“Ah.”
A silence reigned after Varkan's sharp words.
‘What should I say now?’
Even while Irel was pensive, Varkan was still staring at her. His eyes were persistent, as if he didn't want to miss even a single moment of her reaction.
“Ah… um.”
Ending the short moment of hesitation, Irel carefully spoke.
"I don't know why you think that way... but you're not a flawed son-in-law. Absolutely not."
Varkan did not respond. But his expressionless eyes spoke instead: The words she just uttered were, after all, just the words of a noble lady who did not understand life.
“I know what these words might make you think. But they are sincere.”
“That doesn't sound like the words of a noble lady from the Elorance Count family at all.”
Even though her words were clearly sarcastic, Irel did not get angry. She blinked, thought a bit about what he just said, then shrugged.
"Sometimes I think you're more noble than me. Isn't that right?"
Faced with the unexpected counterattack, Varkan slightly opened his mouth. Even though Masaka was a special existence, the place he was born and raised in was still a strict caste society.
In particular, the nobility grew up in luxurious villas, surrounded by solid stone walls from childhood. They are constantly instilled that they are a privileged class from the moment they learn to speak. Therefore, a Masaka like him has nothing to praise.
Even if the Kitans that appeared in the world screamed and devoured humanity, for the nobles protected by private soldiers in the mansion, that was just a side issue.
Usually only civilians, those who were the most direct victims, revered and praised Masaka. But to the nobles, Masaka was nothing more than a butcher, coming to destroy the monster that was hunting their cattle on their behalf, nothing more, nothing less.
Yet Irel spoke calmly. He is more noble than you. This cannot be the polite words of a young lady steeped in privilege.
‘Is it true?’
Varkan's eyes narrowed. Regardless, Irel still maintained a dignified expression.
'It's true.'
Look. His outfit, with a white shirt, a calm gray vest, and a dark blue jacket, was adorned with a platinum watch and sapphire cufflinks. Combined with neatly combed hair without a single strand of tangles and smooth skin, there's nothing to complain about.
What about you? The main dress had been thrown away somewhere, leaving only a wrinkled petticoat, messy hair, almost all of the makeup, a pathetic appearance when standing in front of the mirror. Even the best flatterer wouldn't dare say that Irel is more noble in this situation.
'But actually, it's the same every day.'
Irel Elorance's body still remembers many things. In particular, etiquette has become a habit ingrained in her body, but perhaps because her soul is Lee Rae Yeon, her movements tend to be a bit halting or clumsy. Just like the software and hardware of a computer are out of sync.
On the contrary, Varkan makes everything flow as smoothly and gracefully as water. Like a giant black panther moving elegantly without making a sound, his every movement was the same.
“And there's one more thing I want to say.”
Irel turned back to look at him sitting on the sofa and spoke.
"As you know, becoming a Receiver was not my choice. But... choosing you as my Masaka was my true choice."
“……Choose? You, choose me?”
Varkan asked again slowly. He seemed both incredibly surprised and strangely interested. Thanks to that, Irel became even more courageous and continued.
"Of course. You saw it with your own eyes, right? How many people outside that door want to become my Masaka."
That was something Varkan was forced to admit. When he fell silent, Irel smiled brightly as expected. She approached him sitting on the sofa, timidly took his hand and gently shook it.
"Out of many Masakas, the one I choose is you, Varkan Ha Mash. With that alone, you are more than qualified to be the son-in-law of the Elorance family."
Varkan's golden eyes looked intently at Irel. It was a sweet word, but both he and she knew clearly: He was a hunter and a robber, and Irel was just a victim caught up in that immorality, a trophy.
But Irel never said that even once. She acts like a normal girl in love, and Varkan happily plays the role because he finds her desperate attempt to cover it up amusing.
But where did it all start to go wrong? That seemingly useless and trivial joke, at this moment, was like a hand clutching his heart. Therefore, he couldn't laugh when he saw her, who was immersed in the drama, blurting out excited lies.
"Don't insult the man I have chosen as a coward. Hold your head high, smile as dignified as yourself, then join me in greeting them. Convince my family that you proposed because you love me and want to spend a lifetime with me."
Irel, with an innocent and clueless face, pressed her cheek against his hand. She smiled gracefully, looking up at him.
“Will you do that, Varkan?”
She was originally a beauty, so her overall appearance was still acceptable, but her appearance was still messy. Incomparable to the gorgeous image of a flower on a normal day, this is truly the sloppy appearance of someone who has just woken up.
But it's strange. Why does that face look... so beautiful that it can't be found in this world anymore.
[Ting! Varkan's favorability has increased by 20 points.]
Box. Irel's eyes widened as she accidentally checked the system messages. She looked back, afraid she had mistakenly seen the number 0, but the astonishing number 20 remained unchanged.
'What did he like about what I said?'
Irel tilted her head in confusion. But before she could think, Varkan pulled her back by the neck and placed his lips on hers.
“Umm…!”
It was a playful kiss, completely different from Serving. He closed his red eyelashes like poisoned butterfly wings and gently rubbed his lips. And sucked the fading petal lipstick left on Irel's lips, sweet as honey.
The kiss was as brief as it was playful. “Tsk,” a sweet sounding sound rang out, and their lips parted. The grinning face looking at her was as cunning as ever.
"We don't have time to hesitate anymore. Now go get ready. It's time to 'get married' together."
“……You. Do you truly love my daughter?”
“Yes, sir.”
When Calver, who had been silent for quite a while, asked again, Varkan replied in a calm voice.
“This is the first feeling I have, it is difficult to describe in words… but I really love Your daughter.”
At those words, Calver used uncomfortable eyes to examine Varkan. His posture was straight and stiff, his clothes were not a bit messy, and his expression was not at all joking, he truly had nothing to criticize.
Looking at it like this, Calver understood. Varkan is absolutely a man who can behave sincerely. Of course, as long as he wants it.
'But last time you behaved like that?'
If you can do that, why cause chaos? Calver frowned, remembering the first time Varkan visited, bringing only shock and outrage to his family. The look of him crossing his legs and lighting a smelly cigar right in front of him.
He did not hate Varkan's more serious attitude than last time. Because that means he really cared about his daughter.
But a person who changes his attitude once can change it many times. Calver understood this truth through life experience. And what he worries about is his poor daughter, who will be swept away without resistance by Varkan's whims.
If it were just a normal relationship between a man and a woman, he would not have happily accepted this marriage. What's more, this is a combination of a Receiver and a Masaka! If things don't go well, it won't just be his daughter's heart that will be hurt. Irel will definitely have her life drained by Masaka.
Because he knew this, despite his promise, Calver still could not easily open his mouth. Feeling frustrated, he glanced at his wife, but Louisa still sat still like a stone statue.
‘I will withdraw from this marital matter, husband.’
Before coming here, Louisa made a declaration. She, who especially loved the youngest daughter in the family, was greatly shaken by this kidnapping.
'It's all because of me.'
At first, when Calver and Michael were introduced to Regis, they were dissuaded. They said this was not a good idea.
But it was she who stubbornly sought out Regis. It was like he had entrusted his daughter's life to that blood-eating monster.
She acted unintentionally, but how can it be said that she was not responsible? Irel almost died. If that had happened, Louisa would have lived her whole life in regret, loss, and terrible guilt, worse than death.
But Irel returned safely, without injury or death. Because this man went to rescue her.
Truly lucky. But will luck still follow next time? How long will good luck last?
Thinking about that, she shivered in horror. Louisa realizes that acting for her daughter may pose even greater danger.
So what to do? There is no other way but to trust this daughter who is wiser than her mother before it is too late.
Thanks to that, Calver, who had lost his solid ally, felt stuck. He didn't know what to say, so he glared at the lifeless table. Unable to bear that scene, Irel finally spoke up.
“Father.”
The daughter he loved with all his heart gently called out to him. On that beautiful hand, tightly holding the hand of that red-haired bastard.