Chapter 814
Chapter 814
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 814
Chapter Title: Amelia's Dream
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1.
"Siu, Siu!"
Amelia was bustling about.
She had rushed to the Jemernai mansion first thing in the morning to find Siu.
The maids were naturally startled to see the usually composed Amelia sprinting down the hallway, shouting her lover's name at the top of her lungs.
Around that time, Siu had just woken from a pleasant dream with Red Branch's help and was still flustered.
He stepped out onto a dark forest path and spotted the pig smiling cheerfully.
He checked on his lovers, who lay peacefully asleep inside the protective barrier, as if comfortably dozing.
He confirmed via the compass-cum-watch linked to his backpack that only a few seconds had passed in real time.
Naturally, he assumed he'd return to the real world just like that—only to suddenly find himself in a bedroom in the Jemernai mansion.
But there was no need to dwell in bewilderment.
A single strike from Red Branch would surely shatter this dream as well...
"Huh?"
Red Branch was gone.
It wasn't all that strange.
Magic of a certain caliber had a self-repairing property to prevent it from collapsing.
There was a good chance the homunculus had sensed the magic about to break and automatically taken countermeasures.
Red Branch, which had arbitrarily shattered the spell, would have been priority target number one.
But Siu had a countermeasure for that too.
He had experience bringing an external Red Branch into the mental world during the 'trial' in Lurye's kingdom—across spatial boundaries, no less.
The 'outside' Siu surely still held Red Branch right now. The difficulty was incomparable.
All he needed to do was manifest the spear here and tear through space.
-Bang!
"Siu...!"
His contemplation was interrupted by Amelia bursting through the door.
She, who always maintained her composure, was stomping her feet in place—a ridiculously rare gesture for her.
Amelia as always!
Even in a dream, she was adorable!
"Lady Amelia, I'll come out and see you shortly...?"
But the moment he looked at her, Siu sensed another incongruity.
She felt subtly different from the Amelia he'd seen in the dream moments ago.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly, but she seemed far more vivid in color, somehow.
That sense of wrongness sharpened the instant she grabbed his sleeve—her beauty too real to dismiss as imagination.
He was certain now.
This was still a dream.
But Siu wasn't the dreamer.
The Amelia here was the real deal, not some fake or illusion.
So, rather than reconstructing the dream after he escaped it, had he been pulled into Amelia's dream, floating alongside her?
"Siu! That's not it right now! There's something important!"
Having roughly grasped the situation, Siu tried to calmly reassure her.
Even if only a brief moment had passed in reality, he couldn't guarantee nothing had happened since.
"Lady Amelia."
We need to get out of here first.
This is all a dream.
That's what he needed to say.
But when Amelia opened her mouth with a beaming smile—one of the happiest expressions he'd ever seen from her—Siu couldn't bring himself to say it.
"Master... Master has returned!"
2.
According to Yebin, the Soul Witch ranked 19th.
In contrast, everyone in Siu's group was a Grand Witch or higher.
Their autonomous defenses were incredibly solid, and even Siu, who lacked an innate one, had received the 'Guardian's Contract' from Eloa.
Plus, considering how dream time flowed glacially compared to reality—assuming no interference from another witch—the chances of immediate danger were slim.
So, wouldn't it be better to indulge her happy dream for a few seconds' risk rather than drag her out?
Before he knew it, he'd been dragged all the way to Flora's tailor shop in Ars Magna Town, where he was now being fitted for a new suit while mulling it over.
Just as Siu had introduced his lovers to his parents in the dream, Amelia felt the same way.
She wanted to dress him up impeccably and show him off.
Come to think of it, back when Amelia was still an associate professor and Siu the caretaker...
This was where she'd first tailored a suit for him.
As he entered the shop, lost in nostalgic sentiment, Flora had smirked and said, 'See? I told you they were lovers.'
Anyway, while Amelia gifted Flora some perfume as a service to get her to make the suit—since Flora hated men's clothing—Amelia chatted away at Siu.
"I can't believe Master is back."
"I wanted to introduce you to her so badly."
"I'm so happy... What do I do? I feel like I might float away. If I do, grab me, Siu."
Amelia, unable to stay still like a kid on Christmas morning with the gift she'd longed for most...
This was a tension level he'd never seen before.
He absentmindedly flashed a reflexive dad smile at her antics, only for his face to darken soon after.
This was just a dream, after all.
A fleeting illusion that would vanish upon waking.
Siu chose to accept the truth and move forward.
But could Amelia do the same?
Especially when, unlike him, she felt no incongruity at all?
Wouldn't it be better to tell her the reality—even if it seemed a bit heartless—rather than lie and torment her with false hope?
"Siu?"
"Yes."
"Are you nervous?"
His worry must have shown on his face.
"It's okay. Master is a wonderful person. And she'll definitely be happy about you, Siu. You're so cool and kind."
Siu knew from peering into her childhood during the ritual.
What Master meant to Amelia.
The manner of their parting.
How Amelia had accepted that farewell.
And thus, how precious this reunion was to her.
"Siu... Are you really okay? Is there a problem?"
He'd vowed endlessly to manage his expression, yet he heard a second note of concern from her.
Even as she fretted over him, Amelia looked so blissfully happy.
It tore at his heart.
"If it's too much for you... should we postpone the meeting? Master would understand."
"No, it's not that."
He swallowed hard.
His throat felt tight enough that continuing might give it away.
"Lady Amelia, just hypothetically. Purely hypothetical."
"Yes, Siu."
"......"
Should he bring up the pill example from The Matrix?
No.
Even that wouldn't work.
Amelia might be oblivious to other issues, but when it came to Siu's emotions and state of mind, she was more sensitive than a pocket mouse.
The slightest hint could lead her to grasp the truth, regardless of his intent.
In the end, his choices narrowed to two.
One: Pretend not to know and play along so she could bask in happiness, even a little.
Two: Help her confront the lucid dream's reality, as he had.
She'd have to wake eventually, no doubt.
They couldn't stay trapped here forever.
So, opting for the latter...
"Siu."
Amelia's slender fingers intertwined with his knuckles.
She squeezed reassuringly, just as he often did for her when she was anxious.
"I don't know what's going on. But I trust you, Siu."
In truth, her responses amid their exchanges had been somewhat off-kilter.
She still seemed utterly unaware of the truth.
Yet her eyes reflected him steadily, like a still pond without a ripple.
"Do whatever you think is best. I'll follow."
It was the communion only lovers could share.
A blind faith and intuition transcending reason and wisdom.
"Yes. Understood."
His mind, clouded with worry, cleared.
If she learned the truth later and grieved, he'd stay by her side until she overcame it.
Even if she resented him for not telling her sooner, he'd take it all.
For now, just as she'd trusted him, he'd trust her—and gift her this brief, precious memory.
That was his resolve.
3.
The cabin in the gulpi tree forest where Siu and Amelia had spent time during their hardships.
Siu and Amelia waited nervously outside the door.
"Lady Amelia, do I look okay?"
"You look great. You're always handsome, Siu."
They did a final check of their attire and ties before entering.
He'd guessed from the chimney smoke, but a delightful aroma wafted out.
The sweet scent of sugar, tickling cinnamon, and sharp coffee mingled, turning the cabin into a cozy mountain café.
"Master, we're here."
"Oh my...! Already?"
A clatter of dishes from the kitchen, followed by hurried footsteps.
She rushed out wearing a headscarf and apron, identical to the figure from Amelia's memories.
A kind, loving smile with a hint of mischief.
Her eyes and hair matched Amelia's color.
"Come in, you're Shin Siu, right?"
Even with flour on her cheeks and a beaming grin, her greeting carried noble poise.
"Yes, Shin Siu. Please, make yourself comfortable."
"Hee-hee, shall I, son-in-law?"
Her warm welcome made him flinch at 'son-in-law.'
Apparently, Albreo's shin-kicks had conditioned him.
"Just in time for one o'clock. Perfect for tea and a chat?"
She set aside baking, apron and all, and invited them to the living room table.
A seat across from Amelia's mother figure—as her prospective son-in-law, under evaluation.
Siu sat stiffly, feeling like he was in a job interview.
He now understood why Amelia had been so tense meeting his parents earlier.
The Malika Merigold before him was, regrettably, imaginary.
Yet, shaped from Amelia's mind like his own parents, she felt utterly real.
She firmly refused Siu's offer to help and brought out black tea before pulling up a chair like a stern interviewer.
"Well then, shall we hear about our son-in-law?"
Siu tensed, and even Amelia beside him straightened rigidly.