TVOWW 28

Chapter 28

You Smell Delicious

Johan grabbed my shoulder roughly and yanked me down. Before I knew it, I was pinned beneath him. The shadowed face looming over me was nothing like the one I usually saw. If he had always been a gentleman, now he looked like a beast. It felt like I had become prey before a predator.

Scary.

His crimson eyes, unfocused, were filled only with madness. Johan suddenly fixed his gaze on my neck and bit down hard.

“You smell delicious.”

Along with the pain, a burning heat spread through my whole body. I squeezed my eyes shut, instinctively struggling to get away from him as he lunged at me.

So this is a black magic rampage.

It wasn’t just his rough movements—the ominous waves of dark power surrounding him threatened to strike at me.

“…It hurts.”

The words slipped out, and Johan faltered for a moment. That was when, without meaning to, I grasped his hand—blackened by the backlash of dark magic.

“Urgh—!”

Johan’s face twisted in agony. It seemed my touch on the part corrupted by dark magic hurt him. Yet he didn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he gripped it tighter, intertwining our fingers so I couldn’t escape.

Is there really nothing I can do?

I felt helpless for not knowing enough about black magic. Johan had been right. If I stayed here, I couldn’t do anything. I might even lose my life.

No. I said I’d stay with him, didn’t I?

Since I made that choice, I couldn’t despair now. Desperately, I called out to the trees. By now, I had reached the point where I could even speak to them inwardly.

— Trees! This is urgent! Do you know anything about rampages?

Normally, when Johan was around, I avoided speaking to them for fear he’d notice. But this wasn’t the time to be cautious.

They’re not answering.

The trees always responded immediately when I spoke to them. They had wanted to help me, the last remaining fairy.

Does his dark magic block my voice from reaching them?

Johan’s dark aura surged even more violently as he held me. Then, lifting his face from my neck, he slowly met my gaze.

“Who are you talking to right now?”

“H-huh?”

“You just used some strange power. No, what even are you…?”

His crimson eyes wavered between being consumed by darkness and regaining clarity.

So even in a rampage, he can still talk?

But that wasn’t supposed to be possible.

Maybe he just can’t remember it afterward.

Suddenly, the advice the trees had given me came back.

— Even if it feels strange, sometimes act on your impulses. You’re a fairy—sometimes your instincts guide you right.
— What do you mean by that?
— You’ll feel a peculiar urge one day. When that moment comes, follow it.

The words resurfaced vividly. As Johan’s threatening face drew near, I quickly freed one hand from his grasp and placed it on his cheek. Using informal speech to sound more intimate, I spoke softly:

“I’m your wife. The wife you love so much.”

“…What?”

His voice cracked with pain.

“That’s ridiculous…”

“Johan.”

Seeing the distrust in his face, I lowered my voice, sounding almost sorrowful.

“Don’t you remember? You told me you loved me. You asked me to stay by your side, even during your rampages…”

“…I did?”

“So you really don’t remember when you’re rampaging.”

His brows furrowed, but he didn’t push away the hand on his cheek. I forced a reassuring smile.

“But it’s fine. Because I love you, Johan.”

“…You love me?”

“Mm. Otherwise, why would I stay here like this?”

A lie—but one I could only tell because he was rampaging.

“…Strangely, it does hurt less.”

“See? It’s because we love each other. They say mutual love can even suppress a rampage.”

Honestly, I didn’t even know what I was saying anymore.

But Johan really is getting better.

The dark power that had been ready to explode just moments ago was calming down. He was coherent enough to converse again.

Maybe if I just stay, the rampage will pass and he’ll return to normal.

Johan, dazed as he stared at me, suddenly pulled me back tightly into his arms.

“Maybe that’s why.”

“Huh?”

“My heart keeps racing when I look at you.”

That sounded more like the rampage talking.

“I’m still so thirsty. Being near you only makes it worse.”

He kissed along my neck, over and over, with a faint laugh. My face flushed at the relentless intimacy.

This is dangerous in a different way.

Johan was usually smooth and charming, but unfiltered Johan was just as dangerously irresistible. His crimson gaze lingered on me.

“Why does being close to you make it so unbearable?”

“What are you talking abou—”

“You said we’re in love, didn’t you? Then it shouldn’t matter.”

His hand slid greedily along my waist as he smirked.

“I think I’ll devour you.”

I had no time to stop him. He lowered his head and kissed me deeply. Just as I felt something hot invade my lips, the world suddenly turned blinding white.

I blinked, clutching my throbbing head.

I think I kissed Johan…

But now the surroundings had gone stark white, and I had somehow arrived in a strange place.

What’s happening? Do rampages cause this too?

A chilling wind clawed at my skin as I shivered and rubbed my arms. Looking around, I realized I was inside a prison. The structure resembled the one I had seen when visiting the Duke and Duchess of Libertan. As I walked further in, guards suddenly appeared.

What do I do?

There was nowhere to hide. But strangely, even though they looked straight in my direction, they didn’t seem to see me.

“Wow, that brat’s still holding out? I heard he refused to beg even today, clinging to his pride. He’s one stubborn one.”

At those words, my heart skipped a beat.

“He’s stubborn, just like Libertan. No wonder those two ended up together. Torturing his family in front of him and then burning them alive wasn’t enough. They still keep him alive as heir, but at night they torture him in secret and by day they force him to work in the mines.”

“He’s still holding on, but how long can he last?”

Oblivious to me, the guards kept chatting.

“Even if he used to be a slave, in these conditions he won’t last long. And it’s not like the food’s decent.”

“I bet he won’t last a month. The Libertan family is ruthless, sure, but no one can survive on willpower alone.”

They were clearly talking about Johan.

Is this when Johan was being tortured by Libertan?

And since they couldn’t see me, this wasn’t reality.

Could this be a dream of Johan’s past?

Following the guards’ path, I found a boy shackled in chains. His black hair fell over his face as he slumped unconscious against the wall.

That’s Johan…

Even after all the torture, his striking looks made him recognizable instantly.

But…

My chest ached. His condition was horrifying. His arms were chained to the wall, shackles weighed down his legs, and a massive iron weight was attached to prevent escape.

How could they do this…

I didn’t know much about treason or the law, but no matter what, this was monstrous treatment for a child.

They said they didn’t physically harm him since he was the heir.

Yet his bare feet were covered in wounds, and beneath his tattered clothes, countless scars were visible.

So they thought leaving his limbs intact was enough?

Seeing it firsthand, Johan’s past was far more brutal than anything described in the original story. Words failed me as the shock sank in.

How much pain did he endure?

The fact he survived this was nothing short of a miracle.

How could I even resent him after this…

He must have suffered unbearably. I thought what I endured under Libertan was harsh, but Johan had suffered even worse.

“I’m sorry.”

It hurt to know there was nothing I could do for the boy in front of me.

This must be Johan’s past dream. I can’t change anything.

Still, I moved closer to the unconscious child. There were iron bars between us, but somehow I could pass right through. I crouched in front of him, brushing back his messy bangs.

“It must have hurt so much.”

But my hand passed right through, unable to touch.

“Right now, it’s unbearably hard, isn’t it?”

I spoke even though I knew he couldn’t hear.

Suddenly, his lashes fluttered, revealing those crimson eyes.

“Ugh…”

Even opening his mouth seemed painful. I pulled at my sleeve, trying to wipe the sweat from his brow.

“…What… is this… Nobody’s here…”

Maybe he could hear me somehow. Or maybe it was just instinct. Either way, meaningless or not, I didn’t care. I wanted to speak.

“You probably can’t hear me. Even if this changes nothing, I’ll say it anyway—just in case.”

I swallowed hard and placed my hand over his frail one.

“It’s so hard right now, isn’t it? There will be moments when you want to give up.”

Strangely, his crimson eyes seemed to meet mine.

“But still—hold on. You can do it. If you endure this, you’ll succeed in your revenge. You’ll bring down the mighty Libertan family and do whatever you wish.”

Even if that meant my death in the end. Somehow, my words were sincere.

“And once you leave this prison, you’ll find people who’ll help you. People who’ll care for you, stand by you, and devote their loyalty to you. So… even if it’s hard, endure it.”

Tears welled up in Johan’s eyes. He shook his head, swallowing his sobs.

“Don’t cry, Johan. Why are you suddenly tearing up?”

“…So you really can’t hear me.”

Of course he couldn’t. My touch had no substance here, so why would my voice? My heart sank, but I cupped his hollow cheeks gently.

“I wish I could give you my warmth.”

In Libertan, I had no one. That loneliness was the hardest part.

“You’re already so strong and amazing—you don’t need my warmth. But I still want to give it to you.”

I leaned down and kissed his forehead, just as he once kissed mine to comfort me. At once, Johan flinched.

“…Who’s there? Why does my forehead feel warm…?”

Tears brimmed in the boy’s eyes. Shocked, I embraced him tightly.

“Can you hear me? Or can you feel me?”

Maybe—just maybe—there was something I could do. Holding him for a moment longer, I suddenly rose to my feet.