I blurted out this confession in one breath, which put everyone present in absolute shock. Maxie tried to figure out for a while whether I was joking or not, but my expression remained extrely serious.
Gradually, the girl's surprise turned into anger, especially when Elsa continued to hold my hand.
— You… you're not serious right now, are you?
I shook my head.
— It's true.
After my firm answer, the heroine's ntor beca even more confused. Without uttering a word, she suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged along. Obviously, a very difficult conversation was going to take place between us.
Maxie led on and on until she was finally convinced that we were alone. And how else, if it turned out to be a real wilderness.
We stood opposite each other, and for a short ti there was a silent pause.
Then, gathering her thoughts, the girl asked only one question:
— why?
I was a little hesitant. Of course, what was happening seed too unexpected, and it was obvious. But I couldn't just admit that… ahem… I didn't behave quite like a noble lady last night, could I? After that, I definitely wouldn't be able to look her in the eye.
So instead I answered:
— Just… I realized that Elsa and I are right for each other.
— What?! — Maxie imdiately blurted out, — Why such conclusions all of a sudden?
To be honest, I didn't know the right answer myself. It's just that Elsa, of all the people I t in this world, was the most suitable for my ideal type. Unlike most readers of novels of this genre, I did not like the characters at all by the type of touchy or aggressors.
I have always liked a calm and asured life, and therefore I wanted to et the appropriate person, if there was one. Elsa seed like this to from the very first ti we t. Kind and responsible, so she also knows how to take care. With such a set of positive qualities, I was not at all against linking my life with her.
Even though it happened by accident.
Probably, my father won't mind too much if I et a really decent person. And that's exactly what the girl looked like in my eyes.
That's just Maxie didn't really take all my enthusiasm. When I praised Elsa in front of her, you could read on her face that she thought it was more of a joke.
«How much did Cassius manage to ss with her brains…?!»
— Listen, don't you think that's not enough? — Maxie was indignant, — How can you say such a thing when you only know nothing …?!
— Sotis, quite a bit is enough to get to know soone well, — I objected, — It all depends on the person.
«So you think Elsa deserves it?»
— yes.
Maxie exhaled heavily.
With mixed emotions, she looked at Leriana, whose eyes were sparkling with happiness right now. She probably didn't really suspect anything.
But even so… Maxie's chest ached painfully that the girl had chosen this scoundrel so easily.
After many years of separation and subsequent eting, Maxie firmly believed that they were destined for each other by fate. Maxie's intentions have always remained sincere towards her.
The girl even tried to change her behavior so that Leriana could pay attention to her good side. But… in the end, it all turned out to be in vain.
Even if it hurt her in the future, Leriana didn't want to hear anything right now. It seed obvious even from her embarrassnt, which never arose next to Maxie.
— Is this your final decision? The girl asked as calmly as possible.
She nodded without hesitation.
Maxie took another deep breath, letting go of all the accumulated emotions. After that, she reported sothing completely unexpected.
— Then… I'm happy for you.
— what? — Leriana was surprised, — Really…?!
Maxie tried to smile and patted the girl's hair.
— yes. I hope you won't regret these words later.
«I'm not like Rachel Cassius. And I will not keep you forcibly by my side.»
First of all, it was her decision that Maxie respected. And no matter how painful it was, if necessary, she could accept this as well. It seems that she will have to keep these feelings to herself.
No matter how terrible in the eyes of Maxie was the heiress of the Cassius family. As long as she didn't make Leriana cry, the girl was ready to turn a blind eye to it.
«As long as you're happy, so am I.»
***
After the hasty departure of Maxie and Leriana, only two remained in the hut. It was the first ti they were only in each other's presence, and the tense atmosphere hung almost imdiately.
Elsa froze in the middle of the room, while Elder Ileas, with a relaxed expression on his face, finished his decoction. Finally, he said slowly:
— A girl from the Cassius family… how quickly you managed to get your hands on my granddaughter.
«It's a little unexpected to hear that from you, Elder Ileas,» she chuckled.
In fact, the two had guessed each other's existence from the very beginning. Even if the girl had been under so kind of spell three tis, the old man would still have recognized the dark aura of the cursed kind. The sa went for Rachel. It was not difficult for her to incriminate Leriana's relative, since they both radiated the sa energy.
Ileas and Cassias could sense each other's presence from a mile away. And only Leriana, who was born an ordinary person, could not do this.
But even so, Rachel still wondered why Leriana's own grandfather hadn't given her away yet.
— You knew from the very beginning that it was , — the girl remarked, — So why do you keep playing?
The elder chuckled.
— It's simple. I don't see the point of doing that.
Rachel fell into a kind of stupor.
— Don't you hate the Cassius family?» «What is it?» she asked slowly.
— Of course, I can't stand those who take other people's lives. Especially demons like you.
— Then…?
— It's all about your mark.
— Hmm?
«I've heard all about the famous loyalty of the Cassius family. By choosing soone, you remain faithful to him for the rest of your life.
— …
«I'm sure no matter what happens, you won't hurt her.»
Elder Ileas said it quite firmly, while Rachel's mind was filled with even more questions.
— Then, since you all knew, why did you let us stay here?
— Ha…! — he arched an eyebrow, — You both tried to use for your own purposes, but no one could have imagined that I would just want to spend more ti with my granddaughter.
Rachel didn't say anything because she had absolutely no idea what he was thinking. All this ti, the healer pretended to be an innocent soul, having concluded an agreent with Maxie. Although in fact he knew perfectly well that the «mortal threat» for Leriana was constantly near them.
Rachel could not understand the motives of his actions.
— You're one of Leriana's few relatives,» the girl said, «so why don't you admit who you really are?»
The old man chuckled.
— Because it won't change anything.
Rachel was surprised.
— That is…?
«Why would a simple-minded girl like her know about a grandfather she's never t?» Which, besides, will soon be gone anyway.
She tensed at his last words.
— What do you an?
Instead of answering, the elder defiantly rolled up one of the sleeves of his robe, and even Rachel was a little surprised. The skin on the man's body was blackened, and seed to be rotting.
She had never seen such an unpleasant sight in her life.
Watching her reaction, the elder chuckled.
— What happened to you? — I decided to ask.
— Do you know what is the main difference between our clans? — the man suddenly began, — Cassias take lives, while we give.
— …
— In my whole life, I have given too much of my energy to other people. And now, there's almost nothing left of my body.
While Rachel was silent, not knowing what to say to this, the old man thought about it for the first ti. Such a thought had never crossed his mind before.
Perhaps it wasn't so bad that Leriana didn't inherit any abilities. In the end, at least the girl won't end up like him now.
Could it be that all this ti, Lloyd Ileas was a real egoist? Despite the precepts of the clan, his daughter still had the right to live the life she wanted. But instead of accepting Emily's choice, the man simply decided to cut her out of his life…
And right now he deeply regretted it.
Pulling his sleeve back down, the healer sighed heavily.
— As you noticed, I don't have long left, — he said, — It's possible that this is the last ti I could see my granddaughter.
Actually, Rachel is not used to saying such words, but out of politeness she mumbled:
— I'm sorry…
He smiled maliciously.
— It's not worth it. Instead, I want to ask you to fulfill one last request.
— Hmm…?
— My daughter… — anger boiled in the veins of the elder, — They say that she died during childbirth, but… would I believe such nonsense?!
The girl froze in disbelief, but deep down she suspected what he was driving at.
«The heiress of the Ileas clan, who inherited the innate gift of healing, and ended her life this way…? It even sounds ridiculous!»
Rachel tensed involuntarily.
— Does that an…?
«So creature killed my daughter and is still walking free,» the old man sumd up angrily.
— …
He sank into a chair, feeling his strength leave him.
«I'm already too old and infirm to do anything about it,» the healer said wearily, «so… I hope that by choosing Leriana as your lover, you will be able to complete this mission instead of .»
The girl realized that in this way, despite all the hatred for her family, he still gave them his blessing. Or, simply put, he resigned himself and was not going to interfere.
But Rachel still took it as a kind of approval on his part. It even relieved my soul sowhat.
In response to the old man's wish, Rachel nodded without hesitation.
Actually, the elder shouldn't have said that. If Rachel had found out about this earlier, she would certainly have torn this man apart. The bastard who forced Leriana to grow up without a mother.
Swearing by the na of her kind, she made a promise.
— Don't worry. I will definitely avenge Leriana's mother.
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