This Book is Not Available for Subscription Under the Age of 18 - Chapter 191

Now, of all times? (1)

“Will you be okay?”

“Nope.”

“See, again.”

Just like we discussed last night, Chenin came looking for me right after breakfast. Due to Chenin relentlessly knocking on my door without a moment’s respite, I reluctantly got up and changed my clothes.

After briefly explaining the situation, I tried to calm Merson, who was once again grumbling about why I wouldn’t take him with me.

“If Erina’s not around, what’s the difference between a corpse and me? I might as well stand at the gallows instead of Abitz.”

“Why are you saying such things!”

I began to doubt whether Merson (whose status as the Demon King was revealed) was indeed the real deal. No, he’s the Demon King? Someone who can efficiently conquer a few countries without spilling a drop of blood or a tear, him? But why is he throwing such a tantrum!

Merson, still sulking, definitely doesn’t match the situation.

I raised my arms to cup them around the tall Merson’s cheek. As I did, he lowered his waist, allowing me to easily touch him right in front of me.

“This proud girl came to me at night without even thinking about putting on proper clothes. She had the courage to say it, but if someone unwanted follows, she’ll just hide again.”

“I’m not someone unwanted.”

“From Chenin’s perspective, you are. It’s even more so when someone called the Demon King is around.”

“I didn’t know being a Demon King would be so annoying and troublesome.”

Well, someone wouldn’t be able to say that even if they wanted to… He can really say such things?

I lightly bumped my forehead against Merson’s.

“I also want to be with you every day, every hour, every second without missing a beat. I must truly love you a lot.”

Merson’s pupils deepened. The childlike pout vanished, replaced by a strong man who stirred my heart with his robust physique, gazing at me.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded at his sexy face, which never failed to enchant me. It’s not easy to resist being seduced by that captivating handsome face.

Merson’s head tilted slightly as he approached me with lowered eyes.

“Hey, hey! What did I say!”

I raised my hand to block his lips with difficulty. However, Merson didn’t stop and lightly gripped the back of my neck, moving his lips slowly over my hand as if kissing it.

His red eyes still fixated on me, and his lips on my hand continued to be tantalizing. His hot and slippery tongue swept over my hand, and his lips, as if devouring, were irresistibly provocative.

“Don’t leave me.”

I felt a faint vibration beneath my hand. Enchanted by his eyes, I forgot how to speak for a moment. When my response was delayed, he lifted my chin and gently scratched away the tender flesh.

“Uht, I, I can’t live without you. Really.”

He smiled. Very prettily and very happily. I wanted to make him smile like that forever.

Thud! Thud!

“Did I interrupt something?”

Oh no.

I thought I was going to briefly say goodbye to Merson but ended up forgetting Chenin’s presence standing outside. Surprised, I quickly pulled my hand away, but Merson’s lips lingered and managed to give me a short kiss.

“I’ll be back before 12. Wait for me quietly.”

After finally pushing Merson away and getting out, I realized Chenin was waiting outside. Though she looked coy with her arms crossed, her expression was an extension of yesterday’s.

We didn’t exchange a single word until we completely stepped outside the palace. To be precise, I threw some trivial questions, but Chenin seemed lost in her thoughts and didn’t provide proper answers, making the conversation stagnant.

“Couldn’t you tell me where we’re going?”

We had to walk a considerable distance with our legs, not taking a carriage. Despite the chilly weather, sweat formed on my forehead.

“We’re almost there.”

When she said that, I could intuitively sense the location without needing to hear it from Chenin.

Count Abitz’s mansion.

That was where she was heading.

Count Abitz’s mansion, shattered into pieces by Merson, was still in disarray, with debris and rising dust scattered around.

I didn’t know the mansion would be in such ruins… even though I heard about it. Seeing it in person is a bit surprising.

“The mansion…..”

Chenin stood in front of it looking devastated. Despite more than a month passing since the mansion was destroyed, it seemed to be her first time coming here in person.

“My dreams and hopes, all shattered.”

She murmured softly.

Chenin continuously gazed at the ruined mansion. All the property of some value had been confiscated, and what remained here were the remnants of the era when it had some reputation.

“It’s not dreams or hopes. It’s the collapse of the iron bars that confined you.”

It wasn’t comforting words that I pulled out to console her. Count Abitz’s mansion, which had been used to manipulate Chenin and forcibly extract the ugly things hidden deep in her heart, could never become a dream or hope.

“You were right. Everything you said yesterday was right.”

Chenin’s moist voice trembled softly, but tears were not visible.

“I hated hearing things like being an orphan, and I despised the smelly and unsophisticated rural life even more. ‘You only live once, live it for yourself. Let’s enjoy life to the fullest luxuriously.’ That thought was the only thing that motivated me. But things started to go awry.”

“…”

“Every day with that bastard pig was hell. What I loved wasn’t that bastard but his power and wealth. I always had to endure unrequited love. What I got in return for my love was insult, scorn, punishment, and pity.”

Chenin walked closer to the ruined mansion, and she stood precariously on the disorderly laid stones on the floor. Bending down, she picked up a slightly larger rock, holding it heavily in her hands as she gazed into the distance.

“Still, I didn’t let go. Because I desperately wanted it, enough to cast everything away – family, hometown, and youth. Just the imagination of standing on top of those who ignored me was always exhilarating. But…”

Chenin moved her footsteps, gradually turning towards me.

Standing on the broken remnants of the mansion, Chenin shed tears. The collapsed mansion itself was Chenin.

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