Will You Cry for Me If I Die? - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 14

A while later.

Just as he was about to return after finishing some coordination.

The Emperor suddenly mentioned something that came to mind.

“Come to think of it, about the Saint.”

“Yes.”

“They say when she reaches her homeland, she’ll recall memories from when she was a Saint.”

“…If it’s her homeland, it would likely be the northern lands.”

“That’s right. So I’d like you to look into this matter as well. If anyone in your territory suddenly has long dreams or seizures, or even if they change strangely in some other way, have them hold this sacred relic close. If it glows, she’s the Saint.”

So I’m to be entrusted with the sacred relic here as well.

“…Is there no way to know the reborn Saint’s age or characteristics?”

“Everything about the Saint is unknown.”

“Understood. I’ll look into it.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Perhaps the Saint will know for herself the moment she regains those memories.

That she is the only Saint in this crumbling world, and the one who must prevent the approaching destruction.

“The priests have been showing suspicious movements as well, so we must ensure the Saint isn’t taken by them.”

“Are there no other criteria by which to identify her?”

“Well. They say she sees things others cannot. Ah, you could tell by the seasonal monsters’ reactions, but that’s too dangerous so just keep it in mind.”

History that had been stagnant for so long was quietly beginning to move.

The Duke hoped those waves wouldn’t engulf his family, his people.

Though he thought it a futile wish.

The sacred relic in his hand lay dormant in a dull white that couldn’t emit even a speck of light.

However, the moment the Duke moved, a very brief, faint light flickered.

As if it had sensed someone in this castle.

At that moment, one of the children sleeping hand in hand—making their earlier fight seem pointless—twitched their nose.

* * *

There was a smell of cold wind. Not the cold wind of Winter Castle, but a sharp smell like when opening a glass bottle.

I opened my eyes. It wasn’t darkness. It was warm darkness. The blanket was heavy, and my breathing was soft. My nose tickled. It was a cold smell, but the air was warm.

My fingers were tangled with someone else’s fingers. The parts where skin touched felt stickily connected. I slowly tried to move my hand. I was caught.

It was Theodor. Theodor was sleeping while holding me tightly. His breathing rose and fell regularly.

I slowly tried to pull my hand away. Just a little, very little, without making a sound. The moment my finger slipped, Theodor immediately frowned and squirmed.

“No. 1, where are you going?”

I flinched. I felt caught even though I hadn’t run away.

“I’m No. 1!”

My voice was too loud. It seemed to echo inside the blanket. But my hand was already caught in Theodor’s hand even tighter than before.

Theodor sat up rubbing his eyes. Even with his eyes only half open, he was looking at me.

“I know too, that you’re No. 1. Why are you yelling?”

“There’s a smell!”

“What smell?”

“Cold wind smell!”

Even while talking, my nose kept tickling. The more I breathed in, the clearer it became. It was a sharp, thin smell that lingered long.

Theodor slowly looked around the room with a face still drowsy from sleep. The fireplace hadn’t gone out, and the walls were warm. The window was closed. There was nowhere for wind to enter.

But the smell continued. Getting stronger, as if gradually approaching.

I put my knees on the edge of the bed and looked at the floor. Thin light was seeping through the door crack. It was still, unflickering light. Yet it hurt my eyes.

It was similar to the light the researchers used to bring. Not like a flashlight, but light that remained even when you closed your eyes. It stayed there even when I blinked.

‘This isn’t a laboratory. This is the demon’s lair. This place is warm.’

Once more, a little stronger. ‘This place is warm.’

The blanket moved slightly behind me, and Theodor came closer. A small hand grabbed my shoulder. It had strength.

“Isn’t it just the sound of wind?”

“No!”

The smell wasn’t a sound. It was something to be caught.

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t know!”

Unknown things are dangerous. That’s why they must be caught faster.

Theodor pretended to sigh but didn’t let go of my hand. Our fingers remained intertwined.

“Then let’s look together.”

I strangely liked those words.

Together.

The researchers weren’t “together.” Nanny wasn’t “together” either. They always left me behind and recorded. I was alone, and they were outside.

I didn’t know why having the small demon [demon] right beside me in Winter Castle had become “together.”

I reached out to touch the light on the floor. Before touching the light, Theodor grabbed my wrist. His hand was warm.

“Are you going to open the door?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“There’s a smell! If I catch it, it’ll become quiet!”

Theodor paused for a moment, then whispered.

“Catch what?”

My mouth opened and closed. No words came out.

I’m four years old. I’m four, but I’m an adult.

‘I mustn’t say strange things!’

I said something else.

“Bad things.”

Theodor’s eyes widened.

“If it’s bad things, you should tell Dad!”

“If I tell, it gets taken away! Taken away to go underground!”

“What?”

Theodor stared intently at my lips, then spoke a little lower.

“No. 1, here you won’t be taken away.”

“…Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!”

I looked straight at Theodor. I didn’t avoid his eyes. Theodor’s eyes didn’t waver. They didn’t even blink. They were eyes that didn’t run away. Eyes that didn’t push me away.

I got down from the bed. My soles touched the floor. It wasn’t cold. I stepped down firmly once more. It was fine.

I walked to the door. Killing my footsteps as much as possible. Theodor followed behind me.

In front of the door, I twitched my nose. I took a short breath in. The cold wind smell became thick. And very faintly, a metallic smell. It was similar to blood smell but wasn’t blood. Colder and thinner.

I knew that smell.

I couldn’t remember where I’d smelled it.

But my body knew first.

I grabbed the door handle.

The door handle was warm.

That made it even stranger.

Outside was cold, but the door handle was warm.

At that moment, a low sound came from outside the door.

The sound of metal scraping. A briefly dragging sound.

And even the sound of someone moving something.

I froze while holding the door handle. Strength entered my hand.

Theodor swallowed his breath.

“Is someone there? Who?”

“I don’t know!”

Unknown things are dangerous. That’s why I must look faster.

I slowly turned the handle again, making no sound.

When the door opened, I could see the corridor. It was dark. The walls stretched out long. But there was a small light at the end of the corridor. It was a light that flickered briefly and disappeared. Even when I blinked, it remained inside my vision.

My heart gave one big thump.

‘I don’t want to, but I have to look. If I don’t look, it’ll get closer.’

I stepped one foot into the corridor.

The aide was standing right in front of me. I didn’t know how long he’d been there, but I hadn’t heard any sound. The aide was kneeling on one knee to match my eye level. But his eyes weren’t lowered. The area under his eyes was dark, and the shadows were deep. He tried to smile, but only his mouth went up.

“Baby, have you woken up?”

I stared intently at the aide’s face without even blinking.

The smell of cold wind was stronger behind the aide.

I pointed toward the end of the corridor with my finger.

“Smell over there!”

The aide stopped breathing for a moment. I clearly saw his chest stop moving just a little bit and then start moving again.

Theodor clung to the aide’s leg and grabbed his clothes.

“Aide, what’s over there?”

Before answering, the aide gently closed our room door. It ended with a click. Then he lowered his voice. Lower than a breath.

“Young master, Baby, you must not go outside right now.”

“Why?”

“There are guests.”

Theodor immediately sparkled his eyes and bounced his body.

“I want to see too!”

“You cannot.”

“Why!”

The aide briefly showed a flustered expression and then hid it.

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