“You asked, why did I come to this place, right?”
Varkan asked back, using his fingers to caress his sharp jaw line. Irel nodded tremblingly.
“Why in the end?”
“To say hello, of course.”
Wishing she could pull out the shiny white teeth flashing between those lips, making him unable to utter any more words. Irel pleaded earnestly, but unfortunately, all she could do now was weakly deny the reality.
“Hello, I don't understand what you're saying…”
“It's definitely not like you don't know to ask.”
Varkan took her hand and rubbed his cheek intimately. Then, as if he was using a handsome man, he gently lowered his beautiful eyes and looked intently at her.
"We were so passionate, weren't we? I thought you had the same feelings as me."
Are not. There's no such thing.
Irel clearly remembers that face full of attachment, not long ago, threatening her:
"Open your legs. If you want to go home."
And even when he pressed her hands down on the bed sheets, shaking his hips as she cried and pushed him away, there was always a fierce smile on his lips.
'I should have realized it from the moment he said he would obediently take me home.'
It was clear from the beginning that he had this intention. Irel felt a headache, but she thought she needed to buy time. Only then can we find a way to escape the predetermined destruction.
"Hey... today doesn't seem like the right day. Everything was so sudden, and besides, I didn't warn you that I was coming."
Irel licked her dry lips and spoke cautiously. Faced with her efforts to find a way to chase him back, Varkan was silent for a moment.
“Hmm.”
Facing his handsome face that had lost its smile, Irel was extremely nervous. She couldn't guess what Varkan was thinking right now, which scared her.
Who knows, maybe he's imagining burning down her house and killing all the servants, just like the fate that was assigned to the 'real' Irel she saw in her nightmares.
That was the moment her frightened eyelashes trembled.
“Could it be…”
Varkan, who seemed to be contemplating something with an expressionless expression, seriously opened his mouth.
“Am I to you just a partner for a night of useless fun?”
"…Yes?"
Even though she knew she wasn't allowed to get caught up in his rhythm, this time she couldn't help but ask again. Seeing Irel's surprised expression, he frowned even more, as if hurt more deeply.
"You're ashamed of me, aren't you? We sleep in the same bed, but you don't want to introduce me to your family... How should I understand your words?"
“No, why did things get pushed so far?”
“If that's not the case, why did you sleep with me?”
Because you threatened me!
The words rose up in her throat, but Irel knew well that if she answered like that, Varkan would definitely pretend not to know. It was so frustrating and frustrating that she wanted to jump up.
“People say people's feelings when going to the bathroom and when they come out are different, but I didn't expect Miss Irel to be like that.”
Varkan looked quite serious in front of Irel, who felt like he was about to get sick from anger. He really has a natural talent for leading the conversation in the direction he wants. If she was just a little negligent, she could easily be swept away by his arbitrary rhythm, and life was truly worse than death.
“…Hey, what exactly is our relationship?”
Varkan's eyes brightened slightly at Irel's first rebuttal. It was a thrill to be watched by his slightly dilated pupils, but she couldn't bear it without arguing.
“Anyway, Lord Varkan doesn't consider me a serious relationship, right.”
“Why do you think like that?”
He half-smiled and asked back. That face, so shameless and hateful, fortunately did not show any signs of discomfort.
'On the contrary, he was enjoying himself too much.'
Irel suddenly felt like she understood some of his personality. He is the type of person who likes to tease and bully a puppy, enjoying light bites, trying to resist. Anyway, no matter how much the puppy tried to bite with its tiny teeth, it didn't make him itch, so he just smirked and considered it a ridiculous joke.
That was infuriating, but still, having a little more voice wasn't such a bad thing. Having regained some courage, Irel resolutely pushed his point of view.
"From the beginning, if you... Lord Varkan were really serious about me, you wouldn't have just sent me home without saying a word. You knew my family would be worried."
“Is that all?”
"And... when you come to greet my family, you should ask permission first. Not just suddenly follow along like this."
Irel finished speaking in a slightly shaking voice, looking up at him worriedly.
It would be better if he got angry with her, then turned around and walked away. However, instead of getting angry, Varkan muttered as if he was deep in thought.
"Hmm. That certainly makes sense."
[Ting! Varkan's favorability has increased by 2.]
The popularity notifications kept popping up, rekindling Irel's hope. If all goes well, Varkan will probably return. Thinking that, Irel decided to try a little more.
“Khi đến thăm nhà người khác, cần phải có lễ nghi và thủ tục. Nếu ngài đột ngột xông vào khi gia đình tôi chưa chuẩn bị sẵn sàng đón tiếp, họ chắc chắn sẽ bối rối. Như vậy, họ cũng khó mà có thể nghĩ tốt về Ngài Varkan.”
Her family will hate Varkan just because he is a Masaka. Brushing that fact aside, Irel tried his best to present his opinion. Varkan looked at her observantly, then responded with a puzzled smile.
"Rites and procedures. Indeed, acceptable words."
“Yes. So today, please return and…”
"But what should we do? I have already arranged everything."
He interrupted Irel, smiling. The moment she saw that relaxed smile, Irel's heart seemed to fall into the abyss, but she still tried to ask again.
"What do you mean? Arrange everything?"
"I mean, I've already sent a notice of visit to your house. Irel Elorance, my love."
She heard the sound of the world collapsing somewhere. Irel stared at Varkan's smiling face, wishing it was a lie. But the words that fell from those wonderful lips always betrayed her expectations.
“Well then, let's go inside before it's too late, shall we?”
Immediately after those words, the main gate of the long-standing Earl of Elorance family slowly opened. And Irel's family gradually appeared through the door.
"Daughter!!"
The first person to appear was her mother, Louisa. The Countess, who always walked quietly and without a sound, now rushed towards her desperately. Just because of worry for my daughter.
Irel bit her lip, not knowing what to do. Her family's encounter with Varkan was the worst situation. Đặc biệt là đôi đồng tử nheo lại của Varkan, người đang nhìn gia đình cô với vẻ mặt không thể đoán được, càng khiến cô cảm thấy bất an.
At that moment, Louisa who was running towards Irel staggered as if about to fall.
"Mom!"
Irel rushed forward in panic. She caught Louisa so she wouldn't fall.
“Oh my god, my daughter… You are safe… So lucky.”
Louisa didn't care that she almost fell, but only worried about checking on Irel. Her thin hand continuously caressed her cheek, gently touching her shoulder and hair.
“Rell, are you okay?”
Michael also ran over and asked her softly. Unlike Louisa who could only see her daughter, his eyes were clearly wary of Varkan.
This was the first time he saw him in the flesh, but it was impossible not to know. Varkan is someone who possesses such an intense presence that it stands out too much. Michael's eyes wavered slightly when looking at his fiery red hair.
“This guy, could it be…”
“You stay back, Michael.”
At this moment, her father, Calver, calmly spoke from behind. He stepped forward, extending one arm as if to protect his wife and daughter.
When Calver, the family's breadwinner, personally appeared, Michael had to reluctantly step back. And Calver and Varkan's eyes met in midair.
"Hello, Earl Elorance. It is an honor to finally meet you."
Varkan greeted first. Even though her whole family was staring at her with hostile eyes, he still smiled half-heartedly.
“…You were the one who sent the letter saying you were holding my daughter?”
Standing in front of Varkan who was acting as if everything was just a joke, Calver kept a calm expression. As expected, the demeanor of the head of a family with both experience and knowledge.
However, that was just a mistake. Calver seems cold at first glance, but is a good father who loves his family more than anyone. It's just that his emotions are like a volcano at the bottom of the sea, needing time to erupt to the surface.
“Is that you?”
Calver looked at Varkan quietly, emphasizing each word.
“The parasite intends to drain my daughter of her life force.”