The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 65

Iliya stood at the garden entrance as if nailed to the spot. The play had just begun, and before long, Iliya had arrived at this place. However, he couldn’t enter.

He watched on the stage as a boy and a girl who had embarked on an adventure held skewers in one hand, enjoying the festival.

[Later… before we part ways. The masquerade festival is about to begin.]

[Let’s go together. I’ll buy something delicious as a farewell gift.]

What Evelyn had promised as a farewell gift seemed to be those skewers.

[ I’ll go with Libe. Don’t regret it later.]

Even the way he stared at himself without a response… Why these memories surfaced now was inexplicable.

Once the floodgate opened, memories chased after each other. A lonely girl trapped in a tower, two people who paired up to hunt wild boars and a nameless plain filled with round flowers

A few years ago, at the Maduse Grand Magic Tournament Iliya had definitely been there.

A lightning-like realization struck Iliya.

This play was the story of Nikolas Lauren and Evelyn Maduse.

The untold story of the two he didn’t know

Haha, a laughter that seemed to escape from Iliya’s mouth echoed. He felt an unbearable sense of defeat.

On the stage, Evelyn, spinning around with a bright smile, caught Iliya’s eyes. She looked so unfamiliar, laughing like the happiest woman in the world.

‘She was a woman who could wear such a happy expression.’

Clutching his fist, the solid sensation of metal touched Iliya’s palm. The words René had been shouting incessantly for days came to mind.

[Lieutenant, we’re invited to Madam’s birthday party. Let’s’so together.]

[Lieutenant, it’s Pia.] She’s the madam. Will Lord Lauren let Madam go?  ]

From childhood to now, René has never been wrong.

The knight guarding the garden entrance looked at Iliya, who stood there like a statue, with utter confusion. Summoning his courage, the knight asked Iliya, “Lieutenant, shall I announce your arrival…”

“I’m leaving.”

Before the knight could finish his sentence, Iliya turned away. The elite guards, who had been watching the Duke with puzzled expressions since his arrival, followed him.

****

Iliya was making his way out of the annex as if fleeing. Just before leaving, he glanced up at Evelyn’s bedroom on the second floor.

His narrowed eyes focused on the thin, billowy curtains hanging from the bedroom window. A dark figure was faintly visible against them.

‘Evelyn’s maids should be watching the play, and the other servants should be in the garden. An assassin?  ‘

Iliya leaped into the building without hesitation. The annex was dimly lit. Holding his breath, Iliya stealthily made his way to Evelyn’s bedroom on the second floor. Upon reaching the second floor, he pressed against the wall and took a deep breath. Clad in black from head to toe, Iliya became one with the darkness.

As Iliya prepared to move again, he saw the intruder emerging from Evelyn’s room. Iliya held his breath once more, erasing any trace of his presence.

The intruder glanced around before starting to walk in the opposite direction of Evelyn’s room. Iliya cautiously followed the intruder. As the distance between them narrowed, the intruder’s back came into view.

‘A maid working in the annex.’

It was obvious where a mischievous maid would go. In the room with the lady’s jewelry and the toilet room, suppressing a smirk, Iliya followed the maid.

‘A husband caught a thief on his wife’s birthday.’

Mocking himself, Iliya silently trailed behind the maid. As expected, the maid reached for the latch of the toilet room. The creaking sound as the door opened prompted the maid to enter hurriedly.

Iliya pushed his foot through the slightly ajar door and quietly opened it. The maid, frantically searching the dressing table, seemed oblivious to the intrusion.

“Not in the bedroom, not here either. Where the hell is that cursed Vermilion Ring?”

A thud, and the maid, her throat quickly constricted, fell backward. In the firm grip of the arm that had wrapped around her from behind, she struggled. Instinctively, she tried to bite down, but Iliya was quicker. As his long fingers entered her mouth, she instinctively bit down on them.

“Milord, we will take care of it.”

The elite guards rushed into the toilet room. Iliya tossed the maid aside as if she were an object.

With a bloodied hand, Iliya rummaged through the dressing table. Opening each drawer one by one, he sighed in relief after confirming the absence of the Vermilion Ring and necklace. Evelyn had probably secured them in a safe place.

“Strengthen the security of the annex. And tell the captain of the guard to come to the dungeon immediately.”

“Yes, Milord.”

Iliya briefly put his hand into his pocket and felt something hard. It seemed wrong to give it away today.

Smirking self-deprecatingly, he exited the toilet room. A knight, carrying the still struggling maid like a wild beast, followed him.

“Wow, that was an amazing performance! I was literally holding my breath the entire time!”

As the actors took the stage for their final bow, Sophie exclaimed from the audience. The enthusiastic actors bowed to the audience, and thunderous applause echoed through the hall.

“Miss, I wonder if the girl who escaped the tower remained happy forever afterward?”

Evelyn couldn’t answer Sophie’s question. Once, she believed in eternity, but now, not so much. Did the girl who left the tower and threw herself into a new world truly find eternal happiness?

Lost in thought, Evelyn was interrupted by a tall shadow.

The girl who had danced with Evelyn, the protagonist of the play, stood in front of her with a vibrant bouquet.

[Vermilion, an unchanging love.]

[Even in a fantasy, it breaks. I’ll give it to you as a gift. Come on, take it.]

This time, Evelyn received a real Vermilion. Haha, the ending was so perfect that Evelyn couldn’t help but smile.

Observing Evelyn’s joyful smile, a tall girl slightly bowed. As the Vermilion crown adorned Evelyn’s head, the applause and cheers from the audience grew even louder.

“Madam, happy birthday!”

“You look so beautiful!”

Truly, today was the best day of Evelyn Maduse’s life. After the vibrant birthday party concluded, Evelyn sat in the garden for a while. Her heart was pounding too much; it seemed impossible to fall asleep like this.

“Miss, something seems a bit off about the annex, doesn’t it?”

Evelin glanced around at Sophie’s words.

“Yeah, what could have happened?”

Looking towards Arthas, Evelyn saw him nod. Glancing at Belina, she noticed the same concern.

“Maybe everyone’s just excited, like me.”

Evelyn smiled playfully, brushing away a strand of hair from the sleeping Libe’s face, who lay across Sophie’s lap.

“Our son must be very tired.”

“Master, he’s never seen so many people before.”

Evelyn looked at the sleeping child’s face with a complex expression. Watching her son, a person came to mind.

She claimed not to expect anything, but that was a lie. Despite enjoying the best birthday of her life surrounded by so many well-wishers, she was concerned about one person.

“Sophie, I’ll go to the chapel for a moment. Please take care of Libe until then.”

“Why go to the chapel at this hour?”

Sophie looked at Evelyn with a puzzled expression.

“Because I’m too happy… I want to offer a prayer of thanks. I’m not sure if I deserve to be this happy.”

As Evelyn’s expression darkened slightly, Sophie pushed her back gently.

“Hurry back. The day is not over yet.”

“Thank you, Sophie.”

After a nod from Belina and a signal to Arthas, Evelyn quietly left, followed by the two.

They walked along the path and reached the chapel. Belina stayed a distance away, keeping watch while Evelyn prayed. She closed her eyes but did not pray. Instead, she recalled the events of the day.

First and foremost was Nikolas Lauren. A man who closely resembled Nacer.

Thinking of him made her heart beat irregularly. Evelyn wiped her forehead, where her heart was, with her hand.

[Now… Do I appear as a different person?]

Evelyn had to admit it now. After that day, he was Nikolas Lauren, not a man resembling Nacer.

From now on, when she thought of Nacer while looking at Nikolas, it seemed he would come to mind. Before, whenever she saw Nikolas, she thought of Nacer… but the saying that the dead were the most pitiful was true.

And… the man Evelyn had been waiting for finally came to mind again. Her heart tingled once more.

Evelyn lowered her head and neatly raised both hands above her knees. As her hazel eyes sparkled in the darkness, golden sand appeared over the white dress she was wearing.

With her fingers, Evelyn began to draw on the sand. Rough lines gathered to form a familiar face.

Iliya, laughed like a boy as he looked at a giant whale.

Iliya, standing behind and teaching how to shoot a crossbow.

Iliya, kissing her under the moonlit night on the sea.

Iliya tenderly massaged her swollen legs in a shabby inn room.

And again…

Tears fell drop by drop on the countless faces of Iliya drawn in the sand. Evelyn stared blankly as the tears spread, erasing his face.

Evelyn wiped away the distorted image of Iliya’s face with the palm of her hand. She continued to draw the faces of different Iliyas.

Iliya, who initially coldly turned away from their first meeting with their son.

Iliya, growling about their relationship and the connection with his brother.

Iliya struggles with the nightmare of the past while passing through the gorge.

Iliya, beheading the statue’s neck with a sword, claiming it was a gift for Duke Marcus.

And again…

Iliya, Iliya, Iliya.

She murmured her husband’s name several times.

A long shadow fell before her. A sweet-toned voice echoed in her ears.

“My name will wear out.”

She raised her head absentmindedly. Looking down at her was the affectionate Iliya.

At that moment, on Evelyn’s lap, the golden sand that had been shining disappeared as the light scattered.