Chapter 117

Abella blinked. She fell asleep as soon as she got into the carriage. It was a strange thing for Abella, who never put her guard down. What’s more, there was a sweet scent emanating from the carriage.

Abella’s eyelids trembled.

Arsene was sitting across from her. Abella squeezed her eyes shut before Arsene looked back. She was not sure about Arsene.

And even in this situation now.

This was not a place Abella knew. It must have been that she had gone out of Timur. In Timur, there was no forest so thick that light did not enter.

The carriage rattled on unmaintained roads.

“Abella.”

Arsene’s voice was sweet. The fact that there was no change in the voice in this situation raised goosebumps. Abella curled her toes. Her heart was pounding strangely. It was as if a silent danger was squeezing Abella’s neck.

Her eyes were sore.

She was afraid.

The strangeness Abella felt was caused by fear. It must have been because he was someone she had known for a long time and whom she thought she had loved for so long…

She was afraid.

Arsene did not threaten Abella and did not force her into the carriage. But Arsene seemed like he was  someone that could harm Abella at any time.

Abella tried to keep her composure.

“I know you woke up.”

Her breath stopped.

“Your breath has changed. People are so naive. If you just close your eyes, you think you’re pretending to be asleep. In fact, everything from breathing to movement changes. Oh, and the heartbeat.”

The way he mumbled as if singing was also the same as the usual Arsene. Abella slowly opened her eyes.

“Look.”

“……Arsene.”

Abella’s lips trembled. Blood was running through her hand as she grabbed her dress. Her heart was beating fast. As Arsene said, her whole body was now contracting with tension and fear.

Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

Where was this? Where were they going? What lies awaited them at the end of this road?

There were many things she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t. Abella struggled to even pull her lips up.

What Abella had learned and mastered was of no use now. It was too much for Abella to just endure this moment.

“Yes, Abella. Now you are looking at me.”

Arsene ruffled her hair.

“You’ve been neglecting me for so long. How sad and painful. It’s been a long time since I had that feeling. All of those feelings…”

Arsene rolled her eyes and smiled softly. A friendly smile crept across his face. It was still Arsene. Arsene, who told her that he had been waiting for her, the long hours, and the feeling of déjà vu Abella had to feel the whole time, was only standing out now.

‘Ah……’

That look.

The eyes looking at Abella were different from before. It was so unfamiliar to her to see those eyes that showed raw emotions.

No.

Was it really that unfamiliar? Abella grabbed her head. It felt like her heart was beating in her brain. Mixed memories flooded Abella. Buzz, buzz. Arsene’s words faded away and her forgotten past came flooding in.

‘Abella.’

A voice calling Abella tenderly.

“You… was it you?”

Abella wrapped her head.

Arsene smiled brightly. Arsene got down from his chair and knelt in front of Abella. Then he placed his hand on Abella’s lap.

It was just a light touch, but goosebumps rose.

“Yes. I thought it was me too…”

Arsene reached out and stroked Abella’s cheek.

“It wasn’t me. I thought it was me who had you…”

The cold body temperature shocked her. It’s like being cut by a cold blade. Abella’s face turned pale.

“It was Cade who had you.”

Abella’s body trembled. Her jumbled memories began to find her place as if the seal had been lifted.

‘Abella.’

He gazed at her affectionately.

It was Cade’s. He erased her memory…

‘Huu… Cade, I think I’m going to die. I really… What should I do? I want someone to rip my memory out.’

It was Cade.

It was Cade who brought Abella to life.

Abella pushed Arsene away without realizing it. Her fingertips seemed to freeze.

“Abella.”

Cade… Light poured into Abella’s expanded purple eyes.

Transparent tears flowed down her cheeks.

‘What are you…’

How did he feel that he was holding Abella?

Abella closed her eyes slowly. Arsene was getting closer. His cold lips like a reptile touched her forehead.

*

Lyla shook her head.

Her heart shriveled.

The magic potion had worked properly. Arsene lost all his memories, and his obsession with Abella seemed to fade.

But why?

She hadn’t been able to breathe properly since she got into the rumbling carriage .

It was because of the pressure emanating from Cade, who sat across from her.

Lyla chewed on her lips.

“…I don’t know which of the four villas they went to. So, if you would rather let me go…”

“Lyla. You think I’m stupid. I can figure out what you’re thinking. You’d better say it right. I’m going to put Arsene and your life in one boat.”

He threatened to kill both of them if Arsene did any harm to Abella. Lyla clenched her fists.

Now they were on their way to the villa where Arsene had left when he had fled after Abella’s death.

“Abela is unstable. The curse of Skellus ruined Abella. No. Should I say the people screwed her up? They blamed Abella for everything, using the curse of Skellus as an excuse… and eventually murdered Amerigo’s Master.”

Up to that point, life was the same.

“The people who had gathered to kill Abella drove Amerigo’s Master to death.”

Cade spoke in a soft voice. It was just a list of meaningless words. Lyla clenched her teeth in fear.

“Do you remember how Abella died in her last life?”

Lyla nodded her head slowly.

How could she not remember? It would forever remain in Amerigo’s stained history.

“She committed suicide.”

In a voice that sounded like her throat was strangled, Lyla murmured her response.

Cade smiled.

It was. Abella committed suicide as if she had no regrets. Abella’s corpse was smiling, even though she herself drove herself to death.

As if it was more comfortable that way.

Abella left Cade as if she would rather die as everyone wanted. Wailing like a beast, he hovered around Abella’s corpse. Pink cheeks, white face, and smiling lips, it seemed as if she would stand up again and call out Cade’s name.

‘A-A… Abella! Abellaaaaaaaa! Please, please… Please, open your eyes!’

His heart pounded.

The curse of Skellus brought even Abella to death.

‘Skelus is not a curse. The god of darkness was a god who loved humans very much. Not having a baby on Skellus’ Day is…’

The high priest’s words overlapped.

‘It is unlikely that many people who have received God’s blessing will be born. Children born on Skellus Day are born with blessings from generation to generation. They will blossom into a family with outstanding talents and attract people with their beautiful looks. Since they lack nothing, it will buy people’s envy, but it will also be bearable if it is the price of blessing.’

Cade swallowed a beastly cry. The high priest’s serious gaze seemed to be rebuking him for letting Abella go because he couldn’t resist the new emperor’s scolding.

Cade sighed.

“…hopefully Arsene is at our destination.”

“…what are you going to do with Arsene?”

Lyla rubbed her cold sweat on her dress. Cade was not afraid of death. He was a man who could slaughter even his entourage if necessary. The only weakness of Cade’s was Abella Amerigo.

“Yes. What should I do?”

Cade raised his lips cruelly. If they couldn’t erase the memory and they couldn’t break that damn obsession anyway.

If he couldn’t have it, he would kill it.

That was Arsene’s way. So he took part in killing Abella, and now he kidnapped Abella. If Abella rejected Arsene to the end, he would kill Abella without any guilt.

He wanted to own her death.

“Huh? Lady Lyla, what do you think?”

“…keep your promises. You promised to keep Arsene alive and give him to me.”

Lyla’s voice trembled indefinitely.

“If you can’t keep him on a leash properly, you shouldn’t expect it.”

“If I erase his memories again… I’ll lock him in the mansion… He’ll never see Abella again.”

Lyla said earnestly. She didn’t seem to recognize herself that was having twisted corners. Imprisoning someone and leaving them by her side like an animal with their memories erased.

That would be the way of people like Lyla and Arsene.

What a perfect pair.

Cade smiled coldly.

Actually, it didn’t really matter. If only Abella could come back safely! Cade grinded his teeth.