May Every Wound Be Fatal - Chapter 13.2
“……”
“Elizer, please.”
At last, Elizer slowly laid her down on the bed.
As Reyna felt his warmth leave her and the soft bedding behind her back, tears began streaming down her cheeks without her realizing it.
“Elizer…”
She no longer had the strength to hold on to him. A sudden thought flashed through her mind. This was probably the last moment she would have with him.
Overwhelmed by a sorrow too heavy to describe, she pressed her face into the pillow. Stifling her cries had always been her old habit, because she had been taught that shedding tears was foolish.
Then it happened.
“Reyna. Do you wish to live?”
It was a quiet whisper.
The voice was so soft that she thought she had misheard it. Blinking through tears, Reyna turned her head without thinking.
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if you want to live.”
He was already leaning over her, one palm placed beside her face.
Reyna stared up at him in confusion. She had not misheard. It did not seem like he was joking. They were not in the kind of situation where such a thing could be taken as a joke.
Why would he ask something like that now?
She could not understand him, but Reyna felt this might be her one chance.
“…I do not dare ask for my own life. If you would only spare the people I have left…”
“No, Reyna.”
His voice cut her off, soft and almost weary.
“You must live for the people under you to survive.”
‘…That I should live.’
Reyna truly could not understand what he was saying. How could the daughter of a traitor who attempted to overthrow the throne possibly live?
“…But how could I…”
“To save you, I need an excuse.”
“I do not understand what you mean…”
Confused, Reyna instinctively turned her face away from him.
“Reyna.”
He gently took hold of her chin and guided her gaze back to him.
Only then, with her eyes adjusted to the darkness, did his face come into full view. Orange light flickered over him, shadows half covering his features, and he looked far more gaunt than she remembered.
While Reyna hesitated at the sight of him looking even more worn than herself, he spoke.
“Bear a child, Reyna.”
“What…”
“Bear the king’s child and escape execution.”
Reyna parted her lips in shock.
She blinked like a fool, unable to answer, as he brushed his fingers lightly along her cheek. His touch hovered, barely there.
Reyna finally moved her lips.
“…I find you difficult to understand.”
He seemed to think for a moment before replying.
“So do I.”
“…You killed my father.”
He lowered his head slightly and answered more quickly than before.
“Yes, Reyna. I did.”
“My brother, my cousins, all of them.”
His warm breath finally reached her neck.
“Yes.”
Dizziness washed over Reyna as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“This… none of this is normal.”
“If that is the problem, do not worry.”
“……”
“It has been that way for a long time.”
“Elizer, stop…”
When Reyna pushed weakly at his shoulders as if she could no longer endure it, Elizer grazed her jaw with sharp teeth and whispered.
“We must save Karla and the child.”
Her hands, which had been pushing him away, froze.
“I will help you.”
The trembling in her body slowly faded.
Taking that as a signal, he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle, surprisingly so, as if he wished to comfort her.
She could not remember the last time they had kissed. Heat pooled beneath her closed eyelids, and her breath quickened. As though he did not want to torment her, he pulled away at the right moment.
Panting, Reyna whispered.
“Elizer.”
“Yes, Reyna.”
“I know you dislike me.”
“……”
“Is this also revenge?”
“…Perhaps.”
He murmured softly, then kissed her again. After that, she could no longer think clearly.
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