My Past Life is Riddled With Many Sins - Chapter 95
“Who among the seven knows that the purification ritual doesn’t work on Your Majesty? Well, myself, the fox bastard, Nyx, and that woman, Batusha,… Oh, and the favorite concubine knows too.”
Regina immediately understood what kind of ‘help’ he was offering. He also knew that she couldn’t remove the demon poison through ordinary means. If she allowed it, he would do what Bliss had done.
The problem was that the moment he did that, all her efforts to deny being Yekarna would be in vain. Her true identity would be exposed to him, just as it had been to Prince Iskanda and Bliss.
She was torn, unsure whether to pull her arm free from him or not. If she pushed him away now, would she still be able to meet Bliss in time? And she didn’t even know where Bliss was. What if Bliss wasn’t at the Academy?
If she wandered around searching and missed the chance, becoming completely consumed by the demon poison…
Her heart pounded loudly. His calm, waiting gaze was serene.
“I don’t have any particular regrets about Your Majesty. So, you don’t need to worry about running away like a debtor facing their creditor. I’m being straightforward to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“I’ll help you.”
“I am your Lennon, after all, Your Majesty.”
The words he had spoken at the palace banquet flashed through her mind. Were they sincere, or were they deceitful? She didn’t know the answer. But there wasn’t much time. She had to make a choice.
Her hesitation didn’t last long. She pulled her arm free from his grasp and took his hand in hers.
She couldn’t gamble with her life. For now, she needed to survive.
As she tentatively clasped her hands together, he flashed a refreshing smile with his long, thin mouth.
“Shall we go, then?”
The Crown Prince, noticing her disappearing with the unknown man, instructed his guard.
“Follow them.”
If he had brought her to a dangerous place, he needed to ensure her safe return. With a sense of duty, he and the guard set off to pursue Regina.
“Please don’t.”
“It would be troublesome if you interfere.”
“Please, do stay with us, Your Highness.”
“It’s a rare ball, and you’re leaving already?”
“Dance with me.”
People in colorful masks surrounded the Crown Prince and the guards, preventing them from moving. The unified effort of people of all ages and genders, blocking every direction, made the Crown Prince feel a chill of fear.
* * *
He moved through the labyrinthine underworld with unhesitating steps. Though he was overly familiar with finding his way, there was no time for doubt. Her body was heating up increasingly.
The first time she was infected with the demon poison, her entire body had grown hot with strange impulses. After that initial phase, all that followed was pain.
Though the full pain hadn’t yet arrived, her body trembled with the memory of the agonizing sensation of her limbs and flesh being torn apart.
He picked her up as she shivered faintly. Cradling her effortlessly in his arms, he brought her to a room with a bed.
After laying her on the bed, he removed his butterfly mask and placed it on the side table.
Revealed for the first time, his appearance was especially striking. His well-defined features and faded blonde hair made him look even more like a figure from a classic painting. In this life, Count Hartmann exuded a classical elegance.
His appearance was idealized like an imperial noble in an abstract sense—something everyone envisioned but did not exist in reality. Yet, here he was, in person, standing before her with that perfect gentleman-like demeanor as if he had stepped out from a shared fantasy.
Had she gazed at him longingly without realizing it? He gave a knowing smile.
“May I remove your mask?”
She nodded as if in a trance. He gently placed his hands at the back of her head and untied the strings. The white lace mask that had covered her face slipped off smoothly and fell to one side of the bed.
“You are beautiful…”
He spoke with genuine admiration, unable to take his eyes off her. She recalled how she had been held by the maids to fulfill her role as the Crown Prince’s partner.
‘After all those hours spent on the meticulous preparations…’
It seemed like the Crown Prince had gone to great lengths to ensure she wouldn’t appear out of place. Of course, he might have exaggerated a bit, but originally, Lennon was known for his knack for flattering Yekarna as if he had honey on his mouth.
While Regina was lost in thought, he carefully gathered a handful of her fake hair.
“Seeing your red hair makes me feel like I’ve traveled back in time. Of course, Your Majesty’s hair was even redder and more splendid.”
With a natural ease, he praised Yekarna before asking,
“Shall we proceed as is, or would you prefer it removed?”
She didn’t understand the question. Unable to respond without knowing the omitted subject, he seemed to take it upon himself to decide for her, opening his mouth with an expression as if to say he’d make the decision.
“Shall we do it once with the wig on and once with it off?”
The straightforward announcement left Regina stunned. He meant to do it both with hair similar to Yekarna’s and with her natural hair color revealed.
‘Who does he think he is?’
She decided she would only do it once and then stop immediately. Her goal was to resolve the demon poison. Last time, the atmosphere had led her to continue even after the poison was purified, but… one mistake was enough. She wouldn’t repeat the same error this time.
As he unfastened the strings of the mask but continued to support the back of her head, his hands moved down her neck. He loosened her dress without even looking at the complicated knots.
Suddenly the thought of him being married briefly crossed her mind.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
