Chapter 71
“Is it because you think it’ll be difficult to act?”
Before she could respond, he continued.
“I don’t think that’s it.”
A faint crack appeared in Psyche’s composure. Rezus, gazing steadily into her eyes, added in a monotone voice.
“Just do it like you did with Serdin then. It won’t be difficult. Since you’ve done it once, it should be even easier.”
There wasn’t a trace of mockery in his words. Rather, it was his attitude of stating it like an obvious fact that grated on her nerves.
As expected, Rezus seemed to think her pleading with Serdin had been an act. There was no need to get upset about this. Getting upset here would only confirm his assumptions.
She slowly drew in and released a breath. In that brief moment, the words she needed to say quickly arranged themselves in her mind.
“…Despite my pleading, Serdin violated me in the end.”
She spoke in an emotionless voice, as if telling someone else’s story.
“I don’t know how it appeared to all of you, but I was truly desperate then. But in the end, I…”
Was brutally trampled. Muttering the last words in a barely audible voice, she lowered her gaze as if not wanting to reveal her wounded heart. Soon her eyes closed tightly. After a deep breath, Psyche opened her eyes again and looked directly at Rezus’s face.
“And you were the one who ordered Serdin to violate me. So… why should I do what you want?”
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, as if emotions had suddenly welled up while speaking. However, she quickly returned to an expressionless face as if nothing had happened.
“You told me to be grateful. No, there’s no need for gratitude. That was entirely for my own sake.”
Psyche twisted her lips and added in a dismissive tone.
“If I hadn’t told you, you would’ve obviously just come back after being foolishly provoked by my brother. Then who would you take your anger out on? You wouldn’t dare do it to my brother, so you’d do it to me, the easy target.”
She said this to clearly convey that her advice about her brother then was for her own sake, not because she had any fondness for them.
Rezus, who had been quietly listening until now, seemed to contemplate something before slowly parting his lips.
“Yes, I understand your opinion well.”
His tone was so calm it bordered on serene. His voice was so gentle it almost seemed like he was soothing a whining lover, making Psyche feel somewhat bewildered.
“But you know, no matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand.”
Rezus glanced at the ceiling with a somewhat bored expression, then pressed his nape and slowly turned his head side to side.
“I took your flower, and as the head of Arje, I ordered other heads to violate you.”
“…”
“You probably find me disgusting just by looking at me. You wouldn’t want to experience such things again, and you’d want to escape this place quickly.”
Psyche quietly looked up at Rezus as he continued speaking matter-of-factly. Hearing his words up to this point, she could somewhat predict what he would say next. And what answer she should give.
“And I told you how you could protect yourself here. It’s not difficult. You just have to say what I tell you to. Then you won’t be violated by anyone anymore, and someday, if you’re lucky, you might escape from here. If you do as I say, your brother will feel a sense of crisis and try to do something to get you out of here.”
Rezus paused briefly and narrowed his eyes slightly. He asked as if he couldn’t understand.
“What reason could you possibly have to refuse this proposal? It seems you’re well aware that your brother doesn’t care even a speck about your well-being… If so, wouldn’t it make even more sense to accept my proposal?”
“I refuse.”
She let out a firm refusal before he could even finish speaking.
“Keep that filthy and vile hostage play to yourselves. I have not the slightest intention of going along with it.”
She stared directly at Rezus with a cold expression and spoke powerfully with clear pronunciation.
“And I will escape from here with my own strength.”
“Ah.”
Rezus let out a low exclamation and wore an interested expression.
“You’ll escape by getting past the surveillance of all four of us?”
She answered by staring straight at him. Rezus’s expression cracked slightly at her proud and upright gaze that could make an opponent feel small. But that was brief – as if realizing she was serious, he burst into a short laugh and muttered quietly.
“Impressive confidence.”
“…If you’re done talking, leave.”
“Psyche, it seems you’re still under some misunderstanding…”
Discussion
1 CommentHilale