I Pretended To Have Amnesia and the Hero’s Party Becomes Obsessed

25 – 3. Where the gaze is directed is where the heart goes. (7)

Everything has worked out!

The girl threw herself onto the soft silk and gave a bright smile. She covered herself with a blanket and looked at the magnificent ceiling.

Ivan’s figure came to mind above the ceiling.

“From now on, I will take care of everything. Please wait with peace of mind, Clara.”

“Oh, and can you give me some time to talk to Lem?”

“No, just wait in the room. I’ll come find you when everything is done.”

It happened a few hours ago.

The girl continued the pink-colored imaginations that had been connected since then.

Now, the boy would no longer be disregarded as a wristless orphan. Instead of being disregarded, he would receive the respect of everyone.

As her lover.

“…!!”

The girl screamed silently, throwing off the blanket.

The resonance that the word lover gave was too sweet.

Once they became lovers, what should they do?

Of course, they should hold hands.

They should face each other much more than they do now.

They should also… kiss.

Yes, just like a happy ending in a novel that the girl likes…

Knock, knock.

“Princess-in-waiting, it’s me, Ivan.”

At those words, the girl sat up from the bed. Even before Ivan could open the door, she rushed to open it.

“Can I see Realm now?”

Seeing the excited eyes of the girl, Ivan smiled lightly. Then he nodded and said,

“Please follow me.”

And naturally, he turned his back and walked into the darkness. The girl followed after him with a wide smile.

Heading towards the already predetermined ending of this story.

The moment the girl realized something strange was when Ivan’s footsteps headed underground.

It was a staircase that the girl had never seen before, hidden in the corner of the Crystal Palace.

The girl unconsciously stopped in front of the stairs. A dreadful feeling in her chest had made it so.

“Why are you like this?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

But when Ivan turned his head and asked like that, the girl couldn’t help but lower her head.

It was because there was the same gentle smile on Ivan’s face as usual.

The girl reassured her heart and followed behind Ivan.

However, the spark of anxiety that was born once did not subside. Instead, it grew larger amidst the pouring firewood.

A faint moan could be heard from far away.

The scent of metallic bitterness and the smell of filth permeated through the nose.

Yellow moss gradually became visible between the stones on the ground.

Ivan’s voice erupted when the girl’s anxiety reached its peak.

“We have arrived.”

The startled girl suddenly realized that she was standing at the end of the staircase. She raised her head and looked ahead.

Along the long corridor to the right, there were rows of black iron bars.

Ironically, the girl was reminded of the corridors of the Crystal Palace when she saw them.

However, the black stained glass here, instead of colored sunlight, was covered with a somber cry on the floor.

Suddenly, the girl thought she should escape.

She couldn’t explain why, but the thought of not moving forward entered her mind.

“Here we are.”

However, as Ivan stood in front of the iron bars and said so,

The girl, as if entranced, went to Ivan’s side and stood. She followed Ivan’s finger and peered into the iron bars.

There was a chair, and on it sat a naked man.

At first, the girl didn’t notice that the man was naked. It was because the bruises and blood covered him like clothes.

The man’s body was so small that it couldn’t be considered that of an adult, and his hair was unusually jet black.

And instead of hands, there were only blunt wrists in their place.

Anxiety burned the girl’s chest.

“Rem…?”

“I ordered them to make sure he can’t do anything, but it seems the priests did a lot of things.”

The girl’s eyes looked up at Ivan. Ivan still had his kind smile on his face.

“Well, there must have been a lot to accumulate. The dirty orphan was the saint’s exclusive scapegoat, after all.”

However, the voice that came out of his mouth was extremely rough.

Tears formed in the girl’s bewildered eyes.

“What, what is this? I-it’s a lie, right…? Why, why is Ray there…”

“Of course, we are executing your brother.”

Ivan said as if it were nothing.

“Don’t you already know what punishment those who secretly learn the sacred law receive?”

Tears flowed from the girl’s eyes.

At the same time, two guards wearing black hoods descended the stairs. They bowed their heads to Ivan and entered the iron bars.

And then, he lit a fire in the fireplace in the room.

He inserted a rod made of gold into it.

The girl clung to Ivan’s coat.

“But, but…! I, I said I was your companion…! Even if, even if a companion learns the laws of the land…!”

“Aren’t you a prospective saint, Lady Clara?”

Ivan uncommonly chuckled.

The strength drained from the girl’s hand as she looked at him.

Suddenly, the girl found Ivan unfamiliar.

The entire situation seemed utterly unreal.

“Well, fortunately for that.”

Ivan placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder. The girl’s tear-filled eyes looked at Ivan.

“Thanks to Lady Clara, who identified the sinner and pushed him away, you have avoided punishment.”

“Pushed away…?”

Ivan knelt, aligning himself with the saint’s eye level.

“That wicked one enchanted Lady Clara and made her teach the laws, did she not confess?”

[I made Rem my companion during this journey.]

[And I taught Rem the laws.]

“No! That wasn’t the intention! It was…!”

“No.”

Ivan’s firm blue eyes focused on Clara.

“That was the intention.”

The girl’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear apart.

And, she turned her gaze toward the bars.

“Rem!”

Pushing away Ivan’s arms, the girl rushed toward the bars, reaching out her hand while silently reciting a verse.

“…!”

However, at that moment, the girl’s body stiffened as if turned into stone. Even blinking became impossible.

The same fate befell the boy.

“It’s useless. I’ve placed the laws upon Rem so she can neither hear nor see.”

Ivan raised his hand above the girl’s head. Affectionately stroking her, he spoke.

“So, please enjoy it comfortably.”

Tears flowed from the eyes of the girl, who had grown and become hardened.

“See what Clara’s recklessness and arrogance have brought about.”

A man wearing a black hood grabbed the boy by the hair and lifted him up.

At some point, the girl had seen the statue being excavated for gems. It was to extract the valuable things before it would be dismantled.

“Sob…! Sob…!”

The stone craftsman first used a hammer and chisel to carefully remove the area around the statue’s eyes. Point by point, ensuring that the gems were not damaged, with great attention to detail.

“_____!”

Then, after the gem was partially revealed, he inserted a long stick inside the eyelid. He twisted it up and down.

“______!! _____!!”

Then, snap. The gem came loose.

However, it was not completely free.

The adhesive still connected the gem to its interior.

Therefore, the stone craftsman inserted a heated scraper into the empty hole as a last resort. He scraped off the adhesive.

“…! ……! …”

Then, the gem fell onto the floor with a thud. Covered in dirt and dust, it rolled across the ground.

It was a delicate job worthy of admiration.

Rem, my love.

After that, for seventy days and seventy nights, I fasted. I made sure that the cursed power would no longer have control over my life.

It was a threat.

No, it was a plea.

Every night, I dragged my weak body and begged Ivan to give you back to me. At least, let me have the chance to see you.

But Ivan did not give any response.

Only on the first day of the seventieth day, as I was dying, he spoke to me while crying.

That you had died,

That you couldn’t bear the pain and took your last breath.

Rem, at that moment, I realized Ivan was a liar.

On the day when I heard the sound of the galaxy flowing, you made a promise to me.

That you would stay alive no matter what, crawling back to my side even if it meant using your teeth.

So, I decided to prepare myself to welcome you.

I forced the bitter taste of ink and water into my mouth. I kneeled before Ivan. Regretting my arrogance until now, I shed tears and feigned repentance.

Ivan played the role of the perfect saint he desired.

Simultaneously, he plotted revenge.

Stabbing a dagger into his heart was not enough.

Not only could I not return even a fraction of the pain you endured, but if I were to die, there would be no one left to welcome your return.

Instead, I decided to take his place.

On the day you return, I resolved to give you everything he possessed, along with his life.

This time, I aimed to make you the companion of a saint.

I gathered one dagger after another for him.

The bishops of the marginalized provinces when he ascended to the papacy,

The voices within the silenced papal chamber,

And the corruption and misdeeds he committed so far.

In the process, I discovered Ivan’s plan to betray the Grand Paladin.

Provoking the Grand Paladin, recruiting the disciples, and ultimately placing him as the chief custodian.

Ivan wrote in my diary that it was to bury my arrogance.

Honestly, I did not feel anger at that moment.

By then, all preparations had already been completed.

You just needed to return to my side. Then, we could have been happy again.

…But you did not come.

One day, one week, one month, one year,

Even on the day marking 12 years since you left.

At that moment, I realized.

No, I had accepted the things that made my wrists bleed every night.

That day, I recognized my responsibility for the pain you should have suffered.

If not for my reckless confession, we might have had a peaceful future.

And based on that recklessness, you might even hate me.

Hate me enough not to return.

That’s why I joined the hero’s party.

I had to find you.

I had to apologize when I met you. I had to apologize for my recklessness.

Am I really that foolish?

Actually, I should have prioritized that over revenge.

But, Rem, won’t you please understand me?

It was frightening.

Even imagining such a thing was terrifying to the point that my bones shook.

That you hated me.

How could I even dare to think that?

How could I endure that?

Using revenge as an excuse, I could only postpone that thought.

Even after accepting it, every night I could only tremble in fear.

Even the day we reunited.

But, Rem, please understand this much.

I summoned the courage.

The moment I met you, I kneeled and begged. I had prepared everything for you, thinking of going back together.

But, the moment I met you again.

The moment I saw your body, most of it replaced by a gruesome machine, with a heart that doesn’t beat.

The moment I saw the cursed fate that was neither alive nor dead.

I realized the weight of my sin.

I realized that I committed an unforgivable act toward you.

I knew that my recklessness could not be forgiven in any way.

And, I accepted that I had only one choice left.

That’s why, only after you lost your memory, did I approach you.

I lied, pretending not to know anything, despite knowing it was a cowardly and terrible thing to do.

Because until your memory returned, I wanted to give you everything I could.

Before making the final decision, I wanted to catch a glimpse of you.

But why did dawn come so quickly?

I opened the door.

Ivan was sitting in the office, just like 13 years ago.

But, unlike that time, he wasn’t alone.

My knights were standing there, who had been his followers.

Beyond him, angry bishops can be seen through the stained glass.

At the end of the staff they wield, the neck of Bishop Atrius hangs.

The fervent cries of “Execute the heretic pope” resound in the air.

It was all part of my plan.

From the moment I discovered Bishop Atrius’ necklace in that passage.

Admittedly, the justification was a bit lacking.

Until Bishop Atrius confessed that he and the Pope were connected to the heretics.

Drawing sparks to the already prepared firewood was all too easy.

“…Have you finally lost your mind?”

Ivan looks at me with a stern face and speaks.

But now, I do not listen. I only move my feet towards him.

“Do you think I would not know that I tortured Bishop Atrius to extract a false confession of my involvement with the heretics? I…!”

Suddenly, Bishop Ivan’s body stiffens. He stares at me without even blinking.

Yes, this is the same punishment that you and I endured.

How diligently I practiced this punishment for this moment.

“…!”

I stand before Ivan with a smile. I hold his cheek and lift it up.

Gently, I place my thumb in front of his eyes.

His blue iris trembles, and tears gather in his eyes.

Rem, did you also experience this before your eyes were plucked out?

“______!!!”

I am not a sculptor, so I couldn’t make it as clean.

But fortunately, what I had in my hand was not a stone, but clay.

Every time it didn’t come out perfectly, I used the hand of God to shape everything into a circle.

And then, I started again from the beginning.

“____!!”

Again.

“____!”

Again.

“……!”

And, again.

“…”

Until it takes a pretty shape.

I released Ivan, whose face was covered in exhaustion. Ivan, who was not yet dead, collapsed to the ground, gasping.

I put the result on the cloth that my knight handed me. I handed it to the Holy Knight and said,

“Break his legs and tie him to the top of the Crystal Palace. And, every day, open his stomach and insert a whisper into his disguise.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Holy Knights dragged Ivan out. Ivan muttered something as he left, but I didn’t pay attention.

However, I asked the Holy Knight next to me,

“How is the ritual progressing?”

“…The preparations are already complete. We just need for him to arrive.”

I smiled widely. I touched the face of my loyal servant and said,

“Bring him as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

And, stepping on Ivan’s blood, I went towards the stained glass. Feeling the ecstasy filling my heart, I placed my forehead on the stained glass.

Rem, the end is finally approaching.

Since the moment I reunited with you,

No, perhaps, since the moment I met you, the story started.

And, it will surely be a happy ending, just like the novels you used to read to me.

A happy ending where everyone lives happily ever after, I can say,

Bright and brilliant.

And, I won’t be a part of that ‘everyone’.

So, my beloved Rem, please come quickly.

So that I can give everything back to you.