Beast in the Woods, Deep in the Night - Chapter 38.2

Chapter 38.2

“…”

She thought of her mother without realizing that Edgar’s slightly agitated gaze was directed at her. Her beloved mother, Ariel Baines.

Christine knew better than anyone how much her mother cared for her and valued her. That was why she could not let go even now, when she had to earn so many gold coins for her mother’s care. Even when she was frightened and exhausted, those memories seemed to give her the strength to hold onto her mother, who was hanging at the end of the cliff.

So even though he said that he had a fallout with the grand duke, she felt that it was natural that Edgar kept the cigars.

“It’s said that first love is always intense. In a way, the love that parents give their children is also their first love, and, naturally, they want to remember it as a good memory.”

“…”

“Anyone would do that. Whether they are strong-hearted or not. Determined or not.”

Whether it was because of the few glasses of champagne she had drunk or because her head was dizzy because of the curse, Christine couldn’t hide her expression.

From her profile, Edgar could see a mix of joy and bitterness on her face.

Christine was glad that she had good memories of her mother that kept her from letting go, but that also made her life more burdensome.

‘It’s my mother’s life at stake, so how can it be burdensome? What am I thinking right now…’

She was a little surprised by the expression that came to her mind, but she soon put her head on Edgar’s shoulder without denying that thought. She wanted to be honest with herself, at least when she was with a man who didn’t know her situation.

She was happy that her mother was alive, but it was overwhelming.

Unlike in her previous life, which ended in vain, she hoped that in this life, she would quickly find a way to resolve the curse and that her hardships would not last long.

As her thoughts reached that point, Christine turned her head to look at his face. For some reason, he seemed to have been looking in her direction from the beginning.

She had a different thought for the first time as she looked at Edgar’s always wonderful face.

‘Seeing him feel such mixed emotions… I can see that he is human too.’

She never thought that the man who looked like he wouldn’t bleed even if he was pricked with a needle would hate his father, and yet, be unable to throw away the cigars he had received from him. She didn’t feel bad about it. She felt like she had seen a side of him that others didn’t know about.

“Did I sound presumptuous?”

“Not really.”

Edgar looked into Christine’s eyes, forgetting for a moment that he had a glass in his hand. His gaze turned to her lips for a moment, then drifted back to her eyes.

She was different now, in many ways from when she was telling him obvious and easy lies. It was enough to make him realize that what she was showing now was real, and that every moment she was flirting with him with her sweet voice was a lie.

“Have you sobered up a little?” Edgar asked, feeling that he would just keep chewing on what she had just said if he stayed like this.

His long legs, which had been resting on the table, touched the floor. Sensing that he was about to leave, Christine was startled. The pain caused by the curse had not subsided yet, so a seductive voice came out on its own.

“Not yet. My heart keeps pounding when I’m with you and I feel like I’m tipsy.”

“Of course it does.”

Hearing the familiar fake temptation, Edgar sat down again. Not leaving Christine behind… yeah. It was simply because he was interested.

“I think that the good memories that parents leave for their children are so powerful that they sometimes forget all the hurt and pain that arises from the relationship between each other.”

He was a little curious about the hurt and pain she remembered when she said that. He wondered if Christine would unconsciously tell him about it if he drank a little more.

However, he did not hear the story he was expecting.

Seeing him rest his legs on the table again, she leaned against his broad shoulders and closed her eyes. She was going to pretend to sleep so that he wouldn’t leave.

As expected, he did not leave her side, lending his shoulder and sipping on his drink.

‘… I have always suffered alone when I was in pain because of the curse.’

Even though she knew he wasn’t her lover, this time, the thought that she had someone to lean on made her feel weird. Her chest seemed to feel warmer, her heart slightly palpitating.

Christine closed her eyes, hoping that her body would return to normal once she woke up.

But sadly, the curse did not listen to her.