I inhaled sharply as I opened my eyes. I moved my body, feeling a sharp pain in my chest, then I glanced around. Huh?
Grey eyes...
"Amore." I looked toward where I was lying down. Lucian.
"Aleksei. Where is Aleksei?" my voice was weak, but enough for him to hear.
He shook his head, holding my hand. "He vanished since last night. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"
This meant Aleksei didn't die in his world, and I returned. "Last night? Tell me what happened, Lucian. How did I survive when, as far as I remember, Zyair's sword went straight into my heart that night?"
He hesitated but eventually told me everything. "We followed you last night. Aleksei told me that you planned to do your mission alone that night. But we were late, we lost you. You didn't tell me Aleksei had powers. He was livid when we found out we lost you. Lifeless." He couldn't look directly into my eyes as if struggling to tell me what happened.
"Tell me everything or I'll split you in half," I threatened him. I heard his faint laughter before he looked back at me.
"He killed him. Zyair. With just one snap of his fingers. I witnessed it in front of me, Winter. He was a different person. I saw fire surrounding his body, his eyes turning red. Tell me, who is he?"
I could trust him. Aleksei was no longer here. No more Aleksei. "Would you believe me if I told you he's not like us? That he's just a fantasy character who ended up in our world and is a mage?"
"I don't believe in fantasy and I hate magic," he said with a serious expression.
I smiled subtly at his words. "I like fantasy, but I also hate magic. By the way, what happened after he killed Zyair?"
"While Aleksei was dealing with Zyair, I carry you and I'm about to take you close to the hospital. I promised not to let you die as long as I'm alive. We promised you, but at that moment, everything was too late. But I didn't expect what Aleksei did next to you. He lifted you and your body started floating in the air with fire surrounding your whole body. I didn't like what he did, and I planned to stop him but I couldn't. He stopped me. He said he must bring you back. Your body turned into ashes, but a minute later, you came back. He said you were safe, but your heart wasn't. Your pulse returned, and that's when he vanished. I brought you here to the hospital after what happened." That was probably the longest Lucian had ever spoken to me.
"Why?" I couldn't understand why he brought me to the hospital.
He furrowed his brow at my question. "What do you mean?"
"No matter what explanation you gave me back then, I really couldn't understand why you weren't angry with me and why you wanted me to live." it's not sinking in my mind.
"Winter Chu." He tightened his grip on my hand, his ash-colored eyes focused on me, and I could see his face soften as he looked at me. "Like I told you before, you didn't kill my fiancee. Even if I wanted to be angry at you for what your brother did, I couldn't. You are not him. You may be siblings, but you had no part in what happened. It was your brother, not you. I'll explain it a hundred times if you want me to."
It was difficult to accept what he said. "What if I were the one who killed your fiancee? Will you kill me?"
"I will," he answered without hesitation.
"Are you in your right mind?"
"Amore." His face darkened with the question. "That's offensive."
"I don't know about you, Lucian. I don't know if something went wrong with your mind before, or if you just think differently."
"I'm different, just like Aleksei and you," he said.
"Aleksei is no longer here. You're no longer needed. Please, no more Lucian in my life," I said, planning on stopping my role as an executioner. I wanted to go back being  a full manhwa artist.
"Nah, that won't happen. We have a problem. A lot of problems," he said, furrowing my brow.
"What? Can you explain?"
He shook his head and released my hand. "You need to rest for now. I'll tell you tomorrow when we get home." He stood up and left me alone.
The following day...
"What?" I exclaimed at what he said.
"You heard it right. Your life is in danger--"
"I know. That's not new to me," I retorted.
"The Crimson organization is hiring me to join them. I said yes."
"Are you out of your mind, Lucian?"
"I'm just going to spy on them. I won't kill you."
"Even then! You can't join them. I don't want you to be my nemesis someday."
"But it's not easy to forget what they did to you. They'll pay for it," he said seriously as the words left his mouth.
"That's not important now. I'm still alive. I'm here. Why did you agree to it?"
"Because I knew you wouldn't agree, amore."
"Lucian." I slumped my shoulders. Was he sure about his decision?
"I want them to pay–"
I cut him off, "What if they discover that you're a traitor? They'll kill you."
He gazed at me for a few seconds and smiled. "You are worried about me."
I glared at him, "Of course I am."
"You don't want that. You won't have me here at your house. No more Lucian in your life."
I kept my mouth shut. Lucian was right. That was what I wanted.
"But I'm going to stay with you while I spy on them and take down that organization."
"But how did my enemies find you? The Crimson organization isn't foolish enough to recruit someone like you. They are meticulous and discreet."
"I have connections, amore. This is part of my side quests." he looked proud as he said those words. What an odd person.
From a mafia to a marine, military doctor, chef, and now being in my enemy's organization as an assassin.
"What's your next quest after this?" I furrowed my brow as I asked him.
"I don't know. Maybe. I'll find Aleksei."
"You're attached to him."
"He may be difficult, but he saved you, amore."
"How can I help?" I also wanted him back. I wanted to express my gratitude for bringing me back. He saved me. Even though we were enemies when we first met, I felt a fondness towards him too.
"We start with you." I frowned at what he said. "From the beginning, you knew who he was. Between the two of us, you know him more."
The thing is, do I have to die again just to see Mr. Hwang in his world? It all started because of Mr. Hwang.
жжж
Author's Note: The red wedding was slightly brutal, but whoever poisoned Joffrey, you did a wonderful job 👏