Chapter 132 – #29_Aftermath (2)
#130
1.
Why is Count Jemernai here?
Odile clearly said that the Count was out in the mortal realm and wouldn’t be reachable for about a month.
Isn’t this like when your girlfriend’s parents go on a trip, so you go over to her place and have all sorts of fun, only to suddenly be caught by her parents when they return?
Of course, I’ve never had such a terrible experience, so it’s just an analogy…
I didn’t even have time to ask Odile what was going on.
“Odile, come here.”
Count Jemernai’s gaze was fixed on Odile.
Her voice was gentle, but it carried a different weight than usual.
Even Siwoo could clearly feel the reproach and scolding within it.
“Master, I, I can explain everything.”
“I’ll hear your explanation later. For now, come here, Odile.”
Odile looked at Siwoo with an apologetic expression, then hesitantly entered the living room.
Siwoo, feeling subdued, followed Odile into the living room.
Deneb, with her snow-white hair, lightly grabbed Odile’s wrist.
Deneb held Odile’s wrist for a long time, as if examining something, and then sighed in relief.
It was only natural to check if the ‘vessel’ had been damaged, since the apprentice witch had suddenly announced an overnight stay, gone out late at night with a man, and only returned around dawn.
Fortunately, after confirming that there was nothing wrong, Deneb flicked Odile on the forehead.
“Ouch!”
“Who told you to stay out overnight without permission! Do you know how much we searched for you?”
“I’m sorry… but the assistant woke up… I just didn’t want to go back yet…”
“Listen carefully, Odile, this isn’t something we’ll just let slide. It’s late now, so go upstairs and sleep. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
Was it a mistake to have believed so firmly that the Count was out in the mortal realm?
While Siwoo was still confused, Albireo spoke to him as well.
“Shin Siwoo, please remain here.”
“Master, I’ll explain. It’s not the assistant’s fault! I was the one who first coaxed him into taking a night walk and then coaxed him into staying overnight at the villa!”
Deneb was the one who cut off Odile’s desperate defense.
“Odile, we’ll talk directly, so go upstairs.”
“But…”
“Go.”
Odile was completely intimidated by Deneb’s fierce demeanor.
Was this how it felt to watch your lawyer get kicked out of court while trying to explain your situation?
The thought, ‘Am I really screwed?’ kept repeating endlessly like a broken record.
“Odile, I’d prefer it if you didn’t make me any angrier.”
Albireo’s cold voice made it impossible for Odile to stubbornly insist.
It was the first time she had seen her master so angry.
“I’ll go up, I’ll go up, Master. But please promise me one thing.”
“Is this the time for you to be saying such things?”
“I have to!”
Odile, who had shouted, stubbornly secured one last safety net for Siwoo.
“If you harm the assistant, I will never look at you again, Master. Never!”
“This girl, really!”
Deneb was about to flick Odile on the forehead again for her audacious words, when Albireo, who was sitting and drinking a Cass beer, stopped her.
“Deneb, that’s enough.”
“Sister! Look at this impudent girl’s manners! Who’s in the wrong here! And what’s with her outfit? Good heavens! She went outside wearing only her underwear and a cloak?”
“Deneb, I said that’s enough.”
Albireo waved her hand dismissively and then made eye contact with Odile.
Odile stared back, trying not to look away.
She was aware that she had done wrong, but Siwoo’s safety was more important than her strict master’s scolding.
“Odile, I swear I won’t harm Shin Siwoo. Is that enough now?”
Odile pursed her lips and slowly nodded.
“It’s too late, so go upstairs and sleep. I need to talk to him separately.”
“Yes… I’m sorry for acting on my own…”
As soon as Siwoo’s safety was secured, Odile apologized, looking exhausted, and mouthed ‘I’m sorry, assistant’ to Siwoo before going upstairs.
That’s right.
While Odile might have thought that everything was over, for Siwoo, it was just the beginning.
“Shall we sit down and talk?”
Albireo reached out and offered Siwoo, who was standing awkwardly, the sofa opposite her.
2.
A bed of thorns? Such a cliché expression is no longer needed.
This is a bed of landmines.
Although I’ve secured a promise that they won’t harm me, if Count Jemernai wanted to screw over Siwoo, who has no backing, it would be very easy.
Deneb, who had been scolding Odile, sat down on the sofa, and the conversation began.
“Before we get to the main point, I’m glad you seem to have recovered.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t visit you sooner. I’m just saying that as a formality.”
Unlike Albireo, who offered a polite greeting, Deneb’s words were full of thorns.
Her sharp, violet gaze seemed to pierce through my chest.
“Deneb.”
“Okay, I won’t do it anymore. I’m sorry, Mr. Shin Siwoo.”
“No, it’s alright.”
Count Deneb took a deep breath.
Contrary to her very polite and refined first impression, she seemed quite emotional.
Considering that it was about the apprentice witch, it was understandable.
Siwoo focused his mind.
Depending on what he said from now on, his fate could be decided.
“I have a question. I’d appreciate it if you could answer truthfully from now on.”
“…Yes.”
“What were you doing outside with Odile at this hour?”
The first question left me speechless.
I was told not to lie, but I was confused about whether it was right to tell the truth.
Did I really want to say that I had been fooling around with Odile in front of her parents, who were like her guardians?
And if we dug deeper, Odet’s opening would also be revealed.
Did they really want me to say that?
I’d rather bite my tongue.
“We went for a night walk.”
“Just that?”
“We also… kissed, yes, we kissed. I’m sorry.”
Deneb looked up at the sky as if she was dizzy and touched her forehead with the back of her hand, while Albireo stared at Siwoo with a calm gaze.
Siwoo sat up straight with his knees together and prayed, ‘Please just ask me this much, please just ask me this much.’
Whether it was because of his fervent prayer, Albireo closed her eyes and changed the subject.
“There’s no need to apologize. It’s natural for a man and a woman of age to have feelings for each other, and Mr. Shin Siwoo has already gained the favor of both of our twins.”
“Anything more than a kiss? You didn’t do anything else strange, did you?”
“Deneb, if you’re going to keep interrupting, go out and clear your head for a bit.”
There was an additional interrogation from Deneb that made my spine freeze, but thanks to Albireo, it was stopped.
“Odile’s vessel is fine, and besides, Mr. Shin Siwoo is a benefactor of the Jemernai family. We can’t rashly blame his actions.”
“I know, I know, but… sigh… sigh… I can’t take it. Give me some alcohol too.”
Deneb snatched a bottle of beer and gulped it down.
Even a countess who values etiquette seems to lose half her mind when it comes to the twins.
Siwoo was truly grateful that Count Jemernai was a twin.
If it had just been Deneb, a disaster would have turned into a catastrophe.
“I’m sorry. I let my emotions get the better of me.”
“Ah, no, it’s alright. I would have done the same if I were in your situation. Please raise your head.”
Deneb, who had lowered her head to apologize, seemed to have regained her composure.
Thank goodness.
“First, I must express my gratitude. You have saved our twins not once, but twice, with your courage and wisdom.”
“I pay my respects to your heart that does not spare your life, stands against injustice, and does what is right, regardless of social status.”
“I should have given you this greeting sooner, but as you know, Mr. Shin Siwoo has been unconscious.”
“Although it is late, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.”
The Counts bowed their heads in unison, and Siwoo waved his hands awkwardly, as he had done before.
It wasn’t something he had done to receive thanks.
It was just that his body had moved on its own in that situation.
“No, it’s something I did because I felt I had to.”
The pressure of Count Jemernai bowing their heads, the embarrassment of being suddenly praised, and the anxiety that things could go wrong at any moment all mixed together into a salad that confused Siwoo.
Albireo, who had finished her graceful expression of gratitude, asked first.
“Has your body fully recovered?”
“Yes, thankfully…”
“Baron Marigold must be very happy. She was by your side day and night.”
“……..”
As soon as the name Marigold was mentioned, Siwoo’s face hardened.
Siwoo was not yet in a state where he could maintain his composure upon hearing that name.
It felt like the confusion he had barely managed to forget with Odile’s help had resurfaced.
“Baron Marigold worked very hard to save you. She even brought in a healing witch, and anyway, she took care of you so much that it made me feel solemn just watching…”
Deneb, who knew that Amelia had a crush on Siwoo, casually mentioned her efforts.
Since his life had been saved by Amelia’s desperate struggle, she thought there might be some progress between the two of them, so she brought it up lightly.
However, seeing Siwoo’s expression suddenly darken, she realized that something was wrong and stopped talking.
Siwoo quickly smoothed out his expression, but the awkward atmosphere had already been created.
Albireo skillfully changed the subject.
“…Anyway, we wanted to talk about compensation. A sufficient compensation that Mr. Siwoo can understand.”
Siwoo felt a churning in his stomach and closed his eyes tightly.
Amelia, Amelia, Amelia.
Let’s not think about it now.
You have to look for a place to lie down before you stretch your legs.
Isn’t Count Jemernai the only lifeline that can help him escape from this hell?
There was no need to show a disgraceful side.
“My thoughts haven’t changed, now or ever. I want to go back to the mortal realm.”
He would leave this place.
If he went back and lived calmly, he would forget all the troublesome things.
He had been looking forward to that for five years, so there was no reason for his thoughts to change now.
Returning to the mortal realm was the only firm goal in Siwoo’s life, amidst the extreme confusion of liking someone he hated and hating someone he liked.
“Hmm…”
“I’m asking this out of concern, but… did you hear from the Baron about what might happen if you go to the mortal realm?”
“Yes?”
What might happen if he went to the mortal realm?
Did they mean that witches would be after him now that a man who could use magic had appeared?
Moreover, it seemed that he had even gotten a ‘mark’ now, so he might have to be a little more careful.
But it was a problem he could handle.
He had the music box from Odile, and most importantly, only a very small number of people knew that Siwoo had a mark, so if he hid it well, he would be fine.
“We have no intention of persuading Mr. Siwoo or preventing him from going to the mortal realm.”
“Mr. Shin Siwoo is a rare case that would make most witches drool, but what’s more important is repaying our debt.”
“Yes, thank you for saying that.”
“However… I think we need to explain a little about what might happen when Mr. Shin Siwoo returns to the mortal realm. If you still feel the same way after hearing our explanation, we will respect your decision.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned serious.
It was a little disconcerting.
I thought it would be over once I left, but it wasn’t?
“Take off your eyepatch.”
“Yes?”
Albireo pointed to his left eye as she spoke to the confused Siwoo.
“It’s an issue that needs to be addressed.”
Was it really the right choice to show my eye here?
Siwoo trusted the twins.
Although they were a little immature and playful, he was certain that the innocent Odile and Odet would never betray him.
But what about Count Jemernai?
Was it okay to trust them just because they were the twins’ master?
“We will never reveal or carelessly leak it. I promise you on the name of Jemernai.”
After hesitating for a moment, Siwoo removed the eyepatch that had been tilted on his face.
When he opened his closed eye, a radiant golden eye was revealed.
Albireo recognized its identity immediately.
“Indeed, you have been marked.”
“Good heavens…”
Siwoo’s body had become younger, as if time had been reversed.
Moreover, despite the fact that even the smallest flaws had been perfectly corrected, Albireo had guessed what had happened when she saw him wearing an eyepatch all the time.
Deneb, on the other hand, covered her gaping mouth with her hand, as if she hadn’t expected it at all.
“That’s right. Is this a problem?”
“Not immediately, but there is a high possibility that it could turn into a difficult problem.”
“I’m listening.”
Count Jemernai continued her explanation in front of Siwoo, who was listening intently in order to plan his future life.
