CHAPTER 75: CH:75 A HEART THAT SHOULDN’T ACHE

Suddenly, Dila’s voice broke the silence, sharp and brittle.

"Now... let go of me!" she shouted.

Albedo’s hands instantly released her, his body frozen, yet the sadness in his eyes couldn’t be hidden. He watched her step away—not like a daughter leaving her father, but like something precious slipping from between his fingers.

As if he’d just lost her all over again.

Dila glared at him, though her expression trembled faintly. "Don’t forget... old hag... our duel. This afternoon. Be prepared."

Her words cut harsher than any blade.

Without waiting for his answer, she turned sharply, walking out of the lobby room, her footsteps echoing like heavy stones dropping one after another.

Fran hesitated—her ears drooping, eyes wide—then rushed after Dila.

Behind them, the king didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

He only sat there, silently watching the doorway where his daughter had vanished, like a man left standing alone in the ruins of a home that once felt alive for a moment.

As Dila has arrived at her room alone while fran was outside waiting.

Dila walked in silence, her bare feet brushing softly against the cold floor, her heart pounding for reasons she didn’t want to admit.

I can’t believe that man... hugged me, she muttered coldly in her mind, as if saying it out loud would make the feeling vanish. It’s not fair. It’s just too much.

Nari’s soft voice answered carefully inside her thoughts. ☆ It’s normal... because your father misses you so much. ☆

"My father? No," Dila snapped quietly, her tone ice-cold. "You mean Dila’s father. Not mine."

Nari fell silent.

Outside Dila’s door, Fran sat quietly by the wall. She waited. She hoped.

But as the minutes dragged, her small hands curled tightly around her knees, her ears drooping low. Finally, she whispered to herself, as if asking the walls, "I never thought... Sister could be this harsh... to her father."

Her throat tightened. She slid down, sitting fully on the floor now, curling her body smaller as her long tail wrapped around herself.

"She should be happy... because she still has someone left who loves her..."

Fran’s voice cracked.

"...but why?"

No answer came.

Only the sound of Dila’s door remaining closed.

Then for a couple of minutes she opened the door slowly peaking at the door way looking at Fran on the floor.

Dila stood there for a moment, just still watching Fran, her figure small and curled by the wall, like a child who’d lost everything. For once, Dila hesitated.

Then quietly, almost unsure, she stepped out.

Her soft mage boots made no sound as she crossed the distance, the fabric of her long support robe catching the light of the hallway, soft blues and whites trailing behind her like a breeze. She crouched carefully in front of Fran, resting her arms lazily on her knees.

"Hey..." Dila’s voice came gentle, almost too soft. "Are you okay, Fran?"

Fran looked up, slow and tired. Her blue eyes were dull.

Dila tried again, shifting slightly closer. "Hey... don’t be like that."

Fran didn’t answer, her ears still low.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Dila forced herself to smile—tilting her head, trying to look playful even though her chest felt tight.

"Listen... I’ll make sure we get out of here. I promise. Me and you... together. We’ll live out there. Find somewhere quiet. With our friends. Just like before when i first meet you, okay?"

Her voice cracked softly, but she tried to cover it with her smile.

Fran blinked slowly, then whispered.

"...But... what about your father?" Her voice trembled. "Don’t you feel... anything, Sister? Like... like fatherly love?"

Dila froze.

Her forced smile faltered.

Her head dipped, eyes shadowed, her silver hair sliding forward to hide her face. For several seconds, she said nothing. The silence felt heavy.

Then softly, her voice dropped like a broken whisper.

"...Nah. Who cares."

She forced a grin again—too sharp, too brittle.

"He’s not my father."

Her words sounded like lies, even to herself.

"...And he never will be."

She looked away, but the tears that welled in her throat... never fell.

Then Dila look back at Fran spacing out.

As Dila stood there, watching Fran wipe her tears, her mind drifted into silence.

She thought to herself quietly, her blue eyes distant.

Why do I feel like this...? Why does it ache?

She let out a slow, shaky breath.

I got mixed feelings about this... for some reason... I miss that old man...

Her brows furrowed faintly. She had to dig through her own thoughts just to remember.

What... what was his name again...?

There was a pause in her mind.

Ah... right. Zeon said his name was Albedo...

Her heart clenched softly.

If... if I feel this sad... then maybe...

Her gaze dropped to her own trembling hands.

Maybe Dila’s body... misses her father that much...

She swallowed hard, the weight pressing against her chest.

I’m sorry, Dila... if you’re still alive somewhere inside me... or gone...

Her next thought came out like a silent confession.

I didn’t want to take this from you.

She closed her eyes tightly, hiding her pain.

I didn’t wish to do this. Actually...

And never will be... Dila whispered inside her mind again.

It was just... an accident. Really.

Her chest felt heavier with every silent word.

If you’re perhaps alive when I’m not here and continued breathing with your soul, it was enough for me, when i didn’t emerged in the first place maybe somewhere... you’d have had a better future. A real one. And... a good daughter at that.

She stood still, the corridor around her feeling more distant than ever.

It’s just... I’m sorry.

Her head dipped lower.

I’m sorry... Dila...

That last thought lingered, fragile and raw, echoing softly inside her as her fingers curled tighter against her sides.

And then, softly, Nari spoke inside her mind.

☆ Unfortunately... there is no such thing as another Dila, Master. Only you. ☆

Dila froze. Her chest tightened.

In her mind, she whispered back, her voice small and worn.

"Nari... can you please... just shut up about it."

There was a pause. Then Nari answered softly.

☆ ...Sorry, Master... ☆

A silence settled after that, heavy and fragile, as Dila sighed quietly in her thoughts.

After a couple of seconds.

Dila looked at Fran as her mind finally settled into the moment. Softly, she smiled. Still squatting low to meet Fran’s level, she reached out her hand toward her.

"Hey... come on," she said gently, her voice kinder now. Her smile warmed. "Don’t worry about my father, okay? That’s... his problem, not mine."

She kept her hand out, patient.

"What matters most is you, Fran. I like you. As a sister, actually." Dila gave a small chuckle, her smile softening even more as she closed her eyes for a second, trying to sound casual, even as her heart hesitated beneath her chest.

But before she could react further, Fran suddenly leaned forward and wrapped her arms softly around her.

Dila’s eyes snapped open, startled. "Oh—"

She blinked, caught off guard, her arms frozen for a moment, outstretched to her sides.

"I love you, sister," Fran whispered softly, her voice trembling but honest.

Dila’s heart faltered. Slowly, her arms lowered and curled around Fran’s back. She hugged her gently, holding her carefully, as if Fran might break.

"...Me too, Fran," Dila whispered.

And for that quiet moment, nothing else mattered but the warmth between them.

After what felt like a quiet eternity, Dila and Fran finally stood up from their squats. Dila brushed herself off lightly, then turned to Fran with a small, relaxed smile.

"So... let’s go eat a proper breakfast, Fran," she said softly, glancing at Fran’s face with her eyes closed, still holding her smile. Then, opening her eyes with a slightly embarrassed chuckle, she added, "Oh... ah—hahaha... yeah, I forgot where we supposed to eat."

She scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

Fran giggled, covering her mouth with both hands. "But didn’t you already eat cookies for breakfast?"

Dila laughed, her voice more open now, more genuine. "Ahhh, hahaha... cookies don’t count! That’s not real food."

And there, alone in the hallway, both of them laughed together. The sound echoed softly in the empty corridor, a small warmth shared between just the two of them.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Zeon emerged straight from the stone wall itself like a ghost, dusting himself off casually.

"Did someone say... breakfast?" he said with a grin, bowing theatrically.

Dila nearly jumped out of her skin. "AHHH! Where the hell did you come from?!"

Zeon placed a hand on his chest like a gentleman. "Let’s just say... I was going my own way."

He winked behind the mask.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Dila’s face twisted. "I didn’t ask for your help, freak."

Zeon, completely ignoring her tone, bowed deeper. "Gladly, Princess. I’ll lead the way."

"I said no thanks! No! No!" Dila barked, waving her hands frantically, stepping back—but somehow, her feet kept trailing after him as he strode ahead like a tour guide on a mission.

Fran followed, covering her mouth trying not to laugh, whispering behind Dila’s back, "Sister, why are you following him if you don’t want his help?"

Dila, still walking, deadpanned, "I don’t know! My body betrayed me."

Zeon looked back over his shoulder, smiling brightly. "Your body knows quality service when it sees it."

"Shut up!!" Dila shouted as her footsteps stubbornly continued after him, despite everything.