Misfortune 95

Chapter 95

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***

Roan, who was holding onto the limp woman and reprimanding her, twisted one corner of his mouth into a sneer.

When he heard that Delnia couldn't speak, he felt a strong sense of déjà vu. And soon after, he remembered why.

When she had just become his slave. Even then, this woman had kept her mouth shut and acted like an idiot.

"According to the doctor, it's probably a lingering effect of not being able to overcome the psychological shock…"

Leticia had said that, but perhaps it was just her way of provoking him, as this woman was exceptionally skilled in such matters.

No, by now, blaming the woman was ridiculous.

The other party showed no effort to change their tactics, yet he was swaying as if waiting for it. It was clear which side was the bigger problem.

He knew. He knew everything, but he still tried to overlook it.

Because he wanted this woman to be okay, even if it meant doing that.

If this would ease his mind, he was willing to be a fool. His insides would be turned upside down, but he thought it was worth it.

Perhaps he felt sorry for this woman.

Thinking about it, maybe he was.

But not anymore.

“You don’t seem to know much, but people don’t just die of starvation that easily.”

“…”

“If you want to die, try a different method. The sooner we reach a conclusion, the better for both of us.”

He spat out the words harshly. If words had form, they would have been the kind that would have made one bleed.

At the same time, he hoped the woman would get angry and unleash a torrent of curses . He wanted her to rage and attack him. It was a wound he had inflicted on purpose.

It was better to endure her cursing him than to watch her look like she was dying.

But even when he deliberately provoked her with his words, she showed no reaction.

Unable to wait any longer, he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

Her eyes were as cloudy as the sunset reflecting off muddy water. Her hair, so disheveled that it was impossible to tell when she last combed it, was scattered haphazardly.

Roan was momentarily overcome by a sense of dizziness.

This was a woman who had always kept herself as neat and tidy as possible, even in far worse circumstances. Even when she was dragged away from Belfort Castle, she had maintained her dignity and had not swayed by his mockery.

She had never once let herself go like this.

As soon as he realized this, his limbs grew cold. A different emotion from anger was slowly creeping up from his toes, consuming him.

He clenched his teeth to resist being swept away by this unknown emotion.

“Well, maybe you’re not trying to die. You’re just acting this way to get attention.”

“…”

“Do you think I didn’t know you were protesting because you couldn’t be there for your parents’ final moments?”

She remained silent.

But Roan’s voice was filled with an odd certainty, as if he had already received her answer. As if there was no way she wouldn’t agree.

Or as if it had to be that way.

“But you should at least choose your targets wisely.”

“…”

“Right? I’ve lived my life without even knowing where or how my family died, thanks to someone.”

He could have mocked this woman all he wanted. He had more than enough reason to.

But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to stab this woman with the same dagger that had pierced him. For some reason, he didn’t.

That’s why he had avoided her all this time.

If he saw her, he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back. The emotions he had long forgotten would erupt like a volcano.

Before he could pour all those emotions out onto this woman, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

Just like right now.

“Do you finally understand how much I’ve been watching over you?”

He dragged the woman, who was barely a handful, right up to his face and growled harshly.

And so he could clearly see it. The moment her eyes, which had been cloudy all along, cracked like thin ice.

The ironic thing was that his own eyes also began to tremble uncontrollably.

Hadn’t he deliberately inflicted the wound to elicit any kind of reaction?

Having achieved his goal, he should have felt a sense of accomplishment, yet why did he feel not joy but fear instead?

“................................If you understand, stop this pointless nonsense.”

He wanted to maintain his composure, but he couldn't control his voice, which cracked helplessly.

The strength drained from the hands that had been clinging to her shoulders, which were barely a handful. His hands dropped down as if he were letting her go.

“From now on, there should be no more words of concern for you coming from Leticia’s mouth.”

“….”

“By the way, this isn’t advice. It’s an order. Obeying orders is the duty of a slave.”

“….”

“Don’t forget. You’ll never be able to escape me anyway.”

As always, he issued a threatening warning.

But his tone, already softened as much as it could be, held no trace of threat. Instead, his repeated desperate words sounded almost like a plea for mercy.

Unaware of this, Roan turned away and left the bedroom. His steps, hurried and anxious like those of a fugitive, quickly faded into the distance.

***

Left behind like a doll abandoned by its owner, Delnia fell into deep thought.

Up until now, she had believed that nothing remained for her.

Her mother, Sophie, her family, and Belfort.

Everything that had once been precious to her was gone.

But there was one thing that remained.

It was hatred.

It never faded or grew weary, always gleaming with a sharp, piercing contempt that stabbed at her.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Now, there was no one in the world who loved her. Only those who hated her remain.

And she must endure that hatred for the rest of her life.

That was the atonement she had been given.

"Don't forget. You can never escape me, no matter what."

A chilling voice, as if casting a curse, dripped into her ears.

"Forever..."

How long is that?

Delnia suddenly closed her eyes tightly as her vision spun dizzyingly as she tried to gauge the passage of time.

In truth, whether it was long or short didn’t matter. A lifetime meant certain death. No matter when it ended, she would have to keep living like this until her last breath.

Continuously, like this.

Without daring to love or be loved by anyone. Without harboring any hope for the future. Counting only the losses that could never be filled.

She would have to endure nothing but endless hatred and resentment.

So, if she were alive, that was.

“….”

At that moment, a bright spark flashed across Delnia’s previously cloudy eyes. At the same time, her mind, which had been as foggy as thick mist, suddenly cleared.

A single realization struck her with an eerie clarity.

‘I…………….’

She could have chosen not to be alive.

The simple and obvious truth she had been unaware of suddenly became clear.

As long as she was alive, she had no control over her own decisions. She was a slave. Her life was entirely at the mercy of her master.

Then this was the only decision she could make.

Her heart raced so fast it felt like her chest was about to burst. The conflicting consciousness and subconsciousness had finally merged into one, issuing a clear command.

This was the only correct answer.

So it must be carried out immediately.

Listening to the urging voice, she looked around with eager eyes.

Her gaze first fell on the window. But this was only the second floor. If she was unlucky, she would end up injured.

No matter what happened, she had to succeed on the first try. The worst thing would be to get injured and be discovered. If that man became suspicious, he would never give her another chance.

But she had no means to obtain a gun or weapon. She lacked the strength to tie a knot to hang herself, and she had no confidence in succeeding.

As she anxiously scanned the room, her gaze suddenly stopped at a pile of lace. There was a large needle stuck in a clump of fur, and next to it, a pair of scissors for cutting thread.

"I will exact your punishment over the course of your entire life."

A voice from the past buzzed in her ears like an annoying mosquito. But it couldn’t break her resolve.

Hadn't she already atoned enough?

No, even if it wasn't enough, it didn't matter.

Now, it truly did not matter anymore.

Her father had paid for his sins with a miserable end. She would soon follow in his footsteps.

Even if the price they paid was woefully inadequate, it was no longer her concern.

No matter how ruthless a man might be, he couldn’t chase after her to claim his share.

Therefore, Delnia walked toward it without a moment's hesitation.

For the sake of a choice that was possible only because she was human, not a mere animal.

***