[TKOSINM] 282 – Fake Rii

Fortunately, the lake wasn’t too far away. As they exited the seemingly endless forest, a small lake in the moonlight was revealed. The light of the moon above the water broke like shards of glass. Among them, Undi was crying.

[Rii- huu-huu. I want to see Rii.]

Undi’s tears fell on the surface of the lake, causing small ripples.

“Undi...”

As Irene approached with a small voice, Undi turned to look at her. Soon, his blue eyes widened.

[Fake Rii...?]

[Undi!]

Snow got angry at Undi’s words. Only then did Undi notice the existence of Snow and On. His initial welcoming face upon seeing the two contorted into an even more melancholic expression.

[On and Snow are traitors. Our Contractor is Rii, but you signed a contract with a fake Rii.]

[Irene is not a fake Rivena. She is Irene.]

[I don’t know! I don’t know any, Irene! I miss Rii!]

Snow explained patiently, but Undi was immovable. Seeing that, Irene became perplexed. It seemed like Undi would never make a contract with her.

I need Undi’s memories...

But she could not give up now.

She also didn’t want to leave Undi alone, as he would be left alone overnight. If she gave up on him and went back, he’d continue to miss and be left alone at this lake.

She had to make amends. There was no way she could go back.

But what on earth was she supposed to do?

First of all… Shouldn’t I be able to make Undi accept myself?

Rather than forcibly erasing Rivena’s existence or imprinting her own, it would be better to permeate naturally and slowly. If she ran away even after trying so hard, then there was nothing she could do about it.

“I understand the confusion. Undi. You were the ex-Empress... because you really loved Rivena.”

[Contractor!]

[Irene?]

On and Snow were astonished at Irene’s subsequent actions. It was because she began to wade into the lake, step by step.

Even if the size of the lake was small, it was dangerous. Nevertheless, Irene did not hesitate.

Undi looked at Irene, who was approaching him cautiously one step at a time, with surprised eyes.

“I also know that the person you wanted to see the most when you opened your eyes was Rivena. But when you found out that her contract had been broken, Undi, you must have been really sad. It must have been heartbreaking.”

 […]

“Losing a loved one is as sad as the sky falling.”

Although not completely, Irene also knew to some extent the emptiness that Undi must have felt. When she found out that her existence was nothing to her family. Because she could not describe her emptiness at that time.

“Sorry.”

 [...]

“I’m sorry, I’m not the person you wanted... I won’t tell you not to cry. Cry freely.”

[...]

“But don’t cry alone.”

[I...]

Undi’s eyes fluttered at Irene’s sincere words. Soon, Undi was about to say something about her.

“Whoops!”

Suddenly, the ground sank, and Irene’s body was sucked below the surface of the water.

[Contractor!]

[Irene!]

Surprised, On and Snow flew immediately, but the two spirits could not do anything.

“...!”

Irene’s body, which had fallen into her lake, floated up. A water curtain wrapped around Irene, protecting her.

Irene looked bewildered at the shield of water surrounding herself.

Just as she was about to sink, the water protected her with a warm aura.

Inside the curtain of the floating water, Irene looked at Undi flying towards her. Tears were still dripping from his teal eyes.

After passing through the water curtain, he stopped in front of Irene.

“Undi...”

 [Rii, can’t you really see me now?]

“Yeah… I’m sorry.”

She couldn’t say anything. It seemed like she’d given him a cruel death sentence. Again, the tears falling from Undi’s eyes grew thicker.

[Rii, Rii did it. She said that if I slept for a while and woke up, I could return to her peaceful daily life. I only believed those words and fell asleep, waiting for Rii to wake me up again... Rii is a liar.]

Irene, looking at Undi, who began to weep in an instant, carefully stretched out her finger. She was troubled. As Irene’s finger passed through the curtain and gently touched Undi’s cheek, Undi’s eyes widened.

“Ex-Empress … Rivena also wanted to see Undi again.”

In Irene’s words, not only Undi but also Snow and On were stirred. Undi, who had been hesitating, looked at Irene quietly. Then he sighed and handed over an apology.

[I, I’m sorry. Riirii’s daughter, I’m bad.]