The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 238

※ This book contains depictions of coercive/dubcon/noncon acts, violence, and immorality. Reader discretion is advised.

“Please draw as much as you want in the temple. Not many people come to the garden in the back.”

Then, he simply placed his hand on Neilla’s head and stroked it gently.

“…I’m so grateful, I don’t know how to repay you…”

“If you want to repay me, you must be happy.”

“Happy…”

What is happiness? Neilla thought. At least, she seemed to be happier than anything else right now. But soon, this happiness would disappear when she returned home. Neilla became gloomy for a moment.

“It’s only natural to be unhappy if you can’t freely choose your own path.”

Mana spoke, seeing her like that. He lifted one of Neilla’s wrists and put a bracelet on it. Looking down at the jingling sound, it was an amulet of Kail and Aiha. It was still a somewhat unfamiliar and uncomfortable item for Neilla, who had originally only believed in Aiha. But it felt new because he gave it to her. She fiddled with the amulet.

Mana smiled, folding his eyes, and explained. He twisted and opened the largest pendant part.

“This opens like this. Open it when you need help. There’s nothing here now, but when you need it, if you open this and say what you want, it will be conveyed to me, and then I can quickly send you a small letter.”

It was clearly a magical tool that seemed to be an ancient artifact. Neilla thought it was precious and tried to decline, not knowing what to do, but he gestured for her to take the bracelet by making her hold his hand tightly.

“Please take it. You will need it.”

Neilla looked back and forth between the bracelet and Mana, hesitated once more, and then finally accepted it.

I can’t cause trouble for the priest, so I’ll only use it when I really need help. And I probably won’t have to use it, she thought.

***

“Neilla?”

Neilla startled and came to her senses. It was a dinner with the man she was supposed to marry. These days, she often spaced out like this and couldn’t remember things except when she was at the temple. The man had been talking nonstop, but she didn’t remember much of it.

“Yes.”

Neilla replied obediently. If I just spend time like this, I’ll be able to escape someday, she thought. She had always acted quietly and submissively.

But today was different. The man’s gaze was a bit… strange. He was staring at Neilla intently, looking her up and down, and she felt strangely uncomfortable. She shrank back a little. He was clearly handsome and capable, but no matter how much time passed, she couldn’t bring herself to like him.

“Why don’t you come over here?”

After the first day, he had started speaking informally, saying that she was going to be his wife anyway. Neilla didn’t mind, so she just nodded.

Neilla, unable to shake off the awkwardness at his sudden request to come closer, hesitated for a moment, but when he seemed to raise his eyebrows slightly, she finally got up and cautiously approached his side. They had been facing each other across the table, and now she had gone to the other side.

The man’s gaze deepened. Neilla, feeling a slight chill at the sight, instinctively stopped walking, but he beckoned her with his hand, signaling her to come closer.

Neilla had no choice but to close her eyes tightly and slowly approach.

That’s when it happened. Whack, the man’s hand roughly grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.

“Eek!!”

Neilla screamed at the unfamiliar rudeness. The man whispered Shh! to Neilla.

“Be quiet. This is good for you too.”

The man’s hands groped Neilla’s body hastily. Neilla trembled greatly at the rough touch, which she had never experienced before. No one had ever touched her so carelessly. Neilla froze with fear that overwhelmed her before she could feel shame.

“D-don’t do this. Why are you doing this…”

“Why am I doing this? I’ve been waiting for you to wear out. Stop pretending to be innocent when you’re dying to have me.”

That was not the case at all. Neilla began to tremble like an aspen tree. He sneered and grabbed her clothes roughly, regardless of her resistance, and buried his face in her. Neilla could no longer bear it and pushed him away from her as his hands grasped even her b*****s.