To You Who Will Destroy Me - Chapter 119

“…So. You’re telling me that when you got out of the bath, this was sitting on the table?” Varkan asked, holding up a note between his long fingers.

“Yes…” Irel nodded meekly, feeling like a guilty criminal. Varkan tugged at the front of his sweat-drenched shirt and asked again.

“It was from Ryu Cheong, correct?”

“Yes. We happened to coincidentally run into each other earlier today.”

Irel emphasized the word “coincidentally,” doing her best to sound casual. Knowing Ryu Cheong could change his form at will, he could have easily left the note behind as a mouse or bird.

Varkan let out a low grunt, rubbing his temples. The idea of another Masaka sneaking into their lodgings while he was away disgusted him to the core. If it were up to him, he’d tear Ryu Cheong to pieces on the spot.

He looks tired.

Irel glanced at him with concern. She was freshly bathed and feeling clean, while Varkan had only just returned after two days away, still in his dirty clothes. Yet, instead of looking disheveled, he somehow appeared even more alluring. His sharp eyes, taut lips, and the way his damp shirt clung to his body exuded an effortless sensuality. Irel couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt, realizing she was already bothering him after his return.

If only it weren’t for that ring Ryu Cheong had…

Without it, she would’ve crumpled up the note and tossed it aside instantly.

“And what’s your reason for giving me this?” Varkan asked. He seemed unsure whether to be angry or amused by the situation. His fiancée was presenting him with a note for a secret meeting with another man—what was he supposed to make of that?

But deep down, he felt more amused than angry. The way Irel had brought the note to him spoke volumes. She trusted him enough to share everything with him, even something as potentially compromising as this.

“Well… if it’s okay with you, I’d like to go.”

Perhaps he had been too quick to assume. Varkan reconsidered, his expression hardening as he asked, “Why?”

Irel gave him an awkward smile, hesitating before opening her palm to reveal something.

“Because of this.”

She held out an earring. It was an exquisite piece of jewelry—platinum with a striking red diamond that immediately caught the eye.

“But it’s only one earring,” Varkan noted.

“Ah, well…”

“Does the other one happen to be with him?”

“Um…”

“So that’s why you want to meet him. To complete the pair of earrings.”

“…”

I hate how sharp he is. Irel sighed internally, feeling deflated. How could he deduce everything just from a single earring? It was uncanny, as if he were some kind of mind reader.

“Is it that important to you?” Varkan asked, his tone softening.

“Yes,” Irel admitted.

“You seem troubled. Even if I ask for an explanation, it’d be difficult for you, wouldn’t it?”

His knowing smile made her uneasy. Even though he was smiling handsomely, Irel felt cold sweat trickle down her back. She had prepared a few excuses before showing him the note, but none of them seemed likely to work now.

Varkan looked down at her as she stiffened under his gaze. The silence stretched on, feeling like an eternity, before he finally let out a sigh.

“Fine. If it’s difficult for you, I won’t press further.”

“What? Really?”

Irel blinked, wide-eyed in surprise. Varkan’s expression was slightly displeased, but there was no hint of deceit in his words.

What’s going on with him?

She couldn’t help but feel suspicious. Was he trying to lull her into a false sense of security before secretly investigating behind her back? Her heart raced as she debated what his true intentions were. But then, Varkan spoke again, and what he said was unexpected.

“You’ve done the same for me, haven’t you?”

His hand gently brushed against her cheek, and her heart nearly burst.

“You told me I didn’t have to explain anything I didn’t want to. That I could do as I pleased.”

“That’s how you seduced me, remember? Don’t you?” Varkan whispered, leaning in as if he was about to kiss her.

His scent—a mix of his natural musk and the deep fragrance of his cologne—was intoxicating. And his face, so close and so striking, made Irel’s cheeks burn with heat she couldn’t control.

“Adorable.”

Varkan was all too aware of the effect he had on her. With a mischievous smile, he gently kissed her cheek, making a playful smacking sound like one would with a child.

“We’ll finish the rest tonight.”

He had an overwhelming desire to sweep her up and ravish her then and there, but he knew once he started, he wouldn’t stop in time. Though he appeared calm and composed, being around Irel always left him feeling restless and impulsive.

“Is this earring the only thing you need?” he asked, pulling away, his tone suddenly more serious.

Still dizzy from his earlier teasing, Irel blinked herself back to reality.

“Yes? No!” she stammered.

“What kind of answer is that—both yes and no?”

“To be precise, I need the ring he’s wearing. It has the same jewel as this earring.”

Irel guessed that the Heart of Avihushan referred not to the accessory itself, but the gemstone embedded in it. The glowing red diamond looked every bit like something that would deserve the name “Heart.”

“A jewel, huh. Understood.”

Varkan carefully examined the earring Irel showed him, committing it to memory. Then, scarcely thirty minutes after returning home, he got up from his seat.

“Where are you going?”

“To fetch your jewel.”

Irel’s jaw dropped. His decisiveness was stunning.

Logically, it was the safest and quickest solution for Varkan to go in her place. No matter what tricks Ryu Cheong had up his sleeve, Varkan would easily cut through them.

But… should she really let him handle it? He was already busy searching for the Breath.

“Juan hasn’t made any moves yet. He seems to be waiting for contact from Archbishop Ramón’s side.”

Varkan answered as if he’d read her mind. Phaesus and Yan Louis were keeping a close eye on Juan, so they’d know immediately if anything happened.

In other words, he had time. Dealing with a pesky fly buzzing around his fiancée was just a minor detour.

“Don’t worry. I’ll return with it,” he reassured her, playfully tapping the tip of her nose. But what Irel said next came from the heart.

“It’s not the earring I’m worried about. It’s you.”

Ah, damn. Varkan couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face at her genuine words.

“Fascinating, really.”

“What is?” she asked, confused.

“How it’s possible for a person to be… flawless.”

His bronzed fingers gently played with a strand of her platinum blonde hair. Freshly washed, her hair was still damp, the soft moisture radiating from it. To Varkan, in the scorched and barren world he often found himself in, she was the only source of cool, soothing relief.

Savoring the feeling of her presence for a moment longer, Varkan closed his eyes before finally turning away.

“Take care. Be careful not to get hurt,” Irel said softly as he prepared to leave.

Varkan paused for a brief moment, smiling, then nodded. “I will.”

“Of course,” Varkan said after a brief hesitation, smiling warmly like a flower in bloom.

“I’ll be back.”

Not just jewels—what in the world couldn’t he retrieve for her? With that thought, he left willingly, as if embarking on a quest for her salvation.

Sigh, looks like I’m spending another night alone. Irel mused, seated in their room that overlooked Al Ros Condes.

The full moon shone brightly, casting a serene glow. It was the kind of night that would have felt much more romantic with Varkan by her side, but reality was anything but kind.

“Huff… huff…”

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of labored breathing next to her.

“Are you okay?” Irel asked, glancing over at Jin, who was sweating profusely.

Jin, struggling in the heat, managed to give her a thumbs-up. “Of course. This is nothing.”

It definitely didn’t look like nothing. Irel glanced at him, wearing heavy cotton pants, a wool vest, and a long jacket, all in the sweltering southern heat. He was clearly suffering.

Poor Jin was being punished. After all, he was her escort, and yet he had allowed her to be alone with Ryu Cheong, and worse, he hadn’t stopped the note from being left behind.

It’s not even Jin’s fault, Irel thought. Ryu Cheong was a master of disguise. When he transformed into something small, like a squirrel or a bird, even his Masaka energy diminished, making him difficult to detect.

In that sense, Jin had done his best. He had sensed the shift in energy and rushed to her, but by the time he arrived, Ryu Cheong had already left the note and flown away.

There’s no way he could’ve caught up with that.

Irel clicked her tongue as she looked down the sheer cliff below their lodgings. She couldn’t interfere with how Varkan enforced discipline, but she could at least offer a small gesture of comfort.

“Here, have some cold water,” she said, handing him a cup.

“Thank you. You’re really kind, Sister-in-law.”

[Ding! Jin’s affection has increased by 3 points.]

Soaked in sweat, Jin smiled gratefully and accepted the cup. Irel watched him chug it down as if it were the sweetest drink in the world, feeling a little satisfied.

“Oh, by the way, Jin, what did you see inside the cave earlier?” she asked, realizing she hadn’t inquired further. She should’ve checked for herself, but her run-in with Ryu Cheong had distracted her.

“Ah, what I saw inside the cave was… guh!”

Jin, still smiling and speaking in his usual friendly tone, suddenly froze. His body stiffened, and the cup slipped from his trembling hand, shattering on the floor.

“Jin?! What’s wrong?”

Irel scanned him frantically, alarmed by his sudden convulsions. He couldn’t speak properly, his body jerking uncontrollably.

What’s happening? Did I accidentally poison him?

Oh no! Did I just poison my own bodyguard?! Panicked, Irel covered her mouth with both hands, horrified by the possibility.