Chapter 154
She paused and rose from her seat. Her pink lips parted, and a voice filled with sincerity settled between them.
“That’s up to you.”
She walked out of the reception room, and Rezus found himself strangely unable to look away from her retreating figure.
Psyche exchanged only a brief glance with Ruon before teleporting to Zephyros’s mansion. The first person she encountered there was Paris. Paris was speechless for a while, as if he couldn’t believe that Psyche, who had escaped with Ruon, had returned of her own accord.
“……Phrena, why on earth are you…….”
“……Where is my brother?”
It was then. A familiar voice came from behind.
“My lovely sister, welcome.”
A warm embrace enveloped her.
“I knew you’d come back.”
It was Zephyros.
“……Let go of me.”
Psyche pushed Zephyros away fiercely, breaking free from his arms. Paris had already tactfully slipped away.
“You’re very angry with me. I understand. You must have been shocked seeing that side of me for the first time while you were captive.”
Zephyros smiled benevolently, as if he truly understood.
“But it was necessary to win the war. If I had shown even the slightest care for you there…… you probably would have suffered even worse.”
“…….”
At that moment, she couldn’t suppress the bitter laugh that escaped her lips. It had been about three months since they last faced each other. During those three months, she had been kidnapped, imprisoned, and violated by Arje. Zephyros clearly knew this fact. And yet all he had to say was…… something like this.
‘I must endure.’
She couldn’t appear too hostile. On the surface, she was here to help with the war, after all.
“Oh dear, it seems my words have only fueled your anger. Psyche, it’s alright. I’ll take it all until your anger subsides, so feel free to let it out.”
“……No, brother.”
Psyche suppressed the rising disgust and rage, continuing in a deliberately calm tone.
“If you truly want my anger to subside. Stop talking to me.”
“How can you say that? I understand you’re very angry, but……,”
“Do you think I came here to reconcile with you? If it weren’t for the war, I wouldn’t have come at all.”
The smile gradually faded from Zephyros’s lips. His eyes held a sorrowful light. She wanted to scream at him to stop his pretense, but Psyche suppressed that urge as well.
“I originally planned not to get involved……. But I can’t let everything our parents built over generations be lost in an instant. That’s the only reason I’m here.”
If she acted too hostile or too friendly, Zephyros wouldn’t lower his guard. So she needed to maintain the attitude that she was here only because it was necessary to win the war, not because she had forgiven him. Fortunately, this approach seemed to work, as Zephyros didn’t appear to be suspicious of her.
Thanks to this, she could easily find a moment to speak with Paris alone.
Shortly after 1 AM. It was when she was coming down from the second floor. She ran into Paris, who was about to go upstairs. She mouthed the words.
‘Paris, could we talk for a moment?’
Paris carefully surveyed their surroundings before gesturing for Psyche to follow him. He led her to an empty room among the servants’ quarters.
Thinking this place would be free from Zephyros’s surveillance, Psyche felt somewhat at ease asking Paris for help.
“Paris, I need your help.”
“How can I assist you?”
“I plan to bring down my brother, Zephyros…… When that time comes, lend me your strength.”
“…….”
He didn’t answer. It would have been strange if he had agreed immediately. Psyche continued calmly.
“You must have felt it too—that no matter how much we want to win this war, this isn’t the right way. ……I believe you don’t want to follow someone who commits unethical acts without remorse. And I don’t want my brother to tarnish my family’s, my parents’ reputation any further.”
This meant she intended to strip Zephyros of his position.
“……Do you plan to become the family head?”
“Yes, I think you…… know well who is more suited to be the family head.”
While Psyche is stronger than Zephyros, she simply can’t control 100% of her power. She is also more moral and ethical. But regardless of that fact, they were currently at war.
“It must be difficult for you to betray him right now. I understand. But…… there will come a time when you must. When that time comes, lend me your strength. That’s all I ask.”
Since she couldn’t possibly tell him she had joined forces with Arje, this was the best way to request his help.
“……I think I need time to consider. It’s getting late, so you should go back now.”
Discussion
1 CommentHilale