Chapter 152
Look at this, he showed me the video while laughing like a madman……. Ruon added in a trembling voice.
“I felt like I was going insane, I was in so much pain that I wanted to bite my tongue and die, but when I saw that video…… I wanted to live again.”
He took another deep breath and smiled at her.
“I’m…… grateful to you.”
“Ah……”
“And I really wanted to see you. I wanted to look into your eyes and tell you to stay strong, that even though it’s difficult and painful now, someday everything will be alright. I wanted to tell you that.”
“Hic……”
“Let’s not suffer too much, okay……”
Her body slowly collapsed. Ruon came down from the bed and pulled her head to his chest. Her limp hands then wrapped around Ruon’s back. They shared warmth and sorrow like that for a long while. As if only they could share it with each other.
When they had calmed down somewhat, the two sat side by side in front of the fireplace, continuing their unfinished conversation while drinking warm milk generously mixed with honey. As fellow victims, Psyche and Ruon felt a sense of shared suffering.
Just as Psyche felt toward Ruon, Ruon too held sympathy and affection for Psyche. Moreover, Ruon:
“I thought if anyone would save me, it would probably be you.”
Just as Psyche had planned to rescue Ruon first when her power manifested, he had thought the same.
“Throughout the torture, I promised myself. That if I manifested my ability, I would save you first.”
He lowered his gaze and smiled faintly.
“And I thought you would probably…… be similar to me.”
He gazed softly into her eyes and expressed his gratitude once more.
“Thank you for saving me.”
They were victims who had suffered similar wounds and pain, differing only in their allegiances. Without needing many words, they could feel what was in each other’s hearts. The mental suffering was undoubtedly greater than the physical pain.
Psyche couldn’t speak for a while. Looking into Ruon’s upright and kind eyes, a heart-wrenching sadness suddenly overwhelmed her.
‘Why did someone as good as you have to go through such things.’
Why, of all people, did you have to endure such pain? She wanted to erase his memories. But Ruon said he didn’t want to forget.
That it would feel too unjust if the memories disappeared. Though he would suffer nightmares for the rest of his life because of those memories, he still didn’t want them erased. She felt sorry for Ruon, but deeply understood his feelings.
Psyche had suffered a great wound in her heart because of Rezus and Zephyros. But she would never erase those memories either.
‘No one will ever know the pain and suffering that Ruon and I experienced.’
Especially Ruon’s pain and suffering—only Ruon himself would know.
“……I don’t think I’ll ever forgive my brother until I die.”
Deep disgust appeared on his face. Because Ruon was more upright than anyone, and because he had deeply respected and trusted his brother. He could not possibly accept the bestial acts that Rezus Anoctun had committed.
He was no longer family. The fact that such a bastard had been family was a shame and insult to Ruon.
“But what I can forgive even less is…… those who tortured me without a second thought……”
Suddenly he covered his face and breathed roughly. Watching Ruon’s trembling hands, Psyche asked.
“……Do you want revenge?”
It was a question she had been considering continuously since the moment she brought Ruon here. He slowly raised his head.
“Yes. But if you don’t want it…… I won’t do it.”
Ruon spoke as if in pain. He desperately wanted revenge but didn’t want to upset Psyche, who had saved his life. After all, Zephyros Rosebel was the only family she had left in the world.
But Psyche readily agreed to the revenge.
“I’ll help you.”
“……Are you sure? Despite everything, Zephyros Rosebel is……”
“I want revenge against Zephyros Rosebel too. Let’s do it together.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips. Ruon stared at her blankly for a moment, then murmured a small thank you.
“But Ruon, there’s something you need to know first.”
Psyche took a deep breath. Until Ruon had asked if she was alright, she had no intention of stopping the war. But the moment he asked that question, her mind changed. She decided she must stop the war, even if just for Ruon’s sake. That she must protect this country.
To achieve that goal, she needed to inform Ruon about the current situation and the future that awaited them.
“Ruon, right now Arje and Mathes are at war. And if my precognition is accurate…… after the war ends, several enemy nations will invade. His Majesty will be assassinated, and Sicardo will fall.”
“……What do you mean?”
“That’s why I had to stop this war at all costs. But it happened anyway. Still, it’s not too late. We can end the war before more damage occurs.”
Ruon looked confused. It was regrettable to burden a young man who had endured horrific torture for three months without giving him time to recover, but it had to be done. Psyche held his hand to help him gather his thoughts and asked with a resolute expression.
“Ruon, do you have any idea when you might manifest your ability?”
“I don’t know. ……I’m sorry. For not being able to help……”
“No, don’t say that. I originally planned not to care what happened to this country. I changed my mind because of you.”
So don’t say such things, Psyche added again in a strong voice.
“Anyway, I can’t even handle half of the power I currently possess.”
Then she smiled casually as if it were nothing.
“Since both of us are in this state…… it seems we’ll need someone else’s help, don’t you think?”
“If you mean someone else……”
“We need Rezus’s help. That’s our best option right now.”
At first, when Psyche mentioned Rezus, Ruon seemed at a loss for words. He agreed with Psyche’s thinking, but couldn’t easily respond because he felt asking Rezus for help might wound Psyche. As if reading his mind, she spoke firmly.
“Ruon, if you’re worried that asking Rezus for help might hurt me…… don’t worry about it. And I don’t want you to feel any guilt toward me. You have nothing to do with the wrongs he committed against me, and you too are just a victim.”
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