IWMHWD 106

Chapter 106 – What Love Is
2024.02.14

“Hmm… I wonder. Do you think I’ll ever have another wedding?”

“Why assume you won’t? You’re still young. Who knows, maybe a truly good man will come along and propose to you.”

The moment Leonard finished speaking, Cordelia burst into laughter. It wasn’t so much amusement as it was mockery.

“Master, who do you think I’d ever marry again?”

“Well—”

“I wouldn’t. Once is more than enough. That dreadful experience? Never again.”

Her face twisted with open disgust. Leonard had no choice but to close his mouth, taken aback by how much more negative she was about marriage than he’d expected. Cordelia, as if to change the subject, pulled the towel from his back.

“I think that’s enough. The physician said doing it too long wouldn’t be good.”

“Alright.”

“Then, I’ll go check on Roti. Please rest.”

This time, Cordelia smiled brightly. The warmth that lingered from her touch gradually faded. For some reason, Leonard found it difficult to keep looking directly at her face.

“I’ve been wondering about something.”

Cordelia handed Roti pieces of dried duck jerky, one at a time. Lying on the bench, he snapped each one up with a quick flick of his tongue.

[What is it?]

“Why do you protect me? Even back in the Dilroana territory… thinking about it, you had no reason to risk your life for me.”

[And you’re only asking that now? You’re rather slow, child.]

“Oh, please. It’s only been a few days since I could even talk to you like this.”

When she’d first brought Roti to the estate, his ribs had been so crushed she doubted he’d survive. Yet, being a high-class beast wasn’t a lie—within just four days, he had nearly recovered. After the Nazabut incident, somehow, Cordelia had gained the ability to communicate smoothly with him.

“Is it because I’ve taken good care of you? Repaying kindness or something like that?”

[Boasting over a few scraps of meat. How pathetic.]

Roti snorted, amused.

“Ugh. If it’s not that, then I can’t think of another reason. So, what is it?”

[A contract.]

“A contract? Beasts can make contracts? What kind?”

[I cannot tell you the details. That, too, is part of the contract.]

“Then at least tell me who you made the contract with?”

Roti ignored her, snatching the last piece of jerky from her hand and chewing it down. Realizing he was avoiding the question, Cordelia gave up pressing him further.

“Either way, thanks, Roti. Without you, I’d have died so many times.”

[Hmph.]

Roti turned his head sharply, almost bashful. The gesture was so oddly cute and endearing that Cordelia reached out and stroked his body. Normally, he would’ve avoided it, but today, he accepted her touch quietly.

A small swell of pride rose in her chest. It felt like he had finally opened his heart to her, even if just a little.

Knock, knock.

A polite knock came from outside. When she called them in, the door opened.

“Baron?”

“Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. What is it?”

Leaving Roti behind, Cordelia stood and approached Baron. He gave her a warm smile.

“The weather is fine today. Would you care for a walk? It occurred to me that I’ve never properly shown you around Wilas.”

“That sounds wonderful!”

Cordelia grinned, quickly grabbing her hat and parasol. Roti rose as if to follow, but Cordelia hurried to stop him.

“I’ll be fine, Roti. You’re not fully recovered yet. Rest.”

[What nonsense. I was on my way for water.]

“….”

Of course.

Cordelia pouted and left the mansion with Baron.

Just as he’d said, the gentle sunshine and cool breeze made for a pleasant walk. Moreover, Baron was so knowledgeable that he even told her tragic legends about the statues lining the streets, making the stroll all the more fascinating.

Before long, they came across the park that Nazabut had devastated. Rubble and splintered trees still lay scattered, evidence of the chaos from that day.

Cordelia paused before it.

“Why do you think Lydia made that choice?”

“Because even when someone owns ninety-nine, they’ll still crave the hundredth. That is human greed.”

“And the hundredth was Master Leonard?”

“You understand well.”

Baron’s gaze lingered on a black, dried bloodstain on the ground. Cordelia’s eyes followed, and unbidden, the memory of Lydia—her body and mind consumed by a demon—flashed before her.

When she had first met her, Lydia had seemed like the most flawless woman in the world. What could have turned her into a monster?

Love?

Was it really that great “love” that dragged her into the abyss?

“Love is terrifying.”

“What Lydia Elfenbaum felt was not love.”

Baron’s tone was so firm that Cordelia instinctively turned to him.

“It was nothing but obstinate obsession, disguised under the pretty name of love. Forcing one’s emotions onto another is no different from selfish greed.”

His words were sharp, almost scathing. Since he was usually someone who spoke mildly with a genial laugh, Cordelia had expected a gentler response. She stared at him in surprise.

But Baron went on.

“To her, Master Leonard was nothing more than a glittering jewel she could not easily possess. Had his position been beneath hers, she would have done something horrific long ago. Ah—but I suppose she already did.”

“You mean… she threw away everything, just for desire?”

“Heh. Humans often throw away everything for vain illusions.”

Baron smiled kindly, though his words carried cynicism. Cordelia felt a sudden curiosity.

“Then, what is love, really?”

“It isn’t complicated. Love is simpler than most think.”

The conversation had veered in an unexpected direction, but Cordelia welcomed it. They gradually moved farther from the blood-stained park.

“It is the desire to give everything, to do anything for that person—even if it means enduring suffering yourself.”

“Hmm? That’s it?”

She had expected lofty words about noble sacrifice, but Baron’s answer was unexpectedly straightforward.

“Of course, every individual defines love differently. But for me, that is all.”

“The desire to give everything…”

“Is there someone who makes you feel that way?”

“Well…”

Cordelia carefully searched through her life. Thinking of her father and brother still made her tremble with rage. Memories of her late mother were filled with deep longing and nostalgia. And when she thought of Leonard…

“I don’t think so. Not yet.”

She pressed a hand to her chest, then shook her head.

Baron regarded her with a quiet, inscrutable gaze. But he didn’t push. If it were something that could be rushed, Cordelia would have walked down the wedding aisle in Atille long ago. Everything had its order.

“I see. Then I hope one day, that love will find you too.”

Cordelia smiled faintly at his words.

They continued walking for quite some time. When the sun climbed overhead, the heat began to make the walk difficult.

“Shall we head back?”

“That might be best.”

They were just about to turn back when Baron suddenly froze. His posture went rigid, his eyes sweeping the quiet road they had walked. Cordelia’s chest tightened at his reaction.

“What’s wrong?”

“Perhaps nothing. Please, wait here a moment.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing. I just need to check something.”

He escorted Cordelia to a small outdoor café by the main road. Telling her to wait, promising he’d return shortly, he hurried off.

Cordelia sat, idly passing the time. The street was quiet, with hardly anyone around.

“Excuse me, milady. Would you buy a flower? Please? My younger siblings are starving at home.”

A boy shuffled forward, looking hesitant. Though Wilas was a wealthy city where beggars were rare, it wasn’t unheard of.

The dirt on his face made him look pitiful. Cordelia searched her pocket, then handed him a one-linkit coin.

“I’ll take one flower.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much, milady!”

The boy handed her a flower before darting away.

Cordelia looked at it. A plain white daisy, common everywhere.

She lifted it to her nose. Instead of the simple freshness of wildflowers, a faint, cloying sweetness lingered.

And in that moment, she realized—it wasn’t the daisy’s scent.

“…Huh?”

The world tilted. No—her body did.

Cordelia’s arms flailed at the empty air, trying to steady herself. But it was useless. The world collapsed beneath her.

The ground rushed up to meet her. She squeezed her eyes shut.

But before she struck the earth, a pair of strong arms caught her.

She forced her head to turn. Against the glare of the sun, she couldn’t make out the face. Not only because of the light—her strength was draining, her eyelids growing unbearably heavy.

It felt like falling into a bottomless abyss.

“…It’s been a while.”

That voice.

Cordelia knew it. She knew exactly where she had heard it before.

But she couldn’t speak the name.

Clinging to her last scraps of awareness, she struggled to stay awake.

And then everything went black.