TVOWW 25

Chapter 25

I Will Obsess Relentlessly
2022.02.25

When I heard the word “first night,” I unconsciously swallowed hard.

‘This wasn’t even in the original story.’

Of course, not following the original was exactly what I wanted. But I couldn’t be sure that Johan’s changes would be entirely good for me.

‘I haven’t done anything wrong to make this happen, have I?’

A chill ran down my spine. Seeing me tense like that, Johan chuckled softly, as if he found it cute.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen until my lady permits it.”

The fingers that had touched my lips withdrew, and he whispered lowly:

“When will that be, I wonder?”

“……”

“I don’t think I can wait for too long.”

Recently, Estelle had been sleeping a lot. Johan watched her as she lay quietly, softly breathing. She looked like a princess in an eternal slumber.

‘…She seems to be feeling fatigued more often.’

He saw the marks he had left on her delicate collarbones and pale, slender neck. The sight of those unnecessary traces darkened his eyes. After the recent masquerade ball, she seemed to have fallen asleep deeply again without even realizing it.

“What if she never wakes up again?”

Gently stroking her forehead, Johan slowly stepped outside.

“I’ll be back.”

Outside, Erich was waiting for him.

“Master. The investigation into the Laviann orphanage has been completed.”

“And the results?”

“It seems the orphanage has been completely shut down due to corruption. The people involved have dispersed, so investigating will take time. But there is one thing that caught my attention.”

He handed over something he was holding: a picture of the orphanage’s floor after closure.

“An ancient magic circle was discovered on the orphanage floor. Master, would you like to examine it?”

“I have no idea what it is.”

Even Johan, well-versed in magic, couldn’t identify the type of magic circle. It was a spell from ancient times.

‘Magic, huh…’

Suddenly, frail Estelle came to mind. Usually, he found his lovely wife endearing for no reason, but this time it was different.

‘Her body doesn’t respond well to magic.’

Estelle naturally resisted most spells. The magic Johan had set up to protect her often failed or backfired.

‘Even when Anton was around…’

If the magic had worked normally, that man’s body would have been burned to ashes. But only the backlash occurred.

‘She cannot be healed by magic.’

Johan recalled the time he placed a ruby anklet on Estelle’s pale, slender ankle. The magic transferred pain to him. Even he, who was resistant to pain, couldn’t endure it, and the spell itself collapsed. Estelle’s symptoms worsened gradually.

‘The fact that she doesn’t feel pain well now and sleeps increasingly is proof.’

Perhaps her seeming familiarity with danger and pain was simply because her body was suffering. Johan’s sharp gaze landed on Erich as he reviewed the report.

“If we trace the remnants related to ancient magic, we may find clues.”

“Understood. I will continue the investigation of this orphanage as per your orders.”

The first night: a ritual required to formally acknowledge a married couple in the Empire.

‘Can I keep avoiding it?’

There was no excuse left to keep avoiding it.

‘Probably the last chance will be around my birthday.’

In the original story, Johan’s revenge against me began in earnest after my birthday.

‘I might have to find a way to escape before that.’

I sighed. Then the tree beside me spoke.

• You really look troubled.

“Yes. But I don’t have any way to deal with it.”

I had run into the forest to be alone. Betty always wanted to stay close, but if I sneaked away, she wouldn’t immediately find me.

‘Of course, Johan would notice if I went too far.’

Still, being in the forest felt somewhat safer. The trees treated me like grandfathers meeting their granddaughter for the first time, cherishing me. I liked that they seemed to take my side in any situation. They were the first beings to care for me without prejudice.

• Still planning to run?

“Only if there’s a way. They say I can’t use my fairy powers in this cursed state.”

The trees said my fairy power was strong—enough to vanish anywhere I wanted. But under this curse, I couldn’t use it.

• How did you end up entangled with such a relentless fellow…

The trees clicked their tongues, each offering their opinion.

‘He seems perfect on the outside, though.’

Johan was more than just handsome. He had the flawless bloodline of the ducal family, graceful movements and posture despite not growing up as a noble, and eloquence. I might be pretty, but I was still an orphan. People would think I was lucky to marry so well. But the trees disapproved of Johan’s obsessive tendencies.

• From the start, he didn’t sit right with me. Leaving such marks on his wife… not even animals would do that.

• Yes, and those black magicians are always relentless.

• You must escape properly. If done poorly, you’ll be punished even more.

I asked carefully: “Have you seen many black magicians?”

• Of course. They may hide, but not from our eyes.

• They each look different, but there’s one thing in common.

“What is that?”

The usually talkative trees were silent for a moment, making the pause feel unusual.

“Tell me! Is it that serious?”

• Obsession.

“Huh?”

• To be a black magician, you need immense obsession—so much that they disregard their own life.

Thinking about it, Johan’s obsession with revenge wasn’t wrong.

• So, child, be careful. He is dangerous even now.

• Yes. Your husband…

The trees spoke firmly in unison.

• The most skilled and terrifying black magician we’ve seen.

“Of course.”

I already had an idea of his prowess.

• There’s a reason we say this. Their obsession matches their skill. You may have to endure all of it.

• They cling fiercely to what is theirs and will never give up. He will obsess over you relentlessly.

Half of the trees’ warnings were accurate.

‘In the original, he completes his revenge anyway.’

I nodded in agreement.

“Yes. That seems likely.”

The trees were unsettled by my calm response.

• Then why try to escape? It might provoke him further.

• Yes. Staying put might be better.

“I would like that too… but…”

Johan obsessed over me because I was his target for revenge.

“I’ll have to escape to avoid him eliminating or discarding me.”

• Oh… poor child.

• How did the last fairy end up with such a madman…

The trees’ branches stroked me. Johan and others seemed to want to ruffle my hair whenever they saw me.

‘Do they want to touch my hair because it looks soft and appealing?’

The pink-tinged platinum hair at the Libertan dukedom often drew criticism for being different from Estella. But Betty, Johan, and the trees all liked it. I thought I didn’t care, but I must have been conscious of past criticism. Hearing these words actually made me feel better.

• Need a change of scenery?

A tree lowered a thick branch.

• Seeing the view from above is different. Want to try?

“Sure.”

• I’ll safely lift you up.

As I perched on the branch, it extended upward.

‘The view is definitely different.’

The wind felt fresher than below.

“Thank you.”

I dangled my legs and leaned on the tree. The place didn’t change much, but it felt oddly comforting.

“Is there any way to enhance my fairy powers now?”

• Ah! I asked the other trees about that, hoping someone knows more.

“Really?”

• Yes. Apparently, relics related to fairies can enhance their power. Learn about fairies too.

‘Relics, huh.’

Investigating fairies openly risked exposure.

‘To acquire relics, I might need to use my duchess authority… or sneak out and hire the guild.’

‘Perhaps secretly learning while doing my duchess duties is safest.’

I enjoyed the passing wind while considering options and apparently dozed off.

• Child! Someone’s coming, time to wake up…

Rubbing my eyes, I looked up.

“-You!”

Someone was already under the tree. Erich, in a black suit, stared at me in shock.

“How did you climb that high?”

The tree I climbed was the tallest in the forest.

‘I seem to always get misunderstood around Erich.’

I gave a small greeting.

“Long time no see, Baron Blonieu.”

“Is this the time to greet?”

Erich’s voice rose.

“I don’t know how you climbed, but it’s dangerous. Come down immediately.”

“Ah… can I come down a bit later?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Erich’s blue-gray eyes were filled with anxiety, staring at the height.

‘If I fell, it would complicate things.’

The key point: it’s hard to descend while relying on the trees with Erich around.

‘The trees can move the branches to help me down?’

It would look strange. Erich would report Johan if he saw it. The wind lifted my platinum hair as I calmly replied:

“Don’t worry.”

“…Don’t worry?”

“You dislike me anyway. I’ll come down on my own, no need to interfere.”

Erich bit his lip, displeased.

“What if you fall? You should wait until someone is below to catch you…”

“I can handle it. Even if I fall, I won’t die.”

Of course, a truly fragile person might die, but that wouldn’t happen.

“Why are you saying such irresponsible things?”

“Baron Blonieu, you suffered great losses from the Libertan dukedom, right?”

Erich flinched.

“How do you know that? Who told you?”

“I could tell just from what you said to me.”

Erich’s behavior was obvious. Even if not mentioned in the original, I would have noticed. He sighed and nodded.

“Yes. I hate the Libertan dukedom more than anyone.”

“So it would be good if I died, right?”

Erich assumed I was a beloved daughter of Libertan.

“Why are you worrying about me?”

In the original, Erich was one of the people pressuring me. He never comforted or helped Estelle, and even rejoiced at her downfall.

“If I die by accident, you’ll be pleased.”

“I….”

At that moment, a warm sensation rose in my chest.

‘I’m doomed.’

Maybe I’d cough up blood again, just like last time. Right in front of Erich.