Chapter 9 – Part 1

Through her fading consciousness, Olivia saw Marsden’s face. He wore an expression more painful than when his own flesh had been torn.

‘This is ridiculous.’

Even as her body collapsed, Olivia found Marsden frustrating.

In this fleeting moment, Olivia still couldn’t fully trust Marsden. On the day of the incident, Marsden had told her there were no bodies when he found her at the annex. But Olivia, through a series of memories, deduced that this was a lie. As she expected, Marsden was likely well aware of the truth behind her disappearance.

Despite all the suspicion, she couldn’t forget Marsden’s cry from that memory. It was as if she was right there in front of him. It felt similar to this very moment.

“Buddy! Look at my eyes! Look at them!”

Olivia forced herself to focus and barely managed to open her eyes. But drowsiness kept overtaking her, causing her eyelids to droop.

“Olivia!”

“Hah…”

So noisy, really. Annoyed, Olivia forced her eyelids open. Marsden’s sharp jawline was smeared with blood, probably from handling her too much.

“I’ve called Ricardo. He’ll bring anesthesia and medical tools soon. Hold on until then. Do you understand me?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Olivia, cradled in Marsden’s arms, took deep breaths. Marsden nodded as if to reassure her that she was doing well.

“…Yeah, just like that, slowly…”

Olivia was slightly surprised. Marsden shouldn’t have been caught off guard by this situation, yet he was panicking. Tears were streaming down his pale cheeks, and his throat bobbed continuously as if he were trying to suppress a sob.

“Ricardo!”

As soon as footsteps were heard, Marsden shouted urgently.

“Hurry… quickly…”

It seemed the punishment had been administered properly. But why did the person who dealt with it also feel so much pain?

She almost wished this man was the culprit. Then she could doubt and hate him as much as she wanted.

* * *

Olivia had a strange dream. In it, she was lying on something hard.

Her body felt heavy, but her mind was clear. When she opened her eyes, sunlight streamed through the cracks in an old marble ceiling.

“Buddy?”

Olivia slowly turned her head. The man, who had been sitting in despair, suddenly jumped up.

“Buddy? Is it you?”

Why was he acting like this? Olivia couldn’t understand why he was behaving as if he had narrowly escaped death only to find a miracle.

She wanted to ask what he was doing here, but then drowsiness overcame her. As she looked at the man who held her shoulders, she slowly closed her eyes.

“It’s done… It’s all done. Buddy…”

She was too tired to ask the elated man what had been done. It wasn’t time for her to open her eyes just yet.

Olivia drifted into a peaceful sleep. In her fading consciousness, she heard a familiar song.

* * *

Olivia blinked as she woke from the dream. She wondered if she was still dreaming, but the pain in her back was too intense for that.

‘Wow, this is crazy.’

It was bearable, which made it all the more painful. She knew she’d have to endure the aftereffects for a while.

“Buddy, you’re awake?”

As Olivia frowned and groaned, a large hand pressed against her forehead. It felt cool.

“You had a slight fever, so I wiped you down with a towel. I wanted to cover you with a blanket since you were shivering, but it hasn’t been long since your wounds were bandaged. Please bear with it a little longer.”

The hand stroking her hair and cheek trembled slightly. Now that she was more conscious, Olivia took in her surroundings.

She was lying face down on a bed. Curtains were drawn around the bed, likely to keep anyone from seeing her.

“…How long have I been lying here? It’s getting dark outside.”

“Exactly six hours.”

“That’s not good. Are my wounds severe?”

She felt a sense of frustration, but it must have been because she had slept for so long that she was now awake. Olivia steadied herself and asked calmly.

“You’ve had three or four stitches. You need to rest.”

Three or four stitches? The pain felt like it would take thirty. Olivia was once again reminded of the fearsome nature of black magic.

“Could you help me sit up? I have something to say.”

Marsden seemed reluctant, but he helped her sit up as she requested. Olivia leaned gently against the cushions Marsden had arranged for her. The pain was truly excruciating.

“Well… it seemed like… the magic, that is, the black magic, had its own personality. It felt like each spell was filled with some kind of grudge.”

Marsden listened quietly without saying much.

“It drew out the negative emotions in me and incited violent actions. And in exchange for borrowing that power, my back… it ached so much. It seems like the price is taken from the back. It sounds strange even as I say it.”

“No, you’re probably right.”

Marsden’s eyes showed no sign of doubt as he responded.

“The more dangerous the magic, the closer it gets to the heart. The spell earlier was only on your back.”

Marsden’s gaze, which had been lowered, slowly lifted. It wasn’t a good sign.

“It’s a perfect punishment, Buddy. A while ago was one of the most hellish moments of my life.”

Olivia blinked. She should have logically retaliated, but the lingering fever left her mind sluggish.

“Still, I’m certain of one thing. The attacker might be the culprit who tried to kill me.”

“……”

“No matter how skilled a sorcerer, they would still bear the scars. It’s only been a few days. We can find them.”

She was so sleepy. They had probably given her painkillers, so it wasn’t surprising that her body was calling for sleep.

“Shall I take a look at your wounds?”

“…….”

“You’re one of my suspects too, you know.”

Olivia said it playfully, but Marsden remained silent. With a face that seemed to be holding back tears, he quietly removed his shirt and gently embraced Olivia.

With her eyes closed, Olivia caressed Marsden’s back. The scars were so numerous that they blended together, indistinguishable. It wasn’t surprising, considering that he was a man whose body had been torn apart just recently.

“With this many scars… I can’t even tell if you’re the culprit or not.”

“Let’s just say I’m the culprit, and let me take revenge on your behalf.”

Olivia hesitated for a moment. Wouldn’t it be easier to just agree and stop doubting this man?

No, it wouldn’t be right. Failing and being punished by Hellebore would be far better than constantly living in doubt and suspicion. No matter how much pain it caused her, it was still better than seeing him hurt.

“Just let me sleep a little more… and then we’ll go take down all those who are suspicious.”

Unaware of Marsden’s inner turmoil, Olivia murmured sleepily. Marsden lightly buried his face against Olivia’s neck.

“Just a little more… sleep….”

* * *

Marsden summoned Melanie to the duke’s estate. He had considered having one of the duke’s maids look after Olivia, but decided that she would be more comfortable with someone familiar.

Melanie arrived, bringing along Glenn, Bay, and Illehan. Although Ricardo reassured them repeatedly that the wounds weren’t severe, their faces were frozen with shock.

Normally, Marsden might have engaged with them, but he wasn’t in the mood. He left Ricardo to handle them and headed somewhere else.

“Mas!”

There was a time when Olivia was taught at the duke’s estate, and Marsden had invited her there for a change of scenery. It was a special plan to cheer her up.

A vacant room had been converted into a classroom for Olivia’s lessons. She had looked happier that day than ever before.

“It’s the same classroom, but it feels like I’m on a field trip. The air is even better here than at the Marchioness’s estate!”

Marsden could still vividly recall the image of her smiling like a child. He entered the classroom, now covered in dust sheets.

“Ugh….”

Marsden clapped a hand over his mouth. His sturdy frame collapsed as his body shook uncontrollably.

He felt dizzy, on the verge of retching. He wanted to scream, to cry out for someone to save him.

“What should I do…?”

Marsden gasped for air, as if drowning. His vision blurred as the world swayed, rising and falling like waves.

Would smashing something ease this unbearable feeling? Even just a little?

“I can’t take it anymore, Buddy.”

Marsden closed his eyes as heavy tears fell onto the dusty floor. He truly felt like he was dying.

“Please save me, Buddy.”

Though he sobbed silently, fearful of waking Olivia, he prayed to her, hoping that somehow, even in her dreams, she might hear his plea.

He heard footsteps approaching and the door opening, but he didn’t move. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Duke.”

“Ha….”

Still on his knees, Marsden placed his hands on the ground. All he could grasp was dust. Nothing but dust.

He was truly afraid that this might be the end.

“I know who the culprit is. I have to avenge Olivia. Will you help me?”

“Of course, I will.”

Their secret alliance had lasted a long time. Olivia needed to be protected.

* * *