Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System-Chapter 391: The Man In The Dream

Coming to a stop less than a few inches away from the writhing Queen, Cassius bent down and lifted her chin with his finger. Staring deep into her watery blue eyes, he repeated, "You need to remember," like a broken record.

Over and over… and over…

For hundreds, even thousands of times, those words bounced around inside May's head. Her screams of pain worsened, becoming louder and louder.

But strangely, no one came to check on their Queen…

"Ahhhh—!!!"

"You need to remember, May!"

"You need to remember!!"

"May, wake up…"

"Wake up, May!"

"Wake up, May!!"

"You need to wake up!!!"

*Fwaa!*

…

"Ha!"

Waking up in a cold sweat, May clenched the fabric covering her chest. Her face appeared younger than before, but also more worn-down and exhausted.

"A bad dream…?" she mumbled, starting to break down on her bed in the dead of night. "Why… Why is this happening to me…??"

What did she do to deserve this!?

Even while sleeping, she couldn't escape the pain.

Whether it be from the terminal illness eating away at her insides, or the pure disgust her father displayed when looking at her—all were a source of pain for her.

It was her fault, her father would murmur in passing or behind her back. It was her fault that the marriage alliance between her and the Old Lord from the neighboring kingdom fell apart.

For contracting that terminal illness and scarring her face as a result of it—that was her fault. For running away that day and coming back on death's row—that was her fault.

The rapid decline of the Uguru Kingdom was also her fault.

Everything was her fault…

To everyone around May, she was the root of all problems. The person they should blame for everything that went wrong.

In truth, she did try to make an escape from her family and her marriage arrangement some months ago. And she was close; she really was.

However, just before she could make it to the clearing on the other side of the forest, her head started to ring. Then her vision blurred as she struggled to stand and breathe.

After falling to the wet, earthy soil, a gruesome golden mark etched itself across her right eye and the upper side of her forehead. But by the time the search party from the castle found her unconscious body, the golden glow of that mark had all but vanished. This left her with just a regular old scar.

One that all her previous suitors and admirers termed a 'hideous blemish' on a hideous woman.

Nothing good happened from that point onward, as even the servants began to look down on her. Those she once considered friends also shunned and bad-mouthed her, both because of her plummeting social status and her scar.

Standing in front of a body mirror—just like the one the fabricated version of herself stood before in that dream—May placed her hand against its reflective surface. Droplets of liquid trickled down her smooth cheeks, with her hair veiling the saddening expression she was making.

That scar of hers was not normal, and no amount of healing potions or saintly blessings was able to erase it or even cover it.

It was hers forever…

"W-Why…" May cried. "Why can't I just die already…?"

For a while, she remained in a complicated mood that couldn't exactly be put into words. But eventually, as rays of sunlight peeked through her slightly opened curtains, she mustered up what little motivation she had and readied herself for what was sure to be another terrible day.

Servants saw her as less than themselves, so not even one bothered with helping her get ready in the morning. Even so, May was used to it, so even as a princess, she went through the lengthy morning process required of her all by herself.

It took more than an hour to do, but that was why she got up before the sun rose.

However, toward the end of this tiring process, an image filtered through her mind. The face and frame of that mysteriously handsome man who acted as the centerpiece of that weird dream she had.

"Who was he…?" May muttered while finishing up. "I've never met anyone that looked like him before, so why is everything about him so vividly detailed in what little I can recall of that dream…?"

These questions lived in the back of her mind as she exited her room with shaky steps.

Because of her rapidly declining health, she could barely walk, let alone run. And even then, she could only stay standing for at most an hour.

It was extremely taxing on her body and mind to get up out of bed in the morning, but she had no choice but to do so. After all, even while terminally ill, it was part of her responsibility as Royal Princess to present herself at the Royal Castle's Main Dining Room every day for breakfast.

"May, is that you I see walking around like a corpse?" sounded a snarky, mocking voice belonging to a pretty blonde girl of around May's age. "You know, if you ever need anything, you can count on me, right? We're sisters, after all."

Though this blonde girl wore a smile and spoke nicely, on the inside, her heart was blacker than a chunk of charcoal.

Nodding, May politely evaded any further conversation with the blonde girl. "I appreciate your concern, dear sister Emma, but it's really not necessary."

"Why?" Emma retorted. "Is it because you'll be dying soon, so you figure my help has no meaning?"

May's face darkened as she hurried away even faster than before. She pitter-pattered through the wide, spacious hallways of the Royal Castle, tear droplets splashing against the floors.

May knew full well that her sister was right about her dying before long, but that didn't make the thought any less scary…

She hated her life, she hated people, she hated everything!

And yet—

She didn't wish to die.