I Raised Him Modestly, But He Came Back Obsessed With Me - Chapter 75

“Then I’ll go this way.”

Verne split first at the crossroad. Cersinia and May were walking down the corridor to the annex. She went around the mansion again today. Unlike yesterday, they decided to take charge of each area and carefully search.

“Are you feeling okay?”

When there were only the two of them left, May asked carefully. She seemed worried that Cersinia didn’t look good since yesterday.

“I’m okay.”

Cersinia was more determined than expected. She was not terribly surprised because she now accepted her implicit feelings toward Ben. It’s just that it wasn’t easy for her to admit it.

“May.”

“Yes?”

“You told me yesterday. That I like Ben.”

“Ah, I’m so sorry Cersinia, I didn’t mean it like that!”

May tried deny it, even waving her hands, afraid that her words stuck in Cersinia’s mind and troubled her.

“No, you’re right.”

Her crimson eyes, with no more confusion or denial, were firm.

“I like him.”

Cersinia revealed. Last night, Ben stood in front of her door for a long time and went back. Perhaps he just wanted to let her know that his feelings haven’t changed, but he didn’t wake her up nor burden her and so just went back quietly. Cersinia sat in the hallway for a long time, after Ben returned, constantly reflecting on her conscious feelings.

“As expected! I knew it. So, are you two becoming official now? Since you like each other.”

May clapped her hands and as if she had finally finished a tiring task. Cersinia shook her head as she saw the excitement in her eyes which were starting to sparkle.

“No. I rejected him.”

“Pardon? Did he confess? No, rather than that, you rejected him!? Why? Why!”

“I don’t want him to suffer because of me.”

It really was one of the reasons she rejected him. Cersinia didn’t want her most precious person to suffer from hardships or get hurt because of her. That and the fact that she didn’t know what her fate would be in the future.

“But…”

May blurted out. She understood where Cersinia was coming from to some extent because she knew that Cersinis was hunted and almost burned for her abilities. As she recalled, the Grand Duke she had seen recently was as lifeless as a man who had lost all his hope. His face, was not only haggard but also somber, and his eyes were red.

‘So it was all because of Cersinia’s rejection.’

It made sense now. May wanted to say that the Grand Duke already looked and acted like a dead man, but she couldn’t utter a word. Cersinia’s expression wasn’t good either. Feeling frustrated, May sighed and said.

“Cersinia, just think about your feelings. Apart from everything, what do you want to do?”

May felt sorry for the two, who cared for each other and put others first but didn’t know how to take care of themselves.

“I’ll go this way.”

May went to her assigned place. Cersinia, left in the corridor, kept hearing May’s words repeat in her mind.

‘What do I want to do?’

It was a question that she had never thought about. She was always too preoccupied about how to avoid the situation and worrying about an uncertain future. However, what if something big and dangerous happens after doing what she wants?

‘If these hands hurts him.’

‘What if I lost consciousness and go wild again…’

‘What should I do then?’

A breeze blew next to Cersinia. Her skirt fluttered, and the cold wind penetrated her skin. She lowered her gaze and looked at her hands. Her hands, which looked as ordinary as everyone else’s, kept making her uneasy.

‘I just want to be normal.’

It was a dream that she had always hoped for ever since she possessed this body. However, she couldn’t pick up the water that had already been spilled, so she accepted it and lived with it, but she kept getting greedy. The desire to be next to him and live like everyone. Just a normal person who doesn’t have powers. Like Aronia, someone who can fully express her own feelings. Not the only witch in the Empire, but just a human being. She just wanted to be by his side like that.

‘It was clearly impossible.’

The corners of her lips curled into a bitter smile as the wind ruffled her hair. After passing through the bare trees with no leaves left, she headed to the annex. Soon, autumn passed, and it was now already winter.

* * *

Ben woke up almost in the afternoon. Lately, it has been common for him to toss and turn all morning because he has not been able to sleep properly. He barely fell asleep yesterday, but he woke up because of a terrible nightmare.

He dreamt of the days when he was trapped underground without a single piece of light and lived without knowing when he could go out. And that the only way he endured it was by reflecting on the name of Cersinia dozens of times a day.

He wanted to kick his way into Cersinia’s room. Because he missed her the moment he woke up. He wants to make sure that they’re not alone but together. However, when he arrived in front of her door, he could not bring himself to enter. He wanted to open the door, just in case she wasn’t there. But he’s afraid that Cersinia would tell him to stop and leave after facing him. He returned like a coward and ran away.

“Archen.”

At a short call, Archen opened the door as if he had waited and came in.

“Did you call for me, Your Excellency?”

“I need to go to the medical center.”

It was to get a prescription for sleeping pills. He had to sleep even if he borrowed the power of medicine. Otherwise, his anxiety and negative thoughts would eat him up.

“Did you feel sick? I will call the doctor.”

“I’ll go out on my own. Please prepare the carriage.”

“Yes, I understand. Lady Cersinia is taking a walk after breakfast.”

Ben was relieved with Arcen’s report and nodded his head slightly.

‘Cersinia is still by my side.’

Maybe it’s because of his request to stay by his side until his heart is ready to accept it. He smirked. Even he was getting tired of his selfish self, who wants notihng but to hold on to her.

“Then I’ll prepare it.”

Archen left, and Ben took off the bracelet he was wearing on his hand for a while and headed to the bathroom. He wiped away the cold sweat he had shed while sleeping. He immediately put the bracelet back on after his shower not even thinking of dressing up first. Without this, he felt like everything connected to Cersinia would be cut off.

He opened the drawer next to the bed and smoothed the worn-out bracelet. The bracelet, which couldn’t find its owner, was in his hand. Thanks to this bracelet, he was able to survive for the last three years. He sat on the bed, touched the bracelet for a while, put it back to its previous place, and stood up.

“You don’t have to clean it up, so don’t let anyone in.”

He ordered Archen before he went out. The drawer was not completely closed.

* * *

Entering the annex, Cersinia looked around every nook and cranny. The annex, which was a bit far from the main building, was different from the other buildings. If the main building gave the feeling of a quiet and magnificent mansion, the annex was old and faded making it look as if it came from the slums. Every time she walked, the wooden floor creaked, just like her old cabin. It was well-maintained and tidy, but it didn’t look like a place for a person to live.

‘He tricked me.’

As Cersinia walked down the hallway, she gritted her teeth. For the second day, she still believed the words from Limapheus and was looking for that place, but there was nothing strange in the mansion. And not even this annex looked like it contained a hidden space.

When Cersinia talked to Archen, she knew what happened in the past was hurtful for Ben. So she suddenly believed Limapheus’s words because she thought that she could have been of help.

“How could he play with human emotions?”

Limapheus knew Cersinia cared about Ben. So, he must have made fun of her with this nonsense. She was so upset that he wanted to beat Limapheus if they ever met again. Although she doesn’t want to see him again.

‘That guy will be with Verne? I feel so sorry for Verne.’

Before she knew it, she had already downgraded Limapheus. The Crown Prince did not suit a good and kind woman like Verne. There’s no way she can get along with him, a poisonous snake-like person who hides behind a nice smile. The two of them are destined to be connected, so there’s no way it can be helped, but in Cersinia’s heart, she wanted to interfere with anything that related the both of them completely.

“Huu…”

Cersinia eventually returned without finding anything in the annex.

“Huh? Have I ever been to a place like this?”

That’s when she found an unusually dark and narrow hallway she had never seen before. The corridor was dimly lit thanks to lights since there was no window. She instinctively entered the corridor. The latter was so quiet that even small footsteps could be heard.

‘Why is this place so messy?’

That was the first thought she had while looking around. Unlike the other well-managed corridors, this corridor smelled musty even though there was no mold nor damp spots on the walls. Rather, it was dusty enough to tickle her throat. But there was nothing special except for it being messy and dark. Cersinia reached the end of the corridor and was about return to the annex.

‘A gap? Why is there a gap in the wall?’

There was a crack in the wall that only appreade when under the light. She quickly moved closer and took a look. All the wooden walls were woven horizontally, but strangely, there was a vertical gap on this wall, just like a door which was slightly ajar.

“Do you know that there is a hidden place in the Grand Duchy?”

Limapheus’s words came to her. Cersinia hurriedly touched the wall. The crack felt like it was really artificially made and even appeared to be in the shape of a door. Her heart pounded with strange tension and excitement.

“Outsiders are not allowed to enter this place.”

“Argh!”

Surprised by the sudden sound, Cersinia couldn’t control her strength and slammed her fist against the wall.

At that moment.

Rumble.

The wall was pushed forward and opened with an unpleasant sound.