Chapter 67

“Madam.”

…Was this a dream?

She hurriedly rubbed her eyes. Still, the person in front of her did not disappear. Because of that, Azalea was certain that this was a dream. After rubbing her eyes for a long time, she called out in an empty voice.

“…Irene.”

When she called the name, Irene reached out and swept her shiny golden hair.

Strange… This must be a dream.

Her feeling was so transparent. It was different from Irene, who recently appeared in her dreams and blamed Azela for not getting her revenge.

Irene had a sad smile on her face.

“Irene… Sorry, I—”

“Madam, there is no need to apologize to me.”

As she went came closer while Azela uttered her apology, Irene gently grabbed both her hands and whispered softly. Each word spread from her ears to her chest. The two hands held by Irene were strangely and really warm.

It was so warm that she could feel the temperature.

‘…Was this really a dream?’

Azela stared at her with a look of disbelief.

“I know how much effort you put in for me…”

“…What have I done?”

“I am well aware that you gave up all of your life and soul for me.”

Tears welled up in the corners of Irene’s eyes as she said that. She released Azela’s hand for a moment, then gently brushed her hair again. Azela’s tears welled up in the warm touch like the spring sunlight.

“Am I left as a burden in Madam’s heart?”

“No, it is not. I…”

“I want Madam to forget me now.”

Irene smiled.

Even though it was lamentable, it was a smile that hid everything and was shown only for her Madam, Azela. The moment she saw that smile, she knew that this was a dream… And, the one in front of her was the ‘real Irene.’

Azela reached out her hands and hugged Irene. She could feel the touch clearly on her fingertips, though strangely, it didn’t feel like she was holding someone in her arms. Still, she hugged Irene with all her might.

“I don’t care if this is a dream or my delusion. Irene, I miss you so much.”

“Me, too.”

“I wanted to get your revenge. To Daniel, to Sylvia… I wanted to get your revenge…”

“I know. Everyone was watching, but you don’t have to, Madam.”

“…Irene.”

“I don’t want Madam to be just like them. If Madam becomes just like them because of me… It’s not revenge, it’s a way to ruin yourself.”

“But you… you—”

While she wept, Irene, who was in her arms, pushed her away. While she still had a sad smile on her face, the way she looked at Azela had changed. Irene opened her mouth with a firm voice and a stern look.

“I am already dead, Madam.”

“Irene…”

“The dead are dead, and the living must live. You can’t live forever with a dead person in your heart. Living like that… Even if you are alive, you cannot be said to be alive.”

At her words, tears flowed down Azela’s cheeks.

Irene, who reached out her hand and wiped away her tears, finally burst into tears the next moment. Seeing that, Azela grabbed Irene’s hand as she was wiping her cheek.

“You… You are really Irene.”

“Yes, it is me.”

“How…?”

“They said that the time for me to be reincarnated into another life would be near. Before that, I really wanted to meet Madam.”

Azela opened her mouth and lowered her gaze.

…It was really Irene.

It was a dream, but… The one who came to her dream was the Irene she knew. Although there were piles of things to say when she was going to see her, when she saw Irene like this, she couldn’t even think of what to say first.

As Azela turned her gaze from place to place and was not sure what to do, Irene approached her slowly and took her hand again to reassure her.

“Don’t blame yourself. Do not develop feelings of guilt or revenge… It’s not what I want.”

“….”

“You want to follow him, right? Do you want to hold the sword again?”

She gazed at her, who had her head bowed, and the soft hand that was holding her. Azela also followed her and lowered her gaze. Suddenly, a long sword was in her hand. When Azela did not answer, Irene continued her words again.

“Live Madam’s life. That is revenge on the Master and the atonement you can make for me.”

“I’m the only one… I can’t be happy alone…”

“What’s wrong if the Madam alone is happy? I am happy to watch Madam like that—just like how I am unhappy seeing Madam trying to get revenge for me.”

“….”

“…I guess the time is almost up.”

Glancing into the air, Irene murmured softly.

‘Is the time running out…?’

Azela was startled and moved her gaze to follow Irene. She still had a lot to say. She couldn’t even apologize properly, and she hadn’t told Irene what had happened recently. Because of that, hastily grabbed Irene’s wrist tightly.

Irene turned her head and gazed sadly at the Madam’s hand who had caught her.

“…No, don’t go. Irene.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I-I have a lot to tell you. Firstly… I, I was so sorry that I couldn’t protect you back then… and…”

Azela blurred her words in a rush with a hasty expression. The next moment, Irene carefully brought her into her arms and her arms were quickly filled with warmth. Azela clenched her lips and said nothing as she hugged Irene back tightly in her arms.

Their tears flowed.

“I know everything, so you don’t have to tell me. How many years have we been together… How can I not understand Madam’s heart?”

“…Irene.”

“So, please understand my heart. I wish Madam would be happy… I want you to smile.”

It was like Irene’s last words.

Azela burst into a loud cry, she couldn’t say anything and buried her face in Irene’s shoulder. At the tip of her nose, Irene’s scent, whom she had missed so much, lingered.

‘I missed you so much, I wanted to meet you, I wanted to touch you, and I wanted to talk like this…’

Tightening her hands, she hugged Irene tightly. It was because Azela was afraid that if she loosened her hand, she would disappear as it was.

Knowing her heart, Irene, who was in her arms, smiled at her.

“Madam.”

“….”

“You must not forget that I am always watching over you.”

At the end of those words, Irene, who was held in her arms, gradually lost her shape. Azela was startled watching her crumbling appearance and shouted aloud with a surprised voice.

“No, no! Don’t go, Irene…!”

However, it was no use trying to catch the disappearing Irene, and she gradually disappeared from her arms just like that. As she gazed at the startled Azela with a gentle gaze, there were still sad tears on the corners of Irene’s gentle eyes.

“Ir, Irene! Please—Please, don’t go! I’ll give you my life, I’ll give you my life, please…!”

Finally, Irene disappeared without a trace.

Azela, who was looking at her, finally disappeared and crumbled into the air, wept sadly in her dream.

* * *

“….”

It was morning when she woke up again. As Azela lifted her body up, tears rushed down her cheeks. Even though she thought she was only crying in her dream, it seemed that she must have been crying in real life, too.

Azela gazed at the tears that had dripped down indifferently and lifted her sleeve before wiping her cheeks.

“….”

…The child was still the same. Even though she died because of her like a fool, she only wished for her happiness until the end.

Azela glanced out of the window with a blank face.

In the past, when she looked out of the window like this, Irene used to run around briskly, asking her to enjoy tea time. Thinking that, the inside of her mouth got bitter, and Azela pulled the sweet dessert and tea that had been prepared.

But now, she couldn’t eat what had been prepared.

Since she woke up early in the morning, Azela had only been staring out of the window for a long time. Eventually, she got up, opened the drawer, and took out a sheet of clean paper from it.

It was the divorce papers she had prepared in advance.