To You, Who Will Die Alone in Paradise Chapter 35

To Dandeleon, Zellos was a precious family member. Of course, there were parts of him he didn’t get along with, and at times he was a nuisance and annoying, but that’s what family is. No matter how much you fight and clash, family is supposed to reconcile again. Dandeleon also wanted to open his heart to Zellos, have a talk, and then make up.

However, the reason he couldn’t do so was firstly because Zellos kept avoiding conversation, and secondly because Dandeleon didn’t have the emotional capacity.

For the past three days, Dandeleon had spent a half-hearted, agonizing time, unable to go see Kellewen, yet unable to stop thinking about him.

His body was not in good condition as he had just recovered from a severe illness, and his heart was even worse. While he was in a state where both his body and mind were a mess, he had only rested a little and slept a lot, but before he knew it, the Tuella Deum had arrived, and his farewell with Kellewen was just around the corner.

‘This is for the best. It might be better not to see him again like this.’

Dandeleon, while checking all his clothes and finally spraying on perfume, had the same thought he had repeated dozens, hundreds of times.

‘Let’s end it with Kellewen here. And when the elves all go back to the forest together, then I’ll ask His Majesty for a favor. To send me to a faraway place, like a villa, that since I don’t have much time left to live, he should at least grant my last request…’

Until now, Dandeleon had thought the king had no interest in him at all. However, a few days ago, the king had shown a very weak side in front of Dandeleon and confessed his true feelings. Of course, the content of those feelings was quite unpleasant, but on second thought, there was a slight glimmer of hope.

His father was not indifferent to him, nor had he forgotten him. He just loved him less than his mother.

In any case, his father still loved his mother. If so, wouldn’t he have enough affection to grant Dandeleon a single request? It wasn’t such a difficult request to want to face death in a place of his own choosing.

If that happened, his relationship with Zellos would also naturally recover. Zellos just wanted to save Dandeleon from this place, so he would be satisfied if they left the royal palace.

In his mind, Dandeleon pictured himself asking Zellos to go with him. It wouldn’t matter if he left to find his own life if he wanted to, but if he pleaded with him to at least watch over his final moments, Zellos would never be able to refuse. He might get angry and tell him not to give up, but in the end, he would go with him.

That would be fine. Dandeleon nodded. Everything would be all right.

Even as he thought that, a corner of his heart ached dully. To ignore that pain, Dandeleon focused on his appearance. When he stepped back a foot or two from the mirror, he could see his fully dressed figure from head to toe.

“……”

It wasn’t a look he was very pleased with. Dark green pants, a jacket, a white shirt that came up to his neck, and a brown cravat. Nothing matched, and everything felt out of place. He thought it couldn’t be helped since the outfit was focused on not standing out, but he still felt a sense of disappointment.

In the first place, a gathering where everyone came together in harmony did not suit Dandeleon. Just thinking about going to an unsuitable place in an unsuitable outfit made his stomach hurt already.

But, perhaps today might be the last chance to see Kellewen.

Dandeleon glared at the cravat that was choking his neck as if he wanted to kill it, and finally untied it and threw it away. It felt unbearably suffocating.

Because there were many participants, the party was held outdoors rather than indoors. It was around sunset in the garden named the Cradle of Stars. The servants, with the red sky at their backs, lit the lanterns. Guests in a variety of attire arrived one after another, following the path illuminated by the lanterns decorated with spring flowers.

Dandeleon was sitting at the end of the table prepared for the Benoit royal family. The king and queen were busy greeting the honored guests, but for Dandeleon, just being seen would cause gossip, so staying still was helping. Pierre was also at a slight distance, but today, with not only the king and queen but also all the other princes and princesses present, Pierre also refrained from any conspicuous behavior.

He was just getting tired of pretending to be well-behaved and staring at the tabletop. The people began to murmur, and then they looked in a certain direction and cleared a path.

Dandeleon’s head shot up. His ears clearly caught the word ‘elf’ mixed in with the murmuring noise. When he raised his gaze, he saw two tall men making their way through the crowd toward them.

The one in front was Kellewen. It had only been three days since he had last seen his face, but he was as glad to see him as if it had been years. Kellewen was dressed in his usual simple attire, without a single accessory. His black hair shone faintly under the lights that held the scent of flowers.

Dandeleon, lost in sentiment, gazed at Kellewen for a long time before shifting his gaze. An elf in splendid clothes was walking about a step behind Kellewen.

Dandeleon intuitively knew he was the leader of the Tuella Deum. It wasn’t just because of his clothes. His confident posture and self-assured gaze gave him an extraordinary feeling.

After exchanging conventional greetings with the king, Kellewen turned his body slightly and brought the elf who followed him forward.

“This is Herma Rioselia, the leader of the Tuella Deum and my cousin.”

The two sides had already met in the afternoon, but Kellewen introduced him again. It was a show of courtesy to the royal family and other honored guests. The king and Herma also exchanged greetings as if they were meeting for the first time.

In the meantime, Dandeleon secretly observed the elf named Herma.

He had imagined a similar appearance since he was Kellewen’s cousin, but seeing him in person, he was completely different. First of all, his physique was different. He was similar in height to Kellewen, but because of the muscles all over his body, he looked much bigger. His skin was tanned and healthy-looking, and his ashen hair, tied in a single tail, cascaded down below his waist.

The most impressive part was his eyes. Herma’s gaze was as intense as a well-honed sword. Even when he smiled while exchanging greetings with the king, that gaze did not weaken at all. It was a spirit as if he were on a battlefield. A timid person would probably not even be able to make proper eye contact.

‘So that’s the Herma who’s good at archery and studies monsters diligently?’

Dandeleon felt caught off guard. As the leader of the Tuella Deum, he was clearly Kellewen’s overseer appointed by the elven elders. He had secretly imagined a cunning impression, but he was flustered when a giant who looked like he could beat a bear with his bare hands suddenly appeared.

It was then. Herma’s gaze, which had been conversing with the king, swept over the table where the royal family was seated and came to rest on Dandeleon. Their eyes met.

As soon as he thought that, Dandeleon’s vision went completely black.

Dandeleon felt a soft touch on the back of his head, then it was blocked by something hard.

Dandeleon already knew it was a window with the curtains drawn. That he was in the library, and that although it was broad daylight, the curtains were drawn to prevent the books from being damaged by the sunlight, making the interior relatively dark.

The only thing he didn’t know was the face looming before his eyes. To be precise, why that face was so close.

“You are…”

Something gently brushed against his face. Before he could even realize what it was, a wave of displeasure surged up, and goosebumps covered his skin. It was as if an insect was crawling on his face.

“Truly beautiful.”

Pale lips suddenly came close and whispered. Too close. Feeling a sense of crisis, he pulled his body back, but his back was blocked by the window from the start. When Dandeleon tried to turn his head, the fingers that had been brushing his face gripped his chin tightly.

He felt pain in his jaw. A large hand gripped his face as if to crush it and forced him to turn toward it.

Dandeleon’s vision was filled with blue eyes. A murky blue, like a drop of ashen paint had been added, glistened with an unknown desire. It was grotesque and unpleasant. The moment Dandeleon’s face contorted in disgust.

Herma Rioselia kissed him.

“……!”

A cold sweat ran down Dandeleon’s back. The scene before his eyes disappeared, and he returned to reality. But Dandeleon was seized by the illusion that the vision was continuing.

Herma was still looking at him. Unlike in the vision, the distance was far, but his expression was similar. No, it was the same. Herma’s eyes glistened with an unknown desire.

He couldn’t see because of the distance, but Dandeleon knew his eyes were blue. Murky blue eyes scanned Dandeleon’s face from top to bottom. A wave of displeasure surged up, and goosebumps covered his skin, as if an insect was crawling on his face.

“Speaking of which, I heard that there was someone who gave Kellewen a tour of the royal palace when he arrived here.”

I have to run. His instincts whispered to Dandeleon, but it was too late. At Herma’s words, the king smiled and mentioned Dandeleon’s name. It felt like being caught in a trap. Dandeleon unconsciously muttered a curse.

“So you were a prince. I would like to express my gratitude…”

“It wasn’t something that deserves gratitude. Still, since you happen to be here… Leon, Leon!”

When Dandeleon didn’t come running as expected, the king turned and gestured with his eyes.

In the short time it took to get up from his seat and walk a few steps, dozens of thoughts flashed through Dandeleon’s mind. Among them was the extreme option of pretending to be sick and collapsing.

But if he caused such a scene, it would be difficult to handle. When everything was over, he had to ask the king to let him leave the royal palace, and he didn’t want to needlessly displease him by pulling an obvious trick at a place like this. In the end, Dandeleon arrived next to the king and greeted him with a forced smile.

“Dandeleon… Benoit.”

Dandeleon bowed his head slightly to Herma. It was a standard greeting, but because of that, the king was flustered. He seemed to have expected an elven-style greeting, like when he first met Kellewen. The king glanced at Dandeleon and then said in an exaggerated voice.

“Oh dear, are you unwell? My apologies, this child is naturally weak and finds such occasions difficult. He seems to be even more nervous today as there are many distinguished guests.”

“There is no need to apologize. I did not know you were ill, I am sorry for troubling you.”

“Ahaha, he is not suffering from any disease. It is just that he was born weak…”

A thought suddenly occurred to Dandeleon, and he raised his head. When he looked up at Kellewen standing next to Herma, he saw his profile, unable to hide his anxiety. Kellewen was making an uncomfortable face as he listened to the conversation between the king and Herma. To be more precise, he seemed to be watching Herma’s reaction.

An ominous suspicion sprouted in Dandeleon’s mind. He had been curious if Kellewen had told Herma about him, but judging by the atmosphere, it seemed that was not the case.

But if that was so, something was strange. How did Herma, who had just arrived in Benoit today, know about Kellewen’s palace tour? If Kellewen hadn’t told him directly, then who on earth…?

“If you don’t mind, would you grant me the honor of a palace tour as well? It is my first time in Benoit, so there are many things I am curious about.”

The train of thought that had been building on itself was abruptly cut off by the thunderous words. Dandeleon’s eyes widened, and he stared at Herma. Just as the king was about to smile and answer in his stead, Dandeleon spoke first.

“I am sorry, I… have not been feeling well lately, so that would be difficult…”

Not only the king, but also the people who were watching this conversation were taken aback. Even the queen, who usually treated Dandeleon as if he were invisible no matter what he did, expressed her displeasure with a dry cough. Dandeleon himself regretted it as soon as he had spoken. He should have refused more skillfully, but in his haste, he had answered too honestly.

“Is that so…”

Herma trailed off softly. Dandeleon tried his best to maintain a gloomy expression, like a sick person. Since the situation itself was so depressing he felt like he was going to go crazy, it wasn’t that difficult.

“Then may I visit the prince’s quarters tomorrow?”

But Herma said something absurd in a serious tone.

“Pardon?”

“I have some medicine made in the Elven Forest. I, too, was born prematurely and spent a frail childhood, but after consistently taking that medicine, I became healthier than anyone. That medicine may be of help to the prince as well.”