Please Kill Me - Chapter 49
While Leonid was at a loss for words, Yekaterina continued under her misunderstanding.
“Sorry to hear you’re worried, but I’ll try to lessen it. You know I’m not someone who gets easily injured, haircuts aside.”
“Right, I’m very aware. So, you’re saying I should just ignore whatever happens to you?”
“I mean, you should use your time for something more worthwhile.”
Rather than on me, who won’t be around much longer.
Yekaterina said this, lowering her eyes elegantly, a habit stemming from her tendency not to look at people she’s conversing with.
Her face, with eyes closed, resembled the tranquility and stillness of a lily in a sarcophagus.
It looked a bit tired, a bit sad, and a bit joyful all at once.
The coexistence of these emotions was surprising.
Perhaps it was due to the slanting afternoon sunlight that started to fill the side of the room where Yekaterina sat.
Maybe it was her long eyelashes casting shadow marks like teardrops on her cheeks.
Or it could be her utterly still posture, so quiet that one couldn’t even sense her heartbeat.
While the exact reason was uncertain, one thing was sure: she was embodying the ‘rest’ she so desperately sought.
It felt like glimpsing someone’s death.
Breath caught in his throat. Although this wasn’t the first time he felt this way in Yekaterina’s presence, this was a distinctly different sensation.
It was like touching on long-forgotten memories of death.
The woman in front of him was perfectly alive, but why did she evoke such feelings?
Leonid turned away, frowning.
“I’ll do as you say. I should focus my time on something more valuable.”
“Are you agreeing to send me then?”
“No. This time, I’ll send a unit led by Vasily Arkady. There’s no turning back. And I’ll have someone watch you for a while, so just know that.”
With that, Leonid left the room and immediately called for Vasily and Stepan.
“Vasily, how long will it take to gather the troops?”
“The knights are ready; we just need to select a few soldiers. It’s taking a bit of time since we’re trying to assemble those with experience in monster extermination.”
“How long until we can leave?”
“At the earliest, three days.”
Preparing to leave in three days was indeed quick. However, Leonid seemed dissatisfied but reluctantly accepted it.
“Understood. Proceed as quickly as possible and depart immediately once the troops are assembled.”
“As you command. And what about Yekaterina Offenbach…?”
Vasily trailed off, clearly troubled by her ambiguous remarks.
Mention of her name immediately soured Leonid’s expression.
“Don’t worry about it. She’s definitely hiding something, but her motive is clear.”
To die.
“Yekaterina Offenbach strongly wished to join the extermination. Since we can’t force her, she’ll surely try to sneak in with the departing troops. Vasily, make sure she has no chance to join, and leave as quickly as possible. Stepan, tell Olga to keep a close watch on her. You keep an eye on her too.”
“Understood. Anything else?”
When Stepan asked, Leonid pondered briefly.
“Tell the chef to prepare meals on standby, the tastier the better.”
“Meals, sir?”
“Yes. And contact someone in Laosa Street.”
He intended to ensure Yekaterina couldn’t even entertain any foolish ideas.
Leonid’s golden eyes were filled with determination as he spoke.
* * *
Laosa Street.
The place named after the language of the nomads who lived near the area before the Ethiel Empire was established, it means ‘paradise’.
The very idea of calling a street in the capital ‘paradise’ might seem a bit grand, but there’s no one in the capital who doesn’t know about Laosa Street. The reason is simple: it’s where every luxury and form of entertainment exists.
From diverse tailor shops and jewelers to places selling intricately made dolls and toys that look almost like real people, and even a theater that presents a different performance every day.
In short, it’s a bustling area, or in other words, a domain monopolized by the wealthy.
And Leonid has somehow managed to transport the entirety of Laosa Street into the mansion. Literally.
“How about it, Yekaterina? Found anything you like?”
In a room filled with expensive items.
Leonid handed Yekaterina a bear doll adorned with obsidian buttons for eyes. Meanwhile, Olga exclaimed in delight at her, who was adorned from neck to wrists, fingers, and even ankles with pearl accessories, and next to her, Stepan was inspecting a monocle frame.
“The color of these pearls is so beautiful!”
“This gold frame looks very stylish. It’s definitely a high-quality item.”
True to their earlier friendly exchange over Yekaterina’s hair, the two got along quite well in front of all these luxury items.
Amidst this spectacle, Yekaterina longed for death even more.
