Chapter 201 - North Korean rabbit

Chapter 201

‘Who are you?’

The words surged up to the very tip of her throat.

But Hilia did not utter them. No, she could not.

Because she was afraid that if she did, the being before her eyes would truly cease to be the man she loved.

So she asked this instead.

“What is wrong with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“If you were your usual self, you would have stepped forward before I even spoke. That is the duty of the Crown Prince, the man who will soon be Emperor.”

At that, Arpad tilted his head, then stiffened.

“That is… yes. You seem to be right.”

At the unexpectedly gentle agreement, Hilia could finally let out a sigh of relief.

She realized belatedly that she had even forgotten to breathe.

‘It’s alright. It is Arpad. It’s the Arpad I know.’

But a question arose.

‘What if he becomes someone other than the Arpad I know… what will you do?’

It was a dreadfully frightening question, but also one she could not avoid now.

She had neither the reason nor the leisure to ponder it deeply.

The conclusion was simple.

‘If that truly is the case…… I will take him back.’

From whomever it may be, she would take her man back.

Whether it was that detestable lizard Artanus.

Or the gods who created the world and determined human fate.

Even if it was Arpad himself, having lost the part of him that was human.

Hilia had no time now for self-reproach or sorrow.

She was too busy burning with resolve.

‘We were married by abduction anyway. No matter who the opponent is, I will reclaim Arpad.’

No, she would seize him back.

Without fail.

* * *

Hilia asked in a cold voice.

“Are you really going to do nothing and just stand here? Even after seeing that?”

Hilia’s fingertip pointed toward the hellscape on the streets below the castle.

As his gaze followed her finger, Arpad took a step closer and enveloped her hand in his.

For a moment, Hilia held onto hope, but was soon betrayed.

Arpad paid not the slightest attention to the situation inside the castle that Hilia’s hand was indicating.

He was only looking intently at Hilia’s fingertip.

“You’re hurt.”

Well, of course she was.

She had been rolled across the floor during the fierce battle between Arpad and Gaspard moments ago, and had scratched at the ground trying not to be dragged away.

Several of her nails were broken and torn, bleeding.

Arpad kissed each of Hilia’s ruined fingertips one by one.

*Mwah, mwah.* A light sound echoed, and overwhelming magical power healed the wounds. Heat and an itch spread through her fingertips.

The bleeding stopped, the broken nails regenerated, and new flesh sprouted.

Looking at Hilia’s perfectly clean fingertips in an instant, Arpad smiled with satisfaction.

Ironically, the fact that he was more concerned and pained by a single wound than by the lives being swept away outside was proof that this was indeed the Arpad she knew.

But the crucial difference lay in what came next.

“Don’t you have something to do next?”

Arpad tilted his head again.

Then, as if realizing something, he brought his face close with a smile.

Hilia blocked the kiss that was about to flow naturally with both hands.

“…Why, do you dislike it?”

“I don’t dislike it, but now is not the time for this.”

“Why isn’t it?”

These words snapped Hilia’s patience.

“Because that is my Arpad.”

“…What?”

Arpad asked repeatedly, as if he could not understand.

“But the mad Crown Prince, the ruthless man who might kill people at any moment—wasn’t that Arpad Istrit? You thought so too.”

Hilia nodded.

“That’s right. I thought so too, and I was afraid and wary.”

“Then why?”

“Because I didn’t know properly back then. But the you I came to know properly was different. The only times you truly saw blood were when you couldn’t control yourself due to your madness, or when there was a reason for it.”

Indeed, Arpad had often used his madness as an excuse for dealing with assassins.

“You say that because you don’t know how much blood I saw without a care during the regressions you are unaware of.”

Hilia shook her head firmly.

“I told you, didn’t I? Excluding times when you couldn’t control yourself due to madness. That’s invalid anyway because of mental infirmity.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. I can guess it’s that otherworldly language you often speak.”

“That’s all you need to know. No, you don’t even need to know that.”

Because there was something more important.

“I’m not trying to say you are actually merciful or a good person! I’m really not!”

Hilia raised her head and straightened her chest.

And with her healed fingertip, she pressed against Arpad’s chest.

The very spot where she had plunged the blade to save him moments ago.

“You were always a man who spoke in twisted ways that irritated people, full of wariness and pettiness! Pointlessly jealous!”

“I don’t think you’re trying to insult… me right now.”

“I’m not, so just be quiet and listen!”

Surprisingly, Arpad obediently closed his mouth.

“And yet, you were weak toward me, pretending to be broad-minded, pretending not to know and letting things slide, while behind the scenes you plotted all sorts of surveillance, schemes, and conspiracies!”

“…….”

“When I ran away to save you, you were a reckless fool who threw yourself into the danger of going mad to catch me!”

“It certainly seems I am such a being right now. Do you perhaps think I am not your Arpad?”

Hilia shook her head desperately.

“No. You are my Arpad.”

“Then why are you crying like that?”

Clear tears were overflowing from Hilia’s eyes.

Arpad’s fingertip stole her teardrop with utmost care.

“But even if I didn’t exist, you would have rushed out if you saw that spectacle outside. Not out of mercy or pity for people, but because that is the duty of the royal family you were born and raised into.”

“I probably would have.”

Arpad readily agreed this time as well.

“But I no longer feel the need to.”

Hilia took a step forward and shouted.

“That is precisely the problem! I love all of you, including that arrogant, detestable haughtiness and sense of duty!”

“…!”

“I am more greedy than you are jealous. I cannot tolerate any part of what is mine being taken away or disappearing. Even that part of you is entirely mine!”

Hilia’s two arms seized Arpad.

“Give it back!”

At Hilia’s passionate insistence, Arpad paused for a moment.

“…….”

He seemed lost in deep thought.

After a brief silence, Arpad gave his answer in an exceedingly calm voice.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to return to you the part you speak of.”

“…!”

In this moment, it was the answer Hilia least wanted to hear, the most despairing answer.

* * *

My heart was beating like mad. Not out of surprise from tumbling on the floor, but crying out of pain and resentment.

Shouting for my man to be returned to me whole.

*Whoosh.*

The wind blew. Arpad was still looking at me with an impassive expression.

Outside the castle walls, screams and roars intermingled.

I am not a particularly merciful or kind person.

Even amidst the terrible disaster outside, it pained and angered me more that the Arpad before my eyes had lost a part of himself.

Trying to resolve the situation outside and save people was not an outpouring of compassion or morality.

It was closer to a desperate struggle to not lose the minimum elements required for me or Arpad to exist as humans.

The Arpad I had seen overflowed with the unique arrogance of a human born holding a royal seal.

He exerted every effort to not have what was rightfully his taken away, and, so long as he did not go mad, tried to fulfill the duties befitting his position.

To turn a blind eye to the slaughter unfolding below the castle meant that he was attached to nothing but me.

Perhaps… just as human lives hold such meaning to a being as vast as a dragon.

I could not bear that.

I did not want Arpad’s human attachments and selfishness, which he had desperately wanted to preserve, to be taken by a vast being.

So I made a decision. To take a risk.

Just as he had thrown himself to catch me.

When I took a few steps back, a flicker of agitation appeared on Arpad’s face, which had been as unchanging as a statue.

“It’s dangerous.”

Sensing victory, I declared.

“I know. That’s why I’m doing it. Just as you did.”

And then I threw myself backward. Behind the shattered castle wall was empty air.

“!”