It’s Sunny But I’m Depressed Chapter 16

 

Chapter 16: Rain, Tears, and the Desert (1) 

 

The nobles whispered among themselves as they observed Iago.

 

“Oh my. He looks even more displeased than usual.”

 

“The air around him today is… quite intense.”

 

“Could it be that he didn’t like the play? I heard the playwright went to great lengths to make it as tear-jerking as possible.”

 

Iago hardened his expression as he overheard their murmurs. Yes, he had indeed given such orders. But still, this was too much.

 

‘There should be a limit!’

 

Iago shouted internally. He hadn’t expected the story to be this sorrowful. It was hard to imagine anyone not crying after watching such a tale.

 

‘Isn’t this too cruel…? The priestess must be utterly exhausted from crying by now.’

 

She did seem particularly tired today. Of course, she looked as beautiful as a desert fairy, but if she was crying like that… Feeling uneasy, Iago quickened his pace. The play was reaching its climax.

 

“Boohoo!”

 

“Poor Jake…!”

 

The stage and the audience were awash with tears. By the time Iago reached the VIP seats where the priestess was sitting.

 

“What is this…?”

 

“Well, it seems she was exhausted from getting ready since this morning. The priestess was definitely focused on the play, but…”

 

Andre’s excuse sounded distant. The priestess was buried in a chair larger than herself. Snoring softly.

 

“Mother!”

 

“My son!”

 

Sniffles. Oh my. Sob. Boohoo. Amidst this sea of tears, she slept peacefully.

 

***

 

“Sniff. She’s tough… definitely not ordinary, Your Highness!”

 

“…”

 

“How could she not shed a single tear when Jake was separated from his mother?”

 

Utter’s voice quivered with emotion as he spoke, as if tears were about to fall again. Iago nodded vigorously. He couldn’t imagine someone not crying after seeing that. The emotional conditioning of those from the north was more severe than expected.

 

“But to control emotions to that extent… she must have undergone harsh training since childhood.”

 

Iago spoke somberly, causing Utter to flinch. Utter, too, was someone who naturally disliked violence and abuse. Knowing this, Iago spoke more pitifully on purpose.

 

“Maybe they deliberately hurt or saddened her and told her not to cry. Isn’t that heartbreaking?”

 

“That, that kind of situation is none of our concern!”

 

Utter shouted, closing his eyes tightly. He couldn’t afford to be soft-hearted. Running a country wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Someone had to handle the dark and dirty work. And if his king found it difficult, it was his duty as a loyal subject to do it.

 

Utter spoke firmly.

 

“The priestess must shed tears! To bring rain to this desert! Have you forgotten?”

 

He was also speaking to his own weakening resolve.

 

“I know…”

 

This time, Iago couldn’t argue and murmured gloomily.

 

“You promised to let me handle it if your methods didn’t work, right?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Yes?”

 

Iago hesitated but couldn’t withstand Utter’s gaze and reluctantly answered.

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Good. From now on, I’ll handle it my way. …Even if it gets a bit cruel.”

 

Cruelty made Iago’s face turn pale. Utter chuckled darkly, like a villain, and muttered.

 

“Let’s see if she can keep that expression after experiencing something truly tear-jerking!”

 

***

 

Unaware of the impending danger, Ilena was enjoying a peaceful tea time with Andre after breakfast.

 

“Oh, really! Do you know how difficult it was for me?”

 

Andre grumbled as he poured tea into Ilena’s cup with care.

 

“…Sorry. But I was just so sleepy.”

 

Recalling last night’s events made Ilena’s lips twitch. The expression on the dark king’s face was still amusing.

 

“Ilena! Miss Ilena! Wake up!”

 

“Hmm… is it morning already?”

 

Ilena, who had fallen into a deep sleep, opened her eyes groggily.

 

“Mother!”

 

“My son!”

 

The sorrowful cries of the actors on stage and the sniffles filling the theater. And amidst it all, the shocked dark king and the bespectacled attendant pointing excitedly. It was like a scene from a sitcom.

 

‘It must have been one of their strategies to make me cry. No wonder it failed so miserably.’

 

From onions to melodramas. The dark king’s methods were surprisingly cute. She was curious about what he would try next.

 

‘Curious? Curious…’

 

Ilena repeated to herself. She had been just depressed and lethargic for so long, but now these little things were making her look forward to tomorrow. It was fascinating. Ilena looked up at the sky. Somehow, it seemed the clouds were lighter than when she first arrived on the island.

 

After tea time, there was something she absolutely had to do. It was an important matter that couldn’t be postponed any longer. A nap.

 

‘Ah, I feel alive. I was so sleepy all day yesterday because I couldn’t nap.’

 

Before her possession, she didn’t know how she managed with just two or three hours of sleep a day. It was as if she was making up for all the sleep she lacked before. Ilena, still drowsy from her nap, leaned against the bed.

 

Andre burst into the room with a fuss.

 

“Ilena, there’s a visitor at the pavilion.”

 

With a particularly mischievous expression, Andre winked.

 

‘It must be the dark king. What kind of cute torment has he brought today?’

 

“Alright, I’ll go.”

 

Ilena replied lightly.

 

“Oh? Do you know who it is?”

 

Andre chuckled playfully as he fetched fluttering clothes to help her get ready.

 

“Hmm? Well…”

 

‘Isn’t it the dark king?’

 

Andre grinned knowingly.

 

‘Or not?’

 

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Ilena cleared her throat and asked.

 

“Ahem. So who is it?”

 

“You’ll see when you get there.”

 

Andre replied coyly, skillfully dressing Ilena and adding accessories. He even applied a coral-tinted lipstick, claiming it was the latest trend. It seemed the visitor wasn’t the dark king, but they were dressing her up anyway.

 

Ilena watched her reflection bloom in the mirror and asked slyly.

 

“…Weren’t you trying to set me up with the dark king?”

 

“Oh my. You noticed? Hoho.”

 

“How could I not?”

 

Ilena chuckled, and Andre’s playful expression softened. He gently brushed Ilena’s hair and spoke.

 

“I just wanted you to be a bit happier.”

 

“Happier?”

 

Ilena’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

 

“Yes. I know you didn’t come to our kingdom of your own free will. But… you’re so beautiful, young, and capable.”

 

Andre tied Ilena’s sky-blue hair with a lovely pink silk ribbon. Then he patted her shoulder.

 

“You always had such a lifeless expression, lying around.”

 

‘He noticed…’

 

There was no concept of depression here, so he wouldn’t know the term. But someone as perceptive as him wouldn’t miss it. She had no idea he cared so much. Feeling a bit ticklish and warm, Ilena lowered her head slightly.

 

Andre smiled kindly at her.

 

“I, too, once wondered why I was living…”

 

“You did?”

 

Ilena looked at him in surprise. Now that she thought about it… he was well-groomed and had great skin, so she hadn’t noticed, but he looked older than she thought.

 

“Of course.”

 

“So how did you get out of ‘that time’?”

 

When you feel like life is pointless, don’t want to do anything, or meet anyone, those dark times… Ilena hesitated, swallowing her words. Then he returned to his lively self, exclaiming like a mischievous fox.

 

“When life gets dull, it’s all about romance! Love!”

 

“What?”

 

Ilena let out a small laugh.

 

“A fiery, maddening love!”

 

Andre gently patted Ilena’s head with his large hand. Just like her grandfather used to.

 

“Nothing elevates a person like love. Though it can also bring you crashing down in an instant.”

 

With her preparations complete, Ilena headed to the indoor garden of the pavilion where the visitor awaited.

 

“Life is short, and youth is even shorter.”

 

She pondered Andre’s words.

 

***

 

In the garden, a man was pacing nervously. It was the same man she saw at the theater yesterday. He looked like an elf from a movie, skilled with a bow. He was fiddling with the leaves when he spotted Ilena and smiled brightly.

 

“Oh. Regulus… sir?”

 

Ilena spoke awkwardly, and the man smiled even more joyfully.

 

“You remembered my name.”

 

‘Well, your face and name are easy to match.’

 

Ilena swallowed her words and simply smiled. The man’s face turned noticeably red.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“I heard the priestess is staying alone at the pavilion.”

 

He hesitated slightly but spoke politely.

 

“You must feel lonely being so far from home. Would you like to have dinner with me?”

 

Ilena looked at him silently for a moment. His face was turning red, but he remained earnest. His fingertips trembled slightly. He looked like a boy nervously asking for a first date.

 

“When life gets dull, it’s all about romance! Love!”

 

Andre’s words echoed in her mind.

 

‘Yes. I can’t just remain lethargic.’

 

Her memory of being electrocuted by the original male lead when she first entered the novel seemed to have left a bigger trauma than she thought. It was as if even the slightest remnants of her romantic feelings were fried by the electric shock.

 

But someone this innocent should be fine. At least he wouldn’t try to make her cry or torture her. Just as Ilena was about to answer, she heard a voice that had become familiar, cold and low.

 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

 

Ilena turned her head sharply.

 

‘How long has he been standing there?’

 

The dark king was leaning casually against a large tree.

 

“Your Highness? When did… Ah, greetings, Your Highness.”

 

Regulus hurriedly bowed his head. The dark king looked down at the elf-like man with a cold gaze, as if he wanted to freeze him with his eyes.

 

‘Why is he acting like this since yesterday?’

 

She wondered if he didn’t like her getting close to the southern nobles.

 

“Greetings, Your Highness. …Here?”

 

Ilena greeted him nonchalantly and simultaneously threw a question like a jab. Didn’t you see the young man and woman just about to exchange a date request? The dark king glared at her with wide eyes. It was the same as yesterday. The man, who always seemed like a wild animal, looked even more feral.

 

Like a mother beast who lost her cub or a male afraid of losing his mate.

 

‘Ah, is it because his plans are going awry?’

 

After all, it hadn’t rained in the desert. But it wasn’t like she was doing it on purpose, and she had no idea how to control this ability. She already felt guilty, and the dark king’s constant interference was starting to annoy her.

 

‘He’s probably here to make me cry again today.’

 

Ilena asked bluntly.

 

“Are you here because of ‘that’ again today?”

 

“…Yes. Do I need another reason to seek you out?”

 

“No, Your Highness only wants that from my body.”

 

Tears, that is. The dark king didn’t deny it and simply nodded coldly. Ilena remained calm. It was Regulus who was surprised.

 

‘His Highness desires her body… seeks her out?’

 

His face, which had been listening to the conversation with a confused expression, turned increasingly pale. Then he glanced at Ilena, the dark king, and between the dark king’s legs. His gaze darted back and forth.

 

“Why are you seeking me out in broad daylight today?”

 

“Well, does it matter what time ‘that’ is done?”

 

“True, but you usually seek me out in the evening.”

 

“Well…”

 

The dark king furrowed his brow slightly.

 

‘Making you cry in broad daylight doesn’t sit well with me.’

 

“…I was concerned your body might find it tiring.”

 

Crying was more exhausting than one might think. As someone experienced in crying, it was his way of showing consideration.

 

“Oh.”

 

Ilena’s eyes widened in surprise. Did he really have that kind of thought? The dark king was unexpectedly soft in unexpected ways. Meanwhile, Regulus’s face was turning from white to red.

 

“Your body might find it tiring…”

 

“Yes?”

 

Ilena finally looked at Regulus.

 

“No, nothing. Ahem! Oh dear…”

 

‘He does seem a bit off…’

 

Watching the man who seemed uncomfortable, Ilena suddenly remembered.

 

‘Come to think of it, he did suggest having dinner. He must be shy about asking for dinner…’

 

Finding it amusing that someone could be so innocent, Ilena smiled and said.

 

“Well, that’s convenient. Shall we all have dinner together?”

 

Dinner? As soon as Ilena finished speaking, Regulus let out a strange squeak.