The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife Chapter 143 - End of the Main Story

It was the first time I had ever been invited into his space, in this life or the previous one.

Even when I was a saint, I was never called to this place. There must be a reason he called me now.

‘What could he want to talk about?’

My hand, clenched in tension, was damp with sweat.

But such worry seemed unnecessary—Obellus smiled at me with the same face as always.

“Let’s talk about that slowly. For now, I made us some tea. Have a sip.”

The tea Obellus gave me was warm and gentle. Like the gaze in his eyes as he looked at me.

We chatted quietly together.

We talked about small, everyday things—deliberately leaving out anything about Coma.

“Dillian regained the memories of his past life, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“I see. So he did.”

Obellus nodded calmly, as if he had expected it.

“You predicted it?”

“To some extent. That child would have done anything to find them.”

“Really?”

“He said he’d climb out of hell itself just to see you again, so of course.”

I suddenly stopped, struck by a thought.

“Don’t tell me… he really did come back from hell and was born again?”

I’d always been curious. How Dillian and I ended up in the same time.

“You said I had to pass the trial before you would save Dillian’s soul. Why did you change your mind?”

You made it sound like I’d never see him again until I passed.

“I was curious.”

“About what?”

“Just how great love could be.”

Saying that, Obellus rose and held out his hand.

“Shall we take a walk?”

Right then, the tea in my cup had reached the bottom.

I took his hand, and we walked side by side.

“Dillian told me—even if he lost his memory, even if he was born again, he would still love you.”

“Dillian said that…”

“So I asked him. What if you forgot him and never loved him again? And do you know what he said?”

“…He probably said it didn’t matter.”

The Dillian I know would’ve said that.

“He would’ve said, ‘Then I’ll just love her more.’”

I would’ve said the same thing.

Even if Dillian forgot me, even if he didn’t love me, it’d be okay.

I’d just love him more.

“And Dillian must have believed it.”

That someday, I’d come to love him again.

“We were always meant to love each other. It was our destiny.”

Just like how we love each other now, even without memories of our past lives.

Even if we were born again a hundred times, we would still fall in love.

“Exactly right.”

Obellus smiled warmly and patted my head.

“How could I ever separate two people who love each other?”

He shook his head with a soft chuckle, teasing me.

“It’s true what they say—no parent can win against their child.”

“…Thank you.”

In the end, it was a story of how Obellus gave in to a love that lasted a thousand years.

My face turned red all the way to my neck, and I bowed my head deeply.

“Still, it’s nice to see you smiling happily now, instead of crying sadly like before.”

Thinking of Coma made my shoulders stiffen.

“You’re wondering if Coma is completely gone?”

“…Yes.”

I had seen him disappear before my eyes, and I knew Dillian’s curse was lifted, but I wanted to hear it from Obellus.

Reading my thoughts, Obellus nodded.

“Yes. He vanished without a trace. You can rest easy.”

“I see.”

As I answered calmly, Obellus asked,

“Was it painful? Ending the child you raised, with your own hands?”

“I came too far for it to be painful now.”

This time, I asked Obellus.

“But what about you? Do you regret it? Creating Coma, letting him loose in the world to become a force of evil… do you see that as a mistake?”

Obellus stopped walking. He turned to me. Our eyes met.

“No. I don’t regret it. I’ve never once thought it was shameful. He too was my creation.”

Coma believed his father saw him as a mistake, something to regret—but that wasn’t true.

Despite everything Coma had done, Obellus still loved him equally.

“But I do take responsibility for the pain and sorrow he caused you.”

Obellus opened his hand. Small, white forms wriggled gently on his palm.

“Those are the souls Coma consumed.”

“Yes. And these children will be reborn.”

I quietly watched Obellus as he gently stroked the souls.

Sometimes a father, sometimes a mother. Sometimes a grandfather, a grandmother. So many faces seemed to pass across his own.

“Human time isn’t infinite, but at the same time, it is. When the time comes, we die. Then we’re born again, to live a new life.”

The souls that left Obellus’s side passed through a gate of light and were born anew.

We stood side by side, watching that scene.

“It’s a truly beautiful sight. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, it really is.”

How long did we stand there, watching?

Obellus turned to me and stroked my head.

“You protected them.”

“Did I really protect them properly?”

“Yes, you did wonderfully.”

His kind hand made my chest ache. His voice, so gentle, as if saying I’d been through so much, brought tears to my eyes.

“Congratulations on passing the trial. This is your victory, my child.”

Victory. Looking back, yes, it was my victory.

But if I had lost Dillian, I would’ve failed that trial.

“You gave the pendant to Dillian on purpose, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want to be blamed by you twice.”

His eyes crinkled with mischief as he winked at me.

“It was a small gift I prepared for the children I love. Did you like it?”

“Thank you. I was truly happy.”

I bowed deeply, full of sincerity.

If Dillian had left me, I might’ve given up on everything.

“Truly, thank you. Father.”

“Oh dear, I didn’t do it hoping to be thanked.”

Obellus mumbled that it was troubling, then placed his hand on my shoulder and gently raised me up.

“Ria, look. The sun is rising. It’s time for you to return.”

From far away, the blue light of dawn approached.

Soon, the red sun rose, signaling a new beginning.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Then he added quickly,

“But don’t come too soon. Live a long, long life before returning.”

“What if I become an old lady by then?”

“What does appearance matter? You will always be my child.”

Obellus opened his arms and hugged me.

“But next time we meet, I’ll be a bit selfish.”

He patted my back gently, like holding a beloved child.

“Decide then—whether you’ll become my disciple, or return to being human.”

“What?”

“I’ll hear your answer the next time we meet.”

Before I could speak, Obellus let go of me. My body fell back, as if beyond my control.

“Live happily.”

At the same time, my consciousness faded.

‘I will always be by your side.’

I thought I heard those words, faint and distant.

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

I felt a hand gently patting my head.

Like a child playing, the hand that had been touching my hair slowly moved down to caress my cheek. Then my eyes, nose, and finally, my lips.

The featherlight touch made me burst into laughter.

“That tickles.”

“Time to get up.”

“Can’t I sleep a little more?”

Especially since I barely slept because of someone.

I mumbled with my eyes still closed, and then his warm, soft lips touched mine.

Dillian, who had stolen my lips in an instant, didn’t pull away. Instead, he murmured with our lips still touching,

“You should at least eat breakfast.”

“Mmm…”

I whined in protest, but Dillian relentlessly teased me.

In the end, I surrendered.

As I lifted my eyelids, the eyes I met curved like crescent moons.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

Suddenly, a laugh slipped out. Just looking into his eyes made me happy.

As I smiled softly at him, Dillian, who had been brushing my hair, whispered in my ear.

“I hope every day is like today.”

Sharing the same bed, under the same blanket, waking up together—that kind of future he dreamed of made my heart flutter.

I sat up and kissed his forehead.

“It will be. Every single day, just like today, we’ll be together.”

Reaching out, I cupped Dillian’s cheek and kissed the corner of his eye.

“That’s why we met again.”

Because we were destined to meet again.

As I kissed his slightly parted lips, the arms around my waist tightened.

“You think so too, right, Dillian?”

“…It’s probably best if you don’t tease me like this in the morning.”

“Huh?”

Dillian slowly sat up and pulled me closer by the waist. His deeply colored eyes came toward me like they would swallow me whole.

“Weren’t you crying and begging me to stop not long ago?”

His low, husky voice made my shoulders tremble.

“Was it… not enough?”

No—what is he even reacting to?!

“That’s not what I meant! Don’t you know what a morning kiss is? It’s supposed to be light and sweet!”

“There’s no such thing as ‘light’ between lovers.”

“Wait—!”

“Too late.”

“But you said we should eat breakfast!”

“We can eat a little later.”

No matter what I said, once Dillian started to go wild, there was no stopping him.

Over Dillian’s shoulder, I saw the rising sun through the slightly opened curtains.

‘I give up.’

Looking at the brightly burning sun, I soon closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck.

We might end up having lunch instead of breakfast, but oh well.

It was the perfect start to a lovely day.