[IFITAOAMV] Chapter 16
Realising this obvious fact so late.
"I will surely avenge that tree."
How dare that dead tree bark try to kill his bride.
A stupid guardian tree that couldn’t even recognize its own kin was unnecessary.
His blue eyes glinted murderously.
"So wake up soon."
Unless Angelina woke up, this boiling rage and madness seemed like they would never subside.
Edwin barely suppressed the urge to grab his sword and rush out, holding Angelina tightly instead.
Just then, Angelina’s body trembled slightly.
Worried there might be something wrong with her, Edwin sighed.
‘Can’t be helped. The physician said to let her rest.’
Edwin carefully laid Angelina on the bed and then lay down beside her, pulling her close.
"Sleep well, my bride."
Edwin gently kissed Angelina’s forehead and closed his eyes.
As he did, Angelina’s voice, screaming his name as if in a nightmare, echoed in his ears.
‘That was thrilling.’
The momentary thrill when she screamed as if he was the only one in the world.
Edwin’s lips curled into a smile.
Was it because he had found the reason for his anger? Or because his mood had improved?
The blood that seemed about to tear through his veins gradually stabilised.
Edwin fell slowly into a slumber, using Angelina’s cries as a lullaby.
The air in the bedroom was more serene than ever before.
*
Shortly after Edwin and Angelina left Ambria, someone appeared in front of the guardian tree. The person, clad in a plain brown robe with the hood deeply pulled over their face, was hard to recognize. They bowed deeply towards the guardian tree. After lifting their head, they touched the tree with a hand full of longing.
"Finally, the time has come," a voice soaked in emotion declared. "It has indeed been a long time." Golden eyes surveying around the old tree conveyed a sense of profound sentiment. After a while, this person looking over Ambria disappeared without a trace. Strangely, no one noticed their visit, despite there being many watchers of Ambria.
---
I awoke from a light sleep, struggling to open my heavy eyelids. Blinking, my blurry vision slowly cleared to reveal what seemed like a white, solid wall. 'What’s that?' Curious, I frowned for a closer look when I suddenly heard chuckling from above. Startled, I looked up to see Edwin, holding his head in one hand and smiling brightly.
"Ed?" Why are you here? And on the bed?
Reflexively, I pulled the blanket up, but Edwin’s next words dispelled any remaining drowsiness. "You’re awake? Fortunately, before my patience ran out."
"What happened?"
"Don’t you remember? You were very sick yesterday." Edwin muttered, looking quite serious. Only then did I recall what happened yesterday: the tremendous pain that struck my heart, and those menacing red eyes. My body trembled.
"Tsk." Edwin clicked his tongue in displeasure and quickly held me, patting my back. His firm embrace and rhythmic patting gradually calmed my shivers. 'I survived.' Realising this brought a deep sense of relief. Only then did my frozen mind start to function again.
"Why would the guardian tree do that? Did I do something wrong?"
"You did nothing wrong. The problem was with the guardian tree." Edwin frowned unhappily. "Tell me exactly what happened yesterday."
I calmly explained how my hand ended up attached to the tree and the pain I felt. As the story progressed, Edwin’s eyes grew more menacing, and after I finished, he bluntly said, "I will definitely avenge you."
How do you avenge a dead tree? Chop it up and turn it into kindling? Although it seemed absurd, he appeared genuinely serious, his twisted lips firm.
"That tree is dead, isn’t it?"
"Yes, it has been for a long time."
"Then how...?"
"It seems my bride is special. Even a dead tree is greedy for her." His tone was playful, yet his gaze was sharp, like confronting a thief coveting his property. "I’ll handle it, don’t worry about it." In this world where I knew no one, Edwin’s network was undoubtedly better. Then, one last issue remained.
"Who were the people trying to kill me yesterday?"
As I asked about Raven, all traces of amusement disappeared from Edwin's face. He gently cradled my face, matching his gaze directly with mine. "Don’t be shocked when you hear this." I nodded, and he slowly explained about Raven, from the emperor's campaign 15 years ago to their current search for Jueri. Despite already knowing the story, my fingertips grew cold.
"Tsk, this is why I didn’t want to tell you." Perhaps noticing my frightened look, Edwin hugged me and gently rubbed my back. "There’s nothing to fear. They can never threaten you." Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes. Even when the guardian tree of Jueri clung to me in agonising pain, and even when Raven’s sword was aimed at me, the only person I thought of was Edwin. When I saw him after Raven collapsed, I realised, though I hated to admit it and it was annoying, that the only person who could protect me was Edwin. This realisation was sad yet relieving.
‘There’s no safe place anywhere.’ Reaffirming this brought a wave of gloom. Along with the fear and terror I felt yesterday, tears involuntarily rolled down my cheeks. Surprised by my tears, Edwin’s comforting hand paused briefly, but then he gently soothed my back again.
“My bride sure is high-maintenance.” Normally, I would have been alert to such a sigh, but now I had no capacity for it. All the fears and loneliness I had endured for survival since possessing this body burst out like a dam breaking. How long I cried, I couldn’t tell. Only a hiccuping sob remained when belated worry rushed in. I feared he might threaten to kill me for being bothersome or for staining his clothes.
