I thought he was an illusion, so I touched his cheek with the tips of my fingers.

As I exerted pressure with my fingers, and his cheeks went in.

I was still doubtful whether the vivid texture was real.

This time, I gently stroked his cheek with my entire palm. It was cold, but the soft-touch was vivid.

Hes real.

After all, I didnt speak to him first.

What are you doing?

Alastair grabbed my wrist and drew it towards his lips.

And as usual, he gently kissed each finger with sincerity.

Ahaa.!

Alastair playfully stuck out his tongue and tickled me from my palm to my wrist.

I was taken aback, astonished by the hot, damp sensation, and quickly pulled out the hand held by him and rubbed his saliva off on my skirt.

How did you find me?

I asked your maid because you werent in the room.

I never told her where I was going.

My body trembled in the cold wind. When I rubbed my shoulders with my hands, trying to gather with warmth, Alastair took off his cape and covered me.

Despite hurting him like that, he came first and is worried that I will be cold.

I thought youd come this way.

Why?

Every time you passed this area, you always looked towards the bell tower.

You noticed that?

Yes.

Is it because of his obsessive hypnosis stats in this novel?

He had a very good hunch. He knew where I would be just because I stared at the bell tower.

Alastair pulled my body into his arms.

He changed his posture and sat me comfortably down on his lap.

I was stuck in his arms

Did you not hear what I said in the morning?

I didnt mean to do this.

Contrary to my thoughts, angular words pop out of my mouth.

I dont want to do this, but my brain and mouth acted differently.

Unexpectedly, you dont know me. Theres no way I can keep that.

Alastair looked at me with great love.

He gently swept my hair away and kissed my eyes.

My eyelashes trembled. My reflection was in his eyes unconditionally.

This man even looked at me as if I was adorable.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

As if prompted, he hugged me tighter.

I wanted to give you some time. You said you were sick of me, so I let you spend time without me.

As soon as Alastair sighed, I felt his hot exhale over my head.

If you dont want me within your sight, Ill do what you say. So I tried to stay out of sight for a few days.

.

But it didnt work as I thought it might. When its only been a few minutes, I miss you, and after a few hours, Im going crazy.

I guess theres no concept of a yearly rate?

I said so. After facing my one-sided anger, he came to me like a bee was drawn to the scent of flowers.

Did you not know? Without you, Im nothing. You are the only thing in my heart. You are all that there is.

As he spoke, Alastair didnt even bother to keep up his pride with me, even though I had trampled on his heart.

Alastair smiled deftly. Destressing me even more.

Because you made me that way.

Brainwashing.

It is the only thread that always carries us and connects our relationship.

And now, in a way, I was cutting that very thread.

Is it bad to live in the way you made it?

Thats why Ill release you from it.

Its useless.

He fiddled with my silver hair flowing down.

And he left a deep kiss.

He might have left a kiss on my hair, but it was as if he kissed all over my body.

I felt a strange feeling, as if I was bruised.

I already love you, even if there was no brainwashing.

Ha ..

Please dont say that.

I tried to swallow the lumpy words that came to the top of my throat.

As if dealing with a genuine lover, the words that were sweet and tender but were as good as poison to me.

I havent seen the future directly, but in the future, after I got rid of Alastairs brainwashing, there were two ways it could go:

Alastair either kills me or doesnt kill me.

Our relationship will be very different.

Two years ago, if I hadnt given you that herb if yesterday you hadnt attacked me.

Would we at least be able to laugh and talk here?

It is meaningless to have vain hope.

Serina.

Why?

Are you still suspicious?

I was certain, I wasnt suspicious.

I dont know.

I heard a low sigh was heard from above me.

How can I make you trust me?

He phased it like a question, but it was more like a plea.

I buried my face in his neck.

Then, this time, a different kind of sigh came.

Alastair turned his head and kissed the top of my head.

By the way Why were you mad in the morning?

He knows nothing.

Thats why I get angry even though I know I shouldnt.

I closed my eyes tightly.

If youre not really tired of me Dont say such things, because it makes my heart tremble.

Only

I am weird.

The reason Im not transparent with Alastair is because I want to maintain the status quo of our relationship. Id rather pretend that nothing happened until I cleared up his brainwashing, so our relationship doesnt go south.

Then I poured out my anger on him

Serina, did I do anything wrong to you?

***