The Ugly Lady’s Secret Pouch

Michael checked on Lila and Lucas, who were still lying together, before leaving the room.

Even though two weeks had passed, the two still hadn’t woken up. In the meantime, thanks to Owen’s efforts, the Duke’s household had calmed down. They don’t know what kind of rumors will spread, but at least it’s over.

Michael, who had come to the study instead of Lucas, sat in a chair with his small body. Owen, who was already there, greeted Michael.

“Young Master, have you come?”

“Yeah.”

There wasn’t much territory work in the winter, but Michael was busy sending gifts to the guests and writing letters instead.

“I delivered the medical and beauty supplies that the Madam had prepared to the people of the territory.”

“Yeah, you did well.”

Michael was impressed when he saw what Lila had prepared. Noble women usually invest a lot in their weddings. But she focused on the safety of the people of the territory instead of the wedding.

Michael was moved by her deep heart, but he was sorry that he couldn’t praise her for her efforts since she still couldn’t wake up.

“Your Highness, I want to inform you about the company today.”

Michael’s expression darkened at Owen’s words.

“I know you’re not unaware of what’s going on….”

As an aide to the Duke of Montefeltra, Michael knows very well what procedures he should take. But he wanted to deny it. Even after the new year passed, Michael, who had just turned ten years old, still needed a guardian.

Even after the new year, the Duke’s household remained depressed. Owen fell silent at the sight of the gloomy face of the shadowy child.

Jessie and Vincent took care of the two as usual, changing their bedding and taking care of them.

“Well, then, I’ll be out for a while, but you’ll stay here and wait for me.”

“Yes, Mr. Vincent.”

Jessie answered with her head down. Vincent, who was busy with other things, nodded lightly and went outside.

Jessie sat in a chair next to the bed and held Lila’s hand.

“Madam, please wake up.”

Her face was still white and delicate, but she missed the deep blue eyes that used to look at her kindly.

Jessie lowered her head tightly to keep from crying.

The happy moments she had while preparing for the wedding felt like a dream.

“Madam….”

Jessie couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and wiped them away with her sleeve. Lila’s hand that she was holding trembled slightly.

Jessie noticed the slight movement and looked up in surprise.

She noticed Lila’s hand that she was holding. But after looking at it for a long time and seeing that it was still limp, Jessie weakly lowered her head.

At that moment, Lila was dreaming. She was angry at a very familiar face.

“You fucking reaper!”

As she swung her arm roughly, the Reaper flew up and then came back down. Even so, Lila, no, Yoon Seol didn’t give up.

She felt like hitting him at least once to vent her frustration.

“Sigh… I came to help, but you’re getting angry again.”

She screamed at the sluggish Reaper speaking in a lazy voice.

“What? Help? What did you do to help? Did you think I would be grateful if you put me in a novel as the protagonist? And what’s with Jin Yura anyway? I wasn’t the only one you put in here!”

The Reaper showed a perplexed expression toward her raging outburst.

“That woman, not me.”

“If it’s not you, then who did it?!”

Lila couldn’t believe it. No, she couldn’t. He brought her here without asking for her opinion. Not even to the original Lila first.

“Ask for Lila’s consent. Are you really ridiculous? You didn’t even think about stopping the one who wanted to commit suicide, and you think it’s okay to mock her?”

The more she thought about it, the more ominous it felt. Even though she was now living in Lila’s body, she couldn’t erase the thought that this was not right.

Although she now had other desires and had nothing to say, the Reaper was different.

So it couldn’t be.

“She was originally a woman who wanted to die. Shouldn’t you have said [You cannot die because you will return] to such a woman?”

As she raged and raged, she calmed down at the Reaper’s words.

“I just wanted to grant your and Lila’s wishes, I had no ulterior motives.”

“……”

Looking at him with a serious expression instead of his sluggish one, she lowered her eyes.

She couldn’t tell what was right or wrong. She had become too familiar with Lila’s body now and had things she didn’t want to give up.

“And Jin Yura, that woman, will get what she deserves, so don’t worry.”

“What? What….”

“You shouldn’t make a deal with the devil. Keep that in mind.”

She wanted to have a conversation with him, but she had something else she wanted to ask. About the secret pouch.

But the sight of his slippers in her line of sight made her gasp.

“Why are they pink this time? I mean, your clothes are all black, but why are your slippers pink?”

The Grim Reaper, who had never seen such an imbalance before, heard her complaint and approached her.

Pressing a finger to her forehead, the Reaper replied.

“In case you haven’t noticed, your guy is pink.”

“What?”

“Go away.”

Before she could say anything, Lila felt her vision go black.

Where am I going?

I’m here…….

As she mulled over his words, she remembered Lucas’s voice.

[Lila, it’s okay.]

Lucas…….

‘Are you okay?’

She wanted to ask, but her mouth wouldn’t fall open, and she had to force it to stay open.

She grunted, not knowing what she was doing.

I need to see if Lucas is okay……. Where is he now?

Feeling like an idiot for not thinking about it before, Lila grunted with all the strength she could muster, then took a deep breath.

“Haa…….”

Her breath tasted so sweet, like she’d been underwater. Inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth, Jessie’s voice drifted down to her ear.

Sobbing, full of surprise and joy, Jessie cried out.

“Madam, are you awake?”

Lila wondered how Jessie could be like that, and for a moment she couldn’t remember what had happened on the snowy mountain, but then she remembered and opened her eyes.

“Lucas!”

She scrambled to her feet, but it didn’t work. Startled by her unresponsive body, Jessie soothed her.

“Madam, you haven’t woken up in two weeks. And if you move suddenly, it could be a big problem.”

“……What about Lucas?”

Spitting out the words, she could tell her voice wasn’t in the best shape.

“He’s with you.”

At Jessie’s words, Lila barely turned her head. The sight of his face lying next to hers was strange.

“Lucas?”

The eyelids of the man who should always be awake and looking at her before her were tightly closed.

His freckles stood out in the sunlight, but his face was completely devoid of blood.

Lila burst into tears as she remembered his last moments. His words kept ringing in her ears.

[Lila, it’s okay.]

“Hmmh, you’re not okay.”

Lucas had always been the one to protect her, but not now. She would protect him.

She forced herself to sit up. Jessie steadied her and helped her to her feet.

Barely to her feet, Lila looked down at Lucas. It felt strange to look down at the man she’d always looked up to.

Slowly, she reached out and touched his cheek. Instead of being cold, it was warm, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lucas?”

She thought if she called out, he might open his eyes. She called out softly, but there was no answer.

He looked like he was going to get up at any moment and grab her by the waist……….

“Lucas.”

She called again, but he didn’t move.

“Lucas.”

Her vision blurred. Her heart ached so much it felt like it was being ripped out of her chest. Lila clutched at her chest and sobbed.

“Lucas…….”

Placing her hand on his chest, she wanted to make sure he was alive. Feeling his slow, thumping heartbeat, she leaned over.

She rested her face against his chest and cried for a long time. Her tears fell silently, soaking his chest.

At that moment, Lucas was wandering in his dream. He drifted aimlessly in a dark and cold space.

He was searching for something, but he didn’t know what it was.

Every time he exhaled, a cloud of white smoke emerged. Despite the stinging sensation in his fingertips, he couldn’t stop.

Driven by the feeling of having lost something precious and important, he continued to move his feet.

Then something large struck him abruptly. Unable to resist the force, he collapsed to the ground.

“What is this?”

Annoyed and impatient, Lucas got up with a burst of anger.

Whooosh, the sound of wind echoed loudly as his bangs lifted and fell.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Startled by a voice ringing in his head, Lucas looked up. Seeing the dense gray fur that blocked his view, Lucas responded.

“I don’t know either.”

Lucas, who hadn’t even tried to find out what he had been looking for, wasn’t surprised by the enormous gray wolf.

Even though he found it strange, he felt familiarity from the wolf as he asked.

“What am I looking for?”

In response to his question, Lupus let out a snort.

“The most precious person to you and me.”

As Lucas pondered the wolf’s words silently, he caught a glimpse of a figure flashing through his mind.

How could he have forgotten?

Reprimanding himself for having forgotten his mate, he spoke to the wolf.

“She is not a precious person to you. I am her one and only husband.”

“Hmph, how presumptuous. So, you have inherited the traits of a wolf.”

“Well, since you and I were not connected, that’s why I could be with her. The reason our family couldn’t have a good relationship between spouses for generations is probably your fault, Lupus.”

“…How can you possibly break a bond once it’s formed? As a wolf, I truly don’t know.”

The emerald eyes of the wolf grew hazy, as if recalling a distant past. Lucas wanted to hurry and find Lila.

Time had been delayed for too long. He couldn’t bear the thought of her waiting.

“It’s already severed. It was you who held onto it. So…”

While speaking, Lucas, who had been quietly observing the wavering space, raised his head.

Looking into Lupus’ eyes, he spoke.

“Now, let it go.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the world became dazzling. Closing his eyes tightly, Lucas let the words of Lupus reverberate in the air.

“Well, it’s been a long time…”

Leaving behind the voice full of self-blame, Lucas released his flowing mind as it was.