I Slept with the Villain Holding My Hand Chapter 71
Reukis, who lent his chest with his hands stiff, rolled his eyes without knowing what to do.
He stood upright like a living statue and looked down at her.
âMore than that, Reukis.â
Reukis, who was breathing quietly so that Merria, who was leaning her head, would not feel uncomfortable, he flinched at the sudden call.
Instead of raising her head, Merria hugged him tightly with both arms.
After a momentâs hesitation, Reukis embraced Merria.
Reukis, who rested his chin on her head, answered calmly.
Merria hesitated as if she had something to say.
Reukis waited for her words like a rabbit with his ears pricked up.
Unable to make eye contact with him, Merria organized what she wanted to say.
Where should I start? áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
It was difficult to pinpoint the extent of this story, which was hidden in the depths of her heart, as she had never confided in anyone else.
First, letâs start with my first meeting with the old woman.
It was when Merria was about to open her lips, fiddling with her ring on her left hand.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the room.
Just in time, it was Ruben who visited.
Merria slowly turned her gaze away and looked towards her door.
Her brows furrowed slightly and she soon nodded.
Merria slipped her body away from Reukis arms.
âI guess the mealâs ready. Letâs go.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
She said with a soft smile.
I thought it would be better to have a meal before talking.
Itâll take a lot of time to explain this ring to Reukis.
But before the two of them could leave the room, the door to the drawing room swung open.
However, even before the two left the room, the door of the drawing room suddenly opened.
Appearing behind the large door was Themis, with platinum blonde hair just like Merria.
At the sudden appearance of her father, Merria and Reukis were bewildered for their respective reasons.
Merria was surprised that Themis, who had left for the patrol on the territory, was here, and Reukis just felt something was wrong.
âFather?â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Merria got up from the sofa and called Themis with a surprised expression on her face.
Themis walked into the room without breaking his momentum.
His sharp gaze deflected Merria and reached Reukis.
Behind the open door, Raven and Ruben with puzzled faces stood together.
Themis seemed unwilling to greet Reukis as he approached.
Merria could see that he was still angry at something with a stiff expression.
Merria glanced at Raven behind asking for an explanation, but Raven just looked unhappy with the situation.
Themis kept shooting sharp gazes, and Raven didnât open her mouth, so this was the first thing Merria had to do.
âYouâre back.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
First, she greeted him as usual.
But she couldnât stop from sighing at the situation.
Temis replied by putting pressure on his wrinkled forehead.
Then, Reukis, who was watching, greeted the Duke and his wife.
âThe Duke and the Duchess. Itâs been a while since we met.â Ꮏá”á”á”ᶊ˹
Despite his polite greeting, Themis didnât respond.
âItâs been a while. Your Highness.â
Eventually, when Raven answered instead, Merriaâs forehead was distorted.
Apparently something must have happened.
Merria hastily decided to exclude Reukis from the abnormal situation.
âReukis, could you give us a second? I think my father has something to sayâŠâ áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
She thought Themis couldnât speak because she had a guest, Reukis.
Despite Merriaâs words, Reukis could not easily move.
Then Themis beckoned to Ruben, who was standing by the wall, and said,
âRuben. Prepare Ravenâs meal. I didnât take care of it properly because I was in a hurry.â
Ruben, who was standing like air, left the room.
Did something urgent happen to the point where you couldnât even eat?
Themisâ face was still stiff.
âAnd Merria. Follow me to my room.â
Even before her question was solved, Themis left the room, leaving only what he had to say.
It was an attitude that didnât care at all about the minimum courtesy towards Reukis or the atmosphere in the room.
The three people who remained in the room had only puzzled expressions on their faces and no one opened their mouths to speak.
Reukis, feeling something unusual, spoke up first.
âMerria. Iâll leave today. Would you like to invite me again next time?â Ꮏá”á”á”ᶊ˹
âOh⊠Iâm sorry.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Merria couldnât hold him and apologized.
Reukis nodded his head slightly as if it was okay.
Reukis refused Merria of wanted to see him off, saying he would go alone.
The carriage carrying him quickly left the Rackester mansion.
As soon as Reukisâ carriage disappeared from sight, Merria asked Raven.
âDid the family go bankrupt? What the hellâs going on?â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Her question contained a great deal of absurdity and a bit of displeasure.
Reukis was her lover and a guest who was invited to this mansion today.
But I couldnât believe they let him go so desperately.
Merria couldnât understand Themisâ rudeness.
Raven shook her head, unable to take Themisâ side.
From her point of view, Themis just before seemed to be a person who had no dignity or manners as a Duke.
âIâm curious too. Itâs the first time Iâve seen him acting like that.â
Raven also muttered in a worried tone.
In order to understand this situation, Themisâ explanation was eventually needed.
Without delay, Merria headed to the Dukeâs office.
âItâs me.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
I couldnât hear his permission, but I just opened the door and entered on my own.
Themis was sitting alone in a large, dark room.
His hands clasped together and buried his head above them, seemingly in deep thought.
Merria sat quietly near Themis.
It was Themis, who had been lost in thought until she came around, so Merria knocked on the table with her right hand a couple of times.
Themis then raised his head and looked at Merria.
The bright crimson eyes that symbolized the Rackesterâs blood stared at her.
Merria felt at ease seeing his tired-looking face.
Until just a moment ago, she only wanted to let it go.
Seeing him face to face, I thought there must be a good reason.
âLetâs say itâs okay if the mansion was sold tomorrow.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Merria, who had prepared herself, asked back.
âWhatâs wrong?â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
What came out of his mouth was not an answer, but another question.
âItâs like that at the vassalsâ meeting. That the Grand Duke and you are⊠lovers. That you have a relationship?â
Merria thought there would be shocking news like at least one mine was eaten.
Merria tilted her head without immediately grasping the intention of the question.
Themis asked the same question again, urging her to answer.
âI asked if it was true that youâre dating the Grand Duke.â
âDid you come back early to ask this question? So was that why you treated Reukis with a straight forward attitude?â
Merria said with all her heart that she didnât understand his actions.
Some of Rackesterâs vassals were about the age of Merriaâs grandparents.
They regarded Serinia and Merria as cute granddaughters, as they had only a son and a grandson.
But Merria had already grown up without being engaged.
Their vassals, who were already interested in Merria, often talked about her marriage or her engagement.
Meanwhile, they must have heard that Merria had a lover.
âThe source was probably my mother.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
It had been a while since Merria had announced her relationship with Reukis, and she had no intention of hiding it anymore.
She was planning to introduce him formally to Themis and her family when the time comes.
When Serinia first announced Milesâ existence, Themis scolded her to bring him right away, saying he should check it out personally.
So when he heard that Merria had a lover, it was not at all impossible for him to run to her in surprise.
But the attitude he had just shown was too much.
It was not a huge incident enough to omit both the planned patrol of the territory and the courtesy in front of the Grand Duke.
Themis rubbed his throbbing temple with his right hand.
His dissatisfaction with this situation was clearly revealed from his wrinkled forehead.
âWhat? Whatâs with that reaction?â
It was Merria who was rather puzzled by the more intense reaction than expected.
Of course, Reukis didnât look like heâd get a free pass at a family meeting.
Objectively, he was a perfect groom.
Wasnât he a person who handles not only status and wealth, but also strong force and darkness?
Besides, it goes without saying that he was very sweet to Merria.
âDo you just hate me dating?â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Themis was not as great as Raven, but he also cared very much for his two daughters.
Although Serinia was considering the son-in-law Daryl because of the successorâs position, Merria didnât have a huge problem even if she didnât get married.
It wasnât even stipulated by law that a princess must get married.
Merria, who thought of the most likely side, shrugged her shoulders and continued.
âDonât worry, I wonât get married right away.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Themis slammed the table and gave a stern look.
Merria, startled by his action, shuddered and shrugged.
As she blinked and stayed still, Themis sighed, sweeping his disheveled hair.
âIâm sorry to startle you.â
âItâs okay, but I didnât know you were so opposed to my marriage.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
âIâm not just saying this because Iâm against your marriage. That doesnât mean you have to do it.â
What do you want me to do? Merria was able to bet on Erieneâs cake that Themis himself probably wouldnât know what he was talking about.
While his daughter was thinking rebelliously, Themis gently closed his eyes.
Then, wondering what the problem was, Merria shook her head.
âDo you like a son-in-law like Miles? Reukis is pretty good, tooâŠâ áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
I donât think itâs because he likes a gentle son-in-law, but I asked just in case.
âYou canât tell the Grand Duke.â
âMarriage is a long way off.â
Merriaâs face crumpled by the coercive appearance of Themis for the first time.
In an era where free relationships are prevalent these days, parents oppose it.
There was no skit like this.
It was not like Themis, who always persuaded reasonably, to force without explaining the reason.
A resentment rose in her heart, like a teenage middle school student.
ââŠWhat are you talking about all of a sudden?â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
âEven if you break up right now.â
âFather!â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
When Merria, who was angered by his unreasonable coercion, raised her voice, Themis, unable to bear it, confessed the reason.
âThe Grand Dukeâs too dangerous for you!â
Merriaâs face turned cold at Themisâ bomb-like remarks.
She asked with a grin around her lips.
âNo way. I didnât know my father would
believe in rumors.â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
âItâs not a rumor.â
Themis shook his head and quickly continued with a low voice.
âThe Grand Dukeâs power was so strong. Heâs like a glass bowl filled with hot water. It looks fine now, but youâd never know when it would crack and break.â
âWhatâs that?â áŽčá”ÊłÊłá¶Šá”
Themis, who thought Merria was embarrassed, sighed deeply.
âTo be around such a dangerous person. How could you not understand this fatherâs heart?â
Themis wasnât just opposing the love of her daughter, nor was he sensitively responding to vain rumors of a curse.
He really thought that Reukisâ power was dangerous.
As if someone knew that the death of the Grand Duke and his wife was due to Reukisâ runaway.