Chapter 362
“Ugh…”
Alesya grabbed her swollen belly and walked around the spacious room.
As she approached full term, there wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t ache, causing her to naturally groan.
Karen was lying on the bed, trying out different positions but none of them were particularly comfortable as she too neared her due date.
Still, with the big day approaching, this time wasn’t entirely filled with suffering.
The anticipation of meeting her child mixed with slight worry made her heart race.
Passing by Karen, who smiled gently while thinking about her baby, Alesya sat down on a chair.
Through the window—or rather, the wall that projected the outside scenery—warm sunlight streamed in.
Alesya sipped her drink while gazing at the seemingly peaceful landscape outside.
“…”
Since fainting from what seemed like anemia or something similar not long ago,
Karen and Alesya had been staying here.
Alesya couldn’t quite remember the events surrounding her collapse.
Given the lingering aftereffects clouding her memory, it was clear it hadn’t been just mild anemia.
Karen also passed out due to similar symptoms, likely from expending too much energy worrying about Ray’s expedition during her pregnancy.
Both women were advised by doctors to maintain absolute rest to prevent any “greater problems.”
Despite this luxurious confinement within the Imperial Capital, one issue lingered: Ray’s absence.
An urgent matter arose in Phillip’s County requiring his immediate attention. There wasn’t much Ray could do about it.
Though he promised to return before the birth if possible, delays might occur should complications arise.
Still, knowing Ray wasn’t venturing into dangerous places like the Demonic Realm provided some comfort.
…Yes, there was no cause for worry.
Alesya repeated this to herself while looking out at the view when Luna arrived.
Karen quickly rose from her bed to greet Luna warmly.
With her usual calm voice, Luna asked if either woman needed anything special.
How could they possibly be uncomfortable living in such luxury?
Karen shook her head, and Alesya confirmed everything was fine.
After checking on their wellbeing, Luna prepared to leave after exchanging brief pleasantries with Karen.
That’s when Alesya suddenly spoke up.
“Isn’t there something?”
“…”
Luna’s silver eyes turned toward Alesya.
Looking into those icy orbs, Alesya mulled over the strange feeling in her heart several times before shaking her head.
“…No, never mind!”
Alesya’s forced raised voice echoed through the large room and down the hallway.
Luna gave a slight nod and turned away.
Watching Luna’s retreating back, Alesya absentmindedly stroked her belly.
This was supposed to be the most crucial period for mental peace.
Therefore, Alesya pushed aside the unease in her heart and muttered to herself.
“…I hope the baby is born healthy.”
*
Lea fidgeted with her fingers beside Jimmy.
After fidgeting for a while, Lea finally mustered the courage to speak.
“…Dad, are you very tired?”
“…What? Ah, no, I’m fine.”
Jimmy, who had been sitting against the wall in a daze, immediately shook his head upon hearing Lea’s voice.
“Dad isn’t tired at all.”
Jimmy forced a bright smile.
Lea had been trembling with anxiety ever since waking up from her faint. He had barely managed to calm her down, so he couldn’t show any weakness now.
Seeing Jimmy’s smile, Lea hesitated before asking timidly.
“Dad, did… did Mom get mad at me?”
Lea nervously glanced at Jimmy, showing signs of unease.
It had been days since Lea last saw Bella. She had rarely been apart from her mother for this long.
Despite the room being filled with all sorts of dazzling jewels and mysterious objects, Lea couldn’t feel happy.
As Bella’s name came up, Jimmy tried to prepare his usual excuse.
But before he could,
Lea voiced the thoughts she’d been wrestling with for a long time.
“…I think I messed up. I think I made a huge mistake.”
“…What?”
“I kept pestering my brother for gifts… I didn’t listen… I cried too much… because of me, my brother got mad.”
“…”
“My brother’s scarf… I could’ve made it prettier… but practicing was hard… I made mistakes and didn’t redo it properly… so the scarf wasn’t nice.”
“…”
“This time, I’ll make a beautiful scarf for my brother… as a gift… a gift…”
“…”
“And also… from now on, I’ll listen to my brother… I won’t be stubborn… I’ll listen to Mom too… I’ll try my best… so I hope both my brother and Mom can forgive me.”
“…”
Jimmy slowly wiped his face as he looked up at the ceiling.
Lea continued fidgeting, worried she might have done something else wrong.
After covering his face for a moment, Jimmy placed his hand on Lea’s head and asked in a hoarse voice.
“Dad has to go see Mom… Can Lea wait here for a bit?”
“Yes!”
Lea answered spiritedly with a bright smile.
Jimmy patted Lea’s head and stood up.
*
When Jimmy arrived,
Bella was crouched in a corner of the room, clutching her tangled hair.
She looked almost unchanged from two days ago.
Jimmy paused in silence before speaking.
“…Bella.”
“…”
At the sound of her name, she responded.
Bella lifted her head, and Jimmy saw the gaunt, distorted face of a woman who hadn’t eaten or drunk water for days.
Her vacant eyes showed signs of disorientation.
It was strange she retained any semblance of sanity after going without water for days, practically starving herself.
Realizing Jimmy’s presence late, Bella moved her cracked lips.
“…Jimmy.”
“Bella, your body…”
“Where is Ray? Our son…”
“…Bella.”
Swallowing a deep sigh, Jimmy approached Bella.
Still crouched, Bella mumbled deliriously.
“I had a scary dream. Our… our son…”
“BELLA!!!”
Jimmy tightly grabbed Bella’s wrist.
And then, staring directly into her unfocused eyes, he shouted.
“Snap out of it!! You saw it too!! Ray is dead! Dead!!!”
His arm severed, his heart shattered, his body twisted and frozen.
That wasn’t life—it was merely a frozen corpse.
Expecting that frozen corpse to move again was insane nonsense.
Ray was dead.
Recalling the sight of Ray lifelessly seated on the throne, Jimmy screamed in anguish.
“Dead!! We’re dead!!! Our daughter…!!”
Suppressing the torrent of emotions threatening to overflow, Jimmy placed his hand on Bella’s cheek.
“Our daughter… died to protect him. So… now we have to protect Lea. Snap out of it…! You need to snap out of it to protect our daughter.”
“…”
Moisture began to gather in Bella’s dry eyes once more.
The chest-piercing pain reminded her of the reality she couldn’t face.
Pain, grief, and regret pierced her heart like needles.
Endless tears flowed from her eyes.
“Jimmy… It’s my fault… our son… it’s because of me…”
“…”
Jimmy embraced Bella as she repeatedly blamed herself.
If given the chance to return to that moment now… would you choose Ray over Lea?
Quietly dismissing such unnecessary questions, Jimmy consoled and persuaded Bella.
For Lea’s sake, Bella couldn’t remain collapsed like this.
After repeated consoling and persuasion from Jimmy, Bella finally stood up for her beloved daughter.
And after some time,
Bella went together with Jimmy to the room where Lea was staying.
“!”
Hearing their footsteps, Lea ran excitedly to the door.
Tense with anticipation, Lea waited for the door to open.
Finally, when the door opened, Lea was about to announce her prepared promise, but Bella hugged her first.
Thump… thump…
The warm heartbeat of Lea reached Bella.
It was the warmth Ray had protected. Ray had guarded this warmth and closed his eyes in the coldest place.
Bella burst into tears while holding Lea, and Lea followed suit as her mother cried.
*
Luna opened the door leading to the throne.
Upon opening the door, Johanna’s back appeared first.
Johanna was sitting on the floor, silently gazing at the throne.
For quite some time, Johanna had stayed there, observing the scars etched onto Ray’s body.
Observing the wounds of severed and crushed limbs, it sometimes felt as though the pain Ray must have felt was crawling up her skin.
“…Liar.”
He said it wasn’t dangerous.
He said not to worry.
Even as they parted briefly, he teased her about losing her necklace.
Ray… at that point, already knew this would be their final farewell.
That’s why he could confidently utter such lies.
“…”
Johanna touched her necklace.
Whether Ray’s last lie was for self-satisfaction or an act of consideration for others as he faced death remained unclear.
One thing was certain: the radiant smile Ray gave her last became an indelible regret and wound for Johanna.
Johanna, who had been guarding the spot, suddenly spoke.
“Can you bring Ray back to life?”
“I will.”
Hearing Luna’s answer, Johanna scoffed.
“Liar.”
How could one revive a dead corpse?
Even if the body were intact, she wouldn’t believe it.
After briefly scoffing, Johanna returned to silently gazing at Ray.
Then Luna stepped in front of Johanna, blocking Ray from view.
“I am not Ray.”
She doesn’t casually speak of impossible hopes.
Johanna turned to look at Luna as a sign of this resolve.
“Can you… promise?”
“Time is needed. And I alone cannot safeguard and accomplish everything.”
“…”
“If you don’t want to lose Ray… take up the sword again, Johanna.”
*
Alexander looked at the visitor to the Pope’s office.
The Royal Guard, Tuirpits. And by his side sat the Crown Prince and his nursemaid.
Watching them, Alexander’s expression gradually twisted.
Tuirpits couldn’t understand why Alexander frowned but believed it to be part of some calculated performance.
However,
Contrary to Tuirpits’ belief, Alexander’s feelings were genuine.
“It’s horrifying.”
The mood was absolutely… terrible.
Demon King (4)
