Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [33]
'What does he mean?'
She stared at him absentmindedly for a moment, then realized too late and asked him:
“Oh, you mean I'm going to Kelston? Did you already hear about that from Miss Martha?”
“…….”
The matter had not yet been officially announced, so I wondered in amazement where he had heard about it, but Arkell remained silent and did not answer.
His red eyes were staring at me steadily, but it was harder than usual to read what he was hiding inside.
'What's the matter?' He looks like he wants to say something...'
I told him calmly:
“Shouldn’t we go in first and talk inside?”
Erkel entered the room behind me without saying a word.
“You must have been very surprised when you heard. It was not my intention to hide it.”
“…….”
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. But believe me, you don't have to worry at all!"
She smiled a warm smile.
“Since you and Miss Martha gave me the money, it is enough to hire the entire Tashin mercenary squad and more, and the Knights of the Kaien Family will also join.”
He said in a low tone:
“Is this for their treatment?”
“True. But not just out of duty. It’s simply because I want it from my heart.”
“As for me, I don’t like that.”
"What?"
She looked at him in surprise at his sudden words.
He fixed his gaze on me and said with a dead face that showed no emotion:
“You told me before that I have to show you respect so that you can display your sacred power.”
“That's true...”
'But, why mention it now...?'
While I was waiting for him to continue his words, he suddenly got down on one knee.
“Kick?”
I blinked, confused.
Arkel knelt on the ground and looked up at me with eyes that I was still unable to explore.
Then he muttered in a low voice:
“Touch me.”
My head was filled with question marks all at once.
'So suddenly? Well... I admit that I don't mind, but it's very surprising! Why now...?'
As if to answer my questions, he said in a calm tone that was not devoid of insistence:
“I can't stand for others to say that to you.”
His face was expressionless, but his red eyes had a strange sparkle that I had never seen before.
He was the one who did not suffer from his magic store being full. I had never seen him with features like this.
He slowly raised his hand and took my hand, then placed it on his cheek.
Just as he had done the day I first calmed his storehouse of magic.
He said in a stiff tone:
“I don’t like you doing this to anyone else.”
“…….”
“I want you to touch me alone.”
“But I cannot neglect the dear knights of the Cayin Family.”
“So be it. As for strangers other than them, I do not accept.”
Strangers? Perhaps he means the Tashin mercenary squad...
Finally I began to understand why he was behaving this way.
“Is it that you hate me using my power for the benefit of others?”
“…Did I disappoint you?”
He looked up at me, anticipating my reaction.
“You think I'm selfish?”
I wasn't disappointed, but I was actually surprised; Arkell, accustomed to showing indifference to everything, seemed different now.
‘Really… my power is the only way to calm down the magic storehouse. He naturally wouldn't want others to take it from him.'
That's why Arkell was acting with such urgent emotion. This seemed completely understandable to me.
When I was silent for a while, he said faintly:
“You seem disappointed in me.”
I shook my head with a bright smile:
“Never!”
“…….”
I bent down slightly until my face was close to his, then I put my other hand on his cheek and said:
“You know what? Even these features are beautiful.”
“…….”
Every time I see a new face of his, I long to see everything this man can reveal.
'Yes... his most beautiful moments are when they are colored by emotions.'
But what I didn't expect was that I would kick him and want to monopolize my power for himself...
She smiled jokingly in a sly tone:
“I'm not disappointed...but I feel like you're a little rude.”
“…….”
“When you want something, you become so frank. Why weren’t you like this before?”
In the original story he never asked for anything, but it seems I was the one who made Erkel have what he wanted.
'I mean, the power of sacred energy.'
No, originally this was Lizzie's ability, so is it correct to say that I was the one who made the wish for him? Anyway.
I don't know why he wanted to monopolize my power, but to me this was much better.
With Arkle by my side, I don't need to spend a lot of money to hire a mercenary squad.
In front of a man capable of annihilating the entire empire alone, what need do I have of others?
Although I pretended to Martha that I didn't care about the money, I really didn't want to waste such an expensive check.
‘It is my money that I earned with my heart’s blood… and this is how I will save it.’
Moreover…
Arkel's eyes, which had always been empty as dead, now sparkled with a different gleam.
It is true that his impassive face was unrealistically beautiful, but when desire came into it, he seemed many times more beautiful.
Because I wanted to see all his faces, knowing that what he was asking for was in my hands was like having a collar around his neck.
'Holy energy, huh… I feel like I can exploit it to direct him as I please.'
But contrary to these dark thoughts, a calm smile appeared on my lips.
"Good."
I moved away from him a little and said it comfortably.
Arkell remained on his knee, staring at me silently, as if he did not expect me to agree so easily.
“If you accompany me, I will be grateful to you, and Miss Martha will be even more reassured. I am counting on you.”
I said while smiling lightly, and he got up and kicked slowly.
“Aren't you angry?”
“Angry? Me? Why?”
I raised my shoulders, smiling indifferently.
But Arkell never smiled. Rather, he asked in a low voice, as if revealing a secret:
“Do you accept this greed on my part?”
‘He means his desire to monopolize my power.’
As for me, it is already in my favour.
Seeing Arkle's face yearning for something, and feeling that he had the reins in my hands...was the greatest reward.
I nodded firmly.
“I told you before, didn't I?”
“…….”
“The most beautiful thing about you is when you are honest.”
“…….”
He turned his gaze aside and whispered:
“...thank you.”
'Are...is he ashamed now? How wonderful!'
She looked at him, smiling contentedly, like the smile of a mother seeing her child.
“I will talk to my sister, but you can rest.”
He said as he was about to leave, then he stopped at the door and looked at me:
“May I have one last question?”
"What is it?"
He fixed his gaze on me and said with deep calm:
“…Can I really want you?”
His voice was gentle and composed, but it carried a fleeting portent of danger.
'Anyway, the more you want me, the more useful I will be.'
“Of course.”
I answered smiling without hesitation.
His features changed slightly.
He opened his eyes in surprise for a moment, then...
'Huh? Now…?’
Smile.
It was the first real smile I'd ever seen from him.
That stiff mouth was drawn in a gentle, gentle arch.
From his lips came a sweet tone:
“Then I will want you as I please.”
He bowed his head in greeting and left the room.
In the end, I saved the money, and I knew I had the reins in my hands. However, for a moment I was stunned by his last words.
'Wait...he said he wanted me?'
Then I shook my head.
'It's okay... He summed it up by saying that he just wants my power. 'Nothing but.'
So I ignored it.
❖ ❖ ❖
In Martha's office.
Without needing any introduction, Arkell coldly announced that he would accompany Lizzie to Kelston.
Marta also answered coldly: “If that is your choice...”
But deep down, she rejoiced with joy.
Ever since she heard the knock on the door, she had a feeling that her plan had succeeded.
Arkell said:
“I see that your anxiety has disappeared just because I will accompany her.”
“Yes, and because...”
“And because you decided to cut costs, right?”
Martha was confused and her body trembled slightly as she stared at him.
“You accompany her yourself, a few knights are enough for us, and of course the expenses will decrease...”
It is true that she was happy inside about the savings, but she thought that her brother would accept it with open arms if she explained this much.
She had always gotten used to him just saying “I understand” with a bored look and ending the conversation.
but.
“My sister, how careful you are!”
"What?"
Akle continued coldly:
"Lizzy agreed to go to the Land of the Undead for you alone. You should have provided her with all the knights of the Cain family, and not been busy saving a little money. I hope my words are not offensive, but you do not seem keen, but rather stingy to the point of stinginess."
“…Even though you always say that you don’t understand people, now you are being too honest.”
Martha said while holding back her anger with difficulty, and a calm smile appeared on Arkel's lips.
Her fist would have shot at him had he not whispered:
“She said I was beautiful.”
"What?"
“She said that when I'm honest... I look beautiful.”
He smiled to himself a satisfied smile, then turned to Martha and asked her:
“And you? Do you think my honesty is beautiful too?”
“...Are you making fun of me, huh?”
****
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