecating chuckle escaped her lips. Ellen neatly folded the letter and placed it on the bed, then wrote heartfelt letters to Jasmine and Laila as well. She felt nothing but gratitude and apology towards those two. And……

‘Please take good care of Lucy.’

She was worried about Lucy, who would surely be lonely when she disappeared. She couldn’t take Lucy with her. Frequent changes in environment are not good for cats, and besides, she wouldn’t live long anyway…… So it would be better for Lucy to live a long life here, receiving attentive care.

‘Even if Enoch hates me…… he wouldn’t mistreat an innocent cat.’

He is…… actually a good person.

Arrogant, prickly, and willful, but I know that he’s actually a good person.

Ellen, with a faint smile, sealed the two letters addressed to Jasmine and Laila and rose from her chair.

She placed those letters in the basket in front of the side door used by the servants. If she left them here, Jasmine and Laila would find and read them in time.

‘Ah….. And I should leave this behind too.’

The wedding ring.

Ellen stared blankly for a moment at the diamond ring that shone brightly even in the dim room.

……What should I say, the moment I take off this ring……

It feels like that’s when it will truly feel real that it’s over.

The feeling that this fairy tale has ended.

After standing still for a while, Ellen finally sighed and removed the ring from her ring finger.

As the weight that had always filled her finger disappeared, a sense of emptiness washed over her.

Yes, now it’s really over.

Ellen placed the ring on the bedside table. If she left it here, Enoch or someone…… would find it soon.

‘……It was never mine to begin with.’

Neither Enoch, nor the place by his side, nor that ring.

Ellen took a deep breath as she approached where she had left her luggage.

It’s okay, this is what you’ve been preparing for. It’s okay…… Comforting herself repeatedly with weak reassurances.

When she finally picked up her luggage, she shook off even the last lingering attachments cleanly.

……Let’s go.

It’s time to leave now.

To a place where I can prepare for death alone……

Without being a burden to anyone anymore.

Ellen, who had escaped from Evitern Castle through a secret passage, passed through forests, fields, and rivers to arrive at the train station.

Perhaps because it was such a dark hour, there were few people at the train station. The train to Baile Canal would arrive at the platform in about 10 minutes. Ellen, hugging her luggage, crouched down and reflected on the past days.

She had been happy.

Being able to be by Enoch’s side, being loved by him…… those had been happy days.

So she didn’t intend to regret it. Loving him……

She would carry this feeling with her until the moment she died.

You probably wouldn’t want to see the face of the woman who forced you to love even in your dreams……

But if I were to dream……

I hope it would be of you.

Ellen smiled sadly.

* * *

Early dawn.

Enoch suddenly woke from his sleep.

It was much earlier than usual. Frowning as he glared at the ceiling, he suddenly felt a sense of emptiness and turned his head.

What soon came into view was the empty space beside him.

“……”

His expression soon hardened. A cold and ominous premonition struck his heart like a dagger.

Ellen, his wife……

Had disappeared.

* * *

The sudden disappearance of the Grand Duchess threw Evitern Castle into chaos.

Where she had gone.

Why she had left.

No one knew. Except for one person, Laila.

But Laila was determined to keep the truth hidden until the end. For Her Highness’s sake. Because she hoped that she could meet the death she desired, that her final moments could be peaceful.

Yes, that’s surely right, but……

“You, do you really know nothing?”

Facing the Grand Duke, who seemed completely out of his mind, was so difficult it made one’s consciousness hazy.

Two hours ago. Waking up before dawn, the Grand Duke suddenly declared ‘The Grand Duchess has disappeared’ and searched the castle as if combing through it.

And what he found was the letter and wedding ring left behind by the Grand Duchess.

The Grand Duke woke up all his vassals, lined them up, and interrogated them about the Grand Duchess’s destination, but no one could answer.

In the end, the Grand Duke had just returned from personally searching the territory and its surroundings for over an hour. It seemed there was no harvest, but……

‘Of course. Her Highness would have arrived at Baile Canal by now……’

Laila bit her lip as she wiped the cold sweat soaking her palms with her apron.

She was afraid.

She knew the Grand Duke was a frightening person, but she didn’t know it would be to this extent……

Moreover, Her Highness had clearly……

‘When the magic breaks, he will come to hate me. Because that’s the side effect of that magic.’

She had asserted so.

Confusion filled Laila’s dark eyes as she glanced up at the Grand Duke.

This man now…… no matter how you look at it……

He didn’t seem to…… hate Her Highness.

No, rather……

What could be glimpsed beyond those blazing golden eyes was intense obsession and longing.

Laila suddenly felt a shiver.

Her heartbeat pounded like a drum.

That is love.

Love that could never be hatred.

Then, Her Highness……

‘……Doesn’t she…… not have to end her life alone?’

Laila trembled as she tightly clasped her hands together, conflicted.

Should she tell?

That Her Highness had gone to the Duchy of Asir. And that she…… was preparing for death.

Should she tell? Should she keep her mouth shut?

‘Her Highness wouldn’t want me to say anything.’

What truly would be the best for Her Highness……?

“Your face clearly shows you know something.”

It was then.

Suddenly, the Grand Duke drew his gun.

Click―

Laila gasped, startled by the sound of a bullet being chambered.

The muzzle pointed precisely at her forehead.

The Grand Duke commanded in an icy voice that could freeze.

“Speak. If you don’t want to die with a hole in your head.”

“I, I, I……”

“You think I won’t shoot? I’m out of my mind right now and can’t see straight.”

“……!”

“Speak, now. Where my wife has gone.”

That was almost madness.

The Grand Duke really intended to shoot.

Trembling like an aspen leaf in the face of death, Laila finally opened her mouth.

Believing this to be the best choice.

“Her Highness……”