30. Don’t Go
It was unexpected.
He seemed like someone whose life was a bed of roses, so she thought he’d even be in heaven in his dreams.
“Lemon, try it next time, then.”
“Yes.”
“For now, close your eyes.”
Anshi nodded and closed her eyes. The steady sound of a heartbeat close by and the warmth that enveloped her body brought a wave of relief crashing over her.
“Good night.”
“…You too, Damion.”
She thought she would never be able to sleep, but consciousness soon drifted away.
Warmth and a heartbeat—proof that she was alive, not dead.
Feeling that, she fell asleep.
Even after Anshi fell asleep, Damion didn’t fall asleep easily. The woman in his arms had only just drifted into a light slumber. He gently patted her, careful not to wake her.
When he saw Anshi standing pale-faced at his door, his heart had almost stopped.
Something had clearly happened.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have shown up at his room in the middle of the night with such an expression.
But for it to be… just a nightmare?
Such a trivial reason.
A trivial reason—yet he was glad.
The fact that she came to him just because of a nightmare. It was all the more meaningful because she usually seemed so grounded in reality.
It was proof that he was becoming more important to her.
Damion smiled faintly.
Anshi de Orphe.
My wife.
That title suddenly felt real.
Damion admitted it.
Acting like a lovesick fool for her surprisingly suited him. Watching her stiff, broken reactions was fun.
He had brought her only to play a role—one that might save his life. He still wasn’t sure if she could fulfill that role.
But it wasn’t so bad having someone in the position of “wife.”
Her presence didn’t harm him at all.
Damion gently patted her back.
Her peaceful face and the soft sound of her breathing were pleasant.
He thought he could just keep watching her like this instead of sleeping.
When Anshi opened her eyes, the room was still dark. Only a faint early morning light, like mist, filled the room.
“You’re awake?”
The man approached. He was already dressed neatly.
Right, she had fallen asleep in Damion’s room.
As she blankly stared at him, her gaze trembled.
All the blood drained from her face.
‘…A wine-colored tie.’
He was dressed exactly as he had been in her dream.
Damion gently kissed Anshi’s forehead and whispered affectionately.
“Sleep more. This time, have a good dream.”
A familiar scene.
Familiar words.
Anshi reached out and grabbed Damion’s sleeve. His eyes widened in surprise at her sudden action.
Silver cufflinks engraved with a pine tree.
Anshi’s blue eyes shook violently.
“You’re… going to work already?”
She asked with a trembling voice, pretending to be calm but failing. Her hand tightened unconsciously around his sleeve, clenching so hard her knuckles protruded.
Damion gently wrapped her hand in his.
“There’s something I need to take care of. I won’t be too late.”
And then he said the words she already knew would come next.
“Do you like tarts, by any chance?”
“Ah…”
A soft moan slipped from Anshi’s lips.
It was exactly like the dream.
It hadn’t been a dream—what she saw was really going to happen today.
“Not really in the mood for sweets today, I guess.”
Damion smiled awkwardly.
Anshi couldn’t answer.
His neatly drawn brows creased slightly, and he sat on the edge of the bed.
“Did you have another nightmare?”
In his deep violet eyes, her image was filled with fear.
“No… no…”
Anshi murmured blankly. Damion looked at her quietly, then glanced up at the wall clock.
He pushed her hair behind her ear and stood up.
“This time, you’ll have a good dream. Sleep a bit more.”
He bent down and kissed her forehead again before turning to leave.
And Anshi knew instinctively—
If he walked out that door now, he would cross that same bridge again.
And just like in her dream…
“Damion!”
Anshi leapt out of bed and grabbed him. He turned to her, startled.
“If you go now…”
Don’t go.
She opened her mouth to say it.
But—
A chilling sensation brushed across her chest.
It felt as if someone was gripping her heart.
She felt a terrifying dread that if she spoke, that heart would be twisted cruelly or torn out and fed to dogs.
Suddenly, she remembered something her father once said:
“The people of Rubelsa… they possess the power to protect their spouses. Anshi, when you get married, I’ll tell you about it.”
It had seemed like a silly tale then.
Her father often made up stories to entertain his rigid daughter. So she had dismissed it.
But now she knew.
What her father had wanted to tell her.
“Power comes with responsibility. That’s why, honestly… I’d rather you ignore that power. Because you’re more important to me.”
Now she understood the sorrow behind those words.
I… saw this man die in advance.
She didn’t know how or why it had happened.
But one thing was clear—
If she opened her mouth now and kept him from crossing that bridge at the designated time, it wouldn’t happen.
If she stopped him now, he would still be here tomorrow. And the day after.
“Power comes with responsibility.”
She didn’t yet know what consequences that cold dread would bring.
But one thing was certain.
She couldn’t let him leave now.
Not for his sake—
But for her own.
Damion de Orphe was essential to her revenge.
Only with him could she reach the center of Orphe.
So he couldn’t die today.
“Anshi?”
He looked at her in concern.
Anshi opened her mouth.
“Don’t go.”
She embraced him. Damion’s body stiffened.
She buried herself deeper into his chest.
Then turned her gaze to the clock on the wall.
5:25 AM.
Twenty minutes until the time she saw in the dream.
“What’s wrong?”
Damion asked, surprised, and returned her embrace.
Anshi didn’t know how to respond.
That the bridge will collapse soon, and you’ll die there. So don’t go.
She couldn’t say it.
Not even she was sure of anything.
Was it really going to happen today?
Maybe it was just déjà vu. Maybe… she’d gone mad.
And if it really was madness—if the bridge didn’t collapse—
Then he’d know she was insane.
Instead, she decided to play on his heart.
Just like he’d comforted her last night. She would ask him to comfort her once more.
“I had a scary dream.”
“I thought so.”
She nodded vigorously. Damion gently stroked her hair.
“I’ll call Simon. You’ll feel better with him around.”
“I need you to stay.”
“I want to, but I’ve got a business meeting. I’ll finish it quickly and come back—”
“Just 30 minutes. No—20 minutes. Stay with me for 20 minutes. I think I’ll have another nightmare if you leave.”
She hadn’t made a baseless demand like this since she was a child.
She knew how important punctuality was in business.
Even she thought it was a hard request to grant.
This wouldn’t be enough.
What else could she say?
Her mind raced.
“At least have some breakfast before you go. You’ll think more clearly in the meeting if you eat something…”
Her voice lost conviction. That was the best excuse she could think of? Her voice grew smaller and smaller.
Should she just go slash his car tires instead? Or maybe…
“Alright.”
“…What?”
“I’ll stay, Anshi.”
He agreed easily.
Anshi blinked up at him.
“The head chef makes great sandwiches. Want to eat together?”
She pressed her lips together and gave a big nod.
Though it was early morning, the staff were already up and working.
“Oh my, Master, Madam! What brings you to the dining room?”
Head maid Elma spotted them and widened her eyes.
Chef Lauti rushed out from the back, shocked.
“We’re here for breakfast.”
“You are, Master?”
Elma frowned in disbelief. It made sense. He always refused breakfast, no matter how much people told him it was important.
“I heard Lauti makes good sandwiches.”
At that, Madam spoke in her clear voice. Her eyes, like transparent glass beads, turned to Lauti.
“That’s right, Madam!”
Lauti gave a bashful laugh and bowed his head.
Then he rushed into the kitchen to prepare the sandwiches.
At that, Elma gasped softly.
