Chapter 74: Don’t say any more

Catrina was still standing at the doorway, neither stepping inside nor leaving. Her gaze remained fixed on Lathel’s neck for a very long time, where five purple finger marks were still clearly visible on his skin.

She had left them there with her own hands.

Catrina stared until her fingertips began to tremble, while Lathel had no idea what she was thinking. He only lowered his gaze to the silver chain wrapped around his ankle.

Click.

The chain lightly struck the side of the bed.

The sound was very faint, but Catrina immediately flinched as if something had hit her.

Lathel looked up.

The two stared at each other for a long time before Catrina finally stepped inside. She moved extremely slowly, but after only two steps, Lathel’s body instinctively shifted backward toward the head of the bed.

Not much.

Just a little.

But it was more than enough for Catrina to notice.

Her steps stopped immediately, and her face turned pale.

Only then did Lathel realize his own reaction. He paused slightly, but his body had clearly moved faster than his thoughts, because one hand had already instinctively risen to cover his throat, right where Catrina had once strangled him.

Her gaze fell on that hand.

Her lips parted slightly, but for a long time no sound came out.

Finally, Catrina asked in a hoarse voice:

"Are you... afraid of me?"

Lathel did not answer.

He did not need to.

That single movement had already said enough.

Catrina slowly stepped back, voluntarily widening the distance between them. Lathel unconsciously exhaled as well, only a very slight movement, but she still noticed.

The corner of Catrina’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it did not look like a smile at all.

"I understand."

Lathel took the new writing board Black Rose had prepared after he woke up, placed it on his knees, and wrote:

[Why did you chain me?]

Catrina looked at the words but did not answer.

Lathel waited for a while. Seeing that she still remained silent, he wrote again:

[I asked why.]

This time, Catrina finally spoke.

"I was afraid."

Lathel looked at her.

"Afraid that when you woke up..." Catrina paused before continuing, "...you would leave."

Lathel’s gaze slowly lowered toward the chain.

Catrina looked down as well.

Even she understood how ridiculous that explanation sounded.

Lathel wrote:

[So you locked me up.]

"I..."

Catrina wanted to deny it, but the words stopped the moment they reached her lips.

Because that was exactly what she had done.

Lathel continued writing:

[You almost killed me.]

Catrina’s hand immediately tightened.

[I was unconscious. When I woke up, the first thing you did was chain my leg.]

Every sentence was written very calmly, but that very calmness made Catrina feel even worse.

If Lathel became angry, she could endure it.

If he blamed her, even if he cursed at her, Catrina could endure that too.

But Lathel was only asking, as though he wanted to confirm a truth that even she did not want to face.

He looked up and wrote:

[What if I say I want to leave now?]

Catrina immediately raised her head.

Her breathing also stopped for a moment.

She wanted to answer immediately that he could leave, but the moment she imagined Lathel walking out of this room and then leaving the estate, the curse markings beneath her mask instantly began burning.

Catrina frowned slightly.

Lathel noticed the reaction.

He slowly wrote:

[You can’t answer.]

"I can."

Catrina answered too quickly.

Lathel looked at her for a few seconds before pointing down at his ankle.

[Remove the chain.]

Catrina froze.

The key was in her pocket.

She only needed to walk forward a few steps, bend down, and turn the lock.

Very simple.

But Catrina’s hand did not move.

Lathel did not urge her either. He simply sat there and waited, allowing one second, then two, then five seconds to slowly pass.

Catrina remained where she was.

Finally, Lathel lowered his head and wrote:

[I understand.]

"No."

Catrina immediately stepped forward.

Lathel instinctively pulled his leg back.

She stopped at once.

Catrina’s gaze fell on that movement, and it felt as though someone had squeezed her heart.

"I only want to remove the chain."

Lathel looked at her hand.

That was the same hand that had once tightened around his throat.

The moment Catrina reached out, Lathel’s body leaned to the side to avoid her.

Not violently.

But clearly enough.

Then he wrote:

[Don’t touch me.]

Catrina became completely still.

Only four words.

Yet they hurt more than any wound she had suffered in either of her two lives.

Catrina had been pierced through by swords, burned by magic, and had even watched Lathel die with her own eyes.

But never before had he looked at her like this.

Careful.

Guarded.

And afraid that she would touch him again.

Catrina slowly lowered her hand.

After a while, she took the key from her pocket, but instead of approaching, she knelt several steps away from the bed, placed it on the floor, and pushed it forward.

"I won’t touch you."

Lathel looked at her.

"Open it yourself."

The key slid to the side of the bed.

Lathel lowered his gaze to it, but did not pick it up immediately. Instead, he continued writing:

[What if Black Rose hadn’t entered in time yesterday?]

Catrina closed her eyes.

"I know."

[I was unconscious.]

"I know."

Lathel paused briefly before writing again:

[I could have died.]

This time, Catrina could no longer speak.

Lathel looked at her, the tip of his pen moving again.

[I saved you before. I stayed because you were in pain. I entered that room because I was worried about you.]

The pen stopped.

Lathel’s hand trembled slightly.

Then another line appeared.

[But you almost killed me.]

Catrina bit her lip hard enough for a drop of blood to immediately appear.

"I’m sorry."

Lathel did not react.

"I really..." She drew in a sharp breath before continuing. "I didn’t want to do that."

Lathel wrote:

[But you did.]

Catrina froze.

Right.

No curse could change that fact.

No episode could erase the five finger marks around Lathel’s neck.

She had done it.

Lathel wrote again:

[What if something like this happens again?]

Catrina wanted to say there would not be another time.

But she could not.

Because even she did not know.

And that was the most terrifying part.

Lathel looked at her silence for a while before lowering his head and picking up the key.

Click.

The lock opened, and the metal shackle fell from his ankle.

Catrina immediately looked up.

Lathel stepped down from the bed. His legs were still slightly weak after the earlier lack of oxygen, but at least he had enough strength to stand.

He walked past Catrina.

She did not stop him.

She did not dare to. ℯ

Only when Lathel nearly reached the door did Catrina’s trembling voice sound from behind him.

"Where are you going?"

Lathel stopped, took out the board, and wrote:

[Somewhere I can sleep tonight without being afraid of being strangled.]

Catrina felt as though every sound in the room disappeared.

Lathel opened the door.

The two Black Rose female knights standing outside immediately lowered their heads. Neither dared to look directly at him.

Lathel walked out.

Catrina remained kneeling on the floor, neither holding him back nor calling after him.

The door slowly closed.

Click.

She stared at the chain lying on the floor for a very long time, until her hands began to tremble and she finally muttered hoarsely:

"What have I... done?"

No one answered.

...

Lathel moved to another room on the eastern side of the estate.

It was not very far away, but at least it was no longer in the area where Catrina usually stayed.

Pandora remained silent throughout the entire walk. Only after the door closed did she finally speak:

"Are you all right?"

Lathel put down the board.

’I’m fine.’

Pandora immediately gave a cold laugh.

"You’re terrible at lying."

He did not answer. He only sat on the bed and raised a hand to touch his neck.

It still hurt.

Pandora said:

"You should leave this place."

Lathel remained silent.

"I’m serious."

’I know.’

"You know, but you’re not leaving?"

Lathel stared at the door for a long time.

’Not now.’

Pandora did not ask further.

But both of them understood why.

Lathel was still worried about Catrina.

And that was exactly the problem.

...

On the other side of the estate, Catrina was still sitting in the old room.

The chain lay at her feet.

She did not pick it up.

A female Black Rose knight slowly entered and cautiously called:

"Your Grace."

Catrina did not react.

The woman could only continue:

"Should we bring Lord Lathel back?"

Catrina immediately raised her head.

A part of her almost wanted to answer at once.

Yes.

Bring him back.

Lock the door.

Do not let him leave.

But then the image of Lathel avoiding her hand appeared in her mind again.

Catrina closed her eyes.

"No."

The female knight looked slightly surprised.

Catrina looked at the chain beneath her feet and said very quietly:

"No one is allowed to force him. No one is allowed to touch him."

The woman lowered her head.

"Yes."

Catrina remained silent for a moment before adding:

"Not even me."