DSFL | Chapter 110

~Chapter 110~

‘What did he think of Idette all this time…?’

It felt like the image I had of Idette—the original heroine—was completely shattered.

So, she’s human after all.

I continued speaking awkwardly in front of Edmund and eventually wrapped up my explanation.

“…So, I know it’s a bit rude, but there’s something I really wanted to ask.”

I carefully offered him the gift I brought. Edmund looked surprised and flustered.

“Oh, you didn’t need to bring anything like this…”

“It’s a bribe to ask for your help.”

He chuckled quietly at my words and opened the door wide.

“Well then, come on in.”

Thankfully, he was just as warm-hearted as he looked.

***

“If Idette had told me ahead of time, I would’ve bought something at least. I live alone, so I don’t really have anything to offer guests.”

Edmund mumbled while rummaging through the kitchen cupboard.

“I’m really fine!”

He gestured for me to sit wherever I felt comfortable. I carefully sat on a chair.

The house was small and quiet—not even a single servant in sight.

‘…He really manages everything alone.’

Ailins—a name that should no longer exist.

After she pledged her loyalty to the emperor, her descendants went into hiding to avoid the eyes of the royal family.

Still, her descendants continued to name their children after her, as a way of honoring her memory.

Among them, some were born with exceptional magical talent, just like Ailins herself.

Thanks to them, the families made great achievements in Carpea, eventually earning the title of Baron.

‘Even the royal family couldn’t ignore their accomplishments.’

But at the same time, the royal family feared they might break Ailins’s seal.

So they made up baseless accusations and stripped the families of their title.

When the Mage Tower protested, the royal family backed down, allowing them to keep the title in name only.

‘That’s different from the original story.’

Unlike in the original, Erkessian now had to protect Ailins’s seal.

Yet he still fell in love with Idette and brought her to the imperial palace.

‘…Maybe this version of him is even more devoted.’

Though it’s still uncertain whether Erkessian would really go against the royal family for Idette.

“You must’ve had a long journey.”

Edmund placed a steaming cup of water in front of me, looking a bit embarrassed to offer only that.

“If you visit again with Idette next time…”

“Oh no, this is more than enough! I’m just grateful you welcomed me so kindly without notice!”

Even so, Edmund couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

He sighed deeply and sat across from me.

“Geez, Idette… she could’ve told me in advance. Anyway, what brings you here?
Coming all this way alone must mean this is something important.”

I smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“Well, there was something Idette said before that’s been stuck in my mind.”

“…Idette?”

I tried to gather my thoughts as clearly as possible.

“They say those born into the world must walk the path of fate. It is an unchanging rule of the world, and those who go against it will be punished.”

“…!”

“I’ve lived holding onto those words in my heart. But the start and end of fate don’t seem to match.”

Edmund’s eyes began to tremble.

“I can’t follow fate as things are now. But if I try to defy it, I’ll be punished. It’s incredibly frustrating—especially for someone like me, who already knows the future.”

I watched him carefully.

“…Idette told me she would become empress one day. I thought I was the only one who knew that future. But it turns out, I’m not the only one.”

Edmund’s expression stiffened. And then, quickly, a sharp caution filled his once-gentle face. The sudden change gave me chills.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

As he stood up from his seat, I quickly raised both hands.

“Please hear me out. I told you—I came here not as anyone else, but as Idette’s friend.”

“…”

“And you’re the father of my dear friend.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking like he was thinking hard.

As the silence stretched on, I spoke again, letting out a sigh-like breath.

“…Or if you prefer, let’s say I came here because Ailins asked me to see you.”

Judging from his expression, that was the correct answer.

Edmund stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“…Lady Ailins?”

“Yes. The very person you know best.”

“…”

“…So, are you willing to listen to me now?”

I asked gently. Edmund let out a small sigh.

***

“Ha ha! Our Idette is a little odd—just like her mother!”

Thankfully, the tense mood lightened once we started talking about Idette. Edmund laughed until his eyes teared up, then glanced at me.

“…I was a bit harsh earlier, wasn’t I? As a father, I probably acted too seriously toward someone her age.”

“No, it’s okay. I brought up a sensitive topic first, after all.”

I followed him upstairs.

He opened a door with ease and spoke again.

“I didn’t decide to listen to you because of Lady Ailins. To me, she’s just someone from the past now.”

That was unexpected.

“What I want now is only Idette’s happiness.”

“…”

“Whether we know fate or not, if we have to walk that path anyway, I figured it’s better to walk it knowing what lies ahead.”

Morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, filling the room.

He walked across the floor, waving his hand through the dust floating in the air.

“And if it’s a bright and shining fate—not a tragic one—then all the more reason to know it, don’t you think?”

I quietly nodded.

“Then how did you come to see fate, Mr. Edmund?”

“It was a miracle.”

He said that was the only way to describe it.

“One day, a package arrived. That was the beginning of it all. No name on the sender, no clues—but that gift completely changed my life.”

Edmund pulled something from a faded yellow envelope.

“…After seeing the perfect ending for that child, my only goal became making sure she reached that future.”

Arkan always said that someone who found an item from another world was lucky—but also cursed.

“…So that’s why you trust the crown prince. Because of this.”

“Exactly. It’s the ending that was already written.”

But I still couldn’t figure out how Erkessian would act in the end.

As I carefully moved closer, I saw a pouch with an old, outdated pattern. Strange letters were written in the center—ones I had never seen before.

“At first, I thought this weird design was a curse.”

He had thought what I saw as letters were just drawings.

“When I first held it, I saw a vision. I thought it was some kind of curse meant to trap me in hopeless dreams.”

Given the situation, it wasn’t an unreasonable conclusion.