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Vianna shook her head at Delsia’s words, where she offered her own heart.
“No. I can’t do that.”
“But… Vianna!”
Delsia looked at her with an excited, almost desperate face. Yet Vianna’s resolve did not waver.
“Why… why can’t you?”
“I’ve granted a similar wish before. The result was… not good at all. I can’t let it happen again. If that’s your only wish, then you should go back.”
Hearing this, Delsia clasped her hands together, pleading.
“Please… please. Let me save Edwin with my heart… I beg you.”
“……”
Her voice, choked and wet, sounded pitiful. Still, Vianna kept her lips tightly shut.
“……Huh.”
Tears ran down Delsia’s face as she continued to plead, her body trembling under the blanket. Vianna merely watched Delsia’s sorrowful figure, neither consoling her nor offering a solution.
From Delsia’s lips came a fractured voice:
“Edwin… I can’t live without Edwin.”
“……”
“If Edwin isn’t there, living would be worse than dying.”
Saying that, Delsia stood up. Vianna, looking up at her, suddenly widened her eyes.
“……I have to find another way. There must be another way.”
“What do you mean by another way?”
Delsia did not answer Vianna’s question. Vianna let out a deep sigh. Delsia’s sapphire eyes were burning with determination—exactly the same as her friend’s had been.
“……What’s your name?”
“…Delsia. Delsianor Ferdoye.”
“……Ferdoye.”
Vianna muttered the family name and closed her eyes. She had thought Delsia had the same magic as someone else, but she didn’t. She was truly the daughter of her friend, Selena. How could such a thing happen again? All she could do was sigh.
“…For now, go back.”
“……”
“And don’t waste your time looking for another way. You won’t get anywhere.”
Vianna said this, gently pushing Delsia out of the house. Delsia stumbled to a tree outside, biting her lower lip. Was she really going to lose Edwin just like this? That thought consumed her.
Delsia lowered her gaze.
With Vianna’s magic, she arrived at the mansion and trudged into her bedroom. Ella and the servants were shocked by her disheveled appearance, asking questions, but Delsia gave no answers.
Sitting in the bathtub, Delsia hugged her knees, her eyes vacant.
“Miss, is the water at a good temperature?”
“……”
“Miss?”
“…Uh, Ella. What did you just say?”
Delsia asked in a hoarse voice. Ella, who had planned to speak calmly, changed her approach.
“Miss… you don’t have to pretend to be okay. It’s better if you just cry. I’m afraid something might happen to you, and I can’t bear it.”
Delsia nodded slowly. She understood Ella’s worry, but she could not sit idle. She had found a way, and she could not afford to just cry.
She had to do everything possible to save Edwin by that method—this was her duty.
“……She’s back again.”
Vianna muttered with a frown. It had been the fourth day. Delsia had been wandering around the outskirts, searching for the forest entrance.
Until the second day, Vianna had assumed that Delsia would tire and give up if ignored. But she had to rethink that. Delsia, despite being raised in a noble family, was stubborn and desperate—just like Selena.
If she were anyone else, Vianna would not have cared and would have granted the wish. But Delsia was the daughter of her friend, Selena. She had to protect the child her friend had cared about.
Still, each evening when Delsia returned, looking dejected after wandering the forest entrance, Vianna felt her resolve waver.
Delsia’s helplessness was almost painful to watch, even through the crystal orb.
The sun began to set. Delsia looked up at the darkening sky, preparing to return to the mansion. Vianna watched silently and muttered:
“What am I supposed to do with that girl…?”
She could find no answer. With a troubled expression, she covered the crystal orb with cloth.
No choice would satisfy her or feel right—but she couldn’t let Delsia wander endlessly. If something happened to her, Vianna would be consumed with guilt.
After much thought, Vianna decided to allow Delsia to enter the forest the next day.
“Come in.”
Vianna spoke, hiding the fact that she had been watching for days.
“Th-thank you.”
“I’m just letting you in. What’s there to thank me for?”
“Still…”
Delsia said as she sat down.
“So, what brings you here this time?”
“The same as before.”
“I told you last time—”
“I know.”
Vianna stayed silent and watched her.
“Go ahead and speak.”
“I don’t like breaking the unspoken rules either…”
“Hmm. I see.”
“…I’m a coward.”
Delsia took a deep breath and met Vianna’s eyes.
“It would be easier to give up, saying it’s impossible, just like always. But if I let go of someone so precious, someone I’m afraid to lose…”
Her eyes blurred slightly.
“I would regret it forever. I can’t let them go without trying my best.”
“Your best effort is giving your heart?”
“…Yes. For me, this is my best effort, my last option.”
“And if I refuse?”
Delsia gave a faint smile.
“Well… then I suppose I’d try some other way to be with Edwin.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I can’t save Edwin, I’ll risk everything to be with him.”
Vianna let out a hollow laugh. Delsia’s sapphire eyes glimmered with tears, yet they shone brilliantly, as if aware of Vianna’s weakening heart.
Vianna swallowed bitterly. She had to admit it—Delsia’s determination was winning her over.
“……Alright, Delsia. Did you bring the heart?”
“Th-thank you. Thank you so much, Vianna.”
“No need for pleasantries. Give me the heart you brought.”
“…No.”
Delsia shook her head. Vianna’s face twisted.
“You didn’t just come to persuade me, did you?”
“Not just that.”
“Then?”
“As I said before, my heart—”
“What?”
Vianna’s expression hardened. At first, in desperation, Delsia had spoken without thinking. But now she was serious.
Delsia smiled faintly at Vianna’s expectant gaze.
“I mean exactly what I said. Nothing has changed. Vianna, I don’t want anyone else’s heart to save Edwin.”
“Oh, Delsia…”
“I want to save Edwin with my own heart.”
“……”
Vianna swallowed, staring at the now visibly weakened and exhausted Delsia. To think she would offer her own heart in such a state…
Yes. She must be out of her mind.
Vianna softened slightly and tried to reason with her.
“Delsia, you don’t seem to be thinking clearly right now. If you considered it differently, you wouldn’t come to that conclusion.”
Delsia’s lips twitched, ready to speak, but Vianna quickly added:
“Have you discussed this with your family?”
“……”
“You’re unusually quiet… so probably not.”
Delsia had not even thought to tell her family, and she remained silent.
“Oh, my dear. You’ve got the order all wrong. This involves your heart—you should have talked to your family first, not me.”
Vianna spoke firmly as she sent Delsia back into the mansion. Her last words were resolute:
“Talk it over with your family. If even one of them objects, I can’t grant your wish.”
She looked almost carefree, as if confident the family would not approve.
Once again, Delsia lingered at the mansion entrance before slowly entering her bedroom. With Ella’s help, she cleaned up and changed clothes, her mind racing on how to persuade her family.
No words could easily convince her father. No parent would willingly agree to let their child give up their heart to save Edwin. She would have to resort to white lies to convince her father and Arnold—otherwise, Edwin would be lost.
Though guilt weighed on her, Delsia steeled herself. She descended to the dining room, sitting tensely as Count Ferdoye and Arnold joined her.
A quiet meal began. Delsia forced herself to swallow the food, then finally set down her utensils and waited. Count Ferdoye glanced at her with a gentle voice:
“Do you have something to say, Delsi?”
“…Yes.”
“If it’s important, come to my study afterward.”
“You should come too, brother.”
Count Ferdoye looked at Arnold. Hesitant, Arnold’s eyes widened.
“Alright. Arnold, come to the study with Delsia.”
“Yes.”
After the meal, they gathered in the study. Delsia swallowed hard, unsure how to start. Arnold, concerned, asked:
“Delsia, is this about Duke Adelio?”
“…Yes.”
Nodding at his worried tone, Delsia began.
“Father, brother. I have something to tell you.”
“Oh, Delsi. I’m always ready to listen to you.”
“Yes, Delsia. I know you have much to say… I’m ready anytime.”
Each comment weighed heavily on Delsia. Taking a short breath, she finally spoke the words she had not dared to say:
“There’s a way to save Edwin.”
“Wait, Delsi. What do you mean? Duke Adelio already—”
“I’m sorry, Father. Actually, I met a witch who said she could grant my wish under the pretense of visiting Edwin.”
“Delsi.”
Count Ferdoye’s voice rose slightly.
Looking up from the floor, Delsia met her father’s gaze.
“…At first, I didn’t believe it either. But I couldn’t let Edwin go. I wandered the outskirts, desperate for a chance, and eventually entered the forest.”
“……”
“The forest was darker and quieter than I imagined. After wandering for a long time, I saw a glowing tree, and there, a witch… a witch lived.”
Delsia swallowed.
“The witch didn’t want to grant my wish.”
“Then why tell us this now…?”
“Yes. She said she would grant it if my family consented.”
“But Delsi, how can you save Edwin?”
Count Ferdoye asked, and Delsia hesitated.
“Surely… Delsia, there must be a price for the witch? Otherwise, there’s no way to bring back the dead.”
“…Yes.”
“Oh, Delsi!”
“Wait, please, Father. Hear me out.”
Delsia pleaded calmly as Count Ferdoye, about to explode, tried to restrain himself. He waited, wiping his face dry, for Delsia’s answer.
“Some part of my body… I must give it.”
