Chapter 17: Resolve
Theon didn’t hesitate and immediately stepped forward. It was only when he got closer that he noticed the silver chains fastened beneath the girl’s exquisitely embroidered sleeves.
He raised his sword, intending to cut the silver chains that bound her, but the girl calmly shook her head. Her expression was calmer than before as she spoke quickly and softly, “Please leave this place now. I will find a way to open the main gate. Then, please return to the royal capital, seek an audience with the divine envoys, and… just tell them that Guide No. 1028 urgently needs their help. Otherwise, no one will be able to stop Karsus.”
Theon clearly didn’t fully grasp her meaning, but he didn’t ask any further questions. He frowned. “Is it really impossible to rescue you now?”
“It’s rude of me to say so, but I’m afraid that apart from the temple, no one can stand against him.”
Hearing this, Theon wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he gave a curt nod, his green eyes deep and resolute. “Please tell me your name. After I deliver the message, I will definitely come to see you again.”
A smile flickered in the girl’s eyes like moonlight on water. “Nelly.” Her gaze fell to the white dress she was wearing, and the curve of her lips gradually took on a bitter edge. “You must have come for the Rose Princess, but I’m afraid Her Highness has already met with misfortune.”
“So we can only seek the power of the temple?” Theon asked calmly.
Nelly nodded. She was about to say more, but her gaze froze. Her lips barely moved as she hissed two words through her teeth, “Go, now.”
The blond knight, clad only in light chainmail, turned around alertly.
The door to the room had been thrown open at some point. A black-haired young man in black clothes stood there, his expression indifferent. The pure gold clasp of his cloak was inlaid with a cat’s-eye-like ruby, dazzling and evil. He nonchalantly brushed a black feather from his shoulder, his smileless eyes sweeping over Nelly’s stiff face before settling on Theon. His pupils dilated slightly, and a faint gold ring appeared at the edge of his red irises.
Theon lowered his upper body slightly into a battle stance and said coldly, “You are Karsus?”
“Yes.” Karsus took an elegant step forward. His long lashes fluttered a few times, and the out-of-control color of his eyes returned to the deep red of fine wine. He turned to Nelly nonchalantly, his tone flat. “Is it him this time?”
He paused, and a chilling smile appeared on his lips. “Nelly, you woke up too early.” His smile deepened, and he completely ignored Theon, walking straight toward Nelly. “But that’s fine. This time, you can see for yourself what happens to the person who wants to take you away.”
Nelly’s face was pale. She closed her eyes and said drily, “I don’t know him. Please let him go. I won’t run away.”
Theon flicked his wrist, and his sharp sword thrust toward Karsus’s chest.
A nearly cruel sneer appeared on the black-haired young man’s face. He just closed his eyes and vanished in an instant.
Theon ducked and dodged to the side, but he only felt a cold sensation in his ribs, and the Demon King’s cool voice sounded from behind him. “Foolish.”
“Kal, please stop,” Nelly’s voice trembled. “They all came for Rosalia.” She choked with difficulty and said in a hoarse, bitter voice, “I don’t like you killing innocent people indiscriminately.”
Hearing this, Karsus turned to look at her, his expression blank, but his eyes showed a faint flicker of emotion.
For a moment, Nelly thought she had actually convinced him.
But then, he said flatly, “If I let him go, will you like me a little more? No.” He lowered his lashes and smiled. “The reason is invalid.”
He twisted the broad-hilted greatsword in his hand, and Theon bent over in pain, letting out a suppressed grunt. The fire in his red eyes burned even brighter with the suffering of his prey. Karsus gracefully stepped back two paces and bent down to cup Nelly’s chin. “You’re really not good at lying.”
Nelly trembled, opened her eyes, and met the red eyes that were just inches away, her expression full of sorrow. “I know.”
She glanced at Theon, who was struggling to stand up, and said as calmly as she could, “What do you want me to do for you to let him go? Don’t get the wrong idea. I just don’t like people dying in vain because of me.”
“Prove it,” Karsus’s breath fell on the tip of her nose, scorching hot, yet it chilled her to the bone. “Prove that you will stay.”
Nelly reached out, the chains clinking. She uncertainly touched the Demon King’s cheek, looked up, and found his lips. She lingered awkwardly for a moment, feeling it was too strange, and was about to pull away when the young man’s cool hand covered the back of hers. He pressed his forehead against hers, and the words he spoke were full of pain.
“Nelly, I’m begging you… don’t betray me again.”
He looked straight into the depths of her eyes, the corners of his own eyes curving. “Otherwise, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
He actually agreed!
Nelly didn’t react for a moment. It wasn’t until the coolness of his lips brought her back to her senses that she was sure: he had really agreed.
Karsus’s kiss was just a light touch. He then turned around and looked down at the blond knight, who was supporting himself with his sword, and said almost mockingly, “You can go.”
Theon gritted his teeth and said, panting, “What about the princess?”
“She’s not here.” Karsus had returned to his usual impassive state. “I only took what belongs to me.”
“You! Your Majesty…”
For once, Karsus was patient. He added unhurriedly, “Clovis knows full well how this Moonlight Rose came into the possession of the Merloh family. As for Rosalia, she’s locked in a tower on the Misty Coast.” His words were pointed. “As for the whole story, you’d better ask His Majesty the great King for confirmation.”
He let out a sound that was almost a sneer, and with a wave of his hand, Theon was forced to disappear before he could ask his next question.
Only Nelly and Karsus were left in the room.
She stiffly turned her head away, pretending not to notice his burning gaze.
“And, I haven’t told you yet, you are very beautiful right now,” Karsus broke the silence, taking her hand and placing a series of light kisses on it.
A canary in a cage, a doll being manipulated—both beautiful and powerless.
Nelly didn’t answer, only sighing softly. She carefully observed the Demon King’s face from under her lashes, and after a long moment, she spoke, “Thank you. May I get down and walk around a bit?”
Karsus clearly hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he wordlessly pressed on the shackle on her wrist. The silver cuff split in two and fell to the floor. He offered his arm, and Nelly calmly took it. Her steps were a little weak as she descended from the high seat, and just before she stumbled, she was, as expected, caught.
The hand on her waist moved back and forth meaningfully, then slid up her spine, gently pulling out the strands of hair caught in the collar of her dress.
Nelly’s body stiffened at the touch. It was as if a spark had been ignited in her blood, rushing straight to her head. She couldn’t help but let out a small “ah,” then immediately bit her lip.
Karsus’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. He pulled her closer and whispered against her earlobe, “It’s no use asking the temple for help. They won’t come.”
The young woman was instantly frozen by his words. She stiffly turned her head to look at him, and what met her eyes were shimmering red irises, smiling yet sinister.
“I’ve been watching you, Nelly, always.” Karsus’s words were as if they had been dipped in honey, each one spoken with tenderness. But beneath the sweet frosting was a cold, poisoned core, fatal in one bite.
With that, he bowed gracefully and left as silently as he had come.
The door was gently closed.
Nelly stared at the stone door with a vacant expression, then slowly sank to the floor. She looked back at the chains connected to the high seat by the window, then lowered her gaze to the priceless robe she was wearing, and covered her face.
For the first time, she seriously considered killing Karsus with her own hands.
—Gods, please grant me a copy of “How to Gently Kill a Psycho Demon King.”