In the Nest of the Fallen Serpent - Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Hilde gathered her courage. “I won’t use my divine power without your permission anymore.” The words, small but clear, flowed from her trembling lips. “Next time, I’ll ask you first… so, so, would you please forgive me just this once?”
He stared at her in silence for a long moment. His gaze felt piercing, or perhaps it was the intensity of his uniquely beautiful golden eyes that made it difficult to meet his look.
After a while, Benedict released her chin and placed the rabbit in her arms. “Let it go.”
Hilde’s eyes widened, incredulous at the unexpected ease of his forgiveness. But the solid, warm presence of life against her palms was undeniably real. The tears that had threatened to spill were instantly replaced by a radiant smile. “Thank you.”
Benedict’s eyes followed Hilde as she hurried towards the terrace. So, she does know how to smile. As her tear-brimmed eyes curved with joy, it was as if a dew-kissed peach blossom had suddenly burst open. Her voice, though still slightly choked, held a newfound lightness that was pleasant to his ears. Far more so than her pleas and whimpers, more than her screams of fear and pain.
“M-Master.” Hilde, having placed the rabbit at the edge of the terrace and given it a final, affectionate stroke, turned back to him. “Is your… snake still in the room?”
Benedict glanced at where his pet snake had been. The serpent, already slithering forward in anticipation of its soon-to-be-released prey, froze at its master’s gaze.
Hilde, unaware of the scene within, asked cautiously, a troubled expression on her face, “If it’s alright with you… could you keep your snake away for a little while…?”
Though fully aware of his snake’s intentions, Benedict replied nonchalantly, “Why? Are you afraid my snake will eat the rabbit?”
“Not exactly, but…” Hilde hesitated, then closed her eyes and confessed, “I’m sorry. I’m a little worried.”
A dry chuckle escaped him at her disarming honesty. With a jerk of his chin, he conceded, “Just let it go.”
Hilde nodded and patted the rabbit. “Go on. And don’t ever come back here. A scary snake lives here and might eat you. Understand?”
Benedict felt strangely displeased as he listened to her instructions to the rabbit. It was only natural for a snake to eat a rabbit. Wasn’t it the law of nature for prey to offer itself to the predator? Still, her gentle, clear voice was quite pleasant to listen to. He pinned his snake down, preventing it from moving.
Finally, after the rabbit hopped away into the bushes, Hilde returned to him and bowed her head. “Thank you, Master.”
“Not a day goes by quietly, does it?”
A slightly aggrieved expression flickered across her small face. “I-I’ve been quiet until now…”
“Quiet?” Benedict scoffed. “With your shoulder in that state, you couldn’t even attend to your duties. I left you to heal, and you repay me by spying on my movements?”
“Spying…?”
“It was quite a sight, seeing you huddled on the floor, dozing off every time you failed.”
Ripples of shock spread across her pink eyes. It was no surprise she was startled; he had revealed that he knew about her clandestine activities.
Benedict’s lips curled into a smirk. “So, did you think you could get your necklace back by flattering me?”
“No. That’s not… ” Hilde bit her lip, unable to finish her sentence. Troublesome. If he saw blood, he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself.
“I just wanted to thank you. I-I wasn’t trying to get my necklace back by saying things I don’t mean… Ah!”
On impulse, Benedict reached out and touched her cheek. Her soft, warm skin met his palm. Hilde flinched, instinctively taking a step back, only to find her back against the wall.
“Don’t run.” As long as she didn’t turn her back and run, he could be lenient. He gently stroked her delicate skin with his thumb.
She shouldn’t try to deceive him, or even attempt to hide anything from his gaze. He had never tolerated deceit, much less from a slave.
“Whether your aim is the necklace or something else…” If she dared to try and escape again, he would tear her delicate skin to shreds. Benedict continued to caress her cheek, gauging its softness. It wouldn’t feel pleasant to be cut. He needed to eliminate any possibility of his slave attempting such a thing, or better yet, prevent her from even entertaining the thought. Even if it meant instilling fear in her.
“If you’re caught running—”
“I-I won’t run,” Hilde vowed before he could finish his threat.
