Calain let out a laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Ha, what nonsense…! The poison is bound by a formula I developed over my lifetime.”
He smirked as he spoke.
“Your healing abilities might detoxify the poison, but you can never remove the formula. I’m the only one who can save that kid.”
“…….”
Arkle was still holding Calain by the collar, looking at me.
“I can’t guarantee it will work.”
“…….”
“See, Arkle? You still don’t understand, do you? You should be begging me right now—”
“Can’t you be quiet?! Do you want me to rip your arm off?”
Sylvia interrupted Calain with a sharp voice.
“This insolent maid….”
Calain grumbled but closed his mouth.
Arkle continued to look at me without saying a word.
I met his gaze and continued speaking.
“The choice is yours, but one thing is clear.”
“What is it?”
“I will never let Naran die.”
Arkle looked at me for a moment before speaking.
“I trust you.”
Just then, Juan entered the laboratory with a group of knights.
“Master.”
When Juan signaled Arkle, he nodded and handed Calain over to the knights.
“Take him away.”
“Understood.”
“Wait—! Wait, Arkle!!”
Calain, held by both arms, struggled desperately and shouted as if it were his last chance.
“You fool—! Even when I give you a chance…!!”
“Come quietly.”
“You’re the one killing your brother—!”
Arkle, watching Calain with an expression devoid of emotion, turned his head once Calain was completely dragged out.
His eyes, staring into space, appeared empty.
“Arkle.”
I called him with a firm yet gentle voice.
When he turned to look at me.
“Naran will not die.”
At my words, Arkle’s red eyes trembled slightly.
“…Is that so. But… I…”
“Trust me.”
I said as I stroked Naran’s unconscious head.
“We promised to have breakfast together.”
“…….”
A faint light flickered in Arkle’s eyes as he looked at me endlessly.
Then I realized.
‘He’s scared.’
That he was frightened.
He stood as if nothing was wrong, but he was trembling at the thought of losing his brother.
He looked like a lost young boy. It was unfamiliar.
“Arkle.”
“…….”
“It’s okay to say you’re scared if you are.”
Arkle flinched as if I’d hit the mark.
He clenched his fist tightly and spoke.
“I can’t do that.”
“…….”
“If showing emotions makes you weak… and then I….”
“Who told you that nonsense?”
I let out a small laugh, as if amused.
“Forcing yourself to suppress them will send you to the grave faster.”
“…….”
“And I want to see you honest with your emotions. Even if it’s a weak side.”
“…Why?”
“Because I think it would be beautiful.”
Arkle’s eyes wavered at my unfiltered, honest answer.
He looked as though he didn’t understand my words.
If I could, I wanted to tell him how amazing a handsome man looks when he cries, but unfortunately, we don’t have time now.
I gently placed my hand on Naran’s heart.
I could feel the faint heartbeat struggling to beat.
“I’ll try to purify the poison with holy power. It doesn’t seem to have reached the heart yet.”
‘But it will soon.’
There wasn’t much time.
I swallowed hard.
Though I had spoken confidently to Arkle, I was also afraid.
‘Can I manifest my holy power properly?’
Naran was unconscious now. The condition to manifest, which required the user to pay homage, couldn’t be fulfilled.
‘Still, I have to try somehow.’
If I relied on Calain here, I’d be playing into his hands again. I needed to completely sever any ties with him.
The image of Naran, smiling brightly, overlapped with his face, which looked dead as he lay with closed eyes.
‘…Stay calm.’
I took a small breath and focused on one clear fact to shake off my anxiety.
‘I can’t let Naran die.’
I concentrated and gathered all my energy into my palm, but Naran showed no signs of waking.
His pale complexion remained unchanged.
‘Is the holy power not manifesting after all?’
I bit my lip.
‘I’ve done it once before. I can do it again. I have to. Please. Please…!’
I didn’t want Naran to die alone like me….
“Lize.”
Just as my mind was turning blank, a firm hand gripped my shoulder.
It was Arkle.
“It’s enough now.”
He spoke in a low voice.
“But…”
“I’ll make a deal with Calain.”
“He’ll surely make unreasonable demands.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Arkle truly seemed indifferent to what might happen to him.
“I’m used to following my uncle’s orders. This time, as long as I listen obediently…. That will be enough.”
“Is that really enough for you?”
“…….”
“Is that what you want?”
Arkle just looked at me silently.
“Tell me honestly what you want.”
“What I want….”
Arkle mumbled, lowering his gaze and speaking softly.
“…I don’t want to lose Naran. But…”
He exhaled shakily, releasing the words he’d held back.
“…I don’t want to go back to my childhood. I want to escape.”
Arkle’s face twisted in pain.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.”
He collapsed as if his legs had given way, clutching his chest. It seemed the emotions he’d suppressed had overwhelmed him all at once.
His beautiful brow furrowed, and his eyes, usually dead and indifferent, held a light I’d never seen before.
With a contorted face, Arkle murmured desperately.
“Please. Save Naran….”
Biting his lip, he called my name, pleading.
“Lize….”
His voice was heart-wrenching, like it could melt away one’s worries.
To think that man, who seemed like a tin doll, could show such desperation….
“See….”
I spoke with a faint smile.
“You’re the most beautiful when you’re honest.”
“…What, what do you mean—”
Arkle turned his gaze away, seemingly embarrassed.
His ears were slightly flushed.
Oh? Is he feeling shy right now…?
My heart thudded heavily.
‘What do I do? This is crazy. It’s crazy. He’s so cute… I didn’t know he could make that face….’
I suddenly felt a surge of energy, as if I could tear down the entire mansion.
“Ah, ah—!”
Sylvia’s urgent shout snapped me back to reality.
Her eyes wide, Sylvia pointed at Naran.
“The young master, he just moved his eyelids—”
“Naran.”
Arkle quickly leaned over to look at Naran’s face.
A faint groan escaped Naran’s lips.
It was a weak but definite sign of him returning consciousness.
Hope shone on the faces of both Arkle and Sylvia as they looked at me.
Naran’s irregular breathing gradually stabilized.
His pale complexion began to return to normal.
It seemed Calain’s curse was breaking.
‘What’s happening?’
Just moments ago, I couldn’t manifest my holy power….
‘Is it thanks to Arkle…?’
No matter how I thought about it, that was the only answer.
After I got excited because of Arkle, Naran’s breathing returned.
‘…….’
I realized I was a much more desire-driven person than I thought.
As I was beginning to reflect on myself, Sylvia’s voice called out.
“Young master! Are you awake?”
The child, who opened his eyes slightly, seemed unaware of what had happened.
Naran, meeting my gaze, finally spoke as if he remembered.
“What about Uncle…?”
“Don’t worry, Naran.”
I smiled warmly and patted his head.
“That man has been taken far away. You won’t meet him again.”
Naran looked at me for a moment, seemingly in disbelief, then smiled softly.
“…Lize saved me.”
Technically, it was my desire that saved him, but I couldn’t say that, so I just smiled quietly.
“…Naran.”
Arkle, who had been watching Naran silently, spoke.
Naran’s expression subtly hardened as he met Arkle’s gaze.
“I know. I did something stupid….”
Naran mumbled as if making excuses, turning his eyes away.
‘Tell him you were worried, quickly.’
I thought that as I nudged Arkle’s waist, but he stood up without a word.
“Juan, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
‘Oh, oh? He’s just leaving?’
After all that worrying.
Arkle, who had turned his back, looked back just before leaving the room.
He met my eyes and spoke quietly.
“…I’ll repay this favor.”
He spoke indifferently and then left the room completely.
‘How anticlimactic.’
I shrugged my shoulders and turned around.
Under Juan’s direction, a knight carried Naran on his back. They said they would take him to a doctor.
“Miss, you should rest now too.”
Perhaps because it wasn’t an ordinary poison I purified, I honestly felt drained.
I nodded, and Juan signaled to Sylvia.
“Sylvia, escort the young lady to her room.”
He adjusted his glasses with one hand.
“I’ll finish tidying up here. Call me if you need anything.”
As Sylvia supported me out of the room, Juan’s voice came from behind.
“…Thank you very much, Miss.”
Too tired to speak, I simply gave a thumbs-up over my shoulder.
It was a truly cinematic exit.
‘This time, I was definitely helpful, right?’
I hoped this would make Arkle let me stay here a little longer….
❖ ❖ ❖
Returning to his office, Arkle ran a hand through his hair and sat down in his chair.
A mountain of documents to review was piled on his desk, but none of it registered.
“You’re the most beautiful when you’re honest.”
‘Beautiful…?’
“Crazy.”
Arkle muttered unconsciously, rubbing his temples gently.
His hand suddenly stopped.
“…I don’t want to go back to my childhood. I want to escape. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.”
“…….”
To have shown such disgrace…!
He felt like hitting his own head.
Why did he keep showing weakness in front of her?
He’d never done that with anyone before.
Arkle let out a short sigh and ran a hand over his face.
‘Lize Allenheim….’
Originally, he had planned to let her go before his sister returned. The longer she stayed, the more seeds of discord would grow.
But now, why….
‘…Maybe I’ll just wage war.’
His previously hollow red eyes now held a strange light.
For the first time, his eyes, which had found something they desired, seemed to be engulfed in flames.
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Bee589
Caladin was a real sicko. At least Naran has a chance for to be happier now. Lize’s father is pretty crappy too. It’s funny how missed up Lize is as well. Thank you for the translation.