The Story Is Not Over Yet - Chapter 188
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 188
‘How long has it been since I saw this face?’
Suddenly, he felt as if he were seeing Azela in front of him after a very long time. Strangely, it felt like he was seeing Azela’s face properly for the first time since their early days of marriage. Had so much time passed?
It felt odd.
“Daniel.”
Lost in thought, Daniel was brought awake by Azela calling his name. Her deep blue eyes held him captive.
He felt a strange sensation.
“Lina has been carrying herbs around. Are you not feeling well?”
“Ah…”
Embarrassed by her concern, Daniel lowered his head. He had prevented Azela from taking the servant, Irene, who had been like a younger sister to her, yet now, Azela was worried about his health. It was an odd feeling.
“I’m just. I’m fine now.”
“If you have any pain, it’s better to get a proper examination and treatment. Those cheap herbs will only provide temporary relief. You’ve had the habit of enduring pain on your own since before. I’ll leave a message with the servants when I go.”
When I go.
Ultimately, Azela meant she would go.
With a furrowed brow, Daniel wiggled his fingers and then spoke.
“Can’t you not go?”
Even he knew that his words were pitiful and a mess. However, he had no other words to express what he wanted to say.
“I’m in pain. It’s true I’m in pain, and I wish you would take care of me. Right now, there’s only you for me.”
“Daniel.”
He bit his lip and tightly shut his eyes in response to her pitiful gaze. He didn’t want to be treated this way, but he wanted to keep her by his side, even if it meant enduring this.
Beyond his closed eyes, he heard Azela let out a sigh.
“What’s your condition? If you tell me your condition, I’ll let Lina know the necessary medicines. I’ll have your favorite foods prepared, and make sure you eat well with the medication at each meal.”
“…Azela, I—”
“Don’t say you need me. You know it’s impossible. Daniel.”
Her voice was gentle.
It was kind, unlike her usual cold tone, that pushed him away. The Azela he always knew. The Azela who used to love him. The Azela he loved. The Azela who had been by his side…
…That Azela was refusing him now.
“I liked you so much.”
Past tense.
Daniel’s heart froze again.
“I liked the way you looked at me and the sweet words you used to say to me.”
“Azela.”
“I liked that phrase you used to say… that there’s no one but me for the rest of your life.’”
Azela gave a faint smile.
Of course, there was no one but her for him even now. He should be telling her to come back. But why? Daniel couldn’t bring himself to speak as he was overwhelmed by emotions. Anything he said might make everything fall apart.
“Even though I knew that those words weren’t forever, I believed in the way you looked at me. I thought. Ah, this person will love me forever.”
“Azela, I—”
He wiped his face with his now rough palm, wondering how everything had come to this point. Why had things turned out this way?
Azela stopped speaking and looked at him, silently waiting for his words.
“I… I wanted to give you everything you wanted.”
“Daniel.”
“I know my way wasn’t right, but I… I…”
Even though she might not believe him, he truly wanted to give his all, with a pure heart, and love her. As he held back the words he couldn’t bring himself to say, Daniel covered his eyes with his hand.
“Since the middle of our marriage, we’ve hardly ever sat down like this and had a conversation.”
“….”
“It’s not just your problem, Daniel. I was passive, too, thinking you would come to me on your own. We might have been over since then.”
His hand over his eyes was damp now. Daniel clenched his lips tightly.
“Daniel.”
“….”
As if understanding his emotions, she called him in a soothing voice. His face had turned a deep shade of red. Between his tightly closed lips, he struggled to hold back the unspoken words.
“We, now…”
“….”
“We’re really over.”
Azela spoke with a contented smile without any regret. It felt like a welcoming spring.
“I truly loved you, Daniel.”
Perhaps Daniel could truly feel that this was the end from her words. With his hand, which had been covering his eyes, now lowered, he spoke with a trembling voice. He couldn’t tell when he had started crying, but his face was soaked with tears.
It was the first time she had seen him cry like this, and her face showed surprise.
“I, I…”
Even though he wanted to say something, to make an appeal, all that came to mind were memories of how he had mistreated Azela in the past. Memories of intercepting her letters and tearing them up, of having servants spy on her when she went outside, of losing his temper when she tried to practice her swordplay.
…Memories of creating the conditions for Azela to become reclusive and helpless.
“I, I really cared about you, Azela.”
And then there was the memory of bringing Sylvia into their lives, of turning a blind eye to her obvious disregard. The memory of killing the maid, Irene, whom Azela had liked so much.
All of these memories flooded Daniel’s mind, and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.
“…I know, Daniel.”
Unable to finish his sentence, he sobbed quietly.
Azela watched him cry for a while and then handed him a handkerchief. Their fingers touched as he reached for it, and the warmth of her touch made Daniel sob harder. She said nothing, as this was his reflection about his past actions.
“I, I killed you, Azela.”
In the end, he didn’t hold onto her.
Instead, he apologized for his actions.
“I… I killed Irene, too.”
“…Yes, you did.”
“Not only did I kill you, I…”
Azela listened quietly to Daniel’s remorse. His words were gibberish and unclear, but the end of each sentence was an apology.
“Daniel, I’m going to stop being a source of pain for you.”
He remained silent, still struggling to find the right words.
“As much as I couldn’t do it in the past, I want to find happiness now.”
“A…zela.”
“Though that won’t be by your side. So this time, let me go so that I can be happy.”
Daniel stroked his face repeatedly with his dry hands.
“If I let you go, will you truly be happy this time?”
His words were filled with regret. Hearing that, Azela couldn’t help but smile wryly and shrugged her shoulders.
“You would know if you saw me now. Do I look sad?”
Hearing her words, he glanced at her briefly before lowering his head. Her appearance had changed so much since those days of resentment and anger, with her cheeks now full and her expression filled only with happiness.
Perhaps this forgiveness was possible.
“…But he was called a devil.”
Daniel mumbled, still hesitant. It was because even though he didn’t want to insult, he felt compelled to address it.
Azela, after pondering for a moment, lifted her head and spoke firmly.
“No, Zagnac is human.”
“….But, but at that time.”
He had seen it, too. Zagnac, who had appeared as a devil rather than in human form. Azela spoke with determination, almost like driving her point.
“Don’t worry, Daniel. He’s truly a pure human being, perhaps even more so than you.”
With her firm words, he finally closed his mouth and nodded his head.
A while later, the tea that Azela had ordered arrived, but no one took a sip. Daniel, who had been playing with the edge of his teacup, finally spoke with determination.
“Take Irene wherever you want.”
“Really?”
“…Yes.”
—
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