Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 63

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 63
Why was she apologizing?
She wasn’t the one at fault—he was.
Deyan’s thoughts spun into chaos, tangling over themselves in a bewildered knot.
“It was my order to use a real sword in Sparring.”
Meanwhile, Idir Hubert was already explaining why she was apologizing.
Was it because she knew he was a fool?
Her words were simple to understand.
But he could not accept them.
“The first day we sparred, I watched how you fought and thought you were using your body too recklessly. It seemed that would disadvantage our allies later, so I intended to correct it through this. But…….”
A shallow crease formed between Idir Hubert’s delicate brows.
“I never imagined something like this would happen. I was arrogant.”
“That’s not true. I also bear responsibility to reflect on my part…….”
“And I apologize for arbitrarily judging your contract with the Demon as a transaction, or that it wasn’t a Curse.”
“…….”
“I didn’t know you were suffering so much.”
The crease between Idir Hubert’s brows deepened further.
She gazed at Deyan with a face that looked ready to crumble into tears at the slightest touch.
“And thank you. For trying not to hurt Giselle and me.”
From her thick, choked voice, sincere gratitude poured through unmistakably.
Deyan looked once more at the wounds on his own hand.
Idir Hubert had witnessed him kill Lyle right before her eyes.
She knew exactly how he took lives when consumed by the Curse, driven only by Murderous Impulse.
‘She came running at me even knowing I’d lost my mind.’
He could easily have turned that impulse on her instead.
Yet she had willingly thrown herself into the space between them.
There was no hesitation, no fear in that choice.
Only now did it truly strike him: he’d nearly killed both the person precious to Idir Hubert and Idir Hubert herself.
“That was…….”
For a moment, Deyan saw an hallucination—Giselle’s and Idir Hubert’s necks crushed in his own grip.
The image was so horrifying that he shut his eyes hard, and when he opened them again, it vanished.
“That was the natural thing to do.”
“But I was the one who misjudged. You’re the one who endured the pain.”
“It was unavoidable. If I’m injured, it becomes that way—it’s my fault…….”
“It’s not your fault.”
Idir Hubert gripped his hand firmly.
Only then did Deyan realize he’d been rubbing his thumb nail so hard it ached. Now that she held his hand, he became aware of it.
“I don’t think it was your fault. You did everything you could to prevent the worst outcome. I was the reckless one.”
“No. I didn’t spare myself because I thought the Pendant would protect me.”
“The original mistake was my order to use a real sword in Sparring. I knew the risk of injury would spike, so why did I do it?”
Idir Hubert’s grip on his hand tightened with conviction.
That small, firm pressure gradually calmed the chaos churning in his heart.
“I’m truly sorry for what happened.”
Being apologized to like this—it was stranger than he’d ever known.
Deyan opened and closed his mouth silently, searching for words, then finally gave up.
He felt dizzy and nauseous.
He wondered if it was blood loss making him want to retch—but his body wasn’t the type to complain after losing a bit of blood.
What was this?
What was this feeling?
Deyan relaxed his grip.
Once Idir Hubert confirmed he was no longer torturing his thumbnail, she slowly withdrew her hand.
“This is the first time anyone’s apologized to me like this. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond.”
“You don’t have to respond. An apology has to be given, but forgiveness is a choice.”
“The Ducal Princess shouldn’t be asking me for forgiveness.”
“No. I do have to apologize.”
“Then what should I say to put the Ducal Princess’s mind at ease?”
“I already told you. You don’t have to say anything at all.”
Her gentle explanation only deepened the churning in his chest.
It felt like an itch, so he ended up scratching his sternum with his palm.
Idir Hubert’s expression turned serious again.
“What is it? Are you hurting somewhere? Or is it hot again?”
“I’m not sure. I suddenly feel nauseous…….”
“Do you want to throw up?”
“No. No, I’m fine.”
But scratching the itchy spot did no good.
Now he felt dizzy too, and he swallowed hard several times in succession.
‘Why is this happening?’
The strange feeling wouldn’t fade.
He had an urge to cry.
Especially seeing her face genuinely concerned for him—it made him feel an inexplicable sorrow.
“You’re the strangest person I’ve ever met.”
Words that had gathered in his throat spilled out unbidden.
“You swing a sword at people without hesitation while smiling, you call people fools one moment, yet you apologize and thank them graciously…….”
It was disjointed—just words tumbling out—but once he let them go, he felt a little better.
“You say things to me that no one else ever has.”
That he can accept apologies, that he wasn’t wrong, that if he doesn’t wish to speak, he doesn’t have to.
These truths seem self-evident, yet Deyan had always believed such things were not permitted for him.
Somewhere along the way, he had learned to deny his own worth.
And Idir Hubert had made him aware of that fact.
To drift with the tide, to obey commands, to think nothing and simply bend to others’ will.
He had believed that was his role, his reason for existing.
In memories so faded and blurred, surely Deyan had once been quite a stubborn child…….
He couldn’t quite remember.
“The people here are strange too. Even though it’s clear I remain your enemy, they show kindness so easily just because I helped you once, and they offer me their company.”
“…….”
“I don’t understand why they treat me as if I’m one of them when I could turn at any moment.”
Idir Hubert only listened, saying nothing.
She waited, giving Deyan space to untangle his confusion and purge the turbulent emotions rising within him.
His heart suddenly raced at discovering this tender side of her.
“I didn’t know I could live an ordinary life in an ordinary way.”
Deyan’s face twisted.
Something hot surged up from deep inside him.
“I understand the Ducal Princess’s feelings. If I were you, and surrounded by such lovely people, I think I’d abandon everything just to protect them.”
Burying his face in his palms, he felt moisture seeping through.
“It’s horrifying that I’m the kind of existence who could destroy all of it at any moment.”
He had found the source of his anguish.
The history of the Empire, which had trampled this brilliant place again and again.
His very identity as a person belonging to that Empire.
It felt unbearably sinful before Idir Hubert.
“I think I hate myself.”
“That’s alright.”
Idir Hubert smiled gently and pulled his hands away from his face, drawing them downward.
Her eyes, deep and lush with verdant warmth, curved softly, and her luminous, moist lips parted slightly.
Radiantly beautiful, Idir Hubert looked at Deyan and offered him solace.
“I don’t like you much either.”
“Pardon?”
“I just meant I’m sorry about what happened.”
“…….”
The surge of emotion that had been welling up inside him vanished in an instant.
His tears dried up too.
Bewildered, Deyan stared at Idir Hubert blankly before asking, “Then when you said thank you…….”
“That was sincere too. You bore pain willingly for Giselle’s life and mine.”
Her smile deepened.
“But that’s different from this. After all, you did invade my country without permission.”
She drew a clear line where it needed to be drawn.
That was what she was saying.
Now that the surge of emotion had subsided, clarity returned swiftly.
“Still, we’ve formed an Alliance together, so I won’t make it obvious that I dislike you. Let’s just stay comfortable with each other as we have been.”
“Hearing the Ducal Princess say that has made me uncomfortable.”
“Then stay uncomfortable.”
“…….”
“Either way, it would be better for both of us to lift your Curse. Once Glay returns, let’s inquire through Beval about how to do it.”
Having drawn a clear boundary between public and private, she reached for the bell pull beside the bed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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