“I asked you, what are you doing here right now?”
“…….”

I thought it was a dream.

But when I opened my eyes, I saw this bizarre situation with Ania Bronte in my bed.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that it was reality.

Her scent, voice, and vivid blue eyes shone in the darkness.

It was all Ania Bronte.

“Answer me.”

But why…

If it’s not a dream, why would this woman sneak into my room?

Dismissing the strange and sinister thought of attacking me while I slept, I quickly faced reality.

While I was asleep… what could be gained from this room?

Slowly, I turned my gaze to the desk.

Important corporate secrets, sealed by magic, were inside the desk drawer, unknown even to the directors of Edward Company.

I turned my gaze again.

In one corner of the room was a metal safe made of a high-grade metal used to create swords for its durability against magic and physical attacks.

Inside were my personal belongings unrelated to the company’s shares.

Furrowing my brow, I infused magic into the air, revealing floating blue magic orbs.

Ania’s mana shone in pink…
And where her magic touched was the desk.

A laugh escaped me.

“Pity led me to accept… but now you’re even resorting to theft.”
“What? What… That’s absurd.”

Confusion washed over Ania’s face.

So evident was her shock that beads of sweat were forming beside her temple, and her face was flushed.

“What were you planning to take? After leaving me in such a state… How dare you even think of doing this to me?”
“Edward! It’s really not what you think!”
“No? Then why is your mana on my desk? Your magic is blatantly smeared all over it.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Is that the only excuse, you know?”

Ania still didn’t respond, and a frozen moment of silence ensued. Yet, I couldn’t press further with my questions.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, a single droplet of its blue light trickling down Ania’s cheek.

“It’s really not.”

I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it.

“Please, believe me.”

Ania’s voice, tinged with moisture, pierced through my ears,
But it was baseless persuasion.

The evidence was clear.

Ania had trespassed into the room while I slept and tampered with the important documents on the desk.

That alone was enough to incriminate her. Even if I were to expel her from the mansion and interrogate her, she would have nothing to say in her defense.

But… I couldn’t do it.

I didn’t want it to come to that.

“…How many times do you want to betray my trust?”

I should have told her to leave immediately, but instead, different words spilled out.

“How many more times do you have to betray me? How many more of your petty tricks do I have to endure to satisfy you?”

The words burst forth uncontrollably.
Like a breached dam, there was no stopping them.

“Do I have to offer everything and kneel down to satisfy you? Is that what it takes…?”

I looked into Ania’s eyes. Those blue eyes were still looking straight at me as if not admitting any fault.

Her audacity to lie with such eyes filled me with endless hatred.
…And knowing that I hated myself for being unable to overlook it.

Then, laughter bubbled up.

Hadn’t I known it would come to this someday?
Wasn’t this the love I wanted, knowing it would lead to disaster?

“I know nothing.”

I knew nothing. I hadn’t dreamed that the price of giving my heart would be so painful and bitter.
If I had known, wouldn’t I have avoided falling in love?

I reflected on the past.

The day I first saw her, the walks we took in the capital, the times in the garden, the dances in the ballroom, the dinners together… Remembering all those days, I realized.

It was fate that this would inevitably happen.

No matter how hard I tried to push her away, I couldn’t deny that woman until I died.

So, there was only one way from the start.

“Leave.”

I had to get rid of that woman in front of my eyes.

“Get out of my house right now. Ania Bronte.”

I spat the words through gritted teeth.

“Disappear… from my sight.”

I had to get rid of this woman in front of my eyes right now.

“Edward…”

Her wet eyes looked at me.

“Don’t do this… Please.”
“Leave.”
“I’m begging you.”

Ania’s hand lightly brushed against my cheek. Foolishly, I couldn’t push that hand away.

If I drove her away here, I would never be able to see that face again.

I would have to slowly forget the face I once loved.

This gentle hand, the eyes that only looked at me, the memories we shared, everything.

So, I wished that, for the last time, she would smile.

It’s selfish, but I wished that the last face of Ania Bronte that I remember would be a smiling face…

But Ania didn’t smile.

“Just one last time…”
“The last time happened long ago.”

I roughly grabbed Ania’s arm and pushed her off the bed.

I avoided looking at her, who had fallen so pitifully.

I didn’t want to see her crumble like this.

“No!”

But Ania didn’t seem to notice her disheveled hair or the bruises on her knees as she jumped back onto the bed.

“I’ll do anything… Just believe me, please!”
“I’ll believe you if you leave. That’s all I want.”
“Lies!”

Ania screamed as if she were crying out in pain, clutching my hand. With her petite and weak hand, she struggled to lift my arm and then slipped my hand into her clothes.

Her smooth chest was captured in my hand.

“Do as you please! But just let me say… leave…”

Ania pressed her legs and body closer to mine. Her hair, captivating chest, and legs were all within my grasp.

But I couldn’t possess her.
This woman was unattainable.

So, I had to let go.

I realized it.
This woman was like death to me.

I had to say it.
It was like a stab in the heart, but I had to say it.

As I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, the bitter taste of blood filled my mouth.

With a sharp pain and then a coldness creeping into my head, I finally spat out.

“Did you want my money so badly that you’d sell yourself for it?”
“……. ”

Ania’s hand froze abruptly.

The strength drained from the arm she held, and her hands fell to the floor with a thud.

The light vanished from Ania’s eyes, which were previously filled with tears.

As soon as I saw those eyes, I tightly shut my own.

A day without her was agonizing, but a life with her was ruinous.

Indeed… it was a cruel fate.
A grotesque destiny.

I must push through the torment and cast her away. I shouldn’t watch her leave for the last time.

The lingering attachment I’ve been suppressing made me try grabbing her departing wrist.

“Goodbye, Edward.”

Finally, along with Ania’s weakened voice, footsteps echoed.

The sound of weakened footsteps faded away. I would never meet that woman again…

As I was thinking that, I suddenly lifted my head.

The wind was blowing.

“Ania.”

As I swiftly turned my head towards where the wind was blowing from, I froze in place.

Ania was sitting on the windowsill where the silver moonlight shone in.

The light breeze swayed the thin white curtains like an aurora.

“What are you doing now?”
“Do you love me?”

Her voice was like a breeze brushing through a field.

Soft and infinitely quiet.

“Come down right now.”
“You were my everything. This life belongs to you because you saved it.”
“What are you talking about? Come down!”
“Edward.”

Ania slowly turned her head.

Her golden hair fluttered gracefully in the wind.

Her pale face looked even paler under the moonlight, and her cracked lips trembled slightly.
Those lips parted ever so slightly.

“I’ll just die.”

To announce her death.
When the cold, sharp word pierced my ears,
I realized that it wasn’t a lie.

I wanted to believe I misheard, but her pure voice lingered in my ears.

“Ania…”
“If you don’t love me, I’d rather die.”
“Why would you do something like that…”
“Because I love you.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips. Despite her trembling eyes, she tried to smile as tenderly as possible.

“I’ll smile for the last time, so I hope you don’t remember this time badly.”
“Why…”

I felt breathless and dizzy.

“Please stop.”

Just moments ago, I had resolved to let go of her.

“Goodbye.”

With that voice, Ania’s body fell backward.

Translator’s Corner

This was a pretty good cliffhanger…

-Ruminas