Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 21: Reading Him Like An Open Book

Lady Karina was not one to speak ill of the elderly and she certainly didn't want to slander Van Merikh's father, but that man was obviously a complete madman.

Who would even think to teach their child that such brutality was the way of things?

Lady Karina wanted to learn more of the black frost demon's past and what sort of ill-fated life he had led up until now.

She wanted to know exactly how such tyranny was birthed within Van Merikh.

Beseechingly, she reached out and touched the man's cold, hollow cheek.

Van Merikh's dual-coloured gaze flashed and for a moment, Lady Karina jerked her hand back just a bit. But when he averted his gaze, she sought it as a sign of approval.

And again, her soft, warm hand came up to rest on his cheek. Her warmth was so sweet, so pure, so desirable that his black frost mark flared.

His dark ice wanted to devour that warmth for itself.

But Van Merikh knew he had to suppress its hunger.

"Van Merikh, I would not disparage your father, but considering what you do and what you have done, it simply isn't right." Lady Karina stated, her emerald eyes softening with something he couldn't quite recognise and understand.

And gods above, he wanted nothing more than to turn his face into her hand and kiss her palm.

The urge was bloody strong.

"Of what do you speak, Lady?" Van Merikh's contrasting gaze manoeuvred back to her, sharp and unyielding.

"All of it," Lady Karina said with conviction, challenging that predatory glint in his eyes while her thumb brushed over his cheekbone. "But my concern is that leaving honourable men to rot without the right of a burial is wrong. It does not make people fear you. It simply breeds hate."

Normally, as far as Van Merikh was concerned, he never batted an eye at those whom he sowed hatred into for himself.

Yet somehow that did not follow through with Lady Karina.

He closed his eyes, and he could have sworn that he could feel the heat of her hand burning through his cheek.

"Do you share that hatred, then?" Van Merikh asked, opening his eyes to look at her again.

Lady Karina's gaze bore into his for a long while before she simply shook her head.

"Hate is a very strong word," she remarked, her fingertips grazing over the hollowness of his cheek and making his jaw shift subtly. "I certainly do not admire what you do."

She praises, considering her next words carefully before she spoke again, "I fear that you have been gravely misguided to believe that your methods are honourable. "I feel sorry for you, I think."

Van Merikh's dual-coloured gaze flashed dangerously with irritation and he abruptly moved her off his lap, standing up so fast that it startled the lady.

So it was pity that he saw in her eyes just moments ago.

She was testing his limits far too much.

"I do not require your pity, lady," Van Merikh growled, fist clenched. "It would serve you well to reserve that pity for the scarecrows in the bailey."

Lady Karina realised that perhaps she should not have voiced her thoughts. Her unruly tongue was becoming a nuisance.

She stood up, slowly, favouring her left arm and shoulder by cradling it with her right hand. And Van Merikh was suddenly filled with something akin to concern, wondering if he had hurt her when he stood up in a rush.

But he masked that feeling away.

"I did not express that I felt pity for you, my Lord," Lady Karina clarified, her expression forlorn. "I simply stated that I felt sorry for you and I do."

"Why?" He growled out again.

If Lady Karina had to guess from the obvious signs, she knew for sure there was no joy in Van Merikh's pillaging and conquering.

The man treated his conquests like an obligation or a business, but never a luxury.

"Because I believe that you are not happy in the least if such ghastly things as impaling enemies bring about your only sense of satisfaction."

Van Merikh's irritation turned to intrigue and he set his hands on his hips.

"And what exactly drew you to that conclusion, Lady?"

Lady Karina wasn't quite certain, but a part of her was firm in the belief that Van Merikh did not glean joy from his bloody conquests.

"It seems to me that you are never quite satisfied with what you have and what more you acquire," she stated, rubbing her arm.

"Why else do you go about conquering castle after castle, always searching for more? What need are you trying to fulfil? What appetite are you attempting to sate?"

Van Merikh glanced down at her, the way her golden blonde hair brushed gently around her chin and the way her soft eyebrows arched over her emerald-green eyes.

It frightened him to consider how wise and insightful she was at her age and how much she could peer into his mind and see what was there when even he himself despised even thinking about it.

"You talk too much, Lady," Van Merikh answered bluntly, his jaw ticking.

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Lady Karina gave him a quirky smile. "I know, my Lord," she agreed, her smile fading a moment later. "In what manner may I convince you to bury the knights in the bailey?"

"I will not bury all of the knights in the bailey."

It was a start.

"Then what must I do to earn your mercy to bury Sir Dane at the least?"

Van Merikh considered her words, eyeing her. He could demand almost anything and she would undoubtedly see it through.

He remembered well earlier in the day when she had followed through on her commitment to accepting punishment on behalf of the people of Moonveil.

He had little doubt that she would follow through on anything else that he demanded out of her.

Van Merikh knew he could simply take what he desired and satisfy both his curiosity and lust; aye, the man's limbs burnt with lust for her.

There was no other explanation for why he bestowed such leniency upon her.

But along the same lines of thought, he realised that he did not want to take from her or order her into submission.

That so-called satisfaction she spoke of—he could not think of anything more satisfying that if Lady Karina were to give herself to him willingly.

He would make her come to him herself.

"I will extract a heavy price to bury your father's knight," Van Merikh finally said.

It was the first positive admission she had heard from him in that regard and her heart soared even as her mind quivered with fear.

Her mind heard the words but her heart was encouraged by his compliance, no matter what the cost.

She would do anything for her people.

"Name the price, my Lord," Lady Karina replied, inhaling a deep breath. "What will you have me do?"

Van Merikh crossed his massive arms, cocking his head to the side as he did so.

"Kiss me."

Her eyes flew open. "What?"