IWMHWD 74

Chapter 74 – Husband’s Funeral
2024.01.13.

“I have a past I want to hide too. Can’t you just pretend not to know? Treat me like someone who’s been loved since birth, like someone with no dark past. Can’t you do that?”

“That’s why I never asked! I didn’t ask about your past or what happened with the Marquis Vasquez. I just gave your father a little money to get him away from you, because you hated him so much. So what exactly are you so upset about?”

Leonard, who had been suppressing his emotions, finally exploded. He was genuinely disappointed in her.

He had gone out of his way to be thoughtful and considerate toward Cordelia, only to be met with this reaction. It felt like betrayal.

“I know very well that Master changed my life. I’ve always been grateful for that. But that doesn’t mean you get to control my life however you want. You want to know what I’m upset about? You bought me from my father. You paid him fifty thousand Linkits a month.”

“…”

“Did I have a say in that? Were my thoughts or opinions ever considered? Why didn’t you ask me even once? I’m not property—neither yours nor my father’s!”

She shouted from the depths of her soul.

No tears came out. It just felt like someone had stabbed her in the chest and ripped the blade out, leaving an empty hole. Like her foot had slipped into a bottomless pit.

Despite Cordelia’s scream-like cry, Leonard responded coldly.

“If I truly saw you as property, I would’ve just killed your father for touching what’s mine. That would’ve been much easier. But I cared about you. That’s why I went through the trouble of paying Vasquez every month. Why don’t you get that? Are you really so hurt just because I didn’t tell you beforehand?”

Pride.

To Leonard, this was all just her petty pride. Cordelia spoke with a twisted expression—neither laughing nor crying.

“…Yes. My pride is hurt. Because Master made me the most miserable person in the world.”

“Miserable? Ha… You still only care about your own feelings, huh? Doesn’t even matter to you why I did what I did.”

Leonard stepped back, spitting out each word like it left a bitter taste in his mouth. They couldn’t understand each other—so there was no point in continuing.

“Rest.”

He turned his back and started to leave the room. He couldn’t guarantee what he might say if he stayed any longer.

“…Maybe it’s better that way.”

“What?”

Just as he reached for the doorknob, Cordelia’s weary voice came from behind.

“Maybe it’s better if I’m not your disciple anymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

Leonard spun around and walked back to her. She blinked slowly.

“Wouldn’t it be better that way?”

“You. Do you still not get who I am? I’m the strongest magician in this country—in all of Ereshé! Every mage in the Magic Council wants to be my student!”

Before he could finish his sentence, the room around her transformed into a forest, then into a sea with a blink of her eyes. The third time she blinked, everything returned to normal as if nothing had happened.

“Others beg to be taught by me, not even daring to lift their heads. And you think your pride is more important than that?”

Leonard’s rage burned so hot it felt like flames would come out every time he opened his mouth.

Ever since he had added a new star to the Hall of Stars, all magicians had desired to become his disciple.

No one had ever dared assert their pride in front of Leonard. There were countless people who would devote their entire lives to serving him, just for the honor of being chosen.

And yet, Cordelia, oblivious to how great a fortune she’d received, dared to speak of ending it so easily.

His hands trembled in fury.

“Don’t call it just pride. It’s all I have left.”

“What you have left is me! Not that worthless pride or the father who sold you twice!”

A heavy silence fell. Neither Cordelia nor Leonard could understand each other.

Perhaps they never would.

At daybreak, Cordelia packed up and left the townhouse in Atilley like she was running away. In a way, she was relieved—she didn’t have the courage to face Leonard again, and now she had a reason to go far away.

Every time the casket carrying Craig rattled behind the carriage, her heart sank lower and lower.

The anger she’d felt about Leonard giving her father money didn’t last long. What weighed her down more was the regret and guilt.

‘He must be sick of me. I mean, I’d hate someone like me too. Dumb, quick-tempered, always yelling, and dragging around a leech of a family.’

She kept wondering—maybe it really would be better for Leonard if she weren’t his student anymore.

Suddenly, the carriage jolted with a loud thud as if it had struck something. Then it came to a stop.

“W-What’s happening?”

They hadn’t even fully left Yebo Delim. Could it be bandits? Panic crept in—until a familiar voice called out from beyond the carriage.

“Open the window.”

“Belluche?”

To her surprise, there was Belluche on horseback. Despite the cool morning, his forehead was covered in sweat from riding hard. When their eyes met, he grumbled.

“What’s the rush? Leaving at the crack of dawn?”

“Why are you here?”

“You could’ve been attacked by bandits on the way to Abrams and died. Then I’d have to retrieve the bracelet.”

He spoke bluntly. Cordelia glanced back in the direction of Atilley’s now-distant mansion before asking,

“Did Master send you?”

“He doesn’t know I’m here. I was on my way from Atilley to Yebo Delim when I happened to spot you. Judging from the coffin, you’re going to Abrams, right?”

“That’s right, but… there’s no need to come with me. It’s a straight road. Not very dangerous.”

“You think I came because I was worried about you? I’m just here to recover the bracelet.”

“I never asked if you were worried…”

“…Hey! What are you dawdling for? Get moving!”

Belluche turned his horse and yelled at the poor coachman. Cordelia found it both funny and oddly comforting and kept watching his back for a long time.

They traveled for several days like that. Just as usual, they stopped at inns along the way to rest, wash, and change clothes.

One evening, while rummaging through her travel bag, she found something unexpected.

“Lady Cordelia, I heard placing this by your pillow helps you sleep. Please come back safely.”

It was a note—probably from Rayleigh—along with a scented pouch. Cordelia hugged it gently. Tears welled up suddenly.

The people at Atilley were the kindest, most sincere people she had ever met.

‘When I go back to Atilley…’

Then suddenly, Leonard’s face—one she’d tried so hard to forget—flashed through her mind, and an inexplicable anxiety surged.

‘What if he tells me not to come back?’

What if he said he didn’t need a disciple like her anymore? That he didn’t want someone so ungrateful and heartless to return? Should she cling to his pants and beg for forgiveness?

Didn’t people say a teacher-student bond isn’t easily broken?

Overcome with anxiety, she pulled out a pen and paper from her bag and, after much hesitation, managed to write a simple, non-offensive letter.

She couldn’t bring herself to address it directly to Leonard, so she wrote Baron’s name instead. Baron would know what to do and pass it on.

The next morning, when she came down to the inn’s first floor looking like death itself, Belluche asked,

“Why the long face?”

“Picking a fight this early in the morning? Leave me alone—I’m tired.”

“Geez. Anyone would think your actual husband died.”

“Good. That means it’s convincing.”

Cordelia didn’t even have the energy to respond properly, and simply ate the porridge served for breakfast.

Just before they left, she asked the innkeeper to send the letter to Atilley.

The road to Abrams was smooth. Since there was no need to rush, Cordelia took her time, as if she were on a leisurely trip.

She tried not to think about Leonard—but it was almost impossible.

Though short, the time she had spent with him had been the brightest moments of her life. Like breathing life into a corpse or adding color to a world of black and white.

“Looks like we’ll reach Abrams before sunset.”

“Already?”

“‘Already’? We took more than seven days on a trip that should take five, because you’re so damn slow.”

“So it’s time to part ways, Belluche.”

“…What the hell are you talking about?”

“You’re going back, right? Belluche?”

Cordelia gave him a faint smile. Thanks to him, she had arrived in Abrams safely. Belluche twitched his lips and muttered,

“That almost sounds like you’re not going back.”