Chapter 27

“You…”

When I turned around, Angelo was looking at me with tears in his eyes. Just by his gaze, I could feel the tenderness he had for me.

“How did you escape?”

“I wasn’t in a prison to begin with.”

His words were proven by his immaculate condition. He didn’t resemble someone who had lived in a prison crawling with filth, rats, and bugs, barely getting by on scraps.

“What are you talking about? They said you were in prison for sure…”

“That was another me.”

“Fake? They checked thoroughly to make sure it was the real you.”

“Yes. I am.”

What is going on? His words didn’t make sense.

I glared at him coldly, but he looked completely unfazed.

“I brought another me from beyond space-time.”

“Did the past you not do any wrong and just end up in jail because you’re a fool?”

“You died, and I brought myself in a state of despair.”

“Angelo, what are you…”

It seems he brought himself as when he had brought me and Ethel from another world. I couldn’t understand why he used such powerful magic in such a strange place.

“I really missed you, Sia.”

“Why would you do such crazy things.”

“Crazy is Erlian, that guy. While I was away for a moment, that guy drove a wedge between us. I’ve been waiting for you to come out of that place.”

Angelo was severely misunderstanding. It wasn’t Ian who tore apart us.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for today you could come out. Erlian kept you from leaving that mansion, right?”

“No. It was my own will.”

“… Sia, you seem to be quite weak-hearted. Don’t side with those guys in the future.”

His grimace suggested my answer displeased him. But then, for a moment, a soft smile spread on his lips as he reached out his hand toward me.

“Sia, come here.”

“Why?”

“We must go.”

“Where to?”

“Let’s go to the village where we were happy together. Otherwise, this empire will perish.”

“The empire will perish?”

I looked back at the palace below. Some areas were burning fiercely, and countless monsters kept invading from within.

“Did you do this, Angelo?”

“Yes. If you and I leave this place, monsters will keep storming in. Erlian might be fine now, but who knows what will happen later.”

No matter how strong Ian was and how knights and mages accompanied him, if monsters kept coming in, they would grow tired.

Angelo pressed closer to me, as if those hands would keep me from returning. He must have planned it so that I wouldn’t be able to return once I took his hand.

‘Hasn’t Erlian put a tracking spell on me?’

I was sure Ian had done something like that. If I left Angelo, he would come find me after dealing with the current monster crisis. So I tried to take Angelo’s hand to avoid this moment but hesitated.

‘But I promised not to leave.’

Ian had already been hurt once by my leaving with Angelo. Our relationship had barely recovered, and if I left again, he would be even more disappointed. Even if it was to help him.

“I don’t want to drag you away by force, so I’m saying that. Sia, hurry up and take my hand.”

Perhaps because I hadn’t moved as he wished. The smile on his mouth trembled slightly.

“Angelo, you go alone. I’m not going.”

“Even if Erlian dies?”

“Ian won’t die.”

“I want to see that man die in front of you.”

“He won’t die.”

“If he doesn’t die, I’ll kill him.”

Angelo’s eyes flashed like a predator looking for prey. He seemed about to attack Ian with a step forward.

‘No.’

Ian had been fighting monsters for quite a while. How could he possibly handle Angelo and the monsters following him at once?

“Don’t go.”

In a desperate moment, I grabbed Angelo’s sleeve, and Angelo’s eyes filled with joy.

“Don’t go?”

“Yes, don’t go.”

“You wanting me this much? How wonderful.”

In truth, I don’t want you. I wish you would disappear with the monsters. I wish you would quickly realize that I was not the one you loved.

“After all the trouble you went through to reach here, you must be hurt.”

Angelo was not looking at me but at my side. Why was that?

When I turned my back, Ian appeared. He had climbed all the way to the top of the tower; his face and the back of his hands bore fresh wounds. Moreover, the clothes that wrapped his solid body were torn in places.

“Come here.”

Ian called, and I moved toward him, but I could not get close. Perhaps because I didn’t approach him. Even the faint smile I wore disappeared.

“Ian, it’s not that I don’t want to go.”

“Then come here.”

Yet I still could not take a step closer. It wasn’t pity for Angelo or guilt toward Ian. It felt as if someone had chained my feet to the ground.

The culprit was easy to infer. I turned around and glared at the culprit who had stopped my feet. Angelo looked bold, shrugging his shoulders as he spoke.

“Sia is too weak-hearted. It would be better if you were more resolute like you were when you were younger. Don’t mind guys like him.”

“Don’t assume things on your own.”

“You don’t even know my heart and act on your own.”

“You’re the one acting on your own!”

I pointed at the hem of the dress and got angry, but he just laughed without any intention of releasing the magic he had put on my feet. Ian took two steps forward during the arguing.

But that was the end. Small monsters swarmed and covered Ian in an instant.

“Ian!”

Ian, who had taken two steps forward toward me, stepped back farther than before and burned the monsters with fire magic. Then more monsters flew in. The monsters targeted only Ian.

Ian stayed busy dispatching monsters and could not approach me. He seemed worried that he might attack me by mistake.

After dealing with two waves of monsters, he exhaled deeply.

“Pathetic. Angelo Leglorie.”

“Is that so?”

“Not fighting directly, but controlling monsters.” 

“It’s convenient.”

Ian breathed hard, Angelo looked relaxed. The good news was that monsters weren’t approaching now. Is it over? I wanted to think calmly, but I had to stay alert, scanning my surroundings.

“Next, not monsters, you.”

“Erlian, you know I’m not good at fighting.”

Angelo smiled softly. It was an innocent smile like the one he had when I didn’t know his true self. Just then.

“Behind you!”

At my shout, Ian turned around and cut off the neck of the monster flying towards him with his sword. It was twice as large as the monsters that had been attacking Erlian so far.

The corpse of the monster, its head severed, bled, but Ian’s back was more grievous. The attack had ripped fabric, revealing his back, and there were scratches with blood. Ian needed immediate care, but he kept dealing with attacking monsters.

‘If this goes on, he will truly die.’

Ian had already used a lot of magic and was exhausted. If monsters continued to approach like this, Ian would be in real danger.

“Angelo, stop.”

“You know how I’ll stop.”

I pressed my lower lip, weighing my options. I knew Ian despised my getting close to Angelo. But I cannot bear to see Ian die.

“How can I go when my feet are bound?”

“Right, I forgot.”

 “Don’t go.”

Ian said this. Soon both feet found freedom. I did not hesitate and moved my feet toward Ian, not Angelo.

Angelo loves me. So if I approach Ian, he wouldn’t dare send monsters to Ian. I was going to be as underhanded as Angelo, who was acting underhandedly.

“What is this?” 

But ahead, a transparent wall blocked me from moving forward any further. I struck and kicked at something invisible, but to no avail.

“Sia, I’m disappointed.”

Angelo still smiled, but his voice was cold.

“I told you not to feel pity for that guy.”

Now even more monsters swarmed Ian. Ian clenched his teeth and fought the monsters. This was my fault. If I had simply gone with Angelo, these hardships would not have happened.

“Okay, stop now. We can go.”

“Yes. The way to me is not blocked.”

Angelo spread his arms to welcome me. Is this the right choice?

“If you go to me, then the others stop attacking Ian, right?”

“Yes. As long as you’re with me, I’m enough.”

Angelo’s smile was deliciously beautiful. It was almost to the point of wanting to smash it.

“Please don’t go to that guy.”

The voice behind me was weak but sounded desperate. I turned my head to see Ian looking at me. His eyes were red as if he was holding back tears.

“Ian… you must stay healthy.”

My resolve wavered. I hurried to Angelo and reached him. When I raised my head, my eyes met the golden eyes that Angelo had. 

“Welcome back.”

Angelo’s eyes traced a pretty curved line. His arms wrapped around me, and my face pressed against his chest. A heartbeat fluttered. Even when I held Ian, my heart beat fast. I hadn’t realized before how unpleasant this felt.

“Hug me quickly.”

“I’m hugging you now.”

“I’m only hugging you.”

“…”

“Blushing? You were always like that when you were young and pretended not to hear.”

 Recalling the past, Angelo’s voice felt playful. But clearly, I was not the Elicia he loved. 

“And if you make me unhappy like this, monsters will keep coming.”

Angelo’s coercive vibe made me silent as I slowly placed a hand on his back.

“I’ve waited for this moment more than you know.”

Angelo’s arms tightened around me. We were pressed so tightly that there was no space between us. His hand wrapped around the back of my head, making it impossible to look behind. I wondered if Ian was okay, if the monsters would still come as promised.

“I love you. Always and forever.”

Anyway, the one you loved was Elicia, not me. If you loved her so much, why not just follow and die? Why torment Ian and me like this, knowing I’m not Elicia? 

In that moment of dissatisfaction.

“Ellie!”

“Wow, you pierced through it.”

Ian seemed to have broken through the transparent wall Angelo had created. The footsteps of Ian approaching me grew louder.

“Sia, sorry. I don’t think I can keep my promise.”

“You son of a bitch!”

The monsters roared and died, their noises vivid.

“Probably better to remove the obstacle.”

Angelo’s voice sent chills. I wanted to kill him. At that moment, something appeared in my right hand.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t handed to me. It appeared from my own hand. I touched it with my left hand to identify it.

‘It’s a dagger.’

Feeling the sting on my left index finger, I became certain.

‘I thought it was fake.’

In an emergency, the dagger would appear, and the bracelet Ian had given me would perform its function. When I had tested it before, it had failed…

“This bracelet said it would summon a sword in dire situations.”

“Yes, it did.’”

“Why isn’t it coming out now?”

“Not in a dire situation, ma’am.”

“This is dire. I’m on my deathbed.”

“Hardly. With such training, you won’t die. Do you want to train until you truly die, madam?”

I got frustrated with the high-difficulty swordsmanship training, but the bracelet showed no response. Of course, during training I could have struck Aaron with a wooden sword, but I am an adult, so I held back.

Until training ended, I pressed Ian.

“Ian, isn’t it time to change the bracelet’s magic stone?”

“Yes, I told you. But Ellie, we already changed the gemstone yesterday.”

“Seems the bracelet is broken.”

“No. And the sword doesn’t come out that easily.”

“Is my pain a joke?”

Despite distrust toward the bracelet, I kept it as an accessory rather than discarding it. In the process, Ian mentioned something related to the bracelet.

“There will come a moment you truly need the sword. For example, to kill someone.”

Maybe this moment is now.

Yes, I decided to end this here. Or can I truly kill him? I wavered, gripping the sword handle with both hands.

“Ugh.”

Ian’s agonized voice filled the air. No more time for hesitation. If I continued like this, Ian would truly die. This time, I would end it. So Angelo could never do this crazy thing again. I tightened the sword handle with both hands and closed my eyes, moving the blade.

With a whoosh, the blade pierced the flesh and went deep. A chilling sensation I never want to feel again.

“Ugh, Sia, how could you…”

The strength left Angelo’s arms that had held me tight, and I became free. As I broke away from his grasp, he knelt and collapsed.

“Now you stop.”

I spoke indifferently, looking down at Angelo who had wounded eyes. I decided that this state could not be stopped by minor wounds. I pierced Angelo’s back as deeply as possible. My judgment was right. There were no more monster sounds.

“Are you hurt?”

Ian came over to my side. He examined me, though his body was a mess of injuries and blood, while I mattered little, except for Angelo’s blood smeared on my hand.

He carefully wiped the blood from my palm with his sleeve and held my hand.

“Let’s go.”

I nodded, and Ian smiled faintly in relief.

“Sia… why are you leaving?”

Angelo looked puzzled. Maybe because his face had lost color from the blood loss and his pale skin seemed even paler.

Ian’s sword pointed at Angelo’s neck. If Ian put a little more force, he could slit his throat. I pushed away Ian’s arm and focused on Angelo.

“I’m sorry for summoning the monsters. I understand that you stabbed me with a sword….”

Now speaking was hard. Seeing Angelo’s maddened state over Elicia who he once loved was painful.

Once a game, I had trusted him a lot and believed he was a close friend. But Angelo now was so cruel and twisted I could hardly have imagined as a child. If he had given up his obsession with Elicia, perhaps we would still be good friends.

Am I uncomfortable focusing on Angelo? I felt Ian’s grip tighten on my hand.

“…Stay with me.”

Angelo’s eyes welled with tears.

“Sia, we are in love, aren’t we?”

Feeling the urge to push away my past, I sat down next to Angelo and looked into his eyes. I decided to settle this once and for all, so that Angelo would let me go as well.

Anyway, this was the last act for Angelo, who had once saved me and was my childhood friend.

“Angelo, you must accept it. The Elicia you loved isn’t me.”

“Sia, don’t say that.”

“Maybe in this life you’ll fail again, but just live.”

“I love you.”

“If you live well, you may find someone you love even more than Elicia from the past.”

“Your words aren’t true. I love you.”

Words failed to pass. 

“Angelo, please don’t be bound by the past. Take care.”

After standing up, I forcefully ignored Angelo’s outstretched hand toward Ian and grabbed Ian’s hand again. Why? Ian’s expression didn’t look happy. It felt like he was forcing a smile. I felt sorry for ignoring him while fighting monsters, exhausted as he must have been.

“Ian, can we go down?”

“Yes.”

I looked at him with worried eyes. He bore deep wounds, but the bleeding had stopped. Moreover, Ian, having recovered his stamina while Angelo and I talked, walked lightly toward the stairs.

Behind us, Angelo’s pleading voice faded, but I forced myself to ignore it and moved with Ian. A cool wind brushed against my skin. It felt peaceful. The brutal battle with monsters just moments ago seemed to have vanished.

The stairs down from the tower’s top led outside rather than inside the building. We circled down along the outer wall to Ian, apologizing.

“I’m sorry.”

“Good for what?”

“I knew you were not in good condition, yet I spoke with Angelo and made us late to come down.”

“That’s…”

Ian, who used to be extremely terse in expressing himself, looked embarrassed for having caused Ian to be upset, and fell silent.

“As you know, this is truly the last time. I wanted to finish this properly. We were friends once.”

“Even with such consideration, he doesn’t seem like he deserves it.”

“Now that there’s likely no more encounter with him, let’s hurry home.”

“Yes, home…”

Seeing Ian’s lips curve upward a little gave me relief. Ian was simpler than I thought.

As we walked, we realized the tower was so tall that we had not even half descended yet. I needed the Emperor to arrange a way to descend easily from the top of the tower soon.

“Ian, how did you climb up here…”

You must have been exhausted from fighting monsters more than from climbing. I looked at Ian with admiration.

“Transportation.”

“Was that really possible…?”

I murmured in a tired voice. I hadn’t forgotten Ian’s teleportation ability. It was just that transporting from the palace would amount to treason.

“I’ve heard it can be understood in urgent situations. Right now, I don’t have the mana to teleport.”

“Ah…”

“If it were normal circumstances, we could have just teleported down easily…”

Ian sighed softly. People have different amounts of magical energy. Overusing magic would prevent using it for a while until it recharges. Ian, having fought so many monsters, was exhausted, and he likely did not have enough mana to teleport both of us.

The good news was Angelo didn’t seem to have mana left either. If he had mana, he would have healed his wounds and attacked Ian, but he couldn’t follow us.

“Ian.”

I paused and held Ian’s waist, not letting go. I was grateful. He had followed me all the way here to help me fight monsters. He seemed to understand my meaning without words, and he patted my back.

“Don’t think this is enough to settle things.”

“Of course not.”

As I stepped on tiptoe to kiss Ian, a loud bang erupted and the tower top blew apart, with fragments raining down. Our steps quickened.

Then suddenly Ian, who had been holding me, fell to the ground.

“Ian!”

Rain began to fall, spraying down. 

***

“Angelo, please don’t be bound by the past. Take care.”

Elicia left. She left holding another man’s hand.

“How could you abandon me? Sia wouldn’t do that……”

Angelo denied reality and blankly stared at her back. There was no hesitation in her footsteps. Come to think of it, her face looked relieved when she said goodbye to him. Until she was out of sight as she walked down the stairs, she didn’t even glance at Angelo.

“Sia……”

He no longer had the strength to sit down. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, Angelo collapsed weakly onto the floor. This couldn’t be happening. Sia loved me.

His back was still stabbed with a knife. Tears flowed down Angelo’s forehead. This much pain was nothing. Compared to the wound of Elicia leaving him, it was nothing. Moreover, this trivial injury could be healed with magic, but he didn’t want to. Wasn’t it a trace left by the beloved Elicia?

He couldn’t understand why she left him and went with Erlian.

“Perhaps it would have been better when I was younger.”

At the beginning when Elicia came to this world, he could read her thoughts and control her through choices, so it was convenient. However, as time passed, she adapted to life here, her ego became stronger, and his influence decreased.

“Still, I thought she would love me in the end.”

Elicia did not act as he wished. She always took care of Erlian first, and this time too, she was restless when the monster attacked Erlian.

He told her that if she didn’t come to him, Erlian would die, but that was a lie. It was not possible to keep summoning monsters to that extent because there was a limit to Angelo’s magic power.

Although he saw Elicia worrying about Erlian’s condition while fighting the monsters, he thought it was just because her heart was weak and she was momentarily shaken. That’s why she eventually came to him and hugged him, didn’t she?

However, the last look Elicia gave him as she turned her back was indifferent to him.

“What the hell……”

Angelo was confused. He tried to win her heart, which was wavering, by fulfilling her romance.

“I like you, Elicia.”

When Elicia and Angelo were ten years old, there was a birthday party for Daisy, attended by children of noble families of the same age.

Among them, a nameless boy from a count’s family confessed to Elicia. At that moment, Angelo’s heart sank, but he could relax when he saw her expression. It was an expression of having heard something she shouldn’t have.

“Elicia, why are you silent?”

“I want to be confessed to by a handsome man in a special place where not just anyone can come, not just anyone!”

She screamed and got angry until her parents and her older sister stopped her. Others blamed her for being selfish and rude, but Angelo loved even that appearance. No, rather, he liked her because she was honest and transparent.

At that time, Angelo made a vow. He would grow up to be a handsome man and confess to her in a special way.

So, he brought her to the top of the palace tower, which not just anyone could enter, reminiscing about that memory. He even gave the monster he brought with him several warnings in case she might get hurt.

As much as Angelo was sincere, unfortunately, Elicia did not notice his feelings. Moreover, she left him behind…… Angelo could not understand her heart.

“Angelo, you must accept it. The Elicia you loved isn’t me.”

She kept denying that she was Elicia. It felt as if she was denying his love. As he chewed on her words, he realized it.

Ah, did I fail again?

He met an Elicia who was more real than the real one, but he did not get the ending he wanted.

‘Should I start over?’

Angelo fell into deep thought.

It was something he had done over a hundred times, so he could easily do it. However, there was no guarantee that the new Elicia would be more satisfying than her. Moreover, Angelo was extremely tired of the repeating life.

And there was a bigger problem.

‘Can I kill her?’

He couldn’t give up this life because he loved this Elicia too much. That’s why he hated seeing her loving another man even more.

“I…… what should I……”

Swoosh. Angelo’s eyes closed.

Not long after, with a tremendous noise, the top of the tower where he was lying exploded. Large and small fragments caught on fire and flew into the sky. At the same time, Angelo’s body also rose high. Like useless fragments.

‘Ah, Sia must not be hurt.’

His face became wet. He didn’t know if it was because of the rain or tears.

But one thing he knew was that his love was sincere.