The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 141

Dillian quietly walked behind Obellus.

Seeing him follow without a word, Obellus slowly began to speak.

“I know how much you treasure Ria, but even so—bringing a curse into yourself? Really.”

Clicking his tongue at the thought, Obellus shook his head.

“She’s been crying a lot.”

“Ria…”

The image of her, left alone in the cold of winter, flashed through his mind—and his chest ached.

“She cried for days on end. I was worried, so I went to see her. And she… blamed me.”

For a moment, Obellus had looked a bit down at the memory of her rare resentment. But it wasn’t long before his faint smile returned.

“So I decided to give you another chance.”

“A… chance?”

Dillian’s steps halted. Startled, confused, and faintly hopeful—he looked up. Obellus nodded.

“Originally, you were destined to go to hell for harboring the curse in your body. But I’ve changed my mind.”

Clap. Obellus snapped his fingers, jolting Dillian’s dazed mind as if tightening a loose screw.

“In other words, you two can meet again.”

“Really? You’re not messing with me, are you?”

“‘Messing with you’? Is that any way to speak before a god?”

Obellus sighed and shook his head, muttering something about his rough mouth.

“Ria is the one I cherish most. And you were the first ruler I ever chose. Both of you are precious children to me. Of course I don’t want to see you suffer.”

Of course… he had given Ria a small test, but that he kept to himself.

Watching Dillian’s red eyes trembling faintly, Obellus smiled gently.

“Go on, then.”

When he pointed to a spot, a bright light began to swirl in the once-empty space.

As if in a trance, Dillian walked toward the door of light.

“Lysandro.”

He turned at the sound of someone calling his name.

A calm, composed face he had never seen before looked at him and asked,

“If you meet Ria again, will you fall in love with her all over again?”

“You already know the answer.”

No matter how many times they met, no matter what form she took—he would love her.

Because he had engraved Ria into his very soul.

“Even if you lose your memories? Once you pass through that door, you’ll both forget everything and begin again. Are you still willing?”

“Yes.”

“Then… do you think Ria will fall in love with you again?”

“Well… who knows. But even if she doesn’t, it’s fine. I’ll be the one who loves her.”

Dillian smiled confidently at Obellus.

“Eventually, Ria will love me again.”

Just as he had carved her into his soul—

He had been carved into hers.

“That’s the right answer.”

A warm light gently enveloped Dillian.

“You may go now.”

Obellus’s voice faded softly.

“Ria is waiting.”

 

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

At last, the end of the dream had arrived.

The ground beneath Dillian’s feet slowly crumbled.

And as if someone had yanked him, he was suddenly pulled away.

Smack. A sharp hand struck Dillian’s cheek.

“Dillian! Wake up! Open your eyes!”

Smack!

The slap was so painful, it jolted his wandering mind back into place.

“Dillian, please, open your eyes!”

He caught the incoming hand midair and slowly opened his eyes.

“…Miss Ria, I’m awake now.”

“Dillian?! You’re conscious? Can you see me? Can you hear my voice?”

Even though no one was dragging her away, Ria fired off her questions without giving herself time to breathe.

“I can see you clearly. I can hear you perfectly. And yes, my cheek hurts.”

He thought they’d share a touching reunion now that his memories were back—but instead, he got a flurry of slaps.

‘Well… I guess this is very us.’

A smile slipped out at how normal everything felt.

Though Ria clearly took it a different way.

“Ahem, I only did that to wake you up… Does it hurt a lot?”

Maybe even she thought it was a bit much—Ria’s eyes drooped as she looked at his reddened cheek.

“I’ll heal it right away.”

She reached out and placed her hand gently on Dillian’s cheek as he sat up.

“I’m so glad… I thought something terrible had happened.”

“I told you—I’m fine.”

“Your problem is, you get way too worked up when it comes to Lysandro.”

Nathan and Arest clicked their tongues, chiming in one after the other.

As Ria gently stroked his red cheek to soothe the swelling, she shot a sharp look at the two divine beasts trying to act innocent.

It wasn’t like Ria wanted to slap Dillian.

No matter how hard she’d shaken him, he wouldn’t wake up. Fear crept in—what if he’d left her again?

That’s when the two divine beasts whispered to her:

‘Ria, there’s no choice. It’s time for the ultimate move—a slap to the face!’

‘What? But…’

‘If you hesitate, he might be gone for good.’

They egged her on, and she fell for it.

‘I know it’s partly my fault for believing them, but still…’

Seeing those smug eyes made her blood boil.

“You two—shut it. And Tippy, if you’re going to do something next time, tell me first, okay?”

“…Okay.”

After getting scolded thoroughly, Tippy nodded sheepishly and darted over to Dillian.

“You saw it, right? You saw it? What was it like?!”

All signs of sulking vanished as Tippy wagged his tail and bounced around excitedly.

‘What in the world did he even see?’

As the two got lost in their own little world, Ria turned her attention to a divine beast trying to sneak away.

“And where do you think you’re going? You’re not trying to escape, are you?”

“Escape?! No!”

“Ria, he woke up, didn’t he? That’s all thanks to us, you know?”

Arest, who was often called shameless for a reason, lifted his chin proudly at Ria.

The half-dead figure from before was nowhere to be seen. Arest was now full of energy and relentlessly getting on Ria’s nerves.

“You really…”

Glaring at Arest, Ria suddenly turned toward the warmth resting on the back of her hand.

“Dillian?”

Their eyes met immediately—how long had he been watching her?

Even after a while, Dillian didn’t look away.

As if engraving her into his gaze.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“I’m thinking… I’m glad you’re not a saint.”

“Out of nowhere?”

Ria tilted her head at the sudden comment.

“If you weren’t a saint, then you wouldn’t reject my proposals because of it.”

“What are you saying…”

Ria chuckled—but then her smile froze.

Her eyes widened as realization dawned, and she stared at Dillian.

“Dillian… don’t tell me…”

“You told me to say something as soon as I remembered.”

He gently brushed the corners of her trembling eyes and said playfully,

“If I can’t marry you in this life either, I might just die from the frustration.”

Whether it was a joke or not, Ria’s eyes welled up.

Dillian had regained his memories.

She’d said it was okay if he didn’t, but carrying the past alone had been a lonely burden.

Now those memories—those precious moments—belonged to them.

Her chest swelled with emotion.

Unable to hold it in, Ria threw her arms around Dillian.

“You really remember everything?”

“Yes.”

Dillian opened his arms and embraced her tightly.

Pressed so close not even a slip of paper could fit between them, Tippy perched on their shoulders and said with a smug tone,

“Told you, Ria. It was a gift.”

“Tippy!”

Breaking away from Dillian’s arms, Ria kissed Tippy.

“Hehe.”

Blushing, Tippy squirmed under the flurry of kisses.

Meanwhile, Dillian’s face darkened.

Seeing that blasted lizard steal the first kiss, Dillian silently grabbed Tippy and tossed him.

“W-wait, ack!”

Tippy landed safely in a bed of petals and scowled at Dillian, who was now wiping Ria’s lips over and over.

“Kissing just anyone like that… I’m worried.”

“Tippy’s not a person.”

How could he compare a spirit to a human?

Ria tried to explain, but Dillian didn’t buy it for a second.

To him, whether it was a spirit or a person—anyone who stole Ria’s kiss was an enemy.

“Ria, you remember what happens if you kiss anyone else but me, right?”

Of course she did. She’d suffered so much for that!

Past Dillian had been just as jealous as the one now, even disliking her kissing children.

Even acts of blessing had been banned!

And if he caught her doing it—she’d suffer twice as much that night.

‘To think he’d start using that memory the moment it returns…!’

Ria took a nervous step back.

But it was too late—her waist had already been caught.

Flushed at the firm grip around her waist, Ria mumbled,

“There’s… so many people watching…”

“They’ll leave if they know what’s good for them.”

Dillian delivered that command with polite words—and then stole Ria’s lips.

He came at her like he was going to devour her, and Ria instinctively grabbed onto his arms and slowly closed her eyes.

The one bursting at the seams was Nathan.

“H-Hey! Look at them!”

Behind him, Arest muttered with a sour face,

“Nathan, I really don’t like that guy.”

“Me neither.”

Even Tippy, who had quietly joined them.

The three of them, glaring at Dillian, eventually left the area.

Because like Dillian had said—they weren’t so tactless as to interrupt a good moment.