IWTQYG CH 3

Chapter 3

• ────── ✦ ────── •

A Part of My Body

Vianna shook her head at Delcia's declaration that she would offer her own heart.

“No, no. I can't allow that.”

“But, Vianna!”

Delcia looked at Vianna, with a flushed face. But Vianna did not budge.

“Why, why not?”

“I've granted a similar wish before. The result…didn’t go well. I can't let it happen again this time. If that's your only wish, go back home.”

Delcia clasped her hands together and pleaded.

“P-please, use my heart to save Edwin...…please.”

“…….”

Her woeful voice sounded pitiful. But even so, Vianna's lips remained tightly shut.

“……Hic.”

Delcia, pleading with her hands clasped together, began to cry. Her body wrapped in a blanket, trembled. Vianna merely watched Delcia's pitiful appearance without comforting her nor offering any solutions.

Delcia’s voice cracked.

“Edwin... I can’t live without Edwin.”

“…….”

“If Edwin weren't here, living would be worse than dying.”

Delcia said and got up from her seat. Vianna’s eyes suddenly opened wide.

“......I’ll have to find another way. There must be another way.”

“What do you mean by finding a way?”

Delcia did not answer her question, and Vianna let out a deep sigh. Delcia's sapphire eyes burned with determination. The exact same eyes like those of her former friend.

“……What's your name?”

“…Delcia. Delcianor Ferdo.”

“……Ferdo.”

I thought this girl merely share the same magic as her… but it turns out she’s Selena’s daughter.

How could history repeat itself like this?

“...Sigh. For now, go back home.”

“.......”

“And don't think about finding another way. You won’t find one.”

With that, Vianna pushed her out of the house. Delcia stumbled and stood in front of the tree, biting her lower lip.

Will I really lose Edwin like this?

She couldn't think of anything else and lowered her gaze.

Vianna's magic had brought her in front of the manor, Delcia dragged herself into her bedroom. Ella and the servants were horrified by her dishevelled appearance and bombarded her with questions, but Delcia said nothing.

Sitting in the bath, Delcia hugged her knees and stared blankly.

“My lady, how's the water temperature?”

“…….”

“My lady?”

“......Oh, Ella. What did you just say? “

Delcia asked in a choked voice. Ella, who had been about to explain calmly, changed her approach.

“My lady......you don't have to pretend that you're okay. I'd rather you just cry your eyes out. I'm too worried that something might happen to you.”

Delcia nodded solemnly at her words. She understood Ella's concern, but she couldn’t do that. She had found a way and she couldn't just sit there and cry.

She believed her duty was to do everything she could to save Edwin, no matter what.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

“......She’s back again.”

Vianna muttered with a frown. It was already the fourth day Delcia was wandering around the outskirts of the capital, searching for the entrance to the forest.

On the second day, Vianna thought that if she didn't engage with her, Delcia would give up out of exhaustion. But Vianna had to change her mind. For a girl raised in nobility, she was quite persistent and desperate.

…Just like Selena.

If it was someone else, Vianna would have granted their wish without a second thought but Delcia was Selena’s daughter. So, she had to protect the child that her friend wanted to protect.

Yet her resolve wavered every time she saw Delcia wandering around late into the evening with a dejected look on her face.

Watching her through the crystal ball, she looked so pitiful that it made Vianna uncomfortable.

The sun had set and Delcia, looking up at the darkening sky, was getting ready to return to the estate. Vianna quietly watched the scene and muttered.

“What should I do with that child...?”

She couldn’t come up with an answer. Vianna looked up into the empty space in anguish and covered the crystal ball with a cloth.

No matter what choice she made, it would leave her dissatisfied and uneasy. But I couldn't let that child linger around here forever. If something happens to her, the guilt would be unbearable.

Thus, after much contemplation, Vianna opened the forest entrance to Delcia who came the next day.

“Welcome.”

Vianna said, while hiding the fact that she had been watching her for several days.

“Th-thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for? I'm just agreeing to meet you.”

“But still…….”

Delcia sat down on the chair.

“So, what brings you here this time?”

“The same thing as last time.”

“As I said before—”

“I know.”

Vianna fell silent and quietly stared at her.

“Then tell me.”

“I also don’t want to break the unspoken law...”

“Yes. So?”

“……Because I’m a coward.”

Delcia took a deep breath and met her in the eyes.

“It’s easy for me to give up and walk away and say it’s impossible because that's how I've always done it, but if I let someone precious to me that I'm afraid to lose without trying.......”

Delcia’s eyes clouded a little.

“I'll regret it forever. I can't leave him without even trying my best.”

“And that best effort you can give is by sacrificing your heart?”

“...Yes. To me, this is my best effort and my last resort.

“What if I refuse?”

Delcia gave a faint smile.

“Well... maybe I’ll try something else to be with Edwin?”

“What do you mean?”

“If I can’t save him, then I’ll join him. Even if it means dying.”

Vianna let out a hollow laughter as she looked at Delcia. Her sapphire eyes were filled with tears but was shining brightly as if she knew that Vianna’s resolve is weakening.

Vianna swallowed bitterly. In the end, she had to admit it, that she was about to give in to Delcia's stubbornness.

“Fine, then Delcia. Did you bring the heart?”

“Th-thank you. Thank you so much, Vianna.”

“Save the gratitude, just hand over the heart you brought.”

“……No.”

Delcia shook her head and Vianna’s face crumpled.

“So did you just come here to persuade me?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then what?”

“As I mentioned before, my heart—.”

“What?”

Vianna froze and her face hardened. That time, Delcia was in a desperate situation that one might thought she just blurted out whatever came to mind, but she was speaking from the bottom of her heart.

Delcia faintly smiled at the look in Vianna's eyes demanding an explanation.

“I meant what I said back then and I haven't changed my mind. Vianna, I don't want to save Edwin's life by taking someone else's heart.”

“Delcia….”

“I want to save Edwin with my own heart.”

“.......”

Vianna swallowed hard, Delcia had become noticeably thinner and looked quite exhausted. In the midst of being completely exhausted both physically and mentally, she stubbornly talks about offering her heart.

She must not be thinking clearly.

Coming to a conclusion, Vianna coaxed Delcia with a somewhat softened expression.

“Delcia, it seems like you're not in a state to make a proper judgment right now. If you think about it differently, you wouldn't have come to such a conclusion. “

As Delcia's lips moved to say something, Vianna quickly added.

“Have you discussed this with your family?”

“…….”

“The fact that you’re silent tells me you haven’t.”

“…….”

Delcia hadn't even thought about telling her family, so she tightly shut her mouth.

“Oh, dear. You’ve got the order all wrong. Since it’s a matter that involves your heart, you should have talked to your family first before coming to me.”

Vianna remarked and escorted Delcia out of the house. As she sent Delcia back to the mansion, Vianna’s last words were firm.

“Go and have a talk to your family first. If one person objects, I’m afraid I won’t grant your wish.”

She was absolutely certain that her family would not give their permission.

Once again, Delcia found herself standing awkwardly in front of the mansion and entered the bedroom with slow steps. With Ella's help, Delcia washed herself clean and changed her clothes. As Ella helped her, all she could think about was how to convince her family.

In truth, there was nothing she could say to convince her father. No parent would willingly allow their child to give up her heart to save another. She had to convince her father and Arnold, even if it meant lying to them. Only then could Edwin be saved.

Delcia felt guilty about having to lie to her family, but she had to harden her resolve. She came down to the dining room and sat down with a nervous look. Soon, Count Ferdo and Arnold came in after her.

The meal began in silence. She forced herself to chew and swallow the food that wouldn't go down. After a few more bites, she put down her utensils and quietly remained in her seat. Noticing her, Count Ferdo asked his daughter in a gentle voice.

“Is there something you want to say, Delcy?”

“...Um, yes.”

“If it’s something important, you can come to the office later.”

“It’s something that brother also needs to hear...”

Count Ferdo looked at Arnold, who blinked in surprise.

“Very well. Arnold, come to the study with Delcia.”

“Yes.”

Arnold nodded in response. After the meal ended, the family gathered in the study. Delcia swallowed hard, she was worried about how to bring up the topic.

Then, Arnold asked her in concern.

“Delcia, is it something related to Duke Adelio?”

“......Yes.”

She nodded in response to his concern.

“Father, brother. I have something to tell you.”

“Oh, Delcy. I’m always ready to listen to your story.”

“Yes, Delcia. You must have a lot of stories piled up… I can listen anytime.”

With each word thrown one by one, Delcia's heart grew heavy. Taking a short breath, Delcia finally uttered the words she couldn't muster the courage to say.

“They say there's a way to save Edwin.”

“Wait, Delcy. What do you mean by that? Duke Adelio is already—”

“I'm sorry, Father. Actually, I met a witch who grants wishes under the pretext of going to meet Edwin.”

“Delcia.”

Count Ferdo's voice rose a little.

Delcia, who had been looking at the floor, lifted her head and met her father’s gaze.

“...I didn't believe it at first either. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I couldn't accept letting Edwin go. So, I wandered the outskirts desperately and ended up finding the forest.”

“…….”

“The forest was darker and quieter than I had imagined. After wandering around for a long time, I saw a tree emitting light, and there... a witch was living there.”

Delcia swallowed hard.

“The witch didn't want to grant my wish.”

“But, the reason you’re telling this story now is...”

“Um. She said she'll grant my wish if I get my family's permission.”

“But Delcy. How can you save Edwin?”

Delcia hesitated for a moment and held her tongue.

“Could it be...Delcia, you have something to give to the witch, right? Otherwise, bringing the dead back to life wouldn’t be impossible.”

“......Yes.”

“Delcy!”

“P-please father, hear me out.”

Delcia calmly pleaded with her father, who raised his voice and was about to get up from his seat at any moment. Count Ferdo, face flushed, ran a hand over his face and waited.

“She said… I need to give up a part of my body.”

Chapter 2

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Chapter 4