Ch.224224. Pandemonium (4)

●

Besides all sorts of bizarre incidents that happened in the game.

The result is, ultimately, this.

[1st Place, Beatrix & Darwood Couple!]

[Magic Stone Rings are being created! Keep them for a long time!]

With those words, a pair of rings floated up above the game board.

The quality is unnecessarily good. Although they’re imitations, someone who doesn’t know might mistake them for real wedding rings.

Then.

The rings bounced out of the game board and flew toward Beatrix and me respectively.

With a ping sound, they slipped onto our fingers with a perfect fit.

“…”

“…”

Of course, it’s just a game effect, but the sense of crisis on both Beatrix’s and my face was reaching its peak.

No, seriously.

Who knows what might happen…!

Rather, as soon as she saw those rings.

Elnore tightly closed her eyes.

As if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

She took a deep breath, ran her hand over her face, and then.

“I’m going to get some fresh air.”

Those words dropped onto the table.

For me, who was somehow enduring like blowing air into an already full balloon, it was like a bolt from the blue.

In truth, in such a tense atmosphere, it wouldn’t have been strange for something to burst at any moment, but even so, this was an event that no one would be happy about if it actually happened.

Though she said she was going to get some fresh air, it clearly meant she was leaving the gathering and going her own way, as anyone could see.

But before I could say anything, Elnore had already stood up and was walking toward the exit.

Her walking style exuded a coldness that said to leave her alone.

While I was about to go after her but hesitated unconsciously, Elnore quickly disappeared toward the exit.

Should I follow her?

Would that just make her more angry?

I was about to hesitate for a moment with such thoughts, but.

“…!”

No.

What am I doing?

At least for issues like this, the answer should be extremely clear.

If she’s angry because of me, I should obviously apologize.

“Ms. Beatrix.”

“…What?”

“Please take care of things here.”

It was a statement with multiple implications, but fortunately, she’s also quite perceptive and seemed to understand what I meant immediately.

“Hero. Would you like to talk with me for a moment?”

“…Pardon?”

“About the Harvest Festival. I think you’ll find it interesting.”

Just seeing how she immediately diverted Elia’s attention as I started sprinting away proves it.

[What are you going to do?]

‘I need to persuade her!’

Meanwhile, I ran down the corridor in one breath.

The servants in the Tristan Dukedom looked at me strangely, but I ignored them and kept running.

Although I’ve been training my body recently and my stamina has improved quite a bit, Elnore is an exceptional superhuman even among Vessels. Our physical abilities are on different levels.

In that short time, she had already gone outside this vast ducal residence, and I could see her boarding a carriage with the family crest outside the terrace.

“E…”

But before I could complete her name, the carriage carrying Elnore departed instantly.

Barely suppressing various curses from escaping my vocal cords, I looked around.

It’s impossible to catch up to her right now.

So, how should I follow her?

At that moment, something caught the corner of my eye.

“…”

Well.

That would probably be dangerous, but.

When have I ever cared about such things?

●

After riding in the carriage for quite some time, Elnore got out and sighed as she looked up at the sky.

The low hill located behind the Tristan ducal residence was Elnore’s own secret place that she had frequented since childhood.

She had always come here to gaze at the sky whenever she felt depressed or stifled.

‘…What am I doing?’

Elnore thought as she looked at the sky where the sun was setting.

She knew best that this was immature behavior.

Wasn’t it just a game? She knew very well that both Beatrix and Darwood had been mindful of her feelings throughout.

“…”

But.

Still. Even so.

She closed her eyes and caressed the ring on her finger.

The same ring would be on Darwood’s hand too.

This should have been a token shared only between him and her. It should have been the “connection” between them that she alone possessed, even if other women tried to interfere.

The feeling of having that invaded by someone else.

Even if it’s just a game, it’s unbearable.

Her heart aches. She feels like crying. Just imagining it makes her heart sink inside her body.

So, she ran out in a fit of anger.

Because she couldn’t bear to look at it.

“…”

She sighed and ran her hand over her face.

Well. Sitting here for a while before going back would probably make her feel better.

Without meeting anyone. Especially Darwood.

Elnore sighed as she made that resolution.

“Elnore!”

In that sense.

When she heard Darwood’s voice calling her.

If she felt joy, or rather relief, deep inside, that was irritating in its own way.

Doesn’t it feel like she had unconsciously hoped he would follow her?

“…”

Well.

She had just resolved not to face him because she thought she would get angry if she saw his face.

Now that she heard his voice, her fluttering heart felt very uncomfortable.

It was especially so because until now, she had never gone against her own will in matters she had decided upon.

“…”

However, as Elnore barely held back her expression that was about to soften, she turned toward Darwood.

Just once, let’s be harsh.

Let’s coldly drive this man away. Let’s express her emotions properly and make him come to his senses for once.

That was her intention, but.

“Darwood? What happened to you?!”

As soon as she saw him, an almost scream-like sound escaped from Elnore.

Indeed, at first glance, he looked as if he had just been through a battle.

He was covered in dust, and there were blue bruises all over his body.

Blood was flowing from his torn palms, and droplets of blood were forming on the scratches that looked like cracks all over his face and body.

“Well, I couldn’t catch up to the carriage, so…”

Darwood said awkwardly, pointing behind him with his thumb.

A horse.

Not just any horse, but a warhorse.

A creature that would kick anyone who wasn’t its master upon approach, but he had clearly followed her while being repeatedly kicked by it, somehow managing to tame it.

For an ordinary person, it would be a dangerous act that could have resulted in death hundreds of times over.

“I had to ride that to catch up…”

“Are you insane?!”

Elnore interrupted Darwood’s words with a shout.

“We could have talked later, what kind of stupid thing is that! Don’t you know how precious your body is?!”

“…No, I’ve learned horseback riding before, so—”

“That’s not a horse!”

At the sincere outburst, Darwood flinched and closed his mouth.

Indeed, the strictness in Elnore’s eyes as she said those words was no joke.

Walking with angry steps, she soon began examining his wounds, turning his body here and there.

Meticulously checking if they were getting worse, if they would heal quickly. Bringing her face close to inspect all the scratches on his entire body, she clicked her tongue and said to him.

“First, let’s get you treated. We can talk later…”

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

Elnore bit her lip slightly and moved a little away from Darwood.

With her gaze slightly lowered, she spoke softly.

“What do you mean?”

“For everything that made you angry at me.”

Strangely, the first sentence that came to mind was “Do you even know why I’m angry?” but.

Elnore preferred more direct approaches.

“In front of your fiancée, another woman was making a scene over you. And you just sat there quietly. That’s not something to be praised for.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not angry, just…”

“Yes.”

“A little disappointed in you.”

“Yes.”

Her mouth feels like it’s burning up.

Even though Elnore is the one confronting him, she somehow feels like she’s the one in the wrong.

They say in relationships, the one who falls in love first loses, but this is clearly a situation where she has reasonable grounds to be angry at Darwood.

“…”

And as soon as she saw Darwood’s face looking straight at her, Elnore realized the reason.

‘…Ah, I see.’

So, she already knows it herself.

That she, to this man alone.

Is absolutely in the subordinate position.

From head to toe. Body and mind. Everything.

She has been mortgaged to this man for a long time.

That’s why even expressing dissatisfaction like this makes her anxious. Afraid that Darwood might feel hurt by her words.

To the extent that she can’t demand even what’s natural, and conversely, wants to give everything of hers to this man.

That’s how deeply she has fallen for him.

“I’m sorry.”

And for good reason—he’s a man who performed acrobatics at the expense of his own body just to catch a slightly upset woman.

It’s not just difficult to not fall for someone who’s ready to bleed profusely just because the other person seems a bit upset.

“…I see.”

Hesitantly answering like that, Elnore kept her head down but slightly raised her eyes to check Darwood’s expression.

“Tell me, you.”

“Yes?”

“…How much do you like me?”

“…”

At the sight of Darwood opening his eyes wide, heat rushed to Elnore’s face.

She herself is the most embarrassed to bring up such words.

But, even so.

She should properly receive compensation for being disappointed. In that sense, it was a sentence created to tease this man a little.

“…If you can explain it convincingly, I’ll forgive you.”

And as soon as he heard those words.

Darwood raised his hand and slightly touched the corner of his mouth.

It was an effort not to show a goofy smile right after apologizing.

“Elnore.”

“…What?”

Darwood smiled and walked toward her step by step.

“If you called me, you should—”

Whatever Elnore was about to say was cut off.

Probably.

Because Darwood, who had approached her step by step, suddenly embraced her without saying a word.

Not stopping there, his face instantly came closer.

“…-!”

It’s a familiar sensation.

Because she’s experienced it several times.

But, paradoxically, it was also a sensation that she could never get used to.

The feeling of Darwood and her kissing, their tongues and saliva mixing—that would be the most accurate description.

It was sloppy, pulling, hot, sticky, and intense.

As a blush rose all the way to Elnore’s ears, Darwood slowly separated his lips and said in a low voice.

“…Was that answer enough?”

“…”

Elnore trembled and lowered her head.

“…You are, really, really—”

She clenched her fists, half sobbing.

Eventually, Elnore pounded on Darwood’s chest.

“Too, too much of a person. Always trying to get away with everything like this…!”

Though she could probably crush a human into pieces with one fist if she wanted to, her pounding on Darwood’s chest was almost at the level of tapping with a cotton stick.

Even while being so embarrassed. Even while feeling so wronged.

There was not a hint of sincerity in her actions, afraid he might get hurt.

So, he does it once more.

Again, lips meet lips. Before they intertwined, Elnore’s soft “hic” sound was unbearably cute.

“…Haah.”

After staying like that for a while.

With a sigh, Darwood’s face moved away again.

All Elnore could do was.

With her fist still raised, just about to hit Darwood’s chest, her face reddened even more as she stood stiffly.

“…Will you forgive me?”

At the sight of Darwood smiling awkwardly and saying that.

Elnore looked at him with stiff movements like an unoiled machine.

Eventually, tears slightly formed in her eyes.

She seemed frustrated that she always gave in to this man in this way.

“…Darwood.”

Elnore opened her mouth, breathing heavily.

“At the Harvest Festival, just you wait.”

“…”

“I’ll get my revenge then, with interest added generously.”

“…”

So.

It seems she’s forgiving him, but.

The sentence did feel a bit strange, to be honest.

●