kscans

Chapter 77 - A Love That Wishes for Farewell

In the beginning....

Whenever something unpleasant happened with the king and Rainer, she would cling to Darius as if to erase it all, and tell him little by little what had occurred.

She wanted someone to listen. The disgusting feeling of being touched, the poison she was fed.

But when she told him, the color drained from Darius’s face. This was no good. If he knew everything, Darius might try to protect her and get caught up in the danger.

"It’s okay... It’s okay."

She told herself this, and soon she couldn't even consult him anymore. It became too painful to even write about in her diary.

Her mind was in turmoil. She used her defense and purification magic to their absolute limits. Still, the thoughts wouldn't disappear. These were her own thoughts.

If I leave, Darius can live happily. The noblewomen want to dance with him, to talk with him. I am just in their way.

"Darius, once Mireille is independent, let’s break up. To be honest, I’ve never understood the feeling of love. There’s no point in us staying together like this."

Darius’s eyes widened.

"Ariel... what’s this all of a sudden? Mireille is still only eighteen, right? What do you mean, independent?"

"She can already run the shop by herself. Besides, eighteen is the age I was when I met you."

Yes, Mireille would be fine now. I have to get Mireille away from me quickly, before she’s in danger too.

"She can run the shop because she has her family’s support," Darius said, his voice flustered.

"Then, please find someone for Mireille who can give her peace of mind."

"Can’t that be you and me?"

(If it is, you won't be able to leave me. She’s not even your child.... what have I done to his life?)

"If you and I break up, you’ll be a stranger to Mireille. But if something happens to me, she won’t have any family. So, please find someone who can give her peace of mind...."

The color in Darius’s face changed.

"Ariel, what happened? Was it the king? Or Rainer?"

Ariel shook her head.

"There’s some harassment, but it’s not related to that. I’ve always thought it would be better for us to part ways."

Ariel stated it firmly. I want to protect Darius from the king. And I want to get Mireille and Darius away from me, quickly.

"Darius, I’ll say it again. I don’t understand the feeling of love. I don’t even understand loving Mireille."

(Please, I’m begging you, be free from me and be happy.)

"Right, this dagger... give this to Mireille. If something happens to me, entrust it to the person who will become her family. I’ve arranged it so she can go to the tower if she needs to."

Darius held his head in his hands. Ariel was clearly incoherent and confused.

One moment she was trying to break up, the next she was clearly implying she was in danger.

Recently, a pattern had emerged where she would become unstable after an audience with the king and try to end their relationship. But when he pressed for details, she would just say it was nothing and that she was fine. When he tried to intervene, she would refuse, saying it was about the Magic Furnace.

Ariel was ridiculously strong, so he was sure she would be fine no matter what they did to her....

But he had never seen Ariel so agitated before. It was as if some thread inside her had snapped.

In fact, separate from Ariel’s words, there was a man he thought would be good for Mireille and wanted to introduce them. The captain of the First Knight Order, a skilled man. He had his own issues and was a bit awkward with women, but he was just right for an eighteen-year-old Mireille. He even reminded Darius a little of his younger self. If it turned into a good match, Ariel might feel a bit more at ease. That’s what he had been thinking.

"I understand. I’ll be sure to find a good person for Mireille. As for us, let’s decide slowly, once you’ve calmed down."

Darius prioritized calming her down above all else. But why hadn’t he talked things through with her until she had settled down? Why had he just assumed she would be fine because she was strong?

Darius would later come to regret this decision.