Chapter 73 (Come with me)
“Ughhhhh…!”
The sound of a woman’s tune broke out through the door and echoed through the hallway. It had been going on for several hours without stopping.
Blanche’s mansion was so quiet that the cries became louder. It was because the employees quietly walked down the hallway with their mouths shut and their heads bowed.
However, it is only on the surface that they are shivering, and wherever employees gather, everyone is busy sharing information with each other with faces full of anxiety.
“What happened to the master?”
“It didn’t work. They asked for bail, and madam collected all the jewels she had, but they didn’t accept it. From what I’ve heard, there’s no way it works because it’s stamped properly by the Duke of Kandel.”
“Ah, that’s why Madam cries all day and night.”
The maid clicked her tongue as if she had become sad. But there was no sympathy on their faces. It was because the Duke and Duchess Blanche were not a good owner for them either.
Not to mention her being picky, but if they made any mistakes, they had to be severely beaten. Sometimes, she used to pour hot tea over the maid because they couldn’t brew the tea well.
A higher salary than any other aristocratic family offers was the only reason they remained here.
Last night, the Duke of Blanche was formally arrested. It was something that Asrahan had written in advance.
There were plenty of reasons to put him in. Even the related corruption was enough to build a tower of documents.
Asrahan selected the most useful ones and reported it directly to the Emperor, and as long as his attention was focused on it, the Emperor couldn’t bear to look after the Duke of Blanche.
And soon the murder crime was added to his charge. Delwin’s subordinate confessed that the Duke of Blanche had ordered them, and it was impossible for him to return to his mansion under the Imperial law, which severely punishes the murder of an aristocrat.
In fact, it was the result of Gerard’s calming down Asrahan, who was trying to cut the Duke of Blanche’s neck right away. Either way, the results won’t be much different.
That is why the Duchess of Blanche abolished food and drink.
“Huh huh… Heaven doesn’t care, what should I and Raon do?”
The Duchess of Blanche was not concerned about the Duke. Trying to kill her daughter without speaking to herself, even finding out about it and giving her shame, was rather terrifying.
What she was really worried about was the well-being of herself and her son. It would be less of a concern if Raon could succeed the Duke title, but that was impossible. It was because Raon was still wandering through the dead.
He became ill, unable to move and unable to speak. He just couldn’t do anything. All he could do was roll his eyes and express his intentions.
“Oh my God, hic, what sin have I committed to punish me like this?”
It was so embarrassing. Until now, I have lived a life of killing my will and obeying my father’s words, but why did the reward turn out to be like this?
“Angel, please save our Raon, my son. Angel, angel….”
The Duchess buried her head on the floor and prayed earnestly. She didn’t even wonder about the safety of her daughter who was assassinated, but only for her son.
And that night.
Contrary to her wishes, it was a demon, not an angel, who came to Raon.
A demon with a head shining like the moon.
Raon woke up feeling the cool breeze hitting his skin. He lifted his eyelids, which had become much heavier than before, and rolled them slowly.
And when he saw someone sitting by the window, his pupils widened in an instant.
“Hello”
The white moonlight softly illuminated Doha. He had a smile that was more beautiful than an angel.
But for Raon, that smile was the scariest thing.
“Ugh…! uh…!”
“I certainly have warned you.”
Raon wanted to scream, but only groaned. Doha smiled even more at the desperate look and approached him slowly.
“Are you ready to pay the price?”
Raon’s face turned pale with fear. Doha’s words flashed into his mind.
-If you touch Rie one more time, you will die that day.
It was a warning he hadn’t forgotten since that day.
“Ugh! Huh!”
Raon rolled his eyes here and there and screamed as much as he could. It was so embarrassing. It wasn’t him who touched her. Whoever did it, it must have been her own fault.
‘That bitch, forever useless bitch! It was that bitch who should die!’
Raon keeps cursing over Lariette in his heart. He only wanted her to die most painfully.
Because she was born as a girl, she just has to be quiet like a doll, to bother me with such recklessness. I couldn’t forgive her.
And Doha grabbed Raon’s neck in an instant, as if reading his mind.
“Ouch! Ugh!”
“Bug like you only think about your own injustice until the very end.”
Doha’s smooth voice filled with anger. He knew these kinds of people very well.
If Raon wasn’t like this, it must have been him who wanted to kill Lariette. If Doha hadn’t messed up with his mana, he would have caused that much pain. Just like he’ve been living up to now.
Those born with power from birth never regretted or felt guilty of what he had done. Only that resentment was clear, and the resentment of others was ridiculous.
On that day, when I remembered Lariette’s appearance in the cave, my hands became tense. I wanted to break the neck of this man as if I were breaking the neck of a chicken.
But I couldn’t kill him so easily.
“One week. It would have been around that much.”
“Uhhh….”
“Until the day your body explodes.”
An unholy divine power emanated from the hand that gripped his neck. Then, the mana that had been twisted in Raon’s body, could not be undone at all..
“So until then, enjoy life like a doll.”
Doha laughed softly. It was on purpose that he did not give the exact date.
* * *
“Asrahan-.”
“Yes, tell me.”
Asrahan answered still without a change in expression. His gaze remained fixed on her.
At that, Lariette smirked as if it was ridiculous.
“How far are you going to follow me?”
Probably because Asrahan had followed her all the way to the bathroom. And that’s just one step behind!
After Lariette was kidnapped and returned, Asrahan acted like if he took his eyes off even a little, something would happen to Lariette.
No more secret escorts attached. There was no need for that. Because Asrahan didn’t even go to work and was directly by her side.
“Why do you want to take a bath together?”
Lariette added playfully, bending his eyes. It was because she thought he would step down if she said something like this.
But what is this, Asrahan was not the innocent Asrahan before.
“If you allow it. Can I come in with you?”
“What are you talking about!”
Halstein is over there! Lariette’s face flushed red in embarrassment and slapped him on the shoulder.
But, as before, his shoulders were hard as stones, and only her hands hurt.
“Aww!”
But what was different from before was Asrahan’s reaction.
“Lariette, are you okay?”
Asrahan was stunned and grabbed Lariette’s wrist. He looked fierce as if she had broken her finger.
In the past, he was naturally joking about whether he was doing a massage, but now he was surprised and looked at her hands again and again.
The kidnapping was traumatic for him.
“Asrahan, I’m fine. Look at this, I’m fine right?”
“Are you really okay?”
“I can move it right now.”
Lariette smiled hard and moved her fingers around. Unlike her smiling face, her heart seemed to be ripped apart.
‘He already reacts like this to this kind of pain. If I die…’
His voice buzzed in her ears again, saying that he could not live if she died. It sounded like a warning to leave immediately.
Lariette shook her head, trying to shake off the stinging thoughts. Then he spoke in a cheerful voice.
“Asrahan, hurry up, wash! I have something to do before I go to bed today.”
At Lariette’s act of pushing his back, Asrahan nodded with a bewildered face.
The stern imagination filled his head at the word that she had something to do, his lust subsided at the fact that she had been a patient until a few days ago. I didn’t dare give her a hard time now.
And it was unexpected news to greet Asrahan, who came back after washing up.
“Finally, I will do the final purification!”
When Lariette attempted suicide, it was her biggest regret. As long as the day of leaving was just around the corner, it would have to be finished quickly.
“Your body may not have healed yet…”
“It’s all good already! Please sit down.”
Lariette grabbed his hand and dragged him to the bed. Asrahan’s face was unwilling and looked worried about her.
“There is not much left to go. If you want to get in perfect shape, you have to do it now.”
As Lariette added, a brief silence fell between them.
It was a topic that was not deliberately brought up. It was said that Asrahan had only three days left.
Asrahan was so worried about Lariette, who had just left, and wanted to stay in the capital, but he couldn’t do everything on his own accord.
There are things in the world that you have to do even if you don’t want to, and that’s what this case about.
“Well then, I will.”
Lariette placed her hand on Asrahan’s thigh. Instantly, a tickling, warm aura spread across his skin. It felt like he got used to it.
‘I have to leave.’
Lariette thought, driving away his curse. I should have left, but I couldn’t.
If I had to leave, I wanted to at least say the last goodbye in person. But the timing was not too good for that.
Asrahan was on the brink of war, and the parting sentence of his loved one would certainly have a great effect on him. Obviously not a positive effect.
The scars engraved on Asrahan’s body came into view.
‘Maybe he will get injured in battle.’
That was the scariest thing for Lariette.
The most important thing was Asrahan safety. So she gave up her last goodbye for her own satisfaction.
“… It’s all done.”
At Lariette’s words, Asrahan slowly looked down. The body, which had been full of black marks, was suddenly clean.
It’s just a body. Asrahan was now not afraid to face anyone else.
After he took off his bandages, the nobles came up to him, talked to him, and laughed, and no one frowned at the smell.
“Now the curse is gone, Asrahan.”
He was no longer a monster.
It was all thanks to Lariette.
“Lariette.”
Asrahan carefully wrapped Lariette’s face as if it were precious and fragile.
Saying thank you too often has lost its value. So he chose a different expression instead.
“I will end the war as soon as possible and return. When I come back…”
Asrahan’s friendly face reflected in Lariette’s purple eyes. It was unimaginable just a few months ago.
“Let’s go on a trip together.”
The sweet voice reminded Lariette of the second bucket list she had written one day after meeting Asrahan.
<Things to do before I leave>
1.Finish the cleansing of Asrahan’s body
2. Peace of mind too! Erased the trauma!
3. Travel with Asrahan
The third list she wanted to suggest first. She wished so much but couldn’t.
Therefore, Lariette did not respond and just laughed as if crying.
* * *
The next day, Doha came to Kandel’s mansion. It was the first visit since Lariette woke up.
Asrahan sent him to Lariette’s room without any sanctions unlike before. There were no servants going back and forth as if monitoring.
Lariette tilted her head for a moment, but was not very puzzled. I just thought he believed me.
Seeing Doha with his hair tied, she smiled brightly. I was going to say thank you for saving me right away.
“Do…!”
“Why…”
But before that, a voice of reproach poured out on her.
“What the hell, why did you do that?”
Doha’s face, which had always smiling, was hardened to the point of being ferocious. The gaze on her was more bitter than ever.
“How about the trip do you want to go on? What about your future?”
“Doha….”
“Rie, why do you take your life so lightly?”
The day the building collapsed, Doha remembered the embrace that held him.
The sacrificial attitude that acted as if her life was nothing was, indeed, terrifying.
“When I saw you dying, how can you…!”
It was the first time he felt that way. So miserable, terrifying, and fearful… A feeling that cannot be described in words.
Doha clenched his fists tightly and shut his mouth. He didn’t come here to criticize Lariette. Controlling his emotions is what he is best at, but it has never been easy in front of her.
“Doha, I’m so sorry for worrying you….”
Lariette bowed her head and apologized. She was very sorry that she didn’t pay attention to her friend who would have been surprised because I got distracted by Asrahan.
“And thank you for treating me.”
I was so thankful and I was so sorry that my eyes were burning. She bit her lip and struggled to hold back the tears.
After Doha took a long breath and calmed his mind. Seeing that she was about to cry at any moment, guilt outweighed anger.
“So what are you going to do now, Rie?”
For Duke Kandel’s safety, attempting suicide meant that she loved him.
If you realize that feeling, you may not go on a trip. It’s a three-month contract relationship or something, and now they might start a real relationship.
Maybe they will get married too.
The thought that popped into his head suddenly made his heart pound. Doha bit his molars strongly, suppressing the rising jealousy and pressing it again.
However, unexpected responses followed.
“… My plan remains the same. I’m leaving the capital in a few days. I am going on a trip.”
Lariette’s voice trembled as she recalled Asrahan’s words of going on a trip together. But the expression on her face was firm.
The three months the doctor had warned of had already passed. Even tomorrow, her body could explode and die. Lariette hoped and hoped that her body would hold out until Asrahan left the war.
Then, hearing her words, Doha’s face brightened in an instant.
“Then, Rie.”
Doha, kneeling in front of her, slowly extended his hand.
Then he spoke in a soft and subtle voice.
“Come with me.”
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