"You cursed demon child. Don't you think those words are too harsh for your little brother?"
Mirdal did not blink at Beatrice's sudden curse. On the contrary, he smirked back, making Beatrice literally foam at the mouth and go crazy.
"Why did you only appear now? It was because of you that almost everything happened...!!"
Beatrice jumped up, pointing straight at his face, but then suddenly stopped like a broken clock. That awkward appearance looked quite funny, but her friend could only widen her eyes, clearly not following her wishes.
"Miss Bess. Making noise in public is impolite. Mom taught me so carefully, it seems that's not enough."
Mirdal chuckled, gently poking Beatrice's forehead with his index finger as if teasing. Standing back a step and observing them, Irel suddenly realized that their faces were very similar. Even though the hair color is different, the striking purple eyes are exactly the same.
‘Oh my god.’
Realizing their relationship belatedly, Irel was silently horrified. This is truly a shocking discovery. Beatrice's younger brother, her friend, is a Masaka.
'And it's also Mirdal Ha Mash.'
At that moment, Mirdal turned his gaze towards her. Thanks to that, as soon as their eyes met, Irel was able to confirm information about him.
[Ting! Attack target detected, Mirdal Ha Mash.]
[Mirdal Ha Mash: Current favorability 59]
Irel was surprised that his sympathy was higher than she thought, and also noticed the last name attached to the first name.
‘They are different from Beatrice.’
You should have had some long name too, like Mirdal Summer Albram… something. But Masaka, even though he was born in human form, was still the son of the Godhead. Therefore, he used the family name
‘Ha Mash’
– a separate family name for Masaka – instead of a normal family name.
Originally, even if she was a known character, she would avoid Masaka. But at this moment, Mirdal's appearance is extremely lucky. If it weren't for him, she would have been swallowed alive by Keytan.
“Sister Irel.”
Just as Mirdal silenced Beatrice, he called her name.
"The obstacle has disappeared. Let's get acquainted again, shall we? It's nice to meet you."
That seductive smile on her face was calm as if nothing had happened. But Irel couldn't relax his guard.
The Mirdal she knew was a figure who stimulated protective instincts like a younger brother. However, if you are negligent and accidentally reveal your weakness, you will be one
‘predator’
Don't miss the opportunity, take the opponent's life immediately. Even though he saw the wariness in her eyes, Mirdal still didn't show any signs of discomfort.
"Even though you're already a beauty, you're even more beautiful if you haven't met her yet."
Mirdal smiled, her long, silky eyelashes drooping slightly. The purple eyes under that shadowed gaze sparkled with enthusiasm, intently looking at Irel's small face.
“We only met briefly when we were kids, but I'm still happy that you still remember me.”
Hearing that, Irel frowned slightly. With a position where she was forced to be quick whether she wanted to or not, she quickly grasped the situation.
‘Do you miss your little brother?’
The sudden question that Beatrice had thrown out in the carriage suddenly came to mind. Beatrice is one of her few longtime friends. So whether they like it or not, they used to go back and forth to each other's houses and meet family members.
‘But it must have been a long time ago.’
The fact that Mirdal deliberately mentioned something from his childhood said it all. Originally, he and Irel never had any communication. At most, she was just one of his sister's friends.
But the reason he was so close was now clear. He certainly knew that Irel Elorance was a 'Receiver'.
Perhaps he heard it from his sister Beatrice, or learned through the uproar that Varkan had publicly declared her his. Whatever the case, this is not a good sign.
In the eyes of Irel, Keytan or Masaka, they are both just predators who want to devour her.
"There's no need to be so cautious. It's not the first time we've met."
This young Mirdal was indeed more brazen than she thought. Even though it was clear that he and Irel had no significant memories in common, he still mentioned the so-called 'old relationship' without blinking an eye. Even Beatrice, who was stiff as a doll, glanced at him with eyes of disbelief.
“Let's see… You seem to like hats like this?”
Mirdal seemed determined to calm Irel's guard first. He was looking for the safest topic of conversation when he suddenly saw colorful hats and asked.
“Do girls usually like these things?”
Mirdal possesses an outstanding height, unbelievable for a younger person. As he approached, a long shadow naturally covered Irel's head.
She felt uneasy standing in that shade, as if she were falling under Mirdal's influence. Therefore, Irel gently took a step back without revealing anything, responding in the calmest tone possible.
"Well, it's beautiful. Fresh like spring and like flowers."
Lightning.
Mirdal looked at Irel who had just stepped out of his shadow, his eyes shining with an inexplicable regret. In just a moment, Mirdal reached out and picked up the hat
bonnet
mint green with delicate ribbon.
“Fresh like spring and like flowers… it's you.”
Mirdal used a movement as natural as flowing water, handing it over
bonnet
Test it on Irel's head. Then he squinted his eyes as if admiring a work of art.
“Probably because your hair is so beautiful… so you can wear anything.”
Those were just fake sweet words, but at least Mirdal's eyes looked like he was truly admiring. Any woman looked at with those eyes would blush and be moved.
But at that moment, Irel saw. Faint traces of the chain were still left on his hand, the hand that was holding her hat.
“This is…”
She had definitely seen it before. A similar mark also appeared on Keytan's neck when it charged at her.
Immediately, a terrible hypothesis quickly formed in Irel's mind.
‘Could it be…’
She found it strange from the beginning. Beatrice kept trying to drag her away to Madame Dequi's hat shop. Then she walked around the deserted store, seemingly looking for someone.
She guessed that Beatrice had intended to give Irel to her younger brother from the beginning. Maybe she promised to get something from Mirdal, or herself believed that it was the best way for Irel.
Either way, this whole thing was definitely planned. At least until the middle, things remained that way. But Beatrice's reaction when she discovers Keytan is not an act at all.
She cried bitterly when she saw the victims attacked by Keytan. And because she was so terrified, she couldn't take a step even though Irel tried to pull her away.
'It's definitely just a threat...'
Based on the words Beatrice accidentally muttered, the original plan was probably like this:
First, take Irel to the hat store for normal shopping. After that, Mirdal will release the Keytan he captured earlier so it can cause trouble.
‘It must have been agreed that there would be no casualties.’
Beatrice is not that cruel of a person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have reacted so violently the moment she saw Mirdal.
She cursed Mirdal as
'cursed devil'
. That look of hatred and disgust could not be faked.
Perhaps, the original plan was that Mirdal would appear to rescue Irel before Keytan could harm her. That way, he would win Irel's trust and sympathy, and then turn her into her
‘Receiver’
yours. An old and most typical method.
But why did the plan change midway? Irel frowned, thinking about the abnormality. At that moment, Mirdal also followed Irel's eyes and belatedly discovered the mark on his hand.
"Rub."
Even though he was young, Mirdal had a natural acumen. He immediately understood why Irel was staring at his hand.
“Did you see that?”
A bitter smile spread across the corners of Mirdal's delicate lips, like a white towel soaking up ink.
“No wonder I don't like sensible people.”
There was no time to dodge, the
bonnet
was placed gently on Irel's head. At the same time, the shadow from Mirdal's large hand quickly covered her face.
"Why are you so beautiful? It makes people want to possess you."
Mirdal smiled and curled his eyes like a crescent moon, playfully stroking Irel's cheek. She tried to twist her body to avoid that touch, but her shadow was held tightly by Mirdal.
"It really fits. The car
bonnet
hey.”
Mirdal used his delicate fingers to adjust it
bonnet
Slightly askew on Irel's head. Then he held her hand in a surprisingly gentle way.
"I can buy a hundred of these hats for you. So, choose me."
Having said that, he politely pulled Irel's hand away, as if he were escorting a lady to a ball. Irel, completely controlled by his ability, could only follow obediently like a doll.
His hands are young, large and have a strong grip. Being held tightly by that hand, her heart seemed to sink, wearing an invisible shackle. But Mirdal seemed very satisfied with the feeling her small, slender hand brought.
[Ting! Mirdal's favorability increased by 3.]
Mirdal caressed the hand he had just grasped a few times, then boldly laced his fingers together. He smiled and led Irel towards the back door.
Outside the door, there was the gentle neighing of horses. Surely a carriage was waiting there. When the truth about the plan was completely revealed, Mirdal clearly intended to kidnap Irel immediately.