Chapter 272
“I should call the doctor. I’ll be back soon!”
“No, don’t go.”
“But you’re in serious condition!”
“Yes, I’m sick. I need you by my side.”
“So I’ll just step outside for a moment. Don’t be such a child— Ah!”
Eren suddenly pulled Macy’s hand, making her fall into his arms.
“Wait a moment. Stay just like this. I think it’ll help…”
“…”
She heard his steady heartbeat, a sound so familiar and longed for.
Listening quietly, a wave of aching emotion surged. Not wanting to show a pathetic side, she held back tears, but Eren’s grip slowly loosened.
“…You should go now.”
“What?”
“Go and call the doctor.”
“…”
In that brief instant, it felt as if his consciousness changed.
Though still weak and reluctant to let go, now he pushed Macy away as if she was useless.
“…Alright.”
Macy reluctantly got up and headed toward the door.
“Why are you acting like this toward me?”
“What?”
She grabbed the doorknob but paused, turning back. Eren’s voice was harsh and unyielding.
“Eren, you know I like you.”
One of Eren’s eyebrows twitched.
“…No.”
“Why lie so obviously?”
His averted gaze returned to Macy. His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily as he spoke in a colder tone.
“You’ve gotten shameless while I was away. Why would I like you? You’re a woman I’m done with— boring and dull.”
“Don’t be sarcastic. Ever since you came back, you’ve been terrible at pretending in front of me.”
“…”
“So what’s the real reason you’re pushing me away now?”
“It’s all been revealed.”
Was he referring to the secret of his origins?
“But it was resolved well, wasn’t it?”
“Didn’t you hear what Kallen said when he stabbed me? That because the law failed to properly punish evil, evil must be judged with evil.”
“…”
She heard it all. Despite the chaos, those words stayed clear in her mind.
Even while being escorted away, Kallen claimed he had defeated a demon and called Eren a demon disguised as the Duke Krygen, mocking the fallen Eren.
Perhaps because of this, a subtle tension lingered in the commotion that had seemed mostly settled.
“Why would Kallen Krygen go so far? It can’t be true…”
People began doubting Eren. While he lay bedridden, suspicion spread like a plague.
“I can’t live like before. Even if I barely keep my position, I’ll be embroiled in filthy scandals. Someone might suddenly swing a knife at me like Kallen.”
“…”
“You know I’m not the type to fear making enemies. Rats hiding in holes will swarm when they see an opportunity.”
Though he had been lying down all this time, Eren was surprisingly aware of his situation.
“So go. This is my karma. It’s a responsibility I must bear. I’m now more of a liability to you. Like you said, just do the Name treatment sometimes and live like a stranger. That’s right.”
He spoke calmly, looking as composed as someone who had long expected this day.
“I suppose so.”
Born with natural wit and animal instincts, and having risen to one of Obelit’s highest nobles by always finding the best solutions from experience, Eren’s words would likely be right this time too.
But—
“You always think and decide alone. Do you think you’re so great?”
Macy was furious at Eren’s constant attitude. Even now, while ill, he rationally decided to be alone.
“That’s not what I mean. I—”
“Why do you always think and decide alone?!”
Startled, Eren’s eyes widened at Macy’s rare outburst. She let out all the words she had held back until now.
“Do you think the world revolves around you? Do you think you’re a god? Or did you suddenly gain foresight that lets you see the future clearly? What if I got stabbed in the stomach like you? Are you scared of things that haven’t even happened yet?”
Eren’s lips pressed together in troubled silence before slowly speaking.
“I’m scared you’ll get hurt. I’m afraid my misfortune will infect you…”
“Whatever happens to me has nothing to do with you—”
“You’ve already hurt me because of that. It’s not just about physical wounds. I’m not an ordinary person.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Do you think it’s normal to lock up and abuse the woman I love in the basement?”
“…”
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