The Beast of the Albard Mansion - Chapter 48

Desi looked down at me with a face of disbelief, shock, and confusion. His eyes darted back and forth wildly. Then he suddenly bit his lip hard and lifted me up.

“What are you doing?”

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Where to?”

“Anywhere.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Why all of a sudden, you ask!”

Desi’s breathing was erratic, as if he were being chased. He crossed the room and headed for the window. Desi never knew how to ask questions when something went wrong—he only knew how to charge forward without looking back.

In truth, I didn’t want to stop Desi from trying to take me away. Desi might not be a dashing knight, but he was my loyal and lovable beast. I wanted to hold Desi’s hand and take the path chosen by one in ten noblewomen, without worrying about the consequences.

“No, put me down.”

“Why? Why should I? No, I won’t put you down.”

We were just about to climb out the window. Desi looked as if he were about to cry, his expression so pitiful that it made my heart ache.

“Don’t do this, Seli. Okay? Don’t get married. Is it because of the family? Because your parents are forcing you? If you get married, I’ll kill that man.”

Desi was breathing heavily, his sharp teeth bared. His eyes were so fierce that it gave me goosebumps. What was he even saying? I shook my head and tugged on his ear, feeling the absurdity of his words.

“It’s not like that, Desi.”

Seeing that Desi was losing his mind, I couldn’t tease him any longer. Desi didn’t know how to say kind words and often whined like a child, but his genuine emotions were enough.

I didn’t need pretty words or wealth. His pure devotion, seeing me as I was, was all I needed. With Desi, I could be a complete person.

“Running away like this isn’t fun. Let’s make a more fairy tale-like story.”

I pulled Desi’s face closer and kissed him. Desi didn’t understand what I was saying but responded to my kiss. I gently stroked Desi’s trembling head as he anxiously drooped his ears.

“Desi, you need to get revenge too. On my family for tormenting you.”

I laughed. The thought of what was to come made me happy and excited. It had been a long time since the mischievous side of me had awakened.

***

That night, I asked Desi to rescue Sister.

I waited for Sister and Desi in the bushes. Tall trees grew densely around me. I wrapped my scarf tighter around my shoulders and looked up at the night sky.

Then, with a rustling sound, Desi appeared, carrying Sister over his shoulder. Desi was dressed entirely in black like a criminal. He wore a black hood pulled down low to hide his ears. Carrying Sister effortlessly with one hand, he looked intimidating.

“Desi! I told you to bring her safely.”

Sister’s hair was a mess, and her mouth was gagged with a cloth. She was writhing and hitting Desi’s back with her tied hands. Desi looked unjustly at me.

“She was resisting too much.”

“Put her down gently.”

Sister, trembling, saw me and widened her eyes in surprise. I ran to her and removed the cloth from her mouth.

“Sister, are you okay?”

“Seli? What on earth is going on?! And who is this man?!”

“Calm down, I’ll explain everything.”

I handed Sister the pre-packed bags and explained the situation.

“Sister, Father won’t calm down easily. You need to run away to the capital. Live with the person you love. There’s no turning back now, so Father can’t do anything about it. He won’t be able to torment you anymore.”

As Sister tidied her disheveled hair, she began to catch her breath once she realized we were in a forest not far from the mansion.

“Who exactly is he?”

“Oh, someone I know well.”

Sister glanced warily at Desi and turned pale when their eyes met. She then whispered in my ear.

“Really? Someone you know?”

“Yes. I asked him to help you escape.”

“He broke into my room through the window like a ghost and kidnapped me! I nearly had a heart attack.”

“Well… Desi is good at climbing walls.”

“Is that all? He picked me up as if I were a feather and jumped out the window. I thought I was going to die. And it took only a few minutes to get here. Is he even human? Are you okay?”

Despite fearing Desi, Sister worried that I might be under some sort of threat from him.

“Don’t worry. Desi is a good kid.”

“Kid?”

“Yes.”

“In what way does he look like a kid?”

“Why? Desi’s only 19. He’s younger than you.”

My sister looked incredulously at Desi. Desi raised an eyebrow as if to say, “What are you looking at?” My sister turned back to me and grabbed my hand.

“Seli! Come with me. Come to the capital with me.”

“What?”

“I have some foundation in the capital. I can take care of you. I’ll even send you to the academy.”

Her warm hand grasped mine, but if I followed her to the capital, Father would undoubtedly follow us. He would find her house and ruin everything. He would try to take me back by force. It wouldn’t be good for either of us.