Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [26]
So, tomorrow will be the decisive day that decides whether I will remain clinging to this place, or whether I will have to leave….
I will make them notice me no matter what it takes.
I was confident in my ability to flatter; I have succeeded more than once in attracting attention with my words until I became one of the most popular commentators.
With this determination that I had within myself, I felt the weight of a look directed at me.
Arkell stared at me silently.
Why is he looking at me like that...?
It's never been easier to read what's going on inside.
His face remained as it had been the day we first met, calm and expressionless, hardly showing his emotions.
But…
The absence of expression does not mean the absence of feeling.
'Please... save Naran, Lizzy...'
A person without feelings cannot beg with such a face.
I looked up at him, looking at his gray features above me.
This man was not a heartless tin doll, but a living human being with a pulse that could hear.
I gave him a gentle smile and said:
“You seem to have something to say...don't you?”
If he is like us, perhaps we will understand each other one day.
He stared at me for a moment, then said slowly:
“That's because...”
He approached me hesitantly, and when I realized how large his body was, he encircled the back of my head with his broad palm in a soft touch.
“Kick?”
“When I was in the war...”
This was the first time he opened the door to his past himself.
“A commander who was with us told me that this method is the most effective.”
“What style?”
“To ease the fear. He used to say he wanted to console his fiancée back home this way... but he never returned.”
He was silent for a moment, then continued quietly, leaning my head toward his broad chest:
“As for me, since I’m still here...let me dispel some of your fear, ma’am.”
His hand was careful, its touch soft, as if it was afraid it would hurt me. From within him, his heartbeat was clear and strong.
“So you're not the Heartless Iron Man.”
“……?”
I turned around and saw his other hand, trembling and hesitating, near my shoulder.
Then I understood what he meant.
Could it be that he wants to hug me...?
I couldn't understand until he whispered reassuringly:
“Don't worry. I'll explain the matter to my sister and she'll understand. She's sensible enough.”
Oh...maybe he thought I was nervous about meeting Martha tomorrow?
I didn't feel that nervous, but...
The strange thing is that his embrace made me feel strangely comfortable.
“I think I showed you too many miserable pictures.”
“No, I kick…”
Rather, I am the one who loves that miserable image.
“And now that you are a member of the Kaien family, if only in name… you are someone whose protection is my responsibility. Whoever the opponent is, your security is my responsibility.”
His calm words carried undoubted sincerity. It was perfect... until he reached out his trembling hand and placed it hesitantly on my shoulder.
His grip was neither confident nor withdrawn, but scattered between the two.
“I'm sorry...this is the first time I've tried it. I don't know if it works.”
“You succeeded.”
His body trembled slightly at my response.
“You mean you're on my side... and there's no need to worry, right?”
"……Yes."
“And this hand… you wanted to do it like this, didn’t you?”
I grabbed his confused hand and pulled it to my waist. His body shook again.
“……!”
“Thank you, Arkell. I feel strong when you say you are my support.”
Then I put my arms around his waist.
He was so strong that my fingers had to intertwine to wrap around him.
It's a full hug.
"Don't worry. I'm sure I'll know how to deal with Big Sister."
“……..”
“At least, I won't be hated.”
I was repeating this to convince myself more than others. If I am expelled from here, I will have no home.
It's true that I spoiled the original plotline a little, but...
Who cares now?
His embrace tightened me and a new resolve awoke within me.
Thanks to him, I regained my will.
I will stay here no matter what it takes.
I was about to tell him not to worry too, but his voice preceded me:
“…It always happens like this.”
His voice was a mixture of a smile and regret, as if he was talking to himself. Then he let go of me and gave me a faint smile.
“I wanted to seem stronger this time...but I found myself leaning on you again.”
“Kick…”
There was a shadow of sadness in his voice that made the heart shiver.
'It's okay if you don't show your strength! Lean on me, pamper yourself as you wish... This is exactly what fascinates me about you!'
I was shouting this to myself excitedly, while my face grew calmer with a gentle smile, and he had no way of knowing what was on my mind.
“Tell me, how is big sister?”
I knew a lot about her being the heroine, but I wanted to hear it from her younger brother's mouth.
Arkle showed signs of deep thought before he opened his mouth and said:
“In fact... I did not have the opportunity to have a long conversation with my sister. She went to the academy when she was young, while I was in the war zone.”
I knew from the events of the original novel that the relationship between Arkell and Martha was frosty.
So that was really true.
Arkell seems to know less about Martha than I do.
I expected to discover something new about her through it...but to no avail.
I bit my lip in disappointment, when Barkal said in a firm voice:
“I may not be able to tell you much about my sister, but there is one thing I am sure of.”
"One thing? What is it?" She asked him, eyes full of anticipation.
“There is no need to worry about arousing her hatred. There is simply no one in this world who could hate you.”
"What?"
Ramsha looked at him, but he looked very serious.
“Whoever dares to hate you... must be a devil in human form, a creature without the slightest sympathy who is a danger to society and must be removed.”
He said just that, the man who inherited demonic power, without compassion, and the most dangerous person in this world.
“What are you saying suddenly, Arkell?”
She laughed lightly as if he had made a joke.
But it was worrying, he actually looked serious.
There is no doubt that his view of me had become distorted by some kind of strange “filter.”
I was about to open my mouth to deny what he said.
‘No, don’t say that I am an angel like the servants say, or that I am weak, soft, and fragile… These qualities alone are enough to make me die from embarrassment.’
I was secretly praying that he would choose a kinder expression than I had imagined, but his words contradicted all my expectations:
“You are a strong person... capable of facing any feeling head on.”
“Ah…”
The phrase almost slipped from my tongue: Perhaps because I am accustomed to reading works full of violence and horror...
He said as he continued:
“When you forgave the servants, when you refused to follow Calin, when you told me to be more frank… it was all because you faced things with steady eyes.”
His voice was deeply calm, then faded:
“Honestly... I was ignoring my brother myself.”
“Arkel, what happened with Naran is not your fault. The criminal is the damned Kalin.”
I said it enthusiastically, and Arkeel smiled lightly:
"True, he is a scoundrel who deserves to die. But it wasn't just about Naran. I feel like I've always turned my back on the past... and on the world itself and I realized that through you."
I wasn't any better either.
The words almost escaped me, but I swallowed them.
'I have always evaded reality and resorted to novels and movies... I do not deserve to hear something like this from you.'
He suddenly said:
“You are strong.”
No one has ever said this to me before.
They would just describe me as “putting up with shit.”
Even when I overcame serious wounds and escaped death repeatedly, I hoped that someone would praise me because I stood firm and did not give up.
Now that I finally hear that word...
“Thank you.”
Although my response was dull and simple, I felt that it reached his heart.
He said as he prepared to leave:
“It's getting late... I'll go now.”
“Thank you for paying such attention to me.”
I smiled and greeted him with my hand.
I was relieved that he didn't call me an angel or something.
Thank God...he's still sane enough.
❖ ❖ ❖
At that moment, inside Arkell's office.
“I'm back, sir.”
Huan said, raising his head from the papers he was writing.
Arkel nodded and sat down with a serious face:
“Awan, the medicine we recently purchased from the Magic Tower… is it still well preserved?”
“Yes, it's all in stock. But, why do you ask?”
“Among them is a sedative, right? It helps relax and calm the nerves.”
Huan nodded, and the point became clear to him:
“Ah… you intend to use it tomorrow when the missus returns.”
"correct."
Huan raised his glasses with a gentle smile.
He seemed to want to give it to Lady Lizzie.
He had never seen his master care for another human being like this. It was strange but heartwarming.
“But sir, perhaps it is best for Lady Lizzy to face it as she is, without relying on medication. Don’t worry too much, she can handle it.”
Arkell answered coldly:
“What are you saying?”
"Yes?"
He said in a confident tone:
“The medicine will of course be given to my sister, not to Lizzie.”
“……?”
“My sister is rude. Lizzie is strong, but at the same time pure.”
Pure? In what sense?
Hwan froze, unable to respond.
A dark gleam appeared in Arkel's red eyes:
“So… I have to remove anything that might hurt her.”
Does he mean... that he will get rid of his sister?!
Huan had to spend the whole night trying to convince him not to paralyze the eldest miss with medicine.
****
Translated by: Snow
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