Chapter 73: Someone Who I Trust

Chapter 73: Someone Who I Trust

Arens gentle hand lightly brushed against the one Damian had extended. She didnt choose Cassadin, but him. Assured of this fact, a smile began to inch its way onto Damians face.

Your Grace.

Her voice was clear, reminiscent of a tranquil sea. It resonated in his ears, a sound as clear and serene as her blue eyes.

Perhaps it was due to her profession as a healer, but Arens voice was undeniably pure and lucid.

Cassadin is not a beast.

Her voice held a certainty, as though she were stating a fact. However, the content of her response caused Damians raised lips to slowly falter.

Slipping out of Damians grasp, her hand intertwined with the beasts. A faint smile on Arens face appeared after holding Cassadins hand.

As Aren smiled, the evening sun sank into the windows, causing her platinum hair to sparkle like gold in the sunlight.

Damians hand, having lost its destination, began to tremble. What was the reason? Why had she chosen him even after learning everything?

Cassadin gazed down at Aren, his eyes filled with deep obsession. Watching these two made Damian feel as if his insides were churning.

His heart must have perceived the anger its owner was feeling, for it also decided to rebel against him. Damian took several deep breaths to alleviate the pain.

Managing to force a smile onto his face, Damian turned to question Aren.

I must ask the reason.

Why have you taken that beasts hand instead of mine?

Perhaps she had gone insane from their absurd game of make-believe. Damian repressed the words that were threatening to come out of his mouth.New novel chapters are published on

The words that had finally left Arens mouth were something he would expect to hear from a saint.

Why should there be a reason?

Whether Cassadin is family or not doesnt change the fact that he is now someone I trust.

Aren then smiled, her grin as radiant as the sunlight illuminating her hair. It was a smile born out of absolute trust. For reasons unknown, Damian found himself unable to look away from it.

My deepest apologies, Your Grace. However, its getting late, and I must be on my way.

Youre leaving then.

Yes, my father awaits me. Moreover, it would be inappropriate for me to keep Your Grace engaged when you are not in the best of health.

Her voice bore genuine concern for his health, but Damian knew the truth. Aren simply sought an escape from this uncomfortable situation.

Aren turned around with a gentle smile, without any hesitation. A large jacket, twice the size of her small frame, rested on her shoulders.

And Cassadin followed behind her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He gently enclosed Arens petite hand in his large one.

Damians expression contorted sharply as he watched the two depart.

His mind was troubled.

The woman had initiated the interaction, and now she fled as if escaping from him.

Unknowingly, he extended his hand towards Aren, who was receding into the distance. But Damian instantly pulled back his arm.

Regardless of whether Cassadin is family or not, the fact remains that hes someone I trust now.

If Aren had been just as ordinary as the others who passed by in the streets, he wouldnt have been so perturbed.

However, Aren was a woman sufficiently intelligent to memorize the entire Boundary of Good and Evil in detail. She would have grasped the true significance of the venomous butterfly analogy he used for Cassadin.

So how could such a knowledgeable woman be absolutely certain that she could trust a man who was hardly better than a beast?

Someone I could trust, you say?

Damian pondered over the words Aren had spoken. Until his heart condition was completely healed, he had to treat Aren with kindness.

In that context, Cassadin posed the greatest challenge to Damian.

Then, I just need to ensure she loses her trust in Cassadin.

Damian had innumerable people under his direct command.

His notable streak of victories in every single Swordsmanship Competition he had participated in, coupled with an inherent elegance that naturally emanated from him and his handsome looks, could not be ignored.

Though Damian was of mixed royal blood, he exuded nobility more than anyone else. As a result, people consistently sought him out, even when he showed no interest in attending banquets and other gatherings.

Moreover, Damian was highly skilled at manipulating those around him. He had transformed his supporters into puppets, ready to do anything for his sake.

But Aren was entirely different from anyone Damian had encountered before.

Its because I healed Tuules tongue.

It had been her who had pushed him into the slave, for her then to suddenly reveal her weakness and answer him boldly.

Her reasons for entering his residence, oblivious to the potential dangers, had been unbelievably absurd.

He initially believed she was there to ask for something from him, but the terms she proposed in exchange for her healing abilities almost rendered him speechless.

Let us forget about the past and reconcile.

Her sole aim was to reconcile with him. That was the bargain she proposed in return for curing his heart condition.

Initially, he thought she had been deceiving him, but the healing capabilities that she demonstrated were genuine.

In the beginning, Damian was purely fixated on how to exploit her healing powers, but subsequently and imperceptibly, he developed a sincere interest in the individual named Aren.

Had I not known Lilian was a commoner through the memories of my past life, I, too, would have mistaken her for a noblewoman.

As I continued to quietly observe her, her round, pink eyes narrowed into crescents.

Hello.

With a bright smile, Lilian greeted me. I didnt return the greeting, rather, I looked at her skeptically.

Why is she here?

I was the daughter of an Earl, and Lilian was a commoner. To me, Lilian was nothing more than an intruder.

However, if I revealed that I was aware of Lilians status, she would undoubtedly become suspicious of me.

I wasnt certain of her reason for coming here, but I was positive it wasnt for any good cause.

After all, she was the one who had tormented me with unfathomable schemes in my previous life.

Upon seeing Lilian, memories of my past life came rushing back.

What is this on your arm? Are you injured?

When Damian noticed a fresh bandage wrapped around Lilians arm, he asked her in evident irritation.

This, its a burn from hot tea

Who did this to you?

It was

Im asking you, who dared to harm you in my house?

Lilian, on the verge of tears due to Damians intense questioning, glanced towards my rooms door.

The moment she turned her gaze towards me, Damian strode towards the door behind which I was hiding.

Did you torment Lilian again?

I hadnt done anything, yet I was blamed for the injury to Lilians arm.

I didnt do anything.

I told Damian the truth, but he didnt believe me.

So, not only did you burn Lilians arm, but now youre lying too?

Instead of responding to Damian, I looked past him to where Lilian was standing.

Tears were welling up in her wide eyes, yet a smile was unmistakably drawn across her face.

It seems you would rather believe her than your own fiance.

I smiled, though the taste was bittersweet.

Youre suggesting that Lilian invented a scenario that never occurred. So how would you explain the scar on her wrist?

Have you actually seen it?

What?

Did you physically see a wound underneath the bandage shes wearing?

Upon hearing that, Damian raised his hand and struck me across the face. The sharp sound of his hand making contact with my cheek caused my head to jerk sideways.

I did not shed a tear but instead bit down hard on my lower lip.

That was likely the first time Damian had ever hit me.

Perhaps it was because of my past memories, but I could not view Lilian objectively.

Hadnt she been the one to play the victim in the incidents she herself had caused?

Feigning ignorance of Lilians identity, I decided to probe her intentions.

Judging by your appearance, you seem to be of noble birth. If its not too rude, may I ask what brings you here?

Lilians face lit up at my question, her mood inexplicably brightening.

She didnt correct me when I referred to her as a commoner.

Maintaining her smile, Lilian courteously lifted the hem of her dress in greeting.

Actually, Im looking for someone.

Someone?

Feeling a sense of oddity, I queried Lilian.

Who might this someone be that youre referring to?

I have heard the rumors about this years Founding Day festival winner. Apparently, he has become a Marquess?

Lilian tilted her head to the side, her coral hair swinging with her movements.

When she bestowed another gentle smile, the passersby all blushed and repeatedly stole glances in our direction.

On the other hand, I could not bring myself to smile.

Because the reason Lilian had journeyed all this way here

I have come to meet Sir Cassadin.

was Cassadin.