“What are you thinking about, smiling like that?”
Varkan glanced towards the voice next to him. A man with snow-white hair and a shadowy presence was standing there.
“Yan Luis.”
Varkan shrugged when he saw one of his most trusted courtiers. Rồi hắn hỏi lại:
“Ta cười sao?”
"Yes."
And it's also very creepy. Yan Luis thought to himself but didn't dare say it out loud. Varkan, even while smiling, can still be more cruel than anyone.
“Hmm.”
Meanwhile, Varkan was also lost in his own thoughts. He looked at Yan's white hair, and then the image of Irel Elorance appeared in his mind.
Just as he predicted, getting her was a hassle. She was a noble lady and had deep feelings for her family, so they absolutely did not easily hand her over.
While that family - whom he could turn into ashes with just a snap of his fingers - was still trying to struggle, Varkan sat leaning on the sofa, his eyes thoughtful, endlessly calculating. He thought about who to kill first, what method to use to make Irel Elorance the most scared, so that she would obediently fall into his hands.
Should we keep a person as a hostage and let her live in torment and fear? Or kill them all, leaving her completely hopeless, with no intention of escaping?
But fortunately, he did not need to continue those bloody calculations. Because her mother - who seemed to especially love Irel more than anyone in the family - had crossed the line.
"The more I look at it, the more I see a lack of manners. I heard that coming from the red light district, it seems like a man like you has learned nothing else besides flirting."
The moment he heard those words, Varkan made a decision. In his mind, the plan to destroy the entire Elorance family and the consequences afterward were meticulously arranged down to every detail.
However, Irel Elorance's sudden action was completely beyond his calculations.
'Wait. I… I want this marriage.'
Varkan momentarily doubted his ears. He hates the feeling of having the same reaction as others, because deep down, he always believes that he is a unique individual. But at that moment, he couldn't help but sympathize with the people in Elorance's family.
He frowned, opened his mouth slightly, staring at her with the same shocked eyes as them.
“Indeed. I really want to accept Masaka Varkan's proposal.”
When Irel said those words, her face was as white as a snow bunny. Varkan observed those beautiful, glossy little lips trembling. But with those lovely lips, Irel still firmly maintained her point of view until the end.
“Because I… fell in love with you at first sight.”
As soon as he heard that sentence, Varkan burst into laughter. He couldn't help but laugh.
A Receiver falls in love with a Masaka! Is there anything more ridiculous than that in this world? Even though the lie was exposed before his eyes, he still couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Varkan is observant. Otherwise, he would not have survived until now. Therefore, he easily realized the reason why Irel Elorance said things against his heart.
'It's to save the family.'
This girl is quite good at grasping the situation. He thought she would just tremble and hide behind her family, but he didn't expect her to be watching him.
Varkan felt very impressed about that. Irel, who he thought would be boring and ordinary, the more he looked at it, the more interesting he became. Just a flower in a greenhouse, yet dare to guess his evil, bloody plan. He never dreamed that she would propose marriage herself.
Ah, that's right. This is a perfect solution. A ruler of the underworld like him was defeated by an insignificant noble lady. He should have been angry, but…
“You're smiling again.”
Are you laughing? Varkan unconsciously stroked his lips when Yan Luis reminded him. Feeling uncomfortable because he laughed when thinking of Irel, he stiffened his face.
"Go away."
Although his voice suddenly turned cold, Yan was not at all flustered. At this moment, being flustered because of your superior's erratic behavior is even more laughable.
“Ah. And tell Chellos to come see me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Not long after, Chellos, who was summoned, entered.
“You called me?”
Varkan looked down at his beautiful peach-blossom hair instead of answering. He pondered, pondered something for a moment, then spoke:
“Let's prepare gradually.”
“I accept orders.”
Chellos guessed the intention and responded immediately. It seems that his master plans to "clean up" the Elorance family as planned, keeping only the Receiver.
This will be an extremely difficult task, because the opponent is a prestigious noble family, especially the Marquis of the Border. But it's not impossible. Masaka is the son of the Supreme God, an existence beyond human law.
Therefore, even if you destroy an entire family, you just need to handle the consequences well...
“It's preparing for the wedding.”
“Yes… Huh?”
The cold face of Chellos, who was thinking about the work about to begin, turned surprised. He doubted his ears and looked up at Varkan, but on his bright smiling face there was no sign of changing his mind.
“I am about to welcome a bride.”
The unexpected words made Chellos really panic. It was as if he had been ordered to send flowers instead of assassins to Elorance's house.
Varkan chuckled when he saw his subordinate's rare confused expression, then added:
"Even though it wasn't in the plan, I couldn't help it. I couldn't refuse the woman who said she fell in love with me at first sight."
Right? The man who had just planned to destroy the girl's entire family spoke without even blinking an eye.
Varkan did not like Receiver at all, but Irel's decision really impressed. A person like him who has gone through a difficult life often appreciates people who know how to find opportunities on their own.
‘Oh my god.’
Thanks to that, Chellos fell into a state of panic behind his expressionless face. He never thought of the day when he would have to prepare for Varkan's wedding.
In his mind, issues such as the venue, bride price, and jewelry suddenly came like a flood, washing everything away. Maybe that's why? Chellos uttered a rebuttal that he would never normally say:
“Do you have to… get married?”
It was obvious that he asked like that. Masaka instinctively wants to usurp Receiver, but rarely marries.
It was a relationship that only benefited Masaka. Therefore, Receivers who rely on Masaka are often poor, helpless people who are forced to sell themselves. Or it often happens that Masaka uses force to pull them back unilaterally.
Their relationship cannot be described by noble words like love. Instead, cold words like law of the jungle and symbiosis are probably more appropriate.
Therefore, the case of Irel Elorance is a rare exception in history. A noble lady who grew up in luxury, never having to worry about her own safety, took it upon herself to ask to marry a Masaka.
‘Though we have to consider carefully what her intentions are.’
Her trying to save her family is commendable, but it's also unpredictable. Maybe she's secretly trying to find a way to escape.
Therefore, he needs to bind her tightly, by law or by force, so that she has no way to escape. If you can take advantage of this opportunity to hold a prestigious noble family, even better.
‘Especially families close to the Royal Family.’
In that respect, Irel's family is perfect. Elorance Marquis of the Frontier, one of the few people with the right to enter the Royal Palace alone.
He enjoyed valuing Irel and the name that came with her. The calculation results are quite satisfactory. Even if Irel cried and begged and didn't want to, he would still force her to get married, but she would actively cooperate.
Thanks to that, Varkan became unusually benevolent. To the point that he wanted to spare the lives of her family, who dared to insult him.
“Chellos.”
Varkan called out to his subordinates with a voice as cold as frost after rearranging his thoughts.
“Never object to my decision a second time.”
"Sorry, Varkan. I will immediately follow your instructions."
Chellos was startled and immediately bowed his head in apology. He had said that much, so Chellos would not make any mistakes in preparing for the wedding.
“You leave.”
Varkan waved his hand for him to retreat, then leaned back deeply into a chair with a luxurious backrest like a throne. He lightly tapped his stiff fingers on the armrest of the chair, then stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. Seeing the silhouette of that sweet body before his eyes made him feel hungry.
Irel Elorance, my Receiver. And the woman will be my first wife.
“You shouldn't have caught my eye.”
Remembering that pitiful and adorable face, the corners of Varkan's lips slightly curled up, his smile tinged with brutality.
At the same time, Irel - who was confined to his bedroom - quietly ate his dinner. Her family, seemingly indignant with their daughter's decision, did not let her step out of the room, even during mealtimes.
To be exact, it wasn't exactly anger, but a form of imprisonment, as if they were hoping Irel would change his mind soon.
Unfortunately, she had no intention of doing so. And so, instead of sitting in the dining room so large that it made people raise their heads in surprise, Irel had to eat alone, in front of a small tray of food placed on the table next to the window.
That, to her, was no big deal. Because the soul residing in that body belongs to a twenty-first century student - someone who is too used to eating alone, in a small and quiet dorm room.
‘Really delicious.’
The food was even served very sumptuously. Her family could never treat Irel badly.
Perhaps because he felt guilty about detaining her, the dishes brought into the room were even richer than usual. Irel admired the rich flavor of the warm and salty beef stew, continuously spooning.
Ugh—
Before she could eat a few spoonfuls, her fastidious and weak body sent a danger signal. Feeling bloated, she had to put down her spoon.
‘Should have eaten a little more.’
Irel sighed softly, glancing at the window. There, a rope made from torn curtains curled up like an ugly rag snake. Of course, it was a clumsy homemade product she made herself.
With this trash, Irel Elorance plans to escape from the bedroom tonight. Ready to become a blind girl for men.