When That Door Opens - Chapter 48
Three years passed.
Long enough for my desperate hope to fade into a dull gray.
I often questioned whether the hope I clung to had any meaning.
Just as that doubt was about to consume all my hope and devour the rest of my life, he appeared before my eyes.
It was a day like any other. I finished my duties as Astel and headed to the prayer room. Until I opened the door to the prayer room, I had no idea what I was about to see.
* * *
“It’s been a while, noonim.”
After three years, seeing him again was both familiar and foreign. His tall stature, solid build, and frosty eyes were the same. Yet, there were changes that made him seem like a different person: the eyepatch covering one eye and a new kind of smile.
His smile reeked of blood.
He confirmed everyone in the prayer room was dead before approaching and kissing me. As he pulled away, he declared he would never let me go.
“You seem very shocked. You’re still trembling. Ah, it reminds me of that day. The first day you embraced me.”
Still trembling in shock, he helped me to my feet and smiled softly.
“I want to hold you like that day. No, I will. Right now.”
Even as we left the prayer room, I wasn’t in my right mind.
How did he manage to return? What had he gone through all this time? How could he do something like this?
One thing was certain.
The reason he returned.
To destroy me.
Ironically, as soon as I reached that horrifying conclusion, I felt a surge of joy. In the past three years, nothing had held any meaning for me.
Astel’s life? Why did that even matter?
He had come back.
Finally, it was time for him to collect his debt!
But the joy didn’t last. Reality, as always, surpassed my expectations. Back at the main building, I blinked in shock.
Everyone was dead.
Everyone here.
Men in black clothes were stabbing the fallen. Lakian spoke indifferently.
“They weren’t people noonim cared about anyway, were they?”
A gasp caught in my throat. It was true these were Roman’s men. It was true they had spent their lives watching me on his orders. One of them must have reported my relationship with Lakian to Roman. But nothing could justify such a monstrous act.
But, what does that even matter? No matter what Lakian has done, the important thing was that this would be known eventually. Roman would undoubtedly lose his mind and come rushing to punish Lakian.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
I had imagined our reunion countless times over the past three years. In my imagination, I knelt before him and asked:
Are you alright? Do you still hate me? If you wish, you can kill me. I want to atone for my sins against you in any way you want.
“Roman will definitely kill you! This time, there’s no way you’ll survive!”
I also wanted to tell him that I had prepared many things as Astel so he could live without fearing Roman. That now he could be completely free.
But I never imagined our reunion would be like this. All the words I had planned to say vanished from my mind.
“Run away. Leave right now! Get out of here before anyone notices!”
I said this as I tried to pull him, knowing how my concern must seem horrifying to him. He must see it as hypocrisy, want to tear me apart. But I didn’t care. I couldn’t lose him again.
He didn’t budge, standing still like a rock. He just looked down at me. When I felt his blue eyes darken slightly, he pushed me and covered my lips with his.
“Ah…!”
This kiss was much rougher than before. It felt like my lips were being rubbed raw. I leaned my head against the wall, pushed back by his force.
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, likely from a tear on the inside of my lip. He finally pulled away, his eyes burning with a desire to devour me whole.
“Three years ago, you abandoned me so easily, and now you’re worried?”
“…..!”
“Drop that concern and stay by my side. Don’t even think about running.”
“Lakian, do you think we can be together? Are you planning to make an enemy of all of Schultz?”
“There are still those who served Gracion. They are elite knights, skilled enough to be useful.”
“Schultz also has many formidable knights! If they all come after us, we won’t stand a chance!”
“Then we just need to leave the temple.”
“Everyone knows my face. How do you plan to get us out?”
“If we can’t leave the temple…”
He chuckled and grabbed my chin. For a moment, I imagined him peeling the skin off my face.
Instead, he gently caressed my chin and cheek, sending chills down my spine as he spoke.
“Then let’s just die here together.”
