After I died, Everything Changed - Chapter 73

— Did she just glare at us?!
— Kyahaha!

The soft orbs of light circled around me, glowing as they pushed back the dark.

They moved like they belonged to me—like they’d always been here.

Every time I took a step, the fairies danced in the air, giggling as they spun around.

Sometimes I found them noisy, but whenever that thought crossed my mind, they’d quietly scatter on their own.

Do they respond to my emotions…?

Hearing their laughter made me smile too.

— She smiled!
— Deborah smiled!

And then—suddenly, the lights vanished like they’d been startled.

It was as if they’d fled in fear.

My senses sharpened.

Someone stepped forward, emerging silently from the shadows behind a pillar.

“You’re not surprised,” he said.

The voice belonged to Abel.

I pushed down the flutter in my chest and met his gaze.

“I thought you might come see me one more time.”

He was dressed in black, yet somehow… even that darkness felt natural on him.

As he took a step forward, pale moonlight caught on his silver hair, giving it a cold, metallic sheen.

“You don’t carry a weapon anymore.”

He used to keep his sword on him, even inside the estate.

His life must have been exhausting.

To live without peace, even in your own home.

“You look… lighter now.”

Maybe—just a little—
I was envious of him.

The name I couldn’t let go of, even in death… Abel was ready to abandon it.

A quiet laugh slipped out of me.

I walked toward him.

“You know I never needed such things.”

His voice was steady, and even carried a faint smile.

I stopped just before him, looking down at his polished shoes.

There was a time I wondered where those steps led when they weren’t facing me.

I always knew Abel didn’t care about titles—about headship or succession.

Still, I had assumed he would eventually be pulled in, swept up by family, ambition, or his mother’s demands.

But I’d been wrong.

Abel had never once been controlled by her.

“Aren’t you afraid of me?” he asked.

His violet eyes, half-lidded beneath long lashes, caught the moonlight and glowed faintly blue.

“If you meant to kill me, you would’ve done it already.”

“There are worse things than death.”

“Are you saying you’ll torture me?”

At that, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

“Aren’t you disgusted by me?”

“Disgusted? Ha. In this mansion full of monsters, you don’t exactly stand out.”

Could a few drops of blood really be the line between human and beast?

If anything, I might be the one with something darker rotting inside me.

“But I am curious,” I added. “What exactly are you?”

Abel slowly blinked, then opened his eyes again.

“Do you need my blood?”

I didn’t want Abel to become a monster.

They called it monster mutation, didn’t they?

He was too valuable to lose to that kind of transformation.

He’d led the empire to victory in war, protected those under his command, and possessed a mind sharper than most.

If kept close, he could be an incredible asset.

After a moment of silence, Abel finally spoke.

“If I told you I needed something… would you give it to me?”

I extended my arm calmly toward him.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t give.”

Abel stared at the offered arm for a moment.

Then, he reached out and gently supported my wrist in his hand.

He slowly lowered his head toward it.

Is he really going to drink from me?

For a second, fear tightened my hand.

But no pain came.

Instead, his hand slid down, fingers wrapping softly around mine.

His lips touched my hand—not to bite, but to kiss the back of it.

Startled, I stiffened.

Then Abel looked up at me—still holding my hand.

I quickly pulled it back.

“What…?”

I hadn’t expected this.

Without thinking, I brought my other hand over the one he’d kissed.

“It wasn’t a selfish hunger for blood,” he said quietly.

“…”

“And if you thought I came here to say goodbye… you’re mistaken.”

Once again—I’d been wrong.

“The world will change,” Abel said.

“…”

He took another step forward.

“We’re no longer family.”

Without warning, his arm moved.

Before I could even step back, it was wrapped tightly around my waist.

He leaned in, and in that brief second, a sweet, unfamiliar scent swept over me.

Abel’s forehead rested heavily against my left shoulder.

“…”

I blinked once, but nothing in my view changed.

I could feel his warmth.

His cloak, wrapped around me as he held me, made it feel like I’d been swallowed by shadows.

If someone saw us now, would it look like darkness had devoured me?

“Chloe’s death doesn’t mean we’re no longer family,” I said softly.

At my words, a small laugh vibrated through my shoulder.

“I had her buried next to your father.”

Though Chloe met a tragic end, her grave was placed beside his.

That had been Grandfather’s decision.

“Very Mergen of him… kind and cruel, all at once.”

I nodded in agreement with Abel’s words.

Then came a long, long silence.

“Let’s meet again, sister.”

His voice was strangely cool.

And just like that, Abel disappeared into the darkness.

All that remained in the space he’d left behind was a bitter chill.

Weeks passed.

“Another case of human-to-monster transformation has been reported.”

“….”

Elliot handed me several reports.

These incidents were becoming far too frequent.

“At this point, everyone knows. Fear is spreading fast. I believe House Mergen needs to make an official statement.”

His words reminded me of something Abel once said:

‘Which is more terrifying—unconfirmed rumors or a publicly declared catastrophe?’

Catastrophe.

Yes. Just like he said, this was nearing disaster.

“We’ll have to speak out eventually. But… we don’t have enough solid information yet.”

“That’s true. But there’s another issue.”

“What now?”

“The Imperial Palace is pressuring us as well. They want you to appear—soon.”

“…Of course they do.”

I should’ve expected that.

“Gather everything we’ve compiled so far.”

“Yes, right away.”

Elliot frowned. “Why is the Imperial family so obsessed with tearing Mergen down?”

“They’re not obsessed. Just… dependent.”

They had no real reason to hate Mergen.

If anything, they liked us.

There was no stronger shield for the Empire than House Mergen.

And the ones who knew how to use that shield best—were the royals themselves.

“Grandfather isn’t well, so tell them I’ll go in his place.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll explain things to him myself.”

“Yes. And… about the rumors surrounding Lord Abel…”

“Deny everything. Say there’s been no confirmation.”

“Yes, milady.”

Abel…

The Abel I saw wasn’t a monster.

He still had self-awareness—he was still him.

“In the desert…”

“Pardon?”

“Do you remember how Abel looked in the desert that night?”

“Of course. It was… unusual. Beyond human strength.”

Silence settled between us.

If, by some terrible chance, the rumors were true and Abel had become something monstrous… House Mergen would suffer the fallout.

“There hasn’t been a single sighting of him since, right?”

“Correct. None.”

“Then we wait. No need to hand them our weakness first.”

“Yes, milady.”

I told myself not to think about Abel anymore.

But even as I flipped through page after page, I kept seeing silver hair flash in my mind.

If he were still that boy who used to want my attention so badly…

He’d probably be thrilled with how much of my headspace he occupied now.

It was a few days later when I arrived at the Imperial Palace.

“You’re radiant as ever, Lady of Mergen.”

“That title… It’s been a while.”

I hadn’t come alone.

It seemed the Bahel family had been summoned as well.

Lahan was dressed in full formal military uniform—a rare sight.

“You’ve earned a lot of medals.”

I glanced at his chest. The medals glittered almost as brightly as the jewels on my gown.

“I’m surprisingly good at a lot of things. Looks can be deceiving.”

Lahan puffed out his chest proudly.

“I see.”

“Do I look different today?”

“I never thought you looked bad before. But yes, you do look… impressive.”

Those medals were symbols of honor—proof that he had helped bring peace to the Empire.

Anyone would be right to admire them.

“Good thing I dressed up properly. I wanted to look good for you.”

“You wore all those medals… just to impress me?”

I asked with a teasing tone. Lahan shook his head with a smile.

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