Chapter 85
I looked back at Boris, who had just shouted, and said calmly,
“Tell me the whole story.”
Boris clenched his teeth in anger.
“That night, I went to bed really late! So I planned to sleep in the next morning. But then they all came rushing in and woke me up!”
“I’m listening.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t have gotten up, but that day I did—because I had a disgusting dream. In the dream, I broke Oscar’s legs while he was asleep! We had built a small house together, but Oscar didn’t fit in it, and I tried to force him inside. I remember thinking it was such a gross dream!”
Boris lowered his head, voice shaking.
“But then they woke me up and said it all really happened and made me apologize! Like I was the one who actually did it! That I broke his legs with my own hands! I remember how it felt!”
Boris started trembling again.
Even more violently than before. He began struggling, clearly trying to break free, even if it meant snapping his own wrists.
Then he raised his head and glared at me with rage, his face twisted in humiliation.
“The moment I get out of here, I’ll make you suffer the same way.”
…Wait. Are you crying?
I looked at Boris closely. His face looked wetter than before, but I quickly turned away.
‘No way… It’s probably just the water from the fountain.’
I left the furious Boris behind and paced around, thinking things through.
‘He thought it was just a dream.’
I figured I wouldn’t get anything new out of him by pushing further.
So I pulled out some cookies from my bag, crumbled them up, and fed the crumbs to the half-sphere spirit (Banguma), who was happily swimming and laughing.
“Alright, let’s let him down now, okay?”
But Banguma didn’t seem to understand me. He just ate the cookie and licked his lips.
Aw, so cute… Wait, no! That’s not the point!
Come on, let him down already!
Smiling sweetly, I pretended to be super friendly as I walked up to Boris and roughly ruffled his wet hair.
“Get off me! You’re insane! Totally crazy!”
Boris violently shook his head to get me off.
Banguma seemed to like the reaction. Finally, he tilted his head and slowly released his roots, lowering Boris from the air.
The moment Boris hit the ground, he angrily lunged at me again.
But as soon as the raglia (the magical collar) around his neck lit up, he let out a choked sound and collapsed.
I walked over, kneeled down in front of him, and looked him in the eyes.
He glared at me full of hate.
“Oppa.”
I called him softly.
“Thanks for always being such a dumb, terrible person. I really mean it.”
***
— Mom, what do you mean study abroad? I said I’m not going! Hey, Seo-ah, don’t even think about using that dumb brain of yours to get a scholarship for me. Don’t say stuff like, ‘I’ll study hard to pay for your tuition.’ Everyone knows our family’s brains don’t work like that, so stop wasting your time. I know you’re an idiot. Even the dog next door knows it. Forget scholarships. Just keep doing your stupid nerd stuff. Got anything fun lately? What? ‘I’m going to debut as the emperor from a fantasy novel as a K-pop idol’? If it’s boring, you’re dead. You already submitted it, didn’t you?
***
Seojun was actually kind.
That’s why I could never truly hate him. I never wished for his life to fall apart.
But maybe that made things harder. And I hated myself for it.
“Boris oppa, thanks for making it so easy for me to hate you. Keep being like this. It’s too late for us anyway.”
As I stepped closer, Boris clutched his neck and backed away.
“W-What nonsense are you talking about? Are you really crazy?”
“Yeah. I am. That’s why I’ll do this.”
Still smiling, I grabbed both of his shoulders tightly so he couldn’t move.
“W-What now?! What are you planning?!”
“Remember all the times you hit me? I’m going to return the favor just like this. Be careful when walking alone at night, you jerk.”
Then I raised my foot—and stomped hard on the top of his foot.
“AAAGHHH!!”
“Let’s go!”
While Boris screamed and rolled on the ground, holding his foot, I called the raglia to wrap around my wrist and ran away at full speed.
“STOP RIGHT THERE!!”
I could hear him shouting from behind, but I bit my lip and kept running, forcing myself not to laugh.
* * *
“Good.”
At Winter’s quiet comment, Judith flinched slightly.
They were having tea at an outdoor table.
But it hardly felt like tea time—neither of them had said a word for a while.
Winter Orsheus had invited Judith to tea without asking and hadn’t spoken since.
He didn’t even sit properly. Of the four chairs, he pulled one aside and propped his legs up like he owned the place.
Even the fancy tea he brought remained untouched as he silently stared in the direction of the maze.
Every now and then, he muttered to himself or let out an eerie chuckle.
Judith couldn’t take it anymore and loudly placed her empty teacup down on the table.
She sat up straight and fixed her posture, as if reminding herself she was the mother of [Materia] and didn’t need to shrink in front of [Igrio].
“You seem to be hearing what they’re saying inside.”
“I can hear it perfectly.”
Winter didn’t ignore her this time.
He glanced at her and smirked.
“Your pathetic little son just fell into the fountain.”
“…Boris fell into the fountain?”
Judith stood up in shock.
Winter glanced at her shaking teacup, then lifted the teapot and poured her a full cup.
“Tea time isn’t over yet. Where are you going?”
He smiled with his eyes, but Judith couldn’t move.
Winter narrowed his gaze and said softly,
“I warned you. You’re all alive only because of my whims.”
That strange statement triggered a memory—one she wished she could forget.
***
— Your vessel is too low to hold noble blood.
— You all live only by my whims. This is the last time I let you go, so get lost.
***
“No…”
Judith muttered in fear.
She looked into Winter’s eyes—and saw that they were no longer their usual blue.
They were turning red.
His hair grew longer, his body changed shape… and before her stood the man she loved.
Her beloved man, now wearing a mocking smile.
***
— How could you say something like that to me?! Especially in this place!
— Do you remember the precious time we shared here?
— Didn’t you accept my love, knowing how I felt? Did you really not notice?
***
Judith covered her mouth and collapsed back into her chair.
Winter leaned his face into his hand and murmured,
“What a familiar scent.”
He picked up the untouched teacup—and dumped it on the ground.
“People with this kind of smell usually die early. I wonder how long you’ll last…”
Judith trembled, hand still over her mouth.
She felt fear. Humiliation. But also—
A strange kind of relief.
‘Of course His Majesty wouldn’t say such cruel words to me!’
She had agonized for days, unable to believe the Emperor told her to leave.
But now she knew—that hadn’t been him. She felt comforted.
Winter saw the expression on her face and smirked in scorn.
He stood up and walked toward the entrance of the maze.
At that moment, Izana came sprinting out full speed and crashed right into his chest.
Wait, what? I’m really confused right now.