“You married an amazing person.” The Viscountess's voice was weak, but as the room was silent, Ilyin heard it clearly.
Ilyin turned to Aden.
She smiled at him softly and replied:
“Yes, yes.”
There was no need to explain further, Ilyin also knew that the viscountess had predictions.
Since Ilyin was seven years old, it was difficult to face his mother.
There were opportunities to see each other while living in the same mansion, but it was rare as the Viscountess was rarely in her right mind as madness engulfed her.
It had been a long time since the two had spoken normally, but they knew everything about each other as if they had spoken yesterday.
Aden soon thought that this was the connection between people with the ability to predict.
So the feeling of loss of the viscountess's empty space in Ilyin's heart was something that Delrose could not fill.
“There’s a mobile here like in the dream.”
Ilyin looked back at the head of the bed.
There hung a mobile that she was familiar with, just as the prediction had a mobile that happened to be there.
It was decorated with ten silks of different colors.
Just like she always saw in dreams.
“It’s yours,” the viscountess said softly and Ilyin’s eyes widened.
“Don’t stop her if she tries to come.”
“I have something to give her.”
‘Is that what she meant?’ Aden looked at the mobile again.
As if Ilyin was trying to look at her living mother a little longer, she couldn't look away.
She never felt her mother's empty space until now.
Ilyin knew that her mother's health was not good, but she didn't think she would die so soon.
Even for those with the ability to predict, death has always come as a surprise.
After Sid's death, Ilyin was always afraid that death would appear in every prediction.
On the other hand, she had thought weakly about how, if she prepared herself at the time when death was predicted, perhaps it would be less shocking.
But that wasn't the case.
Ilyin thought about how anxious his mother was when Ilyin prophesied Sid's death.
“Mom, you knew this fate.”
It was rare for an adult noble to use the word mother.
Aden's gaze was on Ilyin.
He didn't want to interrupt her in any way when Ilyin was having his last moments with the viscountess, so he just lightly placed his hand on her shoulder.
It was comforting.
Ilyin held his hand and spoke, his voice almost breaking.
“I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”
She remembered the words she had heard and repeated to herself since she was seven.
She guessed that was what they meant, it meant that after learning about the death, all the focus went to that death and that everything else lost its light.
That seemed to be why both his grandmother and mother really disliked the prediction ability.
Once again, the burden of foresight felt like an even heavier duty.
Not being able to avoid the coming future was scary, but it was even scarier when you knew exactly what it held.
Ilyin's hands were shaking, Aden looked at her and hugged her silently, even though he had a lot to say, he had no intention of disturbing the farewell.
Ilyin stared at the viscountess until the room became even quieter.
Aden noticed that the viscountess had stopped breathing before Ilyin, but didn't bother saying so.
Ilyin carefully placed his hand on the Viscountess's cheek as she froze, the cheek that still had a bit of heat was now cold and its pale hue bore no resemblance to the color of blood.
It was strange that she couldn't see her mother anymore.
No matter where she was, even if it was a distant winter region, as far as she knew, her mother was alive somewhere and therefore, she didn't pay much attention to her mother.
She was more focused on adjusting to winter.
Even now.
It would be great if she woke up from a dream and went to the winter region.
Then, in the distant Arlen mansion, her mother would still be alive and this she could bear.
But this was the reality.
The only thing in this reality was Aden who was comforting her.
“Ilyin,” Aden said softly and grabbed her shaking hands.
He kissed her on the forehead.
Then he said something she needed most and wanted most to come true.
“Believe in the power of winter.”
***
When Ilyin and Aden entered the Viscountess's room, Viscount Arlen had a strange feeling as his gaze was fixed on Ilyin and Den's tightly held hands.
Den, the man who wore a stylish black uniform.
The man with pale white skin, neatly combed back hair and dark blue eyes that were like ice and seemed to be from another dimension.
Surely this was the man Viscount Arlen saw in the morning.
He was supposed to be part of the Acid Merchant, but his clothes showed no such indication or symbol, was it on his sword then?
Viscount Arlen, unlike himself, thought sharply and into his mind came some more peculiar things.
Den's hand that was escorting Ilyin, even someone as stupid as him could know, Den was serving Ilyin with utmost care.
‘Was it serving?’
For Viscount Arlen, the relationship between Ilyin and the man was confusing.
Viscount Arlen could clearly see that the man was paying attention to every detail to make sure nothing bothered her.
As if he cared for something so important that it could break if something went wrong, even slightly.
It wasn't respect shown to a superior, but it wasn't loyalty shown to a master either.
It was something much more personal.
‘Maybe?’
Roxi: this bastard only knows how to use his head when he doesn't need to, honestly