pat/isekailover


I slowly made my way towards her.

Only the sounds of gradual footsteps nearing resonated in the room. I paused after I managed to maintain a suitable distance between us.

Qingyue didn't avert her gaze and kept staring at me. After who knows how long, she stood up with her lips parting as she spoke.

"You've been wanting to say something?"

"You are beautiful," I said lowering my gaze.

Never did I imagine seeing such a beauty, and I couldn't help but appreciate it.

"And..?" she asked.

"I would like to leave if you allow me," I replied.

There was a single bed lying in the room. And not wanting the situation to turn more awkward than it should, I proposed to leave.

She blinked at my response.

"Your grandfather was disrespected during the wedding, you must be really upset, right?" she asked sitting back on the bed.

"I am," I answered.

Well, anyone in my place would honestly be upset and angry. Even though I'm habituated to it, when it comes to my family, I can't mask it. Seems like she saw right through me.

"Your Profound Veins are damaged. There isn't any cure for it. As long as you live, you will continue to stay as a cripple. Even if you work hard, you'd reach the 2nd stage at most," she said.

"I know," I replied.

Not only her, the whole city knows of my condition. I didn't understand why she would bring something like that up. Was she intended to remind me of my status?

"Then.. you should also know that no matter how hard you try, you wouldn't be worthy to take a place as my husband..."

I nodded.

Seeing me readily accept the facts not even trying to resist, she was slightly taken aback.

"I know I'm weaker than you... And this marriage is something just in name. I lived my life as a cripple till now and I can continue it the same way. Well then, I need to leave." I said and turned away to the door.

I wasn't able to see her expression but she didn't stop me this time.

After leaving the room, I made my way towards my little aunt's courtyard which was just a couple of meters away. She was the only one who'd take good care and stood up for me all these days. As she was acting a bit weird, I just wanted to speak to her for a while.

"...That trash got to marry our city's tender flower! He must've accumulated a lot of good deeds in his past life. He should just lie there dead so that our goddess gets to marry any Young Master in the city!.."

The night was clear and I could hear the ranting of one of the servants in the clan.

While the fellow servants supported what the earlier one said and continued to vent out their anger.

I sighed.

I was used to hearing many bad-mouthing me but it was my first time hearing it so open. In this world where only strength matters the most, It would be stranger if they are okay with it instead.

Making my way, I silently slipped into my little aunt's courtyard without anyone noticing. Looks like everyone is very distressed that no one came to even do their duties.

I peeked into her room only to see it empty.

'Where did she go?'

Something crossed my mind and I made my way to the Mountains behind the Xiao Clan.

I reached the place where I expected to see Little Aunt. It was the same place where we played often in our childhood.

A smile surfaced on my face reminiscing about our precious memory.

As I neared the location, I saw my little aunt sitting in a fetal position under the tree, silently gazing at the stars.

The night was cold but she was there sitting without any care in the world. She was so immersed in it that she couldn't hear my footsteps.

"Little Aunt?" I called.

Feeling a familiar voice calling her, she tilted her head in my direction.

She blinked her eyes a couple of times. Tears started to stream down her cheeks which she immediately wiped off.

As her vision turned much clearer, she abruptly stood up.

"Little Che! Why are you here?" she asked.

Her voice was wavering but she tried to speak in a very natural way possible as not to worry me. I've been living with her for the most part, that something like that couldn't even escape my notice.

"Little aunt, you were not in your courtyard, so I had to come here in search of you.." I said.

She stood there motionless.

Her lips opened and closed occasionally. She wanted to ask but was hesitating instead. Maybe it's about Qingyue.

"Little aunt, you were enjoying the view without me. It's really not fair," I said sitting beside the place where she earlier sat.

"Um.." Little aunt stayed silent and sat down.

I pulled out the blanket I brought and covered ourselves. She tugged closer to me and resumed gazing back at the sky. I could feel her body a little cold.

My eyes never shifted away from her.

"Little aunt, It really hurts me to see you in pain," I murmured.

As we were much closer, she was able to hear me.

"Huh?"

"Do you remember the time when I promised you I'd stay with you forever..?" I asked.

"Y-You still remember..?" she stuttered with her eyes turning moist. "I-I do,"

"Then.. don't you want to stay with me?" I asked.

"Mn... I want to" she said without any hesitation. Her breathing started to quicken up a little after she realized what she had just said.

I chuckled.

"Then you have to see that I don't get too far from you," I said as I pulled my little aunt a little closer to me and took her hand in mine.

Her body was no longer cold and we both continued to gaze at the silent night with a smile on our lips and gradually fell asleep in each other's embrace.


(In Xiao Yulong's Courtyard)

"You fool! How come the poison didn't work? That trash should've been dead the moment he took in the soup... Did you not mix it?" asked youth and a slap resonated in the entire room.

"M-Master, I sure did add it in the soup..." Xiao Yang said gently rubbing his cheek.

"It was the poison which I procured through my connections without even my father knowing. Turns out it's fake..." Xiao Yulong laughed to himself.

"Master, I believe the daughter of the Xia Clan wouldn't let the trash lay his hands upon her. Rest easy.."

"hmm..." Xiao Yulong contemplated.

What Xiao Yang said was indeed true. From what he knew, Qingyue was extremely cold to the strangers. With that, he let out a sigh.

"But, that trash has to die.." he said as an evil glint flashed through his eyes.