Chapter 54
Paiki swallowed the rest of his words. Her gaze, mixed with bewilderment and resentment, left him speechless.
“How can I smile? I’m trapped here forever and can’t even see my family’s faces anymore.”
“Will you starve if you don’t see them? Will you be unable to sleep?”
Without realizing it, his voice grew louder out of frustration. A startled Aniella flinched and stepped back.
“I’m not trying to get angry, I’m asking. I don’t understand why you miss your family so much.”
Paiki pressed his temples firmly and apologized to her.
“If you feel frustrated being confined, I understand. I can expand this world more so you don’t feel that way.”
“Can’t you let me see my family?”
“Family. Family. Is family all you want?”
Paiki clenched his fist tightly and forced the corners of his mouth up into a smile.
When you feel bad, smile. And think hard to eliminate the problem.
He repeated this sentence in his mind and exhaled.
“Do you remember the fairy tale I made? Do you understand what lesson I was trying to convey with that book?”
Aniella shook her head as if she didn’t know.
“It’s that if you can’t accept the fact that you were abandoned by your family and become obsessed, you’ll ruin your life. Just like that kitten.”
His unsettled mind made the sunset seem to shimmer. If he didn’t tightly hold onto his focus, it felt like night would fall immediately. Along with it, Aniella standing beneath it also felt like a being who would disappear with the sunset.
Paiki reached out and grabbed her arm to prevent Aniella from disappearing.
“You miss your family, but they don’t miss you at all.”
“That can’t be true.”
Aniella’s eyes wavered.
“If they truly thought of you, they would have wondered why you didn’t return and come looking for me. But they haven’t. Not a single letter, and no replies to the many letters you’ve sent asking after them.”
Aniella took a deep breath. Paiki wore a troubled smile and began by saying he was terribly sorry to have to say this.
“Aniella, you were abandoned by your family.”
“Did my family really never, not even once, come looking for me? Not my mother, nor my sisters?”
If she kept missing her family, he could make her resent and hate them. Paiki held Aniella and sighed as if truly regretful. Seeing her shoulders tremble as if in shock, it seemed his plan was working well.
“Instead, I will take care of you. I’ll make sure you lack for nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I will never abandon you.”
Paiki smiled. Aniella stared at him intently, then rested her cheek against his chest.
She’s completely come over to my side. Relieved, Paiki held her and kissed her head. He swore repeatedly that he would never abandon her.
“I believe you, Duke. But……”
“But? What’s troubling you?”
Paiki reassured her, saying he would grant anything, just to say it. Aniella hesitated for a long time before finally parting her lips.
“But… you’re not always by my side. I don’t know how much time has passed, and it’s painful to wait for you endlessly. Even when we are together, I feel lonely thinking you’ll leave soon.”
Aniella tightly wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest.
“Even if you lock me in the dungeon of your estate, couldn’t you at least keep me under the same sky as you?”
Paiki flinched at her request to be taken out of this place. He was suspicious that she might be having other, clever ideas.
“If it’s not possible, I’ll give up. I’m sorry. I said something foolish.”
But seeing this timid woman shrink back and retreat again made him frustrated. Could a man who pushed back a forest to create a sea not even manage this much?
“I can’t lock you in a dungeon. It doesn’t suit you.”
Paiki decided to take Aniella out with him.
Fortunately, bringing her out was worthwhile. Aniella, who had been listless and depressed, looked around his bedroom with curious eyes.
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