Chapter 96-2

Chapter 96-2

She wished to tear out her heart, just as her father had suffered.

But... she couldn't bring herself to do it.

The weight pressing down on Eisel felt like an immense boulder, rendering her paralyzed.

Even her eyes bulged with veins as she could do nothing but glare intensely.

"So, you're that child, huh? Hehe, you've grown up so beautifully. Would you consider marrying me someday?"

"... What brings you here with that face?"

Eisel reluctantly managed to speak, her words dripping with animosity.

Hong Si-hwa nonchalantly touched her chin, as if feigning ignorance about what Eisel meant.

"Hmm~ Is there a face for visiting the sick? I'm not quite sure. Is it wrong for me to come to the ones who saved my younger sister? Or perhaps..."

With a sly smile, Hong Si-hwa approached Eisel, slightly bowing her head.

"Do I need permission from a traitor to be here?"

"You...!"

**Sssaaaah!!**

In an instant, a chilling coldness spread, enveloping the hospital room.

Yet, Hong Si-hwa remained composed as she calmly walked towards Baek Yu-Seol.

"You must have been taking care of them diligently, huh? Is there a reward for your devotion?"

"...... I'm not seeking any such reward. Do you think I'm as materialistic as you?"

"Oh, humans are all inherently materialistic. There are only those who pretend otherwise. Look, even now."

Hong Si-hwa pointed alternately at Mayuseong and Baek Yu-Seol.

"These children possess an extraordinary past and power. Unlike you, who are just a traitor's child. Don't you know that too?"

"That's..."

"Well~ I guess anything will come out when pushed. If I call you a pathetic worm, you'll respond as such, right? Yes, it's a pitiful and demeaning judgment. I'll give you that praise."

As Eisel gritted their teeth, Hong Si-hwa mocked even that expression.

"But... are you sticking around because you know the secret this children hold?"

"... What?"

What nonsense was she spouting now?

As Eisel tried to retort, Hong Si-hwa threw a chart at her.

Dismissing it casually, she said, "He won't last long."

*Did I just hear what I think I did?*

Eisel stared blankly at Hong Si-hwa, but she paid no attention and instead focused on the sleeping Baek Yu-Seol.

At that moment, Eisel felt a faint trace of emotion, or so she thought...

It was just a fleeting illusion in Hong Si-hwa, who seemed devoid of any feelings.

"Mana Accumulation Retardation Syndrome. It's a congenital condition where one cannot accumulate mana in their body, and they die before reaching twenty. That's the condition Baek Yu-Seol is suffering from. You claim to be close, yet you didn't know, did you?"

"Now you're confident? No, should I say shameless? A usurper who took advantage of someone's death to enter the position?"

Hong Bi-Yeon bit her lip slightly at Hong Si-hwa's attack.

Eisel, who was silently observing this, listened carefully.

She no longer wanted to live passively, constantly being pushed around.

Instead, even in the face of a beast baring its fangs right in front of her, she wanted to speak her mind confidently.

So she forced open her mouth, as if trying to suppress a groan, and spat out her words.

"... You're the one who's shameless, aren't you?"

"What?"

"Snooping around and proudly boasting about the information you dug up without even taking consent. What kind of act is that?"

"Oh, so that's what you meant."

"It's true, isn't it? Even though he didn't want to reveal bis secrets, you forcefully dig them out and act all high and mighty."

Hong Bi-Yeon seemed slightly stung by those words as well, as she averted her gaze.

"Yes, you're right. I know less about Baek Yu-Seol than you do. But... at least I can listen to him honestly and openly without prying like someone else."

As Eisel responded with brief replies, Hong Si-hwa looked at her with a peculiar expression.

It wasn't an expression of anger, nor was it one of happiness...

It resided in the ambiguous boundary of emotions, making it impossible to discern her true feelings.

Or perhaps, does such a woman even possess emotions?

Although Eisel mustered a strong retort, she clenched her fists tightly, unsure of what kind of insane words the woman might spew next.

"Well, I suppose that could be possible."

Unexpectedly, Hong Si-hwa quickly accepted it, wearing a sly grin, and swiftly departed from the hospital room as if dancing.

"Young people these days are so full of energy, aren't they? I hope to see more of that kind of attitude in the future!"

With those words, she vanished with light steps.

"... What... What was that?"

Feeling as if a whirlwind had swept through, Eisel stared blankly outside the hospital room.

In the corridor, nurses and Stella security guards stood there in a state of confusion, attempting to quell the sudden commotion.

Nevertheless, they didn't dare to confront and remove two princesses of Adolveit.

"She's gone... Did she really leave?"

With a bewildered expression, Eisel cautiously peered outside to confirm if she had truly departed.

Meanwhile, Hong Bi-Yeon wordlessly tucked a simple fruit box into the crevice of Baek Yu-Seols desk, as there was no more space left due to the abundance of gifts.

After briefly gazing at Baek Yu-Seols sleeping face, she turned her body and walked out of the hospital room.

Just like thirty minutes ago, no one remained in the room, and Eisel sank down into the now tranquil atmosphere.

Sigh...

It had been an incredibly tumultuous week, filled with utter chaos and unrest.",