I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 133
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
133
Chapter 26. The One Without Me (5)
In just one week, Nathan had gained quite a healthy glow.
Just putting on a little weight had greatly diminished the frail, paper doll-like impression he used to give, which paradoxically made him look ordinary.
You could say the sickly young master had become ordinary villager number 1.
The atmosphere Nathan used to exude was based on the tragic narrative that came from his sickly appearance, so once he became healthy, all of that completely disappeared.
Still, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his changed life, eating lots of delicious food.
The analogy of a hungry Socrates versus a fat pig… wouldn’t suit Nathan, who was still on the thin side even with the weight gain, but his plump cheeks looked so happy it made me instantly irritated.
It was the complete opposite of my gaunt, haggard people. Behind him stood Brandon, who looked equally happy, and Chloe, who still looked tired, but I found it strange that Matthias was nowhere to be seen.
‘Could it be that the contract conditions were fulfilled and he returned?’
I hoped so. I quietly stepped back and looked around. Then I saw Seth pushing through the crowd. Seeing him smile and say “Excuse me, coming through~” without any presence made me feel drained.
I was defeated by something like that…
‘He’s lived longer than I expected.’
My stomach churned.
I wondered if someone would take away this narcissistic bastard, but then decided to hope he’d live a little longer since Raven and my parents would be misunderstood if I collapsed here.
‘If Brandon’s contract hadn’t ended, there would have been no way to deal with Matthias.’
Was this also part of Seth’s calculations?
I thought he seemed somewhat clever and calculating, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it so I decided not to voice it. Because thanks to Seth threatening to take away two years of my life if I didn’t keep his secret, I could only watch Raven cry helplessly.
Evelyn too, the twins too, Bailey too, …and my parents too.
“This is truly regrettable, Duke.”
“…Prince Nathan, you’ve taken time out of your busy schedule.”
Father only used respectful language, but his eyes looked ready to stab him to death. Work, Father’s rationality.
“No matter how busy I am, could I be busier than the Crown Prince? Duke, I don’t know if you’re aware, but the Wentworth Noblewoman and I had quite a connection, no less than Raven’s. How is your wife…”
“My wife is in no state to have conversations due to the grief of losing our daughter. Please understand.”
There had been the relationships of kidnapper and kidnapping victim, hostage threatener and victim, patient and healer.
Father was blunt as if he’d tear him apart if he didn’t understand. Though he spoke on Mother’s behalf while hiding her behind him, Mother wasn’t lost in grief but on the verge of exploding with rage. Father tears people apart but Mother makes people explode…
Even though they must have known this perfectly well, Brandon and Nathan remained calm. Like conquerors enjoying their victory.
Father said.
“Your Highness, we hope our daughter’s funeral won’t be disturbed.”
“That sounds like you’re calling me an unwelcome guest who would cause a disturbance.”
Well, wouldn’t you be?
Father quietly looked at Raven, and then at Evelyn who was being held by both arms by the twins. As if asking, can’t you see?
Nathan nodded and approached my coffin. Raven was still only looking at my coffin.
“Raven, you’re here too. Duke Algren was looking for you.”
“…I don’t want to deal with anyone right now, so please leave quietly.”
Raven didn’t even look at Nathan. Nathan seemed displeased and took a short breath, but soon seemed to remember where he was.
No matter how reliable Brandon was, here was Mother, a 7th class mage on the verge of exploding, plus Father and the twins, and even Evelyn. And Raven too.
‘Honestly, I wonder if he’s even worth a single punch.’
Everyone must be holding back with the single-minded desire not to ruin my funeral. Nathan looked through the small window in the coffin at my body and smiled as if convinced it was really me.
“Poor Noblewoman. May you rest in peace…”
I don’t want to, you bastard.
“Raven, don’t be too sad. The living must live on. It’s unfortunate, but wasn’t this the Noblewoman’s fate?”
He’s talking shit…
“It’s interesting to hear you talk about fate, brother.”
“I was just lucky. I was born that way.”
So he’s saying that because he’s naturally so outstanding and noble, he overcame his destined fate, and I died because that was my fate?
I understood why Nathan had bothered to come to my funeral. He was extremely narcissistic and wanted to use other people’s misfortunes as a backdrop to savor his own sense of superiority and victory.
This convinced me that he wasn’t particularly grateful to Brandon either.
The only thing important to Nathan was himself.
Narcissists believe without basis that they’re superior since they lack self-reflection, and he seemed to genuinely believe he was lucky because he was outstanding, and that he could naturally beat Raven in the future too.
Nothing had changed except his health, and he’d even provoked my parents who hadn’t particularly intended to help Raven, yet he had no doubt about his victory.
“If only she had become my fiancée, she wouldn’t have died.”
That bastard is truly beyond redemption… I was thinking I wished he’d hurry up, do what he came to do, and leave, when Raven, who usually ignored Nathan’s words as always, suddenly grabbed Nathan’s collar tightly.
“Your Highness! Prince Raven, what are you doing!”
However, only Brandon was restless, while my parents just watched. Raven easily lifted Nathan’s feet off the ground with one hand. Nathan struggled in pain, trying to pry Raven’s hand away, but Raven didn’t budge.
“Brother.”
“Kuk, no, let go, keurk….”
“I’ve been tolerating you because your actions are like those of a gnat.”
“Keup….”
“After the funeral ends, I’ll properly deal with you without you having to rush me, so get lost for now.”
“Ak….”
“I’m already in the mood to kill myself for leaving you alone just because dealing with you is bothersome and trivial.”
Then he threw Nathan away like tossing a loaf of bread. Brandon screamed and caught him, but being weak in strength, they both fell together.
“Raven! What is this! He could have been hurt!”
“Go ahead and run to the Emperor to tattle.”
“Raven!”
“That’s all you know how to do, isn’t it? How childish.”
Still, he seemed to feel humiliated as his face turned red.
“Your Highness. Please leave.”
“Duke Wentworth, are you trying to kick me out right now?!”
“This is a space for mourning my daughter.”
Father spoke with emphasis. No one extended a hand to the two who had fallen. Raven fixed his gaze quietly on my coffin again, as if he had never seen Nathan.
“Please leave.”
“…If the Duke requests it that way.”
It was all bluster to the end. He was extremely arrogant.
Then Seth gestured and called me over. Oh, hey, damn.
“What are you doing? Come here.”
Instantly, all eyes turned to me, and Raven, who was nearby, also looked at me. Cold sweat poured down my spine.
‘This is the first time Mother has glared at me….’
A piercing gaze—that was a realistic and factual expression.
Evelyn’s cold eyes were also a first for me. Except for when we first met, she had always looked at me warmly, so it was slightly hurtful.
And then there was Raven.
In his pale golden eyes flowing with elegance, I could glimpse hatred that had been pressed down and contained. I could almost tangibly feel how much Raven was holding back. Nathan had seen this and still smiled smugly. Wasn’t he even scared? How much did he want to savor his sense of victory….
This was all because they thought I was dead, but even so, I wasn’t happy about it. It was all proof that I had caused them great pain.
Let me kneel and beg… Let me beg desperately until my hands become feet….
I struggled to lift my foot to go to Seth’s side. Having come to this, my mind was set on escaping quickly. That’s when Raven suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Eut!”
Am I caught?! Am I caught? Are two years of my lifespan flying away??
Raven, this ghost-like bastard. How did he know! Even my parents and Evelyn couldn’t recognize me. What should I do? Should I shake him off? Should I scream? Or should I pretend I don’t know who he is? What am I supposed to do in this situation?
This time even Seth seemed quite surprised. I stiffened and only screamed internally. The twins, Evelyn, and my parents’ gazes changed as if looking at something suspicious.
Reading Seth’s lip movements, it was ‘Handle it yourself.’
“…Please let go.”
“….”
Can’t you hear me….
I applied slight force and pulled my wrist free from his grip. I thought my heart would burst… Fortunately, Raven didn’t grab me a second time, and I was able to go to Seth as planned.
Nathan looked at me, a stranger, with curiosity, but since I had come on my own feet after Raven had grabbed me, it seemed to earn me good points and he left me alone. It was good that he had something Raven couldn’t have.
After moving by teleport, Brandon spoke.
“Really, how barbaric. Are you hurt anywhere, Your Highness?”
“No, I’m fine. At least my bones don’t break from just falling over now.”
How much of a glass body had he been….
“Didn’t I tell you not to come? Now that Lord Matthias isn’t here either, what if you provoke them unnecessarily and ruin things?”
“But I wanted to see his face once. Did you see? Raven’s proud face. His eyes were red from crying.”
Nathan giggled.
“I wanted to see that face, frustrated that he can’t kill me even knowing that the woman he loves died trying to save me. He should have realized by now that he shouldn’t have ignored me.”
“…It’s not that I don’t understand that feeling.”
Chloe reluctantly acknowledged.
“He won’t be able to move for at least ten days. The Princess helps me even in death. While they’re sending off the Princess, we can do what we’ve been preparing with Duke Algren.”
How efficiently he’s using this….
“But who are you?”
“Ah, I’m….”
“Well, never mind. Thanks to you, I got to see Raven’s frustrated face. Please take care of me.”
Nathan cheerfully extended his hand to me. I stared at that hand for a moment. He has no interest in who I am. Well, he had no interest in anything other than himself.
It was a method Seth hadn’t taught me, but it was worth trying. Fortunately, since none of my people were here, there wouldn’t be any unnecessary misunderstandings.
I had planned to wait since he would die soon anyway….
But seeing him come to my funeral to provoke me made me realize I had been thinking wrong.
Right, a man who had sacrificed countless lives for himself didn’t deserve even a few days of happiness from the beginning. Even a natural death was too good for him.
Nathan didn’t deserve to enjoy anything.
I quietly took his outstretched hand and smiled brightly.
If I could give, I could also take away.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————