To You Who Will Destroy Me - Chapter 138

“Irel!”

Sitting on the outdoor terrace of the café, basking in the sunlight, Irel turned her head. The square was wide open, allowing her to clearly see the approaching knight from afar.

With his gleaming silver armor and a blue cape, the blonde knight looked like he’d just stepped out of a fairytale. His face was pure and youthful, but his muscular body seemed ready to burst at any moment, making him even more striking. Women passing through the square blushed and stole glances at him, but Irel, on the other hand, remained calm.

“Brother.”

At her call, Michael came running over. The moment he sat down at the table, he immediately launched into a reproach.

“You troublemaker!”

“Huh? All of a sudden?”

“Where do you think you’re going? A grown woman, traveling alone with a man you’re not even married to? Don’t you know how dangerous the world is?!”

The most dangerous thing in the world is probably my fiancé, Irel thought to herself, though Michael clearly didn’t agree. He was deeply upset, continuing to complain about Irel’s trip to Al Los Condes, which she had gone on against his wishes.

“I tried so hard to stop you, but you didn’t even listen! How could you be so cold? Do you know how much effort I put into raising you?! I’m really hurt, sniff.”

Aren’t we just two years apart? Irel was bewildered, but Michael seemed quite serious. His lips were tightly pressed together, and his teary eyes made passersby cast odd looks their way.

Fortunately, just as Michael knew Irel well, the reverse was also true. So, she quickly came up with a way to shut him up.

“Brother.”

“What?”

“Don’t cry. Don’t you know crying causes muscle loss?”

At her gentle words, Michael immediately stopped, as if it were magic. But his lips twitched, as if he were about to start another round of nagging. So Irel quickly cut him off.

“Here, for you.”

“What’s this?”

“A gift I bought for you in Al Los Condes.”

Michael, weak to bribes, hesitated. His hand reached out awkwardly, but he seemed unsure whether to accept it or not, as if debating whether to let this go. Sensing his hesitation, Irel added the final touch.

“It’s a protein supplement. They say it’s great to take after working out.”

At this, Michael’s eyes glazed over in a daze. In the end, it was as though he’d sold his soul to the devil and gave in.

“…I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Of course.”

Though it seemed like he’d let it slide next time too, Irel simply smiled without showing her thoughts. Michael, feeling a bit awkward, fiddled with the protein supplement and asked,

“Where’s Mother? Hasn’t she arrived yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“I hope she comes soon. It’s been a while since the family gathered.”

Indeed, Irel had planned this gathering to celebrate her return to the capital. While they wouldn’t be able to see Calver, who was stationed at the border, that was fine. She planned to visit him later at Frost La Hill.

“By the way, aren’t you entering the palace?”

“Yes, once Mother arrives, we’re going dress shopping together.”

The higher one’s rank, the stricter the rules of decorum. To enter the palace, there were formal dress codes set by law.

The dress’s neckline couldn’t expose cleavage. While black could be used in parts, a full black gown was to be avoided unless in mourning. Stockings were mandatory, and hair could be partially let down but not fully. Lastly, for safety reasons, sharp accessories or jewelry were forbidden.

As Irel recalled all these rules, she felt overwhelmed. Like many daughters facing such traditional and complicated matters, she decided to use her “Mother card.” Surely, Louisa, who had frequented the palace as the lady of the family, would help her pick out the perfect dress.

“Irel!”

Right on cue, Louisa approached gracefully. Her elegant appearance never failed to give off a noble aura, though her face lit up with unmistakable joy as she looked at her children.

“My beloved darlings.”

“Mother.”

Michael, too muscular to be called a “darling,” politely kissed her cheek, while Irel, with no such reservations, hugged her tightly, beaming.

“I missed you, Mother!”

“I missed you too, dear.”

Louisa, slightly taken aback, returned the embrace. A smile spread across her face, though she couldn’t help but add a motherly reminder.

“You’re at an age where you should be behaving more gracefully, dear. You shouldn’t be hugging people so suddenly in public.”

If that were the case, perhaps Louisa should first stop calling them “darlings.” But since Irel liked being called that, she simply smiled brightly.

“Oh dear, look at the time! We’ll be late for our fitting if we don’t hurry.”

Glancing at the clock tower in the square, Louisa took Irel’s hand and pulled her along. Michael, not missing a beat, gallantly offered his arm in a knightly escort.

“Allow me to escort you, ladies. Just follow me.”

***

It didn’t take long for Michael’s cheerful smile to turn into a half-crying face. Louisa had clearly made up her mind to have Irel try on every dress that could possibly suit her.

“Mother, I think this is enough now…”

“Hey, you should wait patiently like a grown-up, my son.”

Seeing that Michael’s protests were futile, Irel thought to herself.

‘Hmm, there’s no point in saying anything.’

Irel’s decision to just stay quiet worked out reasonably well. After trying on and taking off about ten dresses, Louisa finally chose a calm teal one.

“It goes well with your eyes. So pretty.”

Irel touched the fabric. The color, which could easily appear dull, was a refreshing blend of blue and green that reminded her of a tropical sea. The material had a subtle shimmer, resembling the sparkle of sunlight on water.

“If we add white satin lace to the cuffs and hem, it’ll look beautiful. When you move, it will resemble little waves on the shore.”

Cosette, the seamstress, suggested with a bright smile. Louisa pondered for a moment, then asked thoughtfully.

“Could you show us some lace samples too? It would be best to decide everything while we’re here.”

“Of course. It’s always better to see it firsthand! I’ll bring them right away.”

Cosette quickly disappeared behind the curtain, and Louisa seemed quite satisfied with her prompt and courteous service.

“I used to think the tailors in the capital were quite stuck-up. Maybe I was wrong.”

“Really?”

Irel tilted her head in confusion, nibbling on a cookie the shop had offered. The cookie, filled with butter and lemon zest, melted richly in her mouth.

“Looks like Michael’s fallen asleep. He must have been really bored.”

Irel chuckled, glancing at Michael, who had dozed off with his head resting against the side of the sofa, snoring lightly. Louisa gave him a playful, reproachful look.

“I don’t understand why he came if he was just going to do that. Men can be so impatient.”

“But he’s kind, though. He’ll help carry our things when we leave.”

Louisa laughed at Irel’s remark, which treated her brother more like a porter. Then suddenly, her expression turned serious, and she let out a heavy sigh.

“But entering the palace… I know you’ve always been mature, Irel, so I’m not too worried, but… I can’t help being concerned.”

Louisa touched her cheek, murmuring her thoughts. She rarely visited the capital, as she was married to a border count, and each time she returned, she was reminded of how insidious the palace could be, something the nobles who frequented it easily became accustomed to.

“Don’t worry, Mother,” Irel said cheerfully, grabbing another cookie. “I’m not going for anything bad.”

That was true. This time, her entrance to the palace was to receive a reward—an honorary medal for her role in stopping the invasion at Mirrdal Ha Mash.

But even though it was a celebration, one couldn’t afford to be complacent. The capital, and the palace especially, was a battlefield where Varkan and the royal court smiled at each other while secretly brandishing knives behind their backs. Irel knew this all too well, but she didn’t want to worry her mother.

“I won’t be alone, and Varkan will be with me, so there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s both reassuring and worrisome, my dear.”

Wait, what? Irel blinked in confusion, a cookie still halfway to her mouth. Sensing her confusion, Louisa glanced around before lowering her voice and continuing.

“He’s too dangerous, my love. A man like that is like gunpowder—he could explode at any moment. He draws everyone’s attention with his flashy ways and provokes fear. And with you by his side… I’m afraid the sparks will catch you too, even though you’re innocent.”

With a thin sigh, Louisa grasped Irel’s hand. If Varkan was the fire that could consume everything, Irel was like a small, young birch branch. Seeing her daughter beside a man like him made Louisa’s heart sink with anxiety.

‘Can that man really protect my daughter?’

Louisa was skeptical. The Varkan she knew was a man skilled only in destruction, a man who seemed incapable of cherishing or protecting anything with his bloodstained hands.

At least, that’s what she had believed just moments ago.