Ch#86
Did that mean every time Rudvil got angry, they’d be trapped in bed like this?
Odellie stared at the surface of the barrier in a daze.
‘It’s Rudvil’s unique magic, so even if we call the Grand Duchy’s mages, it won’t be easy to release it right away.’
……She resolved to change rooms immediately.
She had to find Theodor as soon as she got out of here.
“……Release the barrier.”
Rudvil shrugged indifferently.
“How am I supposed to do that? I’m not a mage.”
So you made this, she thought.
You, before losing your memories.
Rudvil showed no sign of panic despite the unidentified magic circle blatantly laid out in his own bedroom; rather, he seemed quite pleased.
Even though it was a suspicious barrier that imprisoned him himself.
He wasn’t thinking of investigating its origin, just smiling as if the current situation was simply amusing.
“When I woke up, the barrier was already released.”
She knew that.
Odellie herself had completely forgotten about this barrier when she woke up that morning.
“The answer is simple.”
“…….”
“Calm my anger, Madam.”
Odellie stubbornly glared at the barrier’s surface.
‘If I just endure like this, won’t it release eventually?’
Rudvil wouldn’t stay angry all day, after all.
But unfortunately, the her after regression no longer had the temperament to patiently endure such unproductive things.
With little time left, every single day was precious.
Moreover, there was something she absolutely had to do today.
Odellie let out a deep sigh and barely turned to look at Rudvil.
“What…… how.”
“Well, you’ll have to figure that out yourself.”
“…….”
She knew exactly what to say to calm his anger.
That everything she’d said earlier was a lie, that she hadn’t been honest, that she was sorry for bringing up her ex again…… something like that.
But those were words she absolutely must not say.
It would be crossing the line she had barely drawn once more.
‘If there’s another way…….’
Odellie lowered her head for a moment, desperately racking her brain.
She diligently rummaged through Rudvil’s thousands of years of memories.
And.
She made the best choice.
“Have you said everything you wanted to say?”
Odellie said nothing.
She just slowly raised her head and stared up at him intently.
“…….”
Rudvil raised one eyebrow and met her gaze coldly.
“What.”
She didn’t answer.
“Say whatever you want.”
Odellie didn’t avoid his gaze either.
As if locked in a staring contest, she kept staring piercingly at his face.
For a long while.
It was a suffocating silence.
“…….”
Rudvil vaguely realized what ploy she was using.
From Odellie’s stubborn gaze, he could sense her determination not to take back a single word of what she had just said.
“……Staring like that won’t work.”
He needed to hold her firmly now and ensure she never uttered such words again.
But…….
Looking at her white, clear face gazing up at him.
Strangely, it was hard to tear his eyes away.
‘Didn’t sleep well last night?’
The area under her eyes was slightly reddened.
She looked subtly fatigued, yet her eyes were strikingly clear.
“…….”
Eyes as clear and transparent as glass beads evoking the world’s most precious gem.
The smooth eyelashes beneath them shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
‘Beauty trap…….’
A few strands of silver hair flowed down her white skin along her facial contours.
That sight momentarily stole his gaze, then slowly his eyes drifted downward.
Those beautiful lips, stubbornly sealed shut to the end.
All of it made him want to pull her into his arms so she couldn’t escape and touch her until he tired of it.
‘……Why is she built like that.’
Why is she so unnecessarily pretty?
That was finally stabbing painfully at his heart.
He couldn’t utter a single word.
If he opened his mouth, it felt like the woman before him would vanish into thin air. Like the warmth that had lingered in his arms all night had just slipped away moments ago.
At that moment.
The barrier’s surface trembled faintly, and the transparent film crumbled away all too easily.
Odellie didn’t miss the opening.
“Then I’ll go first. I have other business.”
“…….”
While Rudvil still stared at her with an incredulous expression.
Odellie got off the bed without hesitation and headed for the door.
Her hurried footsteps looked like fleeing to anyone watching.
“……Ha.”
Rudvil let out a short sigh.
Emptiness, irritation, and an indescribable emotion mixed, leaving his head hot then cold.
All that remained was the futilely released barrier and the afterimage of those eyes that had looked straight at him.
* * *
Consciousness slowly rose to the surface.
Her whole body felt heavy.
Cold sweat clung to her forehead, and her temples throbbed faintly.
Her mind was returning calmly, but an emptiness lingered in the center of her chest like a hole had been drilled through it.
Belloa blinked quietly at the ceiling.
‘……What happened.’
This was an unfamiliar room.
The lighting was dimly glowing, and the air faintly carried the scent of medicinal herbs.
Then, something brushed her hand.
A slightly cool, soft touch.
Slowly turning her head, Odellie was sitting beside her.
“……!”
Odellie Cardell.
Her blood relative, known as the third daughter of the Cardell Family.
Yet Belloa had never once considered this woman family.
No, she hadn’t even seen her as human.
A tool in the underground secret room to extract Purification Ability until the end of its lifespan.
That was her perception.
So…….
This was the first time they were alone together like this.
Ice-blue eyes shining transparently like ice stared straight at Belloa.
‘Is she mocking me?’
Probably thinking it serves her right.
She had hinted it was a trap, yet plunged right into it like a fool.
But Odellie simply sat there with a calm, composed face.
Carefully covering Belloa’s hand, lightly rubbing it.
‘The purifier is touching me.’
But…… strangely, that touch wasn’t unpleasant.
Belloa glanced away for a moment.
On the back of her hand, where the ritual had been carved to become the medium for the Mixed Ore Stone, a faint scar remained.
Probably a wound from the rampage.
It already looked almost healed.
‘This definitely shouldn’t have healed this easily…….’
It meant expensive medicine had been used, and she had been nursed with utmost care.
Treating a captured culprit—an enemy—like this.
Belloa’s mind raced.
What this situation meant, what the purifier was aiming for.
The hand resting on top was still strangely warm.
