For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 24

“My name is Aura.”

The night of their wedding. The moment he heard those words, Karl felt as if his life was about to end. She was a Zenia woman he had thought was just pretty. He had tried to ignore her turquoise eyes and ivory-blonde hair because he found it awkward to pay attention to her.

He couldn’t understand. What was so special about that white hand that had grabbed his sleeve? What was it about that hand that made him feel as if he were on the edge of an abyss? An irrational impulse to throw himself off, even though he knew he should step back. Karl stood frozen, experiencing this strange, intense pull for the first time in his life.

But he knew one thing for sure. If he went back to that bed, he might do something to that woman.

Karl ran out of the room. He spent the entire night in the garden, trying to convince himself. His foolish “true-blood” brothers were already itching to get rid of him. This harassment would probably continue until one of them became the emperor. No matter how much Karl pretended to be apathetic, weak people’s jealousy was like that.

It was obvious. The moment Karl showed he cared for Aura, they would target her too. ‘Don’t make things difficult. To protect a woman like her… such a noble woman, I have to become many times stronger. Really, many times stronger… Stop. It’s not easy to endure even now.’

The logical answer was obvious. Remain a couple in name only. He had to make that clear to her again. He wouldn’t waver even if she grabbed his trousers instead of his sleeve.

At sunrise, Karl headed back to the main palace. As he was about to enter, he saw the daffodils in the flowerbed. ‘So what if she looks like them?’ Karl went into the main palace. And a moment later, he came back out. He clenched his fists and muttered, “You crazy bastard.”

He sat in front of the flowerbed and began to pick the daffodils. One by one, then another, then another. He couldn’t stop himself from gathering the daffodils. He felt like he was going crazy, just as he had called himself. To decide to end his life like this. To be prepared to dedicate everything to that woman.

Karl walked toward the princess consort’s room with the bouquet. One step, one step, another step. She might refuse the flowers, blaming him for what happened the night before. If she did, Karl would be able to let out a sigh of relief and back away. But if she accepted the flowers with the same expression she had yesterday… ‘Then… if you take this, your life ends too.’ And Aura happily accepted the bouquet with a lovely expression.

The months he spent with Aura. Karl learned what happiness was. He learned that his heart could beat in a different way. And he also learned how fleeting that happiness was.

The Crown Prince invaded Zenia and imprisoned Aura. He had no time to grieve. He had to devote all his future to saving her. He made a deal with his sick father. To keep Aura alive until he had conquered Devla.

“Alright,” his father had said. “But you have to leave now. Before your brother sees you.”

Karl immediately headed for the palace gates with his knights. He felt like he had to leave something for Aura. He gave his sword and some gold coins to his aide, Prit. “Give the guards of the north tower these gold coins and tell them to give this sword to Princess Consort Aura. Tell her to protect herself with it… and to survive no matter what.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty. Go first. I’ll follow.” Prit ran toward the north tower. Karl looked up at the tower once and then left the palace.

Devla was, in a word, hell. Monsters, knights from other empires, wandering knights, vagrant magicians. He killed them all without mercy. Soon, insomnia and nightmares began. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the faces and screams of the people he had killed. But he endured those hellish nights. Because Aura was waiting for him.

Three years passed.

He heard the news that his father had passed away around the time he had finished conquering Devla. He returned to the palace without hesitation. The last person he had to shed blood for was, after all, the Crown Prince.

And Aura stabbed him.

To Karl, who said he had protected her, Aura said he had abandoned her. Only then did Karl realize that something was wrong. The more they talked, the deeper their relationship sank into a swamp. He didn’t know where to even begin to untangle the mess. It would have been easier if she had just argued with him. But Aura had chosen to hate him instead of asking for an explanation.

At first, the hatred was hard to handle, but he soon realized something. That hatred, that obsession she had for him—that was what kept Aura alive. So… he thought it was okay. Hadn’t he learned three years ago how fleeting things like love and happiness were?

The problem was his insomnia. It was getting worse. In addition to the memories of Devla, more things appeared in his dreams.

Tasha. She was crying, holding on to him. “How could you do this to me?! I raised you myself!”

Isen. He was muttering with blood gushing from his mouth. “I have to protect her… I have to protect my mother…”

And… Aura. She was lying in bed, smiling. She cupped Karl’s face and pulled him closer. He would fall for her every time, and she would say, “Monster. You’re a monster.”

“…!”

Karl sat up in bed. His body was drenched in sweat. “Haa… haa…” His heart was pounding. He looked out the window, trying to catch his breath. The pale morning light was pouring into the room.

‘How long did I sleep? An hour? An hour and a half?’

It was the first time he had slept since Isen’s death three days ago. But it was questionable if that hellish time could even be called sleep.

Karl fled his bedroom. He walked aimlessly, half-crazed, letting his instincts guide him. He arrived in front of Aura’s room. He gripped the doorknob tightly.

He knew from experience that he would fall asleep just by holding Aura. He knew that she was the only one who could save him from his insomnia and nightmares. He didn’t know why, but she had that power. But he couldn’t bring himself to turn the doorknob.

He could still see it so clearly. Three days ago, when he came to Aura’s room right after Isen died. The moment he silently entered her room, he couldn’t get any closer. Aura was sitting on the bed, staring at the north tower. The pain he had inflicted on her was so clear on her precarious back. He couldn’t bear to look at it, so he quietly left her room. He stood there for a long time before giving the book to the head maid to deliver. He knew it was a cowardly thing to do.

Thud…

He lightly hit the door with his fist. “…Damn it.” ‘How can I face her?’ Karl finally turned away without a word. He didn’t know how many more dawns he would have to do this.

Today was the last day of Isen’s funeral. Aura had feigned illness and had not attended the funeral for the past two days. If she went to the funeral, she would have to see Karl. But the empress couldn’t ignore the prince’s funeral until the very end. Rumors must have already started among the nobles.

Aura went to the chapel in a black dress. Many nobles were still there on the last day. It was a testament to Isen’s sociable personality. She walked onto the platform with a white flower. Isen, lying in the coffin, was pale but looked peaceful. Aura placed the white flower on his chest and sincerely prayed, ‘Please, go to a peaceful place.’

After her prayer, she felt uncomfortable at the thought of seeing Karl. But she had managed to control herself for the past two days. Her only purpose in staying in the palace was the Pin, so she had to focus on that. Aura went to the head seat and was startled when she saw Karl. His complexion was terrible. There were dark circles under his eyes, his lips were colorless, and his eyes were full of a raw sensitivity instead of life.

‘Could he be like this because Isen died? No. He seemed fine three days ago.’

Aura sat down next to Karl. His gaze fell on her. “I heard you were not feeling well.”

Aura was taken aback by his question. Who was worried about whom? “I’m fine now. I’m completely healed.”

“Is that so?” Karl’s fingertips lightly tapped the back of Aura’s hand. Aura looked at him with an expression that asked what he was doing. Karl said, “I don’t think so.”

Aura pulled her hand away. “…You should take care of yourself. I thought you were a corpse.”

Karl let out a small laugh.

The funeral ended peacefully. Isen’s body was buried in the royal cemetery. Karl stood in front of Isen’s grave for a moment. Aura left him alone. She wasn’t in the mood to stay with him.

She had walked for a while when Riel suddenly came running and hugged her legs. “Waaah!” Riel burst into tears. Aura belatedly remembered that Isen had been quite close to Riel.

“Why did you come so late! I’ve been waiting for you…”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling well.”

“My youngest uncle, my uncle…” Riel hiccupped. Aura hugged the crying Riel, trying to soothe her. As Riel’s breathing calmed down, “Empress.”

Someone approached Aura. After a moment of hesitation, Aura gave a calm and demure smile. “Duke. It’s been a while.” It was the first time she had talked to him since the wedding, even though she had seen him at the coronation.

Lion began to comfort Riel. “Our dear princess seems upset. Come visit your grandfather later. I’ll play with you.”

‘Grandfather. It’s true that he’s Riel’s grandfather by blood.’

“Princess Riel!” Riel’s new wet nurse came running. She was flustered and took Riel away. “My apologies, Empress. Your Highness the Duke. I looked away for a moment.”

“It’s alright. Take her and give her some water.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The wet nurse took Riel and left.

Lion smiled. “You’re good with children.”

“Riel follows me around well. And…” Aura looked straight at Lion and said, “Prince Isen also followed me well.”

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