When That Door Opens - Chapter 54
“Exactly. It’s the most important thing for your freedom. To be honest, I was always worried you might follow me to my death. But our child can be the perfect solution. If you have a child, you can’t die. You’ll have to protect the baby.”
He was smiling even as he spoke those words. I took a deep breath, my fingertips trembling with rage.
“What did you just say? Then what exactly is the reason I should have your child?”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. I started hitting him with my fists. He easily grabbed my wrists. I struggled like a madwoman. He quickly hugged me and laid me on the bed. He climbed on top of me and said,
“I wish I could let you hit me until your anger is gone, but I’m sorry. I don’t have much time left. I don’t know if it will work, but I have to try as many times as possible. So please, let me hold you tonight. Think of it as the last gift you can give me…”
He didn’t finish his sentence because I slapped him across the face. I glared at him, murderous intent in my eyes.
“You crazy bastard. You’re trash.”
“…I know.”
He looked at me with a faint smile.
“But even so, you love me, don’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“Then say it’s not true. Leave me like you did before.”
“You think I can’t?”
I shouted angrily, placing my hands on his shoulders as if I was about to push him away.
He was still smiling. But damn it, that smile looked so pained.
My face twisted in anguish.
Everything was a mess. My foolish mind couldn’t even guess how to break this cycle.
“How did it come to this, between us?”
In the end, instead of pushing him away, I pulled him into a tight embrace.
“I just wanted you to be free. How did it end up like this? Why is everything so twisted?”
“Adela.”
“I hate myself so much. I feel like a worm. I don’t know what to do.”
I buried my face in his chest, sobbing.
“…I once felt the same. I felt like a worm, a horribly disgusting worm.”
He sighed lightly and lay down beside me, holding me and patting my back.
“Let me tell you an old story, Adela.”
“An old story?”
“Right after becoming a slave, I couldn’t fully grasp my situation. It all felt like a nightmare I would eventually wake up from. But one day, I realized it wasn’t just a dream.”
I found myself holding my breath. I had never heard about his life after becoming a slave before.
“That day, a noble called for me. Even as I arrived at the mansion, I had no idea why a noble would want a mere slave. When the door opened, several people were waiting for me. Not just women, but men too… It was a very long night. It was horrifying… because to them, I wasn’t human. But at least morning eventually came.”
I barely suppressed a scream. His past, which I had only guessed at, was more horrifying than I had imagined. The fact that he was so calm while recounting it made it even more painful.
“I knew right away that nights like that would destroy both my body and soul. People around me mocked me, asking if I still thought I was a high noble. They told me to accept my fate and enjoy it. But I couldn’t.”
“Stop.”
I gasped, shaking my head.
“I understand what you’re trying to say, so please, stop. It’s painful. I don’t want you to remember.”
“No, I need to say this. I tried to endure in the muck, but I realized the end wasn’t far. Whether my body died or my soul was irreparably damaged, one of the two was inevitable. And then, I met you, Adela.”
He released his embrace and cupped my cheek, looking into my eyes as if engraving his words.
“Do you understand what I’m saying? You were the only one who saw me as human when I felt like a worm. To learn that you lived a life similar to mine and even tried to sacrifice your narrow life to set me free.”
“Lakian, please.”
“How could I possibly give up on your life?”
“You don’t need to sacrifice yourself. There must be another way!”
“If Roman dies, someone has to pay for his blood. If not, his men will come after you. You’ll be in danger again. I can’t watch that.”
He smiled gently.
“Give it up, Adela. You’ll never be able to stop me.”
