Chapter 176: Oath
Sigren immediately mounted his horse after ordering the villagers to evacuate. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Carl quickly stopped him, restraining Sigren as he tried to go where Fiona was.
“Are you planning on dying?”
“It wouldn’t be so bad as long as I’m with her.”
“You’re really hopeless, aren’t you?”
Ignoring Carl’s incredulity, Sigren set off. He didn’t care; he would never let Fiona die alone, out of his sight, like last time.
Fiona felt a strong sense of responsibility and was determined to confront the Darkness on her own. She always said, “It’s not about sacrifice; it’s about choosing the most efficient method.” But in his eyes, she was always sacrificing herself.
The Darkness, which usually gathered like dark clouds, was nowhere to be seen. ‘Has it disappeared?’
Sigren spotted Fiona’s back and felt a wave of relief. He slowed his horse.
“Do… do you know who I am?” Fiona was speaking to someone, unaware of Sigren’s approach. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren was taken aback when he saw the figure standing before Fiona. Though it was a pitch-black silhouette radiating an ominous aura, it bore an uncanny resemblance to Fiona.
[I know.]
The unidentified figure responded.
Sigren realized that even its voice was similar to Fiona’s.
“Are you looking for me?”
[Yes.]
Why was she talking to this bizarre creature that looked like her? Sigren was shocked to hear her address it.
“Fiona….”
At that moment, Sigren stepped forward. Only then did Fiona notice him and turn her head.
“Sigren?”
Her face was as pale as a sheet of paper, and she looked like she might collapse at any moment. It was the first time he had seen Fiona, who never lost her composure in any situation, look so vulnerable.
“Don’t get closer. It’s dangerous.”
He ignored Fiona’s warning.
“What is that being?”
She hesitated. “It’s the Darkness.”
The Darkness stared at Sigren, a faint hint of hostility glimmering in its gaze. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
[Precious?]
Fiona flinched and grabbed the hem of Sigren’s clothes.
[You value it. Precious. Precious. Precious.]
The Darkness mumbled like a lost child before looking at Sigren and spitting out,
[Why is it only you?]
It didn’t seem to expect an answer. The Darkness continued speaking freely.
[This is unfair.]
With no context, no one understood what it meant.
The Darkness fixed its gaze on Fiona.
[I’m going to destroy everything. I’m going to destroy it. I’m going to destroy it all.]
Fiona’s face turned even paler upon hearing those words.
[Then, if everything comes back, I can have everything, right?]
Sigren didn’t know what it wanted to say. He only knew that every word the Darkness spoke tormented Fiona. He stepped in front of her as if to shield her. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
The Darkness looked at him for a moment and tilted its head.
[I would have it.]
Soon after, a strong wind blew.
Sigren hugged Fiona tightly. When he looked ahead, the wind had stopped shaking the branches of the forest, and the Darkness had already vanished.
***
The soul of the ‘real Fiona’ had already become the Darkness. My mind was reeling from this new information. What the hell was going on?
All the way back to the Heilon mansion, Sigren didn’t ask a thing. Thanks to that, I was able to keep thinking. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Fiona, Fiona, Fiona.
I felt a mix of pity and fear when I thought of her. I felt sorry for everything she’d been through. She must hate me so much. The one she wanted to destroy was me, right? If I were in her position, it had to be me she blamed. Did she want her body back?
It seemed like we were nearing the end of the story when she became the Darkness. But why had Fiona’s soul already assimilated with it?
There were so many unanswered questions.
I sighed.
“Fiona, what’s going on these days?”
I raised my head.
Abel was looking at me with a worried expression.
It had already been a few days since I returned from Agni’s territory. I glanced at the papers piled up on my desk and sighed. I was working too slowly. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Nothing.”
“I heard that bastard Sigren asked you to get engaged.”
Ah, it seemed Sigren had told Abel.
“Don’t tell me you’re like this because of that?”
If I said yes, I was pretty sure he would grab Sigren by the collar right away.
“That can’t be it.”
Sigren hadn’t mentioned the Darkness to Abel. He must have had a lot of questions, but he didn’t ask any of them.
Abel leaned in like a protective guardian. “If you have a problem, just tell me.”
“There’s really nothing.”
“You’re so competent that you always try to do everything on your own, but it’s useless.”
So I’m competent, but why did he have to add ‘useless’ to the mix?
When I made a sulking expression, Abel stroked my head. It was an awkward but gentle touch. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“I’m truly not good at dealing with girls your age.”
“I’m fine.”
For some reason, I felt an overwhelming need to be comforted, and Abel’s touch made me want to cry. Suddenly, I wanted to act foolish.
“Father, it’s okay for me to stay here, right?”
Abel’s eyes widened. He replied with a confused expression on his face—something very unusual for him. “Huh? Of course.”
I suddenly wanted to ask, “Why do you consider me your adoptive daughter? Is it because I’m competent after all these years?”
Well, it wasn’t a bad reason since I was a mage with exceptional talent and didn’t have a bad personality.
Abel looked at me, amused. “That can’t be it.”
“Yes?”
“Fiona, do you really think I chose you as my successor because you’re a strong mage?”
If not, then what was the reason? I looked at him curiously. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“That’s not the reason at all. If I had simply valued you for your talent, I would have thought of you as just a subordinate. Why would I take you as my daughter?”
“Then?”
“Ah, this is too embarrassing to say…”
In a rare moment, Abel hesitated.
“Of course, I felt affection for you, which is why I took you as my daughter. I don’t regard anyone as family just because they’re competent, no matter how much they contribute to Heilon.”
“Oh, really?”
I’m sorry for reacting this way; until now, I thought Abel made me his successor because he appreciated my talents.
“Fiona, that reaction is too much.” Abel glared at me. “Of course, it’s also because I find you beautiful that I want you to call me ‘father.’ Otherwise, that wouldn’t happen.”
Well, now that I think about it, he wasn’t wrong either. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Anyway, you’re still insensible in strange places.”
I pointed to myself, “Then do you really care about me as a daughter?”
“That’s right. If it were someone else instead of you, I would only consider her a loyal subject. I wouldn’t have taken her as my daughter.”
I didn’t know if that was the truth, but those words were a great consolation to me now.
“Do you think there’s no one who could replace me?”
“Of course.”
Ugh, I felt like I was about to cry.
“Father, can I give you a hug?”
“You’re acting foolish today.” Abel grinned as he opened his arms. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
I smiled and snuggled into his embrace. Abel carefully stroked the back of my head.
“You’ve been my daughter in my heart since the first moment I saw you.”
“I didn’t expect to hear that.”
“So, if you have any concerns, tell me. Is it about Sigren, after all? Is he the problem?”
I giggled. “He isn’t. Why do you keep bringing Sigren into this?”
While I was in Abel’s strong arms, I thought about how happy it was to have someone to depend on when I was in trouble.
I would never give up on being Fiona Heilon. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
***
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