Anna lay on her back atop the disheveled blankets, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her crimson eyes, which usually radiated madness, suddenly dimmed, leaving behind an empty, dark, and unfathomable gaze.
"Of course I can..." Anna whispered, her voice soft and slightly hoarse. "I can bring them back to life. But... not right now. My magical power hasn’t fully recovered yet. At the moment... I might only be a little stronger than you."
Seeing that look in her eyes, Evan fell silent for a moment. The anger and frustration weighing on his chest briefly faded away. That empty gaze... was one he had seen far too often on the harsh streets of this world. It was the look of souls that had lost their will to live, trapped in suffocating boredom and endless loneliness.
Although none of Anna’s extreme actions or manipulations could be justified by any standard, Evan realized one thing: fighting this woman or constantly rejecting her would only lead to even greater destruction. Perhaps... it wouldn’t hurt to learn to understand, accept, and control his wife’s excessive obsession.
Evan let out a long sigh and rubbed his tired face. "Anna... I know you can read my thoughts right now. Forget it. There’s no need to go through the trouble of bringing them back to life."
Evan slowly lowered his legs and rose from the edge of the bed.
"Let them rest," Evan continued, his voice softening. "They must be at peace in heaven by now. They were good children... They don’t deserve to be dragged back into this rotten world."
Anna stared at Evan’s back, her eyes widening in surprise. She rose from the bed as well, gracefully walked toward the large wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room, and took out a set of clean clothes.
"Actually..." Anna handed Evan a shirt and a pair of thick cloth trousers before lowering her head slightly. "...I can’t read your thoughts continuously all the time. A power like that would be far too unreasonable and exhausting, wouldn’t it? There are limits. I often have to stop because the side effects are unbearable... My head and chest always ache in ways that are difficult to describe."
Evan accepted the clothes, his gaze falling on Anna’s slightly trembling fingers. "So... you can still feel pain, too, huh?"
Anna offered a faint smile filled with bitterness. "Pain has been part of my family for hundreds of years."
With delicate movements, Anna helped Evan put on his shirt, fastening the buttons one by one.
The dynamic between them was undeniably complicated and paradoxical. Not long ago, they had fought brutally, wounded each other, and vented their emotions in a relationship consumed by anger. Yet now, they stood calmly facing each other, as though the storm between them had never happened.
"?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????," Evan thought as he gazed at the pale face of the woman before him. "??????... ??’?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ??????. ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????????... ??????’?? ???????? ???? ??????????, ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ??????. ???? ?????? ??????... ??????’?? ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ??????????, ???????????? ???????? ??????????."
Evan reached for a thick robe made of fine fabric that lay nearby. With a gentle movement, he draped it over Anna’s shoulders and pulled it closer around her to keep her warm.
Anna raised her eyebrows slightly, staring at Evan in disbelief. "You... want to treat me, Husband?"
"Just consider it my way of apologizing," Evan replied flatly. He picked up a bottle of herbal ointment from the dressing table and told Anna to sit on the edge of the bed. Slowly, Evan applied the cooling ointment to the bruises and scratches on her shoulders and neck.
"I promise I won’t let myself get carried away by such shallow emotions again," Evan whispered as he gently spread the ointment with his fingers. "And... thank you for nearly driving me insane. This is an experience I’ll never forget for the rest of my life."
Anna flinched in surprise at his candid words. The warmth of Evan’s touch relaxed her body. She rested her head against his chest and wore a deeply satisfied smile.
"I told you, didn’t I... Your hatred will eventually blossom into love," Anna whispered softly.
Evan didn’t answer. He simply remained silent, allowing Anna to enjoy the moment.
Several hours later, after cleaning up and getting some rest, curiosity began to gnaw at Evan. He wanted to know where they actually were.
Evan drew aside the thick silk curtains covering the wall and walked toward the tall wooden window. The moment he opened it, a fresh breeze carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves brushed against his face.
Evan’s eyes widened as he looked outside!
The room they were in turned out to be on the second floor of a magnificent mansion. Beyond the window stretched a picturesque landscape of lush green hills, neatly arranged rice paddies, and dozens of wooden houses lined up in orderly rows below. The atmosphere was peaceful, far removed from the hustle and bustle and the grip of the Empire’s authority.
"Welcome to the Western Frontier, Husband..."
Anna’s gentle voice came from behind him. She stepped closer and rested her chin on Evan’s shoulder as they gazed at the scenery together.
"Isn’t this the place you’ve been so eager to visit?" Anna said with a sweet smile. "I made it happen just for you. Here... we can start a new Chapter as a pair of nobles who will manage and govern this village together." Follow the newest chapters on NovelPing.
Evan turned his head slightly to look at Anna’s profile. He honestly didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, this woman had always toyed with the course of his life. On the other... Anna had also always tried to fulfill his dreams and wishes in her own peculiar way.
"You really are a strange woman..." Evan muttered, shaking his head slightly. "What other secret plans do you have up your sleeve?"
Although his words sounded like an insult, there was no longer any anger or hatred in his voice. This new life... honestly seemed rather promising.
"Of course, I have only one plan... to build a happy little family with you~" Anna replied cheerfully. She wrapped both arms tightly around Evan’s right arm, pressing herself against him with a radiant smile. "Come on, let’s go outside! I want to show you around our new home!"
Evan followed her out of the room. As soon as they stepped onto the front terrace of the magnificent mansion, his view opened up even further. The mansion stood firmly atop a strategically located small hill, offering an unobstructed view of the village settlement below.
Evan furrowed his brows as he remembered something. "Actually... how long was I unconscious after the battle in Velmora? Building or buying a mansion this large, along with an entire village territory, must have taken quite some time, right?"
Anna giggled softly, tightening her hold on Evan’s arm.
"Actually... I’ve been preparing this place for a long time, Darling," Anna explained casually. "Ever since you first thought about escaping to the Western Frontier, I bought this territory and took care of it. I told you before, didn’t I? I know everything about you."
Evan let out a long sigh and pretended to shudder. "That’s genuinely terrifying... You’re exactly like a professional stalker."
Anna wasn’t offended. Instead, she laughed brightly. With an excited gleam in her eyes, she pointed toward the path winding down the hill to the village below.
"Would you like to go down there and greet the villagers with me, Husband?" she asked sweetly.
Evan looked at the path, then at the woman beside him. At last, a faint, calm smile appeared on his lips.
"Yes. Let’s go."
With their fingers tightly intertwined, Evan and Anna walked down the hill together, heading toward the beginning of their new story in the untamed lands of the Western Frontier.