Published at 17th of October 2022 08:30:14 AM

Wwait a minute.

Anissa, I am Charlotte of Vallandia. Theres more than one person who looks for me.

She didnt even give me a chance to persuade her.

Then, take care.

She scanned my face with calm blue eyes. I wiped away the goosebumps that had risen in my arms at her clean gaze like that of a summer sky.

Charlotte, who turned down my request quietly, but firmly with a good face as always, left me devastated and went out of the drawing-room.

The priest caught me as I tried to follow her.

Its time for the saintess to offer her prayers. Please come again next time.

But there was no next time for me.

I dont even know when Dietrich will disappear!

I bit my lips and looked at the priest but he shook his head and didnt let me go.

Is this really the end?

I thought Charlotte would be able to help. She would be helping Dietrich after all, and not me. Wasnt saving the North her calling?

I, who considered Charlotte a kind of safety net, was pushed to the floor with the priests strength, unable to control my body, and lost my mind.

Please get up, Princess.

The priest didnt wait for me for even a moment and raised me up then led me outside.

I returned to Lagrange with Damon, who had waited for me with an anxious look on his face.

Thank you. Without your help, I wouldnt have been able to go there, Marquis.

Warp was magic that even an excellent wizard could not easily use. I bid farewell to Damon with concern at his pale face.

I think it would be best if you get some rest as well, Princess.

He advised while looking at my deathly pale face, but I didnt listen to Damon.

I dont have time to rest.

So, at dawn, when even the bugs were holding their breaths, I entered Dietrichs bedroom where he was sleeping soundly.

Hes not waking up.

Unlike before, when he couldn't fall asleep easily even with the slightest sound of footsteps, he didn't even move because he couldn't hear me.

Deep shadows fell over his thick eyelashes. Usually, he had a chilly expression enough to invite the cold wind, but the way he slept was very gentle.

Maybe its because hes not frowning?

I swallowed as I touched his towering nose bridge with my fingertips.

If neither Hermann nor Charlotte are the solutions that Im looking for then.

On the bedside table was the brooch of Vassago that I had been looking for. I had already received his help once.

Even then, it only responded until the last minute.

Maybe because it was not yet time that he ignored me no matter how many times I called for him.

If he wants to take the price from me, then I have no choice but to agree.

Unlike his comfortable face without a frown, Dietrichs breathing was uneven.

I watched the shadow rise insidiously over Dietrichs neck as he breathed heavily.

Maybe its not that hed fallen asleep but wandering between life and death.

I was terrified that I placed my finger under his nose, but fortunately, his rough breathing started to gradually subside.

I paced around until his breathing calmed down and then I finally left the room.

Goodbye.

I cowardly bid my farewell while he was sleeping.

If you're not reading this at blogspot, you're probably reading from an aggregator site. Read this translation at notmysisteryoufool.blogspot.com/.

Hello, my lady.

As I had expected, Vassago appeared as if he had waited after losing all the cards I had.

Your face looks dark?

The demon raised the corner of his lips vigorously as if he wasnt affected by the hawthorn tree I was leaning on and reached out his hand to me.

Is it time for me to take the price? I dont think youve fully grown up yet, though?

The demon, with the face of a handsome man brightly, smiled. I tilted my head, thinking of Baal who would lose his form quickly if he wasnt around people.

If youre so strong that you dont even lose your human form no matter how long youve been locked up, then why are you sealed?

Did you call for me to ask about the past?

Its an important question. If youre weak, then theres no reason for me to cling to you.

At my stiff words, Vassago knelt before me with a smile on his face.

He kissed the back of my hand like a gentleman.

Its because I fell in love with a terrible person. No, the only one who loved was me. She was eviler than a demon.

I narrowed my eyes at Vassagos words which sounded like lyrics.

The demon tapped on his chest as if he wants me to believe him.

I was willing to betray my kind for her, but in the end, I was only used and abandoned. Quite pitiful, isnt it?

Vassagos face didnt look the least bit sad when he said he was betrayed.

He went on as if he didnt even want my affirmation.

But even now, I still love her. Its because once we have feelings, they last forever.

Are you saying you loved Charlottes mother?

At my question, Vassago finally wiped the smile off his face. I began to get nervous at the demons cold face.

So you know about that. Thats right. The soul of my beloved Luna Vallandia was eventually taken by Asmodeus.

How come? If you terminate the contract, then isnt it over?

I was frightened by Vassagos words and grabbed his shoulder. The demon patted me on the back tenderly as if to reassure me.

It was because I was caught taking another humans soul instead of hers in exchange for the contract. Asmodeus was pretty thorough back then.

Asmodeus is gone now.

No, hes not here. But he can come back any time.

I bit my lips at Vassagos firm words. He looked down sympathetically at me even though he was not close to me like Baal.

I was sealed for violating the rules of the demons, and even though I knew of her terrible end, I couldnt save her. How miserable is a fate that you couldnt change no matter how much you try.

Vassagos sweet voice dropped in an instant. It was a seductive and gentle tone as if he understood all my feelings.

Its hard, isnt it?

He waved his sealing stone in front of me as if he were shaking a candy in front of a child.

Anissa, I understand your desire to change Dietrichs ending.

"............"

But you already received my help. What do you plan to pay me with?

Ill give you whatever you want. Whether its Eredias power or whatever.

Even you soul?

I nodded at the demons words like a good child.

Thats right. Ill give you everything. All of it.

You know that the only souls I can take are from the North. Anissa, I may have may be foolish but Im not stupid.

The demon didnt fall for my shallow tricks. Vassago laughed coldly at my desperation.

Isnt Dietrich your insignificant everything?

No, not Dietrich.

It was absurd to offer him to pay the price when I wanted to save him.

As I shook my head firmly, Vassago raised the corners of his lips. The gentle demon was laughing at me.

Are you saying hes not your everything?

Youre right. Hes my everything.

Dietrich was my heart, my feelings, my everything. He was my spring, my summer, my autumn, and my winter. All the time I spent as Anissa all came down to one him.

But I wont give you Dietrich.

I insisted, even as I acknowledged the fact that except for him, I was left with nothing but a shell.

Ironically, Vassago seemed to like my answer. His red lips ripped to the point of cruelty.

Is that so?

From that point, I had a foreboding sense that something was going wrong, but like pouring water that couldnt be contained, I couldnt push away the temptation of the demon that had been summoned.

If I cant take him away from you, on the other hand, that means, its all right for me to take you away from him.

Instead of answering him, I tried to use my brain to figure out what he meant. He stroked my hair with his gentle hand as if comforting me.

Would you be all right even if you dont exist anymore?

Of course, Im not all right.

I had already died once after all.

And unlike then, there were so many things that were precious to me now. However, I didnt shy away from Vassagos touch.

Is that how much your resolve is?

I slowly nodded my head when Vassago asked back.

There is no end to the karma I have accumulated, so it wouldnt matter if I cant carry them.

The demon murmured in a whisper.

I barely overcame the weight of my eyelids which were getting gradually heavy to examine his expression.

Goodbye, Anissa.

Vassago looked relieved.

Thank you for letting me straighten out the twisted plan because of that damned Camille.

Camille.?

Why was Camilles name coming out of his mouth now and not the name of Charlottes mother?

I wanted to ask but I couldnt overcome the drowsiness of sleep that came to me in the end.

I listened as if I could hear the sound of the paradise setting in the distance. It was Dietrichs voice.

Because hes my paradise.

My Dietrich.

Darkness, the light was flickering.

When I woke up, I was in the forest in the middle of the night. The forest in winter was a world of black and white.

I felt like I had lost something and my heart was utterly empty. My heart was aching as if it was getting torn apart.

What did I lose?

I thought about it, but I couldnt remember.

As my jaw trembled in the cold, I cried like a child without knowing what I had lost.