It’s Sunny But I’m Depressed Chapter 28

Chapter 28: How to Overcome Depression (1) 

 

Wrapped in a warm embrace, Ilena quietly closed her eyes.

 

‘I promised myself I wouldn’t try too hard. I didn’t want to hope for happiness.’

 

So kind. So warm. The warmth of someone’s embrace easily melts away futile resolutions and stubbornness. Just once more. This will really be the last time I hope.

 

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

 

Ilena added in a voice so soft it was barely audible.

 

“…I actually wanted to be happy.”

 

A wish from long ago.

 

***

 

“Is this really the right thing to do, Andre?”

 

“Oh, come on, I’m telling you it is!”

 

It was early morning, with dew still clinging to the leaves. In the garden beside the palace, two men were whispering behind a large tree.

 

“To match someone like His Highness with someone like Ilena, this plan is perfect!”

 

“But…”

 

‘His Highness isn’t a bad guy at all. In fact…’

 

Otter swallowed the words he couldn’t bring himself to say. Andre’s first proposed plan was called ‘Even on a Shaky Bridge, Your Heart Races When You Meet Your Enemy.’

 

“…A shaky bridge all of a sudden?”

 

Otter tilted his head at the puzzling plan name, prompting Andre to explain.

 

“What happens if you’re standing on a shaky bridge?”

 

“…It’s scary. Your heart races.”

 

Otter, who was usually timid, answered honestly.

 

“Exactly! But if someone’s next to you, you might think, ‘Oh? Is my heart racing because of this person?’”

 

“What? Where did you even…?”

 

“Does it matter where I learned it? Just watch. You’ll see a reaction soon.”

 

Andre cut off Otter’s hesitant words and peeked around the tree. In the distance, a picturesque couple strolled leisurely through the garden.

 

“Yesterday, I set everything up in the garden!”

 

Andre winked mischievously and turned his gaze back.

 

‘This… is really going to work, right…?’

 

Otter, filled with a sense of foreboding, moved closer to Andre and peeked out.

 

***

 

‘I can see you, you fools…’

 

As Ilena walked through the garden, she squinted and muttered to herself. Two heads were clearly visible sticking out from behind a large tree.

 

‘Do they really think they’re hiding?’

 

It was like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, thinking it was safe from predators.

 

‘What am I going to do with these naive southern folks?’

 

Ilena sighed deeply in exasperation.

 

“What should we do, Ilena?”

 

At that moment, Iago leaned in and whispered softly in her ear. They were walking together as part of today’s ‘Happiness Operation!’ When Ilena turned away from the two ostriches and looked up, Iago was fidgeting nervously.

 

“It must be what I mentioned before. Otter’s up to something again.”

 

Iago seemed to have immediately realized what those ostriches were plotting. Unlike the calm Ilena, his face had turned bright red for some reason. Ilena, observing him with indifferent eyes, spoke bluntly.

 

“Let’s just do it.”

 

“D-Do what?”

 

Iago was startled.

 

“It’s actually good. If we keep sticking together for this operation, Otter and Andre will start to question why.”

 

“Y-Yeah, I guess.”

 

“To others, it’s a secret that I have depression and that Iago is actually a rabbit… I mean, really kind.”

 

Ilena smirked with a slightly villainous grin, raising one corner of her mouth.

 

“Let’s use Otter. In front of them, we’ll pretend to be flirting. You act like you’re wooing me, and I’ll pretend to fall for it.”

 

She was afraid of what Otter might do if they resisted awkwardly. After all, they had been unceremoniously dumped in the desert not long ago. At her words, Iago covered his flushed face with his sleeve and exclaimed.

 

“W-Wooing? But we’re not even married yet. That’s something you do with your wife…”

 

But his violet eyes, unbeknownst to him, were filled with anticipation and excitement. Ilena couldn’t see his expression beyond the sleeve.

 

‘Goodness. This innocent demeanor…!’

 

Despite his imposing and intimidating appearance, he was clearly quite naive. In that case, as someone much older in spirit, she should teach him a thing or two.

 

“It’s okay. Trust me… just follow my lead.”

 

Ilena grabbed Iago’s large hand with a confident gesture.

 

“Well…”

 

Iago looked at the small white hand, unsure of what to do. It was so small and soft that he was afraid to exert any force. But Ilena, thinking he was simply nervous, boldly took his hand and started walking.

 

“First, we hold hands and walk like this…”

 

Just then. Ping─! As Ilena stepped into the garden, the sound of a string snapping echoed in the air. At the same time, a large net was pulled high into the sky right beneath her feet. But by the time she realized what was happening, she was already in Iago’s firm embrace instead of the net.

 

As soon as the sound was heard, he had pulled her in with surprising strength.

 

“What is this…?”

 

With her cheek pressed against his chest, Ilena looked dazedly at the net hanging from the tree.

 

“It’s a trap. A big game hunting trap.”

 

His previously innocent, blushing demeanor vanished, replaced by a fierce and sharp gleam in his violet eyes as his body tensed.

 

“Suddenly? In the palace garden? What the…”

 

“Ilena?”

 

Still caught in Iago’s embrace, Ilena lifted her left ankle to inspect it. A thin red line had formed on her white ankle. Below the line, small droplets of blood began to form.

 

“Ugh. I think I got a little scratched when the trap snapped.”

 

“…”

 

“Iago? Um, it’s a bit hard to breathe.”

 

Iago’s arms tightened even more around her. The lack of space between his body and his thick arms made her feel as if she were wedged between rocks. As he stared at her bleeding ankle, Iago’s eyes held a strange intensity.

 

“Iago?”

 

“…”

 

Without a word, he drew even closer, his breath brushing against her.

 

“Wait. Iago…”

 

Ilena’s voice came out flustered.

 

“Ilena…”

 

He exhaled her name in a low, cracked voice. Even amidst the confusion, Ilena’s mind raced.

 

‘Why is he acting like this all of a sudden? Oh, is it because Otter and Andre are watching?’

 

It seemed they had already started their act.

 

‘He was so hesitant before, but now he’s acting so naturally.’

 

Come to think of it, he was a skilled actor, having played the role of the black king for so long.

 

‘I can’t lose to him.’

 

Ilena, whose romantic instincts had long since withered, felt a competitive spirit ignite within her. It was time to showcase the acting skills of a K-chaebol third generation and a two-year masked depression patient. Resolutely, Ilena opened her mouth and shouted.

 

“Your Highness. Not here… Ah!”

 

Ilena’s voice came out flustered. Half of it was acting, but the other half was genuine. His arm, which had been firmly wrapped around her waist, smoothly slid up her back like a snake.

 

‘Is he going this far?’

 

Startled, she instinctively stepped back, but his large, thick arm wrapped around her waist, preventing her escape.

 

“Ilena, don’t be scared, come here…”

 

‘Why is he so good at this?’

 

She felt a cold sweat forming. Ilena glanced at the two ostriches watching from afar, exclaiming “Oh my, oh my.” Since they were secretly observing, she couldn’t stop the act now, but the problem was…

 

“Ilena.”

 

Iago’s performance was far better than she had anticipated. He rubbed his cheek against her palm, gazing at her with languid, half-closed eyes. Where had the rabbit-like sparkle in his eyes gone? Now, he seemed like a leopard excited by a long-awaited feast.

 

He whispered in a low, cracked voice.

 

“I’ll do it like I did that time…”

 

“What? Do what?”

 

“You did this for me back then…”

 

He stroked her hand and kissed one of her fingers.

 

‘Don’t say it like that!’

 

Ilena was internally panicking.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

‘If we go any further, this could get really dangerous.’

 

Thinking so, Ilena gently wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered softly in his ear.

 

“I think this is enough, don’t you?”

 

Seeing the commotion behind the tree, it seemed today’s misunderstanding had been sufficiently conveyed. Ilena was about to suggest they retreat.

 

“No.”

 

Iago whispered lowly, his lips brushing her ear. His arms tightened around her slender waist.

 

“I’m not done yet, Ilena.”

 

His words sent Ilena’s depression-ridden, romance-dead mind spiraling in the wrong direction.

 

‘What does he mean he’s not done? Is the acting not enough?’

 

With Andre listening, maybe he wanted to ensure his performance as the black king was convincing?

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

Iago, with the keen senses of a wild animal, quickly noticed Ilena’s wandering thoughts. Seeming displeased, he raised his eyebrows and whispered as he tightened his grip around her waist.

 

“Don’t think about anything else but me.”

 

‘I was just thinking about you…’

 

His arms completely enveloped her, and his violet eyes, now slightly off-kilter, slowly moved closer to Ilena. And at that moment.

 

“So the fish I caught back then was as big as my thigh… Eek!”

 

“Haha, Minister. What a boast… Eek!”

 

“Why are you two… Ugh!”

 

They suddenly locked eyes with a group of people turning the corner of the garden. Still caught in Iago’s embrace.