Your Majesty, Please Don’t Kill Me Again - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“Fuck… You’re driving me insane with this nonsense.”

He turned around and put the rifle back on the wall and didn’t hesitate to come back to me.

Didn’t he plan on killing me?

Perhaps… he won’t kill me because Tori’s here?

Indeed, he’s exceptionally kind to Tori… but it’s not enough to put me at ease.

Because he killed Tori even though he liked her so much.

“Eup… hic… Uwaaaa!”

“I’m not gonna kill you… stop making a fuss.”

“Me… hic… you say?”

I keep on hiccuping because of these darn tears.

“Hic… I… eung… Don’t wanna… hic… die. Your Highness.”

“You’re so noisy… stop it.”

“I won’t kill you… You’re so idiotic that killing you would just be a waste of time.”

“I’m… hic hic… not an idiot…*heup.”*

Instead of responding to what I said, Rupert let out a deep sigh. I’m not the kind of person who cries often, but when I do, I cry until I’m exhausted. It’s humiliating to be crying in front of Rupert as my head is already clear but I can’t stop the tears.

Rupert looked at me as I poured the tea while still sniffling and threw the book he was holding with a frustrated hand. Even though it wasn’t thrown at me, I was surprised and withdrew when the book hit the wall and fell.

“Don’t you have any plans on stopping?”

“I’m… hic… sorry…”

Sniff.

Tori gave me a handkerchief which I used to wipe my tears and runny nose. I automatically hid behind her and looked at Rupert.

Tori is a lot shorter and skinnier than me. But I think she’s still pretty reliable as a shield. As if to prove me right, Tori stood between Rupert and me with her arms wide open and a determined look on her face.

Rupert seems a little surprised by her decision to go against him. Instead of looking at Tori, who was right next to me, he gave me an annoyed look.

Why is he even glaring at me like that… it seemed like he’s regretting giving me the sense of security that he’ll never hurt me.

Am I lucky that he’s just staring at me right now?

“Your Highness!”

“What!”

Tori raised her voice to ask him a question, and he actually frowned. Tori is a very pretty girl and I actually never saw her angry so I’m a bit unsure. I didn’t even back her because I didn’t know what to do if Rupert really became angered. So I’m really confused as to what Tori is doing.

“Don’t… Please stop the bullying.”

“When was I ever mean to you?”

“I mean Lariette!”

When Tori answered, Rupert put one hand on his chin and looked at me like I was crazy. He rubbed his face nervously.

“She’s so noisy.”

“You pointed a gun at her, Your Highness.”

“I can’t win…”

I glanced at the book that had fallen on the floor and quickly ran over to pick it up. I quietly and submissively walked up to Rupert. I handed him the book, and the corners of his mouth went up as if he was sneering at me.

Tori opened her mouth in shock as if she couldn’t believe that Rupert was still acting up even though I’m now the one approaching him.

“Ah… no, you dropped the book.”

I muttered, trying to explain myself for acting so timidly. At that moment, Rupert grabbed the book I had just picked up, grabbed my hair, and pulled me toward him.

It didn’t hurt as he pulled on my hair slowly, but I disliked being touched as if he was touching an animal, so I furrowed my brows.

“Smile.”

Rupert commanded me to, so I made an arc with my lips. Without hesitation, he grabbed me by the nape of my neck and turned me around to show Tori my ‘happy’ face.

“Look… she’s happy now.”

I felt pretty miserable though. I tried to move away to get out of Rupert’s grip, but his hold was so strong that I winced. I felt suffocated, and the tears that had just stopped burst out again.

In fact, I was a young lady in Bellua who was treated with the utmost respect. I did experience a rough situation right before I died, but this isn’t how people usually treated me.

From the start, Rupert was like this, and I became accustomed to it because I didn’t think he would ever treat people like people in the first place. But when I saw how he treated Tori, I felt injustice. The resentment accumulated as the waves of resentment continued to flow.

Truly, I really tried my best.

I haven’t done anything to hurt him, but why is he still being so mean to me?

It’s been a year already, he grew up physically, but as a person, he still hasn’t grown at all. He didn’t develop an ounce of kindness during this time.

No matter what I do… at this rate, when becomes Crown Prince, he’ll devour House Bellua as a whole.

I feel my sanity slowly fading into oblivion.

I’m going crazy.

“La… Lariette!”

Tori put up her hand in shame as my tears and runny nose soaked the floor. When he heard me crying, Rupert turned his head to the side and looked at my ugly face.

“Again? Why are you crying?!”

“Hooh… Uwaaahhh!”

“Are you hurt?”

With a frown, he let go of my neck.

“Uhya, Your Highness! Why are you holding her neck like that?”

“I wasn’t holding tightly!”

“Kub…kub.”

As I kept crying, a raccoon that had been hiding under the table crawled out and touched the back of my foot.

He isn’t worried about me. He’s just grabbing onto me because he’s teasing me.

Just like his master.

I kicked the ugly beast aside without Rupert’s knowledge

“Stop crying… I’m gonna die because of how noisy you are.”

“Stop harassing Lariette!”

“Don’t kill her… Don’t hurt her… Aren’t you asking for too much?”

So should we only ask for one at a time?

I’m speechless, and my mouth is pouting. I blow my nose and pretended I didn’t know what he was asking.

“But I said that I’ll spare you.”

“…”

“Answer me… Not Tori… but you.”

“You… can hurt me… and hit me too.”

I wish I didn’t have to, but I’m willing to put up with Rupert’s insensitivity, mockery, and violence as long as it doesn’t hurt Bellua. I don’t worry about words of threat or violence that only affects me.

I’m afraid for House Bellua and Bellua’s honor in the future.

“What will I get out of hitting you?”

Rupert’s low voice would have a different meaning from others. Since he’s a violent person, I know he would find it entertaining to hurt others.

I didn’t say anything… because I didn’t have anything to say.

“I’m not gonna hurt you so don’t cry… otherwise the dumpling will burst.”

Even though it sounds good, I’m not happy with it. The words behind it were also rude, so I pretended to blow my nose loudly and walked up to Tori, grabbing her sleeve.

“Don’t cry Lariette. You’ll be fine.”

Rupert looked back and forth at Tori and I, who were both standing together, and laughed with a sound similar to wind blowing past.

“You said you were on my side, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“For how long?”

I couldn’t give an immediate answer.

Rupert’s distrust was deeper than I expected. Not because he didn’t believe in me, but because he’s that type of person.

“Tell me what you want from me, if there’s anything. In my mind, it’s easier to deal with it that way.”

If he had a pen and paper in front of him, it’s reasonable to assume he would immediately write up a contract.

I stood up with my head bowed in complete shock.

We were the same.

He and I felt the same way about each other. As much as we needed each other, we didn’t trust each other enough.

I was desperate. Rupert was the only person I could use.

I realized there was no longer a need for me to beg him to trust me without giving him a reason.

After hesitating for a while, I finally spoke up.

“Your Highness.”

“…”

“While Your Highness is in power…”

When I looked into his dark green eyes, I saw suspicion.

I didn’t try to avoid his suspicious gaze.

“I’m a member of the Imperial Family but I don’t have any power.”

It was a humble rejection. It doesn’t appear he feels ashamed about not being able to do anything, and he has a face that shows he didn’t care.

“Didn’t you see me get hit by Arnulf? That’s where I stand. I’m still alive because the Queen decided it wasn’t worth it to kill me.”

I picked up the kettle on the table and poured the tea again before I could answer. Rupert was more patient than I expected. Without waiting for me, he continued reading the book he had been reading since earlier.

“The Queen made a mistake.”

“What?”

“I think Your Highness will be the next Emperor.”

His finger, which had been randomly turning the pages of the book, stopped suddenly.

I could hear Tori taking a deep breath.

Rupert slowly moved his eyes.

His eyes twinkled for a moment.

It was different from his usual cold, dark green eyes. With such an intense green color, it felt as if a strange atmosphere was released. It gave me chills. I felt like I was facing a goblin, one that lived in such an old, dark forest where no one ever wanted to look for it.

It made my skin crawl.

“Stop joking. If His Majesty heard you right now, you won’t have a head on your neck.”

“But you can’t say anything right now.”

“Let’s say what you said is true… then what do you want in return?”

Rupert drank some of the tea I had poured. Before answering, I waited patiently for him to put down the cup.

“Please keep Bellua safe.”

“From what?”

From you.

I was nervous, but I couldn’t say much, so I smiled broadly to hide it.

“Anything.”

“As long as I’m in power, I’ll protect Bellua?”

“Yes.”

“What do I get in return?”

He tapped the table with his long fingers in a typical motion. I tensed my lips, shut my eyes tightly, and opened my mouth.

“Me.”

“What?”

“You can have me.”

Rupert’s face distorts in a ridiculous way, perhaps because of what I said.

Tori, who was behind me, quickly grabbed my shoulder, but I didn’t turn around.

“I’m Lariette from House Bellua… For the rest of my life, I’ll do anything you want. You can use my name for anything, even for political reasons. I will be completely yours in every way.”

“Even if I want to sell you to an old man like Count Gonzarova?”

It’s rumored that Count Gonzarova, an old middle-aged nobleman, was a pervert.

Without hesitation, I nodded.

Rupert made an expression that looked a little bit like disgust, but I didn’t say it was okay just to please him.

It felt satisfying.

Using my marriage as a political tool was the most satisfying way to use my existence as a shield to protect Bellua.