Please Kill Me - Chapter 146

Whether she had orchestrated everything herself or had willingly cooperated with Dmitry’s plan, if Yekaterina hadn’t been involved, Leonid wouldn’t have been so easily lured.

The thought made him feel a profound sense of weakness, as if his entire body was losing its strength.

It had become easier for him to count the days he hadn’t slept properly due to missing Yekaterina rather than the days he had. The realization that she was using their relationship to kill him was devastating.

‘Did I really mean nothing to you?’

Was everything we shared—our time, our conversations, our relationship—just a heap of snow melting away with a splash of hot water in your eyes?

The shock was like being struck on the head. Yet, the real problem was that he was facing an assassin right now.

As Leonid stumbled, losing his balance, a soft thud echoed as the assassin’s concealed blade pierced his abdomen.

The sound came first, followed by the pain.

Realizing what had happened, Leonid immediately slashed at the assassin’s neck with the dagger he held, but the damage had already been done. The assassin’s lifeless body dropped to the floor with a heavy thud.

Ignoring the dull noise, Leonid took a few steps back before collapsing.

He leaned against the terrace railing, feeling the rush of blood with each breath. The wound was in a critical location, and the sharp pain quickly spread throughout his body. He knew he would surely die if he stayed in this state.

Yet, the thought of moving felt impossible.

If he was to die, perhaps it would be a form of relief. No more suffering, no more injuries.

If Yekaterina wanted that so much, maybe granting her wish wouldn’t be such a terrible thing.

After all, he was supposed to have died when he fell from the cliff.

Returning the life she had spared him to her might not be so bad.

His consciousness began to fade. Leonid slowly closed and opened his eyelids. Through his blurred vision, he saw something.

A moment ago, the assassin he had killed had silver hair like this. And a familiar face.

“…Leonid?”

Even the familiar voice.

If this was a hallucination seen before death, it wasn’t so bad.

* * *

What’s happening right now?

Yekaterina couldn’t grasp reality. It was beyond her understanding.

She was definitely at the Vesna banquet. Of course, it wasn’t exactly by her choice but rather because of Dmitry’s request.

“You know I don’t have a fiance, right? Since there’s no one to go with me, I’d like you to accompany me.”

The reason Dmitry didn’t have a fiance was simple. Sergei had never chosen the power to be bestowed upon Dmitry until his death.

When you aim for a stag for too long, it’s easy to miss. Sergei, who had been mortally wounded by his cherished son’s arrow, remained silent, leaving the seat next to the head of the Offenbach family empty.

The public buzzed that Dmitry had abandoned the Empress as soon as Sergei died, but in reality, Sergei hadn’t planned to stay with the Empress for long.

He merely believed that assisting the current ally would be beneficial in the long run.

If Ruslan had ascended to the throne without much trouble, Dmitry’s spouse would likely have been chosen from the Pavel family, related to the Empress.

But before that happened, Sergei died, and Dmitry was not particularly eager about his own marriage. Consequently, Yekaterina, as the current mistress of the Offenbach family, had no choice but to ask.

“This time I’ll do as you say, but how long do you plan to remain unmarried now that you’re the head of the family?”

“Leonid Rostislav has been unmarried for over fifteen years since becoming the head of his family.”

When Dmitry mentioned Leonid’s name, Yekaterina’s expression tightened slightly. She knew that Dmitry’s mention of that name was almost a provocation.

“Leonid Rostislav lost his parents when he was young and has no one to take care of him.”

“I lost them a bit later, but it’s not significantly different. Or do you plan to look after me yourself?”

“If you want, I can find a suitable matchmaker for you.”

“I’m not too keen on it… but I suppose I’ll have to get married eventually. Do as you wish. Anyway, Sister needs to attend this time.”

“Are you saying something disastrous will happen if I don’t attend?”

Dmitry, who had been speaking bluntly, pressed the tips of his fingers together before answering with a slight delay.

“Even if I marry, Sister will still be the mistress of the Offenbach household.”

If it seemed like Dmitry was waiting to see how Yekaterina would react, it might not be an exaggeration.

“It’s better to get used to it in advance.”

“It’s ridiculous for me to act as the mistress of the household when the rightful head’s wife is already here. There’s no need. Just tell me your preferences to pass on to the matchmaker.”

Dmitry’s eyes narrowed at Yekaterina’s dry response.