IBACM Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Marilyn’s debut in high society was a great success. She looked incredibly beautiful and was very kind that day.

Everyone loved Marilyn — she was simply lovable. Many people wanted to see her again and sent her numerous invitations.

Especially, the love story between Marilyn and Dedrick was the talk of the town. Their secret meetings, hidden from the former Grand Duchess, seemed more romantic than any novel.

Marilyn and Dedrick showed everyone what a happy ending truly looked like.

While everyone was happy, Novembris felt differently.

The happier Marilyn was, the smaller and less noticeable Novembris felt. He was anxious and uneasy, afraid that Marilyn might forget him and that everything would end like this.

“I used to mean so much to her.”

He was someone she couldn’t live without.

“Then why…?”

He wished it had been better this way.

At that thought, Novembris suddenly flinched.

“Damn it.”

He muttered quietly. He knew he shouldn’t think that way.

But what troubled him more was a bad feeling rising and falling inside him.

He realized it was jealousy.

“So this is why Yggdrasil kept warning me,”

“Don’t lose yourself in negative feelings.”

If he wasn’t careful, his body might act without his permission.

He might do something terrible to Marilyn himself.

Though he wanted her happiness, the more he heard about their love, the more ugly feelings swelled inside him.

If this continued, he might lose control.

Then, Yggdrasil’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Before taking any action, talk to them properly. Understood?”

Talk… talk…

“I guess that’s how you want me to calm my feelings.”

Novembris had spent so much time with Yggdrasil that he decided to try talking, no matter the result.

He headed straight to Dedrick’s office. When he arrived, Dedrick stopped his work and looked at him.

Although Dedrick disliked Novembris being close to Marilyn, he never forgot that Novembris was the one who saved her, so he treated him with some respect.

“What do you want?”

“I want to talk to you alone for a moment.”

At Dedrick’s signal, his aide Pavle quietly left the room.

Left alone, Novembris asked directly,

“Are you willing to give up on Marilyn?”

“Hmph.”

Dedrick frowned but didn’t seem surprised by the question.

“Not at all.”

“Fairies live over five hundred years, right? You live maybe a hundred years, and you may start aging, Marilyn will stay beautiful, but you won’t. And when you’re gone, she’ll be alone. Do you want that? If I took her, at least she wouldn’t be lonely until she dies.”

Dedrick wasn’t careless. Childhood stories still lingered in his mind.

But he would never leave Marilyn alone.

“Marilyn will suffer, living alone, missing you all that time.”

“I can extend my life.”

“Crazy!”

Novembris shouted without thinking.

“Don’t you forget — you’re human!”

“So what?”

Dedrick asked with a smirk.

“We met like a miracle. Life spans can’t separate us. I will never leave before her.”

“Hah. Sounds like you’d use dirty tricks.”

Dedrick mocked, then calmly nodded.

“If necessary.”

“You’ll be hated by God!”

“Who cares about that.”

“….”

“It’s not like I fear God’s hatred at all.”

He honestly didn’t care what happened as long as he had Marilyn.

Novembris was shocked, looking into Dedrick’s wild blue eyes.

Dedrick coldly warned him,

“You helped Mary so far, so I let it slide. But now, you showed your desire directly.”

Novembris bit his lip.

“You thought the only advantage you had was living longer by Mary’s side? That won’t happen.”

Dedrick stood up and said slowly,

“Don’t try to steal my woman.”

“What if Marilyn wants to come with me? Will you let her go?”

“Haha.”

Dedrick laughed like it was ridiculous, running his hand through his hair.

“Mary will never follow you.”

“….”

“She might hate you for even thinking that.”

Novembris’ pupils shook violently.

“Leave Mary alone. If you can’t, then leave right now.”

Dedrick sat back down, opening his report, acting like the provocation was meaningless.

Novembris couldn’t argue and left the office.

He stood outside for a while, then headed to Marilyn.

“He’s so confident!” Novembris bit his lip, feeling defeated, though he expected Dedrick’s reaction.

But he still had hope—or at least an expectation.

“She’s still here.”

To avoid regret and calm his dangerous feelings, he thought he must talk to Marilyn.

He arrived at the library where Marilyn had been hiding to become a perfect Grand Duchess.

She was deep inside, sitting by a sunny window seat, engrossed in reading.

Novembris approached and gently tapped her book.

Marilyn looked up and smiled brightly when she saw him.

“Bris.”

Her smile made Novembris feel overwhelmed. He wanted to see that smile only for himself.

Without explanation, he asked,

“Won’t you come with me?”

She answered immediately, without hesitation.

“I will stay with Didi forever.”

How could she say it so easily?

Novembris, upset, argued,

“Humans die anyway.”

But Marilyn was calm.

“My fairy dust will keep him with me forever. I can do that now.”

Novembris asked coldly,

“What if he hates you?”

Marilyn shrugged lightly, no fear or shock.

“Then I’ll watch over Didi until he dies.”

Surprised, Novembris felt a little hopeful.

Maybe after Didi dies, he’d have a chance.

With hope, he asked,

“And after that?”

But Marilyn’s answer shocked him.

“Then I’ll die too.”

He didn’t understand at first, then asked again,

“…What?”

“My reason to exist is Didi. If Didi dies, so do I. I can’t imagine life without him.”

His voice trembled.

“What if I’m by your side?”

She looked at him firmly and shook her head.

“You’re a good friend, but not the one I’ll love forever like Didi. Nothing changes.”

That was a clear rejection.

Novembris, clutching his aching heart, said,

“What if I forcibly separate you from him?”

Her movement stopped instantly.

Her golden eyes welled with tears, nearly falling.

She shook her head desperately.

“Don’t, Bris.”

“….”

“I’d wither away.”

She quietly shared her true feelings.

Novembris frowned, feeling tortured.

He thought he could take her away by force — but no.

Her tears filled him with guilt.

“So this is why you told me to talk to her,”

He realized.

Marilyn asked gently,

“Bris, how about returning to the sanctuary?”

His heart dropped.

“Are you pushing me away? Do you hate me now? That I’m no longer needed…?”

His voice was upset, but Marilyn answered calmly.

“It’s not that I hate you. It’s because you’re going to do something dangerous. And…”

She looked at him pityingly.

“I’m finally happy meeting Didi. Thanks to you. But… hearing you talk about our goodbye scares me.”

Novembris’ pupils trembled violently.

Marilyn begged,

“Don’t take me away, Bris.”

“….”

“As a friend, please.”

In the end, Novembris hung his head low.

Now he understood. He didn’t want to take her away and make her suffer.

He just wanted to see her smile — not tears.

Novembris felt a strange pain in his chest for the first time.

He finally asked,

“When can I see you again?”

“When the part of me in your heart is fully settled.”

“What if it’s not settled?”

“If you can suppress that desire.”

“And if I can’t?”

Marilyn answered sadly,

“Then we’ll never meet again.”

“I can force you to come with me.”

“I know.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“…”

“Because I’ve watched your despair and sadness.”

“And I don’t have the courage to see that twice.”

Marilyn smiled, and Novembris gave a painful smile back.

“Be happy, Marilyn.”

“…You too, Bris. I’ll always wish for your happiness.”

Her warm words made Novembris smile faintly.

It felt a bit relieving to open his heart.

He spoke with a lighter heart,

“I hope next time we meet, we can smile like friends, without worries.”

“Me too.”

Novembris respectfully kissed Marilyn’s hand.

At that moment, a door appeared before them — a door familiar to Marilyn.

“May God’s blessing be with you.”

With that, Novembris suddenly left.

Left alone, Marilyn stared long at the empty spot where Novembris had been.

“It’s sad, but I have to overcome it.”

Because she had Didi.

Marilyn smiled brightly like a blooming flower.

“I have to go see Didi. Bris has left…”

Everything is over now, so I shouldn’t put off what I have to do.

Marilyn walked with a strong step toward Dedrick’s office.

To give Didi a choice.

***

When Marilyn arrived at the office, she opened the door wide. Dedrick had already felt her coming and sent everyone out.

As if waiting for her to come in, he hugged her and spun around in his seat.

“Did you enjoy the book today too?”

Marilyn gently tucked his hair behind his ear and suddenly asked,

“Didi, do you want to live with me for a long, long time?”

“Yes.”

He nodded firmly, recalling his recent conversation with Novembris. Marilyn smiled playfully and stroked his cheek.

“But Didi, you have limits.”

“I’ll figure it out, so don’t worry.”

“Didi, you know how long I have to live, right?”

“Mary, I really won’t leave you just because of lifespan…”

Before he could finish, Marilyn pressed her lips firmly against his.

Peck.

“…Mary?”

“I’m here.”

Holding onto Dedrick, Marilyn smiled as their noses touched.

“I’m going to attach you to me.”

“What…?”

“My horn.”

Dedrick looked at her confused, carefully setting her down. Then, as if spellbound, he touched her horn.

“Just like the rose you gave me, I can make sure you won’t die or age until I die. How about that? But you might have to live for a very long time.”

Marilyn confessed with a slightly trembling voice.

“So you might get tired of me halfway through… but will you stay with me forever?”

“That was just…”

Marilyn rested her cheek on Dedrick’s large palm and said,

“It’s a proposal. I want to live with you forever.”

“…”

Suddenly, tears filled Dedrick’s eyes. He couldn’t hold back his joy and tears fell down.

“Why doesn’t anyone know that our Didi is a crybaby?”

“Because I only do this with you.”

He kissed her with his wet lips.

“What’s your answer to my proposal?”

“Of course, I’ll be with you forever. I told you, Mary.”

“…”

“I want to be happy with you for a long, long time. I will love only you all my life.”

There were no words to express this overwhelming love. Finally, the only words that came to his lips were,

“I love you, Mary.”

He kissed her deeply, full of his overflowing feelings. Their long, thirsty, and sweet kiss continued.

Catching her breath, Marilyn smiled beautifully as she rubbed her nose against his.

“We’re together forever now. No backing out!”

“I don’t even think about backing out.”

Dedrick held Marilyn tightly, as if no closeness was ever enough.

Red fairy dust surrounded them like rose petals.

Their laughter rang brightly beyond the office.

As if predicting their happiness ahead.

<The End>