All while waiting quietly in the next room. I had organized my plan in my mind.
The ultimate objective is to make Caelus no longer desire death and have the will to live a cheerful life. And to do this, I must first unravel the cause of his irreversible despair and wounds.
To be honest, I do not want to objectively examine the causal relationship between the right and wrong of my favorite's action. I just want my baby to be happy. I just want to hug him and swing him like a baby.
**새끼가/baby= specifically means animal's baby. When used in a different context can be translated into a bad word. Here though, Hestia was referring to Caelus's cuteness that resembles an animal's baby, although, in Korea, only grandparents would use this to refer to their grandchildren.
**부둥부둥해주고 싶다/hug him and swing him like a baby= directly translate to soft and fluffy(?) The word that a lover may say to express the cuteness of their significant others.
After all, isn't this world a novel? It may be a reality for those who live here, but to me, it is simply an 'unrealistic.'
Even at this point, I do not want to cry out for morality and justice like the heroine while restraining my desires for others.
The reason I am here is solely for my beloved.
I am not a character in this novel. I do not accept this place as my reality in my world. Anyway, I've read all the way to the end of the novel.
From now on, I will create a story.
And the main character will be the sub-male lead who was abandoned in the original work.
"Lady. Master Caelus is looking for you."
**카엘루스 님/Master Caelus= from now Caelus-nim will be written as Master Caelus to ease reading.
The butler treated me with the most respectful attitude in the world.
"Ah, yes"
After rescuing Caelus, I felt more relaxed, and I answered with a smile-like expression. I stood up slowly, but the butler hesitated a bit and then lowered his head.
"I really don't know how to thank you. Thanks to you, I saved my master's life......."
"You're welcome. I'm glad it wasn't too late."
"Right now, Master Caelus's heart is very sensitive. Even if he says something harsh, please understand it with compassion."
"I will. Thank you for your concern."
His words are sincere, perhaps because he was a butler who looked after Caelus, who lost his parents early as if he were his own child.
I followed the butler and stood in front of Caelus' bedroom again.
"Master Caelus. I have brought the Lady."
There was no answer from inside. But the butler pushed me into the chamber with a push.
"It's going to be very difficult. Still..."
"Ah....."
I understood immediately. Caelus has just attempted suicide. It isn't easy to expect such composure from him. He will probably pour out all sorts of hysteria onto me for disturbing him.
Nevertheless, I have to face it. I blocked the tip of Caelus's sword right now, but if I want to continue living in the future, I must embrace the anguish that had stained him.
To remove the shadow of death from Caelus, I have to set my feet with a firm resolve.
"........."
Caelus was sitting on the couch as I had imagined.
His long silver hair dropped over his shoulder, and his mysterious violet eyes were like mineral gemstones. His loose-fitting clothes were still not adjusted properly.
"...What are you?"
There was no energy in his voice, but his cool voice leaked out. I stretched out my chest as if I was not frightened.
"My name is Hestia. Marquis Caelus."
It's the first time that I have talked to the main characters in the novel. I would have wished for the atmosphere to be more pleasant if it was possible, but right now is the time to cover cold rice and hot rice.
**찬밥 더운밥 가릴 때인가/time to cover cold rice and hot rice= A literal translation of a proverb that could mean to get as many options as she can. Another similar yet different proverb, 찬밥 더운밥 가릴 처지가 아니다 is translated into beggars can't be choosers, which means people in need have to take whatever they can get and cannot be concerned about the quality if they cannot afford to buy it for themselves.
"It would have been a really, really bad thing. I'm glad the Marquis arrived before he got hurt. There are a lot of people who love and care about the Marquis, and everyone must have been very surprised. I am really relieved. Thank you so much for being safe."
"........"
Caelus's violet eyes locked into mine resentfully.
My heart intensely pounded as I was sunk in those eyes. But I took a deep breath and began to explain my situation as calmly as possible.
"Anyhow, it must be very embarrassing to meet me all of a sudden..."
"What do you want?"
"...yes?"
My words to explain the situation in a lengthy way were cut off by a cold voice with no motivation in the world.
"I'm asking you, what do you want?"
"..........."
What should I answer? Actually, I don't know either. Because the psychology of a person who has just been interrupted trying to end his life with his own hands is not an area I am very confident in.
He was prepared to die painfully, but did he get angry because I stopped him? Or is he thankful to me for impulsively preventing something big from happening?
But whatever it is, this man currently appears to be bothered by everything in front of him.
His eyes, his attitude, and his voice were all evident, rather than asking in detail about the identity of an unexpected guest who broke into his space. The kind of atmosphere that he exuded was to get rid of me as soon as possible.
In other words, even if it was a slightly unreasonable request, Caelus, who was in a very confused and exhausted state of mind and body, could roughly agree to anything.
So I shouted.
"...I want to be a Marchioness."
"........"
His white expressionless expression was slightly distorted.
Why am I so absurd? I suddenly became frustrated. I spoke back and forth.
"Well, I am making such an absurd request because I have one wish for the rest of my life, and the closer it is to Marquis Caelus, the more advantageous it is. If this is difficult for you, once you have me by your side as an aid and understand what kind of person I am...."
"Do whatever you feel like."
He replied with a dry voice.
I was startled.
"Yes?"
Caelus stood up like a ghost. Then, as if everything was bothering him, he went into the bed and turned around, and lay down.
I questioned my ears, suppressed my heart about to burst, and asked again.
"Do you really want me to be your spouse?!"
"Call the butler. Talk to him about what you require." Lying on the bed with his back away from me, he replied bluntly.
"Ah........"
Apparently, it's real! Oh my goodness, how can you accept such an absurd confession so easily? Have you really given up on life? Are you crazy? Do you know who I am?!
"........"
But soon, a bitter and terrifying feeling swelled up in my heart. I think tears will come out anytime soon.
Because that's true, Caelus really has completely given up his life.
"All right. I will meet the butler."
"........"
I backed away helplessly in front of him, but he never looked back at me.
The butler was waiting for me right outside the door. I asked him with a bitter smile.
"Did you listen to the conversation we had inside?"
Unless there is perfect soundproofing, you must have heard it to some extent, but the butler of the marquis shook his head in an extremely respectful manner.
"I haven't heard anything, Lady."
"Then the story will be quite long. Can I talk to you for a moment?"
I asked him to talk. The butler said he understood and sent another servant into his room so that Caelus would not do something reckless again.
"Watch the Marquis make sure he's sleeping properly."
"Yes. Butler.."
The servant, who received the instructions, politely bowed his head and quietly entered Karus's room.
"Then the Lady will also go this way..." I nodded and silently followed his lead into an empty room nearby.
"It's late, but let me introduce myself. My name is Hestia, the daughter of Lord Illea."
He gave me the identity that I had paid in advance to make it easier for me to do it. In fact, the land called Illea was a small mountainous area, and on paper, the lord, who became my adoptive father, was almost like a beggar, even though he had the title of baron.
When I decided to become his adopted daughter with a small amount of money, it was a contract with nothing but profit for each other.
"Oh, I see. Lady Hestia. Anyway, I have to say thank you again."
After formal greetings, the butler bowed again.
I hurriedly waved my hand."You're welcome. Rather than that, if you listen to what I say from now on, that feeling might disappear."
I also decided to openly open my heart to the butler who truly cares for Caelus.
He looked at him curiously.
"What are you trying to say..."
Unlike Caelus, who put his mind on the line, this butler is extremely sane. A tension different from the previous one squeezed my neck tightly.
"That's it. I know it's a bit reckless, but I asked Caelus a while ago that I wanted to become a Marchioness. The Marquis told me to discuss it with the butler without saying anything...."
"!"
Without realizing it, I looked into his eyes like a criminal. As if incredulous, the middle-aged gentleman had his eyes wide open.
"Really... you mean that answer...?"
"Of course, you can criticize me for taking advantage of the poor Marquis's state, but I have a clear plan to prevent the former Marquis from taking such extreme actions in the future. I made a request."
"........."
The butler was speechless. It is natural. How could he not be absurd when an unknown woman attacked in the middle of the night and said she would become the Marchioness? Perhaps this loyal butler is the more difficult hurdle to overcome than Caelus himself.
"You must be wondering how I got to know today. I know it's hard to believe, but the truth is..." I cringed but convinced myself. From now on, I am a character in a novel. A character in a fantasy novel where unrealistic things happen countless times.
"...I have the ability to see the future. Not only today but also in the future......."
"!"
Seeing him with his mouth wide open makes me feel guilty for some reason. Still, acting is something you have to do for sure.
"Didn't the Marquis get the very precious pink diamonds in the past? With that, he must have wanted to make a present for Saintess Diana, who became His Majesty the Crown Princess today. In the end, he failed to actually give it as a gift."
"No, how!"
The butler was astonished. However, it is a fact that readers who have read the novel Nth times can't help but remember. Shall we guess the place where he kept the diamond?
"Perhaps the jewel is now stagnant in Marquis Caelus's library drawer. If you don't believe me, you can go and confirm it out now."
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[T/N: Just did this chapter before work, enjoy :)]