Chapter 117

“Adele!”

“Your Grace!”

Both men shouted simultaneously.

Adelaide looked down at her blood-soaked palm in shock. Her dress and the sofa were also stained with blood.

“Is there anyone outside?!”

“I’ll get a doctor immediately.”

Lucid hurriedly ran out of the room. Callion, pale with worry, looked over Adelaide.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine… cough.”

Again, dark red blood welled up from her throat.

‘…Why is this happening?’

The moment she thought something was wrong, her head started spinning.

“―Adele!”

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.

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It was a cold winter. Adelaide watched the torches surrounding the imperial palace. Thousands of soldiers were breaking down the gates.

The guards at the main gate were nowhere to be seen. The soldiers, high on morale, shouted as they rammed the gates with a battering ram. Finally, the tightly shut wooden doors broke open.

“Drag the Emperor out!”

Responding to an unknown voice, the soldiers brandished their swords and stormed into the palace.

“Where is the Emperor?!”

“Find Elkius! Don’t let him escape!”

The furious soldiers scattered in all directions to find the Emperor. Callion, who was leading the soldiers, headed towards the audience chamber.

“Callion Isulandt.”

Elkius sat on the throne. Wearing the imperial crown, he beckoned Callion with his finger.

‘No! Don’t go!’

Adelaide screamed at Callion with a pale face. However, Callion walked past her leisurely.

‘It’s a trap, Callion. Stop!’

Her cries did not reach him.

As soon as Callion approached the throne, the door slammed shut behind him. Soldiers hiding behind the throne poured out.

Armed with bows and swords, the soldiers surrounded Callion. Elkius stood up, a wicked smile on his face.

“I expected this from you.”

Callion simply stared at Elkius as he descended from the throne.

Elkius snapped his fingers. Letters poured from the air. They were letters Adelaide had sent him.

Elkius picked one up.

“Adele told me everything—about your plans.”

Callion turned his head. His cold eyes met Adelaide’s.

‘Ca-Callion. It’s not what you think. Here’s what happened….’

“You fool, you should have killed that woman before coming after me.”

Elkius laughed mockingly. Adelaide shook her head desperately, but Callion’s gaze remained icy.

Elkius looked between the two and raised his hand towards the soldiers.

“Shoot.”

‘No!’

The soldiers drew their bows and fired. Arrows rained down, and Callion fell where he stood.

‘Callion!’

Adelaide screamed and ran to him. His dying eyes looked up at her, familiar enough to break her heart.

‘No, no. Callion, please…’

She tried to wipe the blood from his face, but her hands passed through him. She could only cry as she watched him grow colder.

Elkius approached the fallen Callion and picked up the sword he had dropped.

“Too bad, Callion.”

With a crooked smile, he aimed the sword at Callion’s neck.

“You can’t change your fate, no matter how many times you go back.”

‘Don’t do it!’

The sharp blade slowly pierced the skin.

“No matter how many times you try, you will fail, and I will win.”

As the Emperor muttered while looking down at Callion, he lifted his head.

“Isn’t that right, Adele?”

‘……!’

“This time, you killed Callion again.”

No.

“No matter how hard you try, it’s all in vain. Callion will always die.”

No.

“It’s all your fault, Adele.”

No!

Adelaide covered her ears and crouched down.

‘Please stop. Just kill me instead.’

As she sobbed, Callion’s hand touched her cheek. It was soft and warm, just like that day in her memories.

“……Adele.”

With a faint smile, as if telling her not to cry, Callion closed his eyes. The hand that had been caressing her cheek fell limply.

‘No, Callion!’

.

.

“……Adele, Adele!”

“……!”

The desperate shout awakened her consciousness. As she struggled to lift her eyelids, a blinding light pierced her eyes.

Adelaide looked around with a dazed expression.

“Adele, are you awake?”

“…….”

Where am I?

She was sure she was in the imperial palace just moments ago…

Her mind was a whirlpool of confusion. She couldn’t distinguish between a dream and reality.

As she blinked blankly, a familiar voice called to her.

“Adele? Look at me. Don’t you recognize me?”

“Callion……?”

“Ha…”

As soon as she called his name, Callion let out a sigh and covered his face. Tears trickled down his sharp jawline, which had become even more defined.

“Your Grace……?”

Adelaide cautiously took his hand away. She was a little startled to see his face gaunt and wet with tears.

“Your Grace, what’s wrong?”

“What in the world…….”

His voice trembled miserably. Callion, who had paused to collect himself, finally spoke again with great difficulty.

“It’s all my fault. I should have stopped you when you said you had a way to save Shayla….”

…He knew.

She had suspected it, but it seemed her body was affected by the backlash of the spell she had cast on Shayla. Callion seemed to have realized this as well.

“I’m fine. I’m completely fine now.”

“How can you be fine…!”

Callion, who had raised his voice, took a deep breath as if trying to calm himself. Adelaide, puzzled by his uncharacteristic reaction, asked hesitantly.

“Just… how long have I been like this?”

“Today is the sixth day.”

“What?”

It felt like she had only had a short dream, but so much time had passed?

Callion, seeing her disorientation, pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Do you have any idea how worried I was while you were lying unconscious?”

“I’m sorry.”

She could feel his strong heartbeat through their pressed chests, making her realize that she was truly back in reality.

…Thank goodness it was just a dream.

Adelaide tried to erase the vision of him from her illusion.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Are you really sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. The doctor said so, too.”

Adelaide beamed at Callion, who was asking the same question for the fourth time. Still unconvinced, he placed his hand on her cheek.

“You feel a bit warm.”

“It’s just the fireplace. See?”

Adelaide took his hand and placed it on her forehead.

“You feel just as warm, don’t you?”

Shaking his head, Callion reluctantly picked up his coat.

“Stay in bed and don’t move until I get back.”

“I will. Don’t worry and go.”

She smiled brightly and waved her hand. Callion hesitated for a long while before finally opening the door.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

“Take good care of her until I return.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Zatia, who was attending to her, bowed her head.

Callion repeated his goodbyes three more times before leaving the room. Adelaide waited until his footsteps faded away before getting out of bed.

“You shouldn’t get up, my lady.”

“I’m fine. I feel perfectly healthy.”

“But His Grace said you should stay in bed.”

“I’ve been lying down for so long, I feel stifled.”

Adelaide responded lightly as she opened the window. Fresh air flooded into the room, clearing her mind.

Although she had been unconscious for a long time, once she regained consciousness, she felt no pain. Nevertheless, Callion had stayed by her side all day, taking care of her.

Despite her assurances, he wouldn’t let her get out of bed or even read the newspaper.

“You’re not well enough to read the newspaper. Let me handle things outside. Just focus on getting better.”

He had also scolded the doctor for not finding the cause and reprimanded the cook and Jensen, suspecting that the food might have been poisoned. She couldn’t help but be aware of the tension.

If Zatia hadn’t confessed that it was the backlash of the spell, he might have interrogated all the servants.

‘It’s not like Callion to behave this way.’

Given the chaotic times, it wasn’t a bad idea to keep the servants in check, though she felt guilty thinking about how they must have suffered.

“Zatia.”

Adelaide suddenly called out to Zatia, who was silently tidying the bed.

“You said I collapsed because of the backlash from the spell?”

“Yes. It’s likely because the spell broke when Lady Shayla woke up, and you bore the brunt of it.”

“Then it means everything went according to plan.”

Zatia murmured with a downcast face at Adelaide’s response.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you had to suffer…”

“I was the one who suggested it. You don’t need to apologize.”

Adelaide shook her head gently. Zatia, who had been watching her guiltily, spoke with difficulty.

“Actually… after you collapsed, the aura of the spell around you became unstable, and I was worried you might not wake up.”

“What?”

The aura of the spell became unstable?

The dream she had while unconscious came to mind. For some reason, she felt it was related to what Zatia had said.

“Is that a bad omen?”

“I’m not sure since it’s the first time I’ve seen such a thing… but it doesn’t seem like a good sign.”

Zatia’s cautious answer made Adelaide clasp her trembling hands tightly.

‘…What if it’s not because of Shayla but because there’s a problem with the spell?’

A swirling sense of foreboding filled her mind.