You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 696

"I am not going anywhere with you." — I told him, taking a step back to look at the duchess’s state. — "... she’s your mother. Why did you do this to her... and to father too?"

"My Marianne, you—"

"I am nothing of yours. Not even my sibling you are!" — Slapping away his hand I couldn’t bear the disgust. I was done playing a part where he could keep being delusional. What’s more... I did not have any good reason to keep it up. Once, there was hope that maybe, just by a miracle, the brother I loved when young could still be there, somewhere so deep that he was having trouble and maybe suffering because of the curses he’s been put under... but... — "You are not Paul."

"..."

"The Paul that was my brother has been buried for too long and none of us knew... You are just... what his weak soul became. The sickening part that a cursed witch made."

"It’s fine if you think like that." — He replied. — "It is better, for a blood bond was always an obstacle between us. This way you can think of me as the man you love and nothing more."

"I DON’T LOVE YOU! IF ANYTHING YOU ARE MY NIGHTMARE!—!?"

"Careful of what you say. It will hurt my feelings... You shouldn’t go against what we feel, my Marianne."

The slap he easily gave me had left me stunned at its force that the fall didn’t even hurt me. He wasn’t going to accept anything but what he wanted... the fact that he hit me like that... was proof of that. Yes, he tortured me... but my face was never touched like that.

"... this woman is getting in our way." — Paul then said at the weak hand the duchess had on his leg while menacing me, pulling him away without results but with a glare even I felt was a threat. — "I’ll take care of her and then we can leave this place, my love."

His smile was like a demon’s. He would probably kill me too if I wasn’t clever enough to turn things around... he was... just like Seth...

— Behave Elizabeth... —

The voice resonated so clearly that when I blinked my hand had grabbed his before it could get to mom’s neck.

"D-don’t kill her."

"..."

"Let’s just go and not lose time here."

"... my Marianne..." — Paul, changing his voice to one more tender caressed my cheek and hair, taking hold of it as if I was the new hostage. — "We cannot do that. The duke seems to still be around even after I stabbed him, he will come for this woman and... I need to take care of both of them if we want to live carefreely after this my loved goddess."

"P-Please."

"... My love..."

"Paul, please don’t kill them... If you do, even if together I will not be able to live in peace... do you truly want that to ruin our happiness?"

"... they will hunt us down."

"We can hide or go very far away. I trust you can do that and more if it is for me... for us." — I told him, hoping this would do to convince him.

"... they might be killed by the witch even if we let them go alive for now." — Getting more comfortable and closer to my face, he started to touch more of me. As if it were a good opportunity to get some caresses that would never come out of me naturally.

"T-That’s fine! As long as it’s not done by our hands it’s good enough for me."

"... Alright."

It was only then that he helped me stand up, and soon after Dad and the others appeared; bringing us to the current situation.

"..."

We were back at the Palace. My efforts to escape seemed worthless now but at least I can rest assured that they will make it out safely at home... besides, Clemente’s with them and I dropped my treasure so he would pick it up.

Before we were wrapped by that thing Paul summoned, my pretty tear answered my concern at the time with a prick to my hand. The reaction didn’t say much, yet I believe it was a sign to leave it behind... or that’s what I came up with at the time... hopefully, my gut feeling is correct... It still has some powers inside although I feel as if most have remained within me now. Nevertheless, it protected me many times so I believe it will protect them if something comes up... I just need to focus and come up with something on this side.

..... but what?

Although he said he needed to get me to Karina’s presence, we’ve been standing here only letting him stay stuck at the view of us holding hands.

’It’s as if he’s analysing every little notch...’ — I thought so uncomfortable that I needed to look away to not feel as nauseous.

"My loved Marianne." — Suddenly he exhaled, kissing my hand for too long before deciding to hug me and whisper to my ear. — "Our wedding, the ring, our first night... everything. I will make sure everything makes you the happiest... for so long we have waited for this, love of mine..."

"Gasp!? Wait! W-we cannot kiss yet! Everything needs to be perfect s-so... the moment also needs to be prepared! R-right now I will not be able to enjoy it, Paul!" — Although I tried, the tears still flooded. I couldn’t bear it and yet I still smiled hoping that as crazy as he was he would accept this messy excuse so he wouldn’t force me to be loving.

"... my loved Marianne... such a princess you are." — Paul, giving me a kiss on the edge of my upper lip muttered this time, eerily, forcing me to look up and meet his eyes. — "That’s fine. If we do it now I might not be satisfied with just a few kisses. I will show you to the witch so we can be free."

The wishes I had to die were the most intense I’ve ever had. The dismay and sickening feeling running through my whole body almost made my brain shut down from a mix of contempt, wrath, disgust, sadness... and much more that I cannot even begin to explain.