CH 167

X gave me a friendly smile. But despite how long I stared at that smile, it did not make me feel better.

Although X was like a snake, he had a certain cuteness about him. But he was not at all likeable.

I pulled Rex behind me as I glared at the X. The man wanted something from me, and that was obvious. I was tired of innocent people getting involved and getting hurt for no reason.

“Taking good care of your sibling, huh? Such a beautiful bond.”

“…….”

“But that little brat, isn’t he stronger?”

There was a sneer in X words directed at me.

Despite my best efforts to exercise caution and safeguard Rex, X’s mocking laughter alone served as a constant reminder that I was the weakest person in this situation.

I remained silent in the face of blatant provocation. Rex, who was behind me, did the same.

“Well, how is your father doing these days?”

I grabbed the flower vase from the table next to the door and threw it at X without saying a word. X avoided the vase with ease.

A dull popping noise permeated the room. I could put up with any annoyance, but hearing about Grand Duke Estin was too much for me.

X whistled at my behavior. Rex, who was behind me, grabbed my hand in surprise. I took a deep breath.

“I guess he’s not improving.”

“Shut your mouth.”

It was a voice that seemed to express pity for my father’s condition. Rex wrapped his arms around me as I shivered. He warned X sternly.

“Yes, I remember you.”

“I’m flattered.”

“A troublesome man.”

My hands were itching to twist X’s neck in front of me as he glanced at Rex and muttered something that I couldn’t understand.

I don’t know how much I replay that moment in my mind every night. When Grand Duke Estin had fallen after slashing the cursed beast, X was looking at him smiling coldly.

I thought a lot about how I could erase the smile on my face and fill it with pain, but now that I was facing that face again, my mind went blank.

In my heart, I wanted to kill him. It was a newfound desire.

“You have no idea how much he longs to see you.”

I didn’t bother to hide my desire as I stood there staring at him, but he didn’t seem to mind and kept talking.

Even without thinking deeply, I knew who he meant by ‘he.’

“You’re aware of the god of the underworld, right?”

“We’ll never see each other again.”

I said firmly before X could finish his words. I didn’t want to get involved with that man anymore. I was truly sick and tired of it.

If I could use giant scissors to cut off connection with him, I would use half of my lifespan to get it without hesitation.

If I could, I would cut any connection I had with him.

Can it even be called a connection?

It was an unfair form of harassment. I didn’t even know that man in the first place.

“Really?”

“Even if I die, I won’t see him; I’ll only live on earth or in heaven.”

“If I say that as it is, he’ll be greatly shocked.”

X shook his head, horrified at the thought. X sounded genuinely pitiful.

Even as he spoke now, there seemed to be sighs and sorrow in his voice, but don’t be fooled. His eyes were full of amusement. The determination I have right now is just a source of amusement for X.

“I’m the only one who’ll get tired, so I’ll keep it a secret.”

“No. Go and tell him. Inform him that Mary Conler doesn’t want to see him ever again.”

“If I say that, I’ll just get tired.”

I became even more exhausted listening to the voice that spoke as if comforting an immature child. Who’s the most immature child here right now?

“But you’ll inevitably see him again.”

“Please….just”

“You have to save your father, Mary Conler.”

I paused.

X’s voice was different from before. He’d been smiling all day, but the expression he’d just worn was colder and more eerie than any smile.

I swallowed hard at the change in his demeanor, as if he’d gone from an immature child to an experienced old man who had seen everything in the world.

“Will you still object to meeting him in this way if doing so is the only way to save your father?”

“Sister, don’t fall for it.”

Rex interrupted me as I was staring blankly at the smiling X in front of me.

I looked over at Rex who was supporting my shoulder.

“Mr. Logan is working on it now, he’s close to finding a clue, the Grand Duke can wake up, even without contacting those bastards.”

Rex chewed on those words. Rex’s use of such abrasive language was almost unexpected. It was clear that he was hostile toward X.

Rex had grown so much in such a short period of time, which was both surprising and alarming.

“Ahahaha. Now I understand why he put you to sleep back then. You’re really annoying.”

X started laughing loudly. Although he said he was “annoying” he didn’t seem annoyed at all.

He laughed so hard that tears started to fill the corner of his eyes.

Rex’s grip on my shoulder tightened as he continued to stare at X in that irritated manner. My shoulder hurt from being held, and without realizing it, I let out a “Ah” sound, causing Rex to quickly release his hand. Then he asked me if it hurt a lot as he gently stroked my shoulder. He appeared to be in more pain than I did, so I simply shook my head.

X’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me and Rex strangely.

“Come on, Mary Conler. You want to save Estin, don’t you?”

His voice was so strange and serious that I almost nodded. There was something in his face that made it impossible to refuse the offer.

I want to save my father.

Instead of the Grand Duke Estin who lay motionless as though he were dead, I want the Grand Duke Estin who looks at me.

If I could be held in his loving arms again, wouldn’t meeting the God of the Underworld…… be nothing?

“The answer is simple. You just have to disappear by Estin’s side.”

“……what?”

“Don’t be a dunce,”

The answer made me doubt my ears. It was far from simple. As I questioned him, Rex locked me behind him and warned X sternly.

But for X, the warning had absolutely no effect.

He scratched his ear with his pinky and then blew on it. Then, without looking at us, he said,

Consider this: Grand Duke Estin wouldn’t have ended up that way if Mary Conler hadn’t been on that hunting ground in the first place.

“That’s Cameron’s doing!”

“Yeah. So why did you provoke Cameron?”

I felt as though X was berating me for something I had done.

“It was entirely your suggestion. To my sister and Cameron.”

“That’s right, and it was Mary Conler who accepted the offer.”

It felt like the ground supporting my feet had vanished. I wanted to deny everything X said, but I couldn’t utter a word.

It’s because of me. I made him like this. This is what I’ve been thinking about all along.

“Well, fine. I won’t blame Mary Conler.”

That was very kind of you.

“However, as long as he remains fixated on you, Mary Conner will continue to bear the blame. Mary, you were aware of the curse as well.”

“Sigh….”

“Perhaps Grand Duke Estin is just the start,”

“What do you want?”

My voice sounded as if I had lost all motivation. I wanted to give him whatever he wanted.

I wanted to give up and concede defeat because I was sick of it all.

I wanted to get down on my hands and knees and give him whatever he wanted and end this whole damn thing.

Because there are no giant scissors that could cut my connection with him.

It was terrible to hear that Grand Duke Estin was just the start. When you have so much to protect, it becomes easier to give up everything. If I could protect them like this…

“The answer is so simple: Leave the Grand Duchy of Conler and live on your own.”

“That’s absolute nonsense.”

“It’s okay, Mary. You’ve always been alone.”

If I were to leave the Grand Duchy of Conler, where would I go?

My black hair and black eyes are so distinctive, I’ll be recognized everywhere I go. If I leave and Grand Duke Estin wakes up, will he be okay…….

“Don’t worry, Mary Conler because I’ll help you.”

I chuckled at the idea of X helping me. This made me feel better.

Yes, the Grand Duke’s troublemaker daughter was supposed to live alone anyway.