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Chapter 23
I had a dream.
I realized it was a dream because it didn’t feel like my own.
A greenhouse full of green plants.
Edith was sitting in the middle, looking much younger than she does now.
I watched as a third-party observer, almost like a lucid dream, as she spoke to someone.
“…Can’t we not go?”
“…”
“Are you upset because you were awakened because of me? It’s fine. I can handle it. Or do you want to go abroad until things settle down?”
“…”
“…Why aren’t you saying anything, Dylan?”
‘Dylan? Is that Dylan Frederick?’
Only then did I realize who she was talking to.
A boy with messy red hair, wearing shabby clothes but with a delicate face, about the same height as Edith. He didn’t look like the Dylan I knew.
“Answer me!”
Edith snapped at him like crazy, still getting no reply.
“You belong to me! Because I took care of you, you’ve lived comfortably until now without hardships! You said you’d spend your life taking care of me!”
“…”
“And now you want to betray me and leave?”
“It’s not betrayal, Miss. Please don’t say that.”
“Then what is it?! Why are you suddenly leaving for the Count’s family?”
“…”
“What do you think will change there? They won’t accept an illegitimate child like you, who they’ve already abandoned!”
Faced with her harsh words, Dylan’s expression hardened.
After staring at her silently for a while, he finally spoke coldly:
“If that’s what you called me for, I have nothing more to say. I have matters to attend to, so I will leave.”
Seeing Dylan turn decisively, Edith’s blue eyes wavered.
He was about to leave the greenhouse when she cried out:
“…D-Dylan, don’t go!”
“…”
“Don’t go. I’m scared… You’re the only one I have right now.”
Shockingly, she pleaded with her servant. Even more surprising, Dylan stopped in his tracks.
“Ever since that person appeared, everything’s been a mess. Ethan, Vincent… everyone keeps saying ‘Leelin, Leelin, Leelin!’ They’re all obsessed with her!”
“…”
“They said just purifying the magic was enough! Then why does it feel like everyone’s drifting away from me? Why does everyone look at me with pity?”
“…”
“Just like when my father abandoned me…”
Hearing her voice quiver like a child, Dylan finally surrendered.
He sighed, turned back, and knelt before her like a loyal servant.
“Miss, I mean, Edith.”
“…”
“I will never abandon you.”
I was stunned by how close their relationship seemed.
‘Edith and Dylan… were this close?!’
Despite my shock, their conversation continued naturally.
“Then why are you leaving for the Count’s family…?”
“I feel useless and incompetent staying by your side as I am.”
“You? Useless?!”
“Even after all that happened, you still say that?”
Dylan gently lifted one side of Edith’s skirt.
‘What are you doing, you immature brat!’
Even knowing it was a dream, I nearly jumped in surprise.
But then I realized it wasn’t what I thought.
Underneath her skirt, her right leg was wrapped in bandages.
‘…Is she injured?’
Seeing this, Dylan’s face twisted with guilt.
“I’m a fool. I awakened but couldn’t properly handle my powers and failed to protect my mistress.”
“…I told you it’s not your fault.”
“I didn’t even know what magical erosion was until recently. If I let the gate’s chaos sweep her again… If I hurt you…”
“…”
“I could never forgive myself, Edith.”
“Dylan…”
I looked at them, confused, seeing how tender they seemed with each other.
‘He’s ashamed of being her servant… Even in a dream, this is over-dramatic.’
But the dream felt so vivid and specific.
Then—click!
The door suddenly opened, and someone entered the greenhouse.
“I-I’m sorry! I heard Dylan was here…”
I instantly recognized her face.
Soft light brown hair, big green deer-like eyes, gentle, pretty face.
‘The heroine…!’
Edith, who disliked her, reacted sharply.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to purify Ethan. I thought Dylan might be needed too…”
“…!”
Edith bit her lip and trembled, a mixture of jealousy, anger, defeat, and despair toward Leelin, who had powers she could never have.
Leelin, looking at the distressed Edith, then glanced at Dylan still kneeling.
“Dylan, during the last victory banquet, Lady Frederick asked me to tell you something.”
“…”
“I thought you should know…”
“…Alright.”
Reluctantly, Dylan rose. Edith grabbed his sleeve.
“Where are you going? Don’t go, Dylan.”
“I’ll be back soon, Miss.”
“I told you not to go! Don’t you want to see me again?!”
But Dylan gently removed her hand, giving no answer.
“I’ll fetch Nancy. Please return to your room.”
“Dylan!”
“…”
“Dylan—!”
Her desperate voice echoed behind him, but he didn’t look back.
Flash.
The scene changed.
Nothing major had changed.
Same place. Still the greenhouse.
“…What? Did you just say that?”
Edith glared at the man before her.
The boy in shabby clothes had grown into the man I knew as the main male lead.
Red hair neatly combed, in a proper uniform. No trace of the delicate boy who used to be her servant.
“I plan to propose to Leelin.”
Dylan said coldly.
Edith froze in shock.
“You… are you insane?”
“No. Quite sane, actually.”
“Ha!”
Edith let out a sharp, bitter laugh, then screamed:
“You said you’d return soon! You said you’d never betray me! Is this your loyalty?!”
“The family decided this. I can’t go against it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Since when were you part of the Count’s family? You were my servant just three years ago!”
“…Edith.”
“Yes, Miss! I rescued you from living on the streets, fed and sheltered you, and now you act high and mighty just because you awakened some powers…!”
“That’s why—”
Then Dylan suddenly interrupted her loudly.
“That’s why I didn’t want to return. Because you treat people with contempt and mockery!”
“Huh…?”
“Do you know I was a famous male singer who entertained noblewomen? You knew that and still assigned me to you, didn’t you?”
Startled, Edith trembled.
“N-No! I really didn’t know! Why would I—”
“How could someone like me, an abandoned illegitimate child, know the deep intentions of such a noble lady?”
“Dylan!”
“From now on, don’t order me around like this.”
He ended it coldly to his surprised former mistress.
“This will be your last visit to the Duke’s estate, Edith. No…”
“…”
“Princess Blake.”
Edith’s expression slowly fell as she watched him leave.
She was powerless to stop him, her blue eyes shaking and wet, like a child who lost her mother…
“…You wretched bastard!”
I woke up, frustrated at Dylan’s double-sided personality.
