Chapter 110
Janice was bound on the spot. Knights rushed in, dragged her away, and surrounded Cassius.
“Your Grace!”
It was the end of the war. All that was left was to survive and return home. This couldn’t be happening. Cassius coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth, soaking his chest a deep, terrifying red. He exhaled slowly.
“…I’m fine.”
He gripped Giverny’s wrist tightly, pouring out the last of his strength.
“I protected Istheria. I protected the North.”
His voice was ragged, but his meaning was clear. Cassius fixed Giverny with a burning gaze.
“Never—never use the Duchess’s power to save my life. I’ve already done all I was meant to do.”
Giverny broke into sobs. During the war, so many had fallen. Some were men he had trained with since youth. Others were comrades he had fought beside for decades. Yet he had not shed a single tear for them.
Because beyond their deaths, there were still people who had to be protected. There were still companions who hadn’t put down their swords, still fighting at his side.
But now, the dam burst. His suppressed grief erupted.
“Your Grace! Please! We can’t lose you like this! I beg you!”
“I won’t die.”
Cassius wheezed, struggling to speak.
“I… will never die…”
His voice faded into silence. His hand went limp.
“Your Grace!”
Giverny’s scream was met with Janice’s wild laughter.
“Yes! Die! You have to die so I can live!”
Madness shone in Janice’s eyes. Face pressed into the blackened ground, her fingers clawed at the dirt. She just wanted to live.
“I’m the one who saved the North! Who do you think grew that sacred tree? Who do you think called the gods back to this land, even for a moment? It was me!”
She cackled, choking on dust and grit.
“I’m the hero! I’m the one who saved you all!”
“Silence!”
“Bow to me! Worship me! Kiss my feet—cough!”
Knights gagged her, forced her upright, and dragged her away. Her eyes still burned with twisted joy.
She could still feel Cassius’s blood on her hands, vivid and warm. She had brought down the sword of the North with her own grasp.
Now she, Janice, was the hero of the North.
I was uneasy.
Theo had returned. The great white light had swallowed the battlefield. That sacred light was so overwhelming it made people kneel without thinking. Even from here, I could see the monsters melting.
The massive black dragon still fought, but Stephanie was holding her own. The war would end soon. Everyone would return safely. Cassius would return to my arms.
But my heart thudded wildly for no reason. My fingers curled. My lips were dry.
At last, I couldn’t stand it. I ran down from the fortress.
“Duchess! It’s dangerous!”
Selua rushed after me, grabbing my arm.
“No, Selua. I feel like I have to go.”
I pushed her hand away.
“Something’s wrong.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. I wiped them with trembling fingers.
“Duchess…? Are you unwell? Why are you—”
“I don’t know. I don’t know why. But I feel so anxious. Something’s wrong…”
“Duchess!”
My heart dropped. Slowly, I turned my head.
Knights were climbing the steep hill. My breath caught. The title—my title—echoed in their voices, but this time it frightened me.
Selua supported me as my legs shook.
The knights came closer, covered in ash. I saw Giverny among them. He should have been with Cassius. But then—
“Duchess…”
Giverny was crying.
On his back was a man too large to hide, his limbs hanging limply. Blood trailed behind him, marking the ground. I didn’t need to hear the name. I already knew.
“Duchess… please… save him.”
Giverny’s tears poured down. They laid him on the ground.
It was Cassius.
His abdomen had been torn open. His clothes ripped, blood gushing despite makeshift bandages. His face was pale, his breaths faint—so weak, it seemed they might stop any moment.
The knights who had fought so fiercely on the battlefield now fell to their knees, sobbing.
“Please save him, Duchess. We beg you—please save our lord.”
These strong men, who had risked their lives to protect us, wept openly.
My legs gave out.
“Ca… Cassius?”
Selua caught me, but I tore free and crawled to him. He didn’t even notice me arrive—his eyes were shut tight.
I grabbed his hand.
I could feel life leaving him. His hand, always so warm, was cold as ice.
“Cassius…”
My lips trembled.
“Why… why!! You promised me you’d come back!”
The words burst out as a scream.
“You said you’d return safely! You said you’d never leave me alone!”
He was the male lead. The strongest man in this world. The hero. He couldn’t die like this. He couldn’t leave me.
My hand shook as I stroked his face.
“Look at me, Cassius. Open your eyes and look at me!”
I pressed my lips to his, breathing life into him.
“Look at me… please. I’m right here beside you…”
My breath shivered. Could I really save him? Did I have enough power left to keep him alive?
Maybe not. But I had to try.
Don’t you dare use that power carelessly. If you save me at the cost of your own life, that would be the cruelest thing you could do. Don’t ever throw away your life for me.
I know, Cassius.
I know you wouldn’t want this.
But have you thought about me? Have you thought about what it means to leave me behind? Without you, there’s no happiness for me. I chose to stay in this world only because of you.
I chose to live as Charlotte, only because I could be with you.
You don’t understand.
The one who must live in this world is you, not me.
Me… I don’t matter. I wasn’t even from this world to begin with. I don’t know where I’ll go after this. But if I can remain here, then let me stay—
As the wind, as the rain, someday as the snow—so I can always fall beside you.
You were the only warmth in my lonely life. I never once imagined a life without you. So forgive me. I know I’m placing this burden on you.
I know it’s selfish. I’m sorry.
But please… forgive me.
I felt my power flowing into him. My life force fading. My breaths slowing. My body weakening. But his grew stronger, filled with my energy.
Warmth returned to his hand. The warmth I had always known.
I understood then: this was the end for me.
I was saving Cassius. And I would die.
But that was enough.
Because of you, I had lived here. Because of you, I had a family. You’ll never truly know how happy I was inside your arms.
Through the blinding light, I saw Cassius slowly open his eyes.
I was glad. Glad that the last thing I saw was you.
I had no regrets. Not about this choice.
I whispered the words I had held back all this time.
I released the last of my heart.
“…I love you, Cassius.”
The light flickered.
And with it, my world.
