Chapter 62: Finishing
by Afuhfuihgs
“Mnn……”
Euphemia who drifted off to sleep on the emergency room bench slowly awoke.
8 A.M.
The 11-hour surgery finally concluded.
Ferzen’s unconscious body was brought out of the surgery room.
His complexion was pale and sickly.
“The surgery is over. The anesthesia should still last for a couple of hours. But the patient will remain unconscious for a few more days…… This is an extremely sensitive period because even when he wakes up, he will still need plenty of rest.”
Euphemia could see the numerous vials slowly transfusing blood into his body.
Someone who always had an imposing and dignified presence.
Could also have moments of weakness like this……
Euphemia quietly followed the nurses as Ferzen was moved to his hospital room.
“Well, if you would excuse us……”
As she was left alone in the hospital room, Euphemia brought a chair next to Ferzen’s bed and sat down with her head lowered.
Just like when she was in the surgery room, the young woman continued to act like a confused and lost child.
Her past self would surely be disgusted with her current state of mind.
The woman who had survived and powered through several tribulations while trying her best to rule and manage her Territory.
That strong woman would have been capable of handling this situation with ease.
But she wasn’t that person anymore.
After being locked in her golden cage by Ferzen, the young woman had learned……
How to be submissive.
How to give in to him.
And when to give up.
She also was forced to learn how to please a man.
No……. Not just any man.
Her husband.
That strong and stubborn woman was now reduced to this state……
Where she only served one purpose, being the wife of Ferzen Von Schweig Brutein.
But that wasn’t all that had changed.
Her husband’s influence had corrupted her everything. Her body and mind all belonged to him now.
Yes, his influence had deeply taken root within her being……
She truly became his most prized possession.
Because of this, even now when her cage had been slightly damaged, Euphemia could not escape.
No, she didn’t want to escape.
She had become so used to having a leash tied around her neck, that now……
As she looked at his weary form, the young woman wished for Ferzen to arouse and pull on her leash as he used to.
So, please wake up……
The young woman was desperate for this trial to end.
“……”
But the man continued to rest soundly, despite her wishes.
Was it because the surgery was successful?
His body was in such a pitiful state that it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ferzen died at any moment.
And as those thoughts bounced around in her mind, Euphemia sought comfort in his warmth, burying her head on his nape and rubbing on his cheeks like a lost puppy.
……She could smell him
……And she could feel his warmth.
And every time that happened, she felt peaceful……
As such, Euphemia quietly drifted into the land of dreams.
* * * * *
The woman who had once led Louerg has long since passed away.
What lies here is but a tamed being……
Yes, a pitiful caged bird who will never spread her wings again.
* * * * *
「2 days after his surgery, Ferzen was officially recognized as a comatose patient.」
On that day, the 1st and 2nd Imperial Princes paid Ferzen a visit to inquire about his well-being.
「On the third day. 」
The First Imperial Princess, Elizabeth, came to check on the patient.
「 On the fifth day. 」
The Aristocrats who were present at the Imperial Banquet visited.
「On the seventh day. 」
The Emperor of Ernes alongside his wife, the Empress, came to see how Ferzen was faring.
「 On the eighth day. 」
Yuriel Wayne Dayna Alfred stopped by.
……While whispering a single word – ‘Stupid Bastard.’
「On the tenth day. 」
Ferzen was still unconscious.
「On the Twelfth day.」
…… Jeremiah, the head of Brutein, arrived in the Imperial Capital.
* * * * *
Jeremiah Von Schweig Brutein, Ferzen’s older brother and the current Lord of Brutein gazed at the cloudless sky as he prepared to meet the Emperor of Ernes.
‘Brother……’
Ferzen Von Schweig Brutein.
Even when they were kids, his younger brother had always been very unusual.
Something his nanny had also noticed early on.
The child was strange.
And this became even more apparent as he started to toddle around……
Their mother noticed it then.
As well as their Father.
And even some of the servants……
Thinking back, this must have been Ferzen’s own way of giving his family a signal.
But eventually, Ferzen succumbed to his illness as he, in a deranged state, tried to gouge out his brother’s mismatched eyes…….
Of course, this incident was buried by the Brutein family.
But because of this, they started to keep a distance from Ferzen.
In truth, this ‘freedom’ granted to Ferzen was nothing more than being neglected by his own family
Because Ferzen was born with such strong mana, he was naturally chosen to be the next head of Brutein, but because of that ‘incident’, he was denied of his position and came to be known as the ‘Black sheep of Brutein.’
Jeremiah could still remember those days vividly.
Immediately after his psychotic breakdown, Ferzen was locked up in a solitary room……
And the child locked up in his room refused to eat anything and even resorted to self-harm.
But……
When the pigmentation of his eyes darkened, and Ferzen was able to look at him without fearing the repercussions of his illness, his stoic face broke into a genuine smile and he even shed tears of joy.
But of course, Jeremiah who was still terrified of Ferzen turned his back on him.
However, as he aged, Jeremiah came to understand his little brother’s suffering.
Although Jeremiah was never able to fully comprehend Ferzen’s OCD, he could still empathize with his suffering.
So in his own awkward way, he accepted Ferzen’s sincere apologies for his coming-of-age ceremony.
However……
Ferzen was once again dominated by his illness.
And after that second incident, his struggle continued.
Jeremiah watched it all.
There was no way he could turn a blind eye to it.
He was even aware of the habits Ferzen painstakingly built in order to resist his OCD.
There was no cure for the illness of the mind.
One could only overcome it.
But Ferzen wasn’t able to do that.
In the end, he chose to learn how to live with his illness.
But the deeds he had committed weren’t something that could be simply excused under the guise of a ‘mental illness’.
Despite all of that……
He is still his little brother.
His blood.
He is his family.
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