MHHC Chapter 92

On the Precipice

It had been so long. Since she had felt this comfortable in her body.

The air was simply warm, and the cushion supporting her back was soft.

The prison's flesh-eating cold, the shackles and chains that chafed with every movement, the hard stone floor—none of these could be found anywhere.

Still drowsy with sleep, Adele savored the sensation against her skin. How long had it been since she'd lain on such a fine bed with such fine sheets...

'Wait.'

The moment she sensed something was wrong, the heavy drowsiness lifting over her completely vanished.

An ominous premonition prickled like gooseflesh. She snapped her eyes open and sat up.

'This isn't the prison. Where am I?'

It was an unfamiliar bedroom she had never seen before, though too modest to be the king's chamber.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it wasn't the worst situation she'd imagined.

Just then, sunlight slanting in struck her eyelids directly.

She quickly shielded the light with the back of her hand and let out a groan of unclear meaning.

[You're awake.]

"...Valentin?"

She stared wide-eyed at Valentin, who sat beside the bed.

She could hardly believe this situation. Was it real? Come to think of it, toward the end of her dream, she had heard his voice.

[It's not a dream.]

He conveyed this like a sigh as he touched her forehead.

When he reached out and gently stroked her cheek, warmth flowed through the contact. Only then did a cautious sense of reality set in.

"Is it truly you, Valentin? But this place is..."

She trailed off, looking around. No matter how suspiciously she examined it, a place that wasn't the sanctuary could not become the sanctuary.

"How did you come here, or rather, how did you even know I was there in the first place..."

[The human who watched over you explained everything. This place is that human's domain.]

At Valentin's words, Adele's curiosity only grew.

The human who watched over her? Nadia? If this was that human's domain, was this the Bathildis estate? And what about Joachim? Questions bred more questions.

'But why on earth would Nadia seek him out?'

They had firmly agreed not to inform Valentin of this situation under any circumstances.

Valentin's gaze sank heavily at Adele's confused expression.

[It was fortunate I went to the sanctuary's boundary to wait for you.]

Only then did Adele recognize that the will permeating her mind was strangely cold.

[It seems you intended not to inform me until the very end.]

Adele couldn't meet Valentin's eyes and averted her gaze.

Of course, thinking about it from his position, it was hurtful. But even Valentin couldn't deny that it had been the best course.

She steeled her resolve and protested.

"As you say, you shouldn't have come to rescue me. Return immediately, even now."

[To the very end, truly.]

"You must understand how grave your situation is. What plans your Shadow has been making..."

[It was something that would happen eventually.]

At his nonchalant retort, Adele involuntarily opened her mouth. Valentin continued with an indifferent expression.

[Didn't I ask you once before? Do you 'still' call the divine a dragon?]

"But the circumstances... More than anything else, I don't want you to bear such infamy because of me."

[That doesn't mean you should bear it all yourself either.]

Valentin's gaze, which had been fixed on Adele's face, suddenly descended to her hands and feet.

On her delicate frame, dark bruises remained where the shackles had been fastened.

She could clearly feel Valentin's mood sinking moment by moment.

[Morig knew this and yet cunningly coerced you through threats. I must repay that crime with what he cherishes.]

"What he cherishes..."

[That child always loved humans.]

Ah. Adele sighed briefly. The conversation was flowing in exactly the direction she most feared.

"...Don't do that. Making anyone a scapegoat will only breed resentment. And how would you even decide on that scapegoat?"

[Must it be limited to one? If unnecessary weeds have sprouted in the garden, simply eradicate them all.]

"You go too far. It sounds as though you intend to bring down calamity..."

[Would that be wrong? Humans oppressed you with the divinity I lent them. I see no reason to let them live.]

This was precisely the development Morig had desired. Adele hastily grasped his hand.

"I don't want revenge."

[Why?]

"I'm human too. I cannot destroy the foundation where I'll live."

Valentin tilted his head sideways as if he couldn't understand her words.

[I don't understand. Are humans truly so important? From now on, your world will contain only me.]

"That's not something I dislike. But..."

[Yes. That's enough.]

"What if those without sin are swept up as well?"

[A flood doesn't discriminate between rats, centipedes, and cockroaches when it sweeps through.]

Adele bit her lip. There had been times when she found it difficult to follow his way of thinking, but...

She had never imagined they would diverge this severely. He was so matter-of-fact that it was difficult even to gauge whether he was abnormal or she was.

[One piece of advice: I don't recommend excessive attachment to your species. Don't humans live by sharing limited resources? You should rejoice when you monopolize them all.]

"I truly never felt oppressed in the first place. There was simply a misunderstanding, so I was imprisoned... and even that, I only shed a little blood..."

[Blood?]

He laughed incredulously, as if he'd heard something absurd.

[I can feel my essence dwelling in your womb. You're with child, Adele. And in that state, you bled.]

"A... child?"

She looked down at her lower abdomen with bewildered eyes.

Though she had heard Nadia say something like that as if in a dream, she had never imagined it could be true.

[It still seems fine. Though there's some blood pooled in your womb.]

She reflexively wrapped both hands around her belly.

A life was inside this? She had only thought the occasional tightening, pulling, and uncomfortable sensations were just that...

Was it because she'd been told? It somehow felt firmer and slightly swollen compared to usual.

'Valentin's and my child. My family.'

The moment she thought this, she felt an immeasurable affection welling up for the child in her womb.

And simultaneously, she understood Valentin's rage. Rather, she welcomed it.

How could one call themselves a parent if they didn't rage when their child was attacked?

"I understand now why you're angry. But I'm also responsible for endangering the child. Because I was too dull to realize it until now..."

[Adele. You seem to have misunderstood something. I'm not angry because of 'that.']

...That?

['That' can be dealt with however. I'd rather recommend tearing it out early.

Your body won't be able to withstand it.]

"...What?"

[A human body cannot contain divinity in the first place. Even if by some miracle it were possible, the moment 'that' comes out, your body would be torn to shreds.]

She only blinked, not knowing what to be horrified by first.

"What did you just say..."

At first, Adele thought she had misunderstood Valentin. Or perhaps she had completely missed something between the lines.

But no matter how many times she turned it over in her mind, the undeniable fact remained that Valentin had called their child 'that.'

Her vision grew distant. The moment she even vaguely grasped the meaning, her previously fine body began to tremble.

Her frozen expression with wide-open eyes must have looked quite strange. Valentin, observing her pallid complexion, suddenly smiled as if to soothe her.

[I understand your intention, at least. Everything, including what you didn't say.]

The hand enfolding her shoulder was as gentle as always. He pulled Adele into his embrace.

[Let's go to the sanctuary. Nothing will reach you there. You won't need to worry about anything.]

The breath and body heat touching her forehead resembled a human's so closely. Warm and moist.

That made it all the more chilling. Because he could never become human no matter what, because he could never see the same horizon as her...

[You truly need know nothing at all.]

Ah. The sigh was not long. Adele trembled as she accepted Valentin's kiss.

Even after moving to the sanctuary, Adele's health showed no signs of recovery.

She began to grow thinner and thinner. Even sleep and food became burdensome.

The meals Valentin painstakingly prepared, she could barely eat a few bites before vomiting, and even when she finally closed her eyes, she would wake as if having a seizure.

The only thing she could swallow was water freshly drawn from the lake.

It was fortunate, at least, that the child in her womb endured well despite these harsh conditions.

She could sense the child very rarely. The sign was when her belly would occasionally harden and clench.

"...Valentin?"

It was a night when she had endured and then fallen asleep as if fainting.

Waking near dawn, Adele realized Valentin had disappeared from the sanctuary. She bit her lip anxiously.

'Where on earth has he gone? His outings have been frequent lately.'

Whenever he returned after disappearing for a while like this, Valentin always carried the scent of sulfur, acrid fire, and blood.

If nothing else, it was certain he was doing something dangerous.

'What's happening outside? What on earth is Valentin thinking?'

Thinking of Valentin, frustration habitually rose to her throat. It was absurd.

The dragon protecting her safely from the world now felt like her greatest jailer.

'My head is complicated. Perhaps a short walk to clear my mind... Wait.'

What is that?