Please Kill Me - Chapter 118
To briefly explain that situation, one could say that Yekaterina was enchanted by Leonid.
The culprit was Leonid’s golden eyes.
More precisely, it was the protective magic of Rostislav inherited by Leonid.
The three founders of Etiel—Arlan, Offenbach, and Rostislav—each left powerful protective magic for their respective families. They even ensured that the magic could be passed on in the form of magical artifacts, preparing for a time when the magic might disappear.
Thanks to this foresight, anyone with the records and the magical artifacts could use the magic.
While this led to misfortunes for people like Yekaterina, it was a stroke of luck for Leonid and Rostislav. All the elders who could have passed the magic to Leonid died before he grew up. However, Leonid could still inherit Rostislav’s magic thanks to these artifacts. The presence of Stepan was fortunate too.
Stepan, who had served the previous Duke Rostislav since childhood, knew what to pass on to the new young head of the family.
When Leonid returned home with his knighthood, Stepan handed him the key to a secret room only accessible to the head of the Rostislav family. In that room, Leonid discovered the existence of the protective magic and the family’s history, fully becoming the head of Rostislav.
‘It’s been years since then.’
Leonid recalled when his eyes turned gold. The symbol created by Rostislav’s magic is golden eyes, which protects the love and trust for Rostislav.
‘It’s called the Magic of Trust.’
The three founders Arlan, Offenbach, and Rostislav, each pursued a different kind of strength.
“Strength is proven through domination and subjugation. If no one can defy my words, I will be the strongest,” Arlan desired to be a ruler.
“The food chain is the visible measure of strength. If I stand at the top of the food chain, defined by survival of the fittest, no one can harm me,” Offenbach aimed to be at the apex of predation.
But Rostislav had a different perspective.
Someone who can dominate everyone will naturally preserve their safety. Similarly, a strong individual preying on the weak is also a given. Just as the sun sets and the moon rises, such natural occurrences are not extraordinary.
However, if a weakling with nothing can preserve their safety just like someone who can dominate or prey on others, now that would be extraordinary. Imagine a defenseless baby animal.
According to Arlan and Offenbach’s principles, that baby should die because it is weak and incapable of domination.
Yet, the baby survives.
It does so because of the love from those who gave it life. Only love can turn the impossible into possible.
“One who is loved by all has no reason to be harmed by anyone. If they can maintain the affection they once received, half the world will be theirs.”
The magic left by Rostislav is the Magic of Trust.
Those under the protection of this magic find it easier to gain the goodwill of others, and once someone harbors positive feelings toward them, people can never hold malice against them.
‘…though that’s the nature of the magic.’
Records mentioned that in life-threatening situations, the magic could overheat, affecting those around without Rostislav’s intent.
For instance, someone lost might coincidentally be found by another, who then inexplicably showers them with love, ensuring they can return home safely.
Since records are records, they may be vague or exaggerated.
‘It seems there’s some truth to them.’
The records flashed through his mind as he noticed Yekaterina’s unusual behavior.
He felt discomfort at the same time. If the magic influences others to harbor goodwill towards him, how could he trust such affection?
Even Yekaterina, who was typically so indifferent, seemed captivated by the magic.
The thought that Yekaterina’s affection or attraction towards him might be due to the magic made Leonid feel as if he was deceiving her, whether intentionally or not.
He corrected himself.
‘No, it was deception from the start.’
Leonid looked down at his right hand. The bandages wrapped around his seemingly healthy hand felt as though they were binding his sins, not just his wounds.
How could someone like him speak of sincerity?
‘Moreover….’
His gaze shifted to Yekaterina, who was deeply asleep beside him. She had fallen into a sudden, deep sleep once she had calmed down.
‘It must be a side effect of the magic.’
The fact that she calmed down indicated that she was no longer under the magic’s spell.
Magic is never kind. It protects only those under its protection. To safeguard its subject, it is willing to sacrifice anything around it—that is the nature of magic.
And this time, the magic seemed to have consumed Yekaterina’s mental strength.
‘Why her?’
