“Do you not want to be human?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I become human, I’ll have to leave you, Miss Lyna. I read in a book that humans… humans can’t always stay together because of various factors.”
“…That’s quite a realistic book.”
It’s so realistic that I even suspect it might be a philosophy book. Of course, it’s not entirely wrong, but I never expected Magnus to say something like that.
“But the book said that a beast is the only creature that can stay by its owner’s side until the owner dies. So, I don’t want to become human.”
What kind of book did they bring him to make him understand only these strange things? My neck stiffened.
I had instructed the employees to pick out some books and deliver them to him a few times, but I feared they might give him biased ones, so I told them to give him a variety.
“If you keep me as a beast, I promise never to betray you, Miss Lyna.”
Magnus pulled my index finger to his lips and kissed the tip.
It’s good that he’s progressed to this point instead of kneeling and kissing my foot.
Good, but…
‘This is ultimately just following orders.’
He’s still brainwashed to always kneel when greeting, and that hasn’t changed even after all this time.
‘And more than that, he seems to think that humans are an evolved form of beasts.’
There’s nothing to change or leave alone; it’s all up to Magnus’s choices. I understand that he still needs more time.
“I will be a beast more loyal than a dog….”
I was going to tell him that I probably won’t be able to come here anymore, but with the situation like this, I can’t say that I won’t come.
If I do, tears might fall from those beautiful golden eyes.
“Do you like me, Mag?”
I looked down at him and asked. I don’t think I’ve ever asked him this before. There’s nothing better than such a question to make him realize his contradictions.
“Yes, I like you, Miss Lyna.”
Magnus answered without a second thought. It was reflexive and very quick.
It felt like pressing a button on a machine that had a pre-programmed response.
“Why?”
“…What?”
“Why do you like me? Tell me the reason.”
At my question, Magnus seemed at a loss for words and couldn’t answer.
He just opened and closed his mouth a few times. The focus in his eyes, which had been clear, gradually became blurry again.
“Because… it’s obvious….”
Magnus, who had become confused, couldn’t find an answer and rolled his eyes.
The hand that had been holding my finger tightly now let go. He dropped his hand and lowered his head.
“Why…?”
It was a very simple question, but Magnus furrowed his brow as if he couldn’t understand it.
He raised a hand to clutch his hair tightly and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Why… was it…?”
A look of confusion crossed his face.
See, it’s just brainwashing. There’s no need to waver or pay attention to this strange agitation.
I slowly lowered my eyelids and swallowed my tension.
“Mag.”
“…”
“Mag.”
When I called him a little louder, Magnus lifted his head to look at me with unfocused eyes.
I reached out and placed my palm on Magnus’s cheek. Then, I pulled up the corners of my mouth as naturally as possible.
“It’s okay.”
“…Yes.”
“Becoming human is a natural thing. So, gradually stop being a beast.”
“…Then, I won’t be able to stay with you, Miss Lyna?”
Magnus asked with a dazed expression. That’s probably true. I should have answered, but strangely, my throat felt clogged, and no words came out.
This time, my expression twisted.
“Miss Lyna?”
“Maybe.”
I answered belatedly, and Magnus nodded. Then he clenched his fist tightly.
‘It’s a laughable statement.’
If I were in my original body and not Illyana Glaine’s, it might have sounded a bit more credible and okay, but I am Illyana Glaine now.
[Question it more. Resent and curse me.]
A passage from Illyana Glaine’s diary came to mind.
If I hurt Magnus, would he gain the motivation to return to his original place? Would that mean I could return too?
[The beast asked me what it was. I answered that it was just a beast, nothing more. The beast had no response. On the way back, I instructed the mercenary to let the beast go if it attacked.]
Illyana Glaine’s diary certainly said so. It was clear she had said it on purpose.
And Illyana Glaine, who said those words, anticipated that Magnus would soon run away. That’s why she ordered the mercenaries.
And as she expected, Magnus did run away. The next chapter had a story about that.
If hurting Magnus would give him a chance to run away, then I must hurt him.
For my return, above all else.
How?
The method is simple. I just have to say I won’t give him what he wants most. Like Illyana Glaine, with a smile, cruelly.
I slowly reached out and pulled Magnus up, embracing him. Then I gently stroked the back of his head.
“To be honest, I don’t like you, Mag.”
I whispered quietly in his ear, as I held him close.
Because I was holding him, I couldn’t see the expression on Magnus’s face as he looked over my shoulder.
“…Miss… Lyna?”
“I’m tired of you. So, I don’t need you anymore.”
This would probably be the last thing I’d say to him. I slowly pushed him away.
As I did, Magnus’s face, still looking stunned, came into view.
I hoped this would be the trigger for him to run away as I got up and turned to leave…
Plop-.
From his golden eyes, transparent tears began to stream down his face.
“…”
I was at a loss for words.
A strange sensation, as if my heart was being squeezed, made me forget how to breathe.
What I thought was a single tear soon turned into many, streaming down Magnus’s face.
Like raindrops falling from the sky, rolling down a windowpane, the transparent teardrops rolled down his cheeks.
Despite being a head taller than me, he looked so pitiful.
“Why…”
Magnus’s mouth opened and closed again. His voice, barely audible, was so suppressed that it was hard to listen to.
I looked down at Magnus quietly.
Magnus, still kneeling on the floor, was shedding tears.
He didn’t make a single sound of sobbing, so if I closed my eyes, I wouldn’t even know he was crying.
The rug on the floor absorbed all the tears, making no sound of falling droplets. Honestly, I thought it wouldn’t be surprising if he vented his resentment and grabbed me by the collar.
Of course, since he’s been brainwashed, I didn’t expect him to grab me, but I didn’t expect him to just kneel and cry silently either.
I felt suffocated. It would be better to find an excuse to leave this place.
“It seems pointless to stay together. I’ll be going now, so rest well.”
As I turned to leave, I felt a tug on the hem of my dress.
When I looked back, Magnus was clutching the edge of my dress with his trembling hand.
“You promised… sniff.”
His voice quivered. The spot where his tears fell on the red rug looked much darker and redder, as if freshly drawn blood. Magnus’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“You promised, didn’t you?”
What? I briefly wondered but didn’t need to ask.
He must be referring to my promise to stay with him until night. It’s impressive that Magnus could speak up in this situation.
“You promised to stay with me… until night….”
I don’t know if I should commend Magnus for stating his opinion despite the situation or Illyana Glaine for brainwashing him to this extent.
“Do you want to stay with me?”
“Yes…”
“I’ll call Carl, so let go.”
Magnus didn’t answer, but he obediently loosened his grip. As I looked at Magnus letting go of my hand, I clenched my fist.
Did Illyana Glaine really have no feelings for Magnus?
If this body is Illyana Glaine’s and this reaction is something she naturally had every time she saw Magnus…
What should I call this emotion?
“Sit on the bed and keep your eyes closed until I permit you to open them.”
“Yes.”
Magnus got up, pushing himself off the now-soaked rug.
Magnus, who got up shakily, rubbed his eyes with his sleeves and sat on the bed. After confirming he closed his eyes, I opened the door.
“Check him quickly and leave.”
“Understood.”
Carl checks weekly to control Rei’s intake.
Suddenly stopping any kind of drug, whether it’s a narcotic or medicinal, can be as lethal as poison. Cases of people going mad and dying are common.
So, to break the addiction, he needs to administer the right amount and gradually reduce it. Carl walked straight to Magnus.
The good thing about Carl is his quick wits. He can control his curiosity in line with his experience.
He just does his job and leaves without asking questions, providing a simple status update.
“I’ve finished.”
“Alright. Let’s talk outside.” I sent Carl out first and turned to look at Magnus.
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