Chapter 85

Chapter 85

It was clear that his innocent maid had no idea how much affection and trust he had for the other person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask her the question of whether she believed him. Even if the leaves were turning purple, Ahibalt could trust her words.

Because Irene was the only person who didn’t back down even when the true nature of Ahibalt was shown in front of her.

However, it seems that she had forgotten even that fact.

“Aren’t you going to punish me?”

“Even though I didn’t think about punishing anyone, you’re already thinking about receiving it.”

“Still, it’s true that I broke my duty. If the Young Master hadn’t been lenient, I’d probably end up in the pig pen.”

“I like that about you, but asking that before your master doesn’t seem very right.”

Irene shut her mouth as if she had been caught off guard by Ahibalt’s words.

He was right. If it’d been normal, she would have kept her mouth shut, thinking that Ahibalt would reward or punish her. She had a side where her inner self came out in strange ways.

Ahibalt opened his mouth, resting his chin on his hand loosely.

“As you said, you were wrong. However, you did good things, so I tried to erase them one by one. Can you understand that trying to get punished is also like trying to get a reward?”

His words hit the nail on the head of Irene.

“Right… I can see it. Actually, I’d like to ask the Young Master a favor.”

“I’ll listen and decide.”

“It’s about what I said a while ago that I’d like to meet Madam Edith to solve this problem.”

“I’m not sure if we’ll be able to meet her.”

“Is it really not possible?”

Ahibalt’s eyes narrowed at Irene’s question.

“To be exact, it means that it won’t be easy to use any other method than mine.”

“I thought so.”

Irene nodded her head. His method was as clear as it was simple.

…It was to turn Lichpen into ruins.

“However, there’s a lot to endure with that method, so I hope I can solve it without meeting Edith if possible.”

“That’s exactly what I want to ask of you.”

At her words, Ahibalt straightened his upright slightly.

“I want to meet Madam Edith. Only me.”

“So, you’re asking me to endure all the damage? Only for you?”

“No. There’s a way.”

There was a way to meet Edith without resorting to drastic methods like Ahibalt. But as she said so, Irene thought that this was the part where her own story felt absurd, so she hurriedly followed her words.

“If you allow me, I can explain. It’s a bit cumbersome, but…”

“No. Irene.”

However, Ahibalt cut her off.

Rising up from his seat where he had been sitting the whole time, he went over to her. As his steps drew closer, Irene’s gaze followed.

Just as much, the shadows cast over Ahibalt’s face were also deep and delicate.

“If it were another time, I’d have told you to let go of your hand in this matter at this point, but now that you’re so involved that it’s difficult to say that you aren’t related. I’ll ask you one thing.”

“Please ask.”

“Do you look like a human being so helpless that I can’t do a favor for you?”

“…Yes?”

“I think this is the first time you’ve asked me for something. If that’s something that’s going to benefit me, why would I say no?”

“Aren’t you punishing me?”

“I don’t know why you want to be punished so much, acting like a guilty person.”

At Ahibalt’s words, Irene’s eyebrows narrowed unknowingly. His face filled with inexplicable sorrow and embarrassment for no reason.

‘…Again, this expression.’

His hand touched her chin.

Even when he approached, Irene didn’t refuse. Still, she couldn’t hide the sharpness of the wrinkles around her eyes. If Irenea from a while ago had the appearance that she was simply confronted with something embarrassing, now…

It was as if she had her eyes closed to turn away from something she wanted to avoid.

…A face that stimulated bizarre sadism.

Still, being shy wasn’t unpleasant… It’d be better to call it a sin. To the point that if one saw her, they’d think that having such a close relationship with her would be a great mistake for her. However, was there anyone who wouldn’t know that it was wrong…?

Even more so, Ahibalt was a man covered in all kinds of immorality.

“Irene.”

He could see her eyelids flinch at the name being called. Nonetheless, there was no answer.

“Now, the master calls, and you don’t answer.”

At his words, Irene lifted her eyelids with difficulty. Her eyes, which seemed red at first glance, even had a hint of resentment.

Her eyes seemed to ask.

Is this your punishment?

“I didn’t do anything, but you’re looking at me with those eyes…”

Ahibalt, who whispered as if he was genuinely upset, slowly tilted his head and brought his face closer. As their nose bridges overlapped, Irene stopped breathing without realizing it. It was because she remembered what had happened a few hours ago.

Ahibalt, who kissed her, gazed at her with a somewhat angry expression.

At that moment, she felt like if she stretched out her hand just a little, she could take out his heart and hold it.

…Maybe, like back then?

Irene’s heart beat wildly.

She had to run away… No, should she run away?

Unsure of either, her body stiffened. The sound of her pulse beating in Irene’s ears echoed in her brain. It was also because of the proximity of Ahibalt’s body scent as the times when she couldn’t take her eyes off him in the past kept overlapping.

Irene missed the opportunity to push Ahibalt away.

Disappointment soaked her fingertips at the approaching shadow, and the moment her eyes closed tightly…

“Haha.”

Before her eyes, it suddenly got bright.

It was because the hand that was holding her chin lightly brushed her cheek and fell. Moments later, Ahibalt moved his body away with a light laugh. Irene, not understanding the situation, opened her eyes and saw him, who had already taken a couple of steps back from her and returned to where he was sitting originally.

“This punishment will suffice.”

“Punishment… was it?”

“This is enough to stop harassing the poor servant.”

What else do you need?

Asking back, Ahibalt removed the cufflinks from his sleeves and set them down on the table one by one.

Tak.

As the sound of metal hitting the table continued, he brushed his slightly disheveled hair before sitting back down. Irene could see the thick and delicate lines on his wrists under the sleeves and his smooth hands that overshadowed his position as underboss of a mafia group.

As if what had been before her eyes had been a lie, the man who had taken a few steps away and swallowed the darkness pouring from the window behind her, like someone she didn’t know.

The sharp lines on his face resembled a dagger. The clean, uncluttered gestures were obviously from someone she knew well, but for some reason…

What made it feel so strange?

Unlike the man who sank coldly to the point where the intense moment felt like an illusion to her, Irene’s heart was still pounding fast. Her pulsating heart made her ribs hurt as if she had hyperventilation.

A memory of the past was drawn over it.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to resent me?”

Ahibalt with his back to the saturated summer sun as he sat down with his back to the lakeside.

‘…I think my heart was beating like this even then.’

What Irene remembered was the leaves of early summer when the yellow color started to fade and the smell of green plums wafting from somewhere.

The weather felt dazzling, even in the shade.

Irene involuntarily clenched her fists over her throbbing chest. Regardless, even that didn’t even last long.

“The punishment is over, so come sit down. I’d like to hear what your plans are.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Freed from her thoughts, Irene took a few steps toward him. Because of that, she put off the memories that seemed to come to mind quickly. At the same time, she thought it was a relief that the twilight was thick in her room.

So he couldn’t see how red her face was.

If Irene had known at that time that Ahibalt had the same thoughts as her, their relationship might have changed a little that day.

In the past and now, darkness was the best drawer to store folly.

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Again, thank you so much for always supporting the novels I translate, even if you don’t buy me a coffee, I really do appreciate it a lot.