Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 20: Van Merikh Does Not Know Compassion

Truth be told, Lady Karina knew she was quite reckless when she courageously believed she could pull Sir Dane off the pole and honour his corpse with a righteous burial.

She hadn't been thinking at all.

She lowered her gaze, rubbing her right arm for comfort. "I... am quite alright."

Van Merikh wasn't entirely convinced by her answer.

"I do not believe so but it is a noble lie, Lady," the man commended her, feeling that same urge as earlier to brush his thumb over her bruised cheek again. "In fact, your actions today have been most noble. You have much courage."

Lady Karina wasn't sure how to respond to his backhanded praise. She lifted her head up to look at him, feeling her anger abate as a strange sense of desperation took hold.

Something had to be done to get through to the man.

Her persistence was perhaps her impending doom, but she would not give up on changing his mind.

"Please," Lady Karina begged softly, determined to have her request fulfilled. "I plead that you allow me to bury Sir Dane for he was a noble and kind man. His wife is my dear friend, much like a sister and they have loved each other dearly. It aggrieves her to watch him impaled on a spike outside."

"Grant us your mercy, my Lord," she added, her emerald eyes wavering with hope that she couldn't quite abandon.

Van Merikh did not take well to it.

"I believe you claimed I was a monster without mercy," his sharp reply came, accompanied by a hint of frustration.

Lady Karina sighed wearily, miserably.

"It was my anger that spoke for me, my Lord," she said, steepling her fingers together on her lap. "I cannot fathom your ways or why you must dishonour men who did nothing more than defend their post from your onslaught."

"It is the way of war, as I have told you many times before. In what way must I make you understand this, Lady? I do not think you are dull in the mind one bit, but your insistence leads me to believe so," he remarked, not withholding the insult in his words.

Yet Lady Karina, as disgruntled as she was by his backhanded way of insinuating that she was not smart, decided to brush it aside.

But there was still a flicker of irritation in her eyes and it made the corner of Van Merikh's mouth twitch into a smirk.

"If you show us this mercy, then I swear to you that I will obey and do whatever you wish," Lady Karina continued, her lips pressing together now and then. "I will not leave my chambers without permission; curb my tongue; serve your meals—anything at all. It is important to me and Lady Drosera; is that something you can understand?"

Van Merikh regarded her.

After a moment of contemplation, he lowered himself to the ground, one leg bent and an arm resting on his knee.

Even in that position, he was quite big and intimidating.

But Lady Karina's gaze did not shy away from his face, eagerly awaiting a response for her plea.

There was nothing else that occupied her mind.

"Understand something about me, Lady," Van Merikh said after a thoughtful pause. He shifted closer to her, pulling her swiftly onto his lap.

An inaudible gasp escaped Lady Karina as she was forced to rest her hands on his shoulders, taken aback by the sudden proximity.

She was so very close and his large hands were firmly planted on her hips, holding her captive there.

Normally, she would protest about the inappropriateness, but Van Merikh had already been pushed to the brink of frustration.

She had to comply even if the circumstances made her cheeks burn with shame.

"What you have seen in the bailey is the way of my warring," Van Merikh stated. One hand snaked up her throat, making her swallow involuntarily until he tilted her head back, forcing her eyes to remain on his. "I did not become the most feared warlord on this continent for showing mercy."

Lady Karina felt as though the air from her lungs was being sucked up by his hand, her body trembling with something that wasn't quite fear or anxiety.

"This is my way of showing men what I am capable of," he added. His predatory eyes felt as though they were undressing her body from its courage. "Right now, there are those beyond Blackthorn Reach who are observing Moonveil and they know I control it and they also know I will be aiming for the next castle."

Lady Karina swallowed again, feeling his dual-coloured gaze lingering on her bruised cheek and if his eyes could truly produce any heat, she would have no doubt felt his gaze burn through.

Why was this man so ruthless? It was completely unnatural for someone to be born and bred to live for such brutality.

"Those of the next castle would have heard of my brutality here and those knights in the bailey are a warning that Orpheus Van Merikh is not to be trifled with."

Lady Karina listened to him carefully, realising that the man meant every word with his soul.

He was completely devoid of compassion and understanding.

And after a moment, she shook her head in wonder.

"And who was the one who bred you to such beliefs? Who has made you what you are? What fiend had moulded your mind into believing that this is the right and honourable way to achieve your ends?"

Each question from the lady was marked with venom and anger. She did not withhold the fire in her gaze nor the agitation in her tone.

Even in his arms, knowing he could very well snap her waist with his bare hands alone, she still barked at him.

What a pretty and foolish little thing.

"There is no other way," he answered firmly.

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"Of course there is," she shot back softly this time. "Van Merikh, you do not have to brutalise your conquered army to prove you are powerful. There are ways to be fierce while still showing compassion and fairness."

"Compassion is weakness. I am not weak." He squeezed her waist as a warning.

Lady Karina cocked her head to the side, wondering who in the world had imparted such rigidity to him.

"How many castles have you conquered like this?" Her emerald eyes dulled as they narrowed.

"Ten in Engarian, six in Walcan, two in Caelthwyn, and fifteen in Francia."

Her brows rose. "And you have done this to every army that you brought under your command?"

"Every one."

The man didn't even bat an eye when relating the tales of his terror. And Lady Karina's head wagged back and forth slowly, staggered by the sheer numbers which seemed like nothing to Van Merikh.

"Who told you this was the right way to force people into submission?" She questioned, searching his eyes for something.

"My father."