CH 161

Rose has changed.

Since when?

It started on a holiday event.

There were two Rose’s in front of Dylan that day.

A woman who has the memories of Rose and a woman who denies herself.

He was briefly drawn to the second Rose, but there was clear evidence that it was the first Rose, so he was forced to choose the first one.

Because…

How can I leave Rose?

<Why? You are good.>

Dylan had never forgotten what Rose had said to him as a child.

As a very young boy, a plant in a greenhouse, he had seen a genius.

No, something far beyond genius. That being was my brother.

The being who was born with the blessing of God was far ahead of whatever he did.

Dylan became a shadow in the light. As the light grew stronger, his shadow grew darker.

He knew he would be a shadow for the rest of his life.

He tried to learn to accept it.

Until one day.

<I’m getting tired of this>

On the anniversary of his mother’s death, the day everyone forgot, he cried himself to sleep.

I was so sad that I wanted to throw myself down in the dirt, when a girl approached me.

<If I were your mother, I would be sad if my child cried so sadly.>

<What do you care, do you want to die? How dare you come here!>

Blood stood at the corner of the boy’s stained eyes. He wanted to rip and kill the girl in front of him right away.

My mother died a miserable death. Her death was forgotten now.

Because of the girl in front of me! Because of her mother!

They took this county, and my poor mother died in vain.

She looked for her husband, but he didn’t come. Instead, she faded away while holding Dylan’s hand.



<Stop talking and get out of my sight.>

But the girl didn’t move.

<Do you think I’m funny?>

I wonder what kind of poisonous words I should use.

Violence alone can’t drive her away or injure the girl in front of him.

He wanted to see the girl break down, even a little.

It’s only fair.

With my poor mother.

You and your mother shouldn’t be happy. That’s not fair!

So Dylan dared to say things he shouldn’t have said.









Strangely, the more I uttered the words, the ecstasy gradually grew stronger.

A red light flashed in the boy’s eyes. He smiled ecstatically and poured out venomous words.

<Die.>

<Die.>

<Both of you disappear from this world!>

What was the expression on the girl’s face when she heard that abusive language?

Rose had a face that showed neither smiles nor tears, nor any emotion.

At the sight of it, the joy that had been so strong in my heart was instantly extinguished. It wasn’t the reaction I wanted.

Just as I was about to release my bubbling anger, Rose spoke up.

<You know what, Dylan? I’m already in hell.>

Rose smoothed down the boy’s hair, which had been disheveled by his anger.

Normally, it would have been a touch I would have shaken off in disgust, but seeing the face of the desperate girl with no expression on her face, he couldn’t say anything.

Was this really what I was hoping for?

<I’m already in Hell.>

Dylan’s mind went blank for a moment.

This is a deception.

A girl from the slums is sitting in a count’s house, living the happiest life anyone has ever known, and this is hell.

He bit his lip hard.

<I’m flattered. Hell? You and your mother took away everything my mother had, and you enjoyed it all… and you call it hell?>

<… Yes. I’d feel a little more bitter if my mother had enjoyed those things.>

What are you talking about?

Rose’s words sounded as if her mother had not enjoyed it at all.

Is she trying to deceive me again?

<Rather admit it.>

Your mother’s happily ever after.

How dare you take away what belongs to my mother and say something like that…

<My mother didn’t enjoy anything. Nothing.>

Rose, who are you to say such things?

Dylan, unable to handle the rising anger, was about to push Rose on the shoulder.

<I’d be dead before I could enjoy it.>

At that moment, Rose’s expression seemed so sincere, That he thought the woman who had won the Count had finally died.

Did I curse her to death?

Fear came over Dylan looked at Rose, trembling, unable to keep his mouth shut.

Rose pretended to be in the same situation as Dylan, not crying at all.

<Dylan, what if I don’t have anything?>

<What…>



<……>

<It’s been too long since I left ‘there’, so it’s all gone. But I don’t have mine here either.>

Is she finally crazy? What are you talking about?

Inside, he called Rose crazy. Thinking about it, Dylan couldn’t move.

He was afraid that if he said a word to her, the girl would crumble like a sandcastle.

So Dylan stood idly, untouched by Rose, and watched the words pour out like a rapid-fire gun.

<You know, Dylan. You study really well, you were the smartest kid I’ve ever seen.>

That’s when Rose blurted out the words.

As much as he hated the girl in front of him, Dylan couldn’t help but blush at her words.

<You are good at swordsmanship.>

<……>



<You, you, you, how do you know I can sing!>

<Before, after receiving a compliment from your father once, I passed by when you were singing. How can I not hear that?>

Rose smiled briefly as if it was funny.

Dylan had never seen her smile like that.

For a moment, he was mesmerized, but the smile that had captivated him quickly faded.

“You’re so talented. You’re great.>

<Wh-what are you talking about….>

<That’s all I can say, I can’t say much more. Anyway, you’re very good, so don’t cry when you get in trouble.>

<……>

<In my opinion, you were a genius.>

Dylan almost stumbled without resistance at the unfamiliar compliments pouring in.

My brother, who was a genius, heard it so many times that he got bored with it, but not with Dylan.

<This is the only thing I can say.>

<…….>



Rose smiled, but her expression looked like she was crying. Why the hell do you look like that?

<Goodbye then.>

Her voice sounded like she was saying goodbye, but he wondered if that was an illusion.

He wanted to hold on to her.

He wanted to reach out and tell her not to go.

Just a little, just a little more, praise me. Tell me I’m doing a good job.

IHe wanted to make such pleas to the girl who felt like an enemy.

But he couldn’t catch the girl because of his pride.

His pride allowed him to hold on to the servant and ask what happened to the Countess.

As Rose said, I was afraid that she might have died.

But what came back from the servant was that she had a tea party as usual.

Hearing this, Dylan was angry. Did you make fun of me?

He tried to keep his thoughts to himself, but later that night, after tossing and turning, he woke up.

What were those words you whispered to me?

Was it a lie to make fun of me?

I wanted to hear the answer.

With his irritable temperament, he immediately ran out of the room.

The boy didn’t even use his slippers properly and ran.

I still can’t forget the anger and a bit of tension towards the girl. Sweat dripped from his clenched fist.

When he finally stepped out into the garden in a hurry to Rose’s room, Dylan saw it.

<Rose…?>

Rose stepped over the railing of the terrace.

<You now…>

What are you doing now?

Why are you up there?

As Rose’s body staggered, her pink eyes and his red eyes crossed.

The moment the two eyes were about to entangle, the small body fell.

<Oh no… Rose!>

He tried to support the falling girl.

He ran, arms outstretched and sobbing, but he couldn’t outrun the girl’s speed.

The girl’s body shattered as she fell from the high floor.

Dylan never forgot the shocking scene.

Rose committed suicide.

*****

Dylan knows.

That Rose is now using the pilgrimage as an excuse to brutally kill innocent people.

Why the hell are you doing that?

But Rose didn’t answer.

Dylan looked at Yurtha, who was sitting down with blood, for a moment, and then looked at Rose again.

“… Rose, please stop.”

Don’t crawl into the abyss any more.

“Why are you doing this?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t like Rose assaulting my brother.

The two siblings didn’t care what happened to each other in the first place.

I was just terrified that Rose would break.

“… That’s enough.”

Dylan begged, clinging to Rose’s wrist.

But Rose smiled brightly and put the knife in Dylan’s hand.

Dylan stared blankly as Rose wrapped her arms around him.

The knife went straight for Dylan’s hand and plunged into his stomach.