“But seeing you in a mess, I regretted it for the first time.”’
In retrospect, the only time Simeon ever panicked was when I was injured. Even when we were so close to the cliff, he was afraid I might fall, and his stony expression and wavering eyes were genuine.
The <crown of atonement>, a crown of pain that can kill you if you get it wrong, was given to me without hesitation. I wondered why, but it was when I was passed out on sleeping pills that I was given the leash. It never occurred to me at the time that I had a resemblance with John.
That’s why I made it a condition.
‘When you stop thinking about me, the <Crown of Atonement> will untie itself.’
If I don’t think about him anymore, I’m less likely to reveal the Apostle’s information.
Of course, now it’s an unintended shackle that will never be removed. Still, Simeon isn’t anxious. He already knows. That I would never divulge information about the Apostle.
He also knows very well why I keep the secret. It’s not because I’m afraid of the pain the leash will cause, but simply because I don’t want to be bothered. After all, this is a game designed for him to win from start to finish.
There is no way I can win, no way I can run away from him.
“You know what?”
Raphael said in my moment of despair, stroking my reddened flesh from the thorns.
“The <Crown of Atonement>, once filled, cannot be released by its owner until the conditions are fulfilled.”
“Why?”
“It has to do with its origins, I should say, because of the end that befell the queen who wore it.”
I remember the origin of the <Crown of Atonement> well. The story of the king and queen in the folk tale fit Simeon’s and my situation perfectly.
“And the last thing she want to do is… die trying to run away from the king, even with her crown on?”
“Yes. But there were more important events before that.”
Important events. There hadn’t been anything like that in what Simeon had told me….
I tilted my head questioningly, and Raphael spoke in a low voice.
“The queen blackmailed the king just before she died.”
“Blackmailed… is that possible for a king?”
“Because she knew what the king feared most.”
“What was that?”
Raphael hesitated for a moment, and then the unexpected words came out of his mouth.
“Her own death…”
His blood seemed to freeze in his veins.
“So, she took herself as a hostage and threatened the king, saying that if he didn’t untie this now, she’d kill herself. And even if he doesn’t, it will never be what he want.”
Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
“The king wouldn’t listen. He didn’t think she was willing to die.”
Why Simeon wants to keep me around, how he feels about John, whether it’s love or hate or neither, and all of these things are useless when it comes to escaping his clutches.
You’re missing the most important thing.
“Hundreds of years after the queen’s body was laid to rest, the crown never rotted, remaining on her skeletal head. Some believe it was because her bindings were never broken, but I… I believe it’s a sign that the king still has regrets.”
Simeon is afraid of hurting me… afraid of losing me.
That is the only truth, the only way to win his game.
“Thank you for telling me, Raphael.”
Yes. Let’s negotiate.
“I’ve learned a lot thanks to you.”
I will take myself hostage, and I will escape this cage.
My opponent is Simeon. If I show the slightest sign of weakness, my chances will be over in an instant. So we need to make sure we have a contingency plan… if you can even call it a plan.
“Can I borrow your cell phone? I have mine at home.”
Raphael gave me a puzzled look when I brought up cell phone out of the blue.
“Why a cell phone all of a sudden?”
”I just wanted to take a closer look at the article I was featured in earlier.”
His guard was quickly down as I gave him a deliberately awkward smile. “Ah,” Raphaell sighed, and he unlocked his phone and handed it over.
“But hyung, I thought you weren’t interested?”
“The more I think about it, the more interesting it is. I never thought I’d be in an article in my life….”
“Haha, that’s what I thought at first too.”
Raphael laughed heartily and turned his attention back to finding the right wavelength gemstone.
On the screen floated the internet article from earlier. Pretending to read it, he quickly scrolled down and copied the reporter’s email. I then wrote an email to the reporter under my own username.
Luckily, Raphael was so focused on finding a gemstone with the right wavelength that he didn’t realize I was tapping away at the keyboard. When I had safely erased all traces of my email, I returned to my original internet window and said nonchalantly.
“They’re making a lot of assumptions.”
”Don’t worry too much about the comments.”
“I’ll try, it’ll be quiet soon anyway.”
Just as I’m handing him back his phone, there’s a knock on the door and it opens. It’s Simeon. He said he’d bring me something to eat, but he was empty-handed, so something must have happened. That’s better. As soon as I’m healed, I’ll leave this place.
“Guild leader!”
Raphael greeted with a beaming smile, and Simeon returned it with a thin one.
“And the treatment?”
“I’m just about to. I was talking to Ha-jae hyung.”
Simeon winced. There was a frightening chill in the air before Raphael finished his sentence. On second thought, I don’t think he said anything wrong, but Simeon’s expression subtly hardened. Simeon glanced at me and muttered to himself.
“Hajae… hyung?”
…Was that a problem?
He seems to be questioning me about what happened with Raphael in the meantime, and I don’t have anything good to say, so I just shrug my shoulders. His narrowed black eyes seemed to disapprove of the situation.
“You must have gotten pretty close.”
“Hehe, it’s my specialty, making friends with strangers.”
Raphael seemed to be the only one who didn’t feel the icy atmosphere, and he concentrated on finding minerals, ignoring Simeon’s fierce glare behind him. Finally, he picked up a greenish mineral and placed it in my hand.
“This is it…!”
Raphael exclaimed. I was puzzled because it looked like any other mineral to me.
“You found it?”
“Yes! I had a hunch it was an emerald, and I was right.”
The look of pure joy on his face was like that of a child who had just found the right puzzle. Raphael pulled back the covers and placed the emerald gemstone on his injured thigh. Then he pulled a long metal rod from his pocket. It was thicker than a needle and looked like a stone splitting knife.
I glanced at it, unsure of what to do with it, and Raphael chuckled.
“It might sting a little.”
I instinctively tensed my legs at the words the nurse usually said. Raising the gem high in the air, Raphael slammed it down as hard as he could toward the gemstone, and a tremendous burst of green light erupted from the emerald stone. I squeezed my eyes shut against the blindingly bright light.
Soon, a cheerful voice spoke up.
“Isn’t it amazing?”
I slowly opened my eyes and saw that the stone on my thigh was shattered, and at the same time the throbbing pain centered on the wound was completely gone. I couldn’t believe my eyes, so I bent and straightened my leg two or three times. The muscles moved as if they had already been rehabilitated.
“It’s true what they say about treating with jewelry….”
I wondered if all A-rank awakened had this ability. As I touched the affected area and admired it, Raphael let out a pleasant laugh.
“Of course it’s real! Want to take a walk?”
I took Raphael’s hand and slowly stood up, afraid to put my feet on the ground for fear of pain, but walking barefoot on the hard floor didn’t bother me at all. It was such a perfect treatment that I was sorry I’d doubted it for a second.
“That’s amazing, Raphael. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Ha-ha-ha, of course, I am.”
Instead of hating his smug face, I found it cute and wanted to tease him about it.
”Actually, I was skeptical when you kept putting the gemstone in my hand.”
“Don’t even get me started on the germanium bracelet.”
“Haha, I was just kidding, thank you very much.”
Raphael smiled shyly, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed by my honesty. I feel bad about betraying him as soon as he’s been so kind to me, but it’s the only choice I have for myself.
“Since we’re here, why don’t we go for a walk?”
I whisper, tugging slightly on his supportive hand, and Raphael’s eyes widen.
“A walk?”
“I’ve been lying around for days, and I’m feeling a little stiff, and I could use some fresh air.”
“Sounds good to me!”
Raphael was as excited as a puppy when he was told to go for a walk.
The problem is Simeon. I think I should take him up on his offer to go for a walk with me…. but when I turn around, Simeon is standing a few steps behind me, watching us. His face is expressionless, as always, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
“Come with me.”
After a moment of silence, Simeon nods slowly.
“I will, but don’t overdo it.”
“I’m fine, thanks to Raphael.”
I’m surprised. I thought he was going to say no.
I hurriedly left the room with Raphael before Simeon could notice something was amiss. The bodyguard at the door followed us, but I didn’t mind. As long as he doesn’t follow closely, he won’t be able to interfere with my plans.
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