Chapter 27
Frederick, gazing at her with a sorrowful expression, stepped closer to Elicia.
「Castian is our child. And I have never once blamed you. You loved our child more than anyone else.」
Frederick gently brushed Elicia’s shoulder with a careful touch.
When Elicia lifted her face again, the mask-like blankness had completely disappeared.
“I thought you didn’t know.”
「Impossible. And that boy knows it too.」
At Frederick’s words, hope flickered across Elicia’s face.
But soon she shook her head and murmured in a voice lacking confidence.
“He won’t know. I never once told him.”
Seeing his wife like that, Frederick let out a soft chuckle.
「You and Castian are both hopelessly clumsy.」
At his playful chiding, Elicia lowered her brows and laughed.
It was a beautiful smile—one that only the person she loved could see, never the cold, stern face she usually showed.
It was a sight I had no right to steal glimpses of, so I quietly stepped back.
I found a spot in the corner of the mausoleum and covered my ears.
It was to avoid eavesdropping on the intimate words exchanged by a couple reunited after long yearning.
I didn’t know how long I sat like that.
When darkness suddenly fell before my eyes, I looked up—Frederick was standing in front of me.
「Thanks to you, I was able to see my wife. As repayment, I will become your soldier.」
“What?”
「I mean, I will obey you.」
“Wh-what? No, please don’t do that!”
I frantically waved my hands and shook my head.
To command Castian’s father as a death soldier? I’m not such an insolent person, Father.
「Are you sincerely refusing? This is a chance that won’t come again.」
“I sincerely, absolutely refuse. And I will ensure no one ever disturbs your eternal rest again.”
「Such a commendable necromancer.」
Frederick smiled broadly, satisfied.
I had no intention of turning anyone into a death soldier—but when I prepared to undo the necromancy, one thing troubled me.
Glancing at Elicia, who still held Frederick’s hand, I said cautiously:
“But if I do that, I won’t be able to call you back ever again.”
Elicia exchanged a deep, firm gaze with Frederick before answering me.
“That’s fine. I’m used to longing.”
How deep must one’s love be to endure separation with such a smile?
Even after death had parted them, their love was still unbreakably strong. I found it both wondrous and enviable.
“Then, I’ll release the necromancy.”
Even as I spoke, Elicia and Frederick only looked at each other.
Their desperate attempt to etch every last glimpse of their beloved into their eyes was heartbreaking.
“May you rest in eternal peace.”
As I whispered the final incantation, Frederick’s figure slowly blurred.
Holding tightly onto Elicia’s hand, he vanished forever.
I quietly turned away, waiting for Elicia to gather her heart.
After parting forever with the only one before whom she could show weakness, Elicia was silent for a long while.
When I finally looked back at her, she had returned to her usual expressionless self.
“As promised, I am now your guardian. Under the name of Bernstein, you may do anything.”
I stared at her blankly.
This stroke of fortune was so great that instead of joy, I felt dazed.
Under the name of Bernstein? I wasn’t even sure what that meant.
But surely, it was something good.
At the very least, it meant no one would dare treat me carelessly again—because Lady Bernstein herself was behind me.
For such a small favor, I had received a reward far too great.
“Thank you, My Lady.”
“Just one thing.”
I bowed deeply at ninety degrees, but her cold voice cut through.
When I raised my head, her amber eyes—devoid of emotion—locked on me.
“Except as Duchess of Bernstein.”
The words lodged in my throat.
I had never once thought of becoming Duchess of Bernstein.
All I wanted was to stay beside the one I liked without being a burden.
Maybe, just maybe, he would come to feel the same someday—that was the dreamlike hope I had.
I never coveted the title of duchess. I should have said so, but not a single word left my lips.
“Even if Castian carries no Bernstein blood, as long as I live, no one will dare question his legitimacy. I will not allow it.”
I still could not speak, and Elicia, standing as though guarding her husband’s coffin, continued.
“But when I die, those who covet the Bernstein duchy will sink their fangs into Castian. His children will be tested for their bloodline. The Emperor will not consent to the duchy passing to one without Bernstein blood.”
Legitimacy. The Bernstein duchy. Castian’s children.
It was all too much, words I couldn’t even grasp.
When I decided to undergo the purification ritual, I thought being a necromancer was the only obstacle.
What a foolish thought.
If they had simply said a necromancer was unacceptable, that would have been easier—there might have been ways around it.
But with Elicia’s next words, I abandoned every vain hope.
“That’s why Castian must marry a daughter of a house with legitimacy equal to Bernstein’s. Do you understand me?”
She tried to sound composed, but I read apology in her expression.
She didn’t need to apologize.
After all, I had been the only one to nurse such feelings.
I lowered my head deeply instead of answering.
Elicia slowly approached and handed me the lamp she was holding.
“I will give you everything I can. Take it, resent me if you must, but use it to protect my son and the Bernsteins.”
I stared at the faint flame for a long moment before accepting it.
“Go on ahead. I will stay a while longer.”
As Elicia moved toward her husband’s coffin, I turned, lamp in hand.
When I closed the iron door, the endless darkness of the stairwell stretched before me.
Relying on the dim light of the lamp, I climbed one step at a time.
Too much had happened in such a short time.
I didn’t know what to think anymore—I just wanted to collapse on my bed.
I hurried my steps, but tripped on the hem of my dress and lurched forward.
“Ahhh!”
Flailing my arms, I barely regained balance, but my shin and face burned with pain.
“Ouch, ouch…”
I rubbed my shin, which had struck the edge of a step, and picked up the lamp I had dropped—only for something warm to drip from my nose.
Apparently, in flailing the lamp to keep from falling, I had smacked myself in the nose.
“Ha… unbelievable.”
Who gets a nosebleed from hitting themselves with their own lamp? Really.
My shin hurt, my nose hurt, and tears welled up in my eyes.
Tilting my head back, I swallowed them down while staring at the distant ceiling.
Crying now would only make me feel more pathetic.
Lamp in one hand, my nose pinched in the other, I took a deep breath.
If I had to cry, I’d do it back in my room.
Clinging to that one thought, I climbed again.
But as the light of the first floor came into view, the last face I wanted to see appeared.
The final inspection for the second expedition was complete.
In the short time given, Castian had spent the entire past week frantically preparing.
Especially in the last few days, he hadn’t even been able to share a meal with Lydia.
He quickened his pace toward Lydia’s room.
Reaching her door, he asked Ethan, who was standing guard:
“Lydia?”
“She retired early today. I believe she is asleep.”
Castian clicked his tongue lightly at Ethan’s words.
He had things to say before departing on the expedition, but it seemed he’d have to leave without even seeing her face.
Unwilling to turn away, Castian sharpened his senses to listen.
At the very least, he wanted to hear her sleeping breaths.
But no sound came.
Extending his aura more keenly, he still couldn’t sense Lydia at all.
He opened the door and entered the room.
It was empty.
“What?”
Ethan, following behind, looked around in shock, but she was nowhere.
“She stepped away? Where?”
“I—I left briefly when Captain Hamil called me… it was only a moment… I’m so sorry.”
Ethan bowed his head, flustered.
Scolding a subordinate could wait—finding Lydia was the priority.
Since the soul-binding spell hadn’t been undone, she had to still be somewhere within the mansion.
Castian drew on his aura and expanded his senses to cover the entire estate.
The instant he caught her scream from the underground, his body shot forward like a spring.
Racing down the stairs to the basement, he met Lydia coming up.
Relief lasted only a moment.
Her hands, covering her face, were drenched in blood.
“Lydia!”
The sight overlapped with the memory of her bleeding to death in the carriage before the temple that day.
His heart plummeted.
Mana depletion.
That nosebleed could only mean mana depletion.
And the reason for her exhaustion was him.
It had to be because she’d overexerted herself maintaining the soul-binding spell.
Cradling her, Castian lowered her gently to the floor.
From his breast pocket, he pulled a vial of magic replenisher, uncorked it, and poured the violet liquid into her mouth.
