Winter Wolf - Chapter 9. Part 1

Chapter 9. Part 1

Lysithea couldn’t find Terrence all afternoon, and when she checked his room, it was locked.

She spent time alone in her room, reading a book about herbs.

During dinner, she ate by herself, thinking about what she needed to tell Terrence and the things she wanted to clarify.

She felt calm and wanted to be close to Terrence. She wanted to trust him and have him by her side, even without a formal agreement.

She wished to give him everything she could and convince him to open up to her about his true desires.

However, she realized she didn’t have much to offer besides funds for smuggling, Prince Jade’s engagement ring, a bit of luggage, and herself. She felt like she didn’t have much to give.

With limited options, Lysithea wondered about Terrence’s desires, as he had never openly expressed any.

Determined, she finished a satisfying dinner and went upstairs. Passing Gray’s quiet room, she noticed him calling harmony outside the window.

Now on the second floor with only Terrence around, Lysithea saw it as a good opportunity.

She walked down the hallway and reached Terrence’s room. She heard a faint sound from inside and nervously knocked twice.

“Terrence, can I come in?”

The knocking stopped, suggesting that Terrence was not expecting her. Lysithea waited anxiously in the silence until the door opened, revealing Terrence with an unchanged and expressionless face.

“What’s up?”

“You can talk normally; Mr. Hoflander is outside.”

“Alright, then why did you come here?”

“I have something to discuss with you. Can I come in just for a minute, please?”

Terrence’s serious expression made Lysithea instinctively take his hand. Terrence recognized the sense of urgency in her eyes and stepped aside to let her enter his room. Crossing the door felt like crossing a boundary.

“Were you working on your gun?”

As Lysithea walked towards the table, the source of the noise became clear. Lysithea saw Terrence’s gun, which was neatly disassembled and looked like a museum exhibit.

“It needs daily maintenance. But let’s not focus on the gun; let’s get to the point.”

The door closed quietly, and Terrence looked at her coldly.

Lysithea faced him and stared ahead. He stood with the door closed. She felt nervous, remembering yesterday. However, she managed to speak.

“I’ve come to apologize for what I said and did yesterday.”

“Apologize? You mean you’re admitting now that I was right?”

“No, no. I was right.”

Terrence snorted in disbelief at her attitude.

“So, why are you apologizing?”

“I’m apologizing for my behavior. I didn’t understand you well, considering we come from different worlds. I forced my own beliefs and values on you, and that was wrong.”

“So, suddenly, you think you have figured out my beliefs and values all of a sudden?”

“You’re someone who can’t handle even the smallest risk.”

Lysithea locked eyes with him. She couldn’t be mistaken if she had come this far.

“If your plans go wrong, you’ll do whatever it takes to make them right, even if it means resorting to extreme measures like killing.”

Terrence’s gaze was intense, and Lysithea felt its weight, but she stood her ground.

“You were angry with me yesterday because I interfered with your plans. I am your obstacle, and now it might be difficult to handle Mr. Hoflander because of me.”

“Not difficult.?”

Terrence listened seriously, then suddenly smiled, sending shivers down Lysithea’s spine.

“Dealing with the detective is simple now. We have enough time, so we’ll wait and see. Let’s handle this correctly.”

‘Did he try to make a joke?’Lysithea felt so, but she decided not to bring it up.

Terrence had a completely different set of values, and she had to acknowledge that before moving forward.

“Okay, is this what was bothering you? Am I correct?”

“Let’s just say you’re correct, then.”

Terrence stood in front of Lysithea. She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. Despite this, she squared her shoulders and stood tall to face him.

“Lysithea, what do you want? Do you ask for forgiveness because you understand me? Or is that your way of apologizing?”

In response to his sarcastic tone, Lysithea apologized, saying, “I’m sorry. Until yesterday, I didn’t know you well enough to convince you in a way that suited you.”

“Convince me?”

“Yes. I will try to convince you properly in the future.”

Lysithea touched Terrence’s cheeks gently, the first time she had ever touched his face. She saw a hint of surprise in Terrence’s eyes and said, “Please, do not resort to killing people easily.”

“What?”

“If there’s a problem, don’t consider solving it by killing someone ever again.”

Terrence laughed, stunned and speechless. He placed a hand on Lysithea’s shoulder.

“As I said, there are situations where you can’t escape without taking the other person’s life. You have been in those situations and understand that it can be too much to ask to avoid it.”

“Yesterday wasn’t one of those situations, and Mr. Hoflander hasn’t harmed us, has he?”

“Not yet.Not yet.”

Lysithea urged Terrence to change the subject when he mimicked her.

“In the future, let’s consider other options before resorting to killing. We should take a step back if necessary.”

“Lysithea, is this truly what you want? Do you comprehend my actions?”

“I don’t fully understand, but I do know that your job is risky, so…”

Heat rose in her hand as she touched his cheek. Lysithea spoke nervously.

“I won’t let you take lives. I’ll help you.”

“How?”

Terrence gave a strange smile as if to say, “I know.” Lysithea couldn’t help but challenge him despite his reasonable reaction.

“Leave this behind with me.”

Terrence gazed down at her without blinking. The light touch on her shoulder ceased, and his voice sounded a bit unclear as he asked again, “You want us to leave together?”

“Yes, we will sneak into the Duchy of Landus.”

He silently studied her face, questioning whether she was serious. His eyes conveyed a lot.

“Lysithea, if you want to persuade someone, you need more than just…”

“I have enough money. I also have Prince Jade’s engagement ring, which we can sell to finance our escape and start a new life together.”

“Live together?” he asked.

“Okay. Are you planning to live separately?” she responded.

Terrence wrinkled his brow in thought. He spoke, his smile about to fade.

“Lysithea, I don’t date people.”

“I know, I never asked you to date me; I just want you to stay by my side.”

“Are you considering going to such extremes just because you are against me taking a life? Is this irrational? Why take such drastic action?”

“Yesterday, you mentioned killing Mr. Hoflander casually.”

Lysithea’s chest rose and fell as she remembered that moment. She took a deep breath and said, “I was so frightened of you. I felt awful, betrayed, and, at the same time, so confused and troubled.”

“Do you believe I’ll kill you someday too?”

“No, you don’t dislike me. You don’t hate me. It’s just unfamiliar to me, Terrence. I think something’s changed.”

Lysithea was convinced of her feelings.

“I need you, no matter who you are.”

Terrence observed Lysithea’s face in silence for a moment. He then reminded her that their contract was meant to fulfill each other’s desires.

“I don’t need a contract anymore,” Lysithea said.

Lysithea gently rested her hand on his cheek. “All I want is to be with you in the future,” she said slowly.

Terrence shook his head.

“Let’s be clear, Lysithea. I will not hide, and I will not remain with you indefinitely. We only have about ten more days together, and after that, I’ll leave.”

“I’ll give up my ticket,” Lysithea said firmly. She moved closer to him, her eyes pleading. “I don’t need the stowaway if you don’t want it. I’d rather use my money to escape and live with you in a quiet mountain village. I don’t know what will happen in my life, but at least you won’t have to keep doing this.”

“Why?”

Terrence stopped her from getting closer, pushing her away, his eyes questioning her.

“Why are you willing to ruin your life to be with me? Why do you care if I kill people or not?”

His door wouldn’t open unless she gave him a convincing reason. So Lysithea stuck with the only key she had.

“Because I love you.”

Lysithea repeated the words quietly, unsure if it was the right word.

“I mean, I want to do anything you want, and this isn’t a contract; there are no strings attached. You can tell me anything.”

Her hands and lips trembled with the unexpected confession. Looking into her eyes, Terrence spoke calmly.

“Lysithea, you don’t love me.”

Her eyes widened at the straightforward denial.

“No, I do…!”

“You are just afraid. I saw it yesterday when I pointed the gun at you. You have been afraid of me ever since. No, since we first met.”

Terrence whispered, his fingertips curling in her red hair.

“I sensed your unease when you saw me. You didn’t trust me. Maybe you even found it enjoyable. That’s how we ended up here. You need someone to protect you, Lysithea, not someone to love you.”

Lysithea shook her head in frustration. She thought it was ridiculous: “My feelings are not an illusion.”

“Yes, it is ridiculous. I never asked for it.”

Terrence’s voice became colder and more distant. Eventually, he spoke with the same expression he had when they first met.

“Lysithea, I told you I’d do anything you wanted, right?”

Lysithea felt a sense of impossibility coming over her, his deep voice piercing her mind like a secret weapon.

“Please do not love me, as that is the only thing I want from you.”

Lysithea stopped trembling. She felt the same way she did on Revolutionary Day, facing soldiers with guns.

It felt like everything was coming to an end.

“But before that, we had a contract,” Terrence said. He spoke quietly as he touched her shoulder.

“As long as you stay in this mansion, I will give you what you want. If you want a husband, I’ll give you that.”

He began to unbutton her shirt slowly. The front button fell open, exposing her br**sts, and his hands went to her back, gently unfastening the straps of her skirt.

The clothes slipped from her body piece by piece. She did not resist.

Terrence finally embraced her. They were both n*k*d. He whispered to her.

“Please do not ruin my plans.”

He gently lowered Lysithea’s body onto the bed. The bed creaked loudly under their weight.

Terrence undressed and settled on top of Lysithea, who stared at him. He unbuckled his belt and pulled it down. His guns lay in pieces on the table. The old bed creaked as he moved, and the chill of the night air touched his skin.

Lysithea was disappointed in herself for even considering such a thought.