Chapter 103: Keeper of Promise (1)

 

Later, after returning to the Pryster estate:

 

-“Please! Lady Keirsey! Calm down!”

 

-“Let go!! Aaaaaaaah!!! Oppa!!”

 

Keirsey’s scream echoed once again throughout the castle. Asena’s emotions didn’t flinch. Nothing could shatter her dazed focus.

 

She merely thought, ‘Keirsey has woken up,’ and nothing more.

 

-“Please...! Someone...! Bring my Oppa back...! He can’t be dead!!!!!”

 

Sounds of things breaking. Someone falling. Keirsey’s cries and the shouts of those trying to calm her… Such sounds echoed.

 

-“Just a few months ago, we laughed and hugged... He smiled beside me... Why can’t he do it anymore? Why!!”

 

Soon, the noise faded. As expected, Keirsey had passed out again.

 

Asena covered her ears. She tried to shut out all thoughts. If she started thinking about Cayden, she was sure she’d end up like Keirsey.

 

Yet, Keirsey’s cries kept evoking memories. Despite not wanting to remember, every time she heard Keirsey, memories of happy times with Cayden surfaced. The times that would never come back.

 

She remembered the gentle caresses on her cheek. The warmth of his embrace. The tender words, bright smiles, silly jokes, and playful pranks.

 

Her breathing grew ragged. Tears threatened to spill as emotions swelled.

 

“..Umph..”

 

She forcibly held back her tears. She felt she didn’t even have the right to cry. It was by her hand that Cayden died.

 

He met his end because she drove him away and told everyone not to help him. If she hadn’t done either, he wouldn’t have died.

 

Suddenly, Asena shook her head forcefully. She just imagined Cayden’s death.

 

It was implausible. Even if all the signs pointed to it, she had no intention of accepting that reality.

 

With great difficulty, she suppressed her emotions. Otherwise, the pain would be unbearable.

 

Right now, all Asena awaited was one thing.

 

She was waiting for Sir Lawrence to bring in the prime suspect.

 

If they were to catch the perpetrator...

 

Emotions stirred again. Asena repressed the violent thoughts, took a deep breath, and made a promise.

 

She vowed to use every form of torture known to man, ensuring the culprit experienced each excruciating method.

 

-Knock knock.

 

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

 

“...Why.”

 

Asena didn’t even invite the person in. She lacked the energy to face another soul. Even wearing a mask was exhausting.

 

‘...I’ve brought your meal, Lady Asena.’

 

It was Max, the butler assisting Helen.

 

Asena responded.

 

“...I don’t need it.”

 

As she tried to close her eyes again, Max wouldn’t let her be.

 

‘...You haven’t eaten anything for three days. This isn’t good for you.’

 

“...Max. I don’t want to repeat myself.”

 

‘.......’

 

Then the sounds faded away. Asena was left alone once again.

 

Could it be due to fatigue? Asena’s eyes slowly closed. The dizziness that clouded her mind began to clear.

 

Before she knew it, with her eyes shut, she was witnessing numerous visions.

 

Dreams she couldn’t remember flowed by. None of them truly touched her heart.

 

Suddenly, she stood in darkness.

 

She couldn’t see or hear anything. At that moment, she realized she found solace in this emptiness.

 

“Asena.”

 

In that instant, a voice echoed. Asena turned around.

 

...Cayden was standing there.

 

“Asena. I’ve returned.”

 

“Oppa!!”

 

- Jolt!

 

She bolted upright in bed. Cayden’s image vanished like a mirage. Her heart pounded wildly from the shock of seeing him.

 

Her body was drenched in sweat. It must’ve been quite some time since she had fallen asleep, as no light filtered through the window.

 

She glanced around the room, her eyes wandering, seeking the vanished Cayden. Naturally, he was nowhere in sight.

 

At what point had it been a dream? Asena wished it was all a dream. She hoped that if she got up and went to Cayden’s room, he’d greet her with a smile.

 

As clarity returned and sleepiness faded, she knew it wasn’t possible. Nevertheless, she got out of bed.

 

When had she become so frail? Her legs wobbled with every step.

 

Still, she managed to twist the knob and open her door.

 

Behind it, several servants awaited.

 

Seeing Asena’s face, their eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Ah... Lady Asena.”

 

However, Asena paid no heed. With her legs barely able to move properly, she dashed toward Cayden’s room.

 

She prayed he’d be there. Even if by magic. Even if it defied logic. She just wished him to be there.

 

She twisted the knob and swung open Cayden’s door.

 

...Someone was inside.

 

Just as Asena’s heart threatened to race again, the person turned, revealing their face.

 

...It was Keirsey.

 

With a hardened expression, Keirsey recognized Asena. The once vibrant Keirsey spoke, her voice having taken on a subdued tone.

 

“It’s because of you.”

 

“......”

 

Words, rougher than any she had ever spoken, burst forth from her lips.

 

“...Because of you, my Oppa was banished from the family... leading to this outcome.”

 

Her tone suggested she no longer considered Asena part of the family. Having lost her pillar of support in Cayden, Keirsey was unstable.

 

“...You drove Oppa to his death. You killed him...! Because of your rage...! Oppa was attacked and killed by mere thieves!”

 

“......”

 

But for once, Asena couldn’t retort. The strength drained from the hand that had been gripping the door handle, and it fell limply by her side.

 

She couldn’t stand tall and brazen, like the head of the family. Even Asena found herself loathsome.

 

“Bring my Oppa back...! I said, bring him back!”

 

Cold tears streamed down Asena’s cheeks.

 

The servants who had followed her entered the room, restraining Keirsey.

 

“Kei... Lady Keirsey! Calm down...! It’s not the Duchess’s fault..!”

 

“It’s HER fault! Because of her, my Oppa...! Sob...! My Oppa has gone...”

 

Keirsey dropped to her knees.

 

She too recognized her own shortcomings.

 

But she couldn’t bear it unless she placed the blame elsewhere.

 

If only she hadn’t drunk and thrown herself at him that time.

 

If only she hadn’t behaved, borrowing his words, “like a prostitute.”

 

Then Cayden wouldn’t have left her in such a manner.

 

The same Cayden who always looked at her with eyes filled with innocence and adoration; he wouldn’t have acted so hastily.

 

He was just disappointed. Disgusted by the way she tried to force herself on him in such a vulgar manner.

 

Despite all the things he did for her throughout her life, she had betrayed his goodwill with her own hands.

 

Keirsey’s breathing became rapid.

 

“Heh... ha...! Ha...!”

 

Even as she tried to inhale deeply, it felt like she wasn’t breathing. Her breath was as labored and painful as after a long run.

 

The servants who were observing her panicked and called for a doctor.

 

Keirsey swatted away the servants trying to attend to her, but they persisted in trying to restrain her.

 

Soon, dizziness overcame Keirsey. She began to feel overwhelmingly faint. Before she knew it, she was carried away from Cayden’s room, supported by one of the servants.

 

Left alone, Asena approached Cayden’s bed as if nothing had happened. She, too, was broken beyond repair.

 

Despite the brief commotion, all she could think of was Cayden.

 

Realizing that the earlier vision of Cayden was just a dream filled her with despair. She regretted not seeing him for longer. The pain of only being able to see him in dreams was unbearable.

 

She moved towards the window.

 

Without realizing, she looked down outside.

 

Would jumping from here let her see him again?

 

Such a thought fleetingly crossed her mind.

 

Without hesitation, her body reacted. One of her legs dangled out of the window.

 

She wanted to believe that Cayden couldn’t possibly be dead, but deep down, she seemed to have accepted the fact that he was gone.

 

Then, Asena saw her own hand.

 

That sinful hand, stained with Cayden’s blood.

 

She doubted her plan that if she jumped, she might see Cayden again.

 

Could she really see him? She was sure she wouldn’t.

 

Cayden surely went to heaven. He treated her, who was no kin, better than family, bringing her all the happiness in the world. Heaven wouldn’t refuse someone with such a radiant personality.

 

...On the other hand, herself. She, who succumbed to lust and rage, leading the very person, her benefactor, to death. No matter how much she thought about it... she was certain she would fall to hell. She had too many sins to atone for, and she knew better than anyone that there was no place in heaven for the crazed woman who killed her savior.

 

Tears, uncontrollable once again, began to flow.

 

It wasn’t the fear of hell that scared her. It was the fear of not seeing him.

 

Alive or dead, the realization that she might never see him again tore her heart apart.

 

This truly was a complete farewell.

 

It seemed like she was already in hell.

 

With that thought, things started to make sense to her. The punishment from the heavens had already begun.

 

She was paying for all the sins she committed against Cayden.

 

...But why did Cayden have to bear the punishment alongside her? He deserved a happy... happy...

 

Suddenly, Asena realized she could have all these thoughts only because he was gone. If he were alive, she would still be venting her anger at him, loudly declaring everywhere that Cayden wasn’t a Pryster.

 

Asena shuddered, tears streaming down her face. She perched on the window sill, leaning her back against it. One leg dangled outside, while the other couldn’t seem to leave Cayden’s room.

 

She wanted to throw herself out, to end the pain.

 

But if this was her punishment, she had to endure it as penance for what she did to Cayden.

 

“Lady Asena.”

 

Through the open door, Helen bowed once, calling out to her.

 

And the moment she lifted her head and saw Asena,

 

“Ah... Lady Asena!”

 

Helen, taken aback, rushed toward Asena. She grabbed her arm, pulling her inside the room.

 

Asena, seemingly drained, was dragged in and fell to the floor.

 

“Lady Asena!! You can’t... you can’t be like this...!”

 

Startled, Helen began to utter words to make Asena come to her senses.

 

Listening to her, Asena spoke quietly,

 

“... Helen. I want to die.”

 

She had closed the door, keeping her emotions hidden. Everyone probably knew how she felt, but being this direct was a first for her.

 

She voiced the thought that had been weighing on her heart for so long to Helen.

 

“In a world without him... there’s no meaning.”

 

Helen, searching for words, said,

 

“... But... but Grandmother Liana is still here...! There’s also Keir, and... and I’m here too, along with the other people!”

 

Despite knowing she might come off as harsh, Asena candidly expressed her feelings.

 

“... It’s not enough.”

 

“... Yes?”

 

“... Without Oppa... nothing feels enough...”

 

Joy no longer felt joyful, and emotions no longer moved her as they once did. Nothing could ever fill the void he left behind.

 

With his disappearance, she was shattered. Emotions weren’t the same anymore.

 

“... I want to die, Helen. After I kill that thief who ambushed Oppa... I’ll die too.”

 

“Ah... Lady Asena...!”

 

Helen closed her eyes tight, then slowly opened them, changing her tone.

 

“There’s no good in thinking like that now. Let’s not dwell on negative thoughts, okay?”

 

“....”

 

“There’s... there’s a guest. The guest...”

 

“I’m not in the mood to see anyone. Tell them to leave.”

 

“They came to help after hearing what happened to Sir Cayden. Should I still send them away...?”

 

Asena hesitated at those words.

 

Helen didn’t miss that brief moment of contemplation. She knew she had to steer Asena’s thoughts elsewhere.

 

She quickly headed somewhere. Before Asena could make another decision, Helen returned.

 

“Come in.”

 

Helen ushered in the guest.

 

The sound of clinking metal approached.

 

Asena, lying on the floor, received the visitor in that very state.

 

The footsteps did not halt but came straight up to where Asena lay. The feet of the guest, clad in armor, came into view.

 

The guest was audaciously looking down on the Duchess Pryster. Amidst this, Asena found herself wanting to look up at the person standing before her.

 

The only one who could stand while she kneeled was Cayden.

 

If she looked up and it was a man, Asena promised herself she would immediately sever the guest’s neck, regardless of who they were. The very posture was indecent. If she raised her head and the other person was a man, his lower half would assuredly be right in front of her face.

 

She lifted her gaze.

 

...It wasn’t a man.

 

“...Explain, Pryster.”

 

The woman said, suppressing her trembling voice to Asena.

 

Gradually, the face came into view.

 

Silver hair tinged with blue. A tall stature with well-defined muscles.

 

It was Judy Ice.

 

Given how unkempt her hair was and the dirt smeared on her face, she must’ve come hurriedly.

 

“...What happened to Cayden?”

---  End Of The Chapter ---

 

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