You, Who's Kind Only To Me - Chapter 23
Ren thought, if she confidently demonstrated her ability to attend at night, wouldn’t it allow her to stay a little longer?
…If someone had overheard, they would have been taken aback, but the misunderstanding had now grown to an irreversible extent.
“Then, if circumstances allow, how about staying until the harvest festival?”
“The harvest festival…”
“It’s only once a year, and it would be a shame to miss it. If you’re worried about your family, there are ways to send a message.”
Ren blinked and looked at the Madam. There seemed to be something she wanted from Ren, but Ren couldn’t yet discern her intentions. The notes she emitted were still elegant and graceful. It was somewhat exhilarating.
Ren nodded slowly. A stranger with nowhere to go. It didn’t matter where she stayed.
Although the elderly couple referred to her as their ‘daughter’, Ren had never considered them as her parents. They had given her a place to stay and gave her name, but that was the price she had paid.
Even if the colors were faded and fragmented notes were abundant, the meaning of the ‘name’ was just that – that was the life of a stranger.
* * *
Whoop-
The time when the moon settled.
After finishing dinner with the Elder Madam, Ren returned to her room and once again, with Marie’s help, finished her bath. The time spent in contact with water always lifted her spirits. It was like giving life to withered roots drained of moisture.
With a refreshed face, she came out of the bathroom and dried herself, then lay down on the soft bed. Thanks to Marie turning off the lights and leaving, the room was dark.
Her light pink eyelashes blinked slowly.
‘I can’t sleep.’
The bed in the mansion was much softer compared to the firm one in the attic. However, for some reason, she couldn’t sleep. It was strange, not being able to fall asleep.
Ren rolled around on the wide bed, clutching the plush blanket. Then, she huddled up and held her breath.
[Ooo-]
A voice from the depths, far away. The damp and chilly sensation crawled up her body. Its moist breath tickled her ear, causing it to throb as if she had drunk water.
Her heart sank with vicious and selfish affection.
Ren sat up abruptly.
“…Ah.”
The room was silent.
She looked around the blurred surroundings and then closed her eyes and opened them again.
‘This is not the island.’
Relieved, Ren slowly stretched her smooth leg under the bed. In the darkness, her leg appeared unnaturally white, with an eerie aspect that didn’t quite seem human.
As her blue eyes blinked, the darkness receded.
Or rather, it seemed more like something had been ‘devoured.’
“Please take care of me today, Psyche.”
She murmured the name of the spirit, feeling the approaching breeze without needing to open her mouth.
The blue light particles entwined around her gradually dispersed, leaving a glimmer behind.
Whoosh–
Tap, tap.
Ren, crossing the room slowly and silently, opened the door. Similar to last time, nobody noticed the presence. She crossed the hallway and, upon opening the door at the end of the top floor, was greeted by the refreshing night breeze.
‘Again…’
Even today, the man was still sleeping in an uncomfortable position, leaning against the headboard. He didn’t seem to be sleeping but rather resting his body for a moment.
There was some part of him that felt uneasy and dangerous, like revealing thorns to the world.
She approached him slowly. As Ren stood in front of him, she could see his face, covered in cold sweat.
‘What is causing you so much pain?’
She reached out her hand, brushing away the moisture clinging to the sharp edge of his jaw. As she traced the traces of water that streaked across the pale pallid cheek, her fingertips grew damp and warm.
Whether it was tears or beads of sweat, it was hard to tell. Perhaps it was because the sight of him, soaked in pain and groaning, felt so fragile and vulnerable.
Ren slowly withdrew her hand.
Or rather, she tried to.
“…!”
Grab!
Her wrist was grabbed. In the darkness, her blue eyes that never lost their light widened, and at the same time, the red eyes that vividly illuminated the deep darkness opened.
“That…!”
As Ren hesitated in shock, the hand gripping her wrist tightened. In the midst of the sharp pain, she took a step back unconsciously.
Dark light swirled over the red eyes.
“Ah!”
A short scream came at the same time.
Her body was suddenly pulled.
Thump!
Ren ended up falling onto the man, her face showing a slight bewilderment as she blinked.
“Exc, excuse me…”
“Ren—”
“…”
“…Ren.”
Their eyes met in the distance where their breaths would have intertwined if they had come any closer.
At first, it was a voice that sounded like the growl of a beast, and then it sounded like a yearning cry.
The blurry red eyes were gazing at her intently. She could see his slightly chapped lips, which were also tinted red.
“Si, Ren…”
Ren belatedly realized that the man wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was directed towards some nonexistent place beyond her.
At times, his searching gaze seemed ferocious enough to be menacing, and at other times, it was tender enough to break her heart.
“Ugh, haa…”
There was no tangible form of reality anywhere.
“Hu…”
“…”
“Don’t go. You promised.”
The man leaned his forehead against her shoulder, his breath was hot. Ren froze in surprise as she felt his warm breath brushing against her exposed skin. Her face started to blush
It was a strange sensation.
A tingling sensation at the base of her neck, and a feeling of her hands and feet curling naturally. It was both unfamiliar yet strangely comforting, all at once.
hi, effe here!
i’m sorry to inform that this would be my last chapter of ‘kotm’. i have read ahead until chapter 48 in the raws, the story was confusing even as i read, i couldn’t really grasp the plot. i read the (korean) comments and they too expressed some confusion.
i don’t want to cause more confusion to the readers, so i decided to drop it.
thank you so much for reading~!
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