“Because of you, I can endure all this. Without you, Irene, I would have collapsed alone. So, Irene, you don’t have to feel guilty anymore. And thank you so much for being by my side.”
Irene closed her tear-filled eyes.
As he hugged her waist, Irene held Noel’s head tightly.
At that moment, she came to a realisation.
It was Noel, who was more powerful than the spirit-sealed sapphire necklace.
With a tired heart, she hugged him. It seemed to heal.
Irene knew better than anyone that she wanted to be in his arms forever but that she couldn’t.
“Thank you, Noel. Thank you for giving me strength.”
At Irene’s words, Noel immediately stood up. Irene smiled at him and touched the necklace that had been hanging around her neck the whole time.
She could feel the cold energy coming from her fingertips.
“Undi...”
As Irene mumbled the name On had told her, she saw a splash around her. Startled, Noel ran to her, but he couldn’t get close to Irene.
It was because the stream of water would not allow Noel to approach.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
Irene was somehow convinced that the stream wouldn’t hurt her, so she waved her hand towards Noel.
The spray circulated for a while as if trying to figure out Irene’s identity. How much time passed? Suddenly, the water gathered and formed the shape of a boy?
“…Undi?”
[Rii!]
As soon as Irene carefully called out her name, a boy suddenly flew at her face. Irene was so startled that she almost fell backwards. A cold touch landed on her cheek, which was touched by her spirit.
[Rii! Why are you here now? How long have you waited!]
“Ah, hi. I am not Rivena.”
[Huh?]
“Irene, did the water spirit appear?”
Noel, who was watching the situation, asked carefully. At that moment, Irene recalled the fact that no one else could see spirits and answered.
“Yes. He’s here...”
As Irene touched her cheek with her finger, Undi grinned and wrapped her finger in the water.
“I see. All I see is Irene putting her finger on her cheek.”
“Ah...”
At Noel’s words, Irene quickly lowered her hand. Undi let go of his hold of her hand in regret, but Irene quickly grabbed her hand in her embarrassment.
Her face turned red in an instant.
The water spirit circled around Irene and continued to speak to her.
[Rii- Isn’t it Rii?]
“Huh...”
[But you talked to me last time too. I didn’t do it because you told me not to... That was definitely Rii.]
Irene knew immediately what ‘last time’ referred to. The 700th-anniversary banquet where she announced her marriage to Noel. She was terrified of Ascardo’s mysterious power, and she silently cried to stop, but then the voice she heard was that of a spirit in front of her.
“That was me. But Rii, Rivena...my mother.”
[Mother? Rii’s daughter? Rii?]
“Rivena… passed away a long time ago.”
[Huh?]
Undi’s eyes widened at Irene’s words. Then, as if observing Irene, he circled around Irene’s face, then backed away. Irene looked at Undi bitterly.
[Rii, no... Rii can’t meet me anymore?]
“Excuse me...”
The moment Irene took a step closer to the unusual appearance of the spirit, Undi again caused a splash of water. Because of that, Noel quickly caught Irene, who blocked it.
“It’s dangerous!”
“However, the spirit’s state is….”
“Irene’s safety is more important.”
At Noel’s resolute voice, Irene looked at the raging spirit with sorrowful eyes.
That moment-
[Contractor, I’ll help.]
Suddenly, On’s voice was heard, and a strong wind pushed the splashing water away.
“On...?”
“Irene, it’s dangerous, so you better step back.”
Noel hurriedly grabbed Irene, who was staring blankly at the scene unfolding before he pulled her away. His eyes could only see a whirlwind of water, but it was still enough to be intimidating.
[Hey, Undi. Calm down!]
[On? Are you On?]
[Yes. Are you going to hurt my Contractor?]
[Contractor... Our Contractor is dead.]
[Yes. Rivena is dead.]
[...]
At On’s direct words, Undi pursed his lips. Drops of water dripped from his large eyes. On, who was silently watching the scene, said quietly.