CH 168

I nodded, without even realizing it. Something about X’s words compelled me to do so.

No, perhaps X’s words were an excuse, and I was simply too tired right now. I just want to abandon everything and run away.

“No way!”

I felt a powerful force hug me from behind as I debated whether or not to follow him.

I stroked Rex’s white arm, which was gripping my waist. When I turned around, I saw Rex, who was crying with a bright red face.

He’s always been a cry baby, but I’ve never seen him cry before with such anguish in his eyes. It was heartbreaking.

I caressed Rex’s delicate cheeks. My palm was drenched in his tears.

“You can’t go…….”

“Rex….”

“I’ll find a way, I swear. I don’t know what you’re worried about, but I’ll take care of everything.”

Rex tried to look directly into my eyes as he spoke even though his vision was blurred from crying so much.

Seeing him cry and struggle to breathe properly was heartbreaking, but hearing him speak with determination to stop me was reassuring.

“All right, I won’t go.”

I had no choice but to promise not to go in order to please Rex. Rex then sobbed and appeared relieved as he nodded.

I ran my index finger across Rex’s reddened eyes. Rex frowned slightly, as if one of his eyes were stinging. What a fool.

When was the last time he cried so much like this?

“I was almost there.”

Rex’s moist gaze became sharp as he heard a disappointed voice from behind us.

Where was the kid who was crying like an idiot earlier? If his eyes were a sword, it could stab X in front of him.

“I’ll call someone.”

After glaring at him for a moment, Rex wiped the last of the tears from his cheeks and grabbed the doorknob next to him, trying to turn it.

However, the stubborn doorknob only made a clicking sound and did not turn. With his fist, Rex pounded on the door.

“Is there anyone out there? Excuse me!”

However, there was only silence, as if nobody was outside.

Before we entered, there were undoubtedly an adequate number of knights on guard. When I saw Rex yelling and pounding on the door from the side, I, too, kicked it hard.

If the door didn’t open, we were determined to break it.

“Whahahaha.”

Rex and I were struggling to open the door when X, who had been watching, suddenly started laughing.

I could tell that our actions just now were immensely amusing to him.

“Sorry, I’ve already cast a barrier.”

Rex’s expression turned stern. Then he pulled me into his arms. Like he was holding something precious. I wanted to pull away, but Rex’s body was trembling.

I could tell he was terrified of the current situation.

“Why did you bring him?”

Of course, I might have followed that person to the underworld or somewhere else if Rex hadn’t been present.

Still, looking at Rex, who was trembling because he was afraid of losing me, made me think I shouldn’t have brought him here.

“Such a waste of talent.”

X murmured in a wistful voice, as if he wanted to take me with him. I slipped out of Rex’s arms and looked at him in disbelief.

He kept his gaze fixed on Rex, not on me. It was Rex, not me, he was calling a ‘waste’.

“He has greed, obsession and there’s darkness too… It could be a big problem if I take him along.”

He was scrutinizing Rex carefully, like an interviewer observing a candidate.

I stood in front of Rex again like before. I started to feel a little scared. I was afraid that the man might recognize Rex’s value and recruit him to his side.

I had to do something. I should get him out of here.

Right now, that man is more interested in Rex than in me. The door is closed, and no one can hear our voices because of the barrier.

If only Arsen could come. I realized that I was pathetically relying on Arsene again.

“Come to think of it, Mary Conler didn’t want to go because Rex is crying.”

Perhaps reading my thoughts, X spoke as if declaring war on me. I felt as if I had been caught.

What if Rex actually goes along with him? Rex could become a villain. It’s not an impossible story.

Moreover, X already knows I have a soft spot for Rex.

No, I wouldn’t follow him even if it was Theodore who was crying……. Theodore wouldn’t cry. It seemed strange to imagine Theodore sobbing.

Beyond the pain and ache in my heart, it just felt strange.

Anyway, X wanted Rex, if he somehow managed to get him on his side. He might use him to make me feel guilty.

‘I know. I know everything…’

I was terrified that this was going to happen. I’m sure X would use me as a pretext to get Rex, and Rex would probably make a wrong choice.

And I would blame myself while watching Rex in that situation…

“Why me…….”

“What?”

“Why do you want me?”

X looked at me with interest in my question.

Is going this far really necessary? Why does he want me so badly that he hurts those around me and causes me pain?

“I’m curious about that too.”

His response astounded me. He didn’t seem to be making fun of me. He also appeared to be genuinely curious.

“Why you? Why do we have to do this? That’s what you want to know.”

“That’s right.”

“I’m curious too. Why is it you, and why do we have to go this far? But what can I do? He is my god so what’s black is black, and what’s white is white.”

His God.

Why does he show that man such loyalty? To the point of acting in ways he himself cannot comprehend.

“But think carefully. You can save Estin Conler.”

X grinned widely.

He was right. I needed to save Estin Conler. It wasn’t as if there wasn’t a way to do it. If I could coax him, Grand Duke Estin could be save…….

“The stench of a snake.”

At that time, a voice that wasn’t mine, Rex’s, or X’s could be heard.

I looked in the direction the voice was coming from and noticed a man standing by the window. When I first saw him, I gasped because his hair was…… jet-black.

Is he a Conler? His eyes, however, were soft brown. When his warm brown eyes met my perplexed stare, he smiled and tilted his head.

He appeared quite tall and looked about the same age as Gilbert. His face has a sweet, cute appearance.

It was an impression that matched the color of his eyes. I stared at him for a while. I feel like I’ve been seeing too much black hair lately…….

“Hello.”

“Who, who are you?”

Whether it was a polite greeting or not, I was taken aback and replied with a question, but he didn’t answer my question.

Then, he stretched out as if his body was stiff.

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve been in this body, I’m not used to it at all.”

The man approached us slowly and held his nose while gazing at X. He scowled as though he could still detect the’snake stench’ he had mentioned earlier. X asked the man.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, don’t open your mouth. It stinks.”

The man’s voice was so cold and full of contempt that it didn’t sound like a joke, and he still had his index and thumb pinched to cover his nose, making a muffled sound.

“You found your body…”

“Yes, because she keeps wanting me.”

The man who said that gave me a quick look and grinned once more. I responded with a confused smile.

With such a kind and cute face, he looked even more likeable as he smiled so brightly…

“It was a lot more entertaining to watch you crawl on all fours.”

“Yeah, you were scared back then too, right?”

“I’m going to take Mary Conler with me. I will definitely take her with me.”

“Yeah, let’s see if you can still say that when you’re all skinned.”

X was shaken for the first time. His mouth was trembling, and it was obvious that he was anxious. He’d never before had that expression on his face.

The memory of him laughing at us earlier when we were pounding on the door to go outside and the present moment’s image of him overlap.

If it weren’t for the fact that he was anxious about a man we didn’t know, I would have wanted to laugh at him because he appeared to be so terrified.