Chapter 241
After meeting Rubens, Macy was bedridden for a full week.
“How is Eren doing?”
The first thing Macy asked Anna after regaining consciousness was about his whereabouts.
“He’s still at the main Lettern mansion. Looks like the blizzard is keeping him from returning to the capital.”
Macy shivered slightly as the fierce snowstorm that had blasted through the window that night came to mind.
Anna was peeling an apple quietly when she broke the silence.
“But it seems the Duke really regrets what he did.”
“Regrets?”
“Yes. He wants to apologize for everything he did to you. He said he’d support anything to help your health improve… even allowed you to stay here if you want. He won’t force you to come back.”
“Anna, I’m leaving here.”
Macy said firmly.
“Now that he knows I’m here, I can’t stay. I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.”
She was fed up with being caged and controlled like livestock within his fence. The brief touch of Eren’s hand on her cheek sent chills down her spine, as if bugs were crawling over her skin.
And after trampling on her so thoroughly, he talks about regret? Macy didn’t believe his remorse, and even if he did regret it, she wouldn’t forgive him for a second.
“But Eren is the only one who can save you.”
Tears welled up in Anna’s eyes.
“Sorry… I promised myself not to be like this when I rescued you. I hoped you’d at least spend your remaining days peacefully, with a smile. But the one who can save you has come back. He says he won’t hurt you anymore. I just can’t let you go. Won’t you accept the Name treatment and live?”
“Anna, I—”
Before Macy could say no, the door suddenly swung open. Both of their gazes turned to the unexpected visitor.
“I’ll be the one to persuade her next. You go out for a bit.”
It was Eren. He appeared again in front of Macy.
“I have nothing to say to you. Get out of here.”
“I’ll only do the Name treatment. I won’t ask who you are, your age, who you meet, or what you do. Just like the first time we met.”
At the mention of their first meeting, Macy’s eyes trembled.
“All conditions will follow your wishes. The frequency, the place, the treatment stages — all on your terms. If you want, I’ll even let you blindfold me. I don’t mind being tied up—hands, feet, whatever.”
“What are you doing?”
“It’s to save you.”
Macy’s question was rhetorical, but Eren answered shamelessly.
“I’m just the one doing the Name treatment. I’ll get out of your life. So why would you have a reason to die?”
“…”
“So just live like anyone else. You don’t have to like me. I won’t have any feelings that make you uncomfortable.”
“…”
“Do I have to kneel right now for you to open your mouth?”
“Stop it. I’ll never forgive you.”
Macy didn’t want any involvement with Eren — love, regret, forgiveness — she was sick of it all and didn’t want to think about it anymore.
“How refreshing to hear that. So you still have hatred left.”
“I…! Hah.”
But Eren completely misunderstood Macy’s words. Sensing something dragging her back, Macy swallowed what she was about to say.
One year was long and short at the same time. Despite the time passed, it felt as if she had returned to that pitiful, directionless past, tossed about by a single word from him.
“I’ll go out and get some tea. I won’t go far, so call me if you need anything.”
“Anna, wait—!”
Anna rushed out, fearing Macy would try to stop her. Left alone, Eren and Macy remained in the room.
Anna left the door open just in case, but Macy found it hard to even meet Eren’s gaze and struggled to breathe.
She firmly refused, but her fear of him remained.
“I won’t touch you. So you don’t have to tremble like that.”
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