To You Who Will Destroy Me - Chapter 177

To Mina, who had spent her life in the North, Calver El Lorance was like a house made of snow. Though its surface was cold and unyielding, and its walls sturdier than brick, the inside, if one squeezed through the narrow entrance, was unexpectedly warm.

Calver was a skilled Northern commander—cold as an ice dagger to his enemies but surely warm to those he cared about. That’s how Mina saw him—until a few days ago.

“That bastard… took my precious daughter…”

Calver slammed his glass down with a thud, his lips trembling. In truth, it was his eyes that were shaking, but Mina didn’t want to acknowledge that.

“Your Excellency, you’ve had too much. Your wounds haven’t even healed yet. Please, stop drinking.”

It was all thanks to the Scotch ale Varkan had gifted him—a gift that hit the mark perfectly for Calver, who usually had little interest in material things.

Calver had tried to refuse the gift initially, but once the Scotch was in his possession, he cherished it deeply. He kept it in a display case next to his office, often gazing at it with satisfaction. But the one thing that had made him open the sealed bottle was none other than his youngest daughter, Irel—the little bird with the soft downy feathers.

“I’m glad to see you’re recovering, Father.”

“Recovering? I was never sick.”

Of course, Father. Irel smiled warmly, like a wildflower in the autumn, lowering her long lashes. She gently took Calvers hand and spoke softly.

“I’d love to stay until you’re fully recovered, but… I have things I need to take care of.”

It bothered her that Archbishop Lamon was still lurking nearby. Having failed to assassinate Calver, he might attempt something again. They had to act before he did.

“You’re returning to the capital?”

“Yes.”

There’s a place in the Ricador Mountains I need to ‘visit’ first, though.

Irel swallowed the last part and simply smiled. Calver, holding his daughter’s slender hand, nodded.

“I was about to send you off anyway. Winter’s coming soon, and if you catch a cold in this freezing place, it’ll be a disaster.”

The Irel he remembered had always been frail, though that was because the other half of her, “Iraen,” had been trapped in another world—something Calver had no knowledge of. Even though Irel was much healthier now, it didn’t change how he saw her. She was still his delicate, precious child, as fragile as ever.

“I can’t just let you go without doing something.”

With that, Calver arranged a farewell party for Irel, despite her protests that it wasn’t necessary. Ironically, though, it was Calver who ended up drunk at his own party.

“How could I not be tipsy—hic—right now?”

Even if they were engaged, did they really need to be that affectionate?

Calver had already been feeling empty, knowing that his daughter was about to leave after scarcely getting to see her. And now, seeing some arrogant bastard holding her hand like that only deepened his sense of loss.

What could he do but crack open the finest Scotch he owned to drown that bitterness?

“What could she possibly see in a guy like him? I just don’t get it.”

Calver grumbled, pointing at Varkan, who stood at the center of the hall, his red hair drawing all eyes toward him. Though the chandelier was centered above the room, it seemed as if the light shone solely on him.

Honestly, Miss Irel has every reason to like him, Mina thought to herself, silently apologizing to Calver. As a true Northerner, she usually preferred large, rugged men, like bears. But when someone had looks like Varkan’s, personal preferences didn’t really matter.

“When she promised she’d never marry and live with me forever…”

Calver’s eyes welled up with tears again. Yet, despite his words, he didn’t take any drastic measures, like calling off the engagement or kicking Varkan out. This indicated that Varkan had somehow earned his approval.

Well, Mina thought, that’s to be expected.

Varkan Ha Mash was the kind of man who naturally drew people toward him. He was striking, charismatic, and fully aware of his own charm. Such men rarely settled down with just one woman. They often saw living a ‘normal’ life as an insult to their uniqueness.

But Varkan was different. Even as he smiled and charmed everyone at the party, his gaze remained fixed on Irel. His hand never left hers for a moment. If she took a bite of something, he did the same. When she laughed at a small joke, the corners of his mouth lifted as well. Though all the light in the room seemed to gather around him, he effortlessly directed it all toward Irel.

She was the sole focus of his attention, his one true light.

“They look good together,” Mina muttered without thinking. Realizing what she’d said, she quickly glanced at Calver, expecting him to explode with, “What do you mean, they look good together?!”

But to her surprise, Calver was simply watching his daughter with quiet eyes. Though he appeared dazed from the alcohol, his gaze was entirely lucid.

“I miss Luiza.”

Calver sighed softly and muttered under his breath. His wife, Luiza, often had a mother’s intuition and would sometimes express her anxieties, saying she felt like Irel might leave them for good someday.

Each time, Calver reassured her, saying there was no way that would happen. But deep down, he understood why she felt that way. There was always something ethereal and distant about Irel, as if she were someone who had lost something vital, leaving her with a sense of incompleteness.

But now, that same Irel was standing before him, glowing with a fullness and happiness he had never seen. There was a clarity and self-assurance in her eyes that sparkled like stars, something she had never shown before.

If it was Varkan who brought out this change in her, Calver couldn’t deny it any longer. Varkan might just be the missing piece that made his daughter whole.

“…As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters,” Calver murmured, his hand unconsciously reaching for his side. He winced slightly as he touched the wound that hadn’t fully healed yet, a soft groan escaping his lips.

But it didn’t matter. If his precious youngest daughter could smile like that, he would endure it a thousand times over. That’s the heart of a parent, after all.

“It’s time to rest, Your Excellency. You need proper sleep to heal faster.”

Mina, with a shrug, helped him up from his seat. This time, Calver didn’t resist. He had to see Irel off in the morning, and he needed to look healthy for her sake.

***

Despite their deep bond, the farewell was lighthearted.

Calver, reassured by Irel’s healthy appearance, seemed much more at ease. Even the scent of herbs that clung to him had faded, suggesting his condition wouldn’t worsen as long as he didn’t overexert himself.

“Take care on your way back. If anything happens, contact me.”

Calver hugged Irel gently, almost cautiously, as if afraid to harm her. He reminded her not to delay and to head straight to the capital.

“Of course, with Ha Mash accompanying you, I doubt anything will happen, but… the Ricador Mountains are full of dangers, so always stay alert. Leave as quickly as you can.”

“Of course, Father.”

Irel smiled as she looked up at him. The love she had never experienced as Iraen was something she cherished now, warming her heart and solidifying her resolve like freshly dried earth after the rain.

“I’ll be off now. See you again soon.”

“Yes. I think I’ll be able to take leave soon, so I’ll see you in the capital.”

By then, I’ll make sure all this is resolved. I won’t let our family get hurt again.

With this firm resolve in her heart, Irel turned and walked away. A clear, cold wind blew through the high northern sky. Following its lead, she looked up, spotting the tall northwest tower in the distance.

Masaka Saha.

Was he still watching her with half-closed eyes from up there? Just as she wondered about this, someone covered her eyes with their hands.

“And what are you looking at?”

The voice was sweet and light, like a sugar cookie, but beneath it was a sticky, syrupy possessiveness that clung heavily.

It was clear Varkan had guessed why she had been looking up. Startled, Irel obediently lowered her head. Varkan, satisfied, kissed her forehead and escorted her to the carriage himself.

The moment the door closed with a soft thud, he pounced. Irel found herself trapped between the wall of the carriage and Varkan’s arms, her eyes widening.

For a moment, she thought he might kiss her, but he didn’t. Instead, he leaned in close, his beautiful face filled with an expression she couldn’t quite place—something desperate and hungry.

“W-what’s wrong?” she asked, half startled, half worried.

Varkan sighed, resting his forehead against hers.

“I was anxious… the whole time we were here.”

Irel wondered what could possibly make this self-assured man feel so unsettled.

At that moment, Varkan’s face twisted in pain, and he closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry… for what happened to your father.”

It was rare to hear an apology from him. He had clearly been troubled by Calver’s injury the entire time they had been in the North, perhaps even wishing he could have taken the blow instead.

Irel was at a loss for words, taken aback by the unexpected apology. Varkan seemed to misinterpret her silence, lowering his head to bury his face in her small shoulder.

“Are you… going to leave me?”

His voice, soft and trembling, sent a shiver through her as it reverberated against her skin. It was a tone she had never heard from him before, filled with an unfamiliar vulnerability.