Chapter 24 - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

"Roznia?"

A very flustered voice called me. Having been sobbing like a child, I hid my face under my palms, avoiding the gaze reaching me.

No matter how hard I tried, the tears wouldnundefinedt stop, and my palms grew increasingly wet. The confusion and sadness didnundefinedt go away, and I couldnundefinedt figure out what to do.

Tonight again, I had inevitably fallen into his arms and held him. I couldnundefinedt leave him to die. Because I realized that my feelings for him had started to occupy a significant place in my heart.

undefinedWhat do I do.undefined

Those words kept circling in my head. This man might not be in his right mind, or he might be pretending to be crazy to deceive and capture me.

Moreover, why was he targeting me? Because Iundefinedm Adrianundefineds weak point? Had Adrian done something again without my knowledge? Something that the Rashiane Duchy would find offensive...

"Roznia."

An urgent voice called me. Still with my face buried in my palms, I turned to the side and curled up. As I stayed curled up like that, the manundefineds large, hot hand touched my shoulder.

His cautious stroking, as if soothing me, was endlessly kind. That made me cry even more. What if that kindness was fake?

I had never been so lost in my life. Resentment towards that beautiful man who suddenly appeared and shook my life to its core was also sprouting naturally. If possible, I wanted to run away from him. But, unfortunately.

It was too late for that.

"Roznia... why..."

"......"

"Did I hurt you? If so, tell me. Donundefinedt cry, please..."

I thought it over until I was exhausted. How did I really feel about this man? What was my heart like?

Actually, until I came to this room, worried about him, I wasnundefinedt sure. The shape of my feelings for him.

But the moment I melted into his warm body heat, I suddenly realized.

That I would never be able to let go of this warmth.

He was the first person to give me such warmth, the first to make me feel this way. He was special because he was the first.

So I kept getting greedy. A greed that was growing without me even knowing.

I kept putting off the time to part with him, thinking undefinedsomeday.undefined I could have contacted Adrian immediately, suspicious of him, or risked contacting the Rashiane Duchy, but I didnundefinedt.

Because I didnundefinedt want to part.

Realizing my foolish self-justification, the attraction I had been ignoring, tears came to my eyes. I was even more confused because I couldnundefinedt possibly know this manundefineds true feelings.

Why did you appear before me? Why are you so kind? Are you saying things you donundefinedt mean, or are you sincere?

The things I wanted to ask rose in my throat along with my tears. I wanted to ask immediately, but I was afraid the answer would be different from what I hoped.

What if itundefineds only me whoundefineds excited, only me whoundefineds reluctant, only me whoundefineds sad?

If he really approached me to use me, I would hate him so much Iundefinedd go crazy.

"Roznia, Iundefinedm sorry."

"......"

"Iundefinedm just sorry for everything. I did everything wrong. So please..."

As I couldnundefinedt stop crying, he carefully lifted me and sat me on his lap.

That disturbed my posture, and I had to move my hands away from my face, but I kept my head bowed.

As I sobbed sorrowfully, Ruwellin patted my back and kept kissing my hair and forehead.

For tens of minutes. As time passed, my heart gradually calmed. The sorrow and resentment were still there, but as reason returned a little, I could perceive the situation clearly.

Anyway, the only things I could do right now were to either be captured by him as a hostage or to hit him from behind. Only one of the two.

Needless to say, I had no intention of being captured quietly. If Ruwellin Rashiane had truly approached me to deceive me, I intended to capture him instead.

Then Ruwellin would despise me, and I would become the greatest villainess in history, which wasnundefinedt even in the original story. But it wasnundefinedt me who started it first.

So itundefineds all your own doing.

Unable to hide my resentment, I glared at him and grabbed both his shoulders tightly. Ruwellin looked at me with startled rabbit eyes.

"Roznia?"

"...I have something to ask you."

But first, I needed to confirm. Before disposing of him, before tying him up and kidnapping him or locking him in the Magic Tower. I had to ask first.

What was the truth? How did he truly feel about me?

My hands, gripping the manundefineds solid shoulders, trembled. My stomach churned, my heart pounded irregularly. I was afraid to know the truth, but I hated being suffocated by pent-up feelings even more.

So letundefineds just do it. Then, Iundefinedll figure out what to do next.

Putting strength into my hands gripping Ruwellinundefineds shoulders, I took a deep breath. Finally, I opened my mouth.

"Are you planning to take me as a hostage?"

"...Pardon?"

"Did you approach me intentionally for that? Was collapsing in the villaundefineds garden on purpose?"

"Roz..."

"Did Adrian... my brother do something? Is that why youundefinedre doing this?"

As I spoke, I couldnundefinedt help but get choked up.

I had done him a good deed, yet he was planning to use me. It was exasperating.

Actually, the more I thought about it, the more nonsensical it became. He and I had only met once, and even then, our eyes only met from afar. For him to say he likes me.

He might have fallen for me because I saved him when he collapsed at the villa, but well, is falling in love at first sight that easy?

undefinedEven if he is author-certified as falling in love quickly...undefined

The Ruwellin Rashiane written in letters on paper might be different from the real person. In reality, falling in love at first sight... while not impossible, is certainly not common.

And I couldnundefinedt imagine that I would be the subject of such a rare event. Even more so if the other person was Ruwellin Rashiane.

As I glared at him with distrustful eyes, Ruwellin, who had been staring blankly at me, finally sighed.

His expression was complicated in many ways, and he stammered, as if very hesitant.

Seeing that reaction, my thoughts leaned towards the conclusion that he was clearly here to take me as a hostage, rather than being insane or sincere towards me.

Hot anger surged up. I... I hadnundefinedt wanted it to come to this, but I had inevitably come to like him.

But the one who made me like this had only deceived and used me. I was so wronged and angry that my whole body trembled.

I had never once thought something like this would happen to me. Especially not from the male lead, known for being righteous.

Did Adrian, did the Hill family, hate him enough to do this? Were my efforts to avoid the originalundefineds death flag all useless?

Ah, perhaps I had made too many unnecessary efforts, and thatundefineds why fate had become so twisted?

My thoughts raced like a broken locomotive. Then Ruwellinundefineds voice reached me.

"I..."

His voice, which I finally heard, was hoarse and low.

He stammered, as if struggling to find the words to say. Needless to say, that made him look even more suspicious in my eyes.

I glared at him sharply and urged.

"So you were in your right mind after all?"

"......"

"Saying you didnundefinedt remember was also a lie."

"......"

"It was all a lie..."

The last words I murmured were mixed with tears. When I started sobbing again, on the verge of tears, Ruwellin visibly panicked and cupped my face in both hands.

His large hands, covering both my cheeks, transmitted his warm body heat. With a helpless expression, Ruwellin looked at me endlessly and spoke.

"Roz, I..."

"......"

"I... want you..."

He clamped his mouth shut as if at a loss for words, then sighed deeply. Then, looking at me with impossibly honest eyes, he spoke clearly.

"I did not use you, Roz."

"......"

"Using you? Thatundefineds nonsense. How could I..."

Just by his expression, he looked very sincere. But it was still far-fetched for a few words to sprout trust in him within me. Looking at him with unbelieving eyes, I opened my mouth.

"You are so different from how I imagined."

"...Pardon?"

"I kept thinking it was strange. You, the Duke of Rashiane, being kind to me, acting like a lover, cooking for me... It was all impossible."

As I spoke, I felt like crying again. Because I felt foolish for being excited by his kind actions and words.

"But it makes sense if it was all an act. You would have no reason to act like this towards me, the daughter of an enemy family."

The moment I finished speaking, Ruwellin refuted in an urgent voice.

"Itundefineds not an act."

"Lies. I donundefinedt believe you."

"What must I do for you to believe me?"

At his pleading question, I hesitated for a moment, then gave my answer.

"...Tell me everything honestly. Why you happened to be collapsed in the Hill familyundefineds villa garden, why you kept being so familiar and kind to me. Everything..."

"......"

"Without a single lie. Everything, all of it."

After saying that, I secretly cast a spell. A spell that would allow me to detect the other personundefineds lies.

As the heads of the Magic Tower, Adrian and I often had to meet many mages from around the world and judge their rights and wrongs. So I had learned the lie-detecting magic for that purpose.

Unlike Adrian, who learned any magic like breathing, I found mental magic a bit difficult. So I had put quite a lot of effort into learning this spell too.

There were times when I wanted to give up because the effort was bothersome, but looking back now, Iundefinedm glad I learned it.

undefinedThe mind-reading magic wonundefinedt work on this man, but distinguishing whether the words coming out of his mouth are true or not... shouldnundefinedt be difficult.undefined

I could have used this magic sooner, but I didnundefinedt. Foolishly, I had been avoiding it. The problems between him and me.

Because I didnundefinedt want to break the peaceful daily life I spent with him at this summer villa.

Surely, I had been bewitched from the moment our eyes first met. By his emerald eyes, vivid as fresh greenery. I had been in a state like being drunk on alcohol, bewitched by those eyes.

But now it was time to wake from that drunkenness. I opened my eyes wide and stared at Ruwellin. He looked flustered, like someone who had encountered a great difficulty.

As expected, was he not going to speak? Or was he going to lie again?

As I glared at him, feeling choked up, Ruwellin sighed heavily and opened his mouth.

"...I will tell you everything, from beginning to end."

"Good."

"But please, promise me one thing."

"A promise?"

"That even after hearing everything, you will not think of me as horrible."

"......?"

Not think of him as horrible? What did he mean by that? I blinked and frowned. Was there such a huge secret hidden that I would find him horrible?

"...Tell me first. Iundefinedll judge after hearing it."

"......"

Ruwellin bit his lip, looking very reluctant, then nodded. After breathing deeply for a moment, he finally began to speak.

"The first time I saw you was when I was thirteen years old."

"Huh?"

At the completely unexpected story, my eyes widened. As I looked at him in surprise, he suddenly blushed deeply.

Surprised even more by that reaction, which was definitely embarrassment, he stammered and continued.

"When I was thirteen... I snuck into this villa and saw you sleeping."

"......"

"And when you woke up, our eyes met."

"......"

"And I turned my back and ran away."

Wait a minute.

My lie-detection magic wasnundefinedt reacting. So that meant those words were true.

But, when he was thirteen? That would be when I was eleven or twelve? The incident at the villa around that age...

"......"

I donundefinedt remember.

It seems like something happened...

Cursing my lamentable memory, I held my head in my hands, then glanced at Ruwellin.

He was looking at me with a very earnest, almost burdeningly bright gaze.

"I think that was the first time."

"......"

"I already... fell for you back then."

undefined...You were thirteen then, werenundefinedt you?undefined

So it was a completely fresh, youthful love. And that feeling continued until now? For over eight years?

undefinedW-wait, so at the palace banquet too—.undefined

"At the palace banquet, I realized it."

"......"

"That I strongly desire you."

In an instant, Ruwellinundefineds atmosphere became quite heavy. It seemed to have a slightly chilly feel.

With a strange unease, my heart pounded. I felt like running away. As I subtly moved my legs and squirmed, Ruwellin pulled my waist firmly into his embrace.

"......!"

I flinched heavily, then stiffened. His arms, trapping me tightly, felt powerfully strong. A strength that seemed impossible to escape.

Perhaps because that strength took my breath away. Suddenly, a premonition came over me. That this man would never let me go, no matter what...

"Iundefinedve only met you twice."

"......"

"We havenundefinedt even had much conversation."

"......"

"Yet Iundefinedm crazy about you. I must look like a complete madman. I know."

I almost nodded instinctively, then paused. Ah, no. Letundefineds stay still for now. That seems better...

undefinedSomethingundefineds off. Something is terribly...undefined

"I completely understand why you doubt me. If I look at myself objectively, I donundefinedt seem sane either."

"......"

"I truly desire you. Since realizing that feeling, Iundefinedve been desperately craving a way to reach you, like crazy."

"......"

"But no matter what I did, there was no way to meet you, so... I decided to seize this opportunity and came to this villa."

The rest of the story was as I knew. When he arrived at the villa to meet me, it started raining, and he collapsed on the ground, unable to control his body due to the Mana Rampage.

Oh my god. Then if I hadnundefinedt helped him, he would have surely died! This man is really out of his...

"......"

My eyes met his for a moment, and I flinched involuntarily.

His emerald eyes looking at me, harboring a strange heat. The madness surging within them was terribly vivid. That very madness that made me think this man wasnundefinedt in his right mind.

I asked in a trembling voice.

"So... you are in your right mind, right...?"

Ruwellin raised one corner of his lips slightly and answered.

"Well, I wonder?"

The lie-detection magic buzzed, as if confused. That "Well, I wonder?" meant it couldnundefinedt read it. So, is he crazy or sane? What is it?

Unable to hide my bewilderment, I blinked rapidly and looked at Ruwellin. He slowly lowered his head towards me and gently stroked my cheek.

"Roznia."

"......"

I was very tense and swallowed dryly. I kept feeling like my neck was firmly caught in a beastundefineds fangs.

"What did your magic say?"

"......!"

"Did it tell you my words were undoubtedly true?"

"Uh, how..."

At his question, I was dumbfounded and stammered. Could he have seen through my magic? I thought I had cast it secretly, without him noticing at all!

undefinedThen, he knew all along and...undefined

Ruwellin kissed my cheek, which was staring blankly at him. Still kind and gentle. A careful and considerate touch, as if handling something lovely.

But...

undefinedCrazy...undefined

The thought undefinedcrazyundefined wouldnundefinedt leave my mind.

Knowing it wasnundefinedt a lie made me even more confused. How much had we even met... As he said, only twice. One of which I didnundefinedt even remember.

Plus, at the palace banquet, our eyes only met from afar! We hadnundefinedt even talked! Then, how?

How could you fall in love and not forget for over eight years? Even risking your life to meet me!

Is that feeling for me... really love?

"Roznia, that expression right now..."

"Ah..."

Ruwellinundefineds voice brought me back to my senses. I didnundefinedt know what expression I was making. I could only tell that my body was trembling like an aspen tree.

Ruwellin smiled kindly and asked.

"Do you find me horrible now?"

"Huh? Ah, no, itundefineds not that...!"

"Does my abnormally obsessive self seem like a madman?"

"Well..."

I could neither affirm nor deny. I clearly liked him, but at the same time, he frightened me. No matter how I thought about it, he was a madman.