KMPEG 71

Chapter 71

Frederic turned to me and asked,

“Delphine, are you alright? What did this bastard do to you?”

I held my throat with both hands, opening and closing my mouth like a fish. I wanted to speak, but no words came out. Frederic glanced at Edward’s staff and asked,

“Delphine, did he use torture magic on you? Is that what happened?”

I nodded.

It was horrifying. Even though it only lasted a short while, it felt like every light in my life had been stolen away.

My vision had gone completely dark, my ears rang with a loud buzzing noise. It felt like I was trapped somewhere with no escape, my body burning in unbearable pain.

It was terrifying. That suffocating feeling—as if I was locked away forever with no hope of light again.

My body began trembling again. The words that finally slipped out of me were shaky and frightened:

“S-so… scary…”

Frederic let go of Edward’s collar and came over to my bed.

—Grab!

Before I knew it, I was in Frederic’s arms. He sat down carefully on my bed, holding me gently.

I took slow, deep breaths in his arms. Gradually, my panic eased. His warmth calmed me.

‘Frederic…!’

I hadn’t noticed before, but Frederic was trembling just as much. He was shaken too.

For a while, he held me tightly without saying a word, while I rested against his chest. Slowly, his trembling lessened.

“Ha…”

He tightened his embrace and said,

“Sorry. I should’ve come sooner.”

I couldn’t answer. I just buried my face deeper against his chest.

Then he whispered near my ear,

“When I heard you scream, I thought I’d lose my mind, Delphine.”

Frederic pulled back a little, meeting my eyes.

“Delphine. I’m sorry.” His voice shook.

“Sorry for disappointing you. And… for not telling you earlier.”

I knew he was talking about Charlier and the curse orbs.

My heart pounded. It was hard to meet his eyes, so I lowered my gaze.

“Delphine, I always want to protect you.”

…

I couldn’t say anything.

But his words felt even better than hearing a love confession.

Instead of replying, tears rolled down my cheeks.

—Click.

Just then, the door burst open.

“Delphine…!”

It was Tiago. He strode quickly toward me.

Frederic stood up and moved aside. Watching his back as he stepped away left me with an odd, empty feeling.

‘Why… why do I feel disappointed?’

Tiago looked around the room, sighing heavily.

He sat at the edge of my bed, taking my hands in his.

“I was too late, Delphine. I’m sorry.”

His face was full of guilt. I shook my head.

Tiago turned to Frederic.

“Thank you, Frederic.”

Frederic stepped closer but spoke coldly.

“No need to thank me. I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Delphine.”

His eyes lingered briefly on my hands, still held in Tiago’s. Then, as if rejecting the thought, he looked away.

Tiago walked over to Edward, who lay unconscious.

“I’ll handle him.”

He knelt beside Edward, placing a hand over his face. Slowly, he swept his hand across.

Edward’s bloodied face instantly healed, the wounds vanishing.

“Whew.” Tiago dusted his hands and stood.

“This should be enough. He’ll remember everything, but no one will believe him anyway.”

He turned to Frederic.

“It’s best if only we know what happened today.”

Frederic nodded. It was safer that way. After all, it wouldn’t look good that the son of a baron had beaten senseless the heir of a powerful priestly family.

Tiago continued,

“And Frederic.”

“…?”

“Did you see Lady Charlier today?”

At once, Frederic’s face stiffened.

“No. Why?”

“Then let’s go see her together.”

Tiago started for the door. Frederic followed.

“I want to go too!” I said quickly.

They both turned to me.

“Delphine, are you sure you can?” Frederic asked.
“Delphine, you should rest,” Tiago added.

But I nodded.

“Yes. I’ll be fine. Honestly, I’d rather go with you two than stay here with… that.”

I glanced at Edward as I said “that.” Both Tiago and Frederic nodded in agreement.

Then I asked softly,

“Tiago, can you help me walk?”

Both their expressions changed—Tiago’s face brightened with a warm smile, while Frederic’s face darkened with disappointment.

‘Frederic… why do you look so hurt? We’re nothing.’

I thought of it as a kindness to him. Going to Charlier’s room, I didn’t want to be leaning on Frederic.

Because no matter what he said about wanting to protect me, his heart still belonged to Charlier. I didn’t want to stand between them.

A faint ache pressed against my chest. The happiness I’d felt earlier when Frederic held me had already disappeared, leaving only a hollow emptiness.

At Charlier’s Room

“Charlier!”

Frederic rushed inside the moment he opened the door, his voice full of desperation.

He ran straight to the sofa, lifting Charlier’s limp body into his arms.

‘See, Frederic. She’s always your first priority…’

I watched quietly. No matter what, Charlier came first for him. I could never take that place.

‘I should understand. Frederic could never let her go. His world is filled only with Charlier.’

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

“Don’t worry, Delphine,” Tiago whispered gently. He wrapped his arm carefully around my shoulder. Hearing his steady heartbeat, I leaned against him slightly.

Frederic’s anguished cries filled the room as he shook Charlier softly.

“Charlier! Please, open your eyes!”

Tiago released me and went to him.

“Lady Charlier is fine, Frederic,” he said calmly.

Frederic looked up at him with tearful eyes. He looked like he might break down at any second.

Tiago bent over and checked Charlier carefully.

“She’s alright. She’s just in a very deep sleep. Waking up will take a long time.”

“How long…?” Frederic asked.

“Best case, a week. Worst case… more than a month. I can’t promise.”

“…Charlier…!”

Frederic’s cry rang with despair as he hugged her tightly.

I could only watch.

Watching Charlier

Her eyes were closed in sleep, and she looked beautiful. No—“beautiful” wasn’t enough. She was truly the kind of person who fit the word goddess-like.

Her pale skin was flawless, her long lashes framed her delicate face, and her lips, soft pink even without blood, seemed perfect.

‘Yes. You really are the heroine.’

I sat beside her bed, quietly staring at her face.

Across from me, Frederic sat as well, holding her hands tightly against his forehead as though in desperate prayer.

“Hmm.”

At last, Tiago finished his long incantation and lifted his hand from Charlier’s forehead.

“That’s all I can do for now. We’ll have to wait and see how she recovers.”

Then he explained: Charlier and Michaela had cursed each other. Michaela died, but Charlier survived thanks to a protective ruby she carried.

After hearing this, Frederic finally raised his head. His eyes were full of sorrow.

“Charlier…”

He couldn’t finish the sentence. Tiago gave him a reassuring look.

“She’ll be fine, Frederic. I promise. Lady Charlier will wake again.”

Frederic lowered his shoulders, nodding weakly. His devotion was clear in his expression.

As Tiago buttoned his sleeve cuffs, he said,

“You two should stay here. I’ll take Edward back to his chamber. And then…”

Tiago turned his gaze toward me.